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Movie News
Hello ladies and gentlemen, Muldoon here with this week's "incredible" edition of WTF HOLLYWOOD?
And the WTF film in question?
While there are plenty of perplexingly bizarre Hollywood films out there that I'll be highlighting here, I thought I'd give this particular film the spotlight since quite a few of you fine folks strongly suggested it. So it hopped to the head of the line. Boom. Democracy in action, and class is now in session, because let me tell you guys and gals (shrinking or otherwise), this movie totally fit the bill.
So here we go…
In case the title is too puzzling, the film's actually about what happens when an "average housewife" gets exposed to some kooky mix of chemicals and begins to shrink. It's kind of like THINNER, but without all the disturbing voodoo jazz and based on actual hard people-shrinking science.
Though it's more accurately like 1957's THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN…the movie and its' book basis by Richard "I AM LEGEND" Matheson, since this is kind of a remake or whatever…naturally they'd share similarities. Though one they can't claim is a shrieking female protagonist this time out! HOW RADICAL AND INGENIUS! A woman!?
The film stars the woman Lily Tomlin (I HEART HUCKABEES), Charles Grodin (of BEETHOVEN fame), joker-lookalike John Glover (SCROOGED), Elizabeth Wilson (THE BIRDS), and Ned Beatty (DELIVERANCE) and is directed by fan favorite, old batnipples himself…Joel Shumacher (FALLING DOWN), who clearly paved the way for Batman with the bulldozer that is Lilly Tomlin.
Anyway on top of that cast, the flick's got the legendary Rick Baker in a gorilla suit. Yeah you read that correctly, the special effects legend is in this the same year ('81) he made cinematic magic with John Landis (who was originally going to direct SHRINKING WOMAN) on AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. That's like holding geek gold in one hand, with (fill in the blank) in the other. But with all of those wonderfully talented big dogs, we're gifted with this oddly shaped gem.
IT GOES LIKE THIS… Lily Tomlin plays "Pat Kramer" a white bread housewife who's purpose in life is taking care of her two kids, having dinner ready when her husband comes home, and helping her husband drum up names for products at his corporate job. Pat's not even alone in her homemaking duties as we can't forget "Concepcion," the Kramer's foxy nanny/maid/cook/servant who doesn't speak a lick of English (we'll get more into that a little later…) and is constantly seen cleaning or taking care of the kiddos…
Anyway, Pat's loving husband, Charles Grodin brings home a new perfume for he and Pat to name, which ends up getting called "Sex Pot" before they make sexytime with their kids listening in on the other side of the door (with some spot on 80's glorious porn music bumping)… The next day Pat begins to shrink. We then find out that the company her hubby works for is actually controlled by an evil think tank of creepers who drink milk and play backgammon (I shit you not). When they catch wind of Pat's condition, they immediately strike up a plan to capitalize on it by shrinking everyone in the world. But first they must experiment on Pat to figure out exactly how she's shrinking (even knowing it involves household products).
The rest of the film consists of:
- An enormous multitude of old school effects shots. More forced perspectives and optical fun than you can imagine.
- Insanely cartooned-out production design. Think Tim Burton's suburbia in EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, or his set from BEETLEJUICE
- Hilariously unintentional(?) second-rate citizenship banter from practically everyone to "Concepcion"
- The late great Henry Gibson doing what he did best, playing a creepy doctor who will give your kids nightmares
- Little nuggets of "WTF?" (Like when she's leaving the hospital type building and two armed men drag a person in a box up the steps while screaming bloody murder)
- Lily Tomlin getting snuck out of a grocery store in a grocery bag by a character (who she also plays, NORBIT style!)
- Lily Tomlin paving the way for the future antics of Rick Baker and Eddie Murphy by taking three roles in the movie for no apparent, enjoyable reason.
- A potty doll named "Betsy Wetsy" urinates all over Tomlin
- At one point when her family believes her to be dead, they have a funeral for her – in their backyard – with a matchbox – and it's only the immediate family. WTF is up with that? That's like "Yeah, so she was a kickass mom and wife for 30 years, but in the last week she's gotten super short. Can't find the body, so let's just bury a matchbox in the backyard and call it a day, deal?" Time for tacos with our Hispanic maid stereotype.
- Rick Baker plays a gorilla who's addicted to pain killers and flips off bad guys while in daring elevator shaft escapes.
So there's a taste of the flick. Considering how ahead of its time it was, it just feels like a remake is right around the corner with say…Tina Fey or someone similar next in line (or heaven forbid, Katherine Heigl) to get shrunkified. (Come to think of it… that's an amazing idea, though now with Andy Serkis as the Gorilla and …. Million dollar idea there guys). Seriously though, the film's fun in the most goofiest of ways and there are enough tiny blips of "WTF?" sprinkled throughout to really enjoy. I could be mistaken, but I believe the shopping cart from the flick is still sitting on the back lot of Universal and is one of the wacky props/set dressing they have displayed near the boat from MCHALE'S NAVY.
Is this a shit movie? Not at all, shit isn't nearly as amusing. Is it weird as hell? You bet your ass. Would I watch it with my kids? If I had some, sure. If you've got an extra 88 minutes and want to have a good time while scratching your head, it's up on NETFLIX INSTANT. OR if you feel like your DVD collection is screaming at you to buy it, here it is.
Next week's movie's title alone is a massive WTF…
As always, feel free to shoot me any ideas you might have for a future WTF Hollywood column (just put "WTF" in the subject line somewhere) or if you were at all a part of the production on this film and feel like chatting – I'd love the opportunity to talk with you!
Mike McCutchen
Readers Talkbackcomments powered by Disqus
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Jan. 29, 2012, 2:10 p.m. CST
by SaunDann
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:12 p.m. CST
I remember the Famous Monsters cover
by disfigurehead
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:12 p.m. CST
Better than 'The Grey'
by SpaghettiWall
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:13 p.m. CST
i remember this thing on TV...
by SaunDann
in the early 80's maybe. Very weird.
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:15 p.m. CST
80s is magic
by Psycho_Kenshin
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:15 p.m. CST
by MainMan2001
That trailer was fucking depressingly stupid. Jesus. What a horror show?! Why make that movie at all? Whose the audience?!
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:28 p.m. CST
I have to laugh...
by Sacredfun
I remember loving this movie when I was a kid (I did love All of Me with Lily Tomlin too, so that might have been part of it), and this was on tv a year ago and I rewatched it. I cannot debate anything that Muldoon wrote, because he's not wrong, but this movie does make a comment about all of the chemicals and crap we were eating in the 80's, and I think that's a valid point. Although said chemicals only gave people cancer, not made them shrink.
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:29 p.m. CST
Lily Tomlin always disturbed me.
by Jack Kovack
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:33 p.m. CST
There should be a double feature with this movie and the Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman
by KilliK
another similar WTF movie from the 90s with Daryl Hanna.
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:46 p.m. CST
WTF indeed
by Mr. Lahey
One of the first movies I can recall watching, and on HBO to boot. I remember that last shot of her foot starting to grow and split her sneaker or shoe as if it were last week. That really tripped me out for some reason. I'll probably never watch it again. Nothing ruins some good nostalgia like a re-visit.
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:50 p.m. CST
by FlickaPoo
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:54 p.m. CST
this WTF thing is a cool idea...I got an idea for a WTF - Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (aka Doppelganger)
by CARTMANEZ
must've seen it as a kid sometime on a Saturday afternoon and I was at that age where stuff you see penetrates deep into your subconscious so for years (pre net) I wasn't sure if I had dreamed the film or not it was so WTF weird and i had no way of verifying if what i had seen even existed anyway its not that obscure and you can obviously imdb, utube, wiki whatever it and but just quickly it was a Gerry Anderson production so sounded and looked abit like a live action Thunderbirds and starred Roy Thinnes of The Invaders (awesome actor) and was about NASA or whatever they called it in the movie finding a twin earth on the far side of the sun (so it was kind of like 'Another Earth' in that respect)….. i'll stop there so people who havent seen it but like the premise can check it out without having it spoiled very strange movie (but in a cool way) and when you stop to think about it is even more WTF than at first seemed. btw the dvd i have of it is rated G yets theres some serious stuff in here that would get it at least PG13 today (wife beating for one!)
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:54 p.m. CST
Galaxy Glue.....Galaxy Glue.....
by Loosejerk
watched this WAY too much on HBO back in the day.
Jan. 29, 2012, 2:59 p.m. CST
This thing has nothing to do with "Hollywood"
by Ditko
But anyway. I guess it´s a funny name for a column. I´m so tired of everything.... :(
Jan. 29, 2012, 3:01 p.m. CST
The sink scene...
by sapno_krei
...scarred me for a long time. Sure she makes it out of there okay, but before that we get a horrifying shot of the maid screaming upon seeing Tomlin's tiny shoe next to the disposal.
Jan. 29, 2012, 3:10 p.m. CST
I bet she still had a huge bush
by Mel
Jan. 29, 2012, 3:14 p.m. CST
by damned-dirty-ape
Glad to see someone making an effort to bring some interesting articles to the site, which are severely needed. The BTS pics were the only reason i came here any more but I have to admit, between the WTF?, Shorts and the interviews of yours i've read, I find myself thinking there may be hope for this site yet. Keep up the good work!
Jan. 29, 2012, 3:21 p.m. CST
oh maybe i shouldve sent Muldoon that in an email...oh well its done now
by CARTMANEZ
Jan. 29, 2012, 3:48 p.m. CST
Lily Tomlin is just Gilbert Gottfried in a wig
by torontoxic
Jan. 29, 2012, 3:51 p.m. CST
This column is fast reaching 'epic psychotronic' status...
by DickBallsworth
Keep up the good work!
Jan. 29, 2012, 3:56 p.m. CST
I saw this when it came out and hated it, even as a kid. Joel Schumacher. Say no more.
by justmyluck
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:04 p.m. CST
Just try and get the "Galaxy Glue" theme out of your head after you watch this film.
by Orionsangels
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:18 p.m. CST
wow Coronas Coming Attractions is back?
by CARTMANEZ
i use to be a regular there in the late 90s/early 00s - right up till the guy in charge split for Cinescape online.
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:26 p.m. CST
Paved the way with the bulldozer?
by Breotan
Lrn2meta4 n00b.
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:27 p.m. CST
by Dollar Bird
Is this the one where one of the bad guys ends up wearing a cheap gorilla suit and being locked in the cage with a "real" gorilla and someone make an off-handed comment that the gorilla the guy was locked in with was feeling a little frisky? If so, those were great gorilla effects.
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:28 p.m. CST
Also, Muldoon:
by Dollar Bird
This was the best WTF article yet. Good work. If you were a lady, I'd say "Clever girl."
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:39 p.m. CST
@dollar bird: no that was Trading Places
by gk1
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:40 p.m. CST
This movie was an integral part of my childhood. It was so bizarre
by gk1
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:44 p.m. CST
Damn, I forgot about this turd. Why did you have to remind me.
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
Lilly Tomlin has never been funny. Ever.
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:46 p.m. CST
I say forget Muldoon's e-mail. This is a better way to brainstorm for turds.
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:56 p.m. CST
by Robbiemc9
Lily is a ledgened. Funniest moment ever is when she discovers she poisoned the boss in 9 to 5. Her horror is hysterical. Big Business is great too. She was so wispy wispy wispy. Chatterbox would make a great WTF. Try seeing that when your 8 years old. No wonder I'm a fag after seeing a movie about a woman with a talking pussy. FREAKED the shit out of me....
Jan. 29, 2012, 4:57 p.m. CST
Modern Problems
by DaMENACE
That flick is weird as shit...
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:05 p.m. CST
by Musicman247
I seem to remember at the end of this movie there being a slight nod to a sequel in which Lily would come back as the Incredible Growing Woman. Anybody else remember that?
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:08 p.m. CST
first time I ever saw anybody or anyTHING....
by torpedoboy
....stick up their middle finger. It's awesome that it was Rick Baker that gave me that experience.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:10 p.m. CST
Hell Comes to Frogtown - Ultimate WTF Movie.
by loafroaster
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:11 p.m. CST
white bred housewife?
by HSStudios
So white folks had sex to conceive her? Interesting...
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:12 p.m. CST
my guess on next week is xanadu
by SPACEHUNTER3-D
here's some i just thought of metalstorm 3d treasure of the four crowns megaforce scavenger hunt ruckus underground aces caveman die laughing superfuzz under the rainbow take this job and shove it
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:14 p.m. CST
Parents took me to this at 7. Garbage disposal freaked me out.
by tangcameo
I saw it again two years ago. Garbage disposal still freaks me out. But the maid was damned hot. Plus the whole show reminded me of that Mork & Mindy episode where Mork shrinks down to some microscopic world.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:16 p.m. CST
I can't remember, does the gorilla ever actually ride a skateboard in the movie?
by MooseMalloy
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:18 p.m. CST
oh, god: book II
by SPACEHUNTER3-D
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:24 p.m. CST
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
by iamatroll
The WTF movie to end all WTF movies. "Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees? Can't miss!"
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:26 p.m. CST
Lily Tomlin of "Laugh-In"
by matineer
Just sayin'. The people who don't know might find it interesting. I kind of liked Huckabees, though.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:28 p.m. CST
I had the Cinefex with this and Rick Baker
by deelzbub
Rick Baker finally got to make the gorilla that he wanted to make for King Kong. It is worth watching for that alone.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:33 p.m. CST
'78-'84...the golden age of wtf
by SPACEHUNTER3-D
...with '80/82 it's beating heart. oh jesus... the nude bomb, popeye, condorman
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:35 p.m. CST
Saw this in the theater as a kid
by ufoclub1977
We all know "Galaxy Glue, Galaxy Glue". Oh yeah I own the Sgt Pepper movie on DVD. It's awesome! Far better than... What was that recent Beatles musical fantasy called? That had a non functional plot, but a great "I want you" number worthy of Ken Russell labeling , although it seemed a bit stolen from "Hair"
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:36 p.m. CST
What an unbelievable premise!
by Odkin
Lily Tomlin as a straight woman? Seriously, the movie was just another stupid anti-business eco-alarmist screed about the evils of consumption. The kind of thing that just gets made as a contribution to "the cause" by the ever-so-aware Hollywood elite.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:40 p.m. CST
This movie was going to be shot in 3D
by thelordofhell
The early 80's saw the arrival of a few films shot in 3D (Friday the 13th 3, Jaws 3, Spacehunter, Metalstorm), and this film was going to be in 3D. But in the last moments, they decided not to do it and shot it in regular 2D.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:44 p.m. CST
i thought i was the only one who didnt like tomlin
by robamenta
i feel better now. i cant remember ever laughing at anything she was in
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:45 p.m. CST
by SPACEHUNTER3-D
the pinnacle year of wtf http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_in_film
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:50 p.m. CST
golly gosh, we're so fuckin hip..
by paul burnett
.. lets rip up movies that are stooopid. Get over yourself, really. These films got made cos cinema and fimaking is constantly evolving..so baker learns, tomlinson learns, schumaker learns..then forgets, then remembers to forget..then adds nipples. I find this 'column' an up to date mst3k with leanings towards 'arent we more sophisticated now' pretentsions. Sorry to come over an piss on your chips, but for a site that suppposidly supports, appreciates and is gratefull to see moviemakers makin movies; no matter if it's Hugo or Human Centipede 2., then i gotta wonder what your motives are muldoon. i allways thought that this was the one site where the mere fact that someone got it together enough to make a movie should be given some kinda pass first, then patted on the back an celebrated for livin the life most of the visitors to this site would cut their cocks of for. ripping dodgy premises i cant have that
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:52 p.m. CST
I like this movie
by Thunderbolt Ross
Never thought it was particularly weird, maybe I need to rewatch
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:53 p.m. CST
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone and Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn.
by 3774
When I was little my uncle had a large collection of duped tapes. One of them was a double bill with these two movies, and he Watched. Them. Constantly. Although Spacehunter was admittedly kinda stupid, I grew weirdly, fiercely fond of it. I own it and quote the entire script to this day (sadly). But Metalstorm was just painful, awful garbage. Thankfully my brain has blacked most of it out, save for some sort of lame sky-cycle fight and a guy getting his arm ripped off toward the camera IN THREE DEE, with green spurting blood. Please keep the memories buried, and ignore that movie. It's poop.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:57 p.m. CST
by thelordofhell
Did you know that it was an adaptation of a broadway musical? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band_on_the_Road
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:58 p.m. CST
Loved this movie....Galaxy glue! Galaxy Glue!
by MJDeViant
What would ya do without Galaxy Glue?
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:59 p.m. CST
Blood of the Heroes needs to be on this
by MJDeViant
Maybe not because WTF, but WTFN (why the fuck not!) Awesome movie.
Jan. 29, 2012, 5:59 p.m. CST
But what would we do…
by ElfOdin
…without Galaxy Glue?
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:06 p.m. CST
Like loads of other people here , I remember this from my childhood....
by blackflowerX
And yes, Lily gave me the creeps too lol...Great post.
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:06 p.m. CST
banned of bros..
by paul burnett
..yeah lets sack nordling and replace him with....aw sorry i cant keep it up, why you so down on nordling? your probably pissed cos you pay money to visit this site an he aint pulling his weight...oh hang on..
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:18 p.m. CST
pink_apocalypse... I like her...
by SPACEHUNTER3-D
I like her FOR THE MAZE!
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:19 p.m. CST
Lily and her girlfriend made a movie
by MGTHEDJ
Jane Wagner and Lily have been together since 1971. They really cowrote the script. Because of Laugh-In Lily had a lot of friends in Hollywood. They used the film as a vehicle for some of their characters from the early to mid 1970s, like the prime polyester paint wearing suburban woman Muldoon mentioned. A true WTF film.-----later-----m
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:22 p.m. CST
I Saw This While Tripping For The First Time
by Rebeck2
Acid. Yellow Microdot. Absolutely true. It has moments of greatness, but yeah, overall it's kind of a mess.
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:28 p.m. CST
by 3774
What's for dinner? Hot dogs. Well then don't fix none for me. I thought you were *starving* for Earth food? Hey, *I* don't eat no dogs! Scavs eat dogs! I thought Earthers were supposed to eat good? It's not dogs, they just call it that. How come? Look. If you wanna eat, eat! If you don't wanna eat, don't!!
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:28 p.m. CST
by Rebeck2
You're right. They made another movie too, the notorious bomb MOMENT BY MOMENT, her "romance" with John Travolta. Which is so bad it's not worth talking about and is probably impossible to find these days.
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:41 p.m. CST
Hey troll...good call on sgt pepper
by SPACEHUNTER3-D
the end chorus being the biggest wtf of all - leaf garrett and all the rest- why?
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:46 p.m. CST
A quality remake of the original first.
by Scarecrow237
I grew up watching a lot of 1930-1970 Sci-Fi and horror on Saturday afternoons. I saw the original "Incredible Shrinking Man" before I saw this film. I hesitate to call it a parody, though it feels like it at times, it is actually much more than that. Before they do a remake of this film, they should do a remake of the original more serious film first.
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:50 p.m. CST
You have a very enviable life force, a life force you're going to share with me.
by SPACEHUNTER3-D
Jan. 29, 2012, 6:56 p.m. CST
by paul burnett
shit how the smallest things throw life back into your face.
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:10 p.m. CST
This Whole Review Reads Like Muldoon Took A Writing Class From Harry Knowles.
by SutureSelf
Apparently he got an "A."
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:14 p.m. CST
by paul burnett
but you didn't answer why you think nordling should be sacked,..? in this age of belt tightening i find it really offensive to call for someone to lose their income.
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:19 p.m. CST
You never know what you're going to get with Shumacher
by richievanderlow
He can do some pretty good movies, or absolute shit. If he had made this later in his career, it'd be absolute shit. But because it was the early '80's, it's 'quirky'.
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:21 p.m. CST
How about ...
by DrMorbius
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:23 p.m. CST
by DrMorbius
Belated condolenses on your Mothers passing friend. I know first hand how it feels.
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:30 p.m. CST
spacehunter 3-d . . . . pink_apocalypse
by DrMorbius
Great suggestions for future columns! Other good ones up^there too. Hopefully Muldoon will feature them.
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:45 p.m. CST
Last of the great "Pantyhose' films
by Mace Tofu
They must of stretched a 100 pairs on the lens during the shooting of this film.
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:48 p.m. CST
spacehunter 3-d . . . . pink_apocalypse and drmorbius
by Muldoon
Thanks for the suggestions guys!
Jan. 29, 2012, 7:52 p.m. CST
Damn you all... I remember this!
by jackofhearts29
I saw this when I was a little tad. I remember being impressed with the "special effects"... Tomlin falling into the disposal with the giant food and shit freaked me out. Making me feel dated as an 8-track cassette here...
Jan. 29, 2012, 8:38 p.m. CST
How about....
by BirdieNumNum
SuperFuzz. The end all WTF!
Jan. 29, 2012, 8:38 p.m. CST
WTF Hollywood: Hamburger, the Motion Picture
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
Seriously, WTF. I don't care if Dick Butkus is in in. Okay, when he harasses the black cop at the drive through so he'll trash the place, which he does, that was moderately funny.
Jan. 29, 2012, 8:44 p.m. CST
by Johnny Ahab
Rosie O'Donnell wearing leather S&M gear in a bondage-fetish fantasy island comedy. Truly awful. It's no wonder the studio - Savoy Pictures - went under 2 years later. Watch at your own risk - it is Trainwreck Theater of the highest order. WTF indeed.
Jan. 29, 2012, 8:54 p.m. CST
Have a great Lily Tomlin Story...
by Hipshot
In the early 70's I worked at CBS television city, and was an usher, tour guide, security guard sort of guy. Lily was filming a special there (I'm pretty sure Richard Pryor was on it) and I worked the door. Don't think there was an audience, but I remember a great set of a house in the middle of a battlefield. Anyway, I'd had dental surgery, and my stitches popped open in the middle of the night, and I had to have them put back in early in the morning, and I couldn't get to the pharmacy to get my pain-killers before I had to get to work. So I sat on the set all fucking day as the shoot went on and on. Lily kept walking past me, and realized that I seemed uncomfortable, and started asking me how I was. I explained. This went on all day, and she was very very sweet. They broke for dinner (by now it was past 10pm) and came back late...and Lily brought me a covered plate of food. They kept shooting until about 2 in the morning. I was fried, in pain, exhausted. When they broke, Lily and (I believe the director) walked me out to my car in the deserted lot, and she kissed me goodbye. True story. What a terrific lady.
Jan. 29, 2012, 9:05 p.m. CST
joker-lookalike John Glover
by OutsideChance
Glad I'm not the only one to notice that.
Jan. 29, 2012, 9:09 p.m. CST
Also traumatized as a child by this movie.
by ar42
The disposal scene was scary, but I think it was the existential horror that really got me. The idea that a) all of the weird chemicals in our food, shampoos etc. could somehow combine to do something horrible and unexplained to you, and b) that something as terrifying as slowly shrinking into nothingness could happen without anybody really giving too much of a damn--- these were too much for my six year old mind, and at some point about halfway through I burst into tears and ran away from the TV. ...I actually watched it again in college, hoping for a laugh, but it still managed to disturb me. I mean, I get that it's supposed to be something about the shrinking role of the American post-feminist woman or something, but still, creepy.
Jan. 29, 2012, 9:13 p.m. CST
^ Yeah, her shrinking away to nothing toward the end got to me
by Turingtestee
Jan. 29, 2012, 9:17 p.m. CST
Awful lot of gorilla suits til the mid 80s
by Turingtestee
Kind of a staple, really.
Jan. 29, 2012, 10:04 p.m. CST
Wow... this movie fucked me up as a kid...
by SK229
and I probably haven't even thought about it in over 20 years. So weird how memories can get dredged up like that and you're instantly back in some place in the distant past. Anyway, one thing that I think sucks is that this kind of weirdness really doesn't happen anymore. Can you think of ANYTHING made since, say, 1989 (the year we started going mostly generic) that is this fucking weird? There is something about the sound in movies like this, Dreamscape, etc., and television commercials/shows in the 70's and 80's that is instantly relaxing... don't know what it is. A warmth to everything, I guess... hard to explain, but it's as if it isn't just nostalgia, there is actually something in the very nature of things made before the last 10-20 years that have some kind of actual, relaxing, or drug like effect that is intrinsic to their nature. I mean going all the way back to fucking Woody Guthrie recordings, the way old books were manufactured, the teaching aides, film strips, and videos that were used in schools all the way up until the mid-80's. Anyone understand what I'm getting at? I can't imagine, how cold, commercial, and just plain mediocre everything is today giving some kid nostalgia. Given the current state, it's likely everything will be EXACTLY as it was when they're 25-30 years old. Not much in our culture has changed in the last 15 years where you could look back if you were a child during these times and go, "Holy shit, I remember when things were like THAT," and it reminds me of my childhood. Only EVENTS or specific items, but I'm talking about THE WAY they are made or come across or the clothes people wear... would a kid who turns 4 or 5 when their parents are watching the first season of American Idol look back 20 seasons later and go, "Ahhhh, simpler times." No, the show is EXACTLY the fucking same, the news is EXACTLY the fucking same, and the clothes are EXACTLY the fucking same. But for kids who grew up in the 70's and 80's, you might remember your mom watching Knot's Landing or your dad watching some crazy fucking movie on HBO when it first came out and that seems like a gazillion years ago when you pop in the movie (like seeing this column for instance and the way the peculiarity of this movie and the way it's made, the sound design, etc., take me back) or go to youtube and watch the opening of some old show you vaguely remember. Who knows what the fuck I'm getting at... I sound like some kid who is high in the dormitory hallway going on about some bullshit. If anyone gets this, tell me I'm not crazy or if it makes sense. I'm probably just gonna go to bed right now.
Jan. 29, 2012, 10:31 p.m. CST
They call me Nikki the Twister because I can wriggle into little places!
by 3774
You know there's room enough for two in there if they was cozy!
Jan. 29, 2012, 10:33 p.m. CST
by Muldoon
Baby Geniuses... I'm kidding, sort of, maybe. But really I'm finding more and more that the 80's in particular had some sort of special... magical "wtf" spell going on that seemed more commonplace than in any other time... My general idea of WTF HOLLYWOOD is not specifically or purposefully 80's nostalgia, but HOLY HELL...the 80's kicks some weird ass and is honestly just easy pickins...
Jan. 29, 2012, 10:35 p.m. CST
Same as everybody else
by DougMcKenzie
Saw it as a kid all the time, but haven't seen it in over 20 years. It's like it completely fell off the earth as it comes from that era where's it not old enough to be a classic and not new enough for the heavy rotation movie channels. I would love to hear from the set designers on that shoot. Nowadays it would all be green screen set, heck even shortly afterward this time it would have been all mattes ala Honey I Shrunk the Kids or the Borrowers (which did have some set design, but not like this). Tomlin is oddly alluring. Although not traditionally what you would call attractive, she's sexy by being openly funny, a rare trait in women.
Jan. 29, 2012, 10:37 p.m. CST
By the way, muldoon, I like this column.
by my colon sucks
Lots of folks have already said this, but this is the kind of series I'd like to think AICN was made for.
Jan. 29, 2012, 10:46 p.m. CST
You can blame Robert Stigwood for Sgt. Peppers
by DougMcKenzie
He made huge bank on the Bee Gees music, decided to make some movies. He made Saturday Night Fever and Grease and Hollywood declared him their new Lord and Master. He then made Sgt. Peppers and Hollywood told him to go fuck himself.
Jan. 29, 2012, 11:57 p.m. CST
I really, REALLY dislike Lilly Tomlin as an actress
by Jaka
I've generally tried to avoid anything she's been in for about the last 30 years. She just grates on my nerves beyond explanation. <p> I saw her in a couple interviews where she didn't bug me at all. But as an actress, I don't dig her.
Jan. 30, 2012, midnight CST
Dana Delany nude wasn't even enough to make watching EXIT TO EDEN worth the effort..
by Jaka
Jan. 30, 2012, 12:24 a.m. CST
Richard Elfman's Forbidden Zone
by Stegman84
There's your king of 80's WTF cinema. Seriously, Terrorvision, Liquid Sky, Repo Man, Gymkata, Shock Treatment, Galaxy of Terror, Street Trash, Cafe Flesh, Starcrash, Circle of Iron and so on aint got nothing on that one. The 80's were weird, man. Okay, those last two were late 70's, but anyway...
Jan. 30, 2012, 2:50 a.m. CST
by Dollar Bird
I wonder, though, if every generation goes though the same thought process. I know it looks like fashion and style and everything hasn't changed in the past 15 years, but it truly has, and nostalgia will always find a way of rearing it's head in people's hearts. "Knots Landing" may be gone, but someday moms will watch something else that their kids will remember. However, as someone born in the mid 70s, the 80s will always be a special time for film in my mind. But I don't know how much of that is clouded by summer memories. Muldoon, are you planning on only doing genre films or do you want to tackle just bizarro movies in general, like "Student Confidential" or other well-meaning trainwrecks? And I suggest saving "Forbidden Zone" for the final entry in this column, as it is one of the most delightfully weird movie in history. (Oh, Mystic Knights... how I miss you...)
Jan. 30, 2012, 3:23 a.m. CST
Jesus, learn how to write, man.
by Knuckleduster
Though it's more accurately like 1957's THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN…the movie and its' book basis by Richard "I AM LEGEND" Matheson, since this is kind of a remake or whatever…naturally they'd share similarities.
Jan. 30, 2012, 3:23 a.m. CST
Is that even a sentence?
by Knuckleduster
Jan. 30, 2012, 6:44 a.m. CST
stegman84: good call on FORBIDDEN ZONE
by melonman
Haven't thought about that movie for years - now I think my brain is starting to melt all over again. Truly one of the most fucked up movies ever made. Genius.
Jan. 30, 2012, 7:32 a.m. CST
Odd personal story about Forbidden Zone
by Stegman84
In the 80's I was a bit of an Oingo Boingo tragic (still am to an extent, I guess), so when I discovered Forbidden Zone in the $1 isle at the local video store I had to rent it. Never seen anything like it, didn't really understand it, but I loved it, it was just my kind of mindboggling weird I guess. Plus Danny Elfman as Satan... Anyway a neighbour girl, who I'd basically grown up with, came over before the tape had to be returned, and she spotted the cover and asked what it was, so I gladly put the movie on to show her (some things just can't be explained). Now this girl had parents that kept her, I won't say sheltered, but what's that other thing where parents don't let their kids watch age inappropriate horror movies, or films laced with extreme sex and violence and adult content? Oh yeah, right, responsible. She had 'responsible' parents, and as such her exposure to many of the types of films I basically grew up on was pretty much limited to when she was at a friend's house, and even then she wasn't the type to have a particular thirst to see the 'forbidden fruit' of the vhs days for herself. Just wasn't especially important to her. So anyway, I put the tape on, and about twenty minutes in she starts laughing uncontrollably, then bursts into tears, then gets up and walks out. I don't remember the exact scene, but I seem to recall it was a scene with king Herve Villachaize and his frog headed lackey that did it... She didn't talk to me again for about three weeks after that, and we were never really close again. It was like I'd betrayed her somehow, showed her something that her brain just couldn't handle, and even though I didn't understand it, I felt pretty bad about it at the time. Never seen a movie provoke a response like that from someone, before or since. We moved away about a year later, and I never saw her again after that, but I wonder every time that anyone talks about Forbidden Zone what happened to Heidi, and if she ever got the nerve to try and watch the film again, or if the very thought of it still completely wigs her shit out. I told you the 80's were weird...
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:04 a.m. CST
Liked this movie as a kid
by rev_skarekroe
And yes, Forbidden Zone would be a good movie for this series. Also, Ice Pirates.
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:05 a.m. CST
Also, I bet icanthavethat isn't very popular at parties
by rev_skarekroe
"Cool it guys, here comes Captain Buzzkill".
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:11 a.m. CST
Weird major motion pictures post-1989
by rev_skarekroe
My favorite example is Pirates of the Caribbean 3 (can't remember the sub-title). I know people HATE it, but I like because it's just so incredibly daft. Walking stones in a vast wasteland of shipwrecks, the entrance to the world of the dead is in the Arctic for some reason, a woman becomes a giant in a completely unexpected twist, Johnny Depp talks to various unexplained mystical dopplegangers, bizarre new pirates show up and then never appear again. I love that stuff. It's like someone hired Gilliam to make a Hollywood blockbuster. Now that's not to say it's objectively "good". I mean, it's not like I remember the plot or anything...
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:12 a.m. CST
stegman84 personal story
by LesterDelRay
That was a great story. Thanks for sharing it.
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:24 a.m. CST
Another "classic" from early-80's HBO
by Jason
I loved this flick when I was a kid. Even then, I knew that it was "not quite there", but it was a fun ride anyway. Super Fuzz should be a WTF...
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:26 a.m. CST
by iamatroll
Yeah, i remember reading that. Then Robert Stigwood, high off the success of Saturday Night Fever and Grease, (and probably more coke then Tony Montana could ever handle...) decided to rape the Beatles legacy with 70's celebrities. At least the Steve Martin and Aerosmith parts were somewhat enjoyable...
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:28 a.m. CST
why, spacehunter 3d?
by iamatroll
Because cocaine was a WONDERFUL THING in the 70's!
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:31 a.m. CST
hi, johnny ahab! about "exit to eden"
by iamatroll
Too bad Garry Marshall was put in charge of that crap. Had they gotten a director who could understand erotica, such as Adrian Lynne, for example, and just stayed true to the book, "Eden" could have been a hell of an effective sexually charged love story. Oh well...
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:49 a.m. CST
Baker improved his gorilla suit skills on this one to pave the way for gitm.
by UltraTron
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:53 a.m. CST
The incredible shrinking humans-
by UltraTron
This movie was a nice commentary on how we're peeing ourselves into oblivion with all the shit we've done. If you developed after '79 you have 50% less sperm than someone who developed before 1979. Women are 50% less fertile as well. That's quite a drop. This movie came out right at that time and the corporate evil heads behind it are well represented.
Jan. 30, 2012, 8:54 a.m. CST
It's like my intellivision used to say when playing baseball- yeeeer ouwwt!
by UltraTron
Only it's yuuur fuuucked
Jan. 30, 2012, 9:02 a.m. CST
Actually, Shrinking the World Is not a bad idea....
by cookylamoo
More food for everyone and we could learn to hunt mouse.
Jan. 30, 2012, 9:03 a.m. CST
Actually The Shrinking MAN is a great WTF Movie.
by cookylamoo
And one of the great Sc-Fi films of all time.
Jan. 30, 2012, 9:10 a.m. CST
My brother and I would refer to this as the worst movie we ever saw in a theater
by Beezbo
In the late 70's and early 80's, my dad basically took us to anything that wasn't rated R. Saw some real WTF's like "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen" and "Under the Rainbow". 1981 really was a banner year...
Jan. 30, 2012, 9:20 a.m. CST
I've never heard of Forbidden Zone, so I Wiki'd it...holy jumping poop-sticks.
by 3774
I read the entire plot synopsis and my head just about fell off. They cut a scene involving a man getting beaten for eight minutes and painting the halls with his blood? Cast and crew members would sleep on the film's stage, wearing spare gorilla suits to stay warm? Homeless men and blackface? A sequel is in pre-production?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_Zone Just when I think I've heard it all. THERE'S your next movie, Muldoon.
Jan. 30, 2012, 9:47 a.m. CST
Saw just about every one of these in the theater in order that year. A formative year full of incredible highs and lows-
by UltraTron
January, 1981 January, 1 Scanners - $14,200,000 - January, 1 My Dinner With Andre (1981) - $5,250,000 - January, 1 Death Hunt - $5,000,000 - January, 1 Fort Apache, The Bronx - $29,200,000 $65,200,000 January, 1 The Private Eyes - $18,000,000 - January, 1 Roar $17,000,000 $2,000,000 - January, 1 The Devil and Max Devlin - $16,000,000 - January, 30 The Incredible Shrinking Woman - $20,259,000 - February, 1981 February, 11 Sphinx Warner Bros. $10,000,000 $2,000,000 $11,400,000 February, 11 Le dernier métro MGM/UA Classics - $3,000,000 - February, 13 Sunday Lovers MGM/UA - - - February, 13 The Dogs of War MGM/UA - - - February, 13 Eyewitness 20th Century Fox - $6,400,000 - February, 13 American Pop Columbia - $6,000,000 - March, 1981 March, 6 All Night Long Universal - $7,800,000 - March, 6 On the Right Track 20th Century Fox - $13,000,000 - March, 13 The Funhouse Universal - $7,000,000 - March, 13 Modern Romance Columbia - $29,137 - March, 13 Back Roads Warner Bros. - $11,809,387 - March, 15 Confidence (1981) New Yorker - - - March, 20 The Final Conflict 20th Century Fox - $20,471,000 - March, 20 Amy Buena Vista - - - March, 20 Kelly Paramount Pictures - - - March, 20 Cutter's Way MGM/UA Classics - - - March, 20 The Postman Always Rings Twice Paramount Pictures $12,000,000 $12,200,000 $44,200,000 March, 27 Thief MGM/UA - $4,300,000 - March, 27 Eyes of a Stranger Warner Bros. - $546,724 - April, 1981 April, 10 This is Elvis Warner Bros. - $429,146 - April, 10 From Mao to Mozart MGM/UA Classics - - - April, 10 The Howling Avco Embassy $1,000,000 $17,985,000 - April, 10 Going Ape! Paramount Pictures - - - April, 10 Excalibur Warner Bros. - $34,200,000 - April, 10 Nighthawks Universal $5,000,000 $14,600,000 $19,600,000 April, 17 Improper Channels - - - April, 17 Caveman - $15,965,000 - April, 24 Beyond the Reef Universal - $547,525 - April, 24 Cattle Annie and Little Britches Universal - $115,679 - April, 24 The Hand Warner Bros. - $2,000,000 - April, 24 Second-Hand Hearts Paramount Pictures - - - April, 30 Friday the 13th Part 2 Paramount Pictures $1,250,000 $21,722,776 - May, 1981 May, 1 The Jazz Singer Universal - $27,118,000 - May, 1 Hard Country Universal - - - May, 1 King of the Mountain Universal - $958,637 - May, 1 Graduation Day $250,000 $23,894,000 - May, 15 Take This Job and Shove It - $17,569,000 - May, 15 Happy Birthday To Me - $10,609,514 - May, 22 Outland Warner Bros. - $20,000,000 - May, 22 Bustin' Loose Universal - $31,261,000 - May, 22 The Four Seasons Universal $6,500,000 $42,488,161 - May, 22 The Legend of the Lone Ranger Universal $18,000,000 $13,400,000 - May, 22 Glen or Glenda Paramount Pictures - - - June, 1981 June, 5 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia Avco Embassy - $14,000,000 - June, 5 Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams Columbia - $37,000,000 - June, 12 Clash of the Titans MGM/UA $15,000,000 $30,000,000 $44,400,000 June, 12 History of the World: Part I 20th Century Fox $11,000,000 $31,672,000 - June, 12 Raiders of the Lost Ark Paramount Pictures $20,000,000 $245,034,358 $386,800,358 June, 19 Superman II Warner Bros. $54,000,000 $108,185,706 - June, 19 The Cannonball Run 20th Century Fox - $57,498,710 - June, 26 The Great Muppet Caper Universal - $31,206,251 - June, 26 Stripes Sony $10,000,000 $85,300,000 - June, 26 Force: Five - $8,000,000 - June, 26 For Your Eyes Only MGM/UA $28,000,000 $54,800,000 $195,300,000 June, 26 Dragonslayer Paramount Pictures $18,000,000 $6,000,000 - July, 1981 July, 1 S.O.B. Paramount Pictures - $14,867,086 - July, 10 The Fox and the Hound Walt Disney Co. - $43,899,231 - July, 10 Escape from New York Avco Embassy $6,000,000 $25,244,700 - July, 17 Endless Love Universal - $33,000,000 - July, 17 Arthur Warner Bros. - $81,464,486 - July, 23 Gas Paramount Pictures - - - July, 24 Eye of the Needle MGM/UA - $17,583,000 - July, 24 Blow Out Filmways $18,000,000 $13,747,234 - July, 24 Tarzan, The Ape Man MGM/UA - $36,565,000 - July, 24 Pick-up Summer Film Ventures International - $28,756 - July, 24 Nobody's Perfekt Columbia - $995 - July, 24 Comin' at Ya! - $6,704,127 - July, 24 Zorro, The Gay Blade - $10,000,000 - July, 24 Wolfen Warner Bros. - $11,000,000 - July, 31 Victory Paramount Pictures - $10,853,000 $27,453,000 July, 31 Under the Rainbow Warner Bros. $20,000,000 $18,826,490 - August, 1981 August, 7 An Eye for an Eye - $7,496,681 - August, 7 Student Bodies Paramount Pictures - $1,582,148 - August, 7 Hell Night - $2,300,000 - August, 7 Condorman Buena Vista - - - August, 7 Heavy Metal $9,300,000 $19,571,091 - August, 7 Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. - $19,225 - August, 14 Deadly Blessing - $2,800,000 - August, 14 Chu Chu and the Philly Flash - $221,898 - August, 19 Prince of the City Warner Bros. - $9,000,000 - August, 21 Honky Tonk Freeway Universal - $939,423 - August, 21 Heartland - - - August, 21 An American Werewolf in London Universal - $31,973,249 $61,973,249 August, 21 First Monday in October Paramount Pictures - $12,000,000 - August, 28 Body Heat Warner Bros. - $24,058,000 - August, 28 Gallipoli Paramount Pictures $3,000,000 $5,732,587 - August, 28 Private Lessons Ind. - $18,064,851 - September, 1981 September, 17 Tim Satori - - - September, 18 Mommie Dearest Paramount Pictures $5,000,000 $19,032,000 $25,032,000 September, 18 The French Lieutenant's Woman MGM/UA - $22,600,000 - September, 18 Continental Divide Universal - $15,578,000 - September, 18 Raggedy Man Universal - $11,000,000 - September, 23 Only When I Laugh Columbia - $25,782,304 - September, 25 Chariots of Fire Sony $5,500,000 $57,159,946 - September, 25 Southern Comfort - $2,939,174 - September, 25 Carbon Copy Avco Embassy - $8,400,000 - September, 25 So Fine - $10,000,000 - September, 25 True Confessions MGM/UA - $12,200,000 - October, 1981 October, 2 Paternity Paramount Pictures - $18,838,000 - October, 2 Zoot Suit Universal - $380,302 - October, 9 Rich and Famous - $13,000,000 - October, 9 Tattoo - $860,472 - October, 16 All the Marbles - $4,300,000 - October, 23 Das boot ist voll Quartet Films - $1,016 - October, 23 Enter the Ninja Cannon - - - October, 23 Silence of the North Universal - $344,837 - October, 30 Halloween II Universal $2,500,000 $25,533,818 - October, 30 Looker Warner Bros. - $3,281,232 - November, 1981 November, 6 Time Bandits Embassy $12,000,000 $37,400,000 - November, 13 Dead and Buried - $216,166 - November, 13 The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper Universal $12,000,000 $2,104,164 - November, 19 Absence of Malice Sony - $33,312,129 - November, 20 Ragtime Paramount Pictures - $17,468,158 - November, 20 Man of Iron MGM/UA Classics - - - December, 1981 December, 2 Whose Life is it Anyway? MGM/UA - $6,100,000 - December, 4 On Golden Pond Universal - $119,285,432 - December, 4 Reds Paramount Pictures $33,500,000 $50,000,000 - December, 9 Taps 20th Century Fox $14,000,000 $35,856,053 - December, 11 Four Friends - - - December, 11 Buddy Buddy MGM/UA - $5,299,037 - December, 11 Rollover Warner Bros. - $10,217,873 - December, 11 Pennies from Heaven MGM/UA - $6,200,000 - December, 18 Neighbors Columbia - $29,916,207 - December, 18 Ghost Story Universal - $16,202,210 - December, 18 Heartbeeps Universal $10,000,000 $6,000,000 - December, 18 Sharky's Machine Warner Bros. - $32,984,898 - December, 25 Modern Problems 20th Century Fox $8,000,000 $24,474,312 -
Jan. 30, 2012, 9:51 a.m. CST
The sequel really could be "Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman"
by Zardoz
'Cause the movie ends with her growing out of her clothes, right? I saw this movie at the theater at a birthday party as a kid when it was released. All the kids loved it! I don't think I've seen it since, though. Tina Fey or Kirsten Wiig would be great choices for a re-make!
Jan. 30, 2012, 9:58 a.m. CST
I would pay to see a MCHALE'S NAVY remake: Joel McHale's Navy
by Squashua
Might be funny.
Jan. 30, 2012, 10:05 a.m. CST
Under The Rainbow for sure
by Jay Eyler
Jan. 30, 2012, 10:33 a.m. CST
Such strange one...
by ZodNotGod
Let's make a Lilly Tomlin comedy vehicle about her shrinking! (?) I'll giveh the gal credit for trying something different at least. It's an oddball movie, don't hate it, but what a weirdo.
Jan. 30, 2012, 11:11 a.m. CST
The meaning of the film
by Hipshot
As presented by Lily Tomlin at the time (via media interviews), was not consumerist, but rather feminist. It was specifically how this WOMAN (not just "person") was being diminished by the meaningless, repetitive actions of her life. Consumerism was part of that, but also being trapped in the housewife role, an unappreciative husband, and so forth. You really have to look at it in that way to get what they were trying to do. Doesn't mean it was successful, but the specific female-centric aspect of the story can't be removed from the overall evaluation without missing the boat.
Jan. 30, 2012, 11:43 a.m. CST
by Robbiemc9
Earth Girls Are Easy is a bit WTF.
Jan. 30, 2012, 12:01 p.m. CST
You could have an entire Chevy Chase edition of WTF...already mentioned Under The Rainbow, Modern Problems..
by openthepodbaydoorshal
you could easily add Oh Heavenly Dog (Chase reincarnated as Benji??!!), or Nothing But Trouble, Dan Ackroyd's only (with good reason) directoral effort, as he played a character with a nose shaped like a dick.
Jan. 30, 2012, 12:17 p.m. CST
Litmus test..
by Abe
First off..NOBODY knows this movie was ever made for some reason...so it's a really cool flick to show people. And when I do...if you don't like it, I don't need to know you. One of my favorites. Tomlin, Grodin, Baker, Concepcion, Reiner..CMON!!! This and "All of Me make a bitchin double-feature! Can 'Real Genius' be next?
Jan. 30, 2012, 12:18 p.m. CST
by Abe
...Planet of The Giants...nuff said.
Jan. 30, 2012, 12:34 p.m. CST
Re: Muldoon and dollarbird
by SK229
Man, the 80's were almost fearless when it comes to throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks, especially when it came to stuff for kids. I've actually worked on several prominent children's shows in the last few years and it's amazing the amount of 'research' that strips that kind of oddball stuff away before it makes it's way to the kiddies. I kind of miss that nowadays... And Baby Geniuses... never seen it, but Bob Clark directed that, right? IMDB checking... yes he did! I also thought that guy who did that Star Wars/coming of age movie who used to haunt the TB's wrote it, but I guess not. Probably another "Baby" something movie. Also, Muldoon... you are KILLING IT on this site (along with Quint). And thanks for reviving Cinematic Shrimp as AICN Shorts. I've asked many times for it to be brought back. Always thought that with it being so easy to throw shorts up on youtube or vimeo, it was a BRILLIANT idea that could morph into so many other great things for the TB's among us who put their money where their mouth is. I'm gonna submit some stuff soon. Re: dollarbird I agree 100%, every generation has it's own nostalgia, but I also think the degree to which it can put you back into a time and place increases exponentially when the entertainment or whatever is far different than what's going on today. So something like this extremely WTF/odd duck of a movie would be like a level 10 (another example might be something like Great Space Coaster, cartoon I watched as a kid, or the original packaging on Star Wars figures (talkin' late 70's, early 80's) or slap bracelets!), then something generic that could still pretty much be made in the same way today would be a level 1, even though it might still make you feel nostalgic. Does that make sense?
Jan. 30, 2012, 12:38 p.m. CST
Yor the Hunter from the Future is def WTF material
by MJAYACE
Saw that like 50 times in the 80s on cable craptacular.
Jan. 30, 2012, 1:52 p.m. CST
Encore is running it this month... I had largely forgot this film but WOW
by impossibledreamers
It comes SCREAMING back at you! Very warped...
Jan. 30, 2012, 2:04 p.m. CST
Damn ultratron, 1981 was a great year for movies...
by eustisclay
...saw about half these in the theater myself, caught most of the rest on HBO. I have most of my favorites on dvd already but you reminded me of some others(I completely forgot about Tattoo.) Though they are two of my favorite flicks, I didn't realize American Werewolf and Body Heat were released so close together. I remember seeing them in theaters, but could've sworn Body Heat was released in the spring. But then again my chemical habits back then probably fogged my memory. Speaking of which, I remember being out of sorts during Incredible Shricking woman and my friends and I laughing our asses off when the maid was singing "I wish I was a little bar of soap' in spanish.
Jan. 30, 2012, 2:58 p.m. CST
Here's list of WTF movies
by mr_l_74
The Stuff The Sword and the Sorcerer Night of the creeps Swamp Thing Popeye Phantom of the paradise Electric Dreams
Jan. 30, 2012, 3:27 p.m. CST
Saw this in the theater--No lie, I did.
by shran
As a kid. Remember it distinctly. I was always a Creature Feature fan as a kid so this was right in my wheel-house. Anyway very soon thereafter my folks took me on a trip to California to go to Disneyland and Universal Studios and the critter stuff in San Diego. I had great parents. At the Universal Studios tour I remember they had some of the oversized set pieces from Shrinking Woman like the giant reclining chair Lily sat in and a giant telephone she tried to make a call on. Really cool. They also had some stuff from the Bigfoot episode of the Six Million Dollar Man and the space ship that the alien was building from John Carpenter's The Thing. It was just leaning against an outside warehouse wall like a piece of rubbish. I don't think the movie had been released just yet (saw that in the theater too). I have pictures of all this stuff that I should look for and post. Really cool geekly items. I liked this movie as a kid and oddly enough I recall there being a message in the movie that I got although for the life of me I can't remember it as I haven't seen this movie since it was first run.
Jan. 30, 2012, 4:21 p.m. CST
The biggest WTF movie of all-time is...
by TopHat
NOTHING BUT TROUBLE (1991) Go ahead. I DARE you to find a more WTF movie! (Tupac is in it!)
Jan. 30, 2012, 4:42 p.m. CST
This was on the other day
by Riff_Randell
And I couldn't even watch a whole ten minutes. Awful, just awful. Feels very late seventies, in a bad way. I live for 80s movies, love Lily in stuff like 9 to 5, but this is just awful.
Jan. 30, 2012, 4:43 p.m. CST
mjayace, no way. Yor is cool. I saw it in the theater.
by Grammaton Cleric Binks
The dude has his own theme song. He mates with all the women. He kills a bat and uses it as a hang glider. Yor's badass in a cheesariffic way.
Feb. 3, 2012, 9:08 a.m. CST
This is def my favorite column on AIC now
by lifeisjustamovie
Seriously, these are MY kinda flicks. Love it!
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By ALEXIS ZOTOS6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - It's a new coach and a new year at Neyland Stadium, and that also brings new rules.
The biggest changes this season are there are no backpacks of any kind allowed in the stadium. Large bags and coolers are also forbidden. Purses smaller than 12 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches are fine as long as they fit inside the boxes stationed outside each of the gates.
But there are also rules about what can be inside those bags:
Timeline for Game Day
Kickoff for University of Tennessee's season opener against Austin Peay is at 6:07 p.m., but the festivities begin early.
For the first time, the Tennessee Tailgate, UT's official tailgate event, will take place in Circle Park.
Fans can start setting up for their tailgates between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday night, and there will be security onsite overnight.
The Vol Walk begins at 3:45 p.m. at the Torchbearer in Circle Park and continues down Peyton Manning Pass, before turning left on Phillip Fulmer Way into the stadium at Gate 21A.
Gates open at 4:00.
The UT band begins their march up Volunteer Boulevard at 4:20.
If fans want to avoid the crowds and watch the game at home, it will air on pay-per-view.
For Dish customers it will air on channel 461. For Direct TV customers, channel 785. On Comcast it will air on channel 726, and AT&T U-verse customers can catch the action on Channel 636.
It will cost between $25 and $35, depending on your provider
1306 N. Broadway NE Knoxville, Tennessee 37917
Telephone: 865.637.NEWS(6397)
Fax: 865.525.4091
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Jeni, I want to join in again. I love earth tones should be fun.
Evansville, Indiana
Cool, that makes 14 people so far. Sydney I figured you'd want in on this one. ;)
Oklahoma City
ArtFire Studio & blog | Gallery
Just found a new bead store here in Naples and I am going back tonight to look for goodies
"Dream Big"
I'm in.
Beads and Blessings
I think I'm going to have to sit this one out - my beading budget is still really tight. I hope I'll be able to participate in the next challenge.
My whole budget is pretty tight right now but I think I have enough in my stash. I'm in.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
"What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love." - St. Therese of the Child Jesus
"The laughter of a child is the light of a house" - unknown
I am in! will send you an EMail.
I was wondering when the closing date is for signups for this challenge???
(I am still playing with the challenge swap in progress)
You answered my Question Jeni, while I was sending my Email. Cool, Hope we have lots of folks sign up, the more the merrier.
Gyspy Mary
Blessed are those who can Give, without remembering
and Take with out Forgetting
Signups will be open for at least a couple of weeks, maybe mid-June or so? Hopefully that will give everyone plenty of time to figure out what they want to send.
Jeni - Please sign me up for this one. Hopefully things will start to calm down a bit so I can get something made from Swap #4...
Have a great day!
I would like to join in on this. Where is the email address to send my information and where do I send beads and my $5.00?
Cindy A
Hi Cindy, welcome! I'm the organizer, so if you click on my name next to my avatar (JSmaz), it will take you to my bio page where you can send me an email with your info. You won't need to send money until it's time to send materials in a couple more weeks.
I am in Jeni.
I have got just the things I want to send :)
I would be willing to send some extra beads so Andrea can participate
Rainy Pacific Northwest, Home of The Seahawks.
I love this idea! Once we receive the kits, how long do we have to make something? I love those colors, so I have things in my stash. :)
You'll have at least a month to make things once you get your kits. If it gets close to the deadline and people still need more time I'm fine with extending it too.
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"30 The next day Moshe said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. Now I will go up to ADONAI; maybe I will be able to atone for your sin." 31 Moshe went back to ADONAI and said, "Please! These people have committed a terrible sin:they have made themselves a god out of gold. 32 Now, if you will just forgive their sin! But if you won't, then, I beg you, blot me out of your book which you have written!" 33 ADONAI answered Moshe, "Those who have sinned against me are the ones I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go and lead the people to the place I told you about; my angel will go ahead of you. Nevertheless, the time for punishment will come; and then I will punish them for their sin." 35 ADONAI struck the people with a plague because they had made the calf, the one Aharon made." (Exodus 32:30-35 CJB)
Sin in the Torah means to miss the mark. The mark is the high call of the Torah to not succumb to the wages of missing the mark which is death, the gift of Mashiach is life from the dead and Guelah and Y'shu'ah when we T'shuvah (Repent) of, confess and turn from our Sins, then in His Charis (Grace-Chen) He has mercy for He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
When Israel put their faith in the golden calf they weren't putting the complete trust in Adonai for provision they were turning to the idols of the land of their ancestors, the cana'anite deity Ba'al to provide through ritual copulation with Asherah which is forbidden in Torah. Moshe sought to intercede least Israel die for their sins of breaking the Covenant agreement of trust in Adonai for His provision and protection. Acknowledging Ba'al as provider was a grievous breach of contract. Moshe interceded on the behalf of Yisrael for redemption from the curse of the law, namely the wages of sin. Israel later sinned by falling into similar patterns such as not keeping the years of Jubilee and turning to pagan deities to provide for their needs which lead to their captivity and diaspora. Because they didn't trust in Adonai they missed the mark and were in breach of Contract and not seeking to atone or propitiate for their sins, the accepted their sin and walked in it as opposed to turning from their sins and providing the ritual sacrifice to provide redemption for their sin.
The concept of sacred space is central to Judaism, for example the Temple on Mount Moriah, later known as Jerusalem, is a Sacred space, a place set aside unto Adonai. Just as Mount S'nai was a Sacred space consecrated to Adonai by Adonai's revelation to Moshe. Sacred spaces include Synagogue, and places of prayer. However the most holy place is the Temple. Sacred time is a set time period given to Elohim as a sacred offering. The set times (Zmanim) of prayer are sacred time periods that coincided with the evening and morning sacrifices. Sacrifices and times of Prayer and examples of sacred time. The evening (Ma'ariv), morning (Shacharit) and Afternoon (Mincha) prayers are sacred-sanctified time periods set apart unto Adonai. Any time that you sanctify or set apart for Adonai becomes sacred.
As we enter the Tabernacle we find the centrality of Sacred Space and Time. There are seven basic commands of the Sacred Space of the Tabernacle.
- The Ark Cover and the Holy of Holies are preeminent in these as the Mercy Seat and Throne of Adonai's Kingdom
- The Table with its 12 Loaves of Shewbread and Lampstand in the Holy Place symbolizes Israel and the Ruach Ha'Kodesh
- The Structure symbolizes the Covenant boundaries, Laws of Purity, & Clean Vs Unclean, This is the way to maintain a right relationship between Israel and Adonai's Kingdom
- The Altar and the Courtyard symbolizes the Baggage checkpoint where you sins are removed, so that you can enter into the Sanctuary of Adonai
- The Priestly Vestments and Concentration symbolize taking Israel, the Chosen People, into the Holy of Holies before Adonai
- The Incense and Anointing Oil symbolize the Prayers of the Saints and the work of the Ruach in Spiritual Renewal of the Divine Spark in the Prayers of the Righteous
- The Shabbat symbolizes Gan'Eden, paradise lost, paradise regained, and millennial paradise reign, the completion and fulfillment of Covenant, the restoration of the Covenant man
These are the order or protocol of the Presence of Adonai. As we see Adonai's protocol is the Holy of Holies is the place we come before Elohim. The place we receive Mercy and Grace, the place that Israel comes before Adonai through His boundaries and structure, the place we leave our baggage and sins that so easily beset us, the priestly intercession that redeems and protects us, the prayers that avail much and the rest provided in Mashiach's redemption. The Seven Protocols or Order to entering the Holy of Holies before Adonai's presence show us the order of Adonai. The priority of Adonai is first the Holy of Holies, not the process but the goal, the high mark of keeping onself pure, without blemish, without sin, without uncleaness, without wrinkly, to have one's lamp trimmed and ready for Mashiach to come unto His people. The process of Israel coming into contact with the Shekinah the Presence of Adonai through face time with Adonai. The Bread of heaven, the provision that comes form the face time with Adonai. This is the symbole of the Shewbread, or bread of presence or bread of face and the menorah of Adonai in the Tabernacle. The boundaries and commands (Mitzvot) of Adonai provide a wage to keep His safeguards and Torot, to know the ways of His presene. The process of removing one's baggage is necessary to entering the Holy of Holies. Priestly Intercession and the Prayers of the Right-Just avail much. Things bring us into the Shabbat rest of Adonai in Yeshua. The torn veil represents where Adonai's Chosen People, the Vine of David, and the Kingdom of Elohim are now united and we have access to the Holy of Holies and the redemption of the Mercy seat through Ha'Mashiach.
Incense symbolize the prayers of the right-just of Adonai stored up in a bowl, along with the tears of the right-just stored up in a bottle. Adonai remembers the prayers of His people. It is a symbol of the sweet aroma that our prayers and relationship with Adonai is. We are to be the aroma of Adonai in the earth, lifting up the living sacrifice of continual prayers before Adonai so that we can be the fragrance of Adonai in the earth.
The priestly vestments of the high priest are the tunic, and ephod, along with a few other ornate items, that all have symbolic and spiritual meaning. The Ephod with its 12 stones symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel. The priest wears righteous robes and is purifed in a Mikvah as he's seeks to bring Israel and the atonement of their sins before the Most High, El Elyon. The High Priest brings the please of Israel before Adonai for Mercy. The priest takes the House of Israel into the Holy of Holies, taking the blood of the scapegoat to put on the mercy seat to request redemption for the nation of Israel for another year.
"Jewish belief is based upon Jewish historical experience rather than speculative thought."
Adonais' character has been shown through the good deeds and miracles he has wrong through and for Israel. Adonai's character is seen through His historical acts for Yisrael. Jewish experience is based upon the act of doing and not the concept of bringing Adonai of the level of man that we should have a role in deciding if Elohim be Elohim. Adonai is believed to be the Elohim of Elohims and thus His words are to be taken and literal and true not as one would eventually maybe decide they agree with Elohim. Adonai said it, "so let it be written, so let it be done." Conversation over. Adonai spoke now lets do. This is based on faith in what was said, done and seen my our ancestors in Jewish history and our personal experience of miracles. This is not based upon Roman-tic thought or speculative debate or cohersion it is done through obedience to the revelation of the written record of the spoken word and miraculous manifestation of Adonai's character as record in scripture. It is the difference between Elohim said it, "I" believe it therefore it is settled and Elohim said it THUS IT IS settled. Demoting Elohim to the point that man has equality with Elohim and must be accepted to be Elohim is not a Jewish thought its anti-thetical to Jewish experience. Adonai is transcendent and doesn't require our agreement to be perceived as Elohim or seen as Adonai.
This is why the "Act" of remembrance is crucial to the biblical record. This method is Adonai's chosen teaching method that relates and embeds the lessons of Adonai into our DNA and subconscious thought. It takes us from being just simple "knowers" to becoming "doers" of the D'var-Mamre-Logo's (Words) of Adonai. This is the fabric and foundation of Jewish belief and faith. We must active remember and do, we must experience Pesach as if we ourselves are coming out of Egypt, we must leave the land of our forefathers like Avraham did, and we must cast out the idolatrous ways of Cana'an as if we ourselves were possessing the promised land. The method of discipleship of Adonai's Talmidim are the ways of the Yeshiva of Shem and Eber, and the Yeshiva of Yeshua and the Apostolic community. The act of doing helps embed thoughts into our conscious and bypasses the reasoning biases that prevent learning based on gnosis or elite gnosticism.
The Ark of the Covenant is covered by Winged Cherubim the keepers, protectors and guardians of the Covenant. The Ark has the terms of the Contract sealed in its Envelope, the Ten Word, the foundational Deca-logue. The container of Man'na is symbolic of the necessity of the act of Remembrance to bring faith into the present the reality of Adonai's provision by remembering Adonai's deeds, it is a call to remind Adonai of His word (D'var) which He watches over for us to call upon Him to perform what He has promised He will do in response to our acceptance to walking out the Covenant contractually binding agreements. The Rod of Aharon symbolizes the priesthood whose job is to correct and guide Israel, to be the watchman on the walls and call out for Israel to Awake and be watchful, to remember the deeds of Adonai as we seek to be His bride ready for His redemptive acts and restoration in the earth. The duty of watching and being wakeful, the duty of being watchman who seek to be keepers of a revived and awakened Israel is the duty of all Talmidim of Yeshua grafted into Yisrael as heirs of the commonwealth. The Throne of Adonai is based upon the D'var "Word" (Mamre/Logos) of Adonai, on our High Priest who never sleeps nor slumbers, who watches over Israel and lives to make intercession for us, on Adonai's promise of covenantal provision and protection, on the blood of the Covenantal redemptive act, between the Cherubim who guard the terms and fulfilment of the Covenant.


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Personhood, Grace, and the Sanctity of Human Life
- Tuesday, January 21, 2014
And this is the difference between Christianity and other systems of morality. Our value, worth, and rights as persons don't ultimately depend on our capacities or what we can do, but on our Creator and Redeemer and what he has done for us. Human lives are sacred not because of inherent capacities or functions, but because God has created them, knows them, and sustains them. And that means every person – prenatal, infant, child, adult, whether healthy, disabled, or elderly – is precious.
Brian G. Hedges is the lead pastor for Fulkerson Park Baptist Church and the author of Christ Formed in You: The Power of the Gospel for Personal Change and Licensed to Kill: A Field Manual for Mortifying Sin. Brian and his wife Holly have four children and live in South Bend, Indiana. Brian also blogs at www.brianghedges.comand you can follow him on Twitter @brianghedges.
[i]I'm grateful for the help of my friend and fellow pastor Luke Potter in both pointing me to Warren's article and helping me construct this response to her arguments.
[ii] Mary Anne Warren, "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion," The Monist, Vol. 57, No. 4, 1973.
[iii] Peter Singer, "Taking Life: Humans," Excerpted from Practical Ethics, 2nd edition, Cambridge, 1993, pp. 175-217. http://www.utilitarianism.net/singer/by/1993----.htm
[iv]Stott, Issues Facing Christians Today, chapter 14.
[v]Stott, pp. 402-403.
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Searching images for blog post is really painful task and I really don't like it. But we all know pictures are better than words. So in this article I will show you some great places to find royalty free images for your blog post.
Yes I know some is thinking royalty free images? What the hell is that? Most of us google the term and search for the images. But its illegal.
So, what are royalty free images?
Royalty-free, or RF, refers to the right to use copyrighted material without the need to pay royalties or license fees for each use or per volume sold, or some time period of use or sales.
Here are some places to get royalty free images online.
1) Every Stock Photo
This is the great place to with over 16 million free photos. There are different license options available and allows you to rate, tag, collect and comment on photos.
2) Stock.xchng
This is one of the most popular place to search for images. Finding images on stock.xchng is very easy either you can browse images by categories or go for a search option the images here are good quality images.
3) Creative common search
Creative common search provides you a great option to search across multiple websites to find images for your blog. But its important that you understand creative common license. The images are really unique and great for blogs.
4) Photo Pin
Photo pin is visually appealing website and easier to use than the creative common search. For each search the photo pin shows some sponsored images if you click on it, it will redirect you to the third party stock images website with links to download images in various sizes.
5) WikiMedia Commons
This is the project by Wikimedia foundation. Wikimedia commons is a great website to search for images, audio, and videos. The website have very huge numbers of images and most images are on Wikimedia Commons are in public domain means you can use it for free without any attribution.
6) Morgue File
This is the another place for getting royalty free images. The tagline of the site is public images for creative's by creative's. There are some great images available on this site for download especially the images for nature are awesome give it a try one time.
7) StockPhotosforFree.com
Stochphotosforfree.com is simple website for images. This website have very nice interface and images are arranged creatively. Images of this website are still shots taken from HD videos.


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It's increasingly likely that come March 1, Amtrak and every other federally supported agency, including the military, are going to collectively share $85 billion in non-negotiable budget cuts for the ensuing seven months. Sequestration is the awkward term used in Washington to describe what is about to happen; TV newscasters simply call it the fiscal cliff.
To cut to the quick: Amtrak tells me that it can survive such a budgetary whacking without curtailing any train services. That's a remarkable outcome when you consider the size of the cuts in federal support it will undergo if this comes to pass: an expected reduction of $38 million from an operating grant for fiscal 2013 of $466 million and a $78 million cut in its grant for capital spending and debt service. And remember, these cuts would all have to be absorbed, not slowly over the entire fiscal year (which ends September 30) but quickly during just the final seven months of it.
If you haven't been paying attention to this issue that has we Washingtonians all wringing our hands, I congratulate you for exercising good judgment. I will summarize it in the fewest possible words. Conservative Republicans are aghast at what they call out-of-control government spending that is creating a Mount Everest of federal debt. Liberal Democrats are aghast that the rich are getting richer and want to tie any cuts in federal spending to a similar amount of tax increases. Meanwhile, the ticking time bomb is the Budget Act of 2011, which decreed that if cuts in deficit spending totaling $1.2 trillion over the next decade could not be agreed upon by Congress before the end of 2012, they would automatically occur — sequestration, in other words, with every federal recipient's budget being chopped by 8 to 10 percent. The drop-dead date was postponed in a rare congressional accord until March 1.
What makes me feel that sequestration will occur is this: The Republican-controlled House passed the specified budget cuts and sent the legislation to the Senate. The Democrat-controlled Senate, seeing no tax increases in the House bill, won't take it up. So there's a political standoff, and both parties seem resigned to the inevitable.
Getting back to Amtrak: In response to questions I put to spokesman Steve Kulm, the corporation today said that so far in fiscal 2013, "Amtrak has been controlling costs and managing its budget at a spend rate less than the federal appropriated amounts. . . . Amtrak is also experiencing solid revenue growth so far this fiscal year."
The statement added: "While Amtrak is confident we can withstand a funding cut without cutting service, the continued lack of predictable federal appropriations makes proper budgeting and future planning extremely difficult."
You and I cannot peer over the shoulder of the bean counters at Amtrak, but the latest financial reports (covering just the first two months of fiscal 2013) provide some hints of how it could dodge bullets. In those two months alone, Amtrak spent $67 million less than budgeted for capital programs, mostly due to delays in engineering programs (a saving of $42 million) and the timing of payments for new electric locomotives and long-distance passenger cars (a saving of $20 million). In other words, delays in spending can have the same effect as cuts in spending. And here's another budget line that begs close attention: Salaries, wages, and benefits were $25 million over budget during October-November, which comes to a startling $150 million at an annual rate. However, I am told that this has a lot to do with recovery from Hurricane Sandy and the salary overages are trending down. My point is that there are plenty of branches to bend or trim before dropping trains, and Amtrak's statement seems to acknowledge that.
It's always possible that dogs will learn how to meow, cats to bark, and politicians of different parties to compromise before or soon after March 1 and do a wiser and more judicial job of cutting the federal deficit than sequestration will accomplish. But right now, that doesn't seem likely. Plus, I am not comfortable knowing that Amtrak is facing financial stress without a chief financial officer (the post was recently advertised in The Economist). After all, Amtrak has a history of walking off its own fiscal cliff, as occurred in the last years of George Warrington's presidency (1998-2002), when money was moved around and moved around — this trick, that trick, loans here, loans there — until oops, there was none left and payrolls almost didn't get met. — Fred W. Frailey
More interesting Amtrak info. Not that I have any illusion of profitability, but I continue to wonder just how good Amtrak could be if they really got after service and cost control. For better or worse, it seems to me that the path better passenger service in the US leads straight through Amtrak. We need a better Amtrak.
Ask Prime Minister Cameron how well austerity during/after a global financial crisis and a "Great Recession" works...
Great Britain has tried austerity under the current Conservative/LiberalDem coalition government, cutting deep many things from social programs to the Royal Navy. The idea was that this would reduce the deficit and create confidence in the the nation, leading to growing business investment and economic growth.
Instead the result has been weaker national defense, following tax revenues, a growing national debt, and perhaps a on coming "triple-dip recession". In contrast to the the US economy, the GDP of the United Kingdom is still lower than before the 2008 crisis.
But with this said the Conservatives in the UK are not delusional dogmatic ideologues like are TeaPot Congress, they even support high-speed rail and are moving to address global warming with big policy changes like building more nuclear power plants.
I wish that Republicans where more like David Cameron and George Osborn and less like Paul Ryan and Rand Paul!
I really dont care what kind of Republicans (or Democrats) we should have anymore....I just want a balanced budget. No one at this point wants to give up anything significant, either on spending or revenue sides.
A balanced budget would be nice to have, but the world will not come to an end just because the U.S. has a national debt. You own a house? You got a mortgage on that house? If you answered "yes" to both questions, I have another for you. If you think it is alright to use 30-year debt for your private residence, what is wrong with using 30-year debt to fund government programs? For those TeaParty types who take and espouse an ideological opposition to any debt, have you ever thought about paying more in taxes? That would reduce or eliminate the need for debt, you know.
Oh boy, such much contempt towards the Tea Party. The whole concept of living within our means is such a radical idea. Perish the thought, anybody with such a verboten idea like that should be shot right? I mean it's okay for people on the left to use such language, but God forbid the right even allude to it. Darn, I need to be punished for using the "G" word, but I digress.
Love the Tea Party or hate it, I could really care less what you think of them. However, we have an administration racking up record debt and all we have to show for it is -.1 GDP. Wow, that stimulus spending and those shovel ready projects are really paying off.
Wasn't it Biden that said in order to get out of debt, we need to keep spending? I'm still confounded by that statement, but from the sounds of it, there's some folks on here that see eye to eye with ol' Crazy Joe.
Tax season is upon us, I highly recommend the true believers of deficit spending and of this administration to give a little extra when you pay your taxes. Your government is counting on you and future generations to support the current budget...wait a minute we haven't had a budget in three or four years, but I digress...
Now back to playing with the choo choos...
Okay, so what does all pro/anti Tea Party stuff have to do with Amtrak? Lots. Unlike a mortgage on a house, that, at worst, has a steady level of debt, the US deficit is growing - fast!
The party on the left turns a blind eye toward the fact that gov't spending is at all time high (as a % of GDP) They flatly refuse to fix the things that are, and will grow the debt the fastest and eventually swamp the entire budget.
The party on the right turns a blind eye to the fact that federal tax revenue is at an all time low (as a % of GDP). They flatly refuse to consider any plan that would restore revenue to its historic average.
Amtrak, and all things discretionary in the budget will feel the squeeze get harder year after year. It is interesting to me that compromises like Simpson-Bowles get rejected out of hand by both sides so easily.
Even if Amtrak gets it's house in order, they will likely be on the outside looking in somewhere in the not too distant future.
One more on federal debt. The performance of House teapartiers on the Hurricane Sandy relief bill was all the way to disgusting. Government exists to perform tasks for citizens that they cannot do for themselves. You on the right - or left - are free to advocate anything you wish. I don't advocate spending. I do advocate that government get on with its assigned tasks and that those who we send to Washington to represent our interests actually do so. So far, I am seeing little of that from either the right or left. Contempt towards the tea party? You bet. You of the tea party movement have managed to put your cheapskate instincts ahead of the society's needs and/or desires.
Rail Pundit wrote:
>A balanced budget would be nice to have, but the world will not come to an end just because the U.S. >has a national debt. You own a house? You got a mortgage on that house? If you answered "yes" to >both questions, I have another for you. If you think it is alright to use 30-year debt for your private >residence, what is wrong with using 30-year debt to fund government programs? For those TeaParty >types who take and espouse an ideological opposition to any debt, have you ever thought about paying >more in taxes? That would reduce or eliminate the need for debt, you know.
The difference is that the mortgage is, by contract, my problem to settle, whereas no one of us is responsible for paying off the national debt--which is to say that it will be imposed on all of us, or more accurately, those of us still alive when the bill comes due. Or as Keynes said, "In the long run we are all dead." Now there's responsibility for you. Thank God for the Tea Party and all those others who worry about such things.
They might rightly reply to you, sir, Have you ever thought of cutting spending?
I'm ready to get back to railroading whenever you are.
Old Head: I'm quite prepared to deal with any tea party adherents who choose to comment -- as you have. Unlike many of the tea party folks, you manage to be civil - for which I thank you. Yes, I do think cutting spending sounds like a great idea. Where shall we start? Shall we NOT provide aid and assistance to people who have had their homes destroyed by wild fires in the west and by hurricanes in the east? Shall we NOT properly maintain the nation's infrastructure. Rail looks pretty good these days because the railroads invest their own stockholders' money in most of their capital projects, while the society provides highways for the trucks that compete with the railroads.
SNARK alert: The best that can be said about ideology is that it allows the ideologue to not have to think very much - if at all. Sorry, but I won't be thanking God for the tea party movement.
I am disappointed that none of the comments on my post have praised or damned Amtrak for navigating the fiscal cliff. Instead, you are on a Tea Party romp. This blog is about railroading, not partisan politics. C'mon folks, make me proud of you.
I don't see much to praise Amtrak for here. They are going to survive the "fiscal cliff" because they have so much "fat" they can afford to lose some weight? Any well run company is always looking for fat to trim, not just when pushed from outside. This is just more fuel for the fire that they are a "Soviet style" railroad that sells hamburgers to a captive audience at a loss.
I'm glad that Fred and Don Phillips are not blind cheerleaders for Amtrak. For those of us who care and believe the passenger trains can be a good thing, holding Amtrak accountable and being a constructive critic is a good thing.
We need a better Amtrak.
For some, Amtrak is government viewed through the microscope. Where you choose to focus your look has a lot to do with your personal politics, unfortunately and in turn what problems you find.
Amtrak has its problems, but yes they seemed to be planning ahead for the new "fiscal cliff", and that's very good news!
As for the political talk this is probably my fault with my post on the British so I apologize.
Transport needs not to be partisan, at least not in the sense of liberals love trains and conservatives don't, after all my understanding is that the Jimmy Carter Administration was a very bad time for Amtrak, and today while three GOP govs throw back the stimulus money, the GOP govs in Michigan and Virginia have said yes to rail in a big way.
On Wednesday I meant with the Republican mayor of Saratoga Springs and the head of the local chamber of commerce another Republican to promote passenger rail, my partner in this effort was the former chairman of New York State's Conservative Party.
On Tuesday I will be giving a short presentation to the Saratoga City Council, a city sharply divided by party and politics but together seemingly supportive of our local Amtrak service.
Well if the government shuts down but Amtrak keeps running, that a big plus, we'll know which is run better!
Fred: Bridging the Tea Party and Amtrak subjects--I think back to the 3R Act, which required Congress to pass, in an up-or-down vote, without amendment, the implementation plan recommended by USRA. That vote was the 4R Act. It was modeled after, IIRC, the legislation that created the military base closing commission, which faced the familiar problem that every base (like every branch line) has a Congresscritter who sees it as his(her) duty to defend it--a defect in democracy that Madison recognized.
We see something similar in the current sequestration requirement that some are beginning to take seriously. That requirement similarly is the result of a law passed to solve an intractable inability to agree on the details. It concededly is witless, but in the opinion of some of us beats doing nothing.
I agree with the poster above: The fact that Amtrak can find something to cut is not news. And as with all other bureaucracies governmental and corporate, that leaves the real fat for another day. The notion that this organization has been struggling along on nothing is nonsense. The situation is comparable to a Conrail-operated branchline in 1976 vs. the short line that revived it fifteen years later.
This is not to deny that a great many actual needs have gone begging at Amtrak. But again, it is a familiar phenomenon. When local school districts' budgets are disapproved by the voters in New York State, the first thing they do is put forth an "austerity budget" that eliminates funding for all sports and all buses. The kids will have to walk to school (in my time they also had to listen to their parents yammer about how they walked seven miles in the snow to school each day and how it wasn't so bad) and worse, they will be a burden on their parents from 3:30 pm onward. Employee compensation remains untouchable and no one questions work rules, which most railroaders who graduate from operations to senior management might tell you is the crucial area; i.e. we can afford to pay the employees way above average but we need to have the flexibility to put them to work without senseless restrictions.
I have met Joe Boardman on a few occasions and had a few interesting, friendly conversations with him. I think he is a decent and well-intentioned man. He tried to reorganize NYSDOT, which needed it, but many of us concluded that the medicine was worse than the disease. About the time that was becoming apparent he went to Washington. While he was in Albany it was said that he was driven (or perhaps drove himself) to work each day from the family farm at Rome, NY--not exactly a short haul. I do not, therefore, expect him to remain in Washington forever. But I was tempted to apply to join him when he went to Amtrak because he seemed like a good man who had the balls to shake things up and make changes where necessary. I'm glad now that I didn't. Maybe someday we'll hear the story of how he was beaten down. Politics and bureaucracy are relentless.
As long as Amtrak must suckle at the public teat for its susenance, transportation is and will remain inextricably intertwined with government. That means politics is a factor whether we like it or not. All government activity is political. As long as truckers do not come close to paying their allocable share of construction and maintenance of highways and bridges, for example, that effectively caps the amounts railroads can generate commercially. Remember, it was the loss of freight profit that caused the real demise of rail passenger service. Railroads had subsidized the one with profit from the other. So, one solution is for Congress to fund the proper spending on highways rather than simply, mindlessly appropriate money as the most recent Congress did and the current one will have to do in 2014. Old Head iscorrect in his thoughtful comment. Transportation never was a partisan political issue. Nor should it be now. But as long as we have a cadre of ideologues in control of one house of Congress, it is a partisan issue whether we like it or not. If sequestration does occur and federal budgets are slashed by formula rather than by thought, the United States stands to be the one developed nation that cannot or chooses not to provide government services to the citizens who pay the taxes. Amtrak is just a tiny part of this, but do not think for a second, just because Amtrak officials have told Fred that they know how they will handle the cuts, that the cuts will not hurt. Some people do not like the political comments of Rail Pundit. Too bad. Remember, please, that the best that can be said for ideology is that it allows ideologues to not think very much - if at all.


text:
A 25-state tour organized by a pro-gun control coalition founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg hit Fargo with its message today. They want universal background checks for gun buyers and urged Senator Heidi Heitkamp to reverse her position opposing the background checks.
Carlee Soto, whose sister, a teacher at Sandyhook Elementary, was killed in December's Newtown massacre, told the crowd background checks can't stop all such shootings but can help save lives.
NRA member Dan Freeman of Fargo came to listen but he says he heard nothing to change his mind. Freeman says "there's enough gun laws in this country...just enforce what's out there."
Several dozen people turned out for the rally held at Island Park.


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