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August 20, 2021:

WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the second symphony of Alexander Borodin – these Russians really are tuneful and write very attractive music, even the older fellows. This symphony dates from 1876 and normally that’s a bit before stuff I really enjoy, but I’m enjoying this, so you never know. But prior to that, I was watching YouTube videos – a lot of false arrests and police errors, some quite shocking, and the many lawsuits and settlements involving huge amounts of money. But things don’t get better because that money comes not from the police or the officers involved, but the taxpayers. I also enjoy some of the trial and sentencing videos. Well, maybe enjoy is the wrong word – a better way of saying it is that I find some of that stuff fascinating. But here’s what I don’t find enjoyable, and it comes under the heading of “We now interrupt this program.” The interruption of videos by commercials is actually worse than network television. I believe the worst of it happens when the YouTube channels are monetizing their videos. I’ve watched twenty-minute videos that are literally interrupted every two to three minutes. Sometimes, you can skip the ads after five seconds, but then there are times when you have to sit through a full minute of interruptions. It’s really quite annoying and irritating, not necessarily in that order. And the more you watch, the worse it gets. I don’t know at what point YouTube became all about that but it’s so rampant now that it’s just disgusting. I know that you could pay some fee and not have any interruptions, but I’m not sure that option even exists anymore, not that I would EVER pay a fee to watch something on YouTube. And the answer is yes, you can pay a fee to watch ad-free. And some of the ads are so reprehensible and obnoxious and disgusting. There’s the electric razor designed to manscape your private parts so that you, too, can look like a pre-pubescent child. The ad copy makes me want to vomit on the ground. Another that I saw just moment ago was something about a good-smelling rear end. At least, I think that’s what it was about. It said something about putting suds in your butt crack (their exact wording) and if it comes out smelling bad that you need whatever product it is they’re hawking. But YouTube is probably the only place they can run these vile ads. I suppose it’s the price you pay for watching the YouTube stuff, but with those types of commercials you want to just throw your computer to the ground and stomp it until it’s lifeless. We now return you to the regularly scheduled notes, which will not be interrupted by any commercials. And now playing is Les Fresques, a composition by Bohuslav Martinu, a composer I keep trying to warm to. We do share a birthday after all. I do like this piece and I find a few other pieces attractive, but I need to spend more time with the symphonies, which I’ve not cottoned to yet. I haven’t even silked to them.

Yesterday was an okay day as okay days go. I got about seven-and-a-half hours of sleep, had a telephonic conversation with our musical director, Richard Allen, to do a few little arranging things for a few songs. Then I answered e-mails, after which I moseyed on over to Tom’s Burgers in North Hollywood, where I met Marshall Harvey. I gave him a hard drive he needs for a project, and then we both had bacon cheeseburgers and fries. Tom’s bacon cheeseburger is terrific and very close to Astro Burger in taste. We had a fun conversation and were there over an hour.

Then I headed back home. I stopped at the mail place and picked up no packages or envelopes, then continued home apace. Once home, I buckled down, Winsocki and finished writing the commentary. I also booked a surprise guest for the Tuesday night only Group Rep show, so that will be fun. I felt I needed a treat after that, so I went to Gelson’s and got one and I don’t care who knows it. I got their chocolate mousse and some whipped cream to top it with, came home and ate it all up – it was excellent and not heavy at all. There’s nothing worse than a heavy mousse, is there? Well, perhaps a heavy moose or a heavy mouse. This whole paragraph feels heavy. After all that, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole and its attendant sickening commercials and the rest you know.

Today, I’ll be up by ten, I’ll do whatever needs doing, then I have a lunch meeting during which I’ll eat lunch and meet, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll have a Zoom rehearsal or two, and then I’ll do a few other things before I watch, listen, and relax.

Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye comes, so I’ll probably go have an early and light breakfast, then I’ll visit a used CD store and maybe even bring in some trade stuff – I have boxes and boxes of trade items in the garage and it’s about time I put them to some good use. Other than that, I’m having a complete ME day and evening because – I need it. Sunday, I can relax during the day, then we have our stumble-through/tech in the evening. I have no idea how long that will take, but hopefully it will all go smoothly. Then Monday we play our first performance and Tuesday we play our second. Then I have to really get to work on the Kritzerland anniversary show and get all those songs chosen and to the singers as well as get a couple more singers for the show.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten, do whatever needs doing, have a lunch meeting, hopefully pick up packages, do a few other things, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, some more Martinu. Blu-ray, not sure. Your turn. And here’s another topic: As I mentioned, these YouTube commercials are just disgusting – but what were your favorite commercials from the days when commercials were actually creative and fun, unlike the crap they have today? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have kept these here notes commercial free from manscaping and nice smelling butt cheeks.

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