Tuesday, June 10, 2008

AutoNom(ad)y

Tired of mooching rides? Unsure who's gonna stop? Come on down to the Milch School of Motors and we will make Monad a nomad in a few short lessons.


Work with our seasoned driving instructors. Our instructors have experience driving at unsafe speeds and in dangerous situations, they can share their success stories with you.



Now let's get hit the road.

First hit check your mirrors. Shape Shifters included.


Look for blind spots. Or unknown plot devices that never get explained.


Hands at 10 and 2. Do not whip the skippy while driving.


Traffic? Don't worry Milch School of Driving teaches how to deal with traffic.


Stick head out of window.


Proceed to insult the driver, his driving and his mother. Refer to someone as a monkey or donkey. Sprinkle diatribe liberally with profanity and references to stick and mud, circles and lines. Hand gestures may be necessary and are strongly encouraged. Props such as glasses to let the driver know they need them or a surf board to show where to stick it. Use of iambic pentameter may be a nice touch.


You are ready to drive now!

Let me drive, I've been to the Milch School of Motors, I'm a very good driver.


Listen I know he made you Rain Man, but there is no way in hell I'm letting you drive Dylan McKay's Porsche.

See God Cass. See God.


And when all else fails , slap on the wet suit, stick out the thumb, and see who comes.

31 comments:

Blue Velvet said...

Very funny post, Special. I forgot how much JFC made me laugh. I especially loved the scene when John stuck his head out of the car window like a dog. Count me in with those who would be interested in a JFC discussion once a month.

Anonymous said...

It's gonna a be a scorcher in SC for the cast and crew for Nailed. Supposed to be 99 and humid today.

Keep Cool Jakey.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous post, Spesh! I'd be interested in a JFC discussion too. I loved what I saw of it. Austi was fab in it. Hope you are enjoying your vacay.

Hey, where's our poster who said our Celtics were gonna lose? I guess if you can't stand the heat . . . get outta the Gahden! ;)

BEAT LA!!!

Special K said...

Driving with Milch would either be a a wander down random roads as he just yells lefts and rights as he come upon them. Or it would be a roundabout/rotary where you never got off and Milch, didn't yell Big Ben Parliament but MotherF-er and flashes of past acid trips.

Anonymous said...

Guess that would make Milch Speed Racer.

Wicked said...

Driving with Milch? I wonder what driving with Austin is like.

Here's an interesting article-

For insights into healthy marriages, social scientists are looking in an unexpected place.

A growing body of evidence shows that same-sex couples have a great deal to teach everyone else about marriage and relationships. Most studies show surprisingly few differences between committed gay couples and committed straight couples, but the differences that do emerge have shed light on the kinds of conflicts that can endanger heterosexual relationships.

The findings offer hope that some of the most vexing problems are not necessarily entrenched in deep-rooted biological differences between men and women. And that, in turn, offers hope that the problems can be solved.

Next week, California will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, reigniting the national debate over gay marriage. But relationship researchers say it also presents an opportunity to study the effects of marriage on the quality of all relationships.

“When I look at what’s happening in California, I think there’s a lot to be learned to explore how human beings relate to one another,” said Sondra E. Solomon, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Vermont. “How people care for each other, how they share responsibility, power and authority — those are the key issues in relationships.”

The stereotype for same-sex relationships is that they do not last. But that may be due, in large part, to the lack of legal and social recognition given to same-sex couples. Studies of dissolution rates vary widely.

After Vermont legalized same-sex civil unions in 2000, researchers surveyed nearly 1,000 couples, including same-sex couples and their heterosexual married siblings. The focus was on how the relationships were affected by common causes of marital strife like housework, sex and money.

Notably, same-sex relationships, whether between men or women, were far more egalitarian than heterosexual ones. In heterosexual couples, women did far more of the housework; men were more likely to have the financial responsibility; and men were more likely to initiate sex, while women were more likely to refuse it or to start a conversation about problems in the relationship. With same-sex couples, of course, none of these dichotomies were possible, and the partners tended to share the burdens far more equally.

While the gay and lesbian couples had about the same rate of conflict as the heterosexual ones, they appeared to have more relationship satisfaction, suggesting that the inequality of opposite-sex relationships can take a toll.

“Heterosexual married women live with a lot of anger about having to do the tasks not only in the house but in the relationship,” said Esther D. Rothblum, a professor of women’s studies at San Diego State University. “That’s very different than what same-sex couples and heterosexual men live with.”

Other studies show that what couples argue about is far less important than how they argue. The egalitarian nature of same-sex relationships appears to spill over into how those couples resolve conflict.

One well-known study used mathematical modeling to decipher the interactions between committed gay couples. The results, published in two 2003 articles in The Journal of Homosexuality, showed that when same-sex couples argued, they tended to fight more fairly than heterosexual couples, making fewer verbal attacks and more of an effort to defuse the confrontation.

Controlling and hostile emotional tactics, like belligerence and domineering, were less common among gay couples.

Same-sex couples were also less likely to develop an elevated heartbeat and adrenaline surges during arguments. And straight couples were more likely to stay physically agitated after a conflict.

“When they got into these really negative interactions, gay and lesbian couples were able to do things like use humor and affection that enabled them to step back from the ledge and continue to talk about the problem instead of just exploding,” said Robert W. Levenson, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.

The findings suggest that heterosexual couples need to work harder to seek perspective. The ability to see the other person’s point of view appears to be more automatic in same-sex couples, but research shows that heterosexuals who can relate to their partner’s concerns and who are skilled at defusing arguments also have stronger relationships.

One of the most common stereotypes in heterosexual marriages is the “demand-withdraw” interaction, in which the woman tends to be unhappy and to make demands for change, while the man reacts by withdrawing from the conflict. But some surprising new research shows that same-sex couples also exhibit the pattern, contradicting the notion that the behavior is rooted in gender, according to an abstract presented at the 2006 meeting of the Association for Psychological Science by Sarah R. Holley, a psychology researcher at Berkeley.

Dr. Levenson says this is good news for all couples.

“Like everybody else, I thought this was male behavior and female behavior, but it’s not,” he said. “That means there is a lot more hope that you can do something about it.”


Gay Unions Shed Light on Gender in Marriage

Anonymous said...

A growing body of evidence shows that same-sex couples have a great deal to teach everyone else about marriage and relationships. Most studies show surprisingly few differences between committed gay couples and committed straight couples, but the differences that do emerge have shed light on the kinds of conflicts that can endanger heterosexual relationships.

Not surprised by this at all. :)

Excellent post, Wicked. I tend to go "on strike" when there's conflict. ;) I wasn't able to post yesterday, the heat did me in I think, but glad to hear UMP is back on! :)

Anonymous said...

Fascinating article.

Clarity said...

"One of the most common stereotypes in heterosexual marriages is the “demand-withdraw” interaction, in which the woman tends to be unhappy and to make demands for change, while the man reacts by withdrawing from the conflict. But some surprising new research shows that same-sex couples also exhibit the pattern."

Interesting that this is not related to gender. I always assumed that the two men just wouldn't deal with the issue at all (both would withdraw). Great article. Thanks for posting it Wicked.

Wicked said...

One of the most common stereotypes in heterosexual marriages is the “demand-withdraw” interaction, in which the woman tends to be unhappy and to make demands for change, while the man reacts by withdrawing from the conflict.

I confront. And interestingly, I'm with someone who also confronts, although not as strongly as I do. I never could be in a relationship with someone who withdraws, and every time I've tried, it's ended quickly. I knew I needed to be with someone who also confronted, but I always thought that it would be a disaster because nobody would back off. I've discovered that although confrontation is my default setting, I am capable of backing off and letting the Mrs. have her say and her way. It's all more complicated than it appears. I'd like to see more research into gay and straight relationship dynamics.

london tb said...

That's a fascinating article - so hard to generalise about all this. I withdraw and hubby confronts, but we're each getting better at doing the opposite in order to get over a bump.

Lovely post Spesh, John is sooo adorable.

Clarity said...

I agree London - I now realise that its hard to generalise. I was in a relationship for a long time where I always confronted and she always withdrew. It made me feel like a bully. You get tired of assuming the same role over and over.

Anonymous said...

Paul Newman dying of cancer

Anonymous said...

^^What a shame, I have always loved Paul. :(

I thought the study put generalizations to rest. Yes, not everyone is able to be categorized by a scientific study, but at least it puts to rest some of the myths that we've all heard ad nauseam, trying to fit same sex couples into opposite sex couple roles - if there's anyone who still thinks that, and I won't offend by posting that ridiculous stuff. My SO and I do happen to fall into the hetero stereotype, I complain, he withdraws, I go on strike, we meet at the bargaining table. ;) Not great. But I have had enough relationships *cough* to know that if you try enough and want to enough, you can meet in the middle to get along, it's not etched in stone. :)

Special K said...

Hi guys from KCI Airport

Looks like Newman's reps are shooting down the cancer reports.
E! Online Newman Rep Shoots down Cancer Reports

Interesting article Wicked. I am definitely not confrontational. Unless one of my value lines are crossed and then I am. But I can get confrontational when I am advocating for someone else, like when I used to work with developmentally disabled adults.

Heading back East soon and won't be able to watch the Celtics & Lakers while on the plane, so I am saying now.

GO CELTICS! Beat LA.

Anonymous said...

Didn't Swayze's rep deny it too?

Anonymous said...

Spesh, safe trip home. Glad to hear that Paul Newman may not be ill, or as seriously ill, as was rumored. I'm going to keep an eye on the game tonight. ;)

GO CELTICS!!!

Great song today, btw. :)

Anonymous said...

Thought there might be a Reeke mention in tonight's AT cause they were listed yesterday as featured celebs and then were not in the column. Guess not. It has been so nice not to see Soccer Mom with Jake for a while.

Wicked said...

Great song today, btw. :)

The whole record, called Anytown Graffiti, is excellent.

Anonymous said...

I'll definitely have to listen to Anytown Grafitti - I think I have heard this particular one somewhere before.

Have a good night, all! :*

frenchy said...

Great article Wicked.

Don't know about what the other posters think but it seems to me that the general idea out there
is that lesbian couples can last forever but gay men's relationships are bound to fail given their "innate" inclination to stray and to withdraw emotionally. Seems to me that somebody is extrapolating from the problems het couples are experiencing. Just recently, MK at Dlisted posted about Jodie's breakup with her GF and said something like "aren't lesbian couples supposed to last forever?".

A JFC discussion? Count me in. Don't care if it's about a particular episode, season, character, message, topic, etc. It's all good as far as I'm concerned. :)

London mentioned The Remains of the Day in the Maurice discussion thread. Just wanted to add my $.2 and say that I was foolish enough to read that novel on the bus on my way to work and looked like a complete fool when I reached the ending. I agree with Winterbird: I too found it truly heartbreaking, probably because of its sheer simplicity (the butler finally breaking down during an impromptu conversation with a stranger) and of everything that is alluded to before this outpouring of grief (you know that perfect stiff-upper-lip guy is sobbing because the stranger offers a handkerchief).

I can't help it. I'm fond of that stuff. :D

Special K said...

Back in Beantown. No more flying while the Boys in Green are playing. But the Lakers had to win one at least.

Odd -- if you look on the previous thread you will see that letter about Reese & Jake being great friends, practically sisters, according to Ted. It looks like this was Ted Extra that got sent to those who sign up for the Awful Truth email.

Remains of the Day was so good, and yep join me in on the crying game for that one. Hopkins was just amazing. I must confess I am a huge Merchant Ivory fan.

See you guys in a few hours!!

Anonymous said...

The reeke mention was in today's insider newsletter "Dear Ted:Thanks for the update on Jake and Reese (and I think it's Gyllenspoon instead of Githerspoon, though you know best!). But why are you the only one out there reporting that these two are a sham? Elsewhere, all we hear about are engagement rumors.
Suzy
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Dear Let's Spoon:
Who says it's a sham, darling? They truly are adorably, terribly close. Just like sisters!"

I think Ted intended it to be in the regular AT but the editor pulled it out for the newsletter. That's why their names were highlighted in the AT.

Loving these screencaps of Austin.

Anonymous said...

Hey, where's our poster who said our Celtics were gonna lose? I guess if you can't stand the heat . . . get outta the Gahden! ;)

BEAT LA!!!


Your Celtics did lose.

GO Kobe!

Anonymous said...

Hello to everybody! I am sorry that I have been away but things
here have been hectic! I too would
like to take part in a JFC talk
once a month or every other month.
I am glad to hear Jake got POP. I
also hope he gets the Moon Project. Has Jake ever denied the
engagement/marriage rumors? Does
anyone know when The Informers will come out on DVD? PLEASE Keep
me informed when the Informers
is out on DVD! I can't wait to see
it! My favorite scene from JFC was
when John and Butchie were walking
home from the store and John said
he was from Cincinnati! I have to
get ready for work so everybody
take care. I will try to drop by once in awhile.

Anonymous said...

Great screen caps! Austin and his lustrous hair... awwww...

Anonymous said...

Hi Kacie! Nice to see you here again.

The Informers - movie release date for Germany is 30 October 2008. That's all we know at the moment.

Anonymous said...

Has Jake ever denied the engagement/marriage rumors?

15 May 2008
"Gyllenhaal's representative, Carrie Byalick, has denied the impending engagement saying, "There are no current wedding plans."

Anonymous said...

Movie star Paul Newman has quietly turned over the entire value of his ownership in Newman's Own -- the company that makes salad dressing and cookies -- to charity.

Wicked said...

Spooky has some new/old pics of Austin @ the JFC premiere.

Wicked said...

Forgot to say Hi Kacie! Good to hear from you.