You’re Mumbling

Are any of you fans of “mumblecore” movies? You know the ones. Young, urban twenty-somethings dealing with their first real jobs, first married friends, first month of life without a roommate? If so, you might want to check out the Young American Bodies series. This series is produced by the Independent Film Channel and Nerve.com. It is written and directed by Joe Swanberg (LOL, Kissing on the Mouth, Hannah Takes the Stairs) and you will recognize some of the actors, including Joe’s wife, Kris. Each episode is about 5 to 8 minutes long. Season 1 and 2 are online now. And Season 3 has also started, with new episodes being added daily. Here’s the promo:

What else is going on this morning? Yesterday, it was in all of the news that teens are using their cellphones to take pictures of themselves naked and then send them to their boyfriends or girlfriends. Gasp! What’s more, sometimes those photos end up on the Internet. All together now… “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!” I understand when and where this does get serious (e.g., the 17-year old boy being prosecuted for child pornography because his 16-year old girlfriend sent him a picture, breakup where things get ugly and photos are no longer private). But… major headline?

And this morning, it’s a top headline that there were lesbians kissing at Safeco Field in Seattle during a baseball game. Oh, my! Is this really such a scandal in Seattle? Normally, I’d think that an usher having to break up a kiss means that there’s more kissing going on than needs to be going on, I mean, you’re there to see a game, not make out. It’s public; you’re surrounded by people. But these two women weren’t making out. They were just occasionally kissing a little. A “woman nearby” complained to the usher because there were kids around and someone would have to explain to the kids why two women were kissing. Well… maybe someone should explain to the kids why two women were kissing. An online survey at MSNBC is currently running mostly (51%) against anyone of any gender ever kissing in public. 27% say yes, whatever. And then the rest just don’t want kissing in front of the kids.

Of course, this ignores the simple perspective. Have you watched a baseball game lately? You need something to do to pass the time while it’s going on. Knitting, a nice book… and well, kissing. Makes perfect sense. Send the usher my way when it’s time for the seventh inning stretch.