Now More Than Ever ...

Vote Goat!

And for more goodies from the late and lamented Rudy and GoGo World Famous Cartoon Show, click here!

"I'm A Dirty Jew ..."

This probably won't last too long, but if you haven't seen Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic, the very funny and frequently offensive concert film starring the foul-mouthed and profoundly sexy Ms. Silverman, you can go here and check out the whole flick via some sort of YouTube-ish thing. And yes, it's all in highly questionable taste, but if folks want to pretend that Borat is satire, this certainly qualifies. Besides, Sarah Silverman is hotter than Sacha Baron Cohen any day of the week.

UPDATE: Well, that didn't take long at all -- that Jesus Is Magic link is dead less than twenty-four hours after I posted it! But take heart, fellow fans of La Silverman -- Sarah will have her own weekly show on Comedy Central starting February 1. Go to this link for info and preview clips.

A True Friend Of Alternative Culture Is Gone

While I never heard of him until earlier today, Momofuku Ando is a man who has had a profound effect on nearly everyone I know, and he passed away Friday, Jan. 5 at the age of 96. Besides having a first name that's fun to say, Ando is the man who invented instant ramen noodles, which revolutionized the Japanese food industry when first introduced in 1958. Just as importantly, Ando's great discovery has provided cheap and flavorful sustanance for students, musicians, artists, poets and all manner of bohemians and low-rent rock dudes for decades -- with the possible exception of Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese and its budget-priced variants, no single food item has done more to keep the bellies of punk rockers full than ramen, and it even tastes pretty good. Rest in peace, Mr. Ando ... your legacy lives on (and at five packages for a dollar, last time I was at Meijer's).

Santa Claus vs. the Hardest Working Man In Show Business

A belated Christmas gift for one and all ... an NPR interview with John Waters in which he discusses his superfine holiday album A John Waters Christmas and plays a number of songs from the disc (and if "Santa Claus Is A Black Man" doesn't leap to the top of your yuletide hit parade, something is obviously wrong with you).

And let us take a moment to remember the life and music of James Brown, who left this mortal coil on Christmas morning. It's easy to look back and laugh at the guy, given the PCP-fueled delirium of the last decades of his life and the low ebb of his musical efforts since the late 70's, but the man's high points were nothing short of Olympian, and R&B, soul, hip-hop, jazz and rock 'n' roll would all be a lot different today (and doubtless less interesting) without his guiding influence. Brown was also a self-made millionaire at a time when few African-Americans could make such a claim, and someone who truly made a difference in the Black community -- providing both jobs and a sense of pride for people of color -- at a time when speaking out about such things was not just bold but potentially dangerous. I could blather on for quite a while, but seeing is believing -- check out this clip of Butane James and his Famous Flames knocking 'em dead from The TAMI Show in 1964; it's said that before he took the stage James pledged to make the Rolling Stones, who were headlining the show, sorry they ever left England, and while Mick & Keef & Brian delivered a fine set, they looked more tha a little washed out after this. So long, James, and I hope you're doing the Mashed Potatoes in the great beyond.

Sigh.

Yeah, I know they're both talented and intelligent and fine role models and make some great movies, but at the same time I can't help wishing I was the peanut butter in that sandwich ...

P.S.: Please let the record reflect that I love my wife. A lot.

Robert Altman 1925-2006

Robert Altman, one of the truly great American filmmakers of the second half of the 20th Century, died Monday night in Los Angeles at the age of 81. Those who know me are aware I knew Altman a bit, having landed (through dumb luck) a small role in his film A Wedding in 1977. Altman was a bright, funny, charming and generous man; it was an honor and great fun to work for him. But more importantly, Altman made a handful or truly remarkable movies that revealed the American character in honest but unpredictable ways. From M*A*S*H to Nashville to McCabe and Mrs. Miller to Secret Honor to Short Cuts, Altman captured people on screen in a way that felt less like a movie and more like life, and I don’t think there was anyone who made more consistently brilliant films than Altman in the 1970’s, a truly great decade for American movies. There’s lots to be said about the man and his work, but for me it boils down to a couple essential things – he was both a fine artist and a good man, and I have a hard time imagining anyone who knew him not missing him at least a little right now. My condolences go out to his family and friends, and I hope the backgammon table is open for Bob in the Great Beyond.

The Good Smile In A Child's Eye

So how would you feel if Rick Santorum was your father? Probably a lot like these kids do ...
(And is that doll dressed up to match the little girl? Or is it just some fetus her dad rescued from the grim fate of stem cell research?)