humor - The Hip Quotient

Marking Your Turf: The Rock Star Tradition of Peeing in Public

Post author:Dana Spiardi
Post category:Brits Beyond The Beatles & Stones Humor and Satire
Post comments:3 Comments
Post published:October 7, 2021

As all dog-owners know, male canines urinate in specific outdoor areas to indicate "top dog" status. Are men prone to pee in public to achieve the same goal? And, if so, what tactics do women employ to establish turf? Well, that's a lot more complicated and would take a much longer time to answer. As any guy will tell you, it's a liberating experience to take a whiz in the great outdoors. However, some do actually get busted for it, none more so than male rock stars who tend to be rather indiscreet when it comes to leaving their scent. Here's a look at some famous offenders.

Phyllis Diller Shares the Spotlight with My Dad, Freddie Baby

Post author:Dana Spiardi
Post category:Humor and Satire
Post comments:6 Comments
Post published:July 17, 2020

"What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day." That's just one of the many funny lines made famous by trailblazing comedian Phyllis Diller, who would have turned 98 today. Did this keen observation of corporate life qualify the flamboyant Phyllis to perform for managers in training? It's debatable. But every year on her birthday I recall the time in 1969 when Westinghouse Electric Corporation sent a group of newly promoted supervisors, including my father, to watch her nightclub act.

Dylan’s Christmas Spirit is Blowin’ in the Wind

Post author:Dana Spiardi
Post category:Dylan's Boot Heels Wanderin'Humor and Satire
Post comments:8 Comments
Post published:December 3, 2018

’Tis the season to see “Jews for Jesus” popping up around Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, the vibrant center of Jewish culture here in the city. Why, just the other day I was strolling to the iconic Little’s Shoe Store, my beloved Bethlehem of Boots, when I saw two spunky dudes dressed in blue “Jews for Jesus” t-shirts (the o in…

10 Hip Quotient Resolutions Aimed at Enriching Your Reading Pleasure

Post author:Dana Spiardi
Post category:Humor and Satire
Post comments:5 Comments
Post published:June 1, 2018

It's that time of year when we feel compelled to set ourselves up for failure by making unrealistic resolutions we'll never keep. Once again we will resolve to quit doing all the naughty things we enjoy, heed the advice of gurus named Chopra, Weil, Tolle, and Oz, and embark on new lifestyles defined by words like organic, tantric, mantra, quinoa, and kale.I stopped making self-improvement resolutions a long time ago. Today, as always, I embrace my inner sloth, heed the words of gurus named Lennon, Dylan, Berry and Waits, and enjoy a lifestyle defined by words like riff, gig, mojo, backbeat, rave, juke, and a-wop-bop-a-loo-mop-a-wop-bam-boom. I prefer "old vinyl" to "new age," amplification to meditation, and Prince to Pilates. But as yer humble blogger, I have a responsibility to guide you, my loyal followers, toward a more enriching reading experience. Therefore, I have made these 10 resolutions.

Who Was the Fabbest of them All? To the Yanks of ’64, Ringo Reigned Supreme.

Post author:Dana Spiardi
Post category:Beatles
Post comments:3 Comments
Post published:February 9, 2018

The 1964 Presidential race is remembered for the landslide victory of Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater. But do you remember the "candidate" whose grassroots campaign was thrust forward by a horde of enthusiastic teenagers? Hint: it was a Beatle. Surprise! It's probably not the one you might have guessed. When the Beatles conquered America 50 years ago, Ringo Starr quickly became the favorite of the band's American fans, including me. From his beat-happy debut on the Ed Sullivan show, to his hilarious hip-swiveling Elvis imitation during the band's first press conference, to his scene-stealing role in "A Hard Days Night," Ringo charmed the Yanks like no other. Yes, in the parlance of the times, the diminutive drummer was gear that year.