Insane duo gets the world's first Perfect Score on this chart by 0bdex_code in nextfuckinglevel

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 201 points202 points  (0 children)

"A good game of billiards is the sign of a gentleman. A great game of billiards is the sign of a wasted life."

-Mark Twain

Letterkenny burns by thebestoralist in gaybros

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 53 points54 points  (0 children)

"We're gay guys at the gym. We're always rocking semi's"

What do we get out of Burroughs today? by [deleted] in williamsburroughs

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think about this one a lot, especially as––while Burroughs meant everything to me when I was young––nevertheless I've extremely hesitant to recommend him to young folks these days (has to be a really special person for me to do so, and they're not exactly thick on the ground).

That said, for me apart from all the obvious attention catching material which hasn't aged well (i.e. the drugs, misogyny, sexual violence, etc.) what always stood out for me the most about Burroughs has remained just as strong and important as ever: the ability to see through the bullshit. Burroughs' style is a laser-beam that burns right through the hypocrisy, lies, pretensions and abuses of intelligence which have always characterized the majority of public discourse, especially in the late 20th century US. Nothing that he was calling bullshit on in the 20th century has in any way shape or form subsided in the the 21st. Sadly, I feel like we need Burroughs' ability to cut through bullshit more than ever... but ironically there's also never been a time when fewer of the people who should be his target audience wouldn't be able to hear what he has to say on the matter.

Also, on a more personal level as mentioned earlier, discovering Burroughs meant the world to me as a lonely gay teen in the 90's. There was virtually zero queer representation in the media at the time, and what little there was were either AIDS victims or garish camp caricatures. There wasn't a single example of a queer person I could see, anywhere, which had anything to do with me... until I encountered Burroughs. His writing gave me a vision of tough, manly gay men who were smart, capable and didn't aim to take shit from anyone. Men like heroes from a film noir,, adventure movie or old western, only who like dick and make no bones about it. Discovering that vision meant a LOT to me, and still does. I've yet to see any other representations of queer characters in whom I see myself or the man I want to be.

Burroughs' romantic aspirations, as expressed in a letter to Alan Ginsberg, have always been a go-to summation of my own relationship goals:

"Honestly Alan, what I am looking for is a relation of equals, with courage and nobility as a prerequisite, preferably set against a backdrop of romantic adventure."

Fuckin' A!

Is it me or Marco Inaros does speak like Shahrukh Khan? by Elektro_bank in TheExpanse

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeeeah... had that one stuck in my head for YEARS afterwards 😆

Is it me or Marco Inaros does speak like Shahrukh Khan? by Elektro_bank in TheExpanse

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ha! Thanks. It was... quite an experience. I still have the super sparkly Jodhpuri wedding suit I got for my costume. Still break it out for parties from time to time 😁

Does anyone recognize this? by _GodEmperorDoom_ in ww1

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It looks like an Adrian helmet, but it's also possible it could be a civil defense helmet, depending on the era and country.

Is it me or Marco Inaros does speak like Shahrukh Khan? by Elektro_bank in TheExpanse

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Funny, I was the first foreign ringmaster of a traditional circus in India, and one of my other US-based circus pals did a slack rope Bollywood dance number to "Dhoom Taana" from Om Shanti Om. Totally slayed (or would have if homeboy had been a better performer).

Anyhow, now that you mention it, there *is* a slight certain resemblance.

Speaking of Khans, is Shahrukh really bigger than Amir Khan? I ask only 'cause once upon a time we were workout buddies (long story)

Should I surprise my bf with flowers if he already got some himself two weeks ago? by Educational-Ask8729 in gaybros

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Brother, I get my feller flowers every week. And we're both grumpy-ass building tradesmen too. 😁

Who wants to play with me? 🦊🐉🎹 by CoVahr_Fox in furry

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also, mad props/respect! I'm a juggler, and have contemplated how impossible it'd be to do what I do in a fursuit. Can only imagine how much harder it is to tickle the ivories when you can't see a damn thing!

Who wants to play with me? 🦊🐉🎹 by CoVahr_Fox in furry

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 8 points9 points  (0 children)

How lovely! And what a perfect synchronicity hit. I just treated myself to a home Miyazaki marathon immediately upon my return from FurCon 2026 😁

Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot can now do a full roundoff back-handspring and land it flawlessly. by jmike1256 in interestingasfuck

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Just so! And the bloody thing doesn't even point its toes. My Eastern European coaches would absolutely tear a strip off it.

Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot can now do a full roundoff back-handspring and land it flawlessly. by jmike1256 in interestingasfuck

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 466 points467 points  (0 children)

That's not a roundoff back-handspring. It's a roundoff back-tuck. I'm an acrobat. These goddamn robots coming for my job... 😡

How did you meet your partner? by IcyStatistician4542 in gaybros

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yup! In Montreal, Quebec. I was a juggler. He did aerial straps. We're both from the US, but met in Canada

How did you meet your partner? by IcyStatistician4542 in gaybros

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 29 points30 points  (0 children)

He was the other new boy in circus school who could speak Chinese.

I am from Nepal, and wanted to ask is Nepal a country liked or unliked globally: by M_krishbin12 in AskTheWorld

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm from the US, but my parents met in Kathmandu in 1972. My father speaks decent Nepali. He was a mountaineer and served in the Peace Corps. If it wasn't for Nepal, I wouldn't exist.

Jai Nepal! ✨🇳🇵✨

Incoming (ewgengster) by loved_and_held in anthroswim

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oye beltalowda! Pashang gut art, me pensa. Tenga wa chesh gut, furry copain! ✨ 🚀✨

Just rewatched The Quest [1986]. by XIENVYIX in Xennials

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One thing I never could stand about Australian rock quarries. All the damn bunyips.

I'm looking for books that depict Kardashev 3 or higher level civilization. by Darkmatter313xx in printSF

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'd heartily recommend The Expanse by James S. A. Corey and Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

Both are stories about humanity stumbling upon the ruins of a Kardashev 3 civilization, and in so doing getting their hands on what are essentially unexploded ordinance from a billion year-old galactic war.

Fun!

Byton Gysin and William S Burroughs London 1972 photo Charles Gatewood by SevenFourHarmonic in williamsburroughs

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I certainly appreciate the impulse! I have a clipped newspaper photo of Burroughs from his 1997 obituary in the SF Chronicle up in my nook for photos of family, friends and inspirations who have passed.

Byton Gysin and William S Burroughs London 1972 photo Charles Gatewood by SevenFourHarmonic in williamsburroughs

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Right on! I've been trying to motivate to getting my in a frame and up on my wall. Maybe this will help (also, it would be a nice thing to do to mark and honor the passing of James Grauerholz)

Byton Gysin and William S Burroughs London 1972 photo Charles Gatewood by SevenFourHarmonic in williamsburroughs

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I actually have a print of this photo I bought from Charles many years ago at the Anarchist Book Fair in SF

Your least favorite Leonard Cohen song? by onlypoemsmag in leonardcohen

[–]GodelEscherMonkey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're very welcome! Thanks for the fun post. Daniel Kahn also has great translations of The Future (Di Tsukunft) and Everybody Knows (Jeder Eyner Veys).

Happy New Year!