Monday, September 13, 2004

Cut to the Chase

One of my all-time favorite comedians was a wonderfully-silly gent named Charley Chase, who worked alongside Laurel and Hardy on the Hal Roach lot. You may not have heard of him, and up until recently when this DVD set came out, it was difficult to see his best work today...but he was a very funny man, and his best shorts are as good as anything by any of the more famous classic comedians. If you're as interested in him as I am, you might enjoy a visit to The World of Charley Chase, a new website devoted to this sadly-neglected talent. (The DVD set is part of a fine new series of silent comedies. We're grateful for it, but we'd really like to see some of Chase's talkies released, as well.)

• Posted at 8:01 PM · LINK

Today's Political Rant

You know what I'd do if I were Karl Rove, managing the campaign of George W. Bush? I'd have Bush rob a liquor store. I'd have him pull a stocking over his head, go in, wave a gun at the clerk and make off with all the available cash and as much Wild Turkey as he could carry. I think that would help him win the election.

Why? Because for a couple weeks, everyone would be talking about how Bush robbed a liquor store. They wouldn't be talking about what's going on in Iraq.

Have you looked at the news outta there lately? Sweet Jesus, it's a mess...and yes, I know there are improvements happening there, too. There are also homes in Jamaica that weren't destroyed by the hurricane. That doesn't mean Hurricane Ivan was a good thing.

As some of you may recall, I was not against the war when it began, but I am now. We chose the wrong war and we're doing it badly. (Take a look at this. And this. And even this.)

If anyone can point me to a good article that explains why we've done the right thing in Iraq, I'd love to read it and link to it. So far, the only defense I've read is along the lines of, "You probably wish Saddam was still in power."

I also recommend this post by Joshua Micah Marshall on his weblog, and this one.

• Posted at 7:47 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

Penn Jillette (partner of Teller) writes about his idea of Free Speech, which is very close to my own.

• Posted at 2:58 PM · LINK