Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A Day that Will Live in Apathy: B’Versary 6
It has never really been either the best or worst of times - it was, in fact, consistently, historically, just “a time.” The day on which, in 1934, the first ptarmigan was hatched and raised in captivity, in Ithaca, New York. The day of the 1946 Bikini Island atmospheric nuke test. The day in 1957 on which KTVC TV channel 6 in Ensign, KS began broadcasting, and on which, in 1959, the 500,000th television was registered in the Netherlands. “Like a Rolling Stone” was released in 1965. 1974: the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Nixon must turn over the Watergate tapes. Paula Gwynn, 22, was crowned 21st Miss Black America on this day in 1989; Vince Coleman of the Mets injured 3 Dodgers fans by throwing a cherry bomb at them in 1993. Barry Bonds, Gus van Sand, Linda Carter, Ruth Buzzy and Zelda Fitzgerald were all born on this day, though admittedly in different hospitals; Isaac Bashevis Singer, Peter Sellars, and Martin van Buren chose this day to shake off their respective mortal coils. Some triumphs were celebrated on this day, and some terrible tragedies were suffered.
And in 2002, a man with too many words and not enough shame launched the Chucklehut - a blog unlike any other, except for the many similarities it shares with most of them. Predominantly in the English language, as bastardized by west coast hipsters and wannabe polymaths; lovingly crafted with plentiful ellipses and neologisms; chock full of chock and brimming with cybernetic enthusiasm, the Chucklehut has survived changes in hosting, domain, design, and sophistication. Today, it represents the epitome of western culture and the apex of American thought. For this, a nation weeps. I invite you to join them.
Today is blogiversary 6, the thought of which shocks and startles me. Six years? That’s almost a long time! For those of you who have stood by me for the duration, of whom there may still be two or three, I proffer my humble thanks. To the rest of you, I expostulate vituperative indecencies. How dare you have missed my clumsy Blogger-based beginnings, my foundering coming-of-age posts rife with nascent adolescence, or my great series on stuff I found on the street? For shame, cybersurfer - for shame.
But I offer mitigation for your ignominy: below, please find my traditional Top 40 list for the year gone by less one. From my blogiversary in 2006 till the same date in 2007, I have selected two-score posts that I objectively have determined sucked less than the others during that period did. That’s not to say they’re good, though some are - but I can definitely say that they’re not as bad as the ones I left off the list. I hope you enjoy them again, unless you hated them the first time around, in which case I hope you fall prey to a pernicious and embarrassing infirmity. I don’t need you casting aspersions on this blog. That’s what I’m here for.
Without further ado, here are my Top 40 for 2006-2007:
major announcement
flashback; flash forward
plum tasty
fighting traffic
pet peeve
defending the faith
the SHHNing
laborious wrapup plus burger with everything
shrimpy and flaky
jogging my memories
the break
panning for gold
another stupid list
pandora’s box
freak yourself out vol 1: the bathroom nebula
silver spoons
there and back: a saga
aural history
burning impressions
begin the begin
begin the begin in medias res
begin the begin - finally it ends
merkan measures
brother’s keeper
eternal heart
keep it under your hat
his bus
all I need is a little direction in life sometimes
exhumation
A1: failing the grade
MLHB: the transiting
for those who feel
RASFMBT: RIP
bird brain
the bonnie booty rides again
manly rant: feather bested
view from the top
cutting corners
rivertrippin’ plus fruitylicious dancakes
from yesterday generally: y is the forth of july
And there you have it; do with it what you will. Or vice-versa. It’s the internet, man. Anything goes. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to have something new for your enjoyment sometime soon.
