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The Monty Python purists may be offended – I tend to find such people awkward company – but if you want to have a fun night out and laugh yourself hoarse, then the crazy musical/panto/ “Spamalot” is a must-see event. It has been running in London’s West End for a few weeks now and has already been a smash in Broadway. “We are the Knights who say neeeee!” January 14th, 2007 | 7 comments - (Comments are closed)
 The latest edition of The Onion has some invaluable advice on avoiding being “irresponsible” when it comes to drinking booze this Christmas. God, I love that publication. December 20th, 2006 | 3 comments - (Comments are closed)
“Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy”. Groucho Marx (the Marx who actually had intelligent things to say about money). December 19th, 2006 | 9 comments - (Comments are closed)
Despite it being a highly sinister state, one of the most notable aspects of the façade North Korea presents to the rest of the world can be found in the unintentionally rich comedic value sincerely dished out by Pyongyang’s global network of propagandists. Exhibit A would have to be the depiction of the country’s kooky leader, Kim Jong il, who was famously and brilliantly lampooned in the movie Team America: World Police. Further evidence can be found in Samizdata postings on earlier oddball giggles courtesy of North Korea’s propaganda machine – review these here and here. But wait, there’s more. A brief glance at recently-discovered Songun blog (looking through the comments threads there, it is quite remarkable how many people do not realise the site is satirical – hint, hint) prompts further amusement at the cack-handedness of the North Korean P.R. people. Did you know that North Korea is planning to host an international rock festival in early-mid 2007? It’s true. According to the North Korean English language website, Voice of Korea, ROCK FOR PEACE
Riiiight. And like crazy ol’ spontaneous and unregulated Woodstock of 1969, Rock For Peace promises
I am not sure there are any American acts who would satisfy the criteria. Perhaps the Brits could send Rolf Harris, preferably on a one-way passage. There are, however, indications that the North Korean propaganda machine is starting to come to terms with the concept of producing convincing copy. Displayed at the bottom of the Voice of Korea website is a photo of a few hot and bothered middle-aged Euros posing with a group of male teenage soccer players. Songun (and this Guardian article) quotes the caption of the picture in question as reading
No doubt to the Norwegians’ immense chagrin, a really good time with the boys is no longer being had over at Voice of Korea. They’re learning – one step at a time. December 10th, 2006 | 5 comments - (Comments are closed)
December 8th, 2006 | 22 comments - (Comments are closed)
Via the Adam Smith Institute blog I came across this excellent essay over at the LewRockwell site about South Park. Definitely worth a read. Of course it is not the first time that the outrageous but wonderfully sharp series has been noted for its libertarian, anti-puritan content. Blogger Andrew Sullivan even coined the phrase – I think – South Park Republicans. I doubt that the makers of the series would want to be seen dead with many modern self-styled conservatives, and I would love Parker and Stone to have a go at our own benighted David Cameron’s Tories. There was a whole book on the subject by Brian Anderson called South Park Conservatives, which I quite liked, although it had some flaws. Reason magazine had a recent nice article about the characters. Of course, arguably PJ O’Rourke was ahead of them all with his Republican Party Reptiles, which is essentially a libertarian credo in most respects. The nearest we have in Britain to such a celebration of brash material wealth and fun, irreverence towards do-gooders of all forms is motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson. December 5th, 2006 | 27 comments - (Comments are closed)
The Onion notices the awful truth. Their overall election coverage is quite chuckle-inducing, too. Update: All right, there are a couple of decent ones in there. I like Dr No. (h/t: Avatar Briefs) November 8th, 2006 | Comments are closed
Count this against the serendipitous beauty of found objects, but I just got suckered into opening an email I had not intended to, and found this bit of salient, nonsensical prose heading up a doubtless spurious offer to buy stocks in some ethanol company that I suspect is not incorporated anywhere near the State of Delaware:
This is as good a bit of expiatory nonsense as any I have ever read. And I have read a lot. October 27th, 2006 | 17 comments - (Comments are closed)
Corporate executives used to avoid talking about their war experiences. But today’s educated executives thrill and eventually bore you with their high-altitude conquests. A quarter of them seem either to be just back from one of those instant-glacier expeditions or to be deep in the midst of training for one…You get the impression that every spot on earth over 10,000 feet above sea level is packed with magneta-clad millionaires luxuriating in their thin-air hardships. – David Brooks, Bobos in Paradise, first published in 2000, page 209. October 26th, 2006 | 2 comments - (Comments are closed)
October 26th, 2006 | 5 comments - (Comments are closed)
See if you tell the difference. October 23rd, 2006 | 48 comments - (Comments are closed)
With our troops safely back, the people of Iraq can then begin building a faith-based society emphasizing the same traditional values that motivate conservatives like you: women at home, prayer in school, capital punishment for homos. – Howard Dean (channelled by blogging über-wit Iowahawk) is sniffing out votes in unlikely places. October 19th, 2006 | 9 comments - (Comments are closed)
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