buzzfeed is the devil and yet
Jan. 7th, 2019 08:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dragonlady7it's too bad I kind of just mentally flounced from Tumblr because this would be a perfect post for over there. But I'm so mad at them! Argh all my photos of my bruises from 2015 when I guess I was still skating derby because of the bruises. It just grinds it into my face, how fucking craven and stupid that whole algorithm-deletion-bullshit is. My body is not fundamentally obscene! Ugh. Anyway.
I just wanted to post that I've been slowly working my way through an episode or two at a time through Buzzfeed Unsolved with Dude, which is really something because we never watch stuff together, ever since that fantastic post about it on here somewhere that I posted about.
I like it mostly because it's touching the edge of creepy stuff without ever actually being creepy itself. And Shane and Ryan mock one another ceaselessly, and are very much, like, Cis Straight Dudes, but they really are actually fairly kind to one another, and they always share a bed and it's sort of weird that that's absolutely not in any way weird? Like, they're in a hotel, surely they could get two beds? nope, they always have to share a bed, and there is literally never ever the slightest attention paid to that, there's never any grousing about it, there's never anything at all about it? They just-- do, and Shane always sleeps on the right, and snores a little, and Ryan never sleeps a goddamn wink, and they bitch about everything but they never complain about close quarters and while I don't tinhat it at all and they don't seem to particularly like touching each other, they're also not squeamish about it (or at least, none of that shit ever makes the cut into the final edit; it's possible they do the regular straight dudes bullshit and Ryan just edits it out because he groks that it's tedious as fuck). Which is sort of sadly refreshing. Like, there just isn't any real estate devoted to giving a fuck, when he's perfectly willing to include every single time he loses his shit over absolutely nothing in a dark room, which is... I mean, that's kind of the whole show, Ryan losing his mind over absolutely nothing in a dark room while Shane comes up with increasingly farfetched animations he expects Ryan to hand-draw in post.
Shane is on paper extremely similar to my dude, in that mine's six three and he's six four, and they're both light-haired and of approximate Eastern European extraction, and they have quite similar physiques (IDK Shane's stats but my fella used to be 135 lbs and now probably tips the scales near 160, I'm just saying even now he's middle-aged he is not a big guy), and they both have bone stilts as legs, but I just have to point out that compared to Shane Madej my dude is a bronzed fitness god. Christ, Madej, go the fuck outside just one time in your life.
I sort of don't want to get into a fandom about this, though. Firstly because then I'd be too selfconscious to actually ask Dude to watch episodes with me and I enjoy it more when he watches too, and secondly because you know what, I really don't need to ship real people, their relationship is hilarious enough just assuming they're coworkers. Also I still have like four seasons to get through, let's not get ahead of ourselves here.
Oh I've also tried the Penumbra Podcast? Alas, not a fan, not even with good headphones. Sorry, folks. I had to abruptly exit out of the first non-Juno-Steel episode, when the terrified neurotic painter woman was like "I know, I'll stop my hands from shaking by twisting them into this vise!" No fucking way, you cannot pay me to listen to that shit, I literally slid to a halt on the awful slanted icy sidewalk I was walking down and said, out loud, "No fucking way!" and fumbled my phone out of my pocket and nearly threw it onto the sidewalk jabbing at the STOP THIS NOW button. So I'm done with that. Sorry. No. Juno's character is very slightly compelling, in that he's a hard-bitten cynical type with an extremely vulnerable wounded streak and that kind of light-but-resonant voice that pings the mind of male-attracted folks as possibly belonging to an attractive person, but that's not really enough, and can't pull the weight of the rest. I can't do it! I can't do it.
Still need something to occupy me on my walks to work. More music recs, possibly. Maybe I'll try audiobooks. I really think they won't work for me, though; I can't really focus on listening to things. If words aren't written they aren't real, so I don't know that I could follow, like, a novel? Maybe though. Maybe worth a shot.
I just wanted to post that I've been slowly working my way through an episode or two at a time through Buzzfeed Unsolved with Dude, which is really something because we never watch stuff together, ever since that fantastic post about it on here somewhere that I posted about.
I like it mostly because it's touching the edge of creepy stuff without ever actually being creepy itself. And Shane and Ryan mock one another ceaselessly, and are very much, like, Cis Straight Dudes, but they really are actually fairly kind to one another, and they always share a bed and it's sort of weird that that's absolutely not in any way weird? Like, they're in a hotel, surely they could get two beds? nope, they always have to share a bed, and there is literally never ever the slightest attention paid to that, there's never any grousing about it, there's never anything at all about it? They just-- do, and Shane always sleeps on the right, and snores a little, and Ryan never sleeps a goddamn wink, and they bitch about everything but they never complain about close quarters and while I don't tinhat it at all and they don't seem to particularly like touching each other, they're also not squeamish about it (or at least, none of that shit ever makes the cut into the final edit; it's possible they do the regular straight dudes bullshit and Ryan just edits it out because he groks that it's tedious as fuck). Which is sort of sadly refreshing. Like, there just isn't any real estate devoted to giving a fuck, when he's perfectly willing to include every single time he loses his shit over absolutely nothing in a dark room, which is... I mean, that's kind of the whole show, Ryan losing his mind over absolutely nothing in a dark room while Shane comes up with increasingly farfetched animations he expects Ryan to hand-draw in post.
Shane is on paper extremely similar to my dude, in that mine's six three and he's six four, and they're both light-haired and of approximate Eastern European extraction, and they have quite similar physiques (IDK Shane's stats but my fella used to be 135 lbs and now probably tips the scales near 160, I'm just saying even now he's middle-aged he is not a big guy), and they both have bone stilts as legs, but I just have to point out that compared to Shane Madej my dude is a bronzed fitness god. Christ, Madej, go the fuck outside just one time in your life.
I sort of don't want to get into a fandom about this, though. Firstly because then I'd be too selfconscious to actually ask Dude to watch episodes with me and I enjoy it more when he watches too, and secondly because you know what, I really don't need to ship real people, their relationship is hilarious enough just assuming they're coworkers. Also I still have like four seasons to get through, let's not get ahead of ourselves here.
Oh I've also tried the Penumbra Podcast? Alas, not a fan, not even with good headphones. Sorry, folks. I had to abruptly exit out of the first non-Juno-Steel episode, when the terrified neurotic painter woman was like "I know, I'll stop my hands from shaking by twisting them into this vise!" No fucking way, you cannot pay me to listen to that shit, I literally slid to a halt on the awful slanted icy sidewalk I was walking down and said, out loud, "No fucking way!" and fumbled my phone out of my pocket and nearly threw it onto the sidewalk jabbing at the STOP THIS NOW button. So I'm done with that. Sorry. No. Juno's character is very slightly compelling, in that he's a hard-bitten cynical type with an extremely vulnerable wounded streak and that kind of light-but-resonant voice that pings the mind of male-attracted folks as possibly belonging to an attractive person, but that's not really enough, and can't pull the weight of the rest. I can't do it! I can't do it.
Still need something to occupy me on my walks to work. More music recs, possibly. Maybe I'll try audiobooks. I really think they won't work for me, though; I can't really focus on listening to things. If words aren't written they aren't real, so I don't know that I could follow, like, a novel? Maybe though. Maybe worth a shot.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 02:37 am (UTC)I've got a lot of podcasts on a variety of subjects that I listen to and I enjoy them as white noise that passes in one ear and out the other, except for a few random facts that stick occasionally. If you'd like, I could make up a list but ehh, it's not everyone's thing.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 03:53 pm (UTC)Anyway-- I'd appreciate recs, if it wouldn't be much trouble.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 04:27 pm (UTC)Switched on Pop
The Dork Forest - people go and talk to comedian Jackie Kashian about the shit they're really dorks about, everything from unions to Dolly Parton
In Defense of Plants - people talking about neat plant things, occasionally gets really deep into it, but they're all enthusiastic
Homoground - queer artists/music, has interviews with the artists in between their music
Nancy - queer stuff
Spacepod - Amazing lady scientist interviews other scientists about their neat space thing - she really asks for them to break down their research so even randos like me can understand
The Splendid Table - mostly listening for the interviews with people. I occasionally remember food things
Gastropod - food through the lens of science and history. covers neat things and digs into it - really good
Can I Pet Your Dog - people being into dogs, it's cute and makes me laugh a lot
Bon appetit - food stuff just to have noise to listen to
Stuff You Missed in History Class - history stuff
Queery - Comedian Cameron Esposito interviews other queer folks about their life - I usually pay a little more attention to this, like long drives
Put Your Hands Together - podcast of a comedy show in LA that Cameron and Rhea Butcher host
If you're into seeds/farm stuff more than I think you are, Farmer to Farmer Podcast done by the late Chris Blanchard is awesome or the Open Source Seed Initiative has a podcast
A few others I haven't listened to in a while, mostly because they aren't on Stitcher by Ursula Vernon and Kevin Sonney
Productivity Alchemy - organization and productivity stuff but I listened just to listen. might cause anxiety idek
The Hidden Almanac - five minute fiction episodes that are cute and funny
Kevin and Ursula Eat Cheap - listening to them chat while eating bad food is funny - long episodes though
One of Ursula Vernon's friends does Ditchdiggers which is a 200 level podcast about writing and publishing. I've never listened to it.
Reading Glasses was good if you're into books. I haven't listened to it in a while.
That's all I can find on Stitcher/think of right now. I had a few others that I used to download but don't remember. I hear anything by the McElroy brothers is good but their voices are incredibly annoying to me so I can't listen to anything they do. They've got a million podcasts.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 03:20 pm (UTC)(Weirdly, this wasn't a huge problem when it was me and my friend listening to an audiobook together on a road trip. Because then it was a group activity. We commented and heckled, and she's got the same tendency to talk during movies so she was fine with hitting "pause" whenever we started talking about whatever just happened in the story. It was exactly like watching a movie with a friend, which I guess adds a layer of stimulation that makes it easier for me to pay attention to the thing.)
Anyway, all this means is I use a mix of podcasts* and music. Podcasts if music isn't stimulating enough at that moment to soothe the brain itch, music if I don't have the energy to process words. Happy to give recs if you want them.
*Discussion, educational, or comedy/improv podcasts. Audio dramas have the exact same problem as audiobooks, whereas with the others it matters less if I miss a chunk. Also, I find that podcasts recorded in front of a live audience do better at keeping me interested - possibly for similar reasons as listening to an audiobook with my friend?
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 03:47 pm (UTC)I haven't been really enjoying music either, but it might just be that I'm out of a groove and need to find new stuff to get into.
But I would love recs! I feel a lack, and I'm just not having any luck filling it.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 04:54 pm (UTC)This is the EXACT reason why I watch so little TV and watch movies only a little more frequently. It took me something like 4 years to finally watch Mad Max Fury Road even though literally everyone said it was amazing, and super feminist, and a superb action/genre movie, a combo that's supposed to be catnip to me, and yet...
But I don't know how not to engage every piece of media I consume with an exhaustively analytical and empathetic approach, and it all just takes so much energy. Emotional investment takes energy. Dealing with the fear or dread of an unknown ending takes energy. I'd rather rewatch or reread something I already know I like and already know the ending to.
Someone on the PF ADHDers comm was speculating that watching/reading the same favorite media works over and over, is a form of stimming behavior. It makes a lot of intuitive sense to me.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 09:48 pm (UTC)I feel you about the endings, though. it's not... that I've been burned by endings I didn't like? I'm not sure, but I do get nervous that I won't like what happens next. I also tend to not be able to stop once I've started a story, and so I'm stuck dragging myself to the end even if I don't like it-- though that's eased a lot, I think it was more possibly a OCD-spectrum thing in my youth that I've moved on from.
It's like... I can't pay attention to something without hyperfocusing on it and I mostly just... don't think things merit that level of attention. I can't be a casual about stuff, and then I get mad when it's not worth it.
I'm not sure. But I watch two movies a year in a busy media year, so. I have in the past gone four or five years without deliberately actually watching a movie of my own volition. (Sometimes they're on in rooms I can't leave, so.) (oh my god I can't stand when there are TVs in bars, I have to scope out a spot to sit where I can't see them, and even still. There are just a lot of bars I won't go back to because there's no way to avoid the TV and I'd rather stay home. it's worse than a place too loud to talk.)
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 05:21 pm (UTC)How Did This Get Made? - three comedians plus guests examine and pick apart legendarily bad movies.
The Bugle - British comedian Andy Zaltzman and assorted guests to through the week's news. It started, and ran for years, as a Zaltzman and John Oliver podcast, until Oliver got too busy to keep doing it. There's an entire section devoted to horrific puns.
Radiolab - science radio program in podcast form. Known for extremely high production values, considering that they were an NPR staple before they were a podcast, and still are, so they're very polished.
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! - yes, it's the NPR comedy news quiz show. But I love it.
The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds - Dave tells Gareth (and sometimes guests) a story from American history (sometimes Australian depending on where they're touring). Gareth reacts. They're comedians, it's funny. Would especially recommend the two episodes with Patton Oswalt.
Wits - variety show with music, interviews, skits. Basically "A Prairie Home Companion" but done by millennials.
Live From Here - what "A Prairie Home Companion" evolved into after they got cut ties with Garrison Keillor. Hosted by Chris Thile, an actual musical genius. It's a bit more music-focused these days, which makes sense given Thile's prior career, but they still have a great "radio acting company". Unfortunately not offered on any of the dedicated podcast platforms, you have to listen through your mobile browser.
Studio 360 with Kurt Anderson - Radiolab for arts and pop culture, basically.
Pop Culture Happy Hour - NPR's millennial reporters chat about pop culture.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 06:39 pm (UTC)Since I write so much for my job, I can't really listen to other people talking. A lot of times, I can't even listen to music with lyrics.
Josh fell down the Buzzfeed Unsolved hole hard, and I've tumbled with him. That show is a DELIGHT.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-08 08:46 pm (UTC)(Ha, he's not old, he's... two years older than... me... yeah we're old. His band toured nationally in like, 2000. That's not recent.)
Currently we're listening to the London Philharmonic play Wagner, but his fondness for the piece comes from it being the soundtrack to the 1981 movie Excalibur.
I am really enjoying Unsolved.... I mean, Dave isn't super pumped about watching it, but when I ask him if he wants to he's like "Sure" and then he's laughing as hard as I am through the whole thing.