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FRIDAY IN BLOG CITY!!!!!!

« H E Friday in Blog City :: email
posted Friday, 11 February 2005

I can’t believe I’ve never discussed this here before, but one of my absolute FAVORITE sites on the web is James Lileks’ Institute of Official Cheer. This site is just freaking hilarious. I discovered it my first year here at the school, and I think I was kept sane laughing at what was there. If sitting in your apartment  by yourself, and laughing at your laptop until you have to stumble, crying, into the bathroom to pee is considered sane.

Lileks has a simple concept. He makes fun of commercial art. Mostly stuff from decades gone by. If you want to get all fancy, it is a commentary on social propaganda of the past, and the jaded views of the present. If you just want to have fun, it is damn funny making fun of those old fashioned ads.

My favorite section of the Institute has to be the Gallery of Regrettable Foods, so this is where I’d encourage you to start your tour of the site. Actual pictures from recipe books and advertisements of the past, un-doctored, and scrutinized before your very eyes. Take your time, laugh, cry, become nauseated by the fact that people actually ate THAT. Below is a reproduction of an example of the Gallery’s offering, from the Good House Keeping "10 P.M. Cookbook" (that's for all of you swining hep cats who party like it's 1959. Reproduced here without any kind of permission whatsoever:

 No, a Hot Perkup is not what you get when you stuff Mary Tyler Moore into the range. It's what you make for the calorie-conscious Gals a little hot chicken juice. Or soup with a little booze.

Note the waistlines of these women - Did they keep their intestinal tracts in a hope chest for the day when they might be needed?

If you’re wondering what gives these drinks their 10 PM specialness, look at the Butter-cup recipe: “Serve in glasses.” It’s ingenious touches like this that really impress. And don’t forget the celery! Not a minute must pass without reminding us of the need to keep our weight down, thus keeping our mate aroused, thereby preserving our socio-economic status.

“Is this hearts or bridge? I’m too light-headed to tell. Anyway, did you hear about Madge? Seems she stopped sticking her finger down her throat to throw up. Mm-hmm, true. Said it ruined her manicure. Now she uses the handle of a Fuller Brush and she just swears by it.”

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Comments? Questions? (2)


1. Rina left...
Friday, 11 February 2005 3:49 pm

Wheehahaha! Not sure whether to gag or gasp with laughter. I'll go with the latter to save myself the ruined manicure, eh?


2. Dalia left...
Sunday, 13 February 2005 1:47 am

Awesome. Loves it!

Visit me @ http://followthesun.blog-city.com