Per Uzh

…The Marriage Ref is a really good program. I’m maybe farther away from this show’s demographic than anyone in this country save infants or Latino Goth teenagers (though some might describe me as an exact mix of the two), but I always find myself charmed by it. And, it’s amazingly well made. I mean, by it’s nature- improv-ish, non-performers featured heavily- it would seem that the content is pretty unpredictable, but almost every joke lands. And, it seems so effortless. It’s fairly unique in our current culture to see such warmth too. I don’t know, I really think it’s special, that glimpse into the lives that people create together. It’s kind of a like a snowflake, which makes me want to throw up from typing. The sentiment, not the typing. Makes me want to throw up. But you see how, regardless of a couple’s net worth, they have this thing that no one else has. They all have a special language, which makes everyone just seem so damn human. And, that’s enhanced by how most of the jokes are derived from moments that the panel sees from the couple. They build on the jokes and callback constantly. It’s pretty expert. It’s like they’re honoring that special language by noticing it. I feel like a complete idiot for writing this, but no less convinced of how neat this show is.

I only watched Girls Just Want To Have Fun for the first time today. If this movie had been part of my childhood, I’d probably be a Congressman. Or dead of a heroin overdose. And, Helen Hunt was never as good as she is in this film. She totally creates another human soul. Sarah Jessica Parker? Perfection. Absolutely perfect. I think this summer is going to be all about me and this movie.

barthel:

When Social Security was passed in 1935, the retirement age was 65, and the average life expectancy was 60. Today, the retirement age ranges from 65 to 67, and the average life expectancy is almost 78. Which, as you can imagine, makes a difference in terms of how much money Social Security ends up paying to beneficiaries.

…the problem with James Franco is his voice. On an academic level, his voice is a serious problem. It’s slurry and not very expressive. Seriously, almost everything else about him is nearly perfect, but the voice is a huge obstacle. I hope that, with his love of all things learning institutional-y, he’ll visit a voice coach. Because, he’s so close to sublime and his face is too classic and beautiful to have to play dreamers and stoners for his entire career.