Today's Thoughtfood: Fifty Things You Need To Know By 50.

[autographedcat]

Courtesy of aolscalzi, I found the article from the AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons), titled 50 Things You Need to Know by 50.

Now, you might think the AARP is going to serve up a lot of stodgy, get-off-my-lawn advice, but given that their very first tip for life includes "Do the dishes naked."....

Engelbert Humperdinck offers advice for Karoke that's just as apropos to filkers:

In karaoke the most important thing is to pick a song by someone you really admire, and take the best of that person while giving the song the best of you. If you are not a singer but want to be part of the fun, pick a cheeky song and act silly. If you can't even catch a melody, let alone carry one, just speak the lyrics. Pretend you are Richard Harris.

There's also advice from Star Trek veteran George Takai, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, and basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Seriously, there's a lot of good thoughtfood here. Go eat.

Comments

[madfilkentist]

Somehow advice from the country's worst junk mailer doesn't interest me.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. My mom died three years ago and she still gets renewal letters. :-P

[allisona.livejournal.com]

That was a fun read :).

[alymid.livejournal.com]

That list did have some surprising things in it - who knew the AARP knew about Worlds of Warcraft! But I think my favorite from the list is - "I don't care who started it. You end it! "

[musicmutt.livejournal.com]

The best description of karaoke I have heard to date is "...where people who shouldn't sing meet people who shouldn't drink."

[melissanmn.livejournal.com]

:) I love Hulk Hogan's advice. :) Thanks for posting.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

The one about dividing heirlooms hit home for me; my paternal grandmother died intestate and the relatives were barely back at her house from the funeral before they started squabbling over her things and clearing the house like vultures on carrion. Make a will today, if you haven't already.

And I liked Art Linkletter's advice about telling a joke: if it falls flat, pretend it's Cosby's.

[annonynous.livejournal.com]

"In karaoke the most important thing is to pick a song by someone you really admire, and take the best of that person..."

Since I've never done karaoke, nor even, to my knowledge, been present when others were doing it, I don't know about this advice. I do know that, as a filker, it has never mattered to me who wrote the song I'm writing a filk of. The thought's never even crossed my mind. What might be said to matter is if I admire the song.

"...while giving the song the best of you."

Yeah, I'll second this part of the advice.

Ann O. [current music (in my mind) - "Psycho Filker" by The unPaul]

[kayshapero]

Agreed. The thing to do with a song is what YOU do with it, not what someone else did.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Would it be obnoxious to list the ones I think are bullshit? Yeah, probably, huh. :-) Still, fun list, thanks.

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

*grin* It's worth nothing that when I label something "thoughtfood", I'm not endorsing it in whole, or even in part. It's just to note that there's some chewy stuff to ponder in it, and I thought it was worth sharing.

Even something you think is ultimately bullshit is worth pondering; keeps the grey matter flexible and strong as you consider why you think it's bullshit and what you think the alternative is. :)

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

It didn't strike me as so much thought-provoking as amusing, but I wasn't criticizing your posting it.

The one I liked best was this one:

The point of the party is not your leaving it. Apologize for any breakage, thank your hosts, listen when they say they were glad you could come, mean it when you say you had a wonderful time, then grab your coat and go. Make sure the door closes behind you. Don't forget your hat.

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

There was some really fun stuff there, as well as smart things. Thanks!