Great Moments In Manufactured Youth Culture

Also: I strongly consider looking at my friend's piece on the last Polaroid film in existence being sold at Urban Outfitters.

Invitation To Derisive Laughter

The backstory: This guy used to teach one of my brother's math in high school. According to my brother, this "toolbag [...] was a turd bucket."

Looks Like The Internet Came Through With The Mad Men Animated GIF I Wanted.

"Huh, Collateral Damage"

George Clooney has made a defecation out of one of my all-time-favorite nonfiction books. (Thanks, jerk. Really: Thanks. Thanks especially for the ham-fisted, Big Lebowski stunt casting.)

Beep Boop* seems enthusiastic about this turkey; though Videogum is more in my camp—but: Why trust us? Why not view the trailer and a clip or two from the actual Jon Ronson documentary and decide for yourself?

[Note: This last clip is of Jim Channon, the man Jeff Bridges is playing in the Clooney adaptation. Do you not notice how much more amazing and wildly implausible and frankly more compelling the real guy is?! Ahhhhhhhhrrrrrrrggggggghhhhh!!!1!!]

*My 2003-era blog idols are in their twilight.

Wow Just Wow

In this video: By re-showing a clip The Daily Show took out of context, Bill O'Reilly proves that The Daily Show had judiciously re-packaged the clip in a pretty accurate and funny new context. Then some CNN pundits ignore that fact and say inane things.

Limit Your Exposure [To Mad Men Season 3 Spoilers]

Here, Alan Sepinwall is unsuccessful at getting show creator Matthew Weiner to admit why he set the new season in 1963: to stage an elaborate Dallas homage around the Kennedy assassination. [Draper's Season 3 Episode 1 lie about being an accountant investigating Jimmy Hoffa spins off the rails! He's kept secrets before, but can he keep state secrets?]

Did you know Baby Boomers are stupid, spoiled and narcissistic? Here, Frank Rich argues why the zeitgeist chooses the Mad Men season premiere over the Woodstock anniversary. [Hint: Black Camelot]

Here we learn "Pete’s big issue is that all the metrics for his manhood are fucked."

Is Sky Mall Embracing The Humiliation Of Its Brand?

Given the popularity of Sky Mall and Sky Mall-esque products as an object for derisive laughter [Exhibit A; Exhibit B; and Exhibit C From the Onion itself], this banner ad purchase is a genius move. People looking for a sardonic laugh at Sky Mall's expense—literally on a money-per-click basis—will not be able to help themselves!!!

"That'll Be The Day"

Implausible as it may seem, I didn't know anything about this book or the upcoming movie until two days ago. [via bEEDLEY bEEP bOOP sLIDE wHISTLE]

ALSO: In another alternate history, Buddy Holly's death is attributed to him being played by Kevin Macdonald and acting like a huge asshole.

Someone Had To Say It.

But because this is a Washington Post editorial by a "reasonable" Republican no criticism of the conservative movement may be proffered without a "pox on both houses" attack on Democrats for doing the exact same thing, all the time, but worse.

Because Nancy Pelosi (D-Boogeyman) accused town hall disrupters of "carrying swastikas" (they were). And because unnamed "liberal antiwar protests" were chock-full of Hitler mustaches. Because Michael Moore said something dumb about the Patriot Act. And because Representative Brian Baird decried "Brownshirt tactics."

Here's the thing about that last one: the people intentionally disrupting town hall events and trying to turn them into anarchic carnivals of rage and possible violence are literally, actually guilty of "Brownshirt tactics."

Both the Nazis and Mussolini had Brownshirts and Blackshirts, their violent followers (many of whom were angry, disenfranchised-feeling war vets resentful of elites), attack socialists and union leaders, often on behalf of capitalists unhappy with leftist governments. Brownshirts marched through socialist strongholds in order to provoke attacks, and then they ginned up more support by holding up those who were attacked as martyrs. Does that sound familiar?

Thanks for this, Pareene. [via Gawker]

Kids In The Hall Season 1 Notes

By now, I think most everyone is aware of how good the troupe is at playing rich female characters. Something I don't hear enough people say, though, is how good Scott Thompson is at making fun of heterosexual machismo. This bit is admittedly broad, but he sells it well. I mean, hey, I LOL'd: