EverythingNothing

Last fall Amir Blumenfeld and Streeter Seidell started a new podcast entitled EverythingNothing.  They use the pseudonyms of Dannis O'Connell and and Dennis O'Connor respectively.  They even have their own twitter feed for the podcast, mostly consisting up of updates on new podcasts and extended jokes.  And this podcast is hilarious.  It has a different type of humor than Jake and Amir.  Their catchphrase is, "The only podcast in the known universe dedicated to arts, science, literature, philosophy and everythingnothing in between."  It also opens with some smooth jazz music.  But this podcast is far from the serious air they ironically put off.  One character (I get them mixed up but whichever one Streeter plays) was raised in a unconventional way and keeps track of time in lunar years.  He has interesting stories to frequently "interject".  Amir's character is seemingly more normal, but often does stupid things, like losing the use of his feet.  They both act as if they are extremely well-informed while in reality they are completely out of it, and it make for great comedy, especially when combined with a game of minesweeper (which is a whole different topic).  It's best if you start from the beginning, episode 401.  Highly recommended.

Bucket List

Okay, so I believe I've mentioned my favorite web series ever, Jake and Amir.  But man, they are really funny and I just feel like I need to share this.  Recently they came out with a video called "Bucket List", and the content is a little crude, but there are SO many quotable moments I can't even believe it.  Ridiculous.  I'm not going to say any of them right now because they would be completely misunderstood out of context, but just watch it.  Watch it.  Now. Really, I've linked it four times now so I think it's about time you tune in.  Anyways, I feel like after Amir Blumenfeld came up with such a spectacular, although incomplete, bucket list I could come up with one of my own.  But I tried.  And I can't.  So I found one.

• Break a world record.  This one seems a little bit unrealistic to me.  There are only so many records out there to break and chances are you don't have one.  Little bit crazy to expect this much from yourself I do believe.  And if you don't achieve it, your life seems incomplete.  I'd rather have a super easy bucket list so I can feel super fulfilled early on.
• Experience weightlessness.  Really?  This is even more unrealistic than the last one.  I thought bucket list items were along the lines of "run a marathon" or "do volunteer work", and unless you're an astronaut your basically setting yourself up for failure.  Sorry.
• Skydive.  Much more realistic and pretty daring.  I think this one is a pretty good item.  Just hope this bucket list item isn't the last thing you'll ever do...
• Own my own business.  That's a pretty good goal, except maybe they should add "own my own successful business", because no one wants their bucket list item making them go broke.  That would be unfortunate.
• Donate blood.  That's ridiculous.  If that's on your bucket list and you haven't already done it you're just plain lazy.  Simple as that.
• See the Top 100 Films of All Time.  Pretty decent.  Maybe I should do that one before I die.
• See AOL's List of Movies to See Before You Die.  Or that one.  Unless they meant just see the list, because that would be super easy and take about five second.  Life achieved.
• Host a family reunion and trip to Disney.  Kind of sad that your goal is to go to Disney World, but I kind of wish someone would have had this goal when I was growing up seeing as the closest thing I got to an amusement park before eighth grade was Camp Snoopy.  I could've used a trip to Disney World.
• Be a contestant on a game show.  I don't know about that one.  I usually end up either feeling really bad for contestants or just plain uncomfortable watching their awkward mannerisms on television.  I don't think I'd wish that upon anyone, unless I thought they could win Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
• Become a Millionaire.  I guess this one could be relatively easy if that whole game show thing works out for you.  And money is good I guess.  I'll take this one.
• Sell my craft on E-bay.  Sorry.  That is extremely easy.  I could make a friendship bracelet and sell it on e-bay easily.  Someone will want it.  This one isn't exactly shooting for the stars.
• Learn to drive a stick shift.  Yeah.  Me too.
• Write a book and publish it.  Hey, that was one of Amir's goals too.  But you would know that because you watched the clip.  Obviously.
• Go on a blind date.  Really.  That's your love goal.  That's sad.
• Go to all NASCAR races.  No thank you.  Plus I'm pretty sure that going to all of anything in unrealistic.  And what sane person wants to spend that much time watching NASCAR?
• Run a marathon.  Yeah.  That's what I thought.  A normal bucket list item.

This list also suggests adding a timeline, so maybe confine that e-bay goal to, sell my craft on e-bay within the next fifteen minutes.  That seems a little bit better.  This complete list can be seen here.

So that gave me very few suggestions for my own bucket list, but maybe it just takes time to come up with personal things that will really make your life feel fulfilling.  That sounds like something that might take a bit of time, but going to Disney World sounds like a good start.  Maybe I'll get around to my bucket list later, but for now I'm optimistic that there will be a later in which I can make and complete my bucket list.

The Old Man and the Seymour

"The Old Man and the Seymour" is perhaps one of the most creative short films I've ever seen.  Starring CollegeHumor's Amir Blumenfeld (previously mentioned in Amir's video letter to Santa) and Streeter Seidell, the film follows the recent events is Lewis Plunkett's life.  He is a 47-year-old with a growth hormone deficiency that often leads to him being mistaken for a high-schooler.  When his brother dies, he reluctantly gains custody of his high-school nephew, and is mistaken for the new kid at school.  The film is hilariously taglined, "Over 90 million Americans use products or procedures to fight the visible signs of aging.  Lewis Plunkett isn't one of them."  It received a multitude of awards including, Director's Choice at the Sacramento Film and Music Festival 2009, Audience Award at the Portable Film Festival 2009, and Best Cinematography at the NYU First Run Film Festival 2009.  It also played at a series of other accredited film festivals.

Only 31 minutes in length, "The Old Man and the Seymour" focuses mainly on the jokes and less on the story line, but it still is hilarious, and any fan of Amir would enjoy it.  Even the trailers are hilarious.  Then second trailer featuring "Requiem for a Dream" can be found here.  The entire short film can be watched online, through Vimeo here.

This short film makes me optimistic that comedy can come in any form, even if the concept seems depressing at first, jokes can precede story, and Amir can make me laugh in any situation.

Amir's video letter to Santa

Around this time of year a lot of people are getting really excited for Christmas, and a big part of Christmas is Santa Claus.  Now I know most people are too old to believe in Santa, so that usually means there's a lot humor in a grown who still believes that Chris Cringle still comes sliding down their chimney on Christmas Eve to bring them gifts.  And perhaps the people who grasped that humor best are Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld, stars of CollegeHumor's shorts entitled Jake and Amir.  Together they write, film, act in, and produce shorts made specifically for the internet viewers.  Amir Blumenfeld won the People's Voice Webby Award for Best Individual Performance and Jake and Amir won the People's Voice award for Comedy Series this year.  Some of Jake and Amir's best videos are featured here.

But back to holiday spirit and comedy.  Jake and Amir created a short last year around Christmas that takes the best of a twenty-some year old who still has faith in Santa, a misunderstanding of Jewish principles, a complete lack of understanding of various expressions of speech, a hostile video letter to Father Christmas himself, and open threats to the Big Man if he doesn't give the bad boy all the toys and leave his reindeer behind.

You can watch this fantastic holiday video here, but just a quick warning, it doesn't contain the cleanest language even if some is bleeped out or the word "fooey" is substituted.  But it will most likely get a laugh out of you and make you just a little bit more excited for Christmas to roll around.  Jake and Amir make me optimistic that I'll always have a constant source of laughter, even if their videos only come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

P.S. If you were wondering what my favorited Jake and Amir video is, it's Nutrition.  Thank you Amir for making even poor health choices funny.