This is about the funniest thing on TV since that chick on the Newly Wed Game "made whoopie" in the rear.
tagged: movies, YouTube, video, Star Wars, Palpatine, Robot Chicken, humor
Monday, June 18, 2007
The happy Moore on
I knew I should have deleted Letterman.
When I saw that Michael Moore was a guest and he was going to talk about his new "documentary" Sicko, I knew I should have deleted that episode from the DVR and watched a Southpark rerun.
But, I ignored my better judgment just to get a glimpse of the night's Top 10 List. The result of course, is that Moore's hypocritical babbling got my blood up to rant level.
Moore has no credibility in my book. The mere fact that he calls his propaganda films "documentaries" is only one reason. I have no intention of seeing his movie (although, you can see it for free here, if the link still works), but based on his remarks during the Letterman interview, it seems to fit the mold of his previous efforts.
(Yes, I am aware that I seem to be commenting about a movie I haven't seen. So to be clear, my comments are strictly about the interview on Letterman and Moore's characterization of his film during this interview.)
The problem is, as with most of his films, Moore starts with a conclusion (i.e., "health care should be paid for by the gubment") and then sets out to find stories and "evidence" to support his conclusion. When Letterman asks him if his movie is just a series of anecdotes critical of the American health care system, he gives this response.
I was just as amazed at this revelation as you are. It seems countries like France and Germany have found ways to compel health care workers to do their jobs without getting paid. Pharmaceutical companies gladly donate all the prescription drugs needed to ensure good health among the populations.
Of course, Moore knows that nothing is "free". He knows that under a national health care system we would end up paying even more taxes to a notoriously inefficient federal system to get, if we're lucky, the same health care we have now.
As if this wasn't enough, Moore further demonstrated his jerkoffitude while relating the story of his trip to Cuba. He pointed out thatprisoners detainees at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base received better health care than people who volunteered to help during the World Trade Center recovery.
Look, the U.S. health care system has serious problems. I suspect very few people have a good understanding what they are. It's not just about who pays for health care. We have to look at why the costs are spiraling, why is insurance so expensive, why are prescription drugs so expensive? There are a myriad other questions that I don't even know about.
For Moore to sell the idea that "you can have it all for free" ignores the fact that the health care system is a system and needs to be addressed as such.
He had an opportunity to look into these issues objectively and pragmatically to make a truly informative documentary. Of course, he'll sell a lot more tickets and make a lot more money by being an inflammatory douche rather than informative.
tagged: Michael Moore, David Letterman, Sicko, policy, health care, Cuba, Guantánamo Bay
When I saw that Michael Moore was a guest and he was going to talk about his new "documentary" Sicko, I knew I should have deleted that episode from the DVR and watched a Southpark rerun.
But, I ignored my better judgment just to get a glimpse of the night's Top 10 List. The result of course, is that Moore's hypocritical babbling got my blood up to rant level.
Moore has no credibility in my book. The mere fact that he calls his propaganda films "documentaries" is only one reason. I have no intention of seeing his movie (although, you can see it for free here, if the link still works), but based on his remarks during the Letterman interview, it seems to fit the mold of his previous efforts.
(Yes, I am aware that I seem to be commenting about a movie I haven't seen. So to be clear, my comments are strictly about the interview on Letterman and Moore's characterization of his film during this interview.)
The problem is, as with most of his films, Moore starts with a conclusion (i.e., "health care should be paid for by the gubment") and then sets out to find stories and "evidence" to support his conclusion. When Letterman asks him if his movie is just a series of anecdotes critical of the American health care system, he gives this response.
"I spent most of my time traveling to other countries to find out how we could create a better system here.That's right. Free.
In every single other western industrialized country it [universal health care] is underwritten by the government. You never have to worry about it costing anything. It's free for everyone."
I was just as amazed at this revelation as you are. It seems countries like France and Germany have found ways to compel health care workers to do their jobs without getting paid. Pharmaceutical companies gladly donate all the prescription drugs needed to ensure good health among the populations.
Of course, Moore knows that nothing is "free". He knows that under a national health care system we would end up paying even more taxes to a notoriously inefficient federal system to get, if we're lucky, the same health care we have now.
As if this wasn't enough, Moore further demonstrated his jerkoffitude while relating the story of his trip to Cuba. He pointed out that
I thought, why don't we go get a boat, sail into Guantánamo Bay go right up to the naval station and say "I've got these 9-11 rescue workers here would you give them the same care that you're giving the evildoers. And that's what we did.Moore goes on to state that he was not received well at the Naval base. Really? Ya think? So you sailed into a U.S. Naval base unannounced and you received a cool reception? Dude, given the location and the geopolitical atmosphere of the day, you're lucky they didn't torpedo you're ass first and ask questions later.
Look, the U.S. health care system has serious problems. I suspect very few people have a good understanding what they are. It's not just about who pays for health care. We have to look at why the costs are spiraling, why is insurance so expensive, why are prescription drugs so expensive? There are a myriad other questions that I don't even know about.
For Moore to sell the idea that "you can have it all for free" ignores the fact that the health care system is a system and needs to be addressed as such.
He had an opportunity to look into these issues objectively and pragmatically to make a truly informative documentary. Of course, he'll sell a lot more tickets and make a lot more money by being an inflammatory douche rather than informative.
tagged: Michael Moore, David Letterman, Sicko, policy, health care, Cuba, Guantánamo Bay
Friday, June 15, 2007
The marketing field
Am I crazy, or is this a great idea for KCI?
Couldn't you envision looking out the window during the descent and seeing a giant bottle of Unfiltered Wheat? Maybe a huge Chiefs logo? or a Harrah's Casino banner?
I smell an opportunity here.
tagged: Kansas City, airport, advertising, Chiefs, Boulevard Brewing Co., Unfiltered Wheat, Harrah's Casino, Gatwick,
Passengers landing at Gatwick airport are being greeted by a giant naked pole dancer. The 9,000 sq m (100,000 sq ft) image is painted on grassland under the incoming flight path.There's so much blank canvas around KCI that this couldn't help but be a money maker.
Couldn't you envision looking out the window during the descent and seeing a giant bottle of Unfiltered Wheat? Maybe a huge Chiefs logo? or a Harrah's Casino banner?
I smell an opportunity here.
tagged: Kansas City, airport, advertising, Chiefs, Boulevard Brewing Co., Unfiltered Wheat, Harrah's Casino, Gatwick,
Friday Blogthing: Arrrr!
This one has been cropping up in a lot of places. It looks like I'm equal parts pirate and superspy.
Capt. Jack Sparrow + James Bond = Awesome Me.
tagged: hero, quiz, Friday, pirate, Jack Sparrow, spy, James Bond
Capt. Jack Sparrow + James Bond = Awesome Me.
 You scored as Captain Jack Sparrow, Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly lucky, Jack Sparrow is a pirate who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. Captain Jack looks out for #1, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the right thing. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into trouble and getting out of it. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three.
Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com |
tagged: hero, quiz, Friday, pirate, Jack Sparrow, spy, James Bond
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Manufacturing concrete news
My Supermodel Wife and I were on our way home with our daughter after a community meeting last night when, on a whim, we decided to stop by Sheridan's Frozen Custard on 75th Street.
Someone mentioned at the meeting that Sheridan's was giving away free "concretes" if you mentioned that you "love KMBC Channel 9."
Now, "love" isn't a word I would use to describe any TV station, unless it's in the context of "I love to bash Larry Moore." But then again, who am I to scoff at a free frozen custard treat.
Then we pulled into the parking lot at 75th and Metcalf and realized that nothing is free. Check out the picture (from the KMBC website).
At the 75th Street location, the line stretched around the entire building. Sure, you don't have to pay money for the frozen custard, but you'll have to wait on line for an hour. It took us about two seconds to decide we didn't want to pay the price for Sheridan's, and about 10 minutes to drive over the Foo's Fabulous, which is right by our house anyway.
I would rather pay the 12 bucks to treat my family rather than make them stand in line with a bunch of moochers. Actually, that's not fair. I don't begrudge those who wanted a free frozen snack. What I really begrudge is KMBC reporting on this like it was a news story.
Look, I tune in to the local nightly news to get updates on Paris Hilton's jail sentence, the Iranian stance on porn stars and the bayou ban on baggy pants, not this meaningless manufactured tripe about people getting free frozen desserts.
To spend so much time setting up an event and then foisting the reporting on an unsuspecting public smacks of Rathergate.
tagged: news, KMBC, Larry Moore, media, Iran, porn star, Dan Rather
Someone mentioned at the meeting that Sheridan's was giving away free "concretes" if you mentioned that you "love KMBC Channel 9."
Now, "love" isn't a word I would use to describe any TV station, unless it's in the context of "I love to bash Larry Moore." But then again, who am I to scoff at a free frozen custard treat.
Then we pulled into the parking lot at 75th and Metcalf and realized that nothing is free. Check out the picture (from the KMBC website).
At the 75th Street location, the line stretched around the entire building. Sure, you don't have to pay money for the frozen custard, but you'll have to wait on line for an hour. It took us about two seconds to decide we didn't want to pay the price for Sheridan's, and about 10 minutes to drive over the Foo's Fabulous, which is right by our house anyway.I would rather pay the 12 bucks to treat my family rather than make them stand in line with a bunch of moochers. Actually, that's not fair. I don't begrudge those who wanted a free frozen snack. What I really begrudge is KMBC reporting on this like it was a news story.
Look, I tune in to the local nightly news to get updates on Paris Hilton's jail sentence, the Iranian stance on porn stars and the bayou ban on baggy pants, not this meaningless manufactured tripe about people getting free frozen desserts.
To spend so much time setting up an event and then foisting the reporting on an unsuspecting public smacks of Rathergate.
tagged: news, KMBC, Larry Moore, media, Iran, porn star, Dan Rather
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
3A.M. Poll: What's your favorite goombah lingo?
This week's poll is an homage to the recent Sopranos series non-finale. If you were a fan of the show (like me) then you already know what these terms mean. If you never watched an episode (gavone!) you can look them up in the Mobspeak glossary.
As always, feel free to add you own candidates in the comments.
tagged: poll, vote, Sopranos, wise guy, slang, mobspeak
As always, feel free to add you own candidates in the comments.
tagged: poll, vote, Sopranos, wise guy, slang, mobspeak
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
YouTube Tuesday: Back to the questions
I don't think there's any child of the '80s who doesn't remember the Back to the Future trilogy with great fondness.
Like the Rubik's Cube, the Super Bowl Shuffle, Valley Girls, Pet Shop Boys and other relics of a bygone era, we get a sense of sweet nostalgia when we think of nutty Marty McFly, the scatterbrained Dr. Emmet Brown an the lovable but misunderstood Biff Tannen.
But as many questions and the trilogy tied up in the final movie, there are still things I want to know: What was Michael J. Fox like? Was that real manure? Well, you get the idea.
Luckily, Tom Wilson (who played the Biff and other Tannens in the series) took time out during a recent tour to set a few things straight.
tagged: movies, YouTube, video, Back to the Future, Tom Wilson, comedy, pop culture, humor, Michael J. Fox
Like the Rubik's Cube, the Super Bowl Shuffle, Valley Girls, Pet Shop Boys and other relics of a bygone era, we get a sense of sweet nostalgia when we think of nutty Marty McFly, the scatterbrained Dr. Emmet Brown an the lovable but misunderstood Biff Tannen.
But as many questions and the trilogy tied up in the final movie, there are still things I want to know: What was Michael J. Fox like? Was that real manure? Well, you get the idea.
Luckily, Tom Wilson (who played the Biff and other Tannens in the series) took time out during a recent tour to set a few things straight.
tagged: movies, YouTube, video, Back to the Future, Tom Wilson, comedy, pop culture, humor, Michael J. Fox
Monday, June 11, 2007
For a smile they can share the night
It was the end of an era.
After eight years of watching Tony Soprano become more and more detestable, after watching him devolve from in insecure villainous letch to a despicable sociopath who cares about nobody - not his wife, kids, friends, sister, uncle - but himself, we were finally going to see him get popped.
After faithfully viewing every uncut episode of what is arguably the defining television program of the decade, we would get to see what we've been waiting for through all the long hiatuses.
We set the DVR (just in case), put the kid to be early and I even made up a Blandwagian Ale for the occasion.
Some of my predictions came true. I predicted that Paulie would turn state's evidence, and I'm not sure sure that didn't happen. I predicted a near-death experience would snap AJ out of his depression (as it did for Tony), although I thought it would be from a shooting rather than his car blowing up.
But I certainly didn't predict that David Chase would lose his stugots when it came to ending the series.
As you already know by now, the final scene built the tension with tight shots of ordinary people inside a diner with the chords of Journey's Don't Stop Believing playing in the background. There was a normal family, a troop of Boy Scouts, just regular people out having dinner. Then the camera would focus malevolently on nefarious looking individuals - a goombah came in alone to sit at the counter, and later a pair of black gangsta-looking fellows.
As Meadow struggles to park her car and the Steve Perry wails "Paying anything to roll the dice just one more time..." the goombah gets up and walks toward Tony, Carmella and AJ, eyeing them with bad intent. At the last minute he turns to walk into the restroom.
The tension is palpable. We're on the edge of our couch cushions just waiting for the universe (or at least Phil Leotardo's crew) to dispense its justice at the muzzle of an untraceable 9 mm Glock.
Then, just as Meadow walks in... the screen goes blank.
What the hell just happened? Did our DVR just malfunction? I frantically begin pushing buttons on the remote to try to diagnose why we lost our picture.
And as the credits begin to roll, I realize that there was no DVR malfunction. We've been had. David Chase sucked us in, got us all excited only to leave me alone and unsatisfied just like Courtney Platte did to me my senior year in high school (different story).
Anyway, I can see Chase's dilemma. There was probably no way he could have written an ending that wouldn't be criticized for the next three weeks. Anything he did would have been a let down, just like when the last Seinfeld episode ran.
But COME ON! You could at least try!
The only explanation, other than Chase's loss of testicular fortitude, is that he wanted to leave the series open for a movie sequel. I guess in that case, Steve Perry would be right: "Oh, the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on."
tagged: Sopranos, HBO, TV, Journey, David Chase, Steve Perry, pop culture
After eight years of watching Tony Soprano become more and more detestable, after watching him devolve from in insecure villainous letch to a despicable sociopath who cares about nobody - not his wife, kids, friends, sister, uncle - but himself, we were finally going to see him get popped.
After faithfully viewing every uncut episode of what is arguably the defining television program of the decade, we would get to see what we've been waiting for through all the long hiatuses.
We set the DVR (just in case), put the kid to be early and I even made up a Blandwagian Ale for the occasion.
Some of my predictions came true. I predicted that Paulie would turn state's evidence, and I'm not sure sure that didn't happen. I predicted a near-death experience would snap AJ out of his depression (as it did for Tony), although I thought it would be from a shooting rather than his car blowing up.But I certainly didn't predict that David Chase would lose his stugots when it came to ending the series.
As you already know by now, the final scene built the tension with tight shots of ordinary people inside a diner with the chords of Journey's Don't Stop Believing playing in the background. There was a normal family, a troop of Boy Scouts, just regular people out having dinner. Then the camera would focus malevolently on nefarious looking individuals - a goombah came in alone to sit at the counter, and later a pair of black gangsta-looking fellows.
As Meadow struggles to park her car and the Steve Perry wails "Paying anything to roll the dice just one more time..." the goombah gets up and walks toward Tony, Carmella and AJ, eyeing them with bad intent. At the last minute he turns to walk into the restroom.
The tension is palpable. We're on the edge of our couch cushions just waiting for the universe (or at least Phil Leotardo's crew) to dispense its justice at the muzzle of an untraceable 9 mm Glock.
Then, just as Meadow walks in... the screen goes blank.
What the hell just happened? Did our DVR just malfunction? I frantically begin pushing buttons on the remote to try to diagnose why we lost our picture.
And as the credits begin to roll, I realize that there was no DVR malfunction. We've been had. David Chase sucked us in, got us all excited only to leave me alone and unsatisfied just like Courtney Platte did to me my senior year in high school (different story).
Anyway, I can see Chase's dilemma. There was probably no way he could have written an ending that wouldn't be criticized for the next three weeks. Anything he did would have been a let down, just like when the last Seinfeld episode ran.
But COME ON! You could at least try!
The only explanation, other than Chase's loss of testicular fortitude, is that he wanted to leave the series open for a movie sequel. I guess in that case, Steve Perry would be right: "Oh, the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on."
tagged: Sopranos, HBO, TV, Journey, David Chase, Steve Perry, pop culture
Friday, June 08, 2007
The Judgment of Paris
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