Forty-Two: Explained

For all those who were disappointed that I didn't include the most important number in the universe in its proper film context for my "100 Movies" clipshow, there are three reasons: (1) I hadn't seen the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy yet, (2) I was wanting to get the project done sooner rather than later and (3) I had heard unfortunate things about the film.

I was pleasantly surprised when I finally sat down to watch it last night. I enjoyed it so much that I almost feel compelled to write up a massive defense of the film after reading The Flick Filosopher's scathing review which she titled "Vogon Poetry". Ouch. No, it is not a faithful adaptation to the book, but the spirit is there, which I would think is the ultimate goal. But Maryann Johanson is apparently quite the uber-fan of the original book and it's hard to argue with a passion like that.

All I know is that late in the movie when Vogon troopers (dressed disturbingly like the Gimp in Pulp Fiction) advance on our heroes, Mos Def goes after them while flailing his towel about. "Oh no! A Towel!" they wail in their British accents as they waddle a quick retreat. It was such a supremely silly moment in a movie packed with them that I laughed out loud. Monty Python would be proud, and I believe Adams would have been proud, too.

Which Lolcat am I?

Your Score: Sad Cookie Cat

55% Affectionate, 46% Excitable, 68% Hungry

You are the classic Shakespearian tragedy of the lolcat universe. The sad story of a baking a cookie, succumbing to gluttony, and in turn consuming the very cookie that was to be offered. Bad grammar ensues.

To see all possible results, checka dis.

Link: The Which Lolcat Are You? Test written by GumOtaku on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Reading "The Blue"

I don't do message boards or any of that, and I don't make a habit of reading them (except for the occasional Lost discussion at Film Fodder), but I just had to share some of these Metafilter comments to this video. The video, of course, is entertaining all on it's own, but the comments are hysterical:

A celebrity cooking?! Is this worthy of the Blue?
posted by dov3 at 11:42 AM on July 29


He got his greasy yella chicken hands all over that salt spoon.
posted by brain cloud at 12:01 PM on July 29


He got his greasy yella chicken hands all over that salt spoon.

In a contest between Walken and salmonella, I know which will win.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:04 PM on July 29 [1 favorite]


A celebrity cooking?! Is this worthy of the Blue?

If this were, say, Jennifer Lopez... no.

But it's Christopher Walken. Christopher Walken could do an instructional video on loading the dishwasher, and it would be worthy, imho.
posted by katillathehun at 12:07 PM on July 29 [2 favorites]


I love this man. All my heart. All my goddam heart.
posted by cortex at 12:41 PM on July 29


Christopher Walken may cook, but would you eat it?
posted by tommasz at 12:45 PM on July 29


This was worth it, just to hear Christopher Walken utter the single phrase "it's just like a little cookie."

I want a text-reading program with the voice of Walken that I can use when I read cute overload now.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:52 PM on July 29 [1 favorite]


And then what ... he fed it to his cat???? I love you Christopher Walken.
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:00 PM on July 29


I watched the whole thing. No cowbell.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:03 PM on July 29


A celebrity cooking?! Is this worthy of the Blue?

When Chris Walken farts its worthy of the blue.
posted by Ironmouth at 1:26 PM on July 29 [1 favorite]


Interesting video, but the problem with that recipe? A chicken that big roasted for one hour is still pretty raw. I hope he wasn't having guests over.
posted by bardic at 2:53 PM on July 29


A celebrity cooking?! Is this worthy of the Blue?

Yep. What'ya waitin' fer? Lindsay Lohan on how to toast Pop Tarts® ?
posted by ericb at 3:08 PM on July 29


Lindsay Lohan is a toasted Pop Tart.
posted by Wolfdog at 3:32 PM on July 29 [2 favorites]


Christopher Walken may cook, but would you eat it?

Who would dare refuse to?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:01 PM on July 29

Salon makes me happy

Reading stories like this almost (almost) makes up for the depression I felt back in November of 2004:

It was all so much less complicated when there was an heir apparent. But this time around, it's not even clear what such an heir would inherit. The elephant in the room, the one the candidates prefer to ignore, is the failed presidency of George W. Bush. His legacy will be a burden to whichever Republican stumbles to the finish line. Yet in the same poll where nearly 60 percent of the Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with the presidential field, 39 percent of the respondents wanted a nominee who would continue Bush's policies, and another 39 percent want a nominee more conservative than Bush. That puts the GOP base a little at odds with the general electorate, given that Bush's approval is in the mid-20s nationally, falling into the teens in some states. The stubborn yet dissatisfied base of the party presents a dilemma for candidates who hold any hope of winning the general election. How can a potential nominee win the favor of a Bush-loving GOP base without poisoning his prospects in November 2008?

Perhaps, then, it is a small blessing to the current crop of candidates that none of them is Bush's chosen successor. The field is, at least, wide open. But without an obvious heir apparent, the Reagan rule -- the tradition during primary season of "doing no harm" to fellow Republicans -- no longer applies. Thus the war of attrition starts, and the second-tier candidates begin searching for ways to separate themselves from the other long shots and gain on the vulnerable front-runners. Lately, while Romney aims his attacks at possible Democratic opponents, posturing as the nominee-in-waiting, he finds himself a target of fellow Republicans. Sam Brownback, the Kansas senator and self-styled "true conservative" in the field, has found a particularly inflammatory way to crack the top tier. He has decided to gay-bash Romney, challenging his position on gay rights, specifically the former governor's past statements about homosexual leaders serving in Boy Scout troops. The Brownback campaign issued a statement which, in part, read: "Romney's openness to gay scout leaders conflicts with the Scout Oath, which requires Scouts to be 'morally straight.'" David Brody, senior national correspondent at the Brownback-friendly Christian Broadcast Network, writes that "once the Brownback campaign brought [these issues] up, it's fair game."

The remainder of the Republican primary season promises to be a soul-searching experience for the party that has long treated the White House as an entitlement. More comfortable taunting Democrats for lacking core principles than questioning their own, the GOP's presidential aspirants seem a bit unsure of themselves, of their president, and of their party's moral authority and political standing. One of these candidates will emerge as the GOP standard bearer for 2008, of course. But in a party with no natural heirs, it's the value of the inheritance that's in doubt. Although 15 months still remain until the election, the Republican nomination looks less and less like a golden ticket to the Oval Office than an invitation to become their party's Walter Mondale or Michael Dukakis -- a punch-line proxy for an era when the GOP lost its moorings.

Popping my TW cherry

As part of my next YouTube project, I've been watching new films in order to see if they have the scenes I need. As it happens, two of those were my first exposure to Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Both were quite good, though I enjoyed Cat much more than Streetcar. Cat just seemed meatier and richer in it's material and characters.

Also, I have to say, the fact that Newman and Taylor didn't couple in real life means the world lost some gorgeous children.

Only drawback: No more waking up late

My brain is very burned out in terms of original blog content, so I guess I'll just comment on some random entertainment news:

Drew Carey picked to come on down as new 'Price is Right' host

I've always had an affection for Drew. Though I was indifferent to his stand up and his sitcom, he did two things that earned my respect.

First, he was able to get an American version of the hit British show Who's Line is it Anyway up and running. He even got some of the same comedians from the original show to come over and be regular guests (the American members, appropriately enough). No, it wasn't as good as the original, but it was a damn fine effort that had it's moments.

Second, the guy is smart. I remember seeing him on the celebrity version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and kicking ass. Not only was he knowledgeable, but he was confident about his answers. You didn't see a lot on vacillating from him. Just pick an answer and go. It ended up winning him 500,000 dollars. The best thing about all this? He donated his winnings to the Ohio Library Foundation. Now that's a man after my own heart.

With this new gig, there have been some discussing what kind of a career move this is for Carey. This comment was posted by XQUZYPHYR over on Metafilter and pretty much sums up my take on the whole thing:

"Carey's job- for which he will be paid, likely a lot- will be to be pretty much adored by millions of people for hanging around beautiful women and handing people lots of money. My god, if that's a decline what hole can I crawl into for a chance at that?"

Have a nice, steady career, Drew. You've earned it.