Being president comes with having many impersonations done of you. President Bush reveals whether or not Will Ferrell’s impression bothered him.
The story behind the iconic music ice cream trucks play
Yes, there is a good reason that ice cream trucks generally sound the same in every city and town across America, at least the ones where such vehicles are still welcome. (Phooey on Bloomington and its fancy-schmancy noise ordinances.) Apart from a few rogue trucks that play their own music, most professional ice cream distribution vehicles come complete with a music box from Nichols Electronics. Today, Mark Nichols and his wife, Beth, are carrying on a business founded by Nichols’ father back in the 1950s. The company’s “all-star” model is something called the Digital II, capable of playing eight different songs. And how, exactly, did the company decide on which songs to use? “The Entertainer” became a staple after it was reintroduced in 1973’s The Sting. As for the other songs, what’s important is that they’re not copyright protected. “It isn’t worth getting in trouble over rights issues,” Nichols explains. Besides, by using the same few songs over and over, those very tunes have become virtually synonymous with ice cream consumption in the minds of many.
The History of the Boombox
Before iPods (or even CDs) there were boomboxes. It’s been 20 years since they disappeared from the streets, but the nostalgia they evoke is about more than stereo equipment. We’ve changed the way we listen to music — and to each other.
Video: Sandy Pearlman Explains It All
A world-class raconteur with a depth of musical knowledge that is still virtually unmatched today, Sandy Pearlman was best known as a producer (Blue Oyster Cult, The Clash, Dream Syndicate, Black Sabbath, Dictators, and many others). He was described as the “Hunter Thompson of rock, a gonzo producer of searing intellect and vast vision,” in the Billboard Producer Directory. He taught at McGill, Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, the New School and many other institutions, and owns Alpha and Omega Recording Studio in San Rafael, California. Pearlman sat down for a fast-moving conversation with Casey Rae, executive director of the Future of Music Coalition, during the 2013 Future of Music Summit in Washington, DC and well worth a watch.
Steve Martin Joins MasterClass to Teach Comedy
MasterClass announced today that actor and comedy legend Steve Martin will offer his first ever online class exclusively with MasterClass. Pre-enrollment for the class begins today at www.masterclass.com/sm.
Considered one of the greatest standup comedians of all time, Martin is also an actor, writer, producer and musician. He broke out into the comedy business in the 60s as a writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” and later as a frequent guest on “The Tonight Show.” Since the 80s, Martin branched off from the comedy realm becoming a successful actor, author, playwright, and banjo player who has earned Emmy, Grammy and American Comedy awards among others. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked Martin at 6th place in a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics. He was awarded an Honorary Academy Award at the Academy’s 5th Annual Governors Awards in 2013. Martin holds the 2nd highest record for the most times guest hosting “Saturday Night Live,” 2nd only to Alec Baldwin.
In his first-ever MasterClass, Steve Martin will share insights from his 50-year career spanning sold-out arenas and blockbuster films. Students will gain access to the mind of a comedy genius and learn how to find their voice, gather material, develop an act, and take their writing to the next level.
“I’m so honored to be invited into your home, phone, or wearable,” said Steve Martin, MasterClass instructor.
MasterClass provides online classes from world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best. Each class offers a unique learning experience which includes video lessons from the instructor, interactive exercises, course materials, peer interaction, and more. All classes are available online for individual purchase at www.masterclass.com for $90 each.
That Time Grace Jones Did A TV Ad For The Citroen CX Car
Randked on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll, and honored with a Q Idol Award, Grace Jones has been an inspiration for artists including Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Lorde, Róisín Murphy, Brazilian Girls, Nile Rodgers, Santigold, Basement Jaxx and so many more. In the ’80s, she took some time out to do a car ad asking you again to Pull Up to the Bumper.
Kathleen Hannah On Internet Trolls: “I don’t even understand why there are comments”
…and this is exactly what I’ve never had, or will, have comments on this website. No offense, you see?
Paper Magazine: The song “I’m Done” takes on abuse from less personal sources, namely internet trolls. How do you avoid that stuff or ignore it?
Kathleen Hanna: I don’t even understand why there are comments — I have them turned off on my website. For me, this is is a one way conversation. This particular art form is a one way conversation because I’ve decided it is. Part of that song is just dealing with the frustration of one person writing one fucked up thing about you. You don’t always have the thick skin to be like, ‘This has nothing to do with me. I shouldn’t take this personally.’
That’s been a big part of my identity, of being like, ‘Look, we can argue, it’s nothing personal.’ And that doesn’t mean not being vulnerable. That means being able to weed through what is real criticism and what is fake criticism. There’s this article by ’70s feminist Jo Freeman about being trashed, by other women, even. It talks a lot about what’s the difference between real criticism, which is criticism that you need to know to be better at what you do, and fake criticism, which is just meant to tear you down and which you can’t do anything about. If I get criticism that my voice is out of tune on something, I can work on that if I want to. If I get criticism that my arms look flabby and I don’t dress my age, it’s like, ‘Fuck you, what does that have to do with anything?’
I can choose not to look myself up, or to not look at comments or Twitter. You see awful, awful stuff. People in the wake of the Orlando massacre, a hate crime on such a massive level, and during pride month no less, got a hashtag trending on Twitter about ‘heterosexual pride day.’ Fuck you. Why don’t you learn about something that has nothing to do with you? Fuck off. Can we just be accountable for our privilege and realize we don’t know it all? I want to find places on the internet that feed me with good information that I can share with people. I want to read books. I want to read the Atlantic. I don’t want to be on the Internet all day.
People with Alzheimer’s tell us memories they never want to forget
Cut asked people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s to tell them memories they never want to forget.
People with Alzheimer's tell us memories they never want to forget from Cut.com on Vimeo.
A Supercut Of Every Amazingly Strange Bill Wurtz Video
If you’ve never watched a Bill Wurtz video, you’re in for a treat. Here’s a supercut of them all!