Baron Dave Romm
No Column - But...
By Baron Dave Romm
No column, but value added commentary
Once again, Real Life™, or at least Politics (R), get in the way.
I've been interviewing all sorts of people from Democrats to
Republicans to Libertarians to dancing tweens. All these are not
only podcasts, but I made Windows-Friendly mp3s which hang out in the
Audio Page. Links below.
Also, read my comments and listen to an interview about the police
raids in South Minneapolis (barondave.livejournal.com/180706.html) .
I'm an accredited journalist for the RNC. You might get a quick note
like this during the week. Watch my LiveJournal as well.
TTFN,
Baron Dave
--
Dave Romm's Portal (www.romm.org)
Shockwave Radio Theater audio (www.romm.org/audio)
Podcasts (www.romm.org/podcast)
LiveJournal blogging (barondave.livejournal.com/)
--////
"I'm not funny. What I am is brave."
-- Lucille Ball
TODAY
Erin Hart
It's All the Convention News Fit to Talk, Laugh and Cry About on AM 760 Progressive Talk in Denver.
Join Erin on Labor Day, Sept. 1, from 6am 'til 10am MDT (5am - 9am PDT | 7am - 11am CDT | 8am - noon EDT)
Listen Live on www.am760.net!
Sen. Barack Obama is now the official and historic nominee for the Democratic Party as Sen. John McCain (as in "no way, no how, no McCain") is the designated nominee for the Republican Party. He picked Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska as V.P. HEY, it only took them 24 years to take a woman seriously.
A new day is dawning. Why live another four years in darkness perpetrated by Bush and He Who Must Not Be Named?
Choose freedom, prosperity and a renewal of the "audacity of hope." talk about the historic speech at Mile High Stadium (ok, it's Invesco, too). Tell me your stories about the convention, Denver! Were you at the stadium? The Pepsi Center? Demonstrating? I want to hear all of your stories.
Erin Hart Show
The Weekly Poll
Funny Movies
The current question:
What is the funniest movie you've ever seen?
The Responses:
Larry, right off the bowling ball said, "Without a doubt the funniest movie I've ever seen is The Big Lebowski. It had everything...Burned out hippies, 'Nam vets, Malibu cops, Nihilists,......and even Saddam Hussein! My favorite scene was John Turturro bowling a strike to the song Hotel California done by the Gypsy Kings. .........that creep can roll, man...........Yeah, but he's a pervert, Dude. Good news Dude! The Coen Brothers have a new movie out in less than a month that looks to be in the same dark but funny vein! Uh, I'm just gonna go find a cash machine...."
Baron Dave asking for a multiple answer writes, "You asked for THE funniest movie I've ever seen, but my sense of humor moves around, and what will be hilarious the first time may not hold up to a second viewing. Or I may get the jokes later in life.
Or maybe it's just hard to pick one, since humor comes in many flavors. So allow me a multiple answer: (Sure! Baron. I'm easy!)
Probably the movie I laughed at the hardest at the time is A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Brilliant acting and writing all around. Blazing Saddles: Still watchable. Duck Soup is short but holds up marvelously. What's Up Doc? The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. You have to be in the right mood, though. Gotta give a holy shout out to Life of Brian, even more than Monty Python and the Holy Grail (My pick). Living In Oblivion takes a while to get there, but the last part is hysterical. Play Time, Amelie, The Gold Rush, Wayne's World, Play It Again, Sam... I better stop... Undoubtedly others that I can't think of at the moment because the laughter has driven their memory out of mind. Special mention to Buster Keaton for sheer consistency. Hope this is what you're looking for. If not... happy viewing
Stevie G says, "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back It's a stupid little film, but it was funny. So, funny that I watched it about 5 times in a week, and I still laugh today
when I watch it.
PS-Animal House is my classic favorite, along with anything by the Marx Bros."
Sandra in Bangor quickly chose, "funniest movie: A Fish Called Wanda!!"
Ken had it even,"For me, it's a tie. Blazing Saddles and The Big Lebowski. I've seen both many times through the years (especially BS), which diminishes the memory of seeing BS for the first time at the theater. I had to go back because the audience laughter drowned out a lot of the dialogue.
BTW, we were all on shrooms at our first BS in 1974." (Shrooms in '74, eh? That's about the time I stood in a cow pasture in east Texas and as far as the eye could see in all directions was shrooms growing out of you-know-what. Yes, I was holding a soon-to-be filed bag. :)
Chipshot was adamant, "Without a doubt, the funniest movie I have ever seen is Airplane. I was in a Masters Degree program at the University of Oklahoma and my roommate and I skipped out on a study group one evening to take in a movie. We had a choice between Airplane and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We chose the former and, when the scene with Mrs. Cleaver interpreting for the black guys came on, I was a bit reluctant to express my laughter, since my roomie was black. But the guy was roaring with laughter along with all the rest of us. I have the movie on an old VHS, even though I no longer even own a VCR, but I make it a point to catch it every time it's on television."
Ted M recovered from, "Lottsa funny movies but one of the funniest was "The Bird Cage". Laughed so hard I thought I'd die, thought my pants would never dry".
Joe S was conflicted, but came up with... "This is a difficult question to answer. I really liked It's a It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Blues Brothers is another favorite but I mostly watch it now for the music. Our whole family likes Flash Gordon, we even used to recite the dialogue along with the movie. The funniest movie I ever saw was a title I can't remember. My sisters and I watched this movie, a space comedy, after our father survived serious heart surgery. We laughed so hard tears came, it was hilarious! Later each of saw the movie separately and it was crap! Not the least bit funny. I think we were all releasing pent up emotions when we viewed it together. I think my all time favorite is What's Up Tiger Lilly? the Woody Allen film that took a Japanese action film and re-dubbed it to make a picture about the search for the world's best egg salad. I laughed so hard my sides ached, of course I was only 21 at the time."
Ducks, appearing slightly irritated, reproved me with... "Ok ok ok…..just ONE? Hmmm…..Blazing Saddles. Young Frankenstein. The Philadelphia Story (there are a ton of Cary Grant movies to consider…Mr. Blandings, Arsenic and Old Lace, etc). No not quite. Lemme see….Dave. nah, that's more sweet than funny. Hmmm just about any Marx Bros movie maybe? Dr. Strangelove is a top contender. Hmmmm Catch-22 also good. Monty Python and the Holy Grail, of course. (thinking and thinking)….tough to choose just one. The Princess Bride is right up there. The In-Laws is right up there as well Ok. If I can only pick ONE (sheesh), it would have to be Harold and Maude. NO wait, A Hard Day's Night. That's it! Ok. If I can only pick ONE (sheesh), it would have to be Harold and Maude. NO wait, A Hard Day's Night. That's it! But picking just one funny movie is like picking one piece of chocolate out of a See's Candies box. Can't be done." (Sorry, Ducks! I understand. It's kinda like pickin' yer life mate, eh? Haha...)
Adam in NoHo with his experienced, critical eye said, "Series 7-The Contenders' is a great send-up of reality shows and you just feel dirty at the end for laughing at all.
It's also one of the only features shot on digital video and transferred to film that looks worth a damn."
rsill1 with two words said, "Caddy Shack"
David S boldly stated... "without a doubt, for me, the funniest movie I've ever seen was Laurel & Hardy in The Music Box.... the 1st time I saw it I must have been 8 yrs. old....1947? I'll bet nobody else has named this movie... "
Jack C also had a tie "....between 1965's "What's New, Pussycat?" with Peter O'Toole, Romy Schneider and Woody Allen, and directed by Clive Donner, and 1963's "The Pink Panther" with Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine and David Niven, and directed by Blake Edwards. I was in my teens when I saw them, so my judgment could be off, but I have never laughed as much or as hard at any other movies I have ever seen."
Sally P wrote... "After great contemplation I have come up with my favorite funny movie.
It was filmed in 1962, and is entitled, "Divorce Italian Style."
In 1962, divorce was illegal in Italy, but Marcello Mastroianni (the suave, mustached Italian leading man) had fallen, "out of love" with his overweight demanding, sex-starved, unappealing wife, Rosalia. But, alas, he can't legally divorce her - but he (Mastroianni) can, however, kill off his wife and receive a light sentence (Italian courts of that era were notorious for allowing wife abuse, honor killings, etc.; being so Catholic and all) leaving him free to pursue a (very) young lady (schoolgirl) who has caught his eye. All of this, of course, provided he catches the wife committing adultery. The trick now is to make his butt-ugly spouse attractive enough so that some other man will accommodate her, thus allowing his plan to come to fruition.
I tell you, B2BB, I can never remember laughing so hard at any movie. His antics (NOT slapstick at all) were SO hilarious, I can still remember it to this day, some 42 years later - long after Marcello has departed - up to the "Ten Toes Up" motel in the sky... "
Thanks to all responders! I hope that having to think back on all the 'funny' films you've seen brought on a smile or chuckle!
BadtotheboneBob
The NEW question:
Howdy, Pollfans! Well, after two weeks of cinema and a great convention in Denver it's time to talk politics again...
Who would make the best Secretary of State when (not if) Obama takes the helm in January 2009?
A. Hillary Clinton
B. Zbigniew Brzezinski
C. Bill Richardson
D. Chris Dodd
E. Evan Bayh
F. Your choice
Send your response to BadtotheBoneBob ( BCEpoll 'at' aol.com )
BartCop Entertainment Movie Poll Page
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
An Open Letter to God, from Michael Moore (michaelmoore.com)
Dear God, The other night, the Rev. James Dobson's ministry asked all believers to pray for a storm on Thursday night so that the Obama acceptance speech outdoors in Denver would have to be canceled.
Froma Harrop: Hillary Can't Fix What Her Party Broke (creators.com)
Hillary Clinton just gave the last major speech of her 2008 campaign. Or perhaps was it the first of her 2012 campaign. She said vote-for-Barack enough times and at enough volume to protect her from accusations of trying to sabotage Obama's chances in November, not that she won't be accused.
SUSAN ESTRICH: Great Speeches (creators.com)
Hillary gave a great speech. Bill gave a great speech. Barack gave a really great speech. That's what everyone is saying, and who am I to disagree? Of course, I've never been to a convention, Republican or Democratic, where everybody didn't say on Thursday night that it was a really great speech. Truth is, I can barely remember most of them.
The question is whether it matters.
Froma Harrop: Parties Afraid to Face Population Explosion (creators.com)
There's a burning concern in the American West - almost an obsession - that Democrats will not touch in their convention here. Nor will Republicans in St. Paul. It is the U.S. population explosion.
Katy Perry on I Kissed a Girl (timesonline.co.uk)
Her lipgloss-lesbian anthem may have ruffled feathers but Katy Perry just wants to entertain, she tells Sophie Harris.
Will Harris" A Chat with Graham Gouldman (bullz-eye.com)
It has to be said that most Americans may not recognize Graham Gouldman's name when they hear it, but rest assured that he's one of those guys whose songwriting credits will ring a bellŠand then some. The Yardbirds' "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul"? That's Graham Gouldman's handiwork. The Hollies' "Look Through Any Window" and "Bus Stop"? That's him as well.
Tristan Taormino: Vice Tries to Bust Me on the Porn Set (villagevoice.com)
Unexpected visitors on the porn set.
Roger Ebert: The Answer Man (August 28, 2008)
Q. Now that you have seen just how awful a "Death Race" movie can be, is there any chance that you might go back and retroactively give the original a higher rating than your zero stars condemnation?
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Still sunny, still humid.
Creates HOPE Image Decades After LOVE
Robert Indiana
The Maine artist who brought LOVE to the world is doing the same with HOPE.
Robert Indiana decades ago created the pop icon LOVE, known worldwide with its letters stacked two to a line, the letter "o" tilted on its side. Now he has created a similar image with HOPE, with proceeds going to Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
A stainless steel sculpture of the image was unveiled this week outside the Pepsi Center at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. The campaign is selling T-shirts, pins, bumper stickers and other items adorned with HOPE.
Indiana would like to see his latest work become a symbol of newfound hope for Americans, and thinks an Obama presidency could bring just that.
Robert Indiana
Ends World Tour At Harley Celebration
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen played more than 30 songs over 3 1/2 hours Saturday night on Milwaukee's lakefront for Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration. He made few comments between songs.
Springsteen performed to a crowd not unlike the one that gave Republican presidential candidate John McCain a warm welcome Aug. 4 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Many roared their motorcycles during McCain's speech.
Springsteen said "Livin' in the Future" was about what was happening now: cheese, Harley-Davidson motorcycles (tailoring it to his Wisconsin crowd), transfats, "500 channels of nothing on" and the Bill of Rights.
But he also mentioned wire tapping and rendition - the secret transport of terror suspects from one country to another.
"Things that basically at the heart are un-American," he said. The crowd gave spattered groans but mostly stayed silent.
Bruce Springsteen
Woman With An Opinion
Helen Mirren
Oscar-winner Helen Mirren admitted she loved snorting cocaine and only stopped due to the capture of Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie, in an magazine interview out this month.
The respected British actress, 63, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen", told the October issue of GQ men's monthly that she took the drug until her late thirties.
"But what ended it for me was when they caught Klaus Barbie, the Butcher of Lyon, in the early eighties.
"He was hiding in South America and living off the proceeds of being a cocaine baron.
"And I read that in the paper, and all the cards fell into place and I saw how my little sniff of cocaine at a party had an absolute direct route to this fucking horrible man in South America.
Helen Mirren
Wedding News
Lin - Gandolfini
"The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini married his girlfriend in Hawaii on Saturday, People magazine said.
The 46-year-old actor tied the knot with Deborah Lin, 40, during a 20-minute church ceremony in her hometown of Honolulu, People said, attributing its report to an unidentified guest.
It marks the second marriage for Gandolfini, who won three Emmy Awards for his lead role as conflicted New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano in the acclaimed HBO crime drama "The Sopranos."
Lin - Gandolfini
Profit Über Alles
Mad Cow
The Bush administration can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease, a federal appeals court said Friday.
The dispute pits the Agriculture Department, which tests about 1 percent of cows for the potentially deadly disease, against a Kansas meat packer that wants to test all its animals.
Larger meat packers opposed such testing. If Creekstone Farms Premium Beef began advertising that its cows have all been tested, other companies fear they too will have to conduct the expensive tests.
A federal judge ruled last year that Creekstone must be allowed to conduct the test because the Agriculture Department can only regulate disease "treatment." Since there is no cure for mad cow disease and the test is performed on dead animals, the judge ruled, the test is not a treatment.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned that ruling, saying diagnosis can be considered part of treatment.
Mad Cow
What's That?
Retirement
Americans are changing the game plan for retirement, with millions laboring right past the traditional retirement age and working into their late 60s and beyond.
While the average retirement age remains 63, that standard may soon be going the way of the gold watch - a trend expected to accelerate as baby boomers close in on retirement without sufficient savings.
Twenty-nine percent of people in their late 60s were working in 2006, up from 18 percent in 1985, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 6 million workers last year were 65 or over.
Over the next decade, the number of 55-and-up workers is expected to rise at more than five times the rate of the overall work force, the BLS reported.
Retirement
Found In Lake Michigan
Blacktip Shark
Rich Fasi of Traverse City says he found a dead 2-foot shark in the water while fishing on West Grand Traverse Bay on Wednesday.
The saltwater fish was a juvenile blacktip shark, said Mark Tonello, a fisheries biologist from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Tonello said someone might have caught the shark off the Atlantic Coast and kept it on ice while bringing it to northern Michigan.
Another possibility is that the dead shark was dumped by someone who had kept it as a pet, Tonello said.
Blacktip Shark
Make Your Own Joke
Unfortunate Accidents
A Malaysian welder had to have a nut removed from around his penis after an attempt to lengthen it before he gets engaged next week went embarrassingly wrong, a news report said Sunday.
Staff from the Sultanah Aminah hospital had to drain some blood from the penis and cut away a top layer of skin before the object could be removed, the newspaper said.
It said the fire and rescue department were also involved in trying to remove the nut from the unnamed welder, who is in his 20s and hoped the nut would weigh down his penis to make it longer.
On August 25, another young man in Kuala Lumpur had tried to increase his sexual prowess by slipping a steel ring around his penis, forcing the fire department to cut off the ring after doctors were unable to remove it, the newspaper said.
Unfortunate Accidents
Dust Storm
Burning Man
A dust storm chased away some participants from the counterculture Burning Man festival before its traditional climax Saturday night on the northern Nevada desert, authorities said.
Roger Farschon, incident commander for the federal Bureau of Land Management, said the dust storm on the Black Rock Desert about 110 miles north of Reno began early Saturday afternoon and continued into the evening.
The annual celebration of radical self-expression was scheduled to climax Saturday night with the torching of its 40-foot signature effigy.
The crowd on Saturday morning reached a record 49,599, up from 47,097 last year, authorities reported.
Burning Man
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