From The Colbert Report:
Barack Obama loses the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races, and Chris Christie uses Monty Python to attack Jon Corzine.
Watching Glenn Beck descend into yet another of his bizarre chalkboard rants earlier this week, it occurred to me I had heard a similar theory once: Miss Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses.
The Wikipedia entry observes:
The skit coined the concept of "Elk Theories" to describe scientific observations that are not theories but merely minimal accounts.
I've also heard the term "Elk Theories" used to describe hypotheses that mean nothing and prove nothing.
Which, you know, is what Beck's bizarre "six degrees" guilt-by-association "theory" comes down to. One can play this game with anyone. It wouldn't take six degrees to connect Glenn Beck to Adolf Hitler or Osama bin Laden or Timoth McVeigh, if he wants to play that game. But it wouldn't prove anything, would it?
Except, of course, that Glenn Beck is becoming so detached from reality that his programs are now unintentional comedy skits. And no, Glenn, we're not laughing with you. We're laughing at you.
Enjoy the mashup.
Open Thread below....
(The Bonzo Dog Band - Cheerfully poking holes in credulity)
Vivian Stanshall was probably one of those most gifted, absurd, hysterical performers to come out of England in the 1960's. The band he helped form, The Bonzo-Dog (Doo-dah) Band gained an enormous cult following among musicians and lovers of theatrical insanity from 1966 to the eventual demise of their first incarnation in 1970. Many people attribute the rise of Monty Python to The Bonzo's influence and in fact, Neil Innes (another founding member of the band) figured prominently in the early stages of their success. The Bonzo's were also featured in The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, and their featured song "Death Cab For Cutie" became the namesake of a band currently on the scene (but with no other connection other than name).
But it was Vivian's contribution, his vision, that gave him such a cult following. One which continues to this day, some 14 years after his premature death.
There are a number of sites devoted to Stanshall and the work of The Bonzo's. This is one of the best sites. It's well worth checking out.
In 1971 Stanshall was recruited by John Peel to act as substitute DJ while Peel went on vacation. The result was a series of programs for the BBC entitled "Vivian Stanshall's Radio Flashes.
This show also features the talents of his pal and drinking buddy Keith Moon acting as straight man and foil.
The combination is perfect, the madness bounces out of the speakers and the genius behind it all is sorely missed.
Listen and enjoy - and tell your friends.
Take that, Senator Sessions. (And bet you twenty quid those judges vote Tory.)
And a warm congratulations to Marcy Wheeler on her well-deserved Hillman Award for investigative journalism. Bloggers rock, and they need our support.
Open thread below...
The GOP Rebranding effort meets the sacked caption guys from Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Open thread below.
h/t to C&L commenters Old Billy and Trittydi.
Tonight's open thread is dedicated to Dagen McDowell, the FOX Business analyst who projected a bit today. On topic: the Twitter grapevine reports that "Kucinich" is Dagen's safeword. Open thread below...
Monty Python is appropriate for every occasion. Open Thread below...
This is why Palin should have won the election...Michael Palin, that is. ;)
