Friday Fives

1. Today is Christopher Lloyd’s birthday.  He was on Taxi.  Do you have any childhood sitcom or other TV show favorites?

First off, I can’t say enough great things about Christopher Lloyd. He is absolutely my favorite character actor.  Remember the evil guy from Roger Rabbit?  How about Doc Brown from Back to the Future?  The best character, probably ever on tv, was his ‘Jig Ignatowski’ from the show Taxi.  Oh yeah, and he was in ‘One flew of over the Cuckoos nest‘  Happy birthday, Iggy!

2. Soupy Sales died this week.  He was a poet, comedian and children’s television star as well as guestin on a lot of game shows and talk shows in the sixties and the seventies.  Do you have a favorite game show?

Well, Soupy was before my time.  So, I don’t have much to add on that.  Favorite game show?  How about my most unfavorite game show > Deal or no Deal.  It is the worst!  Why?  There is no interaction.  There are no questions to answer, or puzzles to solve.  As a viewer, it is a very limited experience.  Plus, that ‘banker’ thing seems awfully forced.  It is too bad, I like Howie.  I think he should go back to inflating gloves on his head.  That used to be his ENTIRE act, but it was pretty damn funny.

3. William Safire died earlier this month. He wrote an amazing column in the New York Times Sunday Magazine each week about language.  What is your favorite under used word?

you know this by now > schadenfrueden

4. It is also Weird Al Yankovic’s birthday. He is an “American Musical Parodist” according to Wikipedia.  Do you have a favority non sensical song?

there is this > Hey jude, I saw you nude.  No need to fake it, I saw you naked.

5. Every fixed something in a rather ugly, clumsy way rather than spending the dough to fix it corretlly? (Inspired by www.ThereIFixedIt.com)

yeah, there is lots of that.  I call this house my practice house.  I am learning to be handy for sure.  You gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet, though, eh?

Don’t cheat!

Ok team.  Rule #1, don’t cheat.  Ever.  The consequences are way more severe than you can imagine.  So, don’t do it.  But, if you are going to cheat… for christ sakes man, make it count!

(Prince Charles) Meaning – if you are going to risk the crown of England… do it for a better piece of tail than this:

(John Edwards) If you are going to risk the presidency, and and a plum appointment to head of state, do it for something better than this:

(Bill Clinton) if you are going to be impeached, man… do better than this:

(Woody Allen) and if you are one of the greatest directors ever, maybe you should leave your wife for someone a little older than her (who is also your child)

(John Lennon) and if you are going to break up the f’n Beatles man, tell me it isn’t for her:

(Elliot Spitzer) So, don’t ever cheat.  It is NEVER worth it, and the consequences ripple through all your relationships.  Ready to lose your job, your house, your friends?  Then don’t cheat.  However, if you are going to risk everything, this would be the way to do it.

Friday Fives

1. Ever flown in a balloon?

oh yes, very often.  My Dad was a hot air balloon pilot when I was younger.  We used to go every weekend.  The balloon was called ‘Jupiter’.  I have many many fond memories.  It was awesome, there is nothing like it.  You are way up there, and it is totally silent.  and.. there is nothing around you to protect you.  You are standing in a wicker basket.  It is life affirming.

2.  Ever done something you were so scared off you hid in an attic?

oh yes.  I ain’t telling you, though.

3.  Ever built your own vehicle (real or imagined.)

nah.  I am not that interesting.

4.  Ever done something that made the headlines?

yes, but all of those headlines have been generated by me.  I have an account with ‘Free Press Release’, and like to make my own news.  It was useful during the Bush years.  Jesus, thank god that whole mess is finally over.

5.  Would you rather publish your diary or make a movie on your most embarrassing moment?

well, I am negotiable on that topic.  how much money are we talking about?

* now, can we just talk about balloon boy?  that was the most riveting thing I have ever seen.  My life stopped for 90 minutes while I watched the  I remember watching Columbine unfold, and I remember watching 9/11 unfold.  This, to me, was way more intense.  I am glad the kid is ok.  Once the balloon landed empty, i realized he was never on it.  I have no beef with the kid, he was being a kid.  What is going on with these parents, though?  What the hell was there plan with that balloon?  Everything they (the parents) have said is a lie.

They called it a ‘weather balloon’.   LIE > They are self-declared ET chasers, and the balloon looks exactly like space ship.  Dad then said it was only meant to go up “20 feet”.  Yet, the balloon was built, rather well, to travel at 14,000 feet for a sustained period.

Know who dad called when the boy and balloon went missing?  Not the cops.  Seriously, he called 9 news and the FAA.  How the hell did he have the FAA’s number handy?  The whole thing reeks of opportunism.  In fact, so does this stupid site.  Who is in charge of this thing?