Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Bobo!  Attack!

In lieu of an actual post, which will likely be sprawling and not quickly accomplished, here’s a disquieting vision of the things that impact me and how I respond to them.  It’s powerful material and I hope you can still look at me the same way afterwards.  Like with your eyeballs and stuff. 

Kelly was telling me about a conversation she overheard at work involving a man who employed a service monkey.  Said service monkey had somehow acquired the habit of biting young children.  The person responsible for the ensuing primate mayhem was reported to have shouted at one point: “Don’t antagonize my monkey!”

First, I was struck by the marketing potential of this slogan.  It belongs on t-shirts, trucker caps, wallets on chains, and large shiny beltbuckles.  I can also see a line of writing journals.  “Don’t Antagonize My Monkey"-wear is the new black.  And I watch Project Runway so don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about.  No, you’re out. 

Second, I was uplifted in spirit to hear that somewhere someone had make it possible to bring together monkeys who bite children, and people unable to bite children for themselves.  Go for it, kid-biting monkey!  There’s no mountain we can’t climb - together!  Especially Bitten Child Mountain!  Excelsior!

Okay, enough from me.  For extended readerly enjoyment I recommend this article by George Saunders in the New Yorker.  I know they’re media elites but sometimes they sneak something in for the rest of us.

A weekend recap of sorts is forthcoming.  Maybe fifth.  Don’t push me, it’s a busy week.