Tag Archive: culture


Oh for heaven’s sakes

151

As a 1930s husband, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

44

As a 1930s wife, I am
Average

Take the test!

My latest craze is Facebook.

It is probably one of the best “Social Networking” sites I’ve found to date.

And trust me.. this is something I’ve been researching since the dialup BBS days in 1979. (Yes, I’m hardcore)

Facebook has communities. I really needed to share this one.. because… well, it’s just too damned true.

History: I was raised in both states of Pennsylvania. 15 years Eastern PA/ 15 years Western PA. I was NOT born in PA. I was raised by New Yorkers. So this rings very true on so many levels:

Community name: Dear Pennsylvania: Get the F*** Out of the Left Lane. Love, New Jersey

Community Description:
It’s common knowledge that Pennsylvania produces the highest percentage of Left Lane Dicks out of all the states in the Union.

You know these people: there is absolutely no one in any of the lanes to their right, yet they insist on maintaining 55 mph in the left lane. As you nearly rear-end them at 85, you discover they are from Pennsylvania, throwing you further into a rage.

It’s not uncommon for we New Jersey drivers to tailgate these people for miles on end, despite the fact that it would be easier to simply move over and go around their slow asses. However, we’re from Jersey, and as always, we have a point to prove. We tailgate them, honk our horn, flash our high beams, and flip them off when we finally decide to go around.

So, Pennsylvania – Get the F*** out of the Left Lane.

Note: This is more about Eastern Pennsylvanians than Western (by experience)

I was prompted to post this morning, not because of the video but because of a comment associated with it:

For a little history, this Sesame Street segment dates back to about 1971. It ran until about 1974. It features a character now lost to history: Roosevelt Franklin. The character and his mother perform an R&B recitation of the alphabet.

One user posted:
I don’t think you could get away today with depicting black people as puppets in a stereotypical way. Not pc. But I meant crazy in an over the top effort kind of way to be funny – crazy is a funny way … I’m not so into this stuff, my 36 yr old sister sent this to me – this stuff cracks her up

Sadly, one of the things that Sesame Street seems to have lost is non-monster muppets. The sound effects man with the Derby, Prairie Dawn, and the Roosevelt Franklin kids did more for the show and culture than people gave them credit for. Franklin and family were lavender. The Sound effects man (and one of Roosevelt’s friends) were royal blue. When put along the already multi-racial human cast… who had time to organize characters by colour. It was simply another distinguishing feature. Personally, I think the show did wonders to reduce the concept of racism in a very subtle and downright-subversive manner.

The video does admittedly show puppets ‘of colour’ performing what is pretty much contemporary ‘new york urban’ music of the early 70’s. Schoolhouse rock also utilized this technique in the video’s for six, nine, and verb. Personally, I don’t find this “stereotyping” anymore than showing anything appreciated by any subset of society. You might as well outlaw “Villa Alegra”, “Happy Days”, and “You Can’t Do That On Television” because they are aimed at cultural subsets.

Here’s the snippet. You decide:

If you want to see the horrid underbelly of edumacation sic.
Here’s a treat in appreciation of irony and satire.

Kudos to the writers at MadTV for these rips on Schoolhouse Rock. Here’s another one and one more and one last one.