Well, since its OT…

I saw Bill Mahers stand up live on the weekend.  Awesome awesome show.  He goes too far sometimes and I love it.  But two things occured to me during the show…

1> If you cant laugh at republicans, you are missing out on some good comedy!

2> I think Im starting to get very annoyed by liberals.  A quote from the great Canadian band Sloan sums up my feelings perfectly:

Its not the band I hate, its their fans.

And vote for Jim.

Starbucks Starbucks......must have Starbucks.  Hear the caffeine fiend roAR!.  (typed the first thing that came to my head).

I saw Bill Mahers stand up live on the weekend.  Awesome awesome show.  He goes too far sometimes and I love it.  But two things occured to me during the show…

1> If you cant laugh at republicans, you are missing out on some good comedy!

Can’t stand Maher anymore.  The thing I used to like about him was he took swipes at everyone all the time.  Yes, there are some great comedic opportunities coming from the right, but those same opportunities from the left are going unnoticed.  It’s really grating to someone like me who takes shots at all who are deserving.

2> I think Im starting to get very annoyed by liberals.  A quote from the great Canadian band Sloan sums up my feelings perfectly:

Its not the band I hate, its their fans.

Good for you.  I’m fed up with all extremists, and the left has a whole slew of them right now.  The fac that Dean is in charge of the DNC should tell you where they’re heading… McCain in ‘08!

Sir Not Appearing In This Film

Can’t stand Maher anymore.  The thing I used to like about him was he took swipes at everyone all the time.  Yes, there are some great comedic opportunities coming from the right, but those same opportunities from the left are going unnoticed.

I think I should re-phrase what I said.  If your political position is so precious to you, left or right, you are missing out on some great comedy! 

I think thats why I got so annoyed with the people around me at the show though.  Im a huge fan of stand up comedy.  I went there for a comedy show.  I got the feeling that the freaks around me went for affirmation.  To make them feel like their views were justified.  Maher didnt dissappoint me though.  He took swipes at Gore, Clinton, Kerry.  I was one of the few laughing, but they were great jokes!  And then when he started talking about putting the Michael Jackson thing in prespective, recalling a time when he was 12 yo, and got the shit beat out of him by 4 or 5 other kids ... he said he would rather have been jerked off by a pop star, rather than beat up by a bunch of bullies.  It was clear my wife and I were the only ones laughing at that joke!  Yes he went too far, yes I was laughing.  It was a comedy show.

The fac that Dean is in charge of the DNC should tell you where they’re heading… McCain in ‘08!

The fact that an unelectable Dean is in charge of the DNC should wake them up to the fact that they need new faces at the podiums. 

I think McCain would be great for America, and the world.  But Bush’s team figured out how to neautralize that 5 or 6 years ago.  We will see what happens this time.

I went there for a comedy show.  I got the feeling that the freaks around me went for affirmation.  To make them feel like their views were justified.

And there’s the problem with the left, today.

Instead of looking to justify their positions through fact and reason, they rely on the approval of a guy whose career peaked with his supporting role in Amazon Women in the Avacado Jungle of Death.

If that’s not an argument for the need to reasess your political leanings, I can’t imagine what is.

If that’s not an argument for the need to reasess your political leanings, I can’t imagine what is.

Youd be an asshole to change your position on anything because somebody else thinks the same thing.  Youd also be an asshole to seek afirmation on your political position from a comedian.  Im sure there are plenty of pro-war assholes* who jerk off to Dennis Miller for the same reason. 

Id imagine a need to reassess your political leanings would be your country/state/city going to hell when your guy gets elected. 

* - before you freak out, Im not saying all pro-war people are assholes.  Im saying all assholes are pro-war : )

* - before you freak out, Im not saying all pro-war people are assholes.  Im saying all assholes are pro-war : )

You mean Michael Moore isn’t an asshole?

So maher’s perspective on the jackson case is that it’s better to be the victim of an adult molestation than be beaten up by bullies?  I wonder if he’d feel the same if he’d ever been molested.  It’s a total dickhead that both justifies and marginalizes child molestation by comparing it to adolescent bullying.  Kudos to those audience members who didn’t laugh.

Kudos to those audience members who didn’t laugh.

We just have different opinions.  I think anyone who goes to see standup comedy, and expects an honest lecture on morality are the ones with problems.  Im not saying Im not going to hell for laughing, its just not the only reason.

Kudos to those audience members who didn’t laugh.

In all fairness to up4, I think we’ve all laughed at much worse.  Name any given episode of South Park (the NAMBLA episode where Kenny tries to give his Mom ‘Baby-Be-Gone’ and to abort Kenny Jr. comes to mind).  I’m goin’ to hell just thinking about it.

I think Sir Not best summed up why Maher isn’t funny, though:

The thing I used to like about him was he took swipes at everyone all the time.  Yes, there are some great comedic opportunities coming from the right, but those same opportunities from the left are going unnoticed.  It’s really grating to someone like me who takes shots at all who are deserving.

Much the same could be said of The Daily Show.  Funny took a hiatus from there years ago…

Much the same could be said of The Daily Show.  Funny took a hiatus from there years ago…

See, I think The Daily Show is probably the funniest “daily” show on tv, hands down.  I dont know if you watch it daily or not, but its pretty damn funny.  And as a political comedy show, they do a good job of getting a good number of people from the right on there as guests.

Nope, I haven’t watched it regularly in a few years.  Frankly, I just could never understand why Stewart has such a following.  I don’t think he’s the least bit funny...and I think the writers/fake newscasters on the show just don’t deliver the goods like they used to.

Hell, if they decided to make Steve Correll the new “achor”, I’d be back to watching it regularly in no time.  Now THAT guy cracks me up!  Or how about making Will Ferrell a “real” anchorman?  One can only dream…

And yes...the DS does have the occasional right-leaning guest....but it’s not as if that negates the incessant conservative-bashing tendencies of the show.  I caught an episode a few months back (I *think* Bernard Golberg was the guest...can’t remember for sure) and Stewart’s treatment of him was downright hostile towards the end of the interview.  Even caught a few hisses from the audience.  Meanwhile, they have Chuck Schumer or John Kerry on there, and sycophant Stewart is practically ready to drop trou and start “servicing” them.

Im sure there are plenty of pro-war assholes* who jerk off to Dennis Miller for the same reason. 

Christ… you saw that...???
Damn, I thought my shades were down…

But you’re (marginally) right.  I do think Miller is infinitely funnier than Maher, and maybe some of that is because he’s conservatively slanted.
But then again, I thought he was funnier before he got political, so maybe not.

Mostly, I think the difference is that Miller’s humor is based on intelligence and quick wit, allbeit occasionally overly ereudite.
Maher’s by contrast, is based on bile and spite, and is infinitely more hateful in tone. On top of that, he manages to be so much more condescending than Miller, even while lowering himself to appeal to the lowest common demominator through ignorant, but popular, thought.

In short, Miller is a bit elitist, sure.
But Maher is just a nasty, bitter little man.

Plus, Maher’s just outright one of the ugliest guys on TV.
I mean… what’s up with that nose?!? It looks like a flacid penis hanging from his face!

* - before you freak out, Im not saying all pro-war people are assholes.  Im saying all assholes are pro-war : )

Oh, I think you definitely need to rethink that one.

Trust me, there are plenty of assholes who are anti-war.
In fact, some of the world’s biggest assholes are anti-war.

Rosie O’Donnell?
Al Franken?
Ward Churchill, anyone?
Has Casey’s mom not proven herself
to be a tremendous asshole, yet?
And, as has been mentioned,
our own beloved Mikey Moore.

Yep… you definitely need to rethink that point, allright.

You mean Michael Moore isn’t an asshole?

Well, Moore is marginally pro-war as well, so long as it’s a bunch of black “dudes” who aren’t afraid of a few boxcutters.

Christ… you saw that...???
Damn, I thought my shades were down…

Awesome.  Thanks for having a sense of humour art.

I do think Miller is infinitely funnier than Maher, and maybe some of that is because he’s conservatively slanted.

Ive always thought Miller was funnier.  I still like Bill Maher.  But even Millers last stand up show (video), I thought was very funny, even though I didnt agree with the politics.  If you want to see the funniest Dennis Miller ever, search the internet for Norm MacDonald as a guest on his old show.  They talk about smoking.  Its 23Mgs or something like that, but soooo worth it. 

On top of that, he manages to be so much more condescending than Miller

I dont know about that one.  More condescending than Dennis “King of the Infinitly Obscure Reference” Miller?  Condescending in different ways maybe.  But for both of them, its part of what makes them funny.  I know its not the old Seinfeld “do you ever notice when...” schtick, but its funny.  Maher comparing religous belief to a neurological disorder.  Condescending maybe.  But funny.  I dont know, I thought he was funny.  He was talking about Ann Coulter, and the crowd started booing.  He came back with “oh come on, she is a completly different person when she is cumming”.  Awesome.

Oh, I think you definitely need to rethink that one.

It was just a joke, thats why I put the little : ) there.  I just copied a Dennis Miller joke to me moronic.  He was talking about gays and asians.  “Is Dennis saying all homosexuals are asian?  No, Im saying all asians are gay”. 

Oh ya, and if you watched the Daily Show last night, you would have seen Stewart making fun of Cindy Sheehan.  Then turning to the crowd and saying “you really dont know what to make of this, do you?”.  Awesome.

PS> Larry David is a genius.

Well, Moore is marginally pro-war as well, so long as it’s a bunch of black “dudes” who aren’t afraid of a few boxcutters.

:)

OT.

A couple interesting stats I noticed:

The Associated Press reports that as of August, there were 192 murders in New Orleans in 2005.  That’s nearly 7 per week.

The New York Times reports that during the week of hurricane Katrina, there were 6 or 7 murders.

Just another week in the Big Easy?  Anyway, just thought that was notable.

The New York Times reports that during the week of hurricane Katrina, there were 6 or 7 murders.

Well, according to a liberal guy with a Law degree from Harvard any evidence of additional murders in New Orleans that week may have been eaten.

Up4:

Larry David is a genius.

Now you’re talking! Which is your favourite episode of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’?
Mine’s the Halloween one in season two, where Larry refuses to give candy to two trick-or-treaters who he thinks haven’t dressed up enough, then they come back later and grafitti his house, in the same episode he also offends his Jewish neighbour by listening to Wagner and makes his handicapped friend’s wife think he’s coming on to her.
CYE is the best show of the last five years, no contest!

Now you’re talking! Which is your favourite episode of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’?

My fav so far is episode 1 from season 2, the Toyota dealership one.  Even though he is worth billions of dollars, he takes a job as a car salesman, because he always thought he could be good at it.  Then he has to explain to his wife, who doesnt know he took the job, that he cant help them move, because “I have to work Monday morning”.  My wife actually got mad at me after watching that, believing that is something I would do.

The other part, I cant remember the episode, I think its season one, where he gets a flat tire.  He doesnt know how to change it.  He is asking people walking on the street for help.  Everyone is ignoring him.  So he starts yelling out “50 bucks!  50 bucks to anyone who can help me change this tire!”.  Nothing.  Everyone still ignoring him.  This soon turns into “10 bucks!  10 bucks for a verbal response!  Anyone?  Just a verbal response, 10 bucks!”.

Awesome.

I like pancakes.

The Starkcast.. Listened to it for the first time this morning. Interesting.

I liked Maher’s “When you ride alone, you ride with bin Laden” quite a bit. There wasn’t much in that book that I disagreed with. I’ve watched his HBO show a few times and there’s not much in those shows that I DO agree with. One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that he (almost?) always has a Republican on the panel, and he makes sure that they get a chance to get into the discussions. Kudos to him for that.

Can’t stand Dennis Miller. It isn’t his politics or anything - he’s just annoying.

Did I mention that I like pancakes?

Ciao.

An e-mail from a coworker who was evacuated due to the Chatsworth (aka Topanga) fire in SoCal (the 2nd paragraph is amusing):

i got evcualted yesterday.  fire was pretty close.  police officers knocked on the door and said they were doing a volentueer evac.  and if they came back again then it was mandatory.  packed our crap up and was out to the temp red cross center.  then they moved us.  and then at 10 we went to nick’s house.  so the kids enjoyed the experience.

i blame al queda for sending smoke signals to their home land since they are getting tracked they want to know how to run their earthquake machine.  i blame fema for not coming to our aid.  i blame bush cause i need to blame someone.  and bush and brush is very similar.

Did anyone watch “Commander In Chief”?

Am I being a cynic or is this show the first salvo of an elect Hilary campaign?

We have had our first female leader in the UK already. The current government is benefiting from a lot of the stuff she put in place. However they have screwed it up in a lot of respects.

I would like your thoughts on this possibility.

Did anyone watch “Commander In Chief”?

Am I being a cynic or is this show the first salvo of an elect Hilary campaign?

I have heard a lot of buzz that the people who put the show topgether are using it the way films and radio were used in WW2: to get people used to an idea then give them the reality when it’s clear that it is acceptable to them.

The key, I suppose, will be in the writing; If Davis’ character’s every decision and opinion is Hillary-like rather than the independant she’s supposed to be...we’ll know it’s a setup.  If they play it straight, then it’s just another TV show.

If you want to see the funniest Dennis Miller ever, search the internet for Norm MacDonald as a guest on his old show.

I think I saw that one, when it originally ran, actually. Norm is a strange guy. Sometimes he’s hilarious, sometimes he’s about as funny as an icepick in your eye. Probably has more to do with his writers, though.

More condescending than Dennis “King of the Infinitly Obscure Reference” Miller?

Abso-freaking-lutely! The difference is, Miller doesn’t look down on most people for not getting the referrence. In fact, he’s known for making fun of himself for being so over-the-top erudite. It’s part of the act, really.
Whereas Maher tries to sound intelligent… fails miserably, then spits (metaphorically, though I wouldn’t put it past him.) in the eye of anyone who doesn’t laugh with an attitude of “I really am brilliant, you just don’t get it because you’re an ignorant redneck.”

He’s the embodiment of condescencion. No contest.

But for both of them, its part of what makes them funny

I disagree. I think this is a major part of what makes Maher unfunny.

Maher comparing religous belief to a neurological disorder.  Condescending maybe.  But funny.

See.. I don’t think so.  Aside from being elitist and mean, it’s also just a regurgitated piece of vitriol I’ve heard a million times before. Nothing original at all.
Why not just fill the show with “Yo mamma’s so fat...” jokes if that’s the direction you’re going to go?
Or maybe a Bill Cosby impersonation.
Just about as played out as that kind of humor.

“oh come on, she is a completly different person when she is cumming”. 

And you don’t see the ego, there?
Come on.. Maher scoring coulter?
The guy should be hiding under a bridge somewhere, scaring children.

I just copied a Dennis Miller joke to me moronic.  He was talking about gays and asians.  “Is Dennis saying all homosexuals are asian?  No, Im saying all asians are gay”. 

Yeah, but there’s a big difference that makes Miller’s joke funny, and yours not… all asians are gay.
Heh.

Oh ya, and if you watched the Daily Show last night, you would have seen Stewart making fun of Cindy Sheehan.

Did his tongue start to bleed afterward?
Seriously… I guess it’s started now… she’s officially being abandoned by her handlers, to be left twisting in the wind like another nameless moonbat.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

PS> Larry David is a genius.

Yeah… we definitely have different tastes in humor.
Larry David just flat-out annoys the hell outta me.
Never really like Seinfeld much, either.

I’m more of a Family Guy, Robot Chicken, ATHF, Scrubs and Red Dwarf kind of guy.

Yes, I’m a geek. I know this. Don’t bother pointing it out. ;)