When you're not in the mood to write, just show. After all actions speak louder than words right?
So- funniest thing I've seen for a while and I don't even know why
ah that Conan!
Showing posts with label Funny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Funny. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Reasons to miss George Bush....
Ok, I'm going to get a little subversive on you and try to outline the top 5 reasons to miss George Bush. Serious appraisals of his legacy are being made all over the news media (AIDS in Africa, no child left behind, relations with India etc) but this is NOT that kind of list.
This is an attempt to see what, if anything, on a lighter level, I will miss about Dubya.
5. His willingness to laugh at himself. Whatever you say, I must admit it took a sense of humor to poke fun at his own goof ups, to shrug off the shoe-throwing incident and to sit through the excruciating roast done by Colbert, which actually made me sympathize with Bush. Not to mention his bumbling persona- with words, with doors, with his strange smirk- strangely, oddly endearing almost. Many people say that despite their great political differences with Bush, he came across as a friendly, nice guy on a personal level. Note how you could NEVER say that for Cheney (shudder). His cooperation with the Obama team during the transition seems to point to that notion.
This story sums it up for me: I was watching a TV show today where they were interviewing a photographer for National Geographic who was documenting the White House. One of his favorite pictures showed GW staring wistfully out of the windows of the Oval office, backlit by the sun. What was he thinking, the picture seemed to ask? Reflecting on his legacy? Pondering the burdens of the Presidency? The President, the photographer said, was looking for his dog, Barney.
Something about that story summed it up for me- a simple-minded, goofy person/ frat boy who was just in the WRONG job. ETA: Maybe that's being too naive and benign but I'm feeling charitable today.
4. Laura Bush:
I like her. You always got the feeling she was slightly embarrassed by George even though she loves him, she is dignified and slightly enigmatic, she was a gracious first lady by all accounts and inspired one of my favorite books of last year- American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.
3. Barney the dog:
Watching Bush run after Barney the dog symbolized him in many ways. My sister and I once watched the Barney cam videos on the White House website in silent, horrified fascination.
2. Jokes and comedy at the expense of Bush: Reams have been written about how comics are stuck with little to make fun of about Obama. Indeed, we had such rich humor, even entire franchises, that came out of the Bush Administration.
Specifically I mourn the end of 'Great moments in Presidential Speeches' from David Letterman. That truly was one of my favorite segments on late night TV and now it is over....
To mark the end of this era, Letterman did a special compilation of the best moments from Dubya's speeches.....enjoy....
Wow, he sure was a funny and entertaining public speaker- albeit not always intentionally.
1. This is obvious, and linked to the point above, but the number one reason to miss Bush Jr. is Bushisms....ah, the beauty of Bushisms....always so resolute and so clear in its conviction and muddled in delivery. Oh.. the hours of laughter his speeches have inspired.... How could we fault a person who coined such words as 'misunderestimated'? Some of these Bushisms are so famous as to truly rank with great moments in Presidential speeches. We might never hear such inane, surreal and hilarious speeches again so we should take a moment to appreciate them...Here is the definitive collection of Bushisms for your reading pleasure and if you don't have a lot of time, the top 25 Bushisms as compiled by the chief collector of Bushsims- each one is a delight. Also check out the best of the video Bushisms).
Wow! That was tough but I found five things to miss...with a little stretching here and there.
I'm going to say goodbye to the craziness, sorrow and darkness of the past 8 years on the best note possible by leaving you you with my top 5 Bushisms:
5."I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."—discussing Tony Blair
4. "And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours."
3. "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
2. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
And for no. 1 I have this tie ...so funny, so sad, so true?
1. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
and
1. "There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.' "—Boston, Oct. 3, 2000
Hahaha......thanks for the laughs George. I think we'll all like you a lot better when you're making your hilarious speeches but are not making policy!
What are your fav Bushisms? And will you miss George Bush at all? Why? Weigh in below....
This is an attempt to see what, if anything, on a lighter level, I will miss about Dubya.
5. His willingness to laugh at himself. Whatever you say, I must admit it took a sense of humor to poke fun at his own goof ups, to shrug off the shoe-throwing incident and to sit through the excruciating roast done by Colbert, which actually made me sympathize with Bush. Not to mention his bumbling persona- with words, with doors, with his strange smirk- strangely, oddly endearing almost. Many people say that despite their great political differences with Bush, he came across as a friendly, nice guy on a personal level. Note how you could NEVER say that for Cheney (shudder). His cooperation with the Obama team during the transition seems to point to that notion.
This story sums it up for me: I was watching a TV show today where they were interviewing a photographer for National Geographic who was documenting the White House. One of his favorite pictures showed GW staring wistfully out of the windows of the Oval office, backlit by the sun. What was he thinking, the picture seemed to ask? Reflecting on his legacy? Pondering the burdens of the Presidency? The President, the photographer said, was looking for his dog, Barney.
Something about that story summed it up for me- a simple-minded, goofy person/ frat boy who was just in the WRONG job. ETA: Maybe that's being too naive and benign but I'm feeling charitable today.
4. Laura Bush:
I like her. You always got the feeling she was slightly embarrassed by George even though she loves him, she is dignified and slightly enigmatic, she was a gracious first lady by all accounts and inspired one of my favorite books of last year- American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.
3. Barney the dog:
Watching Bush run after Barney the dog symbolized him in many ways. My sister and I once watched the Barney cam videos on the White House website in silent, horrified fascination.
2. Jokes and comedy at the expense of Bush: Reams have been written about how comics are stuck with little to make fun of about Obama. Indeed, we had such rich humor, even entire franchises, that came out of the Bush Administration.
Specifically I mourn the end of 'Great moments in Presidential Speeches' from David Letterman. That truly was one of my favorite segments on late night TV and now it is over....
To mark the end of this era, Letterman did a special compilation of the best moments from Dubya's speeches.....enjoy....
Wow, he sure was a funny and entertaining public speaker- albeit not always intentionally.
1. This is obvious, and linked to the point above, but the number one reason to miss Bush Jr. is Bushisms....ah, the beauty of Bushisms....always so resolute and so clear in its conviction and muddled in delivery. Oh.. the hours of laughter his speeches have inspired.... How could we fault a person who coined such words as 'misunderestimated'? Some of these Bushisms are so famous as to truly rank with great moments in Presidential speeches. We might never hear such inane, surreal and hilarious speeches again so we should take a moment to appreciate them...Here is the definitive collection of Bushisms for your reading pleasure and if you don't have a lot of time, the top 25 Bushisms as compiled by the chief collector of Bushsims- each one is a delight. Also check out the best of the video Bushisms).
Wow! That was tough but I found five things to miss...with a little stretching here and there.
I'm going to say goodbye to the craziness, sorrow and darkness of the past 8 years on the best note possible by leaving you you with my top 5 Bushisms:
5."I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."—discussing Tony Blair
4. "And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours."
3. "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
2. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
And for no. 1 I have this tie ...so funny, so sad, so true?
1. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
and
1. "There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.' "—Boston, Oct. 3, 2000
Hahaha......thanks for the laughs George. I think we'll all like you a lot better when you're making your hilarious speeches but are not making policy!
What are your fav Bushisms? And will you miss George Bush at all? Why? Weigh in below....
Monday, January 12, 2009
Gained in Translation
So I'm standing at the bus stop, waiting for the bus to take me to school on this snowy morning and what do I see?
Just a fellow-student waiting for the bus, right?
WRONG! I had just spotted an instance of 'engrish'!! Behold this wonderful sentiment on the student's backpack (I had to pretend to be taking pictures of the snow and then sneakily photograph him) ...
Ahhh...the joys of mistranslation!!
Wikipedia calls engrish 'non-standard variations of English often found in East Asian countries.' What started as a slightly politically incorrect documenting of funny mistakes in translation on instruction manuals or menus has now become a cottage industry of products (stationary, bags, t-shirts etc.) all with strange, quaint, oddly poetic examples of mis-translation.
Its hallmarks are cute (kawai), colorful, pop Japanese type motifs and designs juxtaposed with strangely worded, cheerful but oddly profound sentiments- all expressed on such important fora such as stationery, plastic containers, bags and dust bins. There's even a website devoted to all things engrish with some hilarious examples submitted by people all over.
I own quite a few 'engrish' products (lunchboxes, stationary, bags etc.) thanks to my trips to San Francisco (GREAT for Asian everything from food -dimsum, mochi and of course my beloved egg tarts which I have blogged about before- to clothes to Engrish products galore).
Now it's one thing to buy such products or look at them on the internet but quite another to make such a serendipitous find! I miss San Francisco terribly so it was nice to be reminded in such a fun way of all its little treasures...
I leave you hoping that you all have days like these and with this timeless tip. You're welcome.
Just a fellow-student waiting for the bus, right?
WRONG! I had just spotted an instance of 'engrish'!! Behold this wonderful sentiment on the student's backpack (I had to pretend to be taking pictures of the snow and then sneakily photograph him) ...
Ahhh...the joys of mistranslation!!
Wikipedia calls engrish 'non-standard variations of English often found in East Asian countries.' What started as a slightly politically incorrect documenting of funny mistakes in translation on instruction manuals or menus has now become a cottage industry of products (stationary, bags, t-shirts etc.) all with strange, quaint, oddly poetic examples of mis-translation.
Its hallmarks are cute (kawai), colorful, pop Japanese type motifs and designs juxtaposed with strangely worded, cheerful but oddly profound sentiments- all expressed on such important fora such as stationery, plastic containers, bags and dust bins. There's even a website devoted to all things engrish with some hilarious examples submitted by people all over.
I own quite a few 'engrish' products (lunchboxes, stationary, bags etc.) thanks to my trips to San Francisco (GREAT for Asian everything from food -dimsum, mochi and of course my beloved egg tarts which I have blogged about before- to clothes to Engrish products galore).
Now it's one thing to buy such products or look at them on the internet but quite another to make such a serendipitous find! I miss San Francisco terribly so it was nice to be reminded in such a fun way of all its little treasures...
I leave you hoping that you all have days like these and with this timeless tip. You're welcome.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Overheard in the 'Cuse
Halloween Night 2008
" I say that to all the girls, even if they're ugly, makes them feel good..."- Indian guy talking to his friend after shouting "what's up cutie" to a sluttily dressed girl across the street.
See, chivalry is not dead...
"From the back I thought he was Jesus" - my friend spying a guy dressed as the 'Dude' from Big Lebowski
' Look!! Look!! Slutty Cop/Nurse/School girl/Devil/fairy/cat/bunny/referee/maid....!!" - Me every 5 minutes...
Such are the small pleasures in life....
ETA: The title of this post comes from the insanely funny 'Overheard in New York" website.
" I say that to all the girls, even if they're ugly, makes them feel good..."- Indian guy talking to his friend after shouting "what's up cutie" to a sluttily dressed girl across the street.
See, chivalry is not dead...
"From the back I thought he was Jesus" - my friend spying a guy dressed as the 'Dude' from Big Lebowski
' Look!! Look!! Slutty Cop/Nurse/School girl/Devil/fairy/cat/bunny/referee/maid....!!" - Me every 5 minutes...
Such are the small pleasures in life....
ETA: The title of this post comes from the insanely funny 'Overheard in New York" website.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hilarious
On a sad day, I thought of bringing some levity to politics.
Here starts a series I shall hopefully return to many times: "Reasons to love John Mayer"
Reason no. 34756: Talented, funny and just the right amount of cynical...
And Steve Jordan's laugh is just infectious...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
"Don't know whether to laugh or cry" moment
This is a conversation I had a couple of days with an ex-student of mine. She's always struck me as earnest, opinionated and very, very liberal from almost everything she said in class and outside. She's almost a stereotype in the stuff white people like mold- vaguely hippyish, vegan, back packing through Chile, artistic type who loudly denounces men, marriage, meat, Western hegemony and walmart all in one go...in other words the perfect person to have a friendly political rant with the day after the Palin speech...
Or so I thought...
The conversation made me long for a large white flag and a pole from which to wave it.
(With a little poetic license)
Me: (brightly and slightly conspiratorially) "Have you been following the political news lately?"
Student: (eagerly) "Yes, I'm sooo excited about it all"
Me: (Feeling happy about evidence of political activism in the youth) "Cool, what parts?"
Student: "Well, I think it's awesome that we have a woman running for VP. She's going to be awesome."
Me: (back peddling in my mind) "Hmmm? Interesting....so, do you find her views on the issues convincing? What things do you like about her?"
Student: "It's just really important to have women- they would change stuff, and make things better.."
Me: "Hmm....So what kind of stuff do you think she will change?"
Student: "She's going to make things.... better and she'll be great for women's rights"
Me: ('polite' voice) "Umm....Ok... Well, you do know that she's very pro-Iraq war, pro-gun, anti global warming as a concept, pro-life, anti-gay rights etc. right?"
Student: "Yeah, that's true but she's a woman and I think that's cool. We really need that right now."
Me: (smiling tightly): "Interesting....well, it's going to be.....interesting"
And then I slunk away....
It's working! Oh god, it's working!
Now I'd like to think I'm sufficiently open minded not to judge people for their political views. Some of my brightest students have been conservative in intelligent and thought provoking ways. But this is just not very smart, is it?
It bothers me that I did not try to gently disabuse her of those notions- but its hard to do without sounding condescending, patronizing and rude. No wonder the dems are bafflingly polite in the face of blatant lies.
Another day, another reminder of the 'jackass problem' in democracies, as a professor once eloquently put it.
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