It’s not new, but it’s still fantastic.
It’s not new, but it’s still fantastic.
Ok, so some might claim I’m just fishing for excuses to post this ridiculous video, but I swear, there’s something feminist about this one.
On a Cincinnati news show the weather reporter Bob Herzog throws a dance party every Friday morning that there are no traffic accidents. From the Globe and Mail:
The concept is simple: When there’s no traffic news on Friday morning – which happens regularly in Cincinnati, population 332,000 – it’s dance-party time in front of the traffic map…The phenomenon started last year when a friend showed Mr. Herzog a funny YouTube clip of high-school kids celebrating a “Dance Party Friday.”
“I thought, ‘I should do that once,’” Mr. Herzog said, quickly adding, “Don’t get me wrong – I can’t dance. At all. I’m bad – I’m really bad.”
…And thus, Dance Party Friday was born. There are ground rules, which Mr. Herzog discussed with his boss at the start: He dances only when there are no tragic stories in the news and no accidents on the road.
If you’re having trouble picturing this:
For me, a big part of why this video is funny is because it’s grown men in suits dancing badly. They’re so cheerfully making fools of themselves and in a sense, rejecting the expectations of seriousness, and taciturn professionalism, that we normally associate with grown men in suits.
And to me this video isn’t just funny, it’s also kind of exhilarating. Because who hasn’t wanted to shake their booty (or scream, or throw something heavy and possibly flaming…) in the face of workplace demands - demands which often include dehumanising ourselves, and following stringent gender guidelines on how to behave.
Do you hear distant cries of revolution? No? Ok, well at least enjoy the video. And if you want more, go here.
Miranda July teaches you how to make buttons.
Try it the next time you’re at a button factory.
It may not have felt like it here in Toronto, but yesterday was the first day of spring. Another sign that winter’s almost done? Easter. The Shameless Bloggers are simply too busy painting eggs and eagerly awaiting the Bunny to blog.
There will be limited posting over the holiday weekend. We’ll be back next week.
I’m not too happy with Sally Kern, but I really, really love Ellen DeGeneres.
Did I mention I love Ellen DeGeneres?
(Bonus Wanda Sykes chatting with Ellen about Sally, Hillary and Obama, after the jump)(more inside…)
Maybe this whole “diamonds prove your love for a woman” trend is finally over? Perhaps the industry has shifted gears?
(Thanks Daisy)
No one is ever allowed to accuse me of “pampering” the dog again. Gratuitous photo of the would-be recipient of diamonds in my household, after the jump. (more inside…)
I’d wager my winnings from Hot Flash that we’ll all agree this video is creepy. Yes, it has the dreaded “breast-bared-but-nipple-censored” thing going on, but exactly how and why it’s so disturbing may be up for debate.
“This send-up of the new greenwashing trend in advertising will give you a good belly-laugh, if you don’t pause to consider the tragic fact that even human milk is not free from chemical contamination.”
First I thought it was clever. Then it offended me. Now I’m just confused. What do you think?
Plus: How to get published, pay for school, and bind your own books.
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