Bom dia, Sneakers! Ian is in Portugal this week, but don’t let that stop us from having some sneaky fun! This week, a long, interesting conversation about the documentary Tim’s Vermeer, a film about a man who can’t paint who sets out to reproduce Vermeer’s The Music Lesson, which leads to a discussion about crazy rich people; while Dave will never be rich; complacency versus risk; the fantasy of getting lots of money. Also discussed: Dave is sick of Penn and Teller; Deck Talk makes a brief winter appearance; and Ian has some interesting passengers on his trip to Portugal.
Thanks for listening.
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I want to start off by saying I love the show and I’ve listened to (and loved) every episode. I need to say that first because holy crap, this episode pissed me off. You guys are certainly entitled to your own opinions, but I would BEG Ian to watch Tim’s Vermeer before judging it so harshly. Yeah, Tim’s crazy and obsessive, but why is that bad? He’s an inventor who made a bunch of money inventing stuff, and he put a bunch of time, money and energy into solving a mystery that has fascinated art historians for centuries. It really feels like you’re being unreasonably negative about the whole thing. I thought it was beautiful and inspiring, and the final thought about talent vs hard work gave me a lot to think about, as a creative person myself (mostly music).
Anyway, I still love you guys and I’m still a fan. I don’t have to agree with you on everything to enjoy the show. But damn, I really feel like Ian’s getting the completely wrong idea about Tim’s Vermeer. If you see it and still feel the same way, fair enough, but please consider seeing it (and doing so with an open mind) before you dismiss it as a crazy rich dude’s worthless vanity project.
Peace, can’t stress enough that I still love you both! :o)
Thanks, Kitty. Sorry we upset you. In Ian’s defense, he wasn’t reacting to the film, but to my slightly ironic description of the film.
Maybe I wasn’t clear during the show, but I am big fan of the film – I watched it once by myself and then the next day again with the family (and if you’re a fan of the show you know how much I enjoy watching films more than once). I’m also an admirer of Jennison for what he did and, as I said during the show, he definitely proved that Vermeer could have used optical devices (a theory I didn’t think held much water up to that point).
Thanks for listening to the show! Please feel free to disagree with us. Someone has to keep us in line.
Hi Dave, thanks for the reply! I definitely got that you enjoyed it. I saw it twice in the theatre, which (since I stopped working at a theatre and getting free movies) is about as rare as you seeing something twice at all. I saw the title card and got all excited that you might be talking about it, so I think that added to my disappointment. I’ll survive. :o)
I feel a bit guilty that my first comment on your site is a complaint, so I will balance it out by thanking you both for helping me find some laughter again after the recent death of a beloved cat, which is how I ended up getting through about half of the episodes in a month. I discovered you through Compleatly Beatles and now I’m hooked!
While I’m here, can I ask (if you get a chance) Ian to talk a little about his cats, and Dave about how Al Capone (was it Albert now?) is getting along with your cat after the, uh, incident under the bed?
Okay, I’ll stop writing novels on your wall now. Thanks again!
Is this maybe, finally, the time for “I Blame Ian” buttons?
Oh, yes! You know it is!
Hi Guys,
Just so you know, I AM Kenny in accounting. And I’ve hardly screwed anyone over….
I feel like a dummy, but I don’t get this reference!
Ian made a comment about how its just not the Bill Gates billionaire types who may screw someone over to get ahead, that your office worker may do the same thing. He referenced “Kenny in Accounting, the heartless son of a bitch”. That’s my name, and I work in accounting. I guess my comment on it isn’t as funny as I thought.
No, Ken, it is funny…to Ian.
Yes it is!
Someone should probably correct me for never calling Vermeer’s “The Music Lesson” “The Music Lesson” throughout the entire show! “The Music Room”, yes. “The Music Class”, check. But never “The Music Lesson”.
Did Ian get the diner booth idea from Simpsons (TV show) writer John Swartzwelder? He used to write at a diner back in the early days of the show, always in the same booth, and when the diner got shut down, he bought the booth and took it into his home.
Re: the two right hands, I was conflicted on whether I should mention it or not. Glad I was helpful in the end!
Well, you caught it before it was etched in stone, Nina, so thank you. (I might feel differently if it was already posted.) It was one of those tunnel vision things where you can’t see your mistake even though you know something’s wrong.
For anyone who is wondering what the heck we’re talking about. Here is Nina with her two right hands.
Also it’s appropriate that Ian said the painting obsession is like something out of “Hannibal” because “Red Dragon” (which “Hannibal” is currently a prequel of) is about a serial killer who’s obsessed with a painting…
Dave, stop standing on your principles (you’re squishing them!) Your listeners would follow you to a new podcast (say, Surreptitious Salamander) should your corporate media overlords turf you off the show you sold them. Take the money! Ian wants to buy a house!
BTW, fans of Vermeer, Colin Firth and/or Scarlett Johansson might be interested in checking out the 2003 art film Girl With A Pearl Earring. (Get it? ART film?)
Thanks, Louise!
Ian, we’re starting a sister podcast Surreptitious Salamander right now!
I take back everything I said about Tim’s Vermeer and double everything I said about Richard Branson. http://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-691b0bb86faf66e25e6211b10f8a40ff?convert_to_webp=true
Narcissism, thy name is Branson!
Sounds good to me. LOL.
I used to always write in diners when I had enough money to eat at a diner and I love the booths. When I couldn’t afford a diner it was a booth at Burger King. I’d skip out of school, come downtown, watch movies, write in diners and pretend to be a critic at night to get into free plays and other shows.
The truth is Ian had a bit of a crush on Flo.
And Dave, they recreated Schulz’ studio for this exhibit. Maybe you can ask for it after they’re done. http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/charlie-brown-and-the-great-exhibit/
Squeeeee! Clean out your guest room, Maire Hook! I’m coming to Chicago!
Actually, I couldn’t find any images of the office. 🙁
Here is a picture from the Schulz Museum:
As I said on the show, my dream would be to have the whole office building with the secretary and everything. (The ice rink is a little de trop though.) I like the idea of cartooning as a straight, work-a-day job rather than some sort of bohemian, tortured artist thing, I guess. Did I mention I’m a bit of a square?
I’m having the weirdest day.
So, I’m Portuguese listening to a Caustic Soda episode and I find Ian hilarious in it, so I struggle to type his last name on google and after a few hoops I stumble on this podcast, and the first thing I see is that he’s on his way over here. I mean, that is dedication to your new fans! Also, now I’m fearing for President Gal’s safety.
Anyway, I love the chemistry between you guys. Now on to the next of the 156 episodes left.
Sergio, when I was in Portugal were you the guy I saw across the street wearing a jacket?
No, that’s Joel. I hate Joel.
Weird he spoke well of you. Or maybe he didn’t, I don’t really speak the language.
Enjoyable episode as usual. Though I feel like you may want to look into the facts about male (and female) circumcision before making some of the blanket statements you made Dave. I don’t think it affects aids in anyway at all. And despite some very minor benefits, is an unnecessary procedure in men, and should never be performed on a woman.
This sums it up well, and with humour:
Hmmm, I don’t think I made any blanket statements about circumcision that haven’t been backed up by doctors, WHO and UN-AIDS. I was careful to say that I didn’t think it should be forced on people and I certainly didn’t say anything in favour of female circumcision, which REALLY is just mutilation without any positive outcomes. In fact, the mutilation of female genitalia is another reason for the spread of HIV in Africa.
My point wasn’t that circumcision is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but that something with recognized health benefits really didn’t deserve the “sledgehammer and watermelon” Bullshit! treatment. And I kind of feel the same way about the Conover film. Sure, the origins of circumcision are weird – whether from our recent past or our distant past – but Jews also ritually washed their hands before a meal. They did this for religious reasons, but, unknown to them, it also had health benefits. Does this somehow make washing our hands suspect?
Thinking about it, I bet washing our hands before eating only has about a 50% efficacy in preventing the spread of illness. Quick! Get Penn and Teller on the line! We’ve a got a new season of Bullshit!
(Plus I think helmet heads are more aesthetically pleasing, but then my mom did have a Jewish obstetrician. Wink wink.)
Here’s what Wikipedia thinks…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision_and_HIV#cite_note-WHO-GTPDSA-3
I was not speaking to HIV transmission for gay men, but the spread of HIV in the heterosexual population of Africa where circumcision does have a positive outcome. Unfortunately this usually means adult circumcision, which sounds even worse than infant circumcision. Both are done with anaesthetics, but who wants to be aware that someone is going to chop up your penis?
Of course, there is the really terrible ritual circumcision of teenage boys in Kenya as a rite of passage into adulthood. That’s not fun.
David, still on the subject of circumcision, so no one is going to teach Ian how to properly reply to a comment? I’ve seen him commit this terrible offense multiple times. I’ll just keep talking like he’s not reading this…
I can live with that.
If Ian is okay with it, I’m okay with it.
By the way, Sergio, your English is really good. Did you study abroad?
Oh, thank you!
I didn’t, I left Portugal only a few times and for short periods. I’d attribute that to a combination of writing for play-by-post roleplaying games and listening to podcasts and audiobooks routinely while driving to work or at home; but I never made a conscious effort to learn English, so I’d expect more and more non-native speakers to get really good at it. I guess one thing that doesn’t improve so much is spoken English, since I never use it.
Your English is really good too, by the way!
This is the most commented on episode of Sneaky Dragon!
So, I have to throw my two cents, and as soon I find them I will.
The penny has been phased out in Canada, Thomas, so please don’t throw your goddamned worthless trinkets around here.
