For some reason, discussion on this topic is focused on cellphones and the internet. I guess that makes some sense -- they're familiar and amazing and this is Hacker News, after all -- but talk about the latest and greatest in consumer electronics is kind of pathetic when...
Well, just think for a minute about the results being produced by the brand-new science of paleopathology. Now that we can do autopsies on 5000 year old Egyptian mummies, we know that [1]:
- malaria, tuberculosis, severe ear infections, a variety of intestinal worms and kindred parasites, silicosis (a lung disorder caused by inhaling sand over a long span of time) [were all widespread], as well as perhaps smallpox, polio, and gout...
- severe tooth loss, common to all classes ... resulting from the infiltration of windblown sand into granaries and kitchens. The teeth of pharaohs and commoners alike were steadily worn down, often nearly to the gums, leading to ... CHRONIC TOOTH AND GUM INFECTIONS THAT COULD IN SOME CASES BE FATAL.
- bone growth patterns disclose a chronic pattern of malnutrition...
- [besides schistosomiasis, one specimen's] body was a beehive of various parasites ... had he lived on into EARLY ADULTHOOD, he might well have contracted such degenerative diseases as ARTERIOSCLEROSIS and ARTHRITIS. We tend today to associate these with middle or old age...
[1] Hollister & Rogers, Roots of the Western Tradition. Emphasis is mine.
I find myself most enjoying the comedy that points out problems in society that would often be too taboo to talk about if not done in a humorous manner. I'd say that Lewis Black, Lewis C.K., and Jon Stewart all exemplify this quality.
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For some reason, discussion on this topic is focused on cellphones and the internet. I guess that makes some sense -- they're familiar and amazing and this is Hacker News, after all -- but talk about the latest and greatest in consumer electronics is kind of pathetic when...
Well, just think for a minute about the results being produced by the brand-new science of paleopathology. Now that we can do autopsies on 5000 year old Egyptian mummies, we know that [1]:
- malaria, tuberculosis, severe ear infections, a variety of intestinal worms and kindred parasites, silicosis (a lung disorder caused by inhaling sand over a long span of time) [were all widespread], as well as perhaps smallpox, polio, and gout...
- severe tooth loss, common to all classes ... resulting from the infiltration of windblown sand into granaries and kitchens. The teeth of pharaohs and commoners alike were steadily worn down, often nearly to the gums, leading to ... CHRONIC TOOTH AND GUM INFECTIONS THAT COULD IN SOME CASES BE FATAL.
- bone growth patterns disclose a chronic pattern of malnutrition...
- [besides schistosomiasis, one specimen's] body was a beehive of various parasites ... had he lived on into EARLY ADULTHOOD, he might well have contracted such degenerative diseases as ARTERIOSCLEROSIS and ARTHRITIS. We tend today to associate these with middle or old age...
[1] Hollister & Rogers, Roots of the Western Tradition. Emphasis is mine.
Louis CK is a comedian. I doubt he was truly trying to engage in discussion.
The best comedy works because it is intuitively true and engaging.
I find myself most enjoying the comedy that points out problems in society that would often be too taboo to talk about if not done in a humorous manner. I'd say that Lewis Black, Lewis C.K., and Jon Stewart all exemplify this quality.
George Carlin was a master at this as well. I'm not a huge fan of Bill Maher, but some of his stuff would qualify too.
Correction... "the" master.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query...
Doug Stanhope (check youtube), while has a dirtier tone and not as poignant or substantive as Bill Hicks does continue along the same path.
yeah, like fart jokes.
fart jokes aren't best comedy