So, I have cable television. I mean, I have a LOT of cable television. Like, 150 channels or some crazy number like that. And pretty much most of them are total and complete crap. However, on Showtime there is a program called "Bullshit," hosted by Penn and Teller that is an eye-opening voyage into the absurdity of today's social norms. It's un-PC as hell, and it lays on your feet some fairly amazing and damaging truths regarding things society today just kind of accepts as an overriding good. Such as recycling. I mean, these guys just tore the concept of recycling a new butthole. A fresh, gaping new butthole. A new butthole of extraordinary magnitude. I watched an episode last night that mercilessly explored the funeral home industry, and it was a laugh riot. That show almost makes up for the outrageous cable bill I get each month. I also watched one about the stupidity of the social taboo of profanity, which was also pretty fucking funny.
I also watched "The Fugitive" for the first time last night. I had never seen it, start to finish, before. And, you know what? The reviews were right. It really is a great movie.
Finally, after all my television-watching goodness last night, I settled in to start reading "Angels and Demons" which is basically the pre-quel, I guess, to the "Da Vinci code," which I haven't read. It's quite good, and by reading it, of course, that means I'll probably have to read the Da Vinci code somewhere down the line.
So, yeah, "Bullshit," "The Fugitive," and "Angels and Demons."
Who says I don't have a life?
Posted by Ryan at August 13, 2004 10:08 AMYou should enjoy "Da Vinci Code." It's not the best book that I've ever read but it kind of opened my eyes about some things that I had always just considered to be a given. It's the first time that a book has ever prompted me to go on a wild research mission. It left me with a "How cool would it would be if this book was true!" kind of feeling..
Posted by: Lindsay at August 13, 2004 12:14 PMAngels & Demons = Da Vinci Code
Essentially they are the same story (rather poorly written in a hackneyed screenplay way) with different names, locations and secret societies.
Da Vinci code was more intriguing, maybe because I read it first. It definitely had me paging through my old art history textsbooks from college!
Posted by: Paige at August 13, 2004 12:38 PMMan, I've been wanting to see that Penn and Teller show for a while now. But I don't want to pony up the money for Showtime. Guess I'll have to find the dvd somewhere....
Posted by: Heidi at August 13, 2004 12:53 PMBetween this blog and your new cable TV habit, you'd better be sure you get out and get soe sunshine every now and then :-) so at least you have a somewhat healthy glow to back up your claims that you do indeed have a life.
Oh, and in response to your heads-up about Odin's FAQ (thanks again, I hadn't been following along):
Trafficking in Plain Layne
And yes, I shoulda done this a long, LONG time ago. Odin is a cad.
--Ryan.
Posted by: Quiplash (Ryan Schultz) at August 13, 2004 12:55 PMMy favorite P&T Bullshit segment was when they went to an environmentalist demonstration and collected many signatures on a petition to ban the use of dihydro-oxygenate. (H2O).
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at August 13, 2004 09:23 PMPenn & Teller are responsible for several screeds about Ingrid Newkirk and PETA. Its a quality show and occasionally they spice it up with some nudity too!
Quiplash, yeah, the more I hear and read about Odin, the more I realize that he needs a really good back alley ass kicking. Has everyone seen this smarmy prick's pic yet? http://www.odinsoli.com/operatorinfo.html
Guy looks like a kid toucher if I ever saw one. Freaky prick.
Posted by: Johnny Huh? at August 13, 2004 09:59 PMWow! God bless the internet! Someone commits the mortal sin of publishing a fake blog and now people are inciting violence against him (which, as far as I can remember is illegal) and slandering him too, in the worst possible way.
Johnny, I usually read your comments and go 'yep, he's on it' but this time? I hope Odin's got a good lawyer 'cos there's no WAY he deserves that kind of sneaky backhanded nobbing. Land of the free, and all that.
Posted by: Simon at August 13, 2004 10:55 PMOdin is a lawyer, Simon. Note that I'm not actually wishing violence against him, I just wouldn't be broken up by it at all.
The guy is an insult to decency. You can take my comments anyway you damned well please though.
I think I've just put a stake in the ground here on Rambling Rhodes and you all are free to call me on it if I stray.
I will not ever comment or write about Odin Soli again. He doesn't deserve the attention and I have nothing else to add save real anger and I don't need it.
Farewell, liar man.
Damn, that's the second subject I've taboo'ed this week! At least I can still get back to politics next week.
Posted by: Johnny Huh? at August 13, 2004 11:10 PMi'm wondering what sort of humorous slam on recycling? cost vs. benefit?
Posted by: leblanc at August 16, 2004 11:51 AMoh, and Dan Brown really just steals from a lot of other people's theories and sticks them into his own mystery novel. the stories he tells are quite good - not unlike any other mystery novel - but the religious conspiracy theories are not new by any means. i enjoyed the DaVinci code, but didn't really learn a lot from it. however, i know other people who haven't really studied religious history who found it very eye-opening.
Posted by: leblanc at August 16, 2004 11:55 AMleblanc, the recycling episode really shed a light on some of the more ridiculous aspects of recycling. It was one of those things you just have to see to appreciate.
http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/topics.do?topic=r
Posted by: Ryan at August 16, 2004 12:04 PM"Bullshit" sounds like a fun, interesting TV show for exposing all that everyday idiocy.
Unfortunately, I have to take your word for how good it is, as all I get when visiting their site is "these pages are intended for access only from within the United States"
And so, the over-all idiocy level remains the same.
Fucking idiot wankers.
Posted by: Gudy at August 17, 2004 03:40 AM
Stumble It!
