Bloglet
I really don’t have any time to do a blog today, but I’m really reluctant to break my so far perfect record, so I’m simply going to record a few things that have happened today, the way you’re meant to in a diary. After all I did start this partly in order to function as a diary of the decade.
1. This afternoon we hung out with the Minchin family. Their tiny daughter Violet calls me Watson.
2. I found a website, by accident, called cryingwhileeating.com.
3. The rail strike is annoying me. I think I sort of feel that if a company makes cutbacks to a pretty inefficient system, in order to save money during a global recession, it’s very sad and all, but you can’t really go on strike about it. But then I think, shit, that basically makes me Thatcher. But then I relax and think, no, it’s fine, because it’s not really a political opinion, it’s just that I need to get back from Bristol after Easter.
4. I’m on McIntyre’s Roadshow tonight. It was recorded a year ago. I thought I was quite poor; it was a hard gig and Michelle McManus walked out halfway through. On TV, though, it looks OK.
5. One of the things that have stolen time away from this little venture – other than the well-documented baby – is ironically another blog. It’s for Yahoo! News and you can find it on the Yahoo website. I’m meant to take a light hearted look at a news story each week. That’s it. It’s very frivolous and frothy. Nonetheless the depth of angry comments, normally written by people so furious they forget how to spell or structure thoughts, is a thing to behold. The internet is a frightening place. Which just means the world is a frightening place. Hmm.
300 words in the end. More than some journos write in a day. Not bad for a non-blog, I guess.
Posted by Knox on May 8, 2011
can i just say, i also love reading the comments, especially when there are just little jokes in there that could so easily be missed, but that just add brililance to the blog itself, like Rachael’s one about a McManus gig.
I remember reading that yahoo blog, and the comments just reminded me of why i sometimes get upset reading cif – often, not the content of the article, but the really personal, and often vitriolic and nasty comments made. it is obvious that these are people displaying their ignorance, but really, must it be done quite so trollishly?
@Anna – hey, Lowman!
Ah – the Minchins (that does sound like something from the Wizard of Oz…which I guess is quite appropriate)
Posted by David Calder on March 31, 2010
I really like reading your blog Mark, but it’s also one of the few blogs where I enjoy reading all the comments too. I think this is because most people comment using their real name. Never trust a comment from someone who doesn’t use their real name is my new motto.
Regards
Baron von Popplesthwaite
Posted by Laura on March 31, 2010
I wish I could spend an afternoon hanging out with Tim Minchin. I met a lot of cool people through the long shows, but he was one that I was always too intimidated to talk to. This is why you need to do a reunion one in a few years!
(I’m tempted to add ‘Talk to Tim Minchin’ as a TYSIC challenge, but I feel that might be a bit (A LOT) stalkery)
Posted by Amanda on March 29, 2010
I’ve stumbled across your blog from the yahoo news site. Yes, those people over there really do hold, in some cases, an extreme view but there are those who do appreciate that it’s supposed to be satire. Not all of them realise that and think you are a serious journalist with some questionable views. It takes all sorts! It makes you realise just how sane you are when you read some of the things people post over there.
Posted by sprods on March 28, 2010
Lowman, t’Internet is awash with ace people.
Posted by Corey on March 28, 2010
It is funny how we all like Mark’s take on life/the world but show it to the ‘yahoo’ crowd and it drives them mad!
Posted by Terry Greene on March 28, 2010
I just made the mistake or reading the comments on your Yahoo blog, I normally stop myself from doing that cause it gets me angry. Their comments are like reading The Sun
Posted by Simon on March 28, 2010
spEak You’re bRanes (http://ifyoulikeitsomuchwhydontyougolivethere.com/) is an excellent blog that collects and takes the piss out of angry internet comments. Definitely worth a look.
My TYSIC is going alright (firefox disagrees that “alright” is a real word). You can read today’s exciting blog entry HERE:
http://tuberunner.blogspot.com/2010/03/training-part-iv.html
Thanks
Posted by Rachael on March 28, 2010
I wouldn’t even make it to halfway through at a Michelle McManus gig.
Posted by Anji on March 28, 2010
And now my phone, on a blog about spelling, has made me look a bit silly!
Errr it was definitely the phone and not the user!
Posted by Anji on March 28, 2010
Nicely done. My Saturday was quite fun, in the fact that none of the craziness happened to me. My mum’s iPhone crashed, and she lost everything – which isn’t as bad as it sounds, she only got it Wednesday and hadn’t put more than 3 numbers in it!! My good deed was to go to the apple shop with her and help fix it.
Second iPhone issue of the day was when my boyfriend dropped his in the bath. Which isn’t funny either, but the dog had knocked his into a cup of tea on Monday and it broke, so I gave him mine and now that one too us broken!
For the record, iPhones and liquids don’t mix.
In good news I have been offered a job, at the place I left 9 months ago, and actually I think I’d be silly not to take them up! A phase of my TYSIC almost sorted!
Posted by Martin on March 28, 2010
Oh my god. How can you make such mundane things so interesting to read? I will be checking your blogs most days from now on. ( I have a lot of time on my hands )
Posted by Kate on March 28, 2010
Re irate Yahoo commenters (to slightly mis-quote Richard Dawkins) “The great thing about opinions like those is that we can ignore them completely”.
Nice bloglet; made my nightbus journey home go significantly faster!
Posted by Magnificent Josh on March 28, 2010
I would just like to admit that I am reading your post at 10 past 1 on Sunday, therefore making myself a non-lifer. I feel sick.
Posted by Someone on March 28, 2010
Just wanted to say I just watched the Chortle award highlights on youtube and it looks like you did a really good job! – At what seems like a really scary gig. Other observations: Minchin looked super like an ozzy backpacker, the cameraman apparantly got bored during Addison’s (really sweet) lil’ speech, and I don’t know, but by the end of the show you seem quite a bit more hyper/uninhibited/tipsy than at the beginning. Suppose some of those things aren’t exactly surprising. Wish I’d been there anyway. And Ianucci’s sign-off = classic.
Posted by Louise on March 28, 2010
*woman
Sorry that was really going to annoy me if I didn’t address it.
Posted by Louise on March 27, 2010
I was at the Edinburgh Comedy Roadshow, I thought every act did really well and I can remember everyone laughing a lot at your set! I have now bought tickets to everyones headline shows.
I saw Michael in December, Stewart Francis in january, Rhod Gilbert last week and I am going to see Kevin Bridges in May and you in October.
I can’t remember what the women was called because they didn’t actually show her in that episode when it went out on TV. Prior to the show I wasn’t a fan of Michaels or Rhod’s so it just goes to show what a wee bit of publicity does.
Posted by Heather Jones on March 27, 2010
Dear Mark,
I have just watched your section on MMRS. You were NOT ‘quite poor’ – you were GOOD!
I do understand how odd it may seem to you when you have your own sense of how a performance went – you may find it hard to believe when other people think it’s better than you yourself thought. You can end up focussing mostly on any bits you think you could have done better whilst ignoring all the good bits (the viewer/audience probably haven’t even noticed what you’re noticing: I’ve no idea why you thought it was poor, for example!)
Oh, and I also watched some of the video extracts of your compering at the Chortle awards (again you’d been quite self-critical in tweets about your work that night) – I would like to confirm that it was spot on – I really liked the way you did it.
I don’t think mild self-deprecation is all that bad a thing, mind you – much more attractive in a person than bumptious, arrogant self-adoration, or overweening self-confidence. Your vulnerability is rather an appealing trait.
Had a look at the Yahoo comment stream – cor lummey! I see what you mean! You definitely need a bit of bravery to do that blog!!!
It amused me to imagine the rude postings Jonathan Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal’ would get on such a comment-board, from those lacking a sense of irony – on the one hand attacks on the sickening and cruel suggestion and,on the other, anti-irish tirades…
Posted by Someone on March 27, 2010
Aw just watched that Mcintyre ep. for about the 3rd time. There is not enough comedy in this world if all you do is watch it all day. I must cut back, but at least every time I do, i try and force (lightly) other people to watch it too.. my ‘rents now know you
.
I also intro’d them to We Need Answers today, but I’ve got to say I think it was a bit beyond them ha. They switched over to Piers Morgan in the end, grr. (That they like him disappoints me ever so.)
Also, furious internet people who can’t spell are one of my favourite things ever. Larks.
Posted by Carl on March 27, 2010
Nice bloglet Watson.
I of course never want you to harm your child, but here’s something we all should do to our offspring when they are of an appropriate age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikuhF-0AAjc&feature=player_embedded#
Proof that children blindly trust loved ones.
Posted by lisa brunders on March 27, 2010
Hi Mark,
I was just going for an early night, it’s 9pm, but I’ll be staying up to watch you now. It’ll be good to see you, I’m sure you weren’t “quite poor” at all.
I’ve been double tysic-ing today, exercise and parenting, been doing my Mum’s garden, so I’m tired and aching!
Where’s the matchsticks?
Posted by Marie on March 27, 2010
Grr. Rail strike. I need to travel to a job interview in those four days, so they couldn’t have picked a worse time to plan this.
Posted by Maddie on March 27, 2010
A bloglet that made me smile, thanks Watson!
Posted by Kate on March 27, 2010
Well this is my bloglet…….Today I have bathed a very fluffy dog and can still smell the wet dog smell over 8 hours later.
I think yours is far more read-worthy.
Posted by Anna Lowman on March 27, 2010
Internet = frightening, but peppered with pretty ace people.
Also, I bloody love it when people call me Lowman. People, call me Lowman more.
Posted by Issey on March 27, 2010
cryingwhileeating.com is hilarious!!
Posted by Misha on March 27, 2010
A bloglet it might be, but it still made me smile.
And I just nearly (accidentally) wiped out my entire family driving home from tesco.
Posted by Emmy on March 27, 2010
Awww… she calls you Watson! That’s the cutest thing I’ve heard all day! Today’s crapness scale has just dropped from about 500 to 10. Thanks Mark.