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Sunday, October 19, 2008
Frequently Asked Awesome Questions
And remember - this list is only awesome questions. If you have lame questions, go to the Lame Questions Page.
#1. What's your least favorite xkcd ever?
Oh man, that's tough. I certainly got pretty angry with comics 432, 455, and 475. Look at the "angriest rants" bar off to your left to see the ones that have pissed me off the most. The most irritating, just because it was so close to being good but made one fatal flaw that caused it to suck, was 398. Also, 631 was pretty epically horrible.
#2. What's your favorite?
An easy choice - Search History
#3. I have the best idea EVAR for a post here what can I do with that?
oooooh send it to me send it to me send it to me. firstname.lastname@example.com
#4. What else should I send you?
You should send me links to xkcd related anything - interviews, parodies, musings, etc. Also anything relating to the field of webcomic criticism. Or anything else. Examples of Randall having copied other people's ideas. Most anything.
#5. Does Randall Munroe know about this blog?
#6. Wait, what? He does?
More details can be found here. Spoiler alert: he's not a fan!
#7. Wait, are you Randall Munroe?
NO, and stop asking me that. If I were Randall Munroe, I would a) be at least a little nicer, b) advertise this site on reddit all the time (I am not, unlike Randall, a reddit user), and c) probably have a lot more readers. Look, if you guys can think of a way for me to prove I'm not Randall Munroe, I'll do it. But all I can say is that I know for a fact he knows about the blog, he doesn't like it, and he's very much not me.
One time guest-poster Dr. Horrible IMd us both at the same time, to prove we were different. He had a substantial conversation with Randall; I just counted numbers so he knew I wasn't also writing to him as Randall from some other computer. Decide for yourself.
#8. What is the best possible thing I, as a reader, could do to make your life better?
Well the answer to that used to be "Comment on the posts" but it looks like we have a healthy community of people writing both important and utterly absurd posts as it is. If you are going to say something insightful - either pro- or anti- xkcd - I'd still say go ahead. Other than that - just remind your friends that xkcd sucks no matter what they think.
You can also digg this site, and tell your friends and enemies about it.
#9. What's with the Cuddlefish thing?
oh man. Basically it started 'round Christmastime, with a comic about cuttlefish. We were being vexed by the fact that too many commenters were not signing their names, which made it hard to have real conversations with them, not to mention refer to them individually. So we started calling them Cuddlefish, not that that actually helps to solve the problem, but it's fun and it's our first real xkcdsucks meme, so yay for that I guess.
57 comments:
Way to fan the fires of conspiracy theory, Carl. But if Randall's public persona is any indication, he probably wished you the best of luck and was just thankful you're not a hacker trying to crush his site.ReplyDelete
Also, kudos for saying you'll quit when this stops being fun. That makes you the Bill Watterson of haters. "I refuse to sell a mug about hating xkcd! Farewell!"
Now I am curious about Nos. five and six. My English curiosity will never be sated.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Crap. I am curious too!ReplyDelete
Just as I am about the Z in your email.
I really miss the velociraptors of xkcd... but if he were to bring back the joke, it'd probably be as bad as Hat Man has been...
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
You know, I almost want to meet Randall more now that I am actively talking about how his webcomic is in a steady decline from its glory days and basically sucks now. I feel like that would be a much more interesting conversation.ReplyDelete
Huh... now, I'm curious about 5. and 6. but also about the deleted comments you sometime have on the blog...ReplyDelete
I really feel for Randall. It was a really good web comic. Stopping writing more strips must be hard for him after turning into an internet celebrity.
There was a web comic called One Over Zero. It was one of the greatest, in my opinion, with good characters and character interactions. Early on into the comics the author decided to quit on page #1000, exactly #1000. I think this is in part what makes 1/0 such a great work of art - the author didn't let it rot.
I can tell you that I haven't deleted any comments, I don't think. Maybe one or two at the beginning but I still don't think I did. Since I get them all e-mailed to me before people have a chance to delete them, I can tell you that they are rarely interesting. Usually something that they realized was a dumb comment or they posted it twice or something. I have yet to see something where I went "woah, they totally shouldn't have deleted that!"ReplyDelete
I'll look into One Over Zero - but I've always thought that The Perry Bible Fellowship was a good example of quitting while ahead.
- AnonymousDecember 7, 2008 at 10:08 AM
You know, I'm really surprised that you like #155 Carl. You could file that one under: "I'm quirky...and so is my search history!"ReplyDelete
That strip reminds of when I was ten, and all my friends would say the word "fart" at random moments, just to make everyone else giggle.
Eleven years later, Randall's done the exact same thing, he's just supplanted the word "fart" with the word "raptor". Witty!
Or maybe I'm missing something. Is this whole "raptor" business some big Internet joke that I'm missing? Is #155 a(nother) xkcd based around a meme?
Agree with you about PBF though. That was amazing.
Hey Tim - See, the thing with the quirkiness is it's only annoying (well, only totally overused here) with relationships. If the main guy in the comic is quirky, that's probably fine with me. At least for now. If it's like Mr. Beret or something, that is starting to be a problem.ReplyDelete
I really do think they are mostly funny. You imagine a guy there who is worried about these things, and I find them to be quite funny. I like the idea that you would use Jurassic Park as a learning tool. I like the fact that he is worried about raptors being alive and also being able to pick locks, basically this horrible supermonster thing. "Raptor sympathizer"
And of course I like to think that what with the "utahraptor" and "dromaeosaurids" it's also a clear shout-out to dinosaur comics.
Oh and also the alt-text gets points because that is, in fact, a WONDERFUL set of AOL searches that somethingawful has. Go read it, all of you. Aug 13th, 2006.
The raptor thing is just, as far as I know, a mildly running joke in the early (or "golden age") xkcds. It was nice because it didn't really get used too often and stopped before the comic went to Suckstown, USA. See 87 and 135 for some others.
- AnonymousDecember 30, 2008 at 11:17 PM
1. Have you ever found a relatively new comic that you think is good? What's the latest XKCD that you like?
2. Probably related to #1. When did you think XKCD started to go bad? Did you take one look at it and think it was bad from the start? Did you follow the comic for a while, but just recently decided it was bad?
As for the person who mentioned 1/0: Thank you. I can honestly believe 1/0 is the absolute best read that is ever possible to create. I laughed, I cried... and I've only read the first 100 comics. Comics like that give me hope that good media still exists, even if it was finished years ago. Kid Radd is another recent find that is another exceptional title.
Anonymous: WOOHOO! 1/0! (for anyone who haven't cought the link yet...)ReplyDelete
Can we have a list of comics the chief editor likes? What about the ones that used to be good but now suck? This thought leads me to the question: Can this blog expand to new grounds of vitriol web comics criticism? There is precedence for that with the GWB accidents series.
Comedy Lead (as opposed to gold?) blog?
Oh, wait. I didn't remember there's a list of links to good web comics in the Irritating FAQs (#7). :-/ReplyDelete
Sorry for reiterating the question. How do I remove that bit from my comment?
Anon - good questions.ReplyDelete
The last comic I liked was the lesbian experimentation one I liked the google maps one until I saw the Penny Arcade it was almost identical to.
Way back when I started this blog I wrote about my 10 favorite comics, but limited my choices to the first 200 to make it easier. I keep meaning to go back and do 201-400 but I am too lazy.
on question 2 - it was absolutely the latter. I loved the comic when I first started reading it (summer of 2007) and then slowly noticed I wasn't enjoying it as much. Then people told me I was crazy and it was Teh Awsome but after a few people told me things like "yeah, I thought so too, no else seems to agree with me" I decided I was right. and when googling "xkcd sucks" brought up nothing good, I figured I would do it myself. And here we are.
I would say it started to go bad around 350, give or take. People have vary widely differing opinions on this one.
It's funny that you mention 1/0 because even though I wrote in October that I would look into it, I only got around to reading it just now. I liked it for the most part, though there were some parts that I didn't like - I still don't understand (spoiler alerts!) why Terra ended up deciding she was in love with Zadok after all and I certainly didn't follow the logic that led to Marcus losing his fourth wall. But in general it was very interesting and a lot of fun.
Cow: I have had as a long-term goal for a while now opening up this blog to talk more about humor in general, and hopefully it will start to happen a bit more. Still not sure about this. As to your comments, I'd say you should delete your first two and write a new one, but of course, that will appear after this comment, so it may look odd. Of course, I could always delete this and repost it after your new one, but honestly none of this is worth the effort.
Regarding comic 155: The somethingawful aol search logs that were posted on Aug 13th, 2006, are actually the funniest things I have ever read. I may literally believe this. I can't imagine why one would waste time on the internet reading webcomics or anything else if one hasn't looked up these yet.ReplyDelete
This comic is pretty funny because it's a fairly accurate imitation of what the search logs of aol users actually look like (if somethingawful is to be believed).
- AnonymousApril 2, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Do people really think that this blog is written by Randal Monroe? That's strange. Because Randal Monroe is *funny* and *intelligent*ReplyDelete
Also *cute*, but that is beside the point.
You have no idea what I look like!ReplyDelete
Further evidence that I am Randall Munroe: I can spell both "Randall" and "Munroe" correctly.
what is with this anon who cannot spell "Munroe"?ReplyDelete
I mean I make that typo a lot but I generally correct it PLEASE CORRECT YOURSELF OKAY CUDDLEFISH
- AnonymousApril 3, 2009 at 1:49 AM
It's not like all xkcd haters spell it as Munroe. I'm pretty sure I spelled it as Monroe before.ReplyDelete
And I wasn't sure about the double-l part in Randall so I just used Randy...
Well it would make more sense for someone who hates xkcd to misspell Randall's name than for someone who hearts xkcd to misspell it, don't you think?ReplyDelete
Carl perhaps you should have started this blog and pretended your name was "Randal Monroe"! Then you would be like Perez Hilton. Sort of. Just less bitchy.
it would only fuel the rumors that we are the same person, I fear.ReplyDelete
I never noticed that you had answered the Cuddlefish question here! when did you do thisReplyDelete
I don't even remember! But there it is, I guess.ReplyDelete
Shouldn't #631 be your least-favorite xkcd ever? Just sayin'.ReplyDelete
It is safe to assume that those comics that appear under "Angriest Rants", which includes 631, are ones that earned particular ire. To be honest, I think the 11th Grade one pissed me off the most of all of them.ReplyDelete
The link to the "more info can be found here" isn't working.ReplyDelete
fix'd. thanks.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 2, 2009 at 3:20 PM
man, I fucking agree completely with you on this one. XKCD, WAY PAST ITS PRIME. although you were incorrect on your judgement, I think xkcd stopped getting funny after the tree stump comicReplyDelete
I'm genuinely confused why you spend so much effort to critique xkcd. And you critique it well, too; you don't just bash it. I mostly like xkcd, though yeah, it sucks some days, and is rarely hilarious, but it's consistently enjoyable. That's honestly good enough for me. But back to my question... why spend so much time and effort doing what you do? Is xkcd THAT popular? (It's hardly on prime-time TV...) Or is it there some personal animosity? (Doesn't seem like it...)ReplyDelete
I can only assume you enjoy making an intelligent thorough critique of something, anything, and like to practice your skills. Is this the case? If so, why xkcd, and not any other thing at random? Did you just get dissappointed by it one time too many, or did you just decide it would fit your needs?
In short, I'm consfused. Unless you are a professional critic, you want to make art/lit/etc. criticism your JOB and you enjoy it more than anything else, then woulnd't your efforts be better served creating something yourself, rather than critiquing the (rather niche and hardly world-changing) work of others? I can only assume you love being a critic... and if so, I can compliment you and say, yes you're truly good at it, and more power to you. But I feel there must be more to the explanation and I remain confused.
As an aside, here's my website (yes, I'm ashamed to throw in the plug, but I'm just doing it out of curiosity re: your thoughts on it): http://kazikian.tk . Please let me know what you think: email@example.com
Best to you,
- AnonymousNovember 4, 2009 at 4:15 AM
Hey Charles, I really love xkcd too. I think its great that you do this homage, although its a little heavy on the irony for me.ReplyDelete
Keep up the good work.
"I can only assume you enjoy making an intelligent thorough critique of something, anything, and like to practice your skills. "ReplyDelete
that is exactly it. And when you put it that way, it almost seems honorable. As to why xkcd, I don't know. I wasn't really planning for this to get so big when I started, and then once I started it just gradually turned into this. I think it works; it updates at about the right speed for me, it's a small enough thing that I can totally know everything happening in the xkcd world.
i am not going to visit your website though because i am LAZY and you are trying too hard I think.
- AnonymousNovember 24, 2009 at 8:58 AM
I think you forgot that XKCD is actually pretty funny as a depiction of a man being leeched of creative spirit by a merciless and self-imposed schedule, kind of a satire of literature depicting self-destruction. I like to believe that Randall Munroe is actually the online persona of J.D. Salinger, using metaphor to talk about how fame affects one.ReplyDelete
Then again, perhaps not.
In any case, I love this site for the detailed and honest critique you give of XKCD - whenever I see a comic I like, I google '[blah] sucks' and decide whether the author of the ensuing blog is talking sense. Sometimes they are; still other times, they just seem to be trying to enhance their e-peen artificially. Your blog was the former. ;)
Reading XKCD first and then your critique is a great way to test my critical reading skills, too, since you normally pick up anything I don't hit.
- BeepSmileJanuary 7, 2010 at 7:41 AM
While not a fan of this site (it's just too mean spirited for little old [read: young] me) to read often. I love the top line; "[a] A bitter..."ReplyDelete
I actually would browse occasionally though, if it were not for the fact that I can't seen to use the arrow keys, 'end,' 'home,' ect. keys or copy/paste?
Er... what's up with that?
BeepSmile ain't smilin' right now
try logging in...I know that blogger sucks usually, but besides moving the blog to another host (which is a long term goal of mine) there is little I can do.ReplyDelete
BeepSmile: if you enter some text, and then click "preview" and "edit," you gain full functionality.ReplyDelete
Hey, what's up?ReplyDelete
You know, I forget how I came to this website, but at first I was all like "No, you're wrong" and then I was all like "Maybe you have a point" and then I was all like "Wait, xkcd DOES suck!" But then I was all like, "No, you're really wrong, actually." But by then weeks had passed, and I realized the truth was xkcd sucks some weeks and rocks others. You just can't tell cause you're job has become HATING xkcd. Still, you try to be objective, and you do ok on xkcd's good days and you do awesome on xkcd's bad days. The point is, I now read my xkcd comic and come straight here for my xkcd comic criticism. It works very nicely, and helps me find flaws or virtues I missed on my original reading of the comic itself. I only wish you could be more impartial, yet... maybe then it wouldn't be such a perfect dialectic?
On the whole, thumbs up. Sincerely, AK47
Why do you like the search history comic so much? If you've written about this just give me a point to the article. I was wondering if you'd do an analysis on why you find it funny- akin to your analyses on why you don't find other comics funny. I personally hate that one.ReplyDelete
I am still a lover of most of what Randall's comics, although I agree with you he does have terrible ones. I would argue most comedians do. Even though we agree on the fact that not all of his stuff is good, I think we disagree totally about what we are looking for.
My favorite comic is #45, Schrodinger's comic. What do you think of this? I could flood w/more, on his other topics, but I'm sure that this is the litmus test I'm looking for.
Also, I was wondering if you would feel like putting together a "Manifesto of humor". A collection of what is comedic gold to you. I would be interested to hear what you have to say about other media of comedy. What about Eddie Izzard? What do you think of The Marx Brothers?
- AnonymousApril 26, 2010 at 5:29 AM
You know it occurs to me that there's a lot less comments here than on the "sucks hugely" FAQ. Maybe there's a reason for that? Hrmm...ReplyDelete
Of course, if you were Randall, it would be nothing to write a script to count for you on a second computer. I think we'd need to subject you to simultaneous Turing tests.ReplyDelete
That's true. I am open to any other feasible suggestion to prove I am not Randall.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 10, 2010 at 6:18 AM
There's really only one way to prove you're not Randall, and that's to post nude pictures of yourself.ReplyDelete
so you can compare them with your nude photos of randall, or what?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 12, 2010 at 1:55 AM
what else?ReplyDelete
i guess that makes senseReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 4, 2010 at 7:33 AM
Where'd the little quote at the top of the page come from?ReplyDelete
a cuddlefish called us that in a comment thread a long time back.ReplyDelete
- Sam PatchJuly 13, 2010 at 7:12 PM
Hey, I hate the faux-nerd culture as much as you. It's like the faux-depressed culture that called itself "emo" and made depression into a style. Not okay. Generally, stop faking who you are, and stop advertising if you are. A true "nerd," if you're going to call yourself that, doesn't need to advertise.ReplyDelete
Cuddlefish? Name-calling... cute. Very cute.
You know something else? Generally, critics critique the comic, not the creator. Feeling nice and cozy, with your names for the anonymous idiots and your straw-man Randall? I notice you all seem to sign only first names...
I'm signing.
yeah, because adding a last name would definitely change things. what?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 14, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Shut the fuck up MasonReplyDelete
OH NO IT SPOKE MY NAME! MY ONE TRUE WEAKNESSReplyDelete
oh wait, I don't fucking care, which is why it's the easiest thing in the world to find my full name on the internet.
- AnonymousJuly 18, 2010 at 1:57 PM
That...that was my point. I was making fun of the "how come you only show your first name here, cowards???" guy you just replied to.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 20, 2010 at 6:46 AM
I know you already have the shitty blogger tag for it, but could you maybe have a link to "comics I like" somewhere that's always on the front page, like this FAQ or the other one? I think it'd be more handy for when dumb fans come in calling you biased and stuff.ReplyDelete
Anon: good idea. i will try to remember it.ReplyDelete
Sam: The cuddlefish term was born of absolute necessity.
Carl [LAST NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR SECURITY REASONS]
- AnonymousAugust 15, 2010 at 6:04 AM
Rob ate my brother.ReplyDelete
yeah, and about 445 other pounds of stuffReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 14, 2010 at 5:42 PM
You are to xkcd as Maddox is to life.ReplyDelete
But seriously, you went to ALL THE TROUBLE of counting numbers to PROVE that you aren't Randall Munroe? Get a life! That is the easiest thing ever to script or photoshop.
Sincerly Cuttlefish...
except i don't publish twice per yearReplyDelete
hey, the numbers thing was Dr. H's idea, I just went along for fun


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


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If hoping your problems away doesn't work, then try the other method: Blow 'em away!
Or try hiding them in your pant suit!
McCain and Obama were sculpted by Chris Peterson. Hillary sculpted by Arshak Nazarian. All color styled and painted by Beth Colla. Castings by Richard Vanover at Wheaty Wheat.
They were manufactured by Reel FX. They are rounding up distributors at this very moment so add yourself on the list if you want to get 'em in your stores!
Wait'll you see the fancy-ass packaging Brian Romero is designing! I'll post 'em later this week.
These toys are not only sculpted beautifully, but we've taken extra time and effort to color them slightly off register, just like old fashioned 60s toys!
And here's some more nifty toys to rock your ass off! Sculpted by Chris Peterson and company and colored by Beth Colla at Wheaty Wheat.
These were manufactured by Thunderdog toys and distributed by Strangeco to comic book stores and specialty shops.
Chris is busy sculpting my latest batch of toys - George Liquor, Sody Pop, Jimmy the Idiot Boy and Cigarettes the Cat for Strangeco.We are recreating this historic scene in toy form! Tell me you will run to the toy store and buy 'em!


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Even as a kid, I ate a lot of watermelon. Everyone in my family did. I can remember my Dad, his face beet-red from the heat, coming through our back door beaming as he was carrying a colossal watermelon. He always did the same thing: set it down on the kitchen counter and proudly announced its weight -- 19 and 1/2 pounds! 23 pounds! Like his lobsta, the bigger it was, the better he liked it.
My brother Chris was always the one to cut the watermelon (seeing as none of the rest of us had his patience). With skills of a surgeon, he extracted every last seed while keeping the melon's flesh intact. Come to think of it, I don't remember ever seeing seedless watermelons when I was a kid. Did they exist back then?
I do remember, however, that on a stiflingly humid New England day there was little else that could bring as much pure pleasure as a crisp cold piece of watermelon saturated with sweet juice that dripped down your arms and chin as you slurped your way along.
Indeed, my grandmother,
Even though it's just the two of us now, I buy watermelon every week and announce the weight to Jeff when he comes home. 15 pounds! 18 pounds! (I told you I've eaten a lot of it). I only buy seedless now; Chris still lives in
I've made many watermelon dishes this summer, and this grilled watermelon is one of my favorites. If you're planning a Labor Day Weekend Barbecue, then it's a simple and healthy dessert to make.
Wondering how to grill a watermelon? It couldn't be easier. Simply rub some honey on watermelon slices and place on a hot grill for about 2 minutes per side until marks form and they become caramelized. You could eat it just like that or top it with my tangy honey-lime syrup. It contrasts surprisingly well with the slightly smoky flavor of the grilled watermelon.
Several slices watermelon
Some honey for brushing watermelon slices
Juice of 2 limes
the zest of half a lime
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons water
A few dashes of cayenne pepper
A couple of pinches of salt
Preheat grill to high. Cut watermelon into 1-inch thick slices. Brush each side lightly with some honey and place on grill. Grill until just browned, about 2 minutes per side. Place watermelon slices on a plate and drizzle with the honey-lime syrup.
You might also like:
Warm Citrus and Banana Cups
Watermelon and Green Olive Salad
Grilled Lamb Kebabs
Grilled Lamb Sandwiches
Jumbo Grilled Lobsta
You might also like to check out:
Jyothsna's recipe for a refreshing Watermelon Ice Cream.
Christine's recipe for a lovely Melon and Capriole Goat Cheese Salad.
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Disclaimer: Medical cannabis science is in a continually evolving state. To ensure Ibudtender.com has the most up-to-date information available, we constantly update our site to reflect the latest information. The information provided is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, mitigate or prevent any diseases. All information available has not evaluated by the FDA and any claims by any product companies are not endorsed by Ibudtender.com or any of its subsidiaries. Do not use this material to diagnose or treat a health condition or disease without consulting a qualified healthcare provider.


text:
Tim Panaccio @tpanotchCSN 3m as one agent tweeted to me last night, NHL's decision on lockout meant to boost revenues next yr, needed a gimic: 6 Winter Classics. $$
DelPen wrote:Should bring as many players back from the 1992 cup finals for the alumni game. Is Jagr the only active player left?
blurryhaze312 wrote:
Would anyone be shocked to see venues using artificial ice?
shafnutz05 wrote:To add, I just now noticed there is a game in LA on January 25th. The average high/low in Los Angeles for the month of January is 68/48. As columbia said, I have absolutely no clue who thought that would possibly be a good idea.
penny lane wrote:Six outdoor games; that borders on the silly.
Let it snow.
DMcGrew wrote:This is beyond stupid. But its a good excuse to make a trip to Chicago. Love that city.
DMcGrew wrote:This is beyond stupid. But its a good excuse to make a trip to Chicago. Love that city.
cheesesteakwithegg wrote:After the last debacle with Sid in the Winter Classic, I am done with these outdoor games. Bad juju
Letang Is The Truth wrote:i dont understand why people are upset at this for being a money grab? heaven forbid people try to maximize their profits.
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We just made our first visit to thefw.com, and are we glad we did:
by Danny Gallagher
Director Bob Clark's classic holiday comedy has a distinction that few family movies can claim: Most people don't mind watching it over and over again.
That's probably why TBS airs 'A Christmas Story,' the movie based on the works of humorist Jean Shepherd, for 24 straight hours on Christmas Day. Parents love watching Flick get his tongue frozen to the school's flag pole over and over again. Kids love watching little Ralphie, played by Peter Billingsley, accidentally utter the "queen mother of dirty words" and then imagine he becomes blinded from years of "soap poisoning." Families love hearing "The Old Man" utter a stream of unintelligible curses as he battles the furnace or the Bumpus' herd of smelly hounds. Even if you've watched all 24 hours of 'A Christmas Story' and can recite every scene from memory, here are some amazing facts about the movie that will shoot your eye out.
The director of 'A Christmas Story' got his start making very dark and scary horror films including the holiday slasher classic 'Black Christmas.' However, the movie he really wanted to make wasn't nearly as bloody.
Clark said in an interview that he was constantly asking the studios he worked for if they would be interested in doing a Christmas comedy based on the funny childhood stories that Shepherd wrote for Playboy and later published in his book 'In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.' Everyone turned him down until his raunchy high school comedy 'Porky's' became a massive and unexpected success. Clark said 'Porky's' gave him a free pass to pick his own projects and 'A Christmas Story' was next on his to-do list.
Clark started casting the central characters for his Christmas cinematic classic and a very big name expressed interest in playing one of its most memorable parts.
Jack Nicholson, known for such films as 'Chinatown,' 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and 'The Shining,' received a script from Clark to see if he was interested. Surprisingly, he loved the script and wanted to play Ralphie's father, better known as "The Old Man." Unfortunately, Nicholson's asking price would have driven the entire film over its modest budget. So Clark chose actor Darren McGavin, best known at the time for playing the title role on the TV horror serial 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker,' and the rest is history.
The movie is full of memorable, funny scenes but fewer are more memorable (and more painful to watch) than the infamous flagpole moment.
Ralphie's friends "triple dog dare" each other that a person's tongue would freeze to the school's flagpole. Flick, played by Scott Schwartz, takes the bet and actually gets stuck to the pole and abandoned by his friends when the school bell rings. In reality, of course, Schwartz's tongue wasn't frozen to the pole but it was stuck to it.
The crew rigged a fake pole with a small hole on one side attached to an air pump that would use suction to make it appear Scott's tongue was stuck. R.D. Robb, the actor who played Ralphie's friend Schwartz, said that Scott was being bratty on the set one day. So the crew got their revenge by leaving him stuck to the pole by his tongue right before a long lunch break.
The movie is based on a collection of Shepherd's most famous and funniest stories but not all of the stories came from Shepherd's childhood Christmases.
The moment when the Bumpus' pack of mangy mongrels break into the kitchen and ruin the family's turkey was also adapted from a Shepherd story, but it didn't happen at Christmas. It happened at Thanksgiving. Also, the dogs ate a ham, not a turkey. LIES!
Ralphie spends a lot of his time daydreaming about his beloved "Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200 Shot Range Model Air Rifle" and how he could use it to fend off bad guys or impress his teacher. Another scene showed how "Ol' Blue" could have saved the universe.
One of the film's deleted scenes featured Ralph imagining an adventure with comic book and radio serial superhero Flash Gordon and his beloved BB gun. The missing scene starts in Ralphie's room as he finds one of his Flash Gordon comics and begins dreaming about saving Flash from the evil Ming the Merciless on a distant, alien planet. The editors forgot to take the names of the actors who played Ming and Flash in the missing scene out of the closing credits, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
Actor Peter Billingsley says that he actually owns the original BB gun and the cowboy suit he wore in the film. He even has the original "bunny pajamas" he wore towards the end of the movie that "The Old Man" called "a pink nightmare."
Now that the cast is all grown up, they've gone on to several different careers in and around the movie industry.
These days, Peter Billingsley runs a production studio with actor Vince Vaughn called West West Picture Show Productions that produced vehicles for Vaughn such as 'Fred Claus,' 'The Dilemma' and 'Couples Retreat,' the latter of which Billingsley directed.
Vaughn and Billingsley also produced the TBS sitcom 'Sullivan and Son' and are currently working on a reality show for Glenn Beck's TheBlaze network. Billingsley has also worked with director Jon Favreau, a relationship that scored him a cameo in 'Elf' with Will Ferrell and an executive producer credit on 'Iron Man.' Ralphie would be proud.
Not all of the movie's cast, however, had an easy time finding a career in Hollywood as an adult.
Scott Schwartz, for instance, had a successful childhood career appearing in 'A Christmas Story' and the Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason movie 'The Toy.' Unfortunately, he found it harder to find work as he got older and turned to adult films to make some quick money.
According to Schwartz, fellow child star Corey Feldman introduced him to several famous names in the adult industry at a party and a director asked him if he would appear in a film in a non-sexual role. That led to a more explicit starring role in 'Scotty's X-Rated Adventure' with adult film star Juli Ashton.
Most of the interior shots of Ralphie's house were filmed on a sound stage in Toronto, but all of the exterior shots came from a home in Cleveland, Ohio.
The house on West 11th Street in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood actually went up for sale in 2004 on eBay. Brian Jones of San Diego, California paid $150,000 for the house and turned it into a detailed recreation of the home featured in the movie from the boxes of Lifebuoy soap in the bathroom to the glowing leg lamp in the living room window. The attraction also features a museum that houses props and costumes from the film.
'A Christmas Story' may not have torn up the box office the way that 'Porky's' did, but it went on to achieve a cult status that has introduced it to new generations of fans. It was only a matter of time before someone turned it into a big, lavish Broadway extravaganza.
In fact, Peter Billingsley helped bring the musical remake to the Great White Way. Billingsley says a theater group in Kansas City, Missouri wrote the original production and invited him to see it. He was so impressed with the production that he fronted additional productions in Seattle and Chicago before it made its grand debut on Broadway this year.
This is just a sample of the kind of trivia the good peeps of thefw.com obsess over. Why not surf over there and give them the same kind of Merry Christmas this article has given you?
Well, if not you, then us, okay? Cuz we really dug it. especially the Flash Gordon part.


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Foreclosures In Burns Lake
Buying a house from foreclosure listings can be a great way to buy a home or investment property at a huge discount! So, why don't more people benefit from this untapped market of houses? Largely this is due to lack of awareness about the method or fear from untrue stories they may have heard about buying a foreclosure. Foreclosuresearch.ca is a great resource to learn about the foreclosure market and how best to negotiate a deal that suits your unique needs. Click on the banner below to learn how to get a trial offer of Burns Lake foreclosure listings.
How can I find bank owned homes in Burns Lake?
I use Foreclosuresearch.ca for my foreclosure needs because it is a one stop shop so to speak for learning about the market and foreclosure procedure as well as lists of available properties with pictures and descriptions.
This saves me a considerable amount of time and effort. I don't have to search the internet for hours looking at different Realtors websites sifting through houses in Burns Lake that are definitely not foreclosures or don't fit what I am looking for.
Other options for finding foreclosed residential or commercial properties is to reach out to your local bank to see if they are carrying properties in their portfolio or to contact a local Realtor that specializes in foreclosure listings. Many Realtors will list which ever property they can get their hands on but they may not be well versed in the foreclosure purchasing process so you need to be enlightened before going in.
How to buy a distress sale house in Burns Lake with bad credit.
Let me start off by saying that purchasing a foreclosed house in Burns Lake with bad credit is conceivable!
You have the option to buy a property for cash at a real estate auction. Your credit doesn't play a factor at all because you are not taking out a loan. Not everyone has this form of money lying around though so lets think about other options.
Research federal home buying programs. There are many programs out there again to support those with low salaries or poor credit to buy properties.
Search for houses in Burns Lake and try to find loans with low down payments. Save up money for your down payment but expect to pay a slightly higher interest rate thanks to your lower credit score. You should be able to refinance in a number of years after making on time payments to get a lower rate.
Tips on how to buy a foreclosed condo in Burns Lake, BC.
The first step is to get pre approved for a mortgage through a bank of your choosing or gather enough money to buy a residential or commercial property through an auction for all cash.
Next, find condos in Burns Lake, BC that you are interested in. Find a Realtor that is skilled in foreclosures and will be able to help you through the technique of buying.
If you have questions about the process, I would consider consulting with a real estate or foreclosure attorney before purchasing to make sure you understand the method and the ramifications of purchasing foreclosed properties.
Something that ought to be considered before you buy is that some foreclosure properties are not open to having a home inspection done before buying and/or the bank that owns the property may not be willing to make any repairs. This could end up costing you some money to ensure the repairs after buying. This is the only downfall in my opinion when buying foreclosed homes.
How long does it take to buy a bank owned home in Burns Lake?
This relies on how you are buying the property. Properties that are purchased in cash at an auction are turned over within a week or two maximum depending upon how long it takes your funds to transfer to the bank and the title to be completed. Actually, I have had properties transfer to me within three days.
If you are buying a property through a mortgage then the closing process takes a little bit longer. My experience has been around thirty days to closing, which is pretty customary when purchasing a property.
Are there reasons not to buy a foreclosure?
repo houses are usually sold "as is," meaning the bank is not willing to make any repairs before selling the property. This means that any repairs could fall back upon the new owner to fix. Sometimes the repairs are small-scale and other times they are huge.
Often a foreclosed property in Burns Lake BC has sat vacant for a while so maintenance has been neglected and will need to be dealt with immediately.
Sometimes, just because the title has changed to a new owner doesn't mean that all problems have passed. This is the significance of having a title search done prior to buying a property given that liens or lawsuits could be attached to the property and you could inherit them without realizing it.
How to negotiate for foreclosures.
Diligence is key here! The bank is in business to make money so they will be trying to get the highest possible price for the house that they can.
Dealing with banks is an automated process and usually handled by computer systems and not actual people. This can be irritating for you the buyer but it is what it is. At some point if you are persistent the bank will probably cave if they have no other offers because they recognize they need to move the property quickly.
Are Burns Lake bank owned homes good or bad?
This depends upon your goals and the risk level that you are ready to accept. If you agree to take on the potential repairs yourself and not count on the bank to pay for them then this is a great deal!
Remember to do your homework on foreclosures and on your property before acquiring to know exactly what you are getting involved in.
Power of Sale Intro
There are many things you may not know about the power of sale. When do you know you are confronted with a power of sale or foreclosure in Burns Lake, and how do you understand if it is the best investment for you? Offered below are responses to 7 commonly asked questions relating to the power of sale, and how it can assist you make educated purchases in British Columbia.
Exactly what is power of sale or foreclosure?
This is a term that not many daily individuals have become aware of. But if you are interested in purchasing property, especially those on the foreclosure market, then you want to recognize with this term. A power of sale is a clause that is written into a mortgage which allows the lender to offer the residential or commercial property in the event of default to pay back the mortgage debt. It technically is the provision that permits foreclosure on a home when a financial obligation is not paid. This kind of sale happens so that the lending institution, which is normally a bank, can recover losses that they sustained by the loan default.
A power of sale likewise refers to the power expressed or indicated in a trust arrangement permitting the trustee to sell the investment consisting of the trust.
Generally, this provision in a home loan or trust enables the lender to sell the residential or commercial property without going to court to do so. It is a kind of faster way to allow healing easier and faster. For those seeking to purchase foreclosed home, this is a lot easier as the lending institution does not have to go through the courts to make the sale take place.
If you are looking to purchase a power of sale foreclosure home, there are some benefits. This includes an expedited procedure. Usually a foreclosure through the courts can take a great deal of time; whereas those that go through an agreement clause can be much quicker.
Where can you find power of sale houses?
It is actually much easier than you believe to discover power of sale houses. In British Columbia, as in all of Canada, the typical process is to sell the residential or commercial property by power of sale, which differs from the majority of the United States which tends to go through the courts for a foreclosure. Typically, when a home is being offered through power of sale, it in fact goes through a realtor. That makes it simple to discover houses under power of sale. A realtor, or other real estate sites, will likely have listings of power of sale houses in your area.
How do you purchase a foreclosed farms in British Columbia?
It is a great choice to purchase power for sale foreclosures in Burns Lake British Columbia. The procedure is pretty fast and easy. The procedure for the sale is generally set out in the home mortgage, so they may vary a bit in a different way for homes depending upon the lending institution.
In British Columbia, there are 2 kinds of power for sale – legal and statutory. A contractual power of sale is when the home mortgage files have consisted of the power of sale stipulation. A statutory power of sale is when the power of sale provisions is not consisted of, however these are really unusual.
The general process includes:
Notification given to the borrower after fifteen days of default
Notice given to anybody who has an interest in the home
For contractual power of sales, the customer has 35 days to pay, if statutory, the borrower has 45 days
As soon as the period ends and the default is not remedied, the lender can offer the home
The property can be offered by auction, private contract, or by tender. The property is typically noted with a real estate agent and placed on the marketplace for sale utilizing numerous listing service (MLS).
The ownership of the residential or commercial property will change hands just if the property is sold. This is also not a fire sale, although it is quicker than a court procedure. The deals from the buyers like you are carefully examined, and the existing owner may request an accounting.
How do you discover power of sale listings?
Among the best methods to discover a power for sale listing in Burns Lake is to make use of an outstanding MLS. These services are offered on line and offer an excessive quantity of listings so that you can find the precise house you are looking for. A site, such as foreclosuresearch.ca, can offer you with all of the listings in British Columbia under power of sale. Sites like this one permit you to browse in your location for power of sale residential or commercial property, in addition to the timing and costs included.
Are bank owned properties cheaper?Normally, power of sale houses is less expensive than going through an individual merely offering their home. This is because the bank only wishes to not lose on the deal. They wish to make the cash back that they have lost from the default. In Canada, any money from the sale is given back to the homeowner, but if there is a deficiency, the owner is responsible for the difference.
For more information on buying foreclosed properties please check the information here. Always use the services of a real estate agent when buying or selling any type of property in state. Find a local agent here. A lawyer might be a good idea too.


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Jason Lytle's "Yours Truly, the Commuter" Digital Single Available on iTunes April 7th
Former Grandaddy Frontman to Tour with Neko Case in June First Solo Appearances at SXSW Steals the Show
On April 7th, Grandaddy singer and principle songwriter Jason Lytle will release a digital single for "Yours Truly, the Commuter" off his forthcoming solo debut full-length also titled Yours Truly, the Commuter, out May 19th on ANTI- Records.
On June 3rd, Lytle will meet up with labelmate Neko Case in Vancouver for a number of west coast shows. Neko is currently riding high on her new release Middle Cyclone which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts.
Lytle is currently recuperating from almost a week of appearances, some of his first as a solo artist, at the 2009 South By Southwest music festival. By all accounts, his live performances of material from Yours Truly are upholding the torch lit by Grandaddy, understated but immensely moving and melodic.
href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102351673" target="_blank">Click here to see Jason Lytle's performance of "Brand New Sun" on NPR's All Songs Considered.
href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54539093" target="_blank">Click here to see his in-studio interview with John Norris for Spin/Myspace.
Jason Lytle on tour with Neko Case: 6/3 VANCOUVER, BC The Vogue 6/4 SEATTLE, WA The Paramount 6/5 PORTLAND, OR Crystal Ballroom 6/7 EUGENE, OR MacDonald Theater 6/9 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Warfield 6/12 LOS ANGELES, CA The Greek Theatre


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Favorite films of the 2000s: Which are yours?
Before we get to the films, a note of thanks to you, dear visitors, for making this space what it is. This blog was registered in 2005, but I didn't post much at all until a couple years later. It has since been a welcome avenue to discuss films with some very cool film lovers and connoisseurs, from whom I continue to learn much, and for whose participation I am thankful. This blog would be pointless without you.
I am thankful to Sita-ji of Bollywood Food Club -- she was the first to trust me with a link. She was also the first to refer to me as 'theBollywoodFan'. (I say this at the risk of sounding like a politician, but my journey to read contemporary Indian culture through popular cinema led to theBollywoodFan being conceived as a name applicable to all of us -- as Rajpal Yadav in Paheli (2005) would say, "I am the Bollywood fan, you're the Bollywood fan, we are all Bollywood fans!" Turns out it's not at all a bad identity for personal use either. :)
I am thankful to Aamir Khan, A. R. Rahman, and Ashutosh Gowariker, for making me a believer in Hindi cinema. In 2000, I was hardly a fan. A redundant brand of cinema lacking much purpose (it continues to survive, and often thrives) had turned me away for several years. These three changed that. Their irresistible blend of storytelling, acting, and sound forced me to give the industry a long, hard look. Together, they offered fair indicators that the new era of Hindi cinema, in which experiments and substantive themes are lauded (think ticket sales -- long-term sustainability without profit is improbable at best), is here to stay, and that the diversity (in innumerable categories) films of the 2000s carried indeed lead to encouraging signs for the future.
As an Aamir fan, I think it's fair to say he is the only actor who has come close to defining a decade of popular cinema, since Amitabh Bachchan did in the 1970s. Everything must end, and his incredible streak will, too, of course. Been a fun journey, for which I am thankful.
On to the films that bind us. Here are my favorites from the decade, then, in the order in which they were released. We tend to have stories associated with the best films we consume (they manage to make things personal for most), and these are hardly any different.
I don't think (and by now, I know you probably don't think, either!) I'll ever run out of things to say about this magical film that set a new standard for how a Hindi film should look, feel, and sound. The production values it brought along revolutionized the industry. QSQT (1988) often serves as a reference point signaling a new era of films. Lagaan is a second such film originating from the same career. Rare? Sure. Worth celebrating? Of course! Lots more here.
Films with serialized plot lines leading to a unified conclusion got a jump start with this fine film by Farhan Akhtar. It spoke to the urban youth by portraying the urban youth with startling accuracy. Excellent performances by Aamir, Preity Zinta, Akshaye Khanna, and Saif Ali Khan (whose career finally took off after this), sleek cinematography, and a reminder to make the most of the present, made this one of the hottest contemporary films of the decade. And let's not forget the debut of music directors Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy -- Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe -- ruled every desi party my freshman year in college. It still rules every desi party, from L.A. to Paris and Dubai. Eerie factoid: This is probably the closest to reality any film has come in portraying my relationship with my folks (heck, even their professions!)
Salman Khan owns this role in what is a remake of a Tamil film. His look in the first hour of Tere Naam befitted the title he's earned in 'Style Bhai' (see him in this song, for instance), but it was a soul-stirring second half that made it extremely difficult to not shed a tear to. The film was bothersome, which means the it was effective. I liked the soundtrack (Himesh Reshammiya) more than I thought I would. Think Salman can't act? Watch Tere Naam, and let's discuss.
By far -- I repeat, BY FAR -- my favorite Shah Rukh Khan film. Too bad it wasn't well-received by his fans, and too bad it didn't do better overall. My theory is our folk in India didn't enjoy seeing an Indian from abroad solving tangible problems, and Indians abroad probably weren't too thrilled to be reminded of what they aren't doing that they could be doing where they are needed most. Brilliant in almost all respects, this one's a keeper. It would likely make my top 10 of all-time. More here.
A beautiful woman in a beautiful film! Thank you God! Please excuse the candor here, but while on offering thanks, I am extremely thankful to have had the presence of Tabu impact my perceptions of beauty and femininity. (Although my mom might be a little worried this woman who's about a dozen years older dominates my walls, but that's another story.) Meenaxi by M. F. Hussain is one of the few films in which her poise, grace, and major sex appeal were finally showcased in a fitting manner. More here.
The only thing I don't like about this (well, the only thing besides that it stars Amisha Patel) is that it's only one film away from Lagaan in Aamir's filmography. But let that not affect whether you see this film. It's grandiose in its presentation, it's about a critical period in the history of the Indian sub-continent, and it's got Aamir and A. R. Rahman at work again (and this time with Rani Mukherjee in the mix!). What more does one need to say about it? More here.
A gem of a film which thankfully didn't go unnoticed, Iqbal proves script is king. Sure, it's got cricket at its core (and that component is exceptionally well-researched), but it'll most definitely have you rooting for the underdog with its fine, heartwarming screenplay, and spectacular performances by Shreyas Talpade in his coming out party and the classy Naseeruddin Shah. Consider checking this out if you haven't. My film collection would be incomplete without it.
8. HERA PHERI (2000) and PHIR HERA PHERI (2006)
Next time Kabeera calls, let's thank him. I liked the first in the series more (geeky Tabu is better than no Tabu), but that doesn't mean the second was anything but good. Unadulterated fun despite treading the fine line between tacky and funny, these films are the quintessential nonsensical/screwball offerings of the decade, with Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty pitching in with howlarious performances that simply refuse to get old.
I'd seen this film in theaters in three countries across three continents before I saw it at an event at the university I attended, celebrating India's Independence Day. Nothing had prepared me for the sports bar-like atmosphere during the film -- it was intense! This, probably more than any of the decade, hit its intended audience hard. This, as much as any, is a shining example of the potential carried by films that are commercial but meaningful, sensible and fun. More here and here.
Probably running out of Aamir credits here, but I told you it's no secret he's been behind the best popular films of late. Taare Zameen Par took the road less traveled by.
Aamir the director at work here, and you know the rest. Joke in my household is it's no coincidence I moved to California to be close to my nephew within six months of this films release. Yeah, right! More here.
Third consecutive Ashutosh Gowariker film that had a power-packed soundtrack by A. R. Rahman. The editing issues in Jodhaa Akbar were obvious and even painful. But the film excelled in many departments, including, again, the narrative and -- my favorite, this -- the underlying theme of acceptance (and not merely tolerance) by Hindus and Muslims of their cultural elements which were a lot less intertwined at the outset of Akbar's rule than they were at its end. Let's not forget here that the vast majority of Hindi films still use Hindustani, the language developed because of the Moguls' inventing Urdu. There is a lot to admire about Akbar and his rule, and there is a lot to admire about this film and Gowariker's approach to it.
(Disclaimer: This film makes this list despite its title, not because of it. :o) Here's a good example in changing attitudes and expectations from cinema. Aamir, with a small budget, no glitz, and a debutante each in its writer, director, lead actor (Rajeev Khandelwal), and music director (Amit Trivedi), outperformed at the box office a concurrent release starring Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aishwarya Rai. Low on the fluff and as hard-hitting as it gets, it's one of the few Hindi films that credits its inspiration (a foreign film) at the very outset. More of this, please. Said this last year, and let's say this again: Amit Trivedi, whose stunning soundtrack to this film could've been better-appreciated, is primed to be the next big thing in film music if he so wishes.
Honorable Mention:
Devdas (2002), Parineeta (2005), and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008) for Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan, and Genelia D'Souza, respectively. (Why is Jaane Tu not in the Top 12? I had to cut off the Aamir Khan connection somewhere.) On my wish list for the 2010s: Better roles for these lovely ladies who can act!
Now the fun part, since there are so very many more films out there! Do you agree/disagree with my selections? Which films would comprise your 'Best of 2000s' list?
Have a blessed Eid and a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! And let's all be thankful for the many blessings we have. Hindi cinema is certainly among them.
44 comments:
- ajnabi said...
This is such a great idea! I'm going to have to think about my list for a while; a lot of times the films I like best are not necessarily the best films, yk?
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Oooh, great idea! I definitely agree about Dil Chahta Hai and Rang De Basanti! Still need to see Meenaxi though. ><
I think I will compile a list! Not sure when it will be up (I'm writing a short story for a contest this week), but I'll post another comment here with a link when it is. =) Mine will be a good deal more SRK than yours, though. ;)
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- Clipped.in - Latest Indian blogs said...
It is taare zameen par all the way. A movie with a social cause... says it all..
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
jPleased to see that I have seen most of these films already and so feel in the loop. Also pleased that there are some I have not seen. Since your tastes clearly coincide with mine I shall immediately put Aamir and Tera Naam on my Lovefilm list. I would compile a very similar list, only Taare Zameen Par would be much higher up, probably in pole position. And yet I still haven't got the DVD. (Thanks for the recent tip-off about Disney releasing it in the UK - it's now on my Christmas list.)It really is my all time favourite film of any genre and I can find nothing to criticise about it. How often in life do we have experiences like that? Maybe there is a deliberate flaw in the seeming-perfection but I don't want to find it.
Congratulations for keeping hte blog going so consistently for so long. And for having readers over so many parts of the world. I've just looked at your Clustrmap and what I find even more impressive is that there are as many Indian readers as American/European. You obviously know what you're talking about... :) It's great that you have bridged the gap between western cinema and hindi cinema for people like me. Keep writing!
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Hi there BollywoodFan!
Wonderful choice of movies. Here are my favourite movies starting with (everyone has to have some skeletons in the closet)
I just looooooove this movie to death. The music, Abhi, the dialogues, Abhi, Mumbai, Abhi, the story, Abhi, Abhi wet, Abhi dry, Abhi dancing, Abhi... ok... enough.
Rang de Basanti
Of all the movies I have ever seen, this made me think the most. Think about me, my life, my family, my friends, my country, the past and the future.
Dil Chahta Hai
What a wonderful movie on friendship and love.
The first Hindi movie I have seen. Simply wonderful. And I love the spectacular camera works.
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer
Pure, simple, poetic and heartbreaking. I wish there would be more movies like that.
Wonderful and touching story, brilliant acting.
You can almost taste the love Pradeep Sarkar has for Kolkata. Wonderful pictures, great set design and the costumes... *sigh*
Delhi 6
The best soundtrack in years (ok... Ada is also very good). Wonderful story. Beautifully filmed... The end is määääh....
Brilliant adaptation of Othello without loosing any indianess or that typical Shakespeare-touch.
And last but not least
The Blue Umbrella
There... They can make wonderful movies, touching storys and brilliant acting in only 90 minutes.
Hach... I can't decide...
Another brilliant Shakespeare adaptation... Dark, intense and everything you expect.
My honorable mentions go to:
Taare Zameen Par for bringing a very special topic in the limelight, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na for the freshness it gives off, Bunty Aur Bable for the cute couple and the even cuter wedding night and Dor for another wonderfully told story.
Wishing you all the best for the holiday season!
Take care
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- bollywooddeewana said...
Great list i've barely seen much stuff from the 00's of all you've listed i've seen only Lagaan, Swades, Jodhaa Akbar and Rang de Basanti (a rewatch is due i watched it earlier on when i was discovering bollywood and i fell asleep almost all the way through)
Regarding my favourite films from the '00's, i'm way too embarassed to list them ;0)
By the way i saw Lagaan a few days ago for the first time ever and i loved the music, cast & Aamir of course but it would have made it onto my favourites list if it was about 30 or more minutes shorter
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- bollyviewer said...
Umm... how does one shorten the list to just 10-12 films?! Just right off the cuff, I think of at least 2 dozen films that I liked a LOT! :-D Loved TZP, Lagaan, Hera Pheri, Iqbal, Parineeta and JTYJN. For SRK films, I much prefer Chak De! India and Paheli. Also, I would include Vishal Bhardwaj films, especially Maqbool which I loved, Shyam Benegal's Welcome To Sajjanpur and my favorite mod romcom Hum Tum! And then there was the utterly insane laugh-fest Hungama, the fun Luck By Chance, the more serious Dev, Firaaq, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, Phir Milenge (the only Hindi film I've seen about an AIDS patient - and its not a tear-jerker!), etc. Hmm... I clearly need to think more about this!
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Adab TheBollywoodFan-ji,
Thanks for your sweet shout out in the post and I too am thankful for your blog and all the wonderful things you write about. I particularly enjoy your lyric translations. I've seen all the movies you listed here (except Meenaxi) and enjoyed them all. What a eclectic list you have here, so thoughtful! I'll have to get back to you later on my list once I build one. I am enjoying all the other lists in the comments here too. (Enjoyed Blue Umbrella too!)I've been meaning to write this one up for some time, and eventually will, but add Kamosh Pani to my list.
Oh and Water too. Wait, looks like I'm on a liquid theme. I will think and report back with my list, and not repeat any of yours. It's quite a difficult task with so many greats to choose from, hai na?
Thanks again dost!
All the best!
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Kristine: Hey hey! So we have Lagaan to thank for your fandom! Thanks for your comment, and I like your picks.
I see you're an Abhi fan!!! Bluffmaster is probably my runner-up for favorite Abhishek film, after Guru (would've made a favorite-15). Priyanka Chopra wasn't bad at all either. I liked how it ended..."everyone's bluffing each other," or something on those lines. Have you listened to any non-filmic music by Arash (who had 'Boro Boro' in this soundtrack)? Really quite good, I'd check out the album titled 'Arash'.
Have you seen anything by Guru Dutt? If you like to think along to films, you'll have fun with his works.
Also agreed on that scene in Bunty Aur Babli. There are some from your list I haven't seen (and am quite embarrassed to admit), like Dor, The Blue Umbrella, and Maqbool. Luckily, I have them, so I should move them up now!
Clipped.in: Thanks! I think it's always good when a film manages to get people to think about an issue they might've otherwise overlooked (or chosen to ignore).
Superstars in film tend to communicate with the masses better than most politicians or social workers, and I find it very admirable. Thanks for your visit and comment.
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Joss: Thank you so much for your kind words! It's been a fun experience blogging, the idea was conceived one cold night in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere (ah, the consulting life! LOL.)
I often wonder whether I'd be a big Hindi film fan if I had spent more time in India. The cultural disconnect has probably been the biggest driving force, and I've been on a roll since production quality and to some extent, redundant themes, stopped being an issue. (There's probably more experimentation in the industry today than at any point since the 1950s.)
So, wow, TZP for your all-time favorite! That's good to know. Assuming the Disney DVD has the Director's commentary track, I'd definitely recommend you check it out. It made me look at the film very differently. Aamir doesn't hesitate to rip apart his own work, which is neat to see.
As for the list...a little disclaimer: Aamir and Tere Naam aren't films I'd watch with kids around. :)
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Rhilex: I'll look forward to your list, then! I was very close to including Veer Zaara in my list, that'd be my other SRK pick, but what I thought was a slow and painful end kept it away. :(
What I appreciate most about Meenaxi (besides Tabu and the music) is that it really is quite abstract -- draw your own conclusions as often as you want! Hope you enjoy it.
Ajnabi: Nice little distinction there, but personal 'bests' are okay, I guess. I know what you mean about tastes not aligning with the widely held opinions. All I need to say is I quite liked Yuvvraaj. :)
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Bollywood Deewana: But you have seen most I'd weigh greatest. :) Lagaan was long, yes, but it could've been longer and I would probably have still enjoyed it just as much. Editing issues with Gowariker really came to the fore with Swades and especially Jodhaa Akbar, but the quality in each case more than made up, I thought.
No embarrassments at all with your favorites! Would it be fair to expect an Abbas-Mastan film? ;) And yes, I'd definitely be interested to know your take on Rang De Basanti some time. I had to watch it (especially the second half) multiple times while wide awake to truly appreciate it.
Bollyviewer! It's really difficult to narrow the list to anything less than 20, yes. I had many more on there, but weighed experiences in repeat viewings more. So a Chak De India, which I loved the first time, had to be excluded because I was truly bored the second time. I also toyed with the idea of including a Madhur Bhandarkar film too (especially Page 3)...arrgh!
I'll have to play Hum and Tum on Hum Tum. =) Thank you for your other picks. Haven't seen Phir Milenge (don't know why), Firaaq and Maqbool (which I have), Mr. and Mrs. Iyer and Blue Umbrella, and am really looking forward to seeing them. Thanks!
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Adab Sita-ji: Thank *you*! I hope you get to see Meenaxi soon, if only so we can discuss at length her merits and your interpretation(s) thereof!
I've somehow missed Khamosh Pani altogether, it sounds really intriguing. Besides, Zia-ul-Haq is among the few people I believe are/were genuinely evil, so you've got me very curious.
And Water, of course! What with Lisa Ray and that amazing soundtrack by A. R. Rahman!
Cheers. Look forward to your list!
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
All: You might want to check out this cool piece in the Wall Street Journal titled 'The Indian Thanksgiving', by Sarah Khan.
Also, A. R. Rahman was to perform live at the White House State Dinner earlier tonight! More here.
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009
- dunkdaft said...
Haven't u watched Dor, The Blue Umbrella and Maqbool ? ? ?
:-) actually I have Maqbool since 2 yrs, but haven't touched it yet. (so is Black Friday )
great post. Wil come back with opinions. And yes, wud *love* to make a list of my own, if life stops 4 a second :)
(btw, why dint u wait for Dec'2010 ? Doesnt tht count in decade? )
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Hey, I checked out the Disney DVD and it doesn't have the bonus disc with it! Curses! I shall have to ask nicely to see if my partner can find some helpful Indian contacts at work. There are loads of people from Cognizant Infosys where he works. Maybe they will be going back home over Christmas.
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009
- Shellie said...
Ahhh, the 2000's. The vast majority of what I've seen falls into that category and there are so many that I loved. There's a few on your list that I haven't seen and I'm rushing to my online rental store to see it they have them. You actually make me want to watch Salman Khan, and that's terribly hard for me to do! I will have to think long and hard for a list for myself, but, like rhilex, it will most likely include a mix of Shah Rukh and Aamir films, with maybe one or two others thrown in there for variety!
My fav's off your list include Lagaan (yes, the very very best Hindi cinema has to offer in every possible way!), Taare Zameen Par (my first Aamir film) and Swades (not my favorite Shah Rukh film, but probably his best work to date). One should almost have a fav's list by category. That might help bollyviewer.
Now, off to think.............
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Hi BollywoodFan.
You got me... I loooooooooooove Abhishek... *fiep* And I've almost forgiven him that he married that... that... that... aaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh..... Or not. :-)
Bluffmaster and Yuva... Maybe Refugee... And of course Bunty aur Babli... To be honest I didn't like Jodha Akbar that much... I found it boring... And I think that the soundtrack fitted not very good (too modern rhythms, instruments and...). But hey... Thats just my opinion... :-)
And yes, I've heard other songs of Arash. He is surprisingly someone who is played on the radio from time to time... Or at least he was couple of years ago...
Have a nice evening.
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Adab Bollywoodfan ji
Very good post with a short synposis of some really good movies in the 2000s.
I am surprised you missed Munnabhai and Lagey Raho Munnabhai in the list. Both these movies are really worthy of being included in the list.
Also missing is a very good Rajpal Yadav (with the beautiful Ritu Aparna Sengupta) movie "Mein Meri Patni aur Woh". Perhaps you haven't seen it. Pls don't be misled by the title (i almost did!). It is a truly good movie.
I would also include Parineeta in the list. Some one has mentioned Chak De India already - another worthy one
I wish I could get hold of "Meenaxi" - havent'seen it.
I have seen Hera Pheri but not Phir Hera Pheri.
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009
TBF, sorry forgot to add - if u think Salman did a great job in Tere Naam then pls watch Vikram's truly outstanding performance in the original tamil version "Sethu". Some how remakes never match the true flavour of the original (no matter who is remaking what)
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009
- veracious said...
Tough call. I think my favourites would include DCH, Omkara, RDB, Ek Hasina Thi, LRM, Hum Tum, Jab We Met.. gah, so many good ones! I'll have to work on a proper list when I'm less occupied.
Surprised you listed Mangal Pandey, as even though I liked it, I hear a lot of people bash it. Swades was good but CDI definitely replaced it as my "best SRK performance" film.
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009
- EbruKash (via Twitter) said...
Lagaan, Swades, Iqbal, RDB, TZP, Parineeta, Bluffmaster, A Wednesday, Omkara, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, Munnabhai, KHNH etc.
- Thursday, November 26, 2009
- Pessimisissimo said...
BollywoodFan, many thanks for your list--I'm now eager to see Meenaxi, among several others on your list (if you're a Tabu fan, I think you'd very much like Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) if you haven't already seen it).
Inspired by your list, I've done a post on Bollywood films from the past decade: six favorites plus five honorable mentions, six that I have an inexplicable affection for, and ten that I found disappointing to flat-out awful. If you're interested, you can read my post here:
Many thanks again for your list!
- Friday, November 27, 2009
- Sarie said...
I have to echo what some other people said; at least the first Munnabhai film needs to be on the list.
This is somewhat because that was the first Hindi film I watched, but I think it's really excellent. It got me hooked on the genre;both the humor and sweetness are so well-conveyed that it's very enjoyable for an American like me. I think it's got real international appeal and is perfect as an introduction to Bollywood.
I'd want to put Ghajini on the list, too. That movie is so endearing and heartbreaking (and features both Aamir Khan and a soundtrack by AR Rahman!) But I suppose at some point you have to stop adding Aamir Khan films. But Ghajini is what finally convinced me that Aamir is a very awesome, very good actor.
BTW, I've never commented before, but I visit your blog from time to time. I love the song translations you do; a lot of the time the subtitles on the songs are just awful and I know they have little to do with what's actually being sung! So thanks for that!
- Friday, November 27, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Joss: That's interesting. I think the one in the U.S. will have multiple discs. In either case, please note the T-Series DVD released in India is region-specific, so it will not work on standard DVD players in Europe or North America. It will work on most PC DVD drives, though. Also, the director's commentary is included in the same disc as the film.
Darshit: No, I haven't, would you believe it?! I have them, and am committed to seeing them soon. Sure, definitely make your list! (You have time, Jan mein bhi chalega.) Went with the generally accepted definition of decades, e.g. 1990-1999, 2000-2009, which would be the 1990s and 2000s, 2010s starting next year, etc., although a decade could be any period of 10 years, I guess.
- Saturday, November 28, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Shell: It'd be interesting to get your take on Tere Naam, but Salman's best films are from the 1990s, anyway. Have you seen Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun (1994)? I trust you're not kidding with that Lagaan comment ;) And absolutely agree on a favorites list by category. I had two of 10 each, one core Bollywood, the other closer to arthouse, but decided to combine the two to stay true to my definition of Bollywood discussed in the intro post. :)
Kristine: Hey again, and Yuva was quite good, have to agree there. I think a big part of the challenge in composing music to period films is to make it relevant to a present audience. So the music to Jodhaa Akbar uses some modern instruments, but I guess I'm okay with that, as long as the music is good. Cheers.
- Saturday, November 28, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Filmbuff! I see Anon from DU has a name! Great! The only reason the Munnabhai series isn't included is that I haven't enjoyed it (relative to the rest) in repeat viewings. That absolutely doesn't take away from the characters of Munna and Circuit being iconic.
Thanks for the recommendation of Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, I haven't seen it, and I'll be sure to include it in the next order.
Meenaxi is stunningly beautiful, not just visually, but the sound, the script, the dialogue. Love it for the most part.
I remember your comment about the other remakes of South Indian films, and can definitely see why remakes would seldom match the original. Thanks for the tip, I need to get Sethu too, then. :)
- Saturday, November 28, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Veracious: Tough call, indeed. All you list are cool. I liked Mangal Pandey a lot, the bashing will always be there for historic fiction that's not 100% accurate (Jodhaa Akbar faced that, too). Interesting about SRK and CDI -- as I was saying in a prior comment, I loved it the first time, and it just didn't work the second time around. Swades, on the other hand...
EbruKash: Thanks for your visit and comment. I definitely need to check out Mr and Mrs Iyer. Even Dharm, which I've heard great things about.
- Saturday, November 28, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Pessimisissimo: Thank you! Yes, I've seen Kandukondain Kandukondain, and really enjoyed it too. Tabu and information technology are a lethal combination! (She played a programmer, if I recall correctly)
Thank you for the link, I'll definitely check out your list this weekend!
Sarie! Thank you so much for your comment, and thank you for stopping by every once in a while. Please comment as often as you like, it's always interesting to hear others' takes on films.
Takes such as those on Munnabhai and Ghajini, loved both, and agree that both are excellent. Interesting it was Ghajini that convinced you of Aamir's acting prowess! Rahman and Aamir have yet to let me down with a film they worked on together, great team there.
And finally, thank you much for your comments on the translations, too. Always good to know they add value. :)
- Saturday, November 28, 2009
TBF, I would once again recommend that you see Tabu's tamil film "Kadal Desam" with Abbas and Raja. I am waiting to read your review of that movie. I think you will not be disappointed with my recommendation.
- Saturday, November 28, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
It's on my list, Filmbuff! Thanks so much! I don't worry about disappointment, there's something to appreciate about the majority of films/works of art.
PS: It's kind of weird to have Filmbuff replace 'Anon from DU', gotta say :) Of course, we'll get used to it soon. Until later my friend.
- Saturday, November 28, 2009
I usually post as "Anonymous" on most blogs. Of late I noticed quite a few nasty comments on some of the blogs from others who are posting as "Anonymous". I decided that it was time for me to get a blog identity to distinguish myself as I usually don't post comments like that. I only say something about a movie when I have something nice to say (ie what are the things I like in a movie or what didn't work for me)
yep u will get used to my new id!
BTW, i saw Wake up Sid on DVD on sat, really liked it. Would recommend this movie to you. Also, Saira Banu in "Junglee" was absolutely charming and beautiful. See it if u r inclined towards old movies
- Sunday, November 29, 2009
- Nicki said...
This is really really really hard. I've been debating about this for a while now. Will have to get back to you
- Sunday, November 29, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Filmbuff: Your use of the ID is perfectly justified in that case. I'll have to wait until the Wake Up Sid DVD is released here, thanks for the tip. And I've had Junglee DVD for the longest, got to see it soon!
Nicki: Do that! As I was saying in a couple of the comments, I weighed higher the films I saw and enjoyed multiple times. (Which also meant there weren't any from 2009...)
- Sunday, November 29, 2009
TBF, Wake Up Sid will be your 2009 pick.
Pls do watch "Junglee" ASAP since you have the DVD on you. I was lucky - my friend gave me his copy recently.
- Monday, November 30, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Great, will do, thanks! Seems the verdict is unanimous on Wake Up Sid. By the way, finally saw some other good movies from 2009...new post coming up at some point over the next day. Cheers.
- Monday, November 30, 2009
Hi BWFan!!! Here's interesting article about the Iconic Movies that defined this decade and the best actor, actress, music director and director of the decade, published by Telegraph India.
Here's the link - http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091207/jsp/entertainment/story_11829669.jsp
Good news for us AK fans is that Aamir has been declared the Best Actor of the Decade!!! And 5 of his films are listed among the 25 Iconic films that defined this decade. He's the actor with the maximum number of movies in the list.
My fav films of this decade have to be AK films - Lagaan, TZP, RDB, DCH (and if I may add, Ghajini as well). Non-AK films include CDI, Swades, Black, Sarkar, Munnabhai Mbbs and LRM.
- Monday, December 07, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Thank link isn't working for me, Anu, but that's great news, and hardly unexpected :) He's clearly defined the flow of subject matter and production benchmarks all decade long, been fun! I'd have added Ghajini too, just ran out of Aamir credits, and haven't seen Ghajini as often in less than a year it's been out.
Sarkar is awesome!
- Monday, December 07, 2009
Strange! Trying accessing it again. Here's the link:
If you are still not able to access it, then head over to AamirKhan.org, in the Movies board, the entire article is posted in a thread called 'Don of the Decade'(that's the title of the article).
- Tuesday, December 08, 2009
- yves said...
Hi Bollywood Fan,
Yep, certainly a nice list, except, except Meenaxi: How CAN you have selected this one???? (Pessimisissimo: do NOT watch it!!) Tabu is great in it (as elsewhere), but the film?? In fact I'm sure you wanted to say: Tabu appearing in Meenaxi was one the great events in the decade.
- Thursday, December 10, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Anu: Thank you again, got it this time! Liked how this section read:
After Mela, it could only get better for the man this decade. It sure did, and how! Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Rang De Basanti, Fanaa, Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini... Aamir Khan showed in the last 10 years that he could push himself like no other star. His film releases were movie events. That he directed one of those films made it all the more special. And with 3 Idiots, he is set to make a smart start to the next decade.
- Thursday, December 10, 2009
- theBollywoodFan said...
Yves: Thank you for your comment! I didn't at all mean to say Tabu appearing in Meenaxi was one of the great events of the decade. If that were the case, Madhuri Dixit in Gaja Gamini would've made my favorites list too!
I truly think Meenaxi's a beautiful film. Of course, I am hardly free of biases... :)
- Thursday, December 10, 2009
Adab! Nawab, here is my post on the films of the decade I enjoyed. I tried to focus on some of the less popular films:
All the best!
- Thursday, December 31, 2009
- Belle said...
Hello Bollywoodfan !
A quick and warm HI! And a try to see if my new ID here works well! :-)
Bolly, did you get my mail?...
See ya soon (I.A)
- Sunday, January 24, 2010


text:
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I can't believe that November is almost over! I hope the holiday was relaxing for you and you enjoyed the food and the company you were with! I love holidays and I love the anticipation that builds up weeks before. It seems like for several weeks before Thanksgiving, my adrenaline just runs on the wonderful anticipation of the joy that big day brings!
I also love the downtime after the holiday. The time when my body slowly adjusts back to "life as normal" which seems miraculously quiet and uneventful. The time I can indulge in a good book or two and not feel guilty about it. The time when cleaning the bathroom can wait, while you and your better half snuggle under warm blankets on the couch with a good movie. I haven't always found joy in the "everyday-ness" of life. But this week I choose too! I hope you will too.
Natalie at Gluten-Free Mommy is hosting this week's menu swap. The ingredient of the week is ginger! As you already know... ginger is one of my favorite spices!! Now, I will have a good excuse to add ginger to several of the meals I'll be making this week! Thanks Nat!
Wild Rice and (Leftover) Turkey Casserole
Broccoli with Cheesy Mustard Sauce
Simple Baked Potatoes with Carol's Chili
Mixed Salad
Michael's Favorite Stir-fry with Beef
Fried Brown Rice
Gypsy Sweet Potato Soup
Toasted GF Cheese Bread
Amy's Pecan Chicken
Green Beans with Almonds
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Baked Goodies
Cranberry-Banana Nut Muffins
Eric B's Preacher Cookies
Sara's Baked Oatmeal
Spicy Ginger Lemon Shortbread
Since I was traveling at Thanksgiving I decided that for several of my recipes I would go ahead and place all the dry ingredients in zip lock bags. That way all I would have to do at Grandma's was add the wet ingredients and bake. This worked really well. It worked so well that I forgot about some of the items I was going to make!
Last night I prepared a simple ground beef and fresh vegetable soup for dinner. At the last minute, I remembered I had a zip-lock bag of dry ingredients for Sour Cream Cornbread. I thought it would be a perfect accompaniment to the soup!
Michael (who, normally is very portion-conscious) ate four, YES four pieces of this awesome corn bread! This recipe was so easy to prepare since I had already packaged the dry ingredients, that I think in the future I will do this on a regular basis. I also think this would be a GREAT gift for any gluten-free friends you have! Pre-package the dry ingredients of a favorite recipe, place it in layers in a pretty jar and add the recipe as a label. I love fast easy gift ideas!
Sour Cream (or Yogurt) Cornbread
- 3 Tbsp. room temperature butter
- 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream (or low fat plain yogurt -- I used yogurt because I had it on hand)
- 1/2 cup milk (I used fat-free)
- 1/3 cup sorghum flour
- 1/3 cup tapioca flour
- 1/3 cup brown rice flour
- 2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease an oven-safe skillet (my great-grandma's iron skillet worked wonderfully!) with butter or GF baking spray. In a medium-sized bowl mix together flours, cornmeal, xanthan gum, salt, and baking powder. In another medium-sized bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, sour cream, and milk. Mix thoroughly. Slowly add flour mixture to wet ingredients. Pour into greased oven safe skillet or muffin tin (will probably make around 10-12 muffins). Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. This makes a very light, moist, and fluffy cornbread!!
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