Smells Like Irony

Does anyone know what irony is? I mean really, do you really really know what irony is? I'm asking because I think I know, but I'm not really sure.

Is it ironic that the lead actor from Diff'rent Strokes died from a stroke?


I wonder whether Willis ever did tell him what he was talking about.


A simple Google search reveals irony to be:

The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.

Three kinds of irony are commonly recognized:

1.Verbal irony is a trope in which the intended meaning of a statement differs from the meaning that the words appear to express.

2.Situational irony involves an incongruity between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs.

3.Dramatic irony is an effect produced by a narrative in which the audience knows more about present or future circumstances than a character in the story.

Sounds simple enough, I guess. Let's see how the real world uses irony though.




















Can you tell which picture is and isn't ironic?

One person we all know not to ask the definition from is Alanis Morissette. Does the fact that nothing she sang about in that song was actually ironic, make that song ironic?




Luckily for her, and for ourselves, the guys at College Humor set the record straight, and what we have now is a song that is actually ironic.





Maybe I should try and learn from this guy, as he seems to have a pretty strong grasp of the concept.





Ummm, okay. Perhaps this chart best breaks down the meaning of irony.




Is it ironic that despite all the above, I still can't explain what irony is? Is it? Is it?! Seriously, I'm asking, because I don't have a clue!

Wrong Side of the Bed

So I woke up this morning feeling pissed off for no discernable reason. Everyone has had days like this right? Usually when this happens I just need to be left alone for about half a day 'til I simmer down. Nothing anyone says or does will change my mood. And I mean absolutely nothing. Kinda like this guy.

I know, tits right? Disgusting.

Everyone deals with anger their own way. Some are more eloquent in expressing themselves, be it in writing or in a song.





Some people also deal with anger thru humour, as the angry comedian himself, Lewis Black, demonstrates.





Others choose to express their displeasure by wielding a cactus? WTF?!

Someone should tell that guy to take a chill pill, albeit from a safe distance.

Of course, no one does anger quite like my favourite angry man, Ben Stiller.





Then again, there's nothing wrong with letting off a little bit of steam now and then. Besides, it's not like a lack of anger management could lead to anything serious. What's that?

Oh.

I guess we should all learn to look at the bigger picture, and learn to look for the silver lining in that grey(gray?) cloud. 31 years on, and we could still learn a thing or two from Monty Python.

My San Francisco

This video combines two things I like - San Francisco and film production. Random scenes around town shot with a RedOne Camera, set to an excellent soundtrack.

San Francisco in 4K from Patrick Lawler on Vimeo.

Another cool vid, bringing Stars Wars to the city by the bay.





Here's Tony Bennett with his ode to the city.





And we end it off with Scott McKenzie's hippie classic.





Brings back such memories. Why'd I ever leave? Oh, right.























Hahaha! Just kidding! Keep the flag flying high y'all!

I Don't Understand Parents

Who thought this was a good idea? Hope these parents aren’t surprised when their kids grow up to be Cuban drug lords. “Say hello to my little friend” indeed.





And here’s an open invitation to pedophiles everywhere. Sure these 7 year-old girls can dance, but maybe not the most appropriate song or attire. I’m pretty sure even Beyonce wore more clothes in her video.





Seriously, WTF?! Makes you long for the day when it was your parents who didn’t understand you.

40 mofo's with mics

Watched The Kings of Comedy again last night and Steve Harvey's bit about ridiculous rappers still rings true.





Of course, this phenomenon is nothing new, and has been parodied countless time, such as this one by the hilarious Jon LaJoie and his WTF Collective.





This idea is perhaps taken to the very extreme by College Humor's Wang Warriors, a modern-day Wu-Tang Clan gone crazy.





Give me The Temptations any day. Old school, baby.

Ultra-organized

Somehow I always knew it wasn't just some amazing coincidence.

Why this blog?

Well, I guess for the same reason the Tank Catapult was invented.