Very Funny? Are you kidding me?

Well unless you have gotten sick of the angsty teens on Dawson's Creek or are upset that they don't play the Braves games anymore so you blocked TBS from your channel line up, you have seen the TBS "Very Funny" ad campaign. The "Superstation" network that brings us classic '80s movies like "Goonies" changed direction recently by getting a new look. Though this probably boosted the ratings, is anyone else annoyed with the new campaign? Situations where a boss falls into machinery or people roast marshmallows over a flaming person's head is annoying not funny. I've tried to wrap my head around why a network would rerun these ads at every commercial break but what shred of comedy these ads had are lost because they are completely worn out. Is TBS unable to sell that ad space?
Here is the real issue though, there is nothing funny about a network suggesting that it's viewers aren't capable of defining what is funny! A comedy help line? Are you kidding me? Calling a 1-800 number to verify the hilarity of a situation and needing an "official decision" undermines an individual intelligence because what one finds amusing is suppose to be unique. This is why there are so many brands of comedy and that is a reason we are NOT all the same. Defining funny is like explaining a painting. Both are forms of art and are in fact abstract. This means that the meaning you draw from it is going to be a result of an individual's thought process not a hotline. You hear or see something and you should figure out how it impacts you not how is should impact you. I once heard that talking about jazz is like dancing about architecture. Same idea with comedy. Don't let these hacks decide what is funny for you.
I am having a hard time restraining myself from throwing large heavy objects at the T.V. Watching these desperate callers or any of those ad spots with the girls from "Sex and the City" standing beside the TBS logo and forcing a laugh saying "Very Funny", is killing me. You don't see Sarah Jessica Parker with them. I would bet she didn't because she thinks its a retarded campaign too.

Though, that's just my opinion!

A Roman Holiday

I had my wisdom teeth out over the weekend, so instead of dwelling on serious world issues or social problems, the vicadin I was on resulted in me being extremely sleepy and in a coma like state. When I was lucid I did manager to catch a few movies so I thought I would review one of them.

I saw the movie "Roman Holiday" staring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. This was not my first time watching it but it had been quite a few years. I visited Rome and even though this movie was shot back in 1953 and is in black and white, it is evident why Rome is called the "eternal city". Not much has changed and it is still an amazing part of the world. One scene takes place on the Spanish Steps and I started laughing to myself because I can remember running up them with my friends while clenching to my cone of gelato trying not to lose it.

As for the movie now, well it is no doubt a classic. I forgot how funny it could be and loved the amusing chemistry between Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. Peck has always been a favorite. He floats so naturally from scene to scene and is a treat to watch. His performance in "To Kill A Mocking Bird" is arguably his best ever performance and you should definitely check it out. Hepburn's naive princess is good opposite Peck's solid practicallity. As these two draw the plot along you forget about the likelyhood of the events actually happening. The ending is also moving and honest.

Rent it, you'll love it...this is not the drugs talking!

A Rock 'N Roll Doubleheader

Last night I attended the Rock 'N Roll Doubleheader at Olds Stadium in Lansing, Michigan and am pleased to report that nostalgic pop-rock is relevant 25 years later. As Joe Elliot yelled into the microphone at the end of the concert, "Don't forget us, because we haven't forgotten about you!", it was evident that there was no love lost over the years for hair metal and sweeping rock ballads. Both Def Leppard and Bryan Adams made their debuts in 1980 and have shown that they can still turn in very energetic performances.

Besides the great music, it was a great opportunity for people watching as my friends and I weaved our way closer to the stage. Trends which I long thought extinct were present including cheesy dragon tattoos, acid washed jeans, and stringy, over hairsprayed hair. One of the funniest parts of the evening was when I looked over to see this guy with a pierced ear, long pontytail, and sleeveless black shirt inching closer and trying to make a move on my friend Jessie during the romantic Bryan Adam's tune "Heaven". No doubt he was going to impress her with his vast expiriences of being a roadie for the band. Much to his dismay though, while Jessie is a beautiful girl and does share an affection for 80s music and Keith Scott's killer guitar playing, her interests extend beyond 1989.

It was a pleasant summer evening as Bryan Adam took the stage. My hands were in the air as I sway with the masses to his most famous song "(Everything I Do) I Do it for You" and he led us in belting out the na-na's in "Cuts Like a Knife". As he played his all too familiar rock anthem "Summer of 69" amid the droves of fans singing and chanting the lyrics, you couldn't help but wonder where you put your Bryan Adams CD in 1995 and anticipate digging it out when you got home for another listen!

Def Leppard's set was complets with a colorful light show, heavy riffs and soaring harmonies. It was everything you could wish for from a 80s hair metal band. Phil Collen and Vin Campbell had their work cut out for them especially with the number of wanna-be's in the audience doing air guitar and outragious moves. During my favorite "Love Bites", one guy close to us got so into it that I almost fell over laughing. It was less than awesome and bordering on hysterically ridiculous. Def Leppard capped off the evening on a high with "Pour Some Sugar on Me", which I'm not saying just because there was plenty of second hand smoke there to be inhaled. It was awesome!

My voice is now gone but in my head I still sing:

I don't want to touch you too much baby

cause making love to you might drive me crazy

I know you think that love is the way you make it

But I don't want to be there when you decide to break it

No

Love Bites love bleeds

its bringin me to my knees

love lives love dies

its no suprise

love begs love pleads

its what I need

Where's that Line-Item Veto, George?

President Bush just signed a $286 billion dollar transportation highway bill into law today. This bill has survived two years of negotiation between the White House and Congress has finally reached the President’s desk. While the road systems in the United States are vital to safety and the economy as Bush pointed out in his speech when signing the bill, there is a growing debate at whether some of the special projects listed are excessive especially when money is needed elsewhere in the nation's budget.

The bill contains more than 6,371 special projects valued at more than $24 billion. On MSN there was a remark by Keith Ashdown the vice president of policy for Taxpayers for Common Sense who called the measure a "bloated, expensive bill" that the Bush should veto. He also added that "this bill will be known as the most earmarked transportation bill in the history of our nation." John McCain who opposed the bill referred to the special projects as “egregious”.

Things are becoming more heated I noticed in the media as details of this bill are coming out. I got curious, so I checked it out for myself and below are some of the highlights that I found. After reading through some of these I wonder what deals were made in Washington that prevented George Bush from doing away with some of these items. Check it out for yourself.

*The third-least populated state, Alaska, gets $941 million, including a $250 million bridge in Anchorage to be named Don Young's Way. Don Young is a Republican on the House Transportation Committee who helped achieve Alaska getting the fourth greatest share of money in the bill. As Mr. Ashdown was quoted I find I agree that the distribution of the money for these projects "is based far more on political clout than on transportation need.”

*$23 billion landscaping along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in California

*$200,000 for a deer avoidance system in Weedsport, N.Y.

*$330 million for a highway in Bakersfield., Calif.

*$100,000 for a traffic light in Canoga Park, Calif.

*$1.6 million for a waterfront walkway honoring Frank Sinatra in his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey

*$2 million to replace an elevated highway in Manhattan, New York with a tunnel so Donald Trump can put up a new building

*A provision granting tax credits for liquor wholesalers

* Congress also tossed in $3 million to pay for a documentary film about Alaska. The subject is how Alaska is spending money on its highways

*$250 million for a bridge to connect the town of Ketchican (pop.14,000) to Gravina Island (pop. 50)

Hello

I have started this blog as an open forum to draw conclusions and perhaps challenge others. I don't claim to be an authority on any issues but rather an open minded student of life hoping that through this expirience ideas can get kicked around and we learn to see things with more objectivity be it through serious analysis or humorous banter. Life is too short for smoke and mirrors.

While it is my goal to get people thinking about what is going on and how our actions influence the world, these entries are in fact just one person's perspective

What is yours? Topics will follow.

Just Jane