Judgments and so forth...

Generally speaking, I subscribe to the notion that one should not judge a book by its cover.  Generally speaking.  There is important data that can be extracted about a book based solely on its cover, whether it be metaphorical or otherwise.  Example, if one does not wish to read a book about dragons, one should not invest time in a book with a dragon on the cover.  And if one doesn't wish to date a nerd, maybe don't hit on a girl wearing a Princess Leia '08 t-shirt.

This was the thought process I employed when promos for "Important Things with Demetri Martin" first made their way to my television screen.  I assumed that, like so much in our society, the title was meant to be ironic and that this Demetri fellow would instead drone ad nauseam about inane things, Napoleon Dynamite-style.  No, I didn't like that movie.  Let's put that behind us and move on.  I'm not sure what made me want to give Mr. Martin a fair shake.  I'll chalk it up to free time and a mild curiosity.

My sense of humor was cultivated in Death Valley -- that is, it's dry.  As a result, I wholeheartedly agree with his policy on who should throw stones and when.  Apparently the brand of his comedy is not news too regular viewers of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart".  I was impressed to learn that each episode of his show is devoted to tackling a matter that is (to some degree or another) important.  This is an instance in which I'm glad to have been wrong.  Now I have another stand-up comic whose work I can enjoy.  He's probably not for everyone, but if you like words, you're in for a treat.

I hate April Fool's Day

I love pranks, but I hate April Fool's Day.  I feel like that's not as strange a stance as it probably sounds in a vacuum.

The reason I hate it is because every year without fail, people who aren't funny see it as their personal responsibilities get the better of a peer.  Here's the problem, though... more often than not, it isn't funny.  So this person has built up in their mind how awesome the thing they had planned is going to be, and since it isn't funny to anyone else when the cord is finally pulled it's met with, "Oh, so you're not really ___?"  Let's be honest, that blank is usually filled with the word "pregnant".  So at this point the prankster is the only one laughing.  Best case scenario, he or she has only tried to dupe one person, and there isn't a group of people standing around wishing they were somewhere else.  Do we as a society really need a day devoted to this kind of tomfoolery?

As I said, I love pranks.  Setting your roommate's clocks ahead?  Funny.  Leaving fake rodents or body parts in your office secretary's desk?  Funny.  Putting a bouillon cube in someone's shower head?  Hilarious!  If you want to do one of these things, just go for it.  You don't have to wait for the 91st day of the year.  In fact, doing it another day will make it even better, because no one will inherently suspect a prank is coming on June 16th.  And anyone who is that suspicious deserves to get gotten.  But if the only gags you can devise are either wholly unoriginal, or just plain unfunny, do us all a favor and leave it to the professionals.

I will admit that there are a few exceptions to my hatred of April Fool's Day.  I don't mind references to this, the mother of all non-holidays in ways that are either benign or call attention to how ridiculous it is.  I co-wrote a comic strip during my college days, and on April 1st the artist would put mustaches on one or several of the characters.  Today saw the release of a "Special Report" from a podcast to which I subscribe.  And as an unrepentant jerk, I'm a fan of the Liar's Day wiles of one John Gabriel.

I will leave you with a prank from the Office that always makes me laugh.  Who would expect this elaborate a prank at Christmas?  Not Dwight.  Well... maybe Dwight.  But he clearly deserves it.