Book of the Week: The Painted Bird

Neil StraussThe Loop

I get a lot of emails from people who don’t read fiction asking for recommendations of good fiction books to read. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to start recommending a few great fiction books that are impossible to put down. Starting with The Painted Bird. The Painted Bird is a dark book about the violence of human beings, … Read More

Sock Puppet of the Week: Clarence

Neil StraussThe Loop

Clarence, the sock puppet. If Triumph is the Insult Comic Dog, then Clarence is the conceptual sock puppet. Here he explores the idea of Patience by…getting on people’s nerves. (Warning: The ads on the MTV2 site may try your patience). A little background: One of the most radical shows ever to grace television in the last decade was Wonder Showzen. … Read More

Animal of the Week: Rags the Kangaroo

Neil StraussThe Loop

Rags the kangaroo. One of the greatest “animals gone wild” videos. I think Rags speaks for every child in the audience when he beats the shit out of the creepy costumed character here: Though the version above is the best one, the narration and “suspense music” below is almost as funny in its attempt to overdramatize the event: “The kangaroo’s … Read More

Flash Video of the Week: Homestar Runner

Neil StraussThe Loop

One of the great tragedies of modern times is the dearth of new Homestar Runner cartoons for over a year now. It used to be a Monday ritual to check www.homestarrunner.com for new animation. However, I have a little something both for those who never got to enjoy the cartoons as well as for those who did enjoy it in … Read More