Simply...

From Bryan Murphy.

Amazing juggler

I'm a pretty good juggler. I can do the behind-the-back and under-the-leg tricks and can sometimes catch a ball on the back of my neck. But check out this routine by Chris Bliss. This link takes you to his video page. Just click on the "Big Finale" to watch the juggling.

In the video, Bliss juggles to Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight, keeping in time with the music while effortlessly pulling of a huge range of tricks. It's pretty amazing. I take that back. It's really amazing.

UPDATE: The video seems to be down temporarily. Not to worry, you can catch it at iFilm.

Play Cole is online!

It's official! The video sketch comic troupe Play Cole is up on the World Wide Web -- the information superhighway. Visit our Web site to learn about our group, keep up on the latest Play Cole news and even watch streaming videos. Simply type in the url "http://www.playcole.com" (leave out the "quotes") and use your left mouse button to select "go," which you will find just to the right of the "url window."

Or you can simply "click" here and I'll do all the work for you. So what are you waiting for? "Click" here!

You must have a computer and a modem with an active Internet connection to visit Play Cole. If you do not, you're not reading this. Or someone printed this "web page" out for you and you're reading a hard copy. If that is the case, we don't care about you.

PS: Big ups to fellow Play Cole-ian Bill Monroe for getting us on the Internet. Be sure to send him an electronic mail and let him know how great the home page looks!

Larry David Links - Updated

I'm a big fan of Larry David. If he were writing this, he'd have something funny to say. But he isn't. I am and I don't have anything funny to say. So just enjoy.

Video of David giving a hilarious speech at a global warming comedy special
Earth to America Global Warming Comedy Special

Newsweek story
Happy Go Larry

Interview with David on CBS. Also includes video.
Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Very funny interview from around 1994
Laugh Factory Interview

Funny essay he wrote for the NY Times
Cowboys are my weakness

A two-year old New Yorker article on David
New Yorker: Angry, middle-aged man

An audio inteview with Larry
NPR interview

A gentle shot in the face

Harry Whittington, the 78-year old lawyer who was shot by Cheney, has suffered what doctors are calling a "mild heart attack" after an embedded pellet entered his heart.

Let's see if I have the official account straight. After "failing to signal Cheney" as he entered his "blind spot," Whittington was "peppered by pellet spray" when his face intruded on the area between the vice president's shotgun and the "covey" upon which he was firing. While authorities weren't notified of the accident for several hours, Cheney expressed "deep concern" for his friend. Friends said the lawyer was "jolted pretty good," but soon was "sitting up" and "joking and laughing" about the incident at the hospital. Then he had some "mild heart trouble" when a stray pellet found it's way to his heart.

Let's replay the account, but this time swap out the word "Cheney" for "Tyrone."

While tracking a covey with his shotgun, respected lawyer Harry Whittington was brutally shot in the face by Tyrone. Whittington went down from the unprovoked attack, and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Authorities say that Tyrone failed to notify police of the attack for 14 hours--which is about the amount of time it takes for malt liquor or crack cocaine to leave the body. Hours later, a brave Whittington was sitting up and preparing to file criminal charges at the hospital. Then he had a major heart attack when one of the bullets fired by the assailant viciously entered his heart.

Way to go Jon!

Went to see my friend Jon Clarke perform his first featured standup at New York Comedy Club last night. He killed! There were about nine other comics up there -- some veterans, many new -- and Jon's performance was among the most consistent, energetic and funny.

He and Andrew Torres are really taking off with their standup. Great job, both of youse!

Photo Session

NyQuil makes you delusional

I felt a cold coming on since Monday, but was able to keep it at bay until Friday. Then it hit in all its gluey, runny glory.

Off to the store. DayQuil, NyQuil. Bright orange, blood red. Wakey, sleepy.

Took the NyQuil last night and had all sorts of whacky dreams. I think I doubled up on the dose -- two little plastic cups. I was at my computer when it hit, and it was all I could do to swipe the clothes off my bed and aim my head at my pillow like a battering ram. Out.

Woke up at six and I didn't know who I was. I think I became a middle-aged woman during the night, fighting off a horde of rats in my bright suburban kitchen. They came at me in waves, like a video game, and I bonked each of them on the head with my broom -- 10pts!, 20pts!, 30pts! Level II. More and more, skittering across the gleaming linoleum until there was simply a dull brown blur. One bit down on the hem of my housecoat and I flailed at with my broom, my mouth a cartoon shriek.

I awoke with my arms crisscrossed over my chest.

I'm not a suburban housewife. I am a single male living in Brooklyn. I grabbed my penis. See?

I got up. DayQuil, double dose. Now my head started to clear.

I am definitely a man, and I even have a name: Brian. OK. Back to the world.

I blew my nose. Took a leak. Water. I drank some water. Back to my computer.

Now here I am typing this out. My head is still thick and I have that fluey feeling that is perfectly represented in cartoons by dark bubbles lazily orbiting the head. The DayQuil hasn't kicked in. How long has it been? I dose up again, this time forgoing the little cup and chugging straight from the bottle.

A good cold gives you the universal facial expression of mild resignation, the "whaddya gonna do?" look. My eyelids are floating at about three-quarters mast, held up by the pull of my forehead.

Whaddya gonna do? I'm sick.

Fortunately, it's rainy and shitty out. No reason to leave the apartment except to forage for food. There's plenty of NyQuil left in the bottle. I'll dose up later. I wonder who I'll be tonight?