... then you may be interested to keep reading. Well, it's nothing big, but Freddy was taken down memory lane a few days ago by some old, bluegrass-lovin' college buddies. For about two years when Freddy was in college, his Saturday nights were always reserved for the Old Man Roscoe Jamboree. Freddy and his friends would get together and play hot, passionate bluegrass for 2 hours or more, till the neighbors complained. It was a group of friends, ranging from as few as 4 or 5, sometimes up to 20 or more, who would crowd into Freddy's little college apartment, bringing guitars, banjos, violins, stand-up basses, flutes, percussion, anything you could play music on. Those who didn't have an instrument brought their voices. Old Man Roscoe was our founder, who only a few privileged members had actually met. Those who had met Roscoe were sometimes lucky enough to have convinced Roscoe to teach them a song. Some of the favorites were: "Where do Babies Come From? (I don't know, I don't know)", "Skinny Dippin'", and "'59 Chevy". Some of Freddy's favorite old standbys were "Drill ye Tarriers, Drill", "Rocky Top", "Old Joe Clark" and many more. Those were good times.
Most of the members of Roscoe have spread out across the Midwest, but occasionally several will find themselves in close proximity and happen to have their instruments with them. When that happens, it is likely that there will be an Old Man Roscoe Revial meetin'. About a year ago, Freddy had the chance to have one at his house. It was good times. Just a few days ago (well, it was June, actually) it seems that there was a jamboree in Chicago with a few of the old members. They were nice enough to put it up on YouTube, so Freddy's gonna share it with you!
Purely through coincidence, shortly after watching this video, Freddy saw a "crazy Japanese T-shirt" as he was walking down the street in Japan. (Freddy likes crazy Japanese stuff) Anyhow, the T-shirt Freddy saw had a guitar and banjo on the front, with the text, "Let's Go Crazy" over the top of the image. Well, since Freddy like it so much, he made his own design.
This is Freddy's own Bluegrass T-shirt design. If you like it, please consider purchasing one. Or perhaps you don't like it, but you know someone who might? Freddy would be very grateful if you passed it on to them. You may see the full range of products with this design at the following link:
And now Freddy just spilled coffee all over his desk (#$%*!) and no, that is not a euphemism! So He must go and clean it up. Great way to start the day!
Freddy read a week or so ago that Japanese game shows were starting to make their way into the US TV market. Freddy wonders if they will be showing original Japanese game shows, or trying to make their own shows to be like Japanese game shows. If it is the latter, Freddy thinks they will never get close to producing the same ...er... quality of game shows. Besides, some of them would never make it past the censors. They are just to crude or violent, or both. Freddy will share a crude and violent game show with you, but first let him tell you about a fun and creative one.
Freddy doesn't have time to watch TV as much as he used to, but when he last lived in Japan, about ten years ago, he still remembers some of his favorite game shows. One was more of a reality TV show. (The Japanese were doing "reality TV" long before Americans ever heard the term). Anyway, it was quite entertaining. Two non-Japanese were shown a 5000 yen note. On the back of the note is a famous view of Mt. Fuji. There is a certain spot where this picture was taken and many tourists will stop there to take pictures. The two contestants were told that they had to find their way to this spot and the first one there was the winner. I believe they started off somewhere in Osaka/Kobe. Of course, neither spoke Japanese and they didn't even give them a 5000 yen note to help them out. They had to get there completely on their own. Freddy remembers one of them made it to Kyoto, and was just wandering around Kyoto station asking in a loud voice, "Does anyone speak English?" "Does anyone have a 5000 yen bill?" It was an entertaining program and eventually, they both made it to the goal.
Sometimes, though, Japanese TV producers just go for the lowest common denominator (which is usually sex, violence, or ... well, poop and farts) In this case, they went for the farts. Now, those who know Freddy will know that Freddy loves a well-timed fart, and the more embarrassing, the better it is. Like in this YouTube Clip, for example (it disappeared for awhile, but Freddy is glad to see that it is back)
Ha ha ha, that never gets old.
Anyhow, the Japanese game show was again a traveling show. Two contestants (this time, Japanese) were given a goal to reach. They were given no money, so unless they could get some, they had to walk there (not impossible, but would have taken more than a day to walk all the way.) They were actually given a way to earn money, though. Every time one of them farted, they would get 50 yen or something like that. Freddy thinks it actually depended on the volume and the length of the fart. So if they farted enough, they could earn enough for the bus fare for part of the way, or to buy a drink or snacks or something like that. So the whole show was following these two fellows on their journey and watching them as they rejoiced every time one of them tooted his trouser trumpet.
Well, the traveling trouser trumpet show is a bit crude, but Freddy thinks it still might make it onto the US networks. But this final game show likely goes a bit too far (and this is not the worst, by the way.) Freddy found this by mistake a year or so ago while searching for clips of a different game show. The contestants here are given a tongue twister, and a time limit. If they fail to say the tongue twister without any mistakes, or they go over the time limit, they are ... physically harmed. (The ladies will likely enjoy this more than the men)
Freddy Bensetein is the founder of EntropicTees T-shirt and apparel company. Mr. Benstein is proud to offer his customers completely arbitrary designs, as well as those inspired by more mainstream culture and current events. "Put my dreams on your chest and give your heart a vacation!"
This is Freddy's own Bluegrass T-shirt design. If you like it, please consider purchasing one. Or perhaps you don't like it, but you know someone who might? Freddy would be very grateful if you passed it on to them. You may see the full range of products with this design at the following link:
