Over the last few months, I've become somewhat obsessed with stand-up comedy. Being in NYC, I'm lucky enough to have a variety of places to see quality comedians. Over the last few weeks I've seen Jim Norton, Jim Gaffigan, Louis CK, Joe Derosa, a few open mic nights, and tonight I'll be seeing Dave Attel.
I don't know what it is, but there is something about standing in front of a bunch of strangers with a microphone to try and make them laugh that is very appealing to me. It seems simple enough, but can be the most excruciating experience to see somebody go on stage and just absolutely bomb. It's awkward for everyone involved.
It's an art. Within the community of comedians, it's just like any other form of art. Everyone has his or her's own style and you can lose your credit within that community for ripping material or being a hack.
Aside from the actual show, the act of going to a comedy club is great. Everyone is drinking, laughing and just having a good time.
This post was just a tip-of-the hat to all those comedians and aspiring comedians out there. And for anybody who hasn't experienced a good comedy set, ditch the bar scene and give it a go with a group of friends one night...guaranteed good time.
Here is a clip from one of my favorite comedians (who I will hopefully see in 2011)...enjoy:
- Diddy
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Was anybody watching NCAA women's hoops last night? Didn't think so.
 |
| Notice this highschool player doing something that nobody on the UCONN women's team is capable of...dunking a ball. |
The only way I can compare this is if I go golfing with a girl and she boasts that she beat me....from the red tees. Yea, you won. But, you were playing from a much easier position.
I never hear anybody comparing WNBA teams to NBA for winning streaks. Because everyone knows that you can't compare the talent pools. The same should stand for all women's sports. I'm sorry, but they're just not as interesting because the skill level lacks severely from men athletics.
Eighty-nine wins is impressive. But you take this UCONN team to a ranked men's HIGHSCHOOL team, and I think it would be a loss. Why do I think this? If you have one male basketball player in the post that's bigger than the girl, it's a wrap. Plain and simple. Basketball is one sport that if you're bigger, stronger, faster and can jump higher....you're going to win. I don't care how many consecutive wins they have.
And for any women reading this who are getting offended...Look, if they want to be taken seriously, can they at least try using a regulation men's basketball? I've seen some friends par out on a course in golf, but they're not comparing their game to a PGA pro...because they know it's completely different circumstances and they're in another league. Yes, that score can be compared to the pros, but you're not a pro, and ESPN won't be covering your great round tomorrow morning.
I'm not blaming the UCONN women's team for anything. I'm blaming the media for making this a story about this winning streak being the best in ALL OF DIVISION I BASKETBALL.
Even if you don't want to believe the comparisons between men and women sports, just look at the makeup of women's teams. You're either amazing or terrible. The best girls in the country go to one school to play ball, UCONN...and in the past, Tennessee. Men's programs have more intense recruiting efforts, and with the talent, you can see teams like Oakland upset Michigan State. You're not going to see a small school upset women's UCONN because it's most likely a bunch of walk-ons trying to get exercise.
Sorry girls, but you're record means nothing outside of your sport.
-Diddy
Friday, December 17, 2010
Is it creepy going to the movies alone??
Good morning NBD readers. Since I'm bored at work right now, I'm trying to figure out if I should get drunk tonight or go to a movie. I LOVE movies. I especially love when a good movie comes out that I've been patiently waiting for. Tonight, The Fighter is out and it looks pretty damn good, and getting great reviews.
This led me to think about the actual act of going out to see a movie. Have you ever gone out to see a movie alone? I've never accomplished the act of having enough self-confidence to go to a movie by myself. It just seems weird to me. Going to a movie and going out to a restaurant just seem like acts that you need a companion, preferably of the other sex.
I don't know about you, but if I see old men going to movies and restaurants alone, I automatically think they're creepers.
There are also double standards for going to a movie. I was talking about this subject at the last movie I saw when I saw two males (they weren't dating or gay) sitting together at a movie. For some reason it seems perfectly normal for two girls to go see a movie together, but when you see two guys, it just doesn't look right. I guess the stereotypical "dinner and a movie" date premise made it seem like dinner and movies are reserved for couples.
Because of this, I have failed to see several films because my friendgirls didn't agree with my taste in movies. Whenever I'm put in the situation where I have to choose to go see a movie alone or pick another activity to do, it usually results with me going out to the bars or staying home and getting baked watching DVDs. I'd like to start a movement. No longer should movies and dinner be reserved for couples. Be as creepy as you want, and dare to go do these events alone.
With that said, any cute girls out there want to go see The Fighter tonight?
- Diddy
This led me to think about the actual act of going out to see a movie. Have you ever gone out to see a movie alone? I've never accomplished the act of having enough self-confidence to go to a movie by myself. It just seems weird to me. Going to a movie and going out to a restaurant just seem like acts that you need a companion, preferably of the other sex.
I don't know about you, but if I see old men going to movies and restaurants alone, I automatically think they're creepers.
There are also double standards for going to a movie. I was talking about this subject at the last movie I saw when I saw two males (they weren't dating or gay) sitting together at a movie. For some reason it seems perfectly normal for two girls to go see a movie together, but when you see two guys, it just doesn't look right. I guess the stereotypical "dinner and a movie" date premise made it seem like dinner and movies are reserved for couples.
Because of this, I have failed to see several films because my friendgirls didn't agree with my taste in movies. Whenever I'm put in the situation where I have to choose to go see a movie alone or pick another activity to do, it usually results with me going out to the bars or staying home and getting baked watching DVDs. I'd like to start a movement. No longer should movies and dinner be reserved for couples. Be as creepy as you want, and dare to go do these events alone.
With that said, any cute girls out there want to go see The Fighter tonight?
- Diddy
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Glenn Beck Fact Checking Part I
As if my posts don't show it, for the most part, I have liberal views. In a perfect world, politics wouldn't be grouped into two parties and there wouldn't be labels on elections. In a perfect world, you would base every election on the issues and wouldn't base your campaign around delegitimizing your opponent. But, of course that's not how it works, and you have your "liberal" media (New York Times?) and "conservative" media (Fox News). I really don't care what people's views are, and try not to get in any arguments, but I also try to get a glimpse of both sides.
I tried to watch a full episode of Glenn Beck, but it's really hard. I can't understand if he wants to preach about religion or politics. Since nowadays, Christianity and Conservatives go hand-in-hand, it makes sense. Recently, liberal comedian Bill Maher bashed Beck for being a sell out and claimed that he just decided to get religious with his rants because it's easier to sway an audience and make a dollar taking that route. And I tend to be on that wave length that if you paid him enough money, he'd be preaching liberal views. What many people don't know is Beck used to be (and I think he still has some sort of tour) a stand-up comedian....a bad one. If he had a show set up like the Daily Show or Colbert Report, it would be much easier to listen to him since it would have comedic undertones. Dennis Miller is a conservative, and I find his act funny and sharp. He shares his views, makes jokes but doesn't press his views on others.
Beck claims that the government uses scare tactics and is trying to control our lives like Nazi Germany....Yet to get his points across he uses....scare tactics. Aside from comedians, nobody seems to speak out against some of the "historical" bullshit that Beck claims as facts, until today. CNN's Fareed Zakaria heard Beck's radio show and had a response to one of Becks "stats". He claimed that the number of Muslims who are terrorists is 10 percent...which would equal approximately 157 million Muslim terrorists. Zakaria had a calm, factual response to Beck...they even put it on a virtual chalk board so Beck can process it. Story and video here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/cnn-host-slams-beck-claim-10-percent-muslims-terrorists/
For anybody that watches and respects Beck...I really don't care. But when they start taking his show like it's some sort of factual journalism....Just remember, there is a reason you don't see any big chain stores advertising on Beck's show anymore. Zakaria stated it plain and simple when referring to Beck's "claims"....total nonsense.
And just so you don't think I'm making up the part about him being a stand-up...Here is a trailer for one of his DVDs called "Unelectable" from 2008...I vote to change the title of the DVD to "Unwatchable."
- Diddy
I tried to watch a full episode of Glenn Beck, but it's really hard. I can't understand if he wants to preach about religion or politics. Since nowadays, Christianity and Conservatives go hand-in-hand, it makes sense. Recently, liberal comedian Bill Maher bashed Beck for being a sell out and claimed that he just decided to get religious with his rants because it's easier to sway an audience and make a dollar taking that route. And I tend to be on that wave length that if you paid him enough money, he'd be preaching liberal views. What many people don't know is Beck used to be (and I think he still has some sort of tour) a stand-up comedian....a bad one. If he had a show set up like the Daily Show or Colbert Report, it would be much easier to listen to him since it would have comedic undertones. Dennis Miller is a conservative, and I find his act funny and sharp. He shares his views, makes jokes but doesn't press his views on others.
Beck claims that the government uses scare tactics and is trying to control our lives like Nazi Germany....Yet to get his points across he uses....scare tactics. Aside from comedians, nobody seems to speak out against some of the "historical" bullshit that Beck claims as facts, until today. CNN's Fareed Zakaria heard Beck's radio show and had a response to one of Becks "stats". He claimed that the number of Muslims who are terrorists is 10 percent...which would equal approximately 157 million Muslim terrorists. Zakaria had a calm, factual response to Beck...they even put it on a virtual chalk board so Beck can process it. Story and video here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/cnn-host-slams-beck-claim-10-percent-muslims-terrorists/
For anybody that watches and respects Beck...I really don't care. But when they start taking his show like it's some sort of factual journalism....Just remember, there is a reason you don't see any big chain stores advertising on Beck's show anymore. Zakaria stated it plain and simple when referring to Beck's "claims"....total nonsense.
And just so you don't think I'm making up the part about him being a stand-up...Here is a trailer for one of his DVDs called "Unelectable" from 2008...I vote to change the title of the DVD to "Unwatchable."
- Diddy
Monday, December 6, 2010
Man vs. Charcoal
Yesterday, I celebrated one of man's best traditions: Tailgating. While there are girls out there that enjoy tailgating, I feel it's truly a manly tradition. Drinking, eating, watching football... It epitomizes being a man. That's why it hurts to admit that I (along with a lot of other 20-somethings) am not as manly as I should be.
The reason behind this thinking is simple. ANYBODY can tailgate. It doesn't take any skills to eat or drink or sit on your ass and watch a football game. But, when it comes time to lighting a charcoal grill, and actually setting up a "manly" tailgate, it doesn't take a lot of things to go wrong before you're left with cold charcoal and uncooked hamburger meat.
I drove down early Sunday morning with a buddy to get the day going. We packed up the car with (what I thought) were the essentials: burgers, chicken, beer, grill, bag of charcoal, condiments, tequila. What we forgot: plates, forks, spatulas/grilling equipment, common sense.
I have attempted to light three charcoal grills in my life. One time was successful with a self-lighting bag, one time was semi-successful that included a hint of lighter fluid with every bite of burger, and yesterday was just completely unsuccessful.
After about 20 minutes, a half bottle of lighter fluid and a Sunday edition of a shredded Daily News, all I had to show for my efforts was flaming debris that was flying over the parking lot and cold charcoal. You'd be surprised how un-manly it feels to be defeated by a grill. Luckily, we had another friend who met us there with a gas grill, but still....I felt pretty empty inside as we had to treck 3 miles to the other side of the stadium (lugging all our tailgating gear).
To solve this problem, I plan on doing what every self-respecting man does...Go buy a really nice gas grill for tailgating.
-Diddy
I drove down early Sunday morning with a buddy to get the day going. We packed up the car with (what I thought) were the essentials: burgers, chicken, beer, grill, bag of charcoal, condiments, tequila. What we forgot: plates, forks, spatulas/grilling equipment, common sense.
I have attempted to light three charcoal grills in my life. One time was successful with a self-lighting bag, one time was semi-successful that included a hint of lighter fluid with every bite of burger, and yesterday was just completely unsuccessful.
After about 20 minutes, a half bottle of lighter fluid and a Sunday edition of a shredded Daily News, all I had to show for my efforts was flaming debris that was flying over the parking lot and cold charcoal. You'd be surprised how un-manly it feels to be defeated by a grill. Luckily, we had another friend who met us there with a gas grill, but still....I felt pretty empty inside as we had to treck 3 miles to the other side of the stadium (lugging all our tailgating gear).
To solve this problem, I plan on doing what every self-respecting man does...Go buy a really nice gas grill for tailgating.
-Diddy
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Meanwhile, in Fantasy Land...
Well, if there were two people who shouldn't be allowed to talk about absitinence, it's Bristol Palin and The Situation. This latest gem has been making its way across the blogosphere. I watched the YouTube video, but my tolerance for the word "situation" is set at a MAXIMUM of hearing it five times in a minute. So it's no surprise that I had to grind my teeth while hearing the word "situation" 17 times during this 1:45 video clip.
This video was released through The Candie's Foundation. Now, I looked up the page because I really wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a REAL PSA about abstinence and safe sex. It just looked like shitty improv to me. And the Candie's site doesn't make their message of safe sex very clear. FYI, if you have an organization website with a serious cause, using black and hot pink as your background and border colors doesn't exactly relay the message correctly. The homepage has the video with links to "behind the scene footage." I can only imagine what happened behind the scenes, but I do know that it would be amazing to see the offspring if the Situation and B Palin actually had sex and created some strange mutant with their DNA.
And a message to Candie's Foundation: FYI, when I see those anti-marijuana commercials, it just makes me want to roll a fatty real bad....just throwin' that out there. I want to call this PSA complete shit, but I can't. This PSA takes me back to the '90s when these commercials were trendy. I mean, nothing gets accomplished, but it's just nice seeing a throwback shitty PSA.
- Diddy
This video was released through The Candie's Foundation. Now, I looked up the page because I really wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a REAL PSA about abstinence and safe sex. It just looked like shitty improv to me. And the Candie's site doesn't make their message of safe sex very clear. FYI, if you have an organization website with a serious cause, using black and hot pink as your background and border colors doesn't exactly relay the message correctly. The homepage has the video with links to "behind the scene footage." I can only imagine what happened behind the scenes, but I do know that it would be amazing to see the offspring if the Situation and B Palin actually had sex and created some strange mutant with their DNA.
And a message to Candie's Foundation: FYI, when I see those anti-marijuana commercials, it just makes me want to roll a fatty real bad....just throwin' that out there. I want to call this PSA complete shit, but I can't. This PSA takes me back to the '90s when these commercials were trendy. I mean, nothing gets accomplished, but it's just nice seeing a throwback shitty PSA.
- Diddy
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