Friday Diversion

I like to think that sprinkled into the mindless YouTube clips and seemingly endless anecdotes from the world of Guyland, this site provides the occassional piece of writing that either enlightens or informs. I take particular pride in providing the dedicated readers, on Friday mornings, with an array of well-written articles that they might have otherwise never come across - intellectual diamonds in the rough, aimed to stimulate the mind, body, and soul.

Rest assured, there are no such scholarly jewels in the mix today. These are diversions in the truest sense. You might as well be playing Tetris and eating Cheetos. Go in knowing that you will be dumber for having participated.

As always, these are... Well, this is some of the stuff I've come across over the course of the past week.



Andy Kaufman, Joaquin Phoenix, and the Two Lettermans
By Jim Windolf

An interesting breakdown of Joaquin Phoenix's (contrived) appearance on Letterman last week, comparing the performance to one of Andy Kaufman's legendary monologues given back when Letterman was hosting a morning show.

Thanks to Richie for the article.



True or False, Rickey?

Video evidence of Rickey Henderson's appearance on Mike and Mike In The Morning, where the dueling Mikes reveal that it is in fact true that Rickey Henderson once framed a $1 million cheque instead of cashing it.

Thanks to Flats for the heads-up



Greg Rutter's Definitive List of The 99 Things You Should Have Already Experienced On The Internet Unless You're A Loser or Old or Something

Pretty self-explanatory title, if you ask me.

Thanks to Flats for the link.



The Greatest Band in the World This Week:

King Khan & The Shrines. Check you their MySpace page. And then check them out at The Phoenix Concert Theatre May 12.



The YouTube Clip of the Week come courtesy of the inimitable Mickey Rourke. His acceptance speech at Saturday's Film Independent's Spirit Awards is now officially the watermark by which all future acceptance speeches will be judged. This is sheer, unadulterated, gut-wrenching, from-the-heart brilliance, with a smattering of NSFW language... A speech that could only be delivered by Mickey Rourke.

Thanks to Deeve for the tip.




Unfortunately, that's all I've got. Now go read Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" so you can say you've learned something today.