Wednesday, August 21, 2013

[EXTREME COUGAR WIVES] {Recap}


     Conservatively, I’d estimate that ninety-nine percent of America watched The Learning Channel’s jarring documentary series “Extreme Cougar Wives” last night. So, to the ignorant one percent whose fingers are not on the pulse of American sociopolitical culture, I offer this comprehensive summary.
     The first, most repulsive and easily exploitable couple we’re introduced to is comprised of Jane (58) and Andrew (27).
Extreme Cougar Jane is simple to characterize. If you’ve ever made a clay representation of an Amish woman, you’ve seen Extreme Cougar Jane. If your eighth grade math teacher used a faulty teleportation machine with a gopher and came out looking like the middle stage of an Animorph, you’ve seen Extreme Cougar Jane.
Andrew is more enigmatic. His garb ranges from Cal Tech Ph.D. to Civil War reenactor to punk rock bagpiper. All the while, from the neck up, he maintains a steam-punk image, making one wonder not if, but how many times he was molested as a child.  
Extreme Cougar Jane explains her affinity for younger men, saying, “They have a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” which is aptly demonstrated by one shot of Andrew twirling an old-timey flag followed by several shots of him feeding the couple’s six “transgender” chickens. A sick and twisted few might sense a forced innuendo with the montage of cocks. However, I simply think the producers wanted to share with the audience that they, too, are on the fence about whether or not Andrew is Autistic.
Naturally, the couple met during an adult education course. As Andrew describes, an immediate romantic spark ignited after Extreme Cougar Jane (then known only as Jane), “complimented me on my bolo tie,” which he was conveniently wearing for the taping. The bolo tie of focus was, of course, scrimshaw, proving that only Andrew can take an absurdly outdated fashion and make it even more absurdly outdated.
Over a particularly symbolic pedicure (see above photo), the couple makes the completely responsible and totally rational decision to adopt a foster child (“baby cub”), whom they can “teach history,” and presumably dress up like a Victorian doll. This introduces the A-story of the episode, during which an adoption consultant, Renee, visits their home and voices her concerns with the sheer volume of weaponry the couple owns, noting, “There’s a cannon in the driveway.”
A line is crossed when, upon learning of the couple’s chicken stockpile, Renee brings up the foggy poultry clause of the adoption guidelines and Andrew second-guesses the entire idea. So, for sparing the world of one more Civil War reenactor/Marine Biology major, I present to you, Renee, the Arthur Fonzarelli Award for the Jock-ification of America (also known as a Golden Fonzie).      
Next comes Extreme Cougar Loma (70), a charismatic black woman with a sassy case of Peter Pan syndrome. She loves wigs and cheetah print (as it pertains to her underwear) and she is definitely not over the hill no matter what people say. She describes herself as, “born sexy,” thus distinguishing herself from others who, “go to the surgeon and buy them some surgeon sexy.” Unfortunately, none of that sexiness manifests itself in her sunken seventy-year-old-lady face. The only feature she’s retained from her “sexy” birth might just be baldness.
Extreme Cougar Loma must prepare for a double blind date with her granddaughter, Kamelah, who inherited from her grandmother the apparently dominant gene that causes one to wear dark bras and white blouses. The two get “dolled up” in newly purchased Goodwill articles and meet their dates at the Iron Cactus restaurant.
Kamelah’s date attempts aesthetic trickery (i.e. gauges, satanic tattoos, hair art, a polka dot shirt) in an attempt to distract from a skin tag on the back of his head that the cinematographer did everything in his/her power to illuminate and showcase. Extreme Cougar Loma’s date, Larius, is at a crossroads between fruit blind and fame whore. His post-date assessment of Loma is that he “thought she was gorgeous.” The past tense is an important tell, though, as he shimmies around an invitation to a birthday party at a club the next day. Nonetheless, Larius unwillingly makes an appearance at the club, where, judging by his white t-shirt and suit vest, he is scheduled to perform magic tricks.           
Lastly, we’re introduced to Sheri (50) and Desmond (26). Extreme Cougar Sheri is a moderately wealthy white woman dressed like an extra from the Step Up franchise with a serious case of jungle fever. Desmond knows that. He does his best to confess his sexual deviancy to his mother and wife-up Extreme Cougar Sheri simultaneously at a Baptist Church. The plan ends half-successfully, as he stands to inherit Sheri’s gold hoop earring collection in time to retire, but will be unable to father creepy, fedora-adorned offspring and pass on his now-muddied legacy.
Those with the forethought to DVR network television’s Halley’s Comet, “Extreme Cougar Wives,” kudos. To the rest, I can only hope this recap can begin to suffice.  

Sunday, August 11, 2013

[FREUDSTYLE RAP]


EXT.  FRAT HOUSE – SPRING WEEKEND


NARRATOR
Alas, there were two legacy students and only one remaining ticket for tonight’s Macklemore concert. The two must determine who’s going to pop some tags and who’s not going to regret their misguided musical taste in ten years’ time.


TUCKER
Let’s settle this on the [squash] court.


HARRY
I’ve got a better idea: let’s rap battle.


DJ
[Air horn], [air horn], [extended air horn], [eagle scream], [sped up Macy Gray sample], [Dean Scream], [Ariel Castro sound bite], [bass drop].


HYPE MAN
[Inaudible] … Rap … [Inaudible] … [Grunt].


DJ KHALED
DJ Khaled.   


HARRY
♫ Call me Har Mar ‘cause I’m a ghetto superstar/Put yo bitch in the back of my V8 …


HYPE MAN
Car.


HARRY
She a baboon with a banana when she near my dick/Like me in sixth grade when I sucked off my friend, Nick. ♫



[Record scratch, music stops]



TUCKER
Wait. What was that?


HARRY
She’s like a baboon with a banana, yada, yada, yada.


TUCKER
No, the second line. What was it?


HARRY
I don’t know what I’m saying; this shit’s right from my dome.


TUCKER
You’re right. Sorry.


HARRY
Pick it up.



[Music resumes] 



HARRY
♫ So much chrome on my Lexus, all the bitches be blinded/Nick fondled my balls and I didn’t even mind it. ♫


[Music stops, Hype Man mic drops, leaves]



TUCKER
There it is again!


HARRY
Yeah, even I heard it that time.


TUCKER
What is wrong with you? Enough with the gay shit.


HARRY
I don’t know how to stop it. It’s, like, subconscious or something.


TUCKER
Talk about non-sex stuff; something safe, like pop culture.


HARRY
Here it goes.



[Music resumes]



HARRY
♫ Tina Fey’s kinda funny; you know I ain’t joshing/When my roommate ain’t home, I image search Ryan Gosling. ♫


DJ
[Changes track to “Same Love”]


HILLARY CLINTON
I’m Hillary Clinton and I approve this sketch.


NARRATOR
Clinton 2016: Because heterosexual relationships aren’t perfect either.
   

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

[RECLUSE] {Flash Fiction}


I aimed my pistol at the wolverine. He had his back towards me. I liked it that way. One shot through his head would kill him instantly.
     One moment he would be chewing the stems of a thicket of fireweed; the next would be complete unconsciousness, a dreamless sleep. He wouldn’t feel a pinch. I always thought that would be the best way to go.
I found his head in my sight. I steadied my hand, held my breath. Then, without prompting, as if sensing the inherent danger of my presence, the wolverine’s spine straightened. He turned his body just enough to see me. I saw his eyes through my sight.
I had built a simple cabin in the woods an hour North of Fairbanks. On one wall hung seven hides, four of which were from wolverines I had killed in the past month. I would get fifty-five dollars a pop, selling those hides to shops in the lower forty-eight. It would be just enough to keep the heat going until the spring.
     Alas, no justification would cure the concentrated paralysis, keeping me from pulling the trigger.     
            I lowered my gun. His fur was black and white, with a little bit of brown around the shoulders. I wanted him to be green.
     I tried to clear my mind. I gazed at the range to the East and thought about home. I wondered what ever happened to those kids who’d called me a faggot in high school. I pictured a leased Audi and a box of wine.
     I saw the wolverine dart in my periphery. Quickly, without aiming, I fired a shot. I didn’t lead enough. The bullet found his rear, above his left leg.
He shrieked and collapsed, but didn’t die. I slowly approached him. My mind was finally cleared as I shot him in the back of his head, killing him.
His carcass was heavy. I knew I’d bagged a big one. This hide would bring in more than the others. Sixty. Maybe seventy. I dreamed of a new chainsaw to cut firewood for next winter.
It took a couple hours to dress and skin him and another hour to clean up. I hung the hide from a beam on the porch for the night. It was dawn and the temperature had gone below zero.
I went inside and cooked a cut of deer meat from the freezer for dinner. I stared at the cut on the plate. The woods were silent.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

[ILLUMINATI MEETING MINUTES]



ILLUMINATI MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 1, 2013

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Paul Giamatti, Chairperson
Ezra Koenig, Vice Chairman
Art Garfunkel, Treasurer
Lucifer, Secretary
Janelle Monae, Funk Director
Nicki Minaj, Satanic Consultant
Sasha Obama, Intern
Donald Trump, [Just Kidding]


CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Giamatti attempted to open the meeting at 9:00PM in the employee break room of an Atlanta-based Golden Corral, found scent of leftover spiral ham too tempting, proposed locale change. Motion: Chris Christie; Seconded: Art Garfunkel; Approved: Unanimously by Obese, Jewish Coalitions.
Meeting moved to Giamatti’s Dodge Caravan. Members continued to complain of ham scent. Said Giamatti, “Should’ve gone with leather upholstery.” After explaining scent was of “many hams ago,” Chairperson Giamatti officially opened meeting at 9:17PM.

SECRETARY’S MINUTES

Minutes of July 25th read. Ben Bernanke objected to portion asserting he is a Pisces. Later determined that Bernanke misheard account of plans to orchestrate future financial crises. Following clear up, minutes accepted. Motion: Kathy Lee Gifford; Seconded: Alf; Approved: Unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Garfunkel proposed bake sale to increase funding for upcoming fall foliage tour, citing rising gas prices. Said intern, Sasha, “Daddy knows a sheik or two; I’ll make some calls.” Asked Chairperson Giamatti, “Can there still be baked goods?” Motion: Giamatti; Seconded: Giamatti; Approved: Giamatti, claiming “executive privilege.”

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairperson Giamatti announced the birth of Prince George Alexander Louis Mountbatten-Windsor, adding that room needed to be made in the club in the coming years to welcome the newborn. Offered Former President George W. Bush, “Kanye’s gettin’ pretty lippy lately.” Motion: Mike Myers; Second: Lucifer; Approved: Majority (22-1).

MUSIC CAUCUS’S REPORT

Vice Chairman Koenig questioned the lack of triangles on the front of Jay Z’s new album. Rebutted Z, “Go back to Park Slope, sweater vest. You ever been shot at?” Koenig declined further debate.
  
MEDIA CAUCUS’S REPORT

Rupert Murdoch asked at what point War on Women focus should shift to War on Christmas. Rush Limbaugh interrupted, denying existence of War on Women, was asked to leave minivan. Rachel Maddow proposed to hold off War on Christmas until after election season, with Wall Street “Fat Cats” coverage in the interim. Motion: Winklevoss Twins; Second: Nick Kroll; Approved: Unanimously.

POLITICAL CAUCUS’S REPORT

Former President Bush and Secretary of State John Kerry issued respective reports of Skull n’ Bones’ recent Deer Island retreat. Kerry complained of the fading glory of the once-opulent, WASP-y retreat. Bush assured, “The coke’s still crisp.” Though he added, “If only Bones was coed in the sixties, then I’d have been Magog.”
Asked Giamatti, “Why wasn’t I invited?” Kerry quickly motioned to adjourn. Motion: Kerry; Second: Bush; Approved: Unanimously.


Meeting adjourned at 10:15PM.
Next Meeting: August 8, 2013, 9:00PM at the Area 51 Holiday Inn Express conference room. Attendees are reminded to bring baked goods, carpool.