I'm less sure about the third. How old is your niece, again?

She's also 14 (or will be in March). I like the idea of Jingle Bell earrings, and I think that they might actually make noise, or at least I would hope so with that name. Looking at them, I'm pretty sure I see little mini-clappers in that picture.

Problem with looking at earrings on Amazon is that I picked out a few for myself, too! (These two, to be precise.)

ETA: Oooh, I just found the perfect bracelet for her, too! She's into music in a big way (plays cello and piano beautifully, and also sings), so this is perfect for her!

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In college, yes. Since he became a professional wingnut lapdog, no.

Huh. Gug.

Good comedians can work blue and do good work and get laughs. Bad comedians can do bad work and get laughs because its dirty.

Even good comedians do bad work and get laughs when/because it's dirty. I went to see Eddie Murphy on his "Raw" tour, back when I was in college. It was probably around 1987. His Delirious tour (of which I'd only heard a recording) was so funny (and not unblue, I don't think). But about halfway through the "Raw" gig, I realized an awful lot of my laughter that night was only shock-induced. I remembering wishing the epiphany had waited until it was over, because I was having a great time until it dawned on me.

Sometimes the blue is inherent to the funny. Sometimes it's just gratuitous (on top of genuine humor). Sometimes though, it is there in place of the funny. I can no longer remember Murphy's material from that night. I suspect the bits that felt like more shock-value laden than anything else (to me, that is), fell in the gratuitous category.

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cereal...

I hear from a mutual friend that Narrator is safe.

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That's why I said too many fart jokes.

But you just said it's crap, full stop, about working blue. That's why I disagreed. If you meant "when done badly and/or to excess," sure, but that's true of any kind of comedy.

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One thing that I noticed about Eddie Murphy, and a few other "blue" comedians is that when you take away the shock value, there's still a lot of liking of women there. Compared to an Andrew Dice Clay who really truly is misogynistic on every level.

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But you just said it's crap, full stop, about working blue. That's why I disagreed.

Well, I was on the fly posting at work, so I'm glad you questioned it and I got to clarify.

If you meant "when done badly and/or to excess," sure, but that's true of any kind of comedy.

But the other things won't get you laughs when done badly and to excess -- the dick jokes almost always will. And you get the problem that they're easy to fall back on -- if you always go to the dirty to get a house back on your side you risk stalling in your comic development and staying average. It's a very common trap in stand-up and improv and sketch.

With improv especially its tricky because on the one hand you don't want to inhibit the places your mind goes (so saying 'never be dirty' isn't good) but you want to learn to make smart interesting choices and not necessarily easy ones.

The really great improvisors I've worked with and been taught by are pretty unanimous that the best way to go dirty is when you just. can't. help. it.

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If you have a good view of the eastern horizon and feel like getting up early on Sunday morning.... [link]

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But the other things won't get you laughs when done badly and to excess

I don't know how you can say that. Physical comedy is often done badly, often done to excess, and often gets laughs anyway. And I can roll my eyes and think it's pandering, but I kinda think that other people genuinely find it funny. See any of five thousand terrible, repetitive sitcoms that nonetheless have fans. There's no objective "this is funny and that isn't."

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My FSIL asked me this question and I didn't know but figured the Hivemind would -- which states use the internet the most/which states are the most internet savvy.

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I am going to have to kill my brother. He's kvetching about turning 28 today. Claiming he's 26. WTF? I'm 31. I have no angst (except the how the hell did that happen kind. And the Holy crap kind. Anyway.)

Dude. He's a year or so away from a PhD in cancer (or alzheimers. Or... depending on what happens with his boss drama) research. He's got a near-4 year old. He'll have another kid before 29. He's got a whole hell of a lot to trumpet at 28. Boys get weird about age too. I envy him all but that!

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