A new business venture

Recently, a friend celebrated a birthday and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out which she would enjoy more, a clown or a stripper. The obvious answers are either "Both!" or some awful hybrid of both of those things, either clown stripper or stripper clown. No doubt you're already processing your own mental images so I'll save us all the trouble of trying to find an image on the internet (link provided for those who lack sufficient imagination/psychological damage to conjure such atrocities). But I wanted to avoid the obvious and that's why I invented a fake person (Murray Blemish, as played by me) to front a fake company (Donkey Time Entertainment). As with all good aliases, a backstory is crucial. Here's Murray's:

THE HISTORY OF DONKEY TIME ENTERTAINMENT!

My name is Murray Blemish. 

In 2008 I bought a donkey from a Mexican petting zoo. 

I named him Junior (RIP 200?-2011). 

THE END

This allowed "Murray" to call my friend's place of employment, explain to her boss that there had been a paperwork screw-up and ask which form of birthday entertainment she preferred, clown or stripper.

This proved inconclusive as her boss was unable to answer on her behalf. Such was the case when "Murray" called my friend's other acquaintances (friends, relatives, etc.).

No dice.

Then I thought, "What's something that always gets attention? Ooh, I know! A bill!". That's when I made this and sent it to her and waited for her to dispute the charge. 

I know it's tiny but you can click on it to make it bigger.

via GIPHY
The thing is, she never responded. So I guess I'm in the entertainment-for-hire business now and can expect payment in two weeks.

Gotta Plug 'Em All!

Where can we find Clark over the next few days?

Let's make a game out of it!

There he is! The featured act at Kymatic Studios in St. Pete on Wednesday!

Hurry! Throw your balls at him!

"Shine"

Wednesday, July 27 - 9 PM

FREE!

Kymatic Studios

2436 Emerson Ave. St. Petersburg

Oh no. He got away.

Wait...there he is again!

How did he get all the way to Minneola so quickly?!?

"Saturday Night Comedy Showcase"

Saturday, July 30 - 9 PM

FREE!

The Surf

650 Highway 27, Minneola

I guess three days isn't that quick.

But just in case we miss him there...

"The Calta Cruise Last Comic Stranded Competition with Nick Griffin"

Friday, August 5 - 8 PM

DISCOUNT TICKETS AVAILABLE (Use promo code CB)

Side Splitters Comedy Club

12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa

That's in addition to

Nick Griffin

with your host, Clark Brooks

Thursday, August 4 - 8 PM

Saturday, August 6 - 6 PM, 8 PM and 10:30PM

Sunday, August 7 - 7 PM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Side Splitters Comedy Club

12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa

Wow, with all those opportunities, he should be easy to find!

This again? Yep. #CLBOTB

Welcome to the one and only plug I'm doing for this year's Creative Loafing's "Best of the Bay Award" on behalf of myself.
Voting is open now and the only award I care about winning is "Best Local Blogger", and that's just because I have 10 years invested in it now, so an award would be kinda nice but it's not that big of a deal. Unless I win, of course, then it's huge.
I don't even know if I'm nominated in anything else and I honestly don't care. I'm not trying to influence you other than to say that if you plan on voting and you happen to come across the blogger category (it's located under "People, Places and Politics") and you can't think of someone else to toss a vote at*, I'll take it. That's all.
Also, please follow the rules...

"THE FINE PRINT: One (1) ballot per email address. CL reserves the right to disqualify ballots in cases of ballot stuffing, inactive (read: fake) email addresses, or other blatant attempts to game the system. Just be cool."

I don't for a minute think anybody would do any of that and I only mention it because at least one local radio co-host is still jammed up that I won a couple of these things last year. But he pronounces my name correctly when he goes on the air and accuses me of being a huge fraud and a cheat so that's fine too.

* If you're stumped and would like some additional suggestions, here are a few...

• BEST LOCAL ACTIVIST: Mariella Smith
• BEST LOCAL INTERNET RADIO SHOW: Spike On The Mic
• BEST PODCAST: Spike On The Mic
• BEST LOCAL SINGER/SONGWRITER: Rebekah Pulley
• BEST INSTRUMENTALIST: Rebecca Zapen
• BEST LOCAL ACTRESS: Vivienne Brown

(All of these entries should be on the ballot because I nominated them. If they're not, um, vote for someone else or nobody, I guess.)

Looks like I... made it?

Sometimes I post jokes on Twitter. In doing so, I've always been aware that I was kind of casting them out into the world of public domain, where there's a threat that they could be poached by anybody who might seem so inclined to do so. I never really worried about it, though. It was something I knew could happen but didn't really expect it to happen, I guess.
You would think that I wouldn't be surprised by what I came across the other day...

This was what I posted to Twitter on July 13:

And yesterday (Monday, July 18), I stumbled across this on Facebook:

But I was surprised.

Wow. Verbatim! My joke, stolen, completely word-for-word.

I guess this means I've crossed over some kind of writer-ly, comedy threshold. Like Michelle Obama, I've been plagiarized! Like anybody who catches the attention of Josh "The Fat Jew" Ostrovsky, I've been ripped off! Should I be pissed off or honored? Because I'm a little bit both. Honored, because on some level, the idea of someone thinking enough of something I wrote that they would want to steal it, leave my name off of it and attempt to pass it off as their own is flattering. But pissed off because, well, you didn't write that, motherfucker. 

More pissed than honored, actually. 

Yeah, definitely pissed.

A brief comparison of argumentative styles, then vs now

Things have changed. Whether for the better or not is open to individual interpretation. What can not be questioned is that things are different. For example,
This is how things used to go when there was an argument...

"I would like to assert that (...) is a problem."

"I would like to challenge your assertion by saying (...) isn't a problem at all."

"Here is a list of reasons why I feel that it is a problem."

"I too have a list of reasons, and that list refutes your claim."

"I would like to buffer my list of clinical reasons with a number of personal experiences I've accrued throughout my life regarding this matter and why I am emotionally invested in it."

"Being as I am a different person than you, my life experiences and emotions vary from yours."

Back and forth like this for an indeterminate period of time until one of the following conclusions was reached:

• One person conceded defeat; "Your unique perspective has brought factors to my attention I had not previously considered and I have changed my mind. Thank you." (this rarely happened)
• A civil stalemate was reached: "I'm afraid we're at an impasse. While I disagree with your opinions, I appreciate you sharing them with with me and giving me an opposing view to think about. Thank you." (this happened sometimes)
• A less-than-civil stalemate was reached: "Well, fuck you then." (this happened a lot)

This is how things go when there is an argument now...

"I think..."

"WELL, FUCK YOU THEN!!!"

That's it. We don't bother with preliminaries any more. No time for playoffs, we're going straight to the Super Bowl.
Are you against gun control? Well, that means you support murdering innocent people including children.
Do you support the idea that Black Lives Matter? Well, that means you support murdering innocent police officers and their children.
All or nothing, white or black. No room for nuance or flexibility whatsoever. All in, baby! Go friggin' huge or go home. You're either on my side or you're a monster.
Quicker? Definitely.
More entertaining? Hmm, maybe. Sometimes.
More effective? Doubtful.

Please join me at this (FREE) show!

On Wednesday, I saw this on Facebook:

Of course I was interested so of course I commented. And then this happened:

End result: I rounded up some comics and we're going to put on a show! On a Saturday night! For free!!

"A Night of Laughs with Clark Brooks and Friends"

Saturday, July 9 - 9:00 PM

Sacred Grounds Coffee House

4819 E. Busch Blvd, Tampa

ADMISSION IS FREE!!

Who are these "friends" of mine, you ask? First, let me assure you that each and every one of them is from this planet, That is my promise to you: this show will feature nothing but 100% Earthling performers. Unless aliens come here, assimilate themselves into our culture and prove to be funnier comedians, I will always be #EarthFirst when it comes to promoting comedians.

Suck it, Neptune. For now.

Here's the line-up of soon-to-be-your-favorite comedians, along with some Fun Fakts® to help you fall in love with them that much easier:

DILLON ALEXANDER

Dillon's last name starts with a vowel!

LOGAN CHARLES III

There may be three of him, but he is only one of them!

BECCA CHILDS

Becca's hobbies may include bee keeping and macrame! Or they may not. I have no idea!

ROB GARGULIO

Rob's beard is categorized as a "carry-on" item when he travels!

TYLER HORVATH

Tyler "plans" to "vote" in the "upcoming" election! (Good luck with that, buddy! #EarthFirst)

COLIN MEANS

Among his favorite things to eat, Colin lists "food"!

MIKE MORRIS

Mike is probably not a Unabomber!

MELISSA NICHOLAS

Melissa's favorite African rainforest lizard is the Tokay gecko! 

TODD STIMMELL

Todd has not told me that he won't beat the living daylights out of me if I make one more remark about his hot wife, so this isn't one of those!

ZAC TOWNSEND

Zac is the proud owner of some of the dumbest t-shirts I have ever seen in my life! (Pictured: not one of those dumb t-shirts)

And then there is I, me, who will serve as your humble and affable host.

CLARK BROOKS

I'm old!

There you have it. A dozen people, on a mission to make people LOLZ for zero monies. 

Join us, won't you?

Home of the chickens

I was at The Bunker in Ybor last Friday where I heard some manbun-sporting bearded doofus with a bowtie say this:

"So, like, what's up with all these random chickens?"

In case you don't know ...and if you don't live around here, you probably don't... Ybor City is Tampa's party district and home to drag queens, shoe lickers, drunks, drug addicts, comedians, musicians, goths, gang bangers, street preachers, club kids, people who fold palm fronds into crucifixes, and chickens.

There are chickens all over the place.
Do I find that hilarious? Of course I do. Barnyard animals on the loose in an urban environment is always inherently comical. And chickens are the most ridiculous of all the barnyard animals. Still, I recognize and respect the chickens and their place in Ybor lore.

Ybor City was Tampa's first settled neighborhood and was the hub of the cigar industry with which Tampa has always been associated. But just like everywhere else, things in Ybor got tough during the '30s...

"The markedly decreased demand for cigars during the Great Depression of the 1930s had serious consequences for Ybor City. Many smokers found themselves unable to afford luxury items and switched to cheaper cigarettes, weakening the neighborhood's dominant industry and starting the area on a slow economic and social decline.
As occurred elsewhere, many businesses laid off workers or closed altogether and many banks failed. To help keep food on the table during hard times, many residents of Ybor City plowed under their yards or vacant lots to plant vegetables and bought cows, goats, and chickens to provide milk, eggs, and meat for the family, with any surplus sold around town. Interestingly, the descendants of those chickens still roam the area." - Wikipedia

That's right, these chickens have family roots in Ybor that go back almost 100 years and they've lived through some shit. The cows and goats are long gone but the chickens remain. Probably because the people who owned them died trying to catch and eat them. It's no small feat to be delicious and live through a period where all the humans around you are starving. Goats and cows don't move fast enough to get through something like that. But chickens are quick and nimble. And now Ybor City is theirs.
So show some respect. This is where the chickens live. You're just passing through. You're the random one in this equation, you dime-a-dozen PBR-swilling hipster poseur tourist.
Welcome to Ybor City.