1. I believe that Gotham was a city stained by crime. Stained by violence, darkness, and fear itself. Until one man turned the weapons of the night against them.
2. Often enough. The deluded, misinformed, and insane are in the mix too, unless I’m lying. After seeing how much fun PJ has, I might get in on it. Seems like a blast.
3. My Chuck-Fu is limited to his TV adventures. Which I have seen entirely too much of. It was formula television or a rusty playground, and I chose roundhouse kicks.
4. I’m anti-trained via Capoeira (see: roundhouse kicks). My ass is forty percent more kickable than a random citizen of my build. I also own nunchucks, so make it sixty.
5. Good question. Maybe cursing used to be Algerian and they swiped it.
I think either he really did hurt it throwing a punch, but the rest of the fight didn't go down like he said, or the truth is exactly what he told his mom.
My survival plan if I'm ever confronted by an evildoer is this: I usually have a fidget worm on me, right? so I figure I throw the fidget worm at them because they won't expect that, and then I run like heck.
Or I karaoke it like the girl in Shang-Li and the Legend of the Ten Rings. I could do a bit of Hotel California, although my real strength is Disney songs and musicals. Then either they join in and I've made some friends, or they're confused and distracted and then I run. It's one strategy, anyway.
Aug 6, 2023·edited Aug 6, 2023Liked by Michael Estrin
Well, I just had to look this up - as a translator ánd because (coincidence, I think not!) I was out with a French girl and an Irish girl last night, and it really struck me that the Irish girl kept on cussing and saying "pardon my French'.
An unreliable narrator in fiction isn’t necessarily a liar. (Though I’m guessing PJ was... exaggerating.) They may be immature and misinterpreting what they’re experiencing, or have a mental illlness that colors their perspective.
Yeah, I agree, they may not necessarily think they're lying but they also might not have the whole story either.
Creepy example but I think of Humbert Humbert from Lolita as an unreliable narrator because he frames it as the girl coming on to him and being into the whole thing when, even with the details he gives, it doesn't really seem that way. 😬
Aug 6, 2023·edited Aug 6, 2023Liked by Michael Estrin
1. I'm going to assume PJ spends his summers with his cousin in Alaska hunting Wolverines. And his girlfriend is doing some modeling right now.
2. Children are unreliable narrators. So, I think it has more to do with maturity. Or lack thereof.
4. I did Taekwondo as a kid, but I didn't get very far. My husband has a black belt and knows how to break bones and end people if he needs to. So, he's one half of my self-defense plan. I also used to be a personal chef, so I know how to deftly handle a boning knife, a cheese grater, and a meat mallet. I have a hammer in my car, and I'm filled with repressed rage most of the time. OH! And I have a gallon of homemade pepper spray in my garage because I made too much for my garden pests. Am I good?
5. I love swearing so fucking much. "Pardon my French," my ass! 😁
Michael, man you've got admirable restraint. I would've pestered PJ so hard to see that video that he'd have only two choices: 1) Show the goods. 2) Show me what he's got by punching me in the face.
I want to believe him because I like to think that I’d do the exact same thing in that situation, even as a 56-year-old white woman. I took tae kwon do classes for two years in high school. I’d absolutely go full Bruce Lee.
Great story. Did Avi and Marjan vouch for their friend’s narration? I know many women who conceal carry. I have mine but I don’t have the confidence to go to Walgreens with my firearm. I go to ladies day target practice but at home it’s in the safe.
Avi and Marjan weren’t in a position to vouch for the story because it was as new to them as it was to me. But as for Pj’s overall character... actually I didn’t get a chance to ask. I’ll check with them the next time we have lunch.
Aug 6, 2023·edited Aug 6, 2023Liked by Michael Estrin
Fascination with one who can stand up to all. Ancients had Samson. Previous generations had Jack LaLanne. Next was Chuck Norris. Arnold Schwarzenegger next. AI Robot is inevitable and will be scratch the itch for ever more unlikely feats. Will definitely be better at the dialog than Norris or Arnold.
P.S. The Persian Chuck Norris was probably in The 300.
5. Because everything sounds better in French. I have a friend who is currently vacationing in Coeur d'Alene -- French for Heart of the Awl
Jack LaLanne? An action hero? How about Charles Atlas, who taught us how to get bullies to quit kicking sand in our faces (at least on the inside back cover of comic books)? Jack LaLanne looked like a gym rat hairdresser (no offense to gym rat hairdressers intended).
Haha -- I was impressed when he towed boats at advanced age -- action heroes, FTR are hollywood creations -- Jack would have needed training to do the slo-mo roundhouse kicks though -- probably would have needed less time in the makeup room also since he had pretty good hair, no toupee required https://youtu.be/ZX_D9VD2ED0
1. I believe that Gotham was a city stained by crime. Stained by violence, darkness, and fear itself. Until one man turned the weapons of the night against them.
2. Often enough. The deluded, misinformed, and insane are in the mix too, unless I’m lying. After seeing how much fun PJ has, I might get in on it. Seems like a blast.
3. My Chuck-Fu is limited to his TV adventures. Which I have seen entirely too much of. It was formula television or a rusty playground, and I chose roundhouse kicks.
4. I’m anti-trained via Capoeira (see: roundhouse kicks). My ass is forty percent more kickable than a random citizen of my build. I also own nunchucks, so make it sixty.
5. Good question. Maybe cursing used to be Algerian and they swiped it.
You need to see Chuck-Fu’s early work in films. The roundhouse kicks really kick, but the cheese is as cheesy as ever.
Sounds like a good weekend to me.
As a bonus, his films will really round out your understanding of American empire.
If he had actual video he would definitely have shown it. He might even have shown it first. I think he's full of shit.
Interesting take. Do you think the hand injury was total BS, or do you think he injured it in some non-fighting way?
I think either he really did hurt it throwing a punch, but the rest of the fight didn't go down like he said, or the truth is exactly what he told his mom.
My survival plan if I'm ever confronted by an evildoer is this: I usually have a fidget worm on me, right? so I figure I throw the fidget worm at them because they won't expect that, and then I run like heck.
Or I karaoke it like the girl in Shang-Li and the Legend of the Ten Rings. I could do a bit of Hotel California, although my real strength is Disney songs and musicals. Then either they join in and I've made some friends, or they're confused and distracted and then I run. It's one strategy, anyway.
I like this musical strategy! Very Westside Story!
Well, I just had to look this up - as a translator ánd because (coincidence, I think not!) I was out with a French girl and an Irish girl last night, and it really struck me that the Irish girl kept on cussing and saying "pardon my French'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon_my_French
And there are several other sites of course, with more fun explanations too. I won't waste anyone's time with that. ;-)
Oh and by the way: love the Willem Dafoe gif!!
Wow, that Wikipedia entry is great! Thanks for sharing it!
The words Chuck Norris + oeuvre makes me smile.
An unreliable narrator in fiction isn’t necessarily a liar. (Though I’m guessing PJ was... exaggerating.) They may be immature and misinterpreting what they’re experiencing, or have a mental illlness that colors their perspective.
Your unreliable narrator take is very generous.
Hopefully not so generous it’s unreliable! 😅
Yeah, I agree, they may not necessarily think they're lying but they also might not have the whole story either.
Creepy example but I think of Humbert Humbert from Lolita as an unreliable narrator because he frames it as the girl coming on to him and being into the whole thing when, even with the details he gives, it doesn't really seem that way. 😬
Humbert Humbert is a good example. Creepy. But good.
This was so good! Unreliable narrators are a writer’s best friend!
1. I'm going to assume PJ spends his summers with his cousin in Alaska hunting Wolverines. And his girlfriend is doing some modeling right now.
2. Children are unreliable narrators. So, I think it has more to do with maturity. Or lack thereof.
4. I did Taekwondo as a kid, but I didn't get very far. My husband has a black belt and knows how to break bones and end people if he needs to. So, he's one half of my self-defense plan. I also used to be a personal chef, so I know how to deftly handle a boning knife, a cheese grater, and a meat mallet. I have a hammer in my car, and I'm filled with repressed rage most of the time. OH! And I have a gallon of homemade pepper spray in my garage because I made too much for my garden pests. Am I good?
5. I love swearing so fucking much. "Pardon my French," my ass! 😁
You have a gallon of pepper spray? Do you have a squirt bottle or water gun to deploy the pepper spray?
A squirt bottle. But I feel stupid now for not putting it in a water gun. 😂
Either way, I think you’re all set for the apocalypse with that much pepper spray.
I believe Pj’s crazy story is “true for him.” :)
Your diplomacy, Ms. Kadet, is only exceeded by your kindness.
PJ is, as my wife’s aunt Mimi would have said, “fulla beans.”
drop the mic
I am so adding "bilingual motherfucker" to my resume. This sounds like a regular "Lunches with PJ" feature is called for. I'm here for it!
PJ's lie about falling is the truth. The mugging is BS. Makes a great story though (weird flex on the charity emphasizing how great a guy he is).
I thought the charity thing was a weird flex too.
Michael, man you've got admirable restraint. I would've pestered PJ so hard to see that video that he'd have only two choices: 1) Show the goods. 2) Show me what he's got by punching me in the face.
Thanks for the entertainment!
Thanks Chris!
I want to believe him because I like to think that I’d do the exact same thing in that situation, even as a 56-year-old white woman. I took tae kwon do classes for two years in high school. I’d absolutely go full Bruce Lee.
And by full Bruce Lee, we’re talking one kick, one compound fracture, right?
Great story. Did Avi and Marjan vouch for their friend’s narration? I know many women who conceal carry. I have mine but I don’t have the confidence to go to Walgreens with my firearm. I go to ladies day target practice but at home it’s in the safe.
Avi and Marjan weren’t in a position to vouch for the story because it was as new to them as it was to me. But as for Pj’s overall character... actually I didn’t get a chance to ask. I’ll check with them the next time we have lunch.
Fascination with one who can stand up to all. Ancients had Samson. Previous generations had Jack LaLanne. Next was Chuck Norris. Arnold Schwarzenegger next. AI Robot is inevitable and will be scratch the itch for ever more unlikely feats. Will definitely be better at the dialog than Norris or Arnold.
P.S. The Persian Chuck Norris was probably in The 300.
5. Because everything sounds better in French. I have a friend who is currently vacationing in Coeur d'Alene -- French for Heart of the Awl
Jack LaLanne? An action hero? How about Charles Atlas, who taught us how to get bullies to quit kicking sand in our faces (at least on the inside back cover of comic books)? Jack LaLanne looked like a gym rat hairdresser (no offense to gym rat hairdressers intended).
Haha -- I was impressed when he towed boats at advanced age -- action heroes, FTR are hollywood creations -- Jack would have needed training to do the slo-mo roundhouse kicks though -- probably would have needed less time in the makeup room also since he had pretty good hair, no toupee required https://youtu.be/ZX_D9VD2ED0
Sounds like a story that PJ had ChatGPT write for him 🤣