So, That Worked
Around last week, I started reading my first John Hodgman book - That Is All. It is various kinds of funny, but here's why it really stuck to me: ever since GeekFest Jeddah, I'd started thinking that it was entirely possible to find someone else within this city who shared a large part of my Venn Diagram of interests. This book neatly wraps all those interests up.
I already have an existing circle of close friends who are familiar with (and perhaps slight fans of) Hodgman's kind of work, but we're looking to expand.
So I announced online that I'd be giving away a copy of this book, and got exactly zero (positive) responses. Understandably. It caters to a very specific audience.
The thing is, you don't have to know Hodgman intimately, you just need a working knowledge of SOME things to fully appreciate the genius of this book. I've compiled a short list here, so you can check if you deserve to read it.
* Have you read The Unbearable Lightness of Being and had mixed feelings about it? Bonus points if you've contemplated using it as your blog's name, like I might have when I first read it.
* Do you know who Jonathan Franzen is? (No googling, fuckers.)
* Have you seen Edward James Olmos in at least 2 TV shows and one movie? Does he follow you on Twitter? Do you also call him Papadama?
* Do you understand why the phrase "Val Kilmer" is funny?
* Have you ever described yourself as "sarcastic" when no one laughs at your jokes, and have you ever said "that's so ironic" about something that's not even remotely ironic? If yes, leave. You can read Chuck Palahniuk, he's cool, too.
* Are you familiar with Neil Gaiman and his crazy hair genre?
* Have you ever learned a sport by hiring the internet?
* Do you find any of the following hilarious? If yes, please leave. They were only funny that one time.
~ rape jokes
~ "make me a sandwich" jokes
~ "number of fucks given" jokes
~ making-fun-of-people-posting-on-Facebook jokes
* Do you understand the significance of the word "sentient" in modern times?
* Have you ever made the grave mistake of arguing with someone over whether or not money can buy happiness?
* Do you know who Toca Rivera is?
For the full list, contact me directly. In the meantime, if you recognized anything on that list, I guarantee some pants-peeing with this book. Either get a copy, or take this one that I'm giving away, and then meet me. Let's talk.
At dinner a week ago, same night our good friends the religious police raided The Courtyard on Rawdah, I gloated over John Hodgman following me on Instagram after replying to my tweet. My friend Hakeem slams a hand on the table and cries, "It is because you are a woman, and you played that Saudi card! You can potentially make money for him!" The implication is that I don't have anything of interest to say that would interest such a funny man as Hodgman. But also, Hakeem is one of those rare people who "get it".
The Saudi woman card, played, worked, rewarded. Again.
Ah, cheap tactics.
I already have an existing circle of close friends who are familiar with (and perhaps slight fans of) Hodgman's kind of work, but we're looking to expand.
So I announced online that I'd be giving away a copy of this book, and got exactly zero (positive) responses. Understandably. It caters to a very specific audience.
The thing is, you don't have to know Hodgman intimately, you just need a working knowledge of SOME things to fully appreciate the genius of this book. I've compiled a short list here, so you can check if you deserve to read it.
* Have you read The Unbearable Lightness of Being and had mixed feelings about it? Bonus points if you've contemplated using it as your blog's name, like I might have when I first read it.
* Do you know who Jonathan Franzen is? (No googling, fuckers.)
* Have you seen Edward James Olmos in at least 2 TV shows and one movie? Does he follow you on Twitter? Do you also call him Papadama?
* Do you understand why the phrase "Val Kilmer" is funny?
* Have you ever described yourself as "sarcastic" when no one laughs at your jokes, and have you ever said "that's so ironic" about something that's not even remotely ironic? If yes, leave. You can read Chuck Palahniuk, he's cool, too.
* Are you familiar with Neil Gaiman and his crazy hair genre?
* Have you ever learned a sport by hiring the internet?
* Do you find any of the following hilarious? If yes, please leave. They were only funny that one time.
~ rape jokes
~ "make me a sandwich" jokes
~ "number of fucks given" jokes
~ making-fun-of-people-posting-on-Facebook jokes
* Do you understand the significance of the word "sentient" in modern times?
* Have you ever made the grave mistake of arguing with someone over whether or not money can buy happiness?
* Do you know who Toca Rivera is?
For the full list, contact me directly. In the meantime, if you recognized anything on that list, I guarantee some pants-peeing with this book. Either get a copy, or take this one that I'm giving away, and then meet me. Let's talk.
At dinner a week ago, same night our good friends the religious police raided The Courtyard on Rawdah, I gloated over John Hodgman following me on Instagram after replying to my tweet. My friend Hakeem slams a hand on the table and cries, "It is because you are a woman, and you played that Saudi card! You can potentially make money for him!" The implication is that I don't have anything of interest to say that would interest such a funny man as Hodgman. But also, Hakeem is one of those rare people who "get it".
The Saudi woman card, played, worked, rewarded. Again.
Ah, cheap tactics.
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