US State Abbrevs.

November 19, 2016 1:41 AM

A Gary Gulman comedy routine [YT] recommended by Patton Oswalt [FB] touches on the history of US state abbreviations [PDF], first defined in 1831 [Int. Arch.], occasionally [ibid.] revised [PDF], and finally reduced to two letters each soon after the introduction of Zone Improvement Plan codes [Flash/MP4].
posted by Wobbuffet (10 comments total)

Rocking side to side is almost unforgivable for a stage performer. I like Oswalt, but he knows damn well bits like this came before Martin and Williams changed stand-up. I relished Seriously Funny that describes that world, and it's the tip of an iceberg for even a small gathering of professionals and amateurs might reference. For instance (and contrastively) Bob Newhart for the pace of delivery which (in my opinion) Gulman rushes a bit, and as I say, the rocking. The pace seems less attributable to a purposeful style/delivery/persona than having memorized a piece. If I close my eyes, it feels like a writer's efforts over a performer's.

That said, Dottie made me grin from ear to ear, despite Gulman's minimal gesture and its 50s call back to sex shaming. It's a very powerful reference to me...outside the home for reasons other than war, salaried and opinionated. It's the beginning of dual-incomes and all that's Mary Tyler Moore and beyond.

It's a great piece.
posted by lazycomputerkids at 3:01 AM on November 19, 2016 [4 favorites]

Not a contractor, a contractor.
posted by Gordafarin at 5:25 AM on November 19, 2016 [15 favorites]

My partner and I watched his special on Netflix last night on the strength of this piece. The Trader Joe's bit is worth the price of admission.
posted by skryche at 8:24 AM on November 19, 2016 [1 favorite]

Double contractions

Triple contractions

And the Holy Grail... y'all'dn't've
posted by tonycpsu at 8:59 AM on November 19, 2016 [1 favorite]

The uploader has not made this video available in my country.
posted by wreckingball at 8:59 AM on November 19, 2016 [1 favorite]

The uploader has not made this video available in my country.

*#!%##@$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I know, right? Two years ago, or less? The inevitable commercial appropriation of the web via licensing-- commodity hardware a golden age before thin, licensed appliances. I'm sorry, your server hasn't been registered and compromises vital systems latency.
posted by lazycomputerkids at 10:57 AM on November 19, 2016

Also Augh! This is doubly irritating because the last episode of Last Week Tonight was also region blocked for some reason (every other episode is available in Canada). I real hope this doesn't become the default.
posted by Mitheral at 7:49 PM on November 19, 2016

Fellow Canadians, rejoice! For I have found a working link.
posted by spindle at 9:08 PM on November 19, 2016 [1 favorite]

Sky comma!
posted by old_growler at 11:36 PM on November 19, 2016

Aw, that was cute.

I use y'all're ALL the time.
posted by TheLateGreatAbrahamLincoln at 9:53 AM on November 20, 2016