১৬ আগস্ট, ২০১৮

"Can you hear that?... Neither can I."



I never noticed this particular YouTube star until a few days ago when I got carried away researching the term "thought experiment" and this video of his turned up. I didn't watch it, but I left it open in a tab while I was reading things in other tabs, for example, "9 Philosophical Thought Experiments That Will Keep You Up at Night" (Gizmodo) and "The impossible barber and other bizarre thought experiments" (New Scientist). I'd opened all those tabs after pondering the difference between "experience" and "experiment" (and had learned that the oldest meaning of "experience" is "experiment"). Anyway, the point is, I'd left that video open in a tab but had not watched it. It was Meade — he'd sat down at my computer to do some comment moderation — who played the video and — like anyone else — became engrossed and fascinated. So if you're wondering what we watch at Meadhouse, this is it.

ADDED: The quote that I made the post title — it reminded me of something. I think it's this, from "Endgame" by Samuel Beckett.
HAMM Open the window.

CLOV What for?

HAMM I want to hear the sea.

CLOV You wouldn’t hear it.

HAMM Even if you opened the window?

CLOV No.

HAMM Then it’s not worthwhile opening it?

CLOV No.

HAMM [violently] Then open it! [Clov gets up on the ladder, opens the window. Pause.] Have you opened it?

CLOV Yes. [Pause.]

HAMM You swear you’ve opened it?

CLOV Yes. [Pause.]

HAMM Well . . . ! [Pause.] It must be very calm. [Pause. Violently.] I’m asking you is it very calm!

৭৫টি মন্তব্য:

Ryan বলেছেন...

Reviewbrah!

Xmas বলেছেন...

Man, I miss Culver's. I have a hankerin' for butter burgers and deep fried cheese curd.

lgv বলেছেন...

Wow, that was a drag.

I can't give credibility to a reviewer wearing a suit with 6 inch wide lapels on a suit 3 sizes too big. I just keep staring at the lapels wondering if I've ever seen an actual suit with anything that wide.

Kate বলেছেন...

LOL. My son has spoken of a suit-wearing fast food reviewer whose channel he loves, but I'd never seen it before.

Balfegor বলেছেন...

I can sort of see how you might turn a video like this on and leave it in the background while doing something else. I do that with some Youtube channels, particularly recorded livestreams (which inevitably have downtime alongside the patter). But I spent the video waiting for the "turn." I thought it was going to come with the blue cheese, e.g. that the blue cheese would make it disgusting. But no, it was pretty much a straight review, with a little mild humor (why is the "blue" cheese white, or "can you hear that?"). Mmmm.

That said, I do kind of want chicken tenders now.

Bob Boyd বলেছেন...

This is what David Sedaris would sound like if Trump revoked his sense of humor.

Nonapod বলেছেন...

I found a great youtube channel called weird fruit explorer a while back when looking for info on the gros michelle banana. It's pretty interesting.

Wince বলেছেন...

This guy has a nice, well-paced delivery that earned my continued attention.

Most of these people bore me right away with there constant “and ums” and self references.

Old Camera Guy বলেছেন...

I rate this blog post a 9.38 out of 10.

CWJ বলেছেন...

I laughed at the juxtaposition of Culvers and palm trees. You can see them out his car window.

Fernandinande বলেছেন...

Controversial. Meaning "I don't get it."

Leland বলেছেন...

I've found that I have a bit of a food allergy. Cutting out fried food helped clear up my sinus problems, and I'm no longer taking Claritin.

Protip: Don't order "Buffalo" anything when wearing a suit and white dress shirt.


Oh, and TRIGGERED: First, I noticed the excess plastic cover and plate. OMG! Then he washes it down with the largest plastic Starbucks cup I've seen with a yuge straw! I'm hyperventilating now, and then he listens to chicken interacting with that horrible plastic. I.can't.even (hear it either).

traditionalguy বলেছেন...

I can't believe I watched the whole thing.

Darrell বলেছেন...

I think he said "Neither COULD I."

tcrosse বলেছেন...

I laughed at the juxtaposition of Culvers and palm trees. You can see them out his car window.

This indicated to me that Culvers had broken out of the Midwest. So I looked to see if there was one near me. OMG! There's one in Bullhead City, AZ. So they're closing in.

Brandon বলেছেন...

I've been subscribed to his channel for years and even donate a small token amount to his Patreon. He is a rare youtuber who is sincere and genuine in his presentation, when many others are snarky, ironic, or try-hard goofy. This is refreshing to me and I think to many others as well because the comments on his videos are remarkably positive. One of the few YouTube channels I recommend to people in real life.

Darrell বলেছেন...

Personally, I would not do a food review if I had a cold with chest congestion and had recently taken medication. That's when you do the two burnt slices of toast and a rotten egg. Whether or not you have a tapeworm.

Rick.T. বলেছেন...

Culver’s has at least one location here in middle Tennessee.

Tragic Christian বলেছেন...

I don’t know if this is feigned, but he speaks with a mid-Atlantic accent, something midway between a British and American accent. While some people spoke this way naturally, it was mostly heard from trained actors (Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn are two examples). I became interested in it because actors in radio drama and films of the ‘30’s spoke this way extensively, but you never hear people speak this way anymore. I think it fits in with his retro look.

Ipso Fatso বলেছেন...

Tragic Christian, thanks for that observation. I was wondering what was up with his accent. I did not know that.

JOB বলেছেন...

My wife, who is a confirmed glutard, can’t resist the BCTs. She eats them despite knowing she will be violently ill afterwards.

“They’re that good.”

Culvers should hire her as its BCT spokesman.

To the point about "thought experiment,” perhaps this might be helpful:

https://books.google.com/books?id=tWZQPAoh3ZQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Kay বলেছেন...

As someone else mentioned, he has many more videos with other reviews. The whole channel is worth exploring. I personally think he’s great.

The Crack Emcee বলেছেন...

What an odd looking person.

Henry বলেছেন...

This guy has a nice, well-paced delivery that earned my continued attention.

That was my take. He doesn't sound scripted, yet brings a pretty broad descriptive vocabulary into play.

Balfegor বলেছেন...

RE: Tragic Christian:

I don’t know if this is feigned, but he speaks with a mid-Atlantic accent,

I'd have to listen again, but is it a mid-Atlantic? It sounded pretty straight American New England-ish to me, though I don't think I could place it to a specific locale (because I don't know those accents very well).

Michael K বলেছেন...

Blogger The Crack Emcee said...
What an odd looking person.


I was wondering if he is cis or trans.

CStanley বলেছেন...

To each his own, but I find it very hard to understand why anybody he would want to watch that (or most YouTube channels.)

This seems to be the adult version of my child's weird obsession with YouTube channels of adults unwrapping toys.

rehajm বলেছেন...

Is his accent mid-atlantic? I was thinking it ocillates between ex-pat brit and brooklyn jew with a mister rogers/forrest gump cadence...

Good on him for exploiting that fact the most perfect locale for video reviews of fast food is sitting alone in your car. He needs to extend the interval of silent eating, though.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent বলেছেন...

It's a thrift store suit and meant to be ironic. Or he's a big Talking Heads fan.

robother বলেছেন...

Is he trying to hear the tenders begging to be dipped in blue cheese? Nice touch.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent বলেছেন...

The Mr. Rogers comparison is apt. He's clearly (and dryly) mining that vein.

Yancey Ward বলেছেন...

That guy looks like Gollum!

Leland বলেছেন...

There's a Culver's 10 minutes away from here in Houston.

Quaestor বলেছেন...

He shaves every person who does not shave themselves, and no one who does shave themselves. So: does the barber shave himself? It doesn’t take long to see the contradiction: If he does, he can’t; if he doesn’t, he must. Such a barber can’t exist.

That's New Scientist summarizing the barber paradox while unconsciously invoking another. In a certain small town with only one barber, the men are simultaneously singular and plural.

Quaestor বলেছেন...

That guy looks like Gollum!

Precious chicken.

john বলেছেন...

He does his nails. Or has them done. Eww.

Ralph L বলেছেন...

His eyes are unusually far apart.

Does paprika actually have any flavor?

Bad Lieutenant বলেছেন...

Incredibly tedious and, as has been pointed about out above, he is a small man swimming in that huge suit. It is not, pardon the expression, suitable. He also does not strike me as personally engaging.

It puzzles me that you would spend 12 minutes and 34 seconds watching this individual. I tried but had to cut it off about the point that he starts talking about the coating. It's not short attention span, it's a decent respect for the value of my own time. You are retired so I guess your time is worth zero. Mine isn't.

So if you want us to see the part where he talks about hearing something, you should probably cue the clip accordingly.

If you actually want a very satisfying specialty reviewer with positive ASMR well as informational value, please check out Steve1989MREInfo: https://youtu.be/jZoHuMwZwTk

Quaestor বলেছেন...

Does paprika actually have any flavor?

Yes, though briefly.

Henry বলেছেন...

Smoked paprika is really good

sparrow বলেছেন...

I found it deadly dull myself, don't understand the interest.

Etienne বলেছেন...

Wide lapels are a felony, and very illegal in Oklahoma.

Possession is just as bad as wearing them. We have zero tolerance.

tcrosse বলেছেন...

Does paprika actually have any flavor?

Yes, if you and it are Hungarian.

MountainJohn বলেছেন...

Was that a David Brinkley tribute at the beginning?

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

"You are retired so I guess your time is worth zero."

Au contraire. As I have already said on this blog, if you wanted to give me an assignment — let's say of a subject to read and write about in a blog post — my fee would be $1,000 an hour.

As a retired person, I am used to getting income without working and thus all my time is free time. To buy some of my time, to take it out of the free time category and into the owed time category, you would need to pay $1,000 an hour. And I still might refuse the job (or demand a higher fee). Of course, there are many things you can suggest — I'd love to see you write about X — that I might do for free and you can also choose to reward me for any of this by making a PayPal contribution, and I would thank you for that.

CStanley বলেছেন...

Smoked paprika is essential for making good homemade burgers (with or without grilling- bonus points for cooking them in a Big Green Egg..)

The Spice House (which is the non crazy Penzey family) has a blend called Milwaukee Avenue Steak seasoning that is perfect.

robother বলেছেন...

He needs a shave every morning, no? When he's finished shaving himself, he joins the set of men he doesn't shave, or need to.

As with many paradoxes in my life, the answer is a new day dawning, nothing is known for certain until the events of that day have manifested.

Henry বলেছেন...

Smoked paprika and mayonnaise is a good secret sauce.

sparrow বলেছেন...

OK I'll ask: I'd love to see you write about Aretha Franklin, she had such a beautiful voice, just died and you often comment on performers.

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

"So if you want us to see the part where he talks about hearing something, you should probably cue the clip accordingly."

He who has ears, let him hear.

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

"He does his nails. Or has them done. Eww."

The vlogstar responds to you.

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

"OK I'll ask: I'd love to see you write about Aretha Franklin, she had such a beautiful voice, just died and you often comment on performers."

I knew she was dying but had not yet seen this news. Of course, this is something that without question I would blog about as soon as I could after I'd seen it.

Anthony বলেছেন...

Yeah, baby, Culvers is all over Arizona. There's one about 10 minutes from my current residence, in Mesa.

I for one am addicted to their chili cheese fries.

Just moved down here from WA state where there are none. The quality of the restaurants and employees are exemplary everywhere.

annteeva বলেছেন...

He reminds me of Bud Cort in Harold and Maude.

robother বলেছেন...

My wife was just complaining about my fingernails being too long yesterday! Why is it anyone's business but the grower? When they break, I cut. Otherwise, useful for untying shoelaces and other knotty objects.

I guess to some hammers, everything looks like a nail.

Darrell বলেছেন...

Does paprika actually have any flavor?

It does--but some of the crap they see in America doesn't have much taste. Buy real Hungarian paprika from a specialty market.

Marcus বলেছেন...

"I laughed at the juxtaposition of Culvers and palm trees. You can see them out his car window."

We have one right here in Jupiter, Florida, nestled amongst the palm trees. Service is fabulous. Food better than most fast food.

mezzrow বলেছেন...

Someone beat me to it. Where is there a Culver's with palm trees? You buried the lede, Althouse. I am crying at this, btw. Thanks.

ALP বলেছেন...

Ryan beat me to it and echoed my own sentiment upon seeing ReviewBrah! ReviewBrah is a regular feature in our house. "My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined." Why The Men's Warehouse has not picked him up as a spokesperson is a mystery.

Ann, when you get into watching YouTube channels featuring trains and train yards of the world, then I'll really freak. It is mesmerizing to have a GoPro's eye view, from the front of the train, as it travels through snowy Finland or the rolling hills of the U.K. Come to think of it, its better than a lot of sitcoms.

ALP বলেছেন...

Since this is a thread about YouTubers, allow me to suggest "Slower", a channel about a guy that bought land in Colorado and is building a mortgage-free life by building a cabin on it by himeself, learning as he goes:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBG2srxt7koQ9BQxvIOadsQ/videos

He does use machines but a lot of what he does is manual, machine-free. We've been there from the beginning...go Slower!

bagoh20 বলেছেন...

" ...my fee would be $1,000 an hour."

That reminded me of the TV commercials selling some item where they throw in a bunch of free extras and then say "That's a $400 dollar value all included for free if you call now."

J2 বলেছেন...

He's comic genius. I subscribed. Thanks for the introduction.

William বলেছেন...

He has a Jim Parsons vibe. It takes skill to be dull in an interesting way.

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

My great-grandmother's maiden name was Culver. She was Cleo Culver.

BamaBadgOR বলেছেন...

Meade doesn't have enough to do.

rehajm বলেছেন...

It is mesmerizing to have a GoPro's eye view, from the front of the train, as it travels through snowy Finland or the rolling hills of the U.K. Come to think of it, its better than a lot of sitcoms

I once got in an Uber and the driver had pointed his camera out the windshield while his mother back in Pakistan watched on FaceTime as we drove around the city. I thought there'd be a huge audience for that...

Robert Cook বলেছেন...

This young man is quite clever and entertaining, and he is very self-aware. Smart kid.

Dorsey Gillman বলেছেন...

"He's comic genius. I subscribed. Thanks for the introduction."

Ditto; SUPER!

ALP বলেছেন...

rehajm: you might be interested in this channel, a joint effort between the two most popular "Expat Anglo Lives in China" bloggers:

https://www.youtube.com/user/churchillcustoms/videos

They converse as they ride the motorcycles all over China. Fascinating and their individual channels are good too.

rehajm বলেছেন...

ALP: I’ll look!

Hammond X. Gritzkofe বলেছেন...

Love the suit! And well groomed too. Even better: no disturbing background music; most words are distinctly spoken.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe বলেছেন...

"...nine point three eight out of ten." Hahaha. Love it.

Mark বলেছেন...

I thought she had gone away, but just watched a show with Nigella Lawson.

She's still got it.

madAsHell বলেছেন...

Somewhere, Andy Kaufman smiles!!

madAsHell বলেছেন...

I don't think I could place it to a specific locale (because I don't know those accents very well).

I worked at GE when the telephone was the foremost communication device. I came to know many American accents down to the town in which they grew up.

....not so much anymore.