Computer retrovisionary and early-adopter luddite Dave Nuttycombe explains the new Apple tablet computer.

Travesty Films presents the latest in its series of helpful office-time shorts. Learn from the mistakes of others as you laugh at the mistakes of others. Because isn’t that what work is for? Enjoy.

A day late, but I’ve been sick. This week’s laugh-getter is Gabriel Iglesias. Known as “Fluffy Guy” — fluffy being his euphemism for fat, which he is — Iglesias also has a tendency to lapse into a bizarre high-pitched cartoon voice. I’m assuming he does a lot of weird voice work.

Anyway, the place is WPFW 89.3 on the FM dial; the time is 2:30 in the afternoon. Now go laugh.

It’s frazzled funnyman Jake Johannsen this week. When I was covering stand-up comedy for the Post, they sent me out to review Jake three times. Now, I like the guy; he’s one of the top comics working. His mind is quick, bright, and bizarre—a winning combination. Johannsen can turn a one-word epithet into a pithy sociological statement. But I ran out of ways to say “This guy is quick, bright, and bizarre.”

Maybe the editors were just huge fans, or maybe it was a case of institutional amnesia at the 15th Street behemoth. They didn’t want a Margaret Cho review. Or even post-rehab Brett Butler. But a Johannsen three-peat they got. So maybe I’ll keep playing him the next couple weeks…

One thing I’ve never been able to figure out is why sometimes you see Johannsen with glasses and sometimes you don’t.

Mr. Julius Marx turns a spry 118 on Thursday, Oct. 2. Perhaps less spry since his passing in 1977. I tried to get tickets to his 1972 Carnegie Hall concert, to no avail. (I’d asked my mom to ask my aunt, who lived in Nutley, N.J., if she could buy the tickets. We got word that the show was sold out. It was, but I’m not entirely sure how hard my aunt tried. And, looking back from about the same age as she was then, I’m not sure I blame her…)

Mr. Marx was awarded one of those “special” Oscars in 1974. The same one they’ll probably give to Bill Murray before he croaks. Bah.

It’s the comic stylings of Miss Margaret Smith. Whom I have not heard much from lately, and the reason is she has been a writer on the Ellen Degeneres show. Which I never see. Though I am an Ellen fan. Saw her when she opened the D.C. Improv. After the show (which also featured young Brian Regan), as folks were milling about, I caught sight of Ms. D across the room, her blond tresses shining in a pool of light, and thought, “Wow, she’s hot.” And then several other thoughts, which in hindsight are pretty darn ridiculous for so many reasons.

Anyway, Margaret, too, is a funny lady and I look forward to hearing more from her.

WPFW is the place.

It’s Joe Recca, late of our fair city, with some Baltimore-centric humor and other, as he puts it, “clean, hilarious comedy.” Catch it all week at 2:30 p.m. at 89.3 on your FM dial or wpfw.org.

It was a delight to meet and interview famed comedian/activist/
diet guru Dick Gregory during WPFW’s recent pledge drive. I’m also proud to say that I met my pledge goal during my hour. Now send in those checks!

Interviewing Mr. Gregory proved an easy task. After I said “Hello,” he pretty much filled the entire show with wonderful anecdotes of his pioneering days in comedy and philosophical stories of same. He’s a fascinating guy.

I will be hosting a one-hour show on WPFW Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 11-13. Be advised that this is part of the station’s pledge drive, so in addition to spinning comedy records*, I will also be demanding money. And you should pay up.

Wednesday, my guest will be the legendary Dick Gregory.

*By “records” I mean digital versions of vinyl hilarity.

Of course, it’s George Carlin. Man, 71 is just too early to go, especially for someone who showed no signs of slowing down, at least in the quality of his material. Last week was very depressing.

I interviewed George for City Paper and started with a softball question about any movies or novels he might enjoy. His quick response surprised me: “I don’t have time for other people’s dreams,” he said. It wasn’t a knock on anyone else’s work, rather an acknowledgment that he was busy filling his own mind with the facts and figures of the world, the better to understand, and deconstruct, it for our amusement.

Louis C.K. has a nice appreciation, as does, surprisingly, Michael Ian Black. (Though he also complains that Carlin’s death kept his book, My Custom Van: And 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays that Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face out of the No. 2 spot. Wiseass.

I trust George is finally eating pork chops with Jesus.