No more than a few minutes ago I was searching for a quote amongst my ancient blog bits at ‘STUFFS’ that I could send to a friend in an Email. During my search, I came across an old blog bit (AND the quote I was searching for within it), and rereading that post all these years later, I realized that it is without doubt (in my warped mind, anyway) one of the doggone best blog bits I’ve ever composed!
.
And so,
in an exceedingly rare example of metempsychosis, a long-dead (since 2008)
‘STUFFS’ blog bit is being reborn at the animalistic blog ‘FERRET-FACED FASCIST
FRIENDS’. Below is the link to (in my opinion) one of my most darkly shining,
most Pink Floyd-ishly depressing achievements as a bummed-out blogger. Very
little of my mental outlook has changed since the time I posted this blog
bit/suicide note...
.
.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
.
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
.
YE OLDE
COMMENT POLICY: All comments, pro and con, are welcome. However, ad hominem
attacks and disrespectful epithets will not be tolerated (read:
"posted"). After all, this isn’t Amazon.com,
so I don’t have to put up with that kind of bovine excrement.
.
I love that you're bringing back more STUFFS. Especially some of the STUFFS way, way back in archives that I haven't gotten to yet.
ReplyDeleteLook at you, calling the whole Lance Armstrong thing 4 years before it became "breaking news." And by "breaking news" I mean what everyone knew since forever ago.
Also, I loved the mention of the UFC. As I know you saw me mention before, I do mixed martial arts. For fun, of course, and to stay in shape. But you can always tell who's on steroids. Always. Even just locally. And a ton of those UFC guys are on elevated testosterone, or HGH, or steroids, what have you. See, they have 4-5 months to train for a fight, so they just use these drugs up until a month before the fight, then cleanse out their system and they test negative every time. Genius! Who knew cheating and getting away with it would be so easy, right?
Also, I forgot to mention it, but that was a great post you shared with us about method writing. Now that we're going to be doing that movie, I don't foresee either of us getting into method acting. I prefer Mike Farrell's words of wisdom, just memorize the lines and say 'em. My only hope is that I say 'em well.
3-B ~
DeleteSteroids and other PEDs are the primary reason I've lost so much interest in sports. My family was BIG-TIME into sports, and not just the males. My Ma was a huge baseball fan growing up in Cincinnati and later, in her adulthood, worked for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels. My Sister was the first girl I ever heard of who played Little League Baseball on boys teams.
My Pa was very athletic and my Brother and I... well, sports is all we ever did, from baseball, football, wrestling, etc., etc.
But when so many records started falling, shattered by monsters who were clearly "artificially"-enhanced, it killed much of my interest, and my Bro's too.
You are also right in saying "You can always tell who's on steroids. Always. Even just locally." Having grown up playing sports and knowing athletes, a guy develops an eye for that "artificial" look and it is so often immediately apparent. There's a guy in the office where I work, he just has this computer-related desk job. He obviously works out with weights in his spare time. He's also hopped up on Steroids and/or HGH and/or other muscle-building chemicals; I knew it the first moment I ever laid eyes on him.
My Brother works out like an animal - harder and better than most professional athletes, but he'll never have that Incredible Hulk look because he's all natural.
Oh, and by the way, in case you were wondering... Dara Torres never used PEDs in her entire swimming career. Proof of that is the fact that she never tested positive, just like Serena Williams. A clean record is proof of innocence! (Don't try to confuse me with that "cycling on and off steroids" theory. Them gals is innocent I tells ya!)
Incidentally, I'll begin reading your book early next week - no later than Tuesday, I'm sure.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
One of your best!
ReplyDeleteFAE ~
DeleteThank you! (Nappy was just rereading it and he also said he thought it was perhaps my best ever.) I probably hadn't read that thing since I first posted it, but it seemed to me I had my mojo workin'.
The bit about having bridges to sell was maybe the best line that ever came to me; and ending the piece by combining that famous end-of-the-baseball-season saying with the famous concluding saying from the Passover Seder... well... like I said, I think I had my mojo working.
Thanks for reading 'n' commenting.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
THROWN BY A BIG BROWN HORSE: Read it before, read it again. Still good, and more relevant than ever.
ReplyDeleteWell, at any rate, I was at Trader Vic’s last night and MY HAIR was perfect.
A little Warren Zevon is a nice touch, as always.
I even had a bunch of superstar athletes lined up to make guest appearances, including Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant, and the entire defensive line of the New York Giants!
Funny you should mention Tiger Woods. When I saw him at the 2005 PGA Grand Slam while on vacation, I was thinking that he may have gone the way of Big Brown (for a while anyway).
“This world” is a sick ‘n’ sad fraud, it is a disappointment, a Love killer.
I know you are not a fan of the sport where they wear "stupid little hats" but take a look at Augusta National sometime where the Masters takes place every year at this time. The soil is toxic from chemicals that make the grass a nice steroid green color, the ponds are dyed blue which makes them a fish-free zone, and the flower beds are all put on ice to get them to bloom at the right time.
CBS covers the event. That's the same network that was caught adding phony bird chirps during their golf telecasts. I guess they never thought that someone who was a avid golf spectator would also be a bird call expert.
CBS could potential lose it's contract with August National if they use the word "spectator" instead of the required word "patron" during the Master telecast.
All is well, though. Condoleeza Rice is now a member. Maybe she's just doing reconnaissance for some major oil company or something.
Sig2Handicap
$2. ON SIG IN THE 2ND ~
Delete>> . . . A little Warren Zevon is a nice touch, as always.
A quotable boy, they all say
Well, he’s just a quotable boy
Actually, rumors have circulated for awhile that ‘Tiger’s Milk’ was really “juice”:
http://www.ibtimes.com/tiger-woods-was-golfs-biggest-star-juicing-297899#
If I were a betting man, I’d put $2. on the Tiger’s nose that he was winning so often because he was cheating so often.
>> . . . and the flower beds are all put on ice to get them to bloom at the right time.
I didn’t know that. But now that I do…
I’ll bet the bloomin’ flowers are on steroids too!
>> . . . All is well, though. Condoleeza Rice is now a member.
Oh, so Augusta National went from “no women” straight to “a woman of color”, eh? That’s kinda like skipping the “Double Dog Dare Ya” and going straight to the “Triple Dog Dare Ya”, ain’t it?
Good ol’ Condosleeza Rice - a true pioneer!
~ StephenToo
SIG, I meant to say the following TOO:
Delete>> . . . I know you are not a fan of the sport where they wear "stupid little hats"
Thanks for the (real) laugh! Man, you have a really good memory.
Just minutes ago I concluded a very long discussion with Brother Nappy on the topic of "charisma" (i.e., What is it, and who does and does not have it?) Our discussion included past and present sports stars who did or did not (according to our opinions) have charisma. When Nappy made the statement that NO golf stars have charisma (a statement I agree with), I suddenly remembered your remark above and how it made me laugh, and how I had intended to say something about it but forgot.
OK, a "Q" for you:
The movie from which you borrowed that quote... did you like it? Or is that just an S.T.McMe thing?
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I liked it even though I only saw it once. It's difficult not to like a pocket-protector wearing, Clark Kent looking, accidental, everyman, underdog super hero.
ReplyDeleteMost people can relate to at least one of the situations the main character found himself in on his journey. I thought it was a unique movie; one that was comical and over-the-top at times, a sad commentary on society in general that gives the audience many feel-good, pay-back moments of satisfaction, and at the same time keeps the audience on edge wondering about how the main character's journey would end.
See any parallels between you and main character?
Golf + charisma? I'd have to go with Harry Vardon. But since I can't base that on first-hand knowledge, and I had to go back 100 years, I guess I concur, although there are probably a few lesser known guys out there that may qualify for a charisma badge of honor.
D-SigFensDawgToo
SIGDOG-TWOFENCE-D ~
DeleteJust got back from Turf Paradise. Visited my Pa and Ma's ashes in the Winner's Circle, put a few bucks on the ponies and had a Jim Beam and Seven.
Brother, it's a bad day at the track when you can't even make any money on horses named "Goodbye Charlie", "Gibson Home Run", and "Dad's Last Warrior". Brother Nappy did hit one pretty nice Exacta though in the 5th, because the horses he boxed came through with a long shot winning. But I can't remember ever going to the track and not cashing in even one ticket before today. As I said while walking back to our car, "All of the luck... has gone out of my life."
>> . . . See any parallels between you and main character?
Hmmm... No, not really. I guess you do(?) I mean, there are a few obvious things, which I wrote about on this blog long ago: I left Los Angeles for all the reasons that are clearly illustrated in that movie. The film hit the theatres shortly after I moved to Prescott and I told my coworkers: "If you want to know why I moved here, go see 'Falling Down'. Everything I came to hate in my homemegalopolis is depicted in that movie."
And of course my sign-off block [D-FensDogg] was inspired by 'Falling Down'. But other than that, I'm not sure what parallels between the main character and me you have in mind. Do tell.
I'd never even heard of Harry Vardon, so I axed Nappy about him, and he said that all he really knows is that Vardon was the originator of "the Vardon grip", which is apparently the standard grip on golf clubs today. As far as Vardon's "charisma" is concerned, Nappy said he couldn't say.
If I had to pick a favorite golfer (golf: a sport I know nuttin' about) I'd probably go with John Daly, but only because he was (Is he still playing professionally?) a boozer, a rebel, and just a basically controversial character. But I don't think Daly has "charisma".
Nappy and I agreed that "charisma" can be the sum of various ingredients, but it is not the result of any one ingredient. It's also almost of a "spiritual" nature (NOT "spiritual" in a religious sense), because it's felt but difficult to explain.
Nappy and I found that we almost always agreed on who did and who did not have "charisma", but neither of us could adequately explain what it is. It's definitely not any one thing like "style", "charm", "looks", "sense of humor", etc., although any of those things might be found or combined in a person who has "charisma".
Nappy and I also found that we agreed on this: Very, very few females have "charisma"; for whatever reason, "charisma" (at least to Nappy and me) seems to be primarily a "masculine" trait or quality.
Neither of us could think of a golfer who has "charisma". Although many people have said that Tiger Woods is "charismatic", my Bro and I agreed that he has ZERO "charisma", and apparently a lot of people mistake certain traits (like "looks" and "style") for "charisma", while Nappy and I say it is something else - something beyond or more than "looks" and "style", etc.
I could think of only one famous woman whom I feel had "charisma", and Nappy could think of only one woman also, but we disagreed on who that woman was.
~ Stephen
>Brother, it's a bad day at the track when you can't even make any money on horses named "Goodbye Charlie", "Gibson Home Run", and "Dad's Last Warrior".
ReplyDeleteUnusually appropriate names on a day when you visit your parents ashes. What a great idea...ashes in the Winner's Circle.
>As I said while walking back to our car, "All of the luck... has gone out of my life."
Luck is overrated; who needs it anyway? I play that ridiculous Powerball lottery (pick 5 and the powerball and you win the big prize). Talk about complete illogic...I play and I expect to win (illogical). Sometimes I'm glad I don't win (odds 1:175,000,000) because if I do, I think I am now prone to win the plane crash lottery (odds 1:4.7 million). Illogic with an extra helping of illogic.
I spent more time at the Jai-alai fronton than the horse track. I'd usually make bets just using the area code of Boston. Keeps the decision making to a minimum. One year the players went on strike and would picket outside while the scab replacement players took over. Crossing the picket line gave me the best odds of the night. Odds were 2:1 of getting a picket sign lodged in my cranium.
> Everything I came to hate in my homemegalopolis is depicted in that movie."...I'm not sure what parallels between the main character and me you have in mind. Do tell.
Never read that. Got it.
>If I had to pick a favorite golfer (golf: a sport I know nuttin' about) I'd probably go with John Daly, but only because he was (Is he still playing professionally?)
Yeah, Daly's still a big favorite. He actually made just under half a million last year but he's seldom ever in contention. He was one of the few who were interview for the book, "Who's your Caddie?" A writer for Sports Illustrated went around asking pros, profession gamblers from Vegas, and actors if he could caddy for them, and then wrote about his experience. Kind of a funny book. I think Daly had whipped out his uhh,... "man-parts" during the interview if I remember right. Impressive....but not charismatic.
>"charisma" (at least to Nappy and me) seems to be primarily a "masculine" trait or quality.
Right. Should be charismo.
Sigmo2
SIGMO2 ~
DeleteGotta hit the sack now because death (a.k.a. "my soul-killing day-job") calls in the morning (again). But a proper reply to your last comment will be posted sometime tommyorrow.
~ D-FensDogg-O
'Loyal Americano Underground'
MASTER SIG II ~
DeleteNuttin' but winners in the Winner's Circle, eh? My Pa being a horse player, I got the idea one day while driving past Turf Paradise. We hadn't yet decided what we'd do with his ashes, once we received them.
My Ma liked the idea so much that she requested her ashes join his in the Winner's Circle when her time came. So that's where both of my parents are now.
It's funny to think of such an analytical guy like you using the Boston area code to make bets on Jai-alai games.
Speaking of Boston... GAH! I sure hope you weren't at the Marathon today!
>> . . . I think Daly had whipped out his uhh,... "man-parts" during the interview if I remember right. Impressive....but not charismatic.
That's definitely too much John!
>> . . . Should be charismo.
Clever. And accurate.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Yes, a very well written piece. Excellent, but not your very best that I've read. I would reserve that honor for the Linda Haley tribute. It is written on your wall of FSHAME, and I stick to my sixguns.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line (or lines) in this b-bit was this: "Hell, the American People wouldn’t recognize a Constitutional Principle if it got naked and sang 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' on American Idol with a lit sparkler in its heinie. Oh, but Statism is 'The Survivor' they vote to keep on the island."
On golf, D-fens:
Most golfers don't wear silly little caps any more, though it was perfect in the movie for those old a-holes that needed killin'. Now they almost all wear regular caps to keep the sun out of their eyes... AND to support their corporate sponsors who have paid them to wear their logo on their noggins.
Although I don't play golf, I really LIKE it. I played 35 years ago for about a year, then gave it up because I was rather bad at it. But I like to watch it. I'm sure my reasons won't surprise you thinkers, if you posed the question to yourselves: "If I didn't hate golf, why on earth MIGHT I like it?" They are the same reasons given by all people that like golf.
It is an individual sport, and - other than football - I tend to like individual sports best. Skiing, auto racing (NOT Nascar), tennis, track and field.
I appreciate that the game is incredibly difficult to do well. Doing anything at top level is hard, of course, but swinging a small stick with a flat head at a tiny white ball at exactly the right angle (vertically and horizontally) and knock it into a hole is ridiculously hard to do well consistently.
(Don't laugh now) Golf is the most honorable game. Golf is the only sport that I know of that requires the participant to honestly report his own errors, if known, and penalize himself on his own scorecard that he keeps, himself. Can you imagine the volume of reports necessary if offensive linemen had to tattle on themselves? Cheating is required on every play.
I think that golfer Bubba Watson is pretty charismatic. Tiger isn't the least so. Frankly, I don't think Daly is charismatic either. There are a number a really nice guys playing golf. Tiger isn't one of them.
Not a great reason, but golfers seem to attract some of the hottest wives and girlfriends. A google search will turn that up, if you are interested.
As for women: I'm with you. Not very many charismatic women. I can think of a few that are charming, but that is different. I guess I'd say that I find Sofia Vergara charismatic. Or charming, or SOMETHING.
Who were the women you and Nappy found charismatic?
SHEBOYGANBOY McSIXGUN ~
DeleteToo much to reply to this early in the morning before I have to report to the place where I exchange the time of my life for the dollars of my survival.
Besides that, before I can respond I need to find out who the hell Sofia Vergara and Bubba Watson are. But I'll try to get an A-list reply posted here tonight after I return home from dying a little more.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Part 1 Of 2:
DeleteMcSIXGUNBOY ~
>> . . . I would reserve that honor for the Linda Haley tribute. It is written on your wall of FSHAME, and I stick to my sixguns.
You’re a man of your... guns.
I still think maybe my best publicly posted writing was the review for the baseball book ‘Diamonds Are Forever’. The one piece that actually made ME laugh the most was the one about being in love with Yolanda while playing Little League Baseball. (Hmmm... Baseball, horses, and dead friends seem to inspire me the most.)
>> . . . My favorite line (or lines) in this b-bit was this: "Hell, the American People wouldn’t recognize a Constitutional Principle if it got naked and sang 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' on American Idol with a lit sparkler in its heinie. Oh, but Statism is 'The Survivor' they vote to keep on the island."
Ha! Well, thanks! I was definitely on a roll there.
>> . . . Although I don't play golf, I really LIKE it. I played 35 years ago for about a year, then gave it up because I was rather bad at it. ... I appreciate that the game is incredibly difficult to do well. Doing anything at top level is hard, of course, but swinging a small stick with a flat head at a tiny white ball at exactly the right angle (vertically and horizontally) and knock it into a hole is ridiculously hard to do well consistently.
It’s a tough game, I know, because it frustrated the hell out of Nappy and he’s a naturally gifted athlete.
>> . . . It is an individual sport, and - other than football - I tend to like individual sports best. Skiing, auto racing (NOT Nascar), tennis, track and field.
Well, I knew you were a car guy, but skiing, tennis, track and field? What a puss!
No, I’m just kidding... but... auto racing, skiing, and tennis... that’s all pretty White. You’re not White, are you? ‘Cause you know how I hate Crackers.
>> . . . Can you imagine the volume of reports necessary if offensive linemen had to tattle on themselves?
Yep.
As they say,
there’s holding on every play.
>> . . . I think that golfer Bubba Watson is pretty charismatic.
OK, I checked him out. Not just pictures, ‘cause pictures usually only indicate “style” and rarely charisma. I actually watched him on a couple of YouTube videos, and I agree with you: He does seem to have some charisma... for a golfer, anyway. I see what you’re seein’.
Continued Below...
Part 2 Of 2:
Delete>> . . . I guess I'd say that I find Sofia Vergara charismatic. Or charming, or SOMETHING.
I think you meant to write: “or somethingS”.
Yeah, I see what you (and Sig) are seein’ there, too! What’s that old Henry Mancini tune? Oh yeah... ‘HUB CAPS AND TAIL LIGHTS’.
I watched Sofia on a couple YouTube videos also and I myself don’t pick up any real charisma. She just kinda reminds me of Claudia Cardinale. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
>> . . . Who were the women you and Nappy found charismatic?
Nappy mentioned Bette Davis. Sometimes you gotta be careful not to mistake talent, or looks, or sense of humor alone for charisma. Davis could act, to be sure, and there are times when she’s playing a real dynamic character (e.g., in ‘Whatever Happened To Baby Jane’) that you can’t take your eyes off her because she so dominates the screen.
But when I think of Davis in her more subdued roles, I don’t feel she had that indefinable presence that just automatically draws my eyes to her.
The one woman I named was Judy Holliday. Even when she was a bit chunkier and not as attractive (e.g., ‘Bells Are Ringing’) I still found my eyes magically drawn to her. So I know that the “it” that I like about her transcends appearance.
Nappy and I each named a number of males and pretty much agreed on all of them, but not necessarily on the “degree” of their charisma. For example: Nappy had James Garner and Elvis Presley at the very top of his Charisma List. I think both of them had a lot of charisma, but I have James Dean at the top of my List. We both agreed on lots of others too, such as William Holden, Robert Mitchum, and even Burt Reynolds.
Nappy and I agreed completely, however, that the one person we have personally known in “real life” who had the most charisma was THIS GUY, interviewed by a reporter.
He was about 35-40 pounds heavier in this interview than during the years Nappy and I were hanging out with him, drinking, laughing, and fighting, and I know you’ve seen this interview before on my blog, but this dude had an almost unreal amount of charisma in real life. This short piece only hints at it, but it’s still unmistakable.
Thanks for the GREAT comment, Sixgun McWhitey! ;-)
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
It's funny to think of such an analytical guy like you using the Boston area code to make bets on Jai-alai games.
ReplyDeleteIt became just a numbers game. Unless there is some anomaly to exploit, probability and statistics, and law of large numbers rule the day. Jai-alai is entertaining to watch, though. It's too bad it moved away from Newport. I remember some of the players openly admitted in the local Newport newspaper that they would throw games to the guy who was having money troubles at home or whatever. I guess if you know who that guy is, bet big.
Speaking of Boston... GAH! I sure hope you weren't at the Marathon today!
I was working on my neighbors shed at the time. One of my trees landed on it last fall. It's a bomb-free zone back there. My niece works in the trauma unit at Mass General so she probably earned her paycheck yesterday.
Regarding Sheboyganboy 6's comments...Sofia Vergara could get me to confess to dropping backpacks in trash containers on Boylston Street if she wanted to. Bubba Watson's caddy once told me to put away my camera while Bubba was swingin' ( during a practice round no less) That puts Bubba on my s**t list just by association. He's actually a fun guy to watch. He's not afraid to tell a spectator to "go bother someone else", he's left handed, and has a unique swing that allows him to put some serious "english" on the ball... even with a short iron.
Sorry for the golf infestation here. I practice more that I play. Trying to move a small round object from point A to point B with a stick consistently can really clear the mind. And that's the key to playing well...not thinking about it. STM, are you sure you won't stop in and hit a bucket of balls at Adobe Den or Glen Lakes? Stupid little hats are not required dress code anymore.
SigFore!
SIGFORE ~
Delete>> . . . Jai-alai is entertaining to watch, though.
I only saw it “in person” once or maybe twice. I know the first time was while I was in Tijuana, Mexico. I seem to have a vague memory of having seen it played somewhere else many years later, but it’s like a hazy dream-memory. (Probably I’d been drinking Margaritas... or doing something to Margaritas.)
>> . . . they would throw games to the guy who was having money troubles at home or whatever. I guess if you know who that guy is, bet big.
Hmmm... Sounds like the perfect racket for the Mob.
>> . . . My niece works in the trauma unit at Mass General so she probably earned her paycheck yesterday.
Oh, yeah, earned it and THEN SOME! What a horrible thing. I don’t know that “Sam” was involved, but I generally start out with that suspicion, which tends to keep my Hits to Misses ratio well into positive territory.
>> . . . Regarding Sheboyganboy 6's comments...Sofia Vergara could get me to confess to dropping backpacks in trash containers on Boylston Street if she wanted to.
I can see what you and Six see in Sofia Viagra.
>> . . . That puts Bubba on my s**t list just by association.
If he’s on YOUR s**t list, he’s on MY s**t list... just by association.
>> . . . he's left handed, and has a unique swing that allows him to put some serious "english" on the ball
He sounded Australian to me.
>> . . . STM, are you sure you won't stop in and hit a bucket of balls at Adobe Den or Glen Lakes?
I only hit a bucket of balls once or maybe twice. I know the first time was while I was with my Pa, and he said I did pretty well for a first time. I seem to have a vague memory of having hit a bucket of balls again sometime later, but it’s like a hazy dream-memory. (Probably I’d been drinking Arnold Palmers... with tequila.)
But I’ll go along with Mark Twain: “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”
~ DoggFive
As a white-ass pussy cracker, I say: "F#*% everyone who disagrees with me!"
ReplyDeleteI don't like team sports because they require me to participate with a bunch of knot heads. When I was about 10 my parents asked me if I wanted to join Little League. I said no. Dad asked me why, and I said "because they are a bunch of communists." That is fact. Well, that I SAID it is fact. I don't know for sure whether the participants in Little League were, in fact, commies. However, in my mind, group activities have always held a very negative connotation for me, which I also associate with the collective mentality. Dad was not even a GOP guy at the time. In fact (to his shame), he voted for LBJ. So, for some reason - uninfluenced by parents - I had already formed my attitudes which were perfectly aligned with Ayn Rand's when my Dad finally told me: "You know, you should read some Ayn Rand. I think you'd like her."
I made the same comment, by the way, when I was asked if I wanted to join the Boy Scouts. I may have been factually wrong (and a real shit head), but at least I knew my own mind.
As for the puss comment (funny boy): I like football because they smash each other. I think football should be known as America's sport rather than baseball (sorry STM) because, to me, the way the game is played sums up the American method and spirit. You line up and say: "I and gonna beat you. I will use surprise, a superior plan, and brute force to kick your ass." And then (at least in the case of teams like next year's Seahawks)... you DO so.
Racing? There is nothing as exhilarating as driving fast, either. Too bad Uncle Sam and his Brother "Big" don't let you anymore.
Bubba's caddy may be a dick, but I have a hard time believin' that that emotional Christian is one too. I've seen him interviewed a number of times and I disagree with SigFore on this one. And you, apparently.
Finally, I think that it may be hard to judge charisma unless you are pretty familiar with someone. I've seen Sofia Viagra interviewed several times, and besides the big hooters she has a great deal of charm, coquettish-ness, and charisma. But watching a couple of quick vids of her may not tell the tale. Then again, maybe you'd just disagree with me even if you knew her well. No matter.
Often, though not always, charisma has a bit of a sinister aspect. That may be why more men seem to have it. Think charm... but check the back of their neck to be sure you are not dealing with you know who.
Sorry Sig and I hijacked this comment section!
CRACKER J. McSIXGUN ~
DeleteFirst off, thanks so much for the good laugh, Brother! You have no idea how much I needed that this morning!
>> . . . As a white-ass pussy cracker, I say: "F#*% everyone who disagrees with me!"
As "A"?" As in "one"? Didn't you mean to say, "As SIX white-ass pussy crackers..."?
But the "F#*% everyone who disagrees with me" sounded more like Short Little Rebel.
>> . . . I said "because they are a bunch of communists."
HA!-HA! Oh, man, seriously and literally you made me laugh out loud! Love it. And it reminded me of that story you told me a couple years ago, privately, in an Email, about your old Liberal friend and the knife. That one also still makes me laugh when I think of it.
Six, you gotta be the top individualist of my friends. And just beating me out in that category is quite a feat!
A wee bit more later, after work. But for now, just thanks again for the laugh because I was actually pretty bummed-out last night and needed this morning to start out on a better note. And you made that happen, Bro.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
CRACKER J. McSIXGUN (Part 2) ~
Delete>> . . . I don't like team sports because they require me to participate with a bunch of knot heads.
Actually, I think there's a lot to be said for "Team" ANYTHING. Sometimes it's good to be part of a team. For instance, what would The Who have been like if Keith Moon hadn't been a "team player"? What would The Fifth Dimension have been like without team player Marilyn McCoo? (They'd have been only Four Dimensions!) What would Pink have been without Floyd? And you can't have "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg" if Goldberg ain't there because he don't want to play with the other knotheads.
>> . . . I think football should be known as America's sport rather than baseball
Well, I'd say that today it IS. It has become "America's Game" thanks to the spectacle of the Super Bowl. So I think your wish has already come true.
>> . . . Bubba's caddy may be a dick, but I have a hard time believin' that that emotional Christian is one too.
Golferboy is an emotional Christian? I didn't learn about that, but I do like his Golf Cart Hovercraft.
>> . . . Finally, I think that it may be hard to judge charisma unless you are pretty familiar with someone. I've seen Sofia Viagra interviewed several times ... she has a great deal of charm, coquettish-ness, and charisma. But watching a couple of quick vids of her may not tell the tale.
McSix, I'm not sure we're on the same page when it comes to "charisma". To me it's a mysterious personal magnetism that mostly transcends any ability to really describe it, but I know it when I feel it, and I definitely believe I would feel it by watching two five-minute videos.
What you mentioned, "charm, coquettish-ness", are things I would relate more to "personality" and/or "likeability" than I would to charisma. I believe the mysterious charisma I'm referring to is something separate from charm, style, good looks, humor, etc. It's certainly not any ONE thing, although combinations of things may contribute to it. But when all is said and done, it's that thing you can't really see but which pulls you to it like a magnet.
With my old buddy Torch, there are three things that combined uniquely in him: energy, quick-wittedness, and sense of humor. He probably wouldn't have the incredible degree of charisma that he does without those three ingredients, but I sense that there's something even MORE than those three things that made up his charisma.
>> . . . Often, though not always, charisma has a bit of a sinister aspect. That may be why more men seem to have it.
Hmmm... You completely lost me there. While people with charisma are certainly capable of doing wicked, sinister things, I think of charisma as a positive trait. I have never associated any sort of "sinister" aspect with charisma.
>> . . . Sorry Sig and I hijacked this comment section!
There's no such thing as "hijacking" in my comment sections (and I don't even need the TSA to protect them). There's just good, long, and plentiful comments.
Thanks again for the comment, Bro. It was an entertaining one that made me laugh.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Glad I cheered you up!
ReplyDeleteI think that charisma does indeed mean different things to different people. Even by my own standards, I find people charismatic for different reasons and at different levels. Vergara is someone that - I think - almost EVERYONE likes or would like upon seeing/hearing her. That is more than just charming. That falls into my definition of charismatic. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has zero charisma and even those who might support her politics cannot possibly find her charismatic or even charming. Slightly likeable at best for her! Her husband had great charisma. In him, that feels sinister, it worried me then and bugs me now.
But I don't like everyone I think is charismatic. For example, two people that I think have great charisma are Oprah Winfrey and Barak Hussein Obama (mmm, mmm, mmm). Now be clear: I DON'T LIKE THEM, although I do find Oprah a bit likeable at times. But both of them seem able to almost hypnotize vast numbers of the populace by their... "whatever" quality.
Hitler had charisma for many people, at least for a while, and there was certainly something sinister about dat dude.
I think you are right about James Dean having charisma, and for me Steve McQueen had charisma also. I seem to recall you don't like McQueen, but hoards of people found him magnetic. Look at auctions where stuff he owned has been sold. He outsells James Dean for value.
I think Nappy is totally wrong about Betty Davis. I never found anything charismatic about her. Audrey Hepburn was undeniably charismatic, however.
Ronald Reagan had so much charisma that even his enemies found him likeable.
John F. Kennedy had a charisma of 17, while Nixon only had a charisma of 3 (that is a reference for you D&D people reading this.)
So, charisma doesn't have to have a sinister side, however, I am very leery of people who have the magnetic power to sway millions with a smile or a "Let me be clear..." People that say THAT are indeed evil.
The serpent was charismatic enough to talk Eve into snagging the apple. The first example of charisma was evil.
TSA may not be needed, but they are certainly checking the excess baggage of this comment section!
SIXBOY ~
DeleteAnother really good comment. Hmmm... In some cases I quite agree and in others I don't. (Not surprising, for as I just told FAE on the other blog bit, I believe that "charisma", being indefinable, is also therefore subjective.)
For me:
Ronald Reagan - yes, charismatic.
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey - no charisma whatsoever.
Audrey Hepburn - Winner, winner, chicken dinner! I think you have found a second woman who, in my opinion, had charisma. There's a part of me that questions, "Was it style or charisma?", but I think I have to come down on the side of charisma (although she was certainly stylish too).
JFK - yep, I'll agree with you again.
I kinda doubt the serpent had charisma; I suspect he just appealed to Eve's ego and manipulated her emotionally.
Hitler - That one's an interesting case. There's no denying he fascinated a lot of people and convinced them that his views were correct. He was a persuasive leader, although an evildoer of the worst kind.
He may have had charisma, but I'm not sure. I think of him primarily as possessing the most powerful leadership quality. For years I contemplated the question of what makes a powerful leader? What do all the most notable leaders (whether they are positive or negative, good or bad) have in common?
I came to the conclusion that the single most important or necessary trait for all great leaders is "extreme confidence in themselves". The vast majority of people in this world have little confidence, they often rely on the advice or wisdom of others. For every one very self-confident person I've known, I've known a thousand who had normal to little self-confidence.
Hitler came across as SO ULTRA-CONFIDENT in himself that others, less sure of themselves, elected to follow him. So, in the final analysis, I think I'd label Hitler more as "Xtremely Self-Confident" than as "charismatic". (Although I acknowledge that some charisma MAY have played a part in his rise to power.)
Good comment, Bro.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'