Good Morning and Happy Thursday! I was a little long winded this week. So, we’re going to get right into our Read, Listen and Watch selections.
Read - A good thing revisited
Our Listen from last week, Dan Jones, is this week’s Read. I decided to revisit Dan immediately because….
He is a prolific historian with a huge body of work. His podcast is just the tip of the iceberg.
I’ve mentioned Rich Roll at least 5 separate times and you’re still here.
Dan published such a thought provoking and amusing newsletter this week, I had to share it with you.
Honestly, I had to summon every ounce of self control to resist turning this whole issue into a Dan Jones rabbit hole. He’s that great.
Did anyone check out his podcast? I’ve spent the last week listening to Season 1 nonstop…..but that’s not what we’re here to talk about.
Today, we’re focusing on the newest issue of his newsletter, History, Etc., an essay centered around the implications of this Midieval meme:
If you’re baffled by the choices, you’re not alone.
My normal reaction to medieval internet memes - you know, like the dippy marginalia snail or the tree full of wangs - is probably about what yours is. A flicker of a smile, then onto the next thing. No shade on memes or those who post them. That is what the internet has done to our brains. Is normal.
This meme, however, was different. Ladies and gentledorks, I engaged.
Arguably I engaged too much, because not only did I text Sally about it so we could have a conversation based on the issues the meme threw up, I also have been thinking about it all week.
Dan Jones - History Etc.
Dan’s right. The meme is engaging. Mostly because the array of items are so surprising. I can’t say I would’ve chosen any of them at random. Maybe the gun, but that’s about it.
I suspect we have a “crazy like a fox” situation on our hands. At first glance, the items seem frivolous and wacky. The more I think about it, they do exactly what they’re supposed to do: make us think, inspire discussion and deliberation and, most importantly, they motivate our favorite historian to give us a detailed breakdown of the usefulness of each, individual item.
For, that I'm eternally grateful to Codpiece Sally, the creator of the meme.
Dan’s response, “Tough Choices: Medieval Meme Edition” , is as educational as it is entertaining….and visa versa. The best part, for me, is how much Dan’s personality and sense of humor shine through. We get little glimpses in his historical work but he’s limited by the story he’s telling at any given time. Here, he can just be Dan, sharing Dan thoughts, and those thoughts are wildly entertaining.
The meme, and Dan’s thoughts on it, got me thinking. What two items would I bring? Well, I think I have it figured out and it’s not any of those items.
First Item : I would bring my husband. He is the toughest, most intelligent and capable human I know. If anyone can figure out how to navigate Midieval chaos, it’s him.
All of the above reasons and…..I don’t think I could resist the urge for a little live action role play…if you know what I mean.
Damsel in distress seeks handsome Knight to protect and serve in Midieval time travel adventure? Sign me up!!
Second Item: A bicycle. I don’t know. Just seems useful. I can’t ride a horse, but I’m sure I could figure out how to ride the bike sidesaddle. I could always bring a two seater and let my hunky knight pedal me around.
Read Dan’s newsletter here : “Tough Choices: Medieval Meme Edition”
Listen : Everyone’s a Critic
When I was a little kid, my dad had a record collection. I remember looking through the well worn classic rock sleeves with pictures of Jimi Hendrix and Peter Frampton on the covers. In elementary school, I amassed my own collection of “New Kids On The Block” cassette tapes. I listened to them in my little red walkman. As a teen, I signed up for the BMG music club and received 12 “free” C.D.s from artists like Tripping Daisy, Bush and Green Day. Napster was all the rage my first year of college. I bogged down my computer with MP3s from every imaginable musician. Today, I stream Spotify playlists ranging from “Russki Rap” to “90’s Rock Anthems”
In my lifetime, the music industry has evolved beyond recognition. From music styles, to methods of listening, It’s constantly changing.
One of the biggest changes? Gatekeepers are basically irrelevant now. Anyone can spend an afternoon on Spotify handpicking new music or compiling playlists to share with others. Artists don’t have to wait to be discovered or signed. They can release their music straight to audiences on TikTok.
Ed Sheeran weighed in on this recently, causing an uproar when he told Rolling Stone Magazine that he thinks music critics are no longer necessary.
Why do you need to read a review? Listen to it. It’s freely available! Make up your own mind. I would never read an album review and go, ‘I’m not gonna listen to that now.’
Ed Sheeran, Rolling Stone
Ed’s comments have been getting a mixed reaction. The internet is full of articles about why he’s wrong and tweets about why he’s right.
I came across the conversation in an episode of the Canadian pop culture podcast “Commotion”.
The episode, “Do the opinions of music critics matter anymore?”, is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the CBC website.
Podcast host, Elamin Abdelmahmoud, invited journalist Maura Johnston and former music critic Rollie Pemberton to discuss Sheeran’s stance. Their discussion was enlightening. It was especially interesting to hear how Pemberton’s views on music critiques have changed since becoming a musician himself.
Bonus : The second half of the episode features an interview with AJ McLean of “The Backstreet Boys”. I got so excited when the host admitted his love for the boy band. I felt so validated. My dad was a musician and he had an expert ear for good music. He loved the Backstreet Boys. A fact that really confused me at first, but eventually caused me to open my mind to the music and gain a new appreciation for it.
Anyway, the interview is about AJ’s new reality show “A New Kind of Beautiful” and gives us a vulnerable, inspiring look into the personal struggles he’s had to overcome in his life.
Bonus Bonus : As mentioned, Commotion is a Canadian podcast. They post daily about a variety of interesting topics. I love it because I get to hear about things I would never encounter otherwise. For example : Canada Reads. Canada Reads is an annual “battle of the books” style competition for Canadian literature. It’s filmed and broadcast on CBC radio. Episodes are available on video on the CBC website.
It sounds like a very cool event!
Watch - S! N! L!
Oh man. I love me some Saturday Night Live. Especially when the guest is an actor or comedian I adore. So, I was really excited to see that Quinta Brunson hosted on April Fools Day.
I’ve mentioned Quinta Brunson before. She’s the creator of the highly acclaimed and much beloved sitcom “Abbot Elementary”. Brunson portrays big hearted, second grade teacher, Janine Teagues with so much charisma and comedic talent, I just knew she was going to be a great SNL host. (Spoiler: I was right!)
If you’re going to watch the whole episode, do yourself a favor: skip the cold open and go straight to Quinta’s monologue. I am a die hard SNL fan and even I think the cold opens are trash.
For fans of Quinta Brunson/Abbot Elementary, her monologue is a must watch. We get to know her on a more personal level and most of her jokes are directly related to her role on the show.
Also, stick around for the Weekend Update. Micheal Che pulls off an April Fools joke on cohost Colin Jost that feels so satisfying. It’s one of those jokes that gets funnier every time you watch it. In fact, you kind of have to watch it a couple of times to really get it. I’ve watched it three times now and each time I find more to laugh about.
Finally, if you just want to watch a funny skit about life and human nature, watch the “Traffic Altercation” skit. I don’t necessarily mind the cultural commentary or political SNL skits, but I do think the show is at it’s best when cast members are performing skits that feel relatable to everyone.
Who can’t relate to getting pissed off in traffic? I’ve watched this one a handful of times as well and it doesn’t get old. If you need a laugh, check it out.
BONUS WATCH - Easter Mom
Looking for something a little more wholesome? This Tiktok had me rolling. When I showed it to my son, his response was almost as funny as the Tiktok “Is this supposed to be you or Grandma? Because, honestly….I could see both”
I’ll take that as a compliment.
I’ll leave you with that. See you Sunday!