Category Archives: Humor

The New Yorker: ‘Ayn Rand reviews children’s movies’

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I really got a kick out of this feature in The New Yorker headlined, “Ayn Rand Reviews Children’s Movies.” Excerpt:

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”

An industrious young woman neglects to charge for her housekeeping services and is rightly exploited for her naïveté. She dies without ever having sought her own happiness as the highest moral aim. I did not finish watching this movie, finding it impossible to sympathize with the main character. — No stars.

“Bambi”

The biggest and the strongest are the fittest to rule. This is the way things have always been. — Four stars.

“Old Yeller”

A farm animal ceases to be useful and is disposed of humanely. A valuable lesson for children. — Four stars.

Start your week off right: The Office in Middle Earth

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I missed this Saturday night, but had it brought to my attention this morning via Facebook.

I’m not a huge fan of the three-feature-film version of “The Hobbit,” but I love the original “Office,” right down to the “Handbags and Gladrags” theme music.

I love the concept, and it’s well executed in parts. I’m particularly impressed that Martin Freeman seems to still be in touch with his “Tim” character after all these years.

Enjoy.

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Tina Fey on Vanity Fair cover: You betcha!

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Seldom do I see anything in the grocery checkout line that causes me to smile, but I really got a hoot out of the Vanity Fair cover with Tina Fey. It was enjoyable on several levels, from clever to cute to just plain easy to look at.

It was a fun way to celebrate next week’s inaugural, adding some spice to all the pontificating about how wonderful and important it all is. Others invoke Lincoln; Vanity Fair celebrates the gams of “A NEW AMERICAN SWEETHEART.” Yes, there’s a place for serious, but there’s a place for this, too, and it’s an enjoyable place. And Tina, and the magazine, are fully cognizant of how silly and exploitative they are being. Note the Fey quote about the Annie Leibovitz photo shoot: “Annie’s going to photograph my soul, right?”

I’ll admit, I haven’t looked at the other pictures, much less read the Maureen Dowd piece inside. But I enjoyed the cover, and wanted to share.