We're all fools here
Oh, public radio. Your sense of humor is so nerdy, and so awesome. I was lucky enough to catch two jokes today.
The first was a brief feature on "subminimalist" Simon Fluegel. Mr. Fluegel is, I learned, famous for his 2-note cello concerto, which while it has not been performed live with an orchestra is a favorite Suzuki piece for young cellists (my first real clue that this was bullshit--considering I am intimately familiar with said cello repertoire--but it was a nice try). His newest piece, earning him critical acclaim across the world, is called "B flat" and is said note sustained throughout with a variety of instruments. NPR even had a music critic from some (possibly real) modern music website give a review of the piece. The review had several more clues that this was bogus, including comparing pieces of it to The Rolling Stones and Andy Warhol's film of a man sleeping.
The second joke was later during Marketplace, and I was totally taken hook, line, and sinker. Because the government is worried about all the people planning to just pay down debt with their stimulus checks, they've begun a new program. Those at the greatest risk of not spending the money--students with loan debt, folks with escalating mortgage payments, etc--are receiving the money as consumer goods. One couple in Arizona, instead of receiving a check in the mail (intended for their mortgage payment) came home to find the IRS had shipped them a shiny new...air conditioner. Then we heard commentary from one of Marketplace's regulars. All this time, of course, I'm shaking my head in amazement, not a little worried that the government will send me a really, really fancy umbrella or something (they take into account your geographic location to decide what you "need"). The only clue (besides the utter preposterousness of the whole thing, but this is the government, can you blame me?) was when they talked to a spokeswoman from the IRS and addressed the issue of the shipping costs alone making the program too expensive to be worthwhile. She said they get a deal on shipping, because "I mean, we own the Post Office. They do whatever we tell them." It was so deadpan, I totally cracked up. The segment rolled to a close, and Kai came on and said "Come on guys, check your calendars..." D'oh!
You can listen to both segments right now, and I highly recommend them. Good times.
Fluegel's 'B-Flat'...
How will your rebate be spent?
The first was a brief feature on "subminimalist" Simon Fluegel. Mr. Fluegel is, I learned, famous for his 2-note cello concerto, which while it has not been performed live with an orchestra is a favorite Suzuki piece for young cellists (my first real clue that this was bullshit--considering I am intimately familiar with said cello repertoire--but it was a nice try). His newest piece, earning him critical acclaim across the world, is called "B flat" and is said note sustained throughout with a variety of instruments. NPR even had a music critic from some (possibly real) modern music website give a review of the piece. The review had several more clues that this was bogus, including comparing pieces of it to The Rolling Stones and Andy Warhol's film of a man sleeping.
The second joke was later during Marketplace, and I was totally taken hook, line, and sinker. Because the government is worried about all the people planning to just pay down debt with their stimulus checks, they've begun a new program. Those at the greatest risk of not spending the money--students with loan debt, folks with escalating mortgage payments, etc--are receiving the money as consumer goods. One couple in Arizona, instead of receiving a check in the mail (intended for their mortgage payment) came home to find the IRS had shipped them a shiny new...air conditioner. Then we heard commentary from one of Marketplace's regulars. All this time, of course, I'm shaking my head in amazement, not a little worried that the government will send me a really, really fancy umbrella or something (they take into account your geographic location to decide what you "need"). The only clue (besides the utter preposterousness of the whole thing, but this is the government, can you blame me?) was when they talked to a spokeswoman from the IRS and addressed the issue of the shipping costs alone making the program too expensive to be worthwhile. She said they get a deal on shipping, because "I mean, we own the Post Office. They do whatever we tell them." It was so deadpan, I totally cracked up. The segment rolled to a close, and Kai came on and said "Come on guys, check your calendars..." D'oh!
You can listen to both segments right now, and I highly recommend them. Good times.
Fluegel's 'B-Flat'...
How will your rebate be spent?