July 31, 2003
Flemming For Gov
If you didn't hear it live - Brian's snippet with KFI guys is a good listen and a break from all the Kobe banter....
PC: right-click to download. MAC: option-click to download.
John & Ken give him a good laugh over his platform but no doubt wish they'd thought of it themselves...
July 30, 2003
CALIFORNIA RECALL
As recently reported at Film Threat.com, Brian Flemming is making a bid for governor. But as you will see in the following article - A VOTE FOR FLEMMING IS A VOTE FOR BUSTAMANTE! Support Our Candidate! - He has a plan....
INDIE FILMMAKER TAKES ON ARNOLD IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR
(2003-07-28)
Nothing so Strange filmmaker Brian Flemming has announced his intention to run as a candidate for governor in California's October 7, 2003, recall election.
"I have one plank in my platform," said Flemming. "If elected, I will immediately resign. This action will make Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante the Governor of California."
Because most prominent Democrats, including Bustamante, have refused to run, out of solidarity with Gov. Gray Davis, there will likely be few choices for Democrats on the recall ballot. Flemming intends to be the focus of liberal voters, while several announced Republican candidates may split the conservative vote.
Word of Flemming's unique candidacy leaked out through his personal weblog earlier this week, and words of encouragement are pouring in from the "blogging" community, especially those in the Golden State.
"The people of California are furious at the right-wing attempt to hijack our democracy. My platform is a novel solution that has a lot of appeal. People can still vote against recalling Davis--but then, on the second vote in that election, they can choose my name from the list as a backup plan, and the person whom Californians already elected to replace Davis will take the governor's office as soon as I resign, which will be the same minute I am inaugurated."
Visit Brian at his campaign website.
Flemming For Gov
July 26, 2003
AUDITIONS!
I've ALWAYS said I could never be an actor because of the audition process. Just the idea of putting myself in such a vulnerable position is unnerving. It's not that I'm not familiar with rejection, but why give myself ample opportunity to get it over and over again? In person! But it's not just the rejection or the fear...
On Thurdsday evening my friend Barbara called and said, "Wanna go on an audition tomorrow?" "No", I said. I didn't utter another breath until after she said, "Okay, Bye." Then I took a deep one and asked, "Alright, what is it?"
She broke it down for me - Logitech. Non union. Buyout. Looking for a creative business woman between 25 & 40. Hip. "And naturally I thought of you!" Naturally. "When," I ask. She tells me 6 PM the next day. 6! On a Friday? In the valley? It just keeps getting better. Because I love Barbara, I say fine.
I've worked as an agent. I sent people to auditions en masse. I've watched my boyfriend go through it. I've had headshots taken of myself because I've seen the jobs out there and figured I'd go on a couple print auditions in which you just have to get your mugshot taken smiling or frowning or laughing or whatever. Those are a piece of cake and few and far between.
So Friday, 5PM comes around and I drive to the valley for the Logitech commercial audition dressed hip and creative in a business fashion. Of course upon entering any casting studio, you are sized up and down by everyone else there for the same part and you in turn do the same to everyone else once you've signed in, taken your sides and filled out your size card. Already the ego and self confidence is shrinking. Unless of course you're one of those actors that is oblivious to humility. Or should I say "persons" that is oblivious? No, because I'm sorry, but actors are of a different species. In fact you are reminded of it over and over if you have anything to do with the business of actors. In fact we who were auditioning for Logitech were reminded of it because the casting assistant kept telling us that the client wanted "real people" and not "actors" - so try to "act real". Which of course brings up the witty banter between the auditioners about how silly this whole process is etc, etc, which probably is a paraphrased conversation that can be heard reverbarating through the hills and canyons and bars on a daily basis. How much cuter or more witty or more savvy can I be than him or her? Well, I sat there in the waiting room, waiting, thinking - I don't care. More power to these folks for doing this, but frankly, if I suck - who cares? I've sat in on casting sessions with some fairly well known names and they sucked. Maybe it was because they'd slept with the producer or wanted to sleep with the producer or maybe they were just having an off day or maybe they just sucked. So if they can suck - so can I.
They called us in by threes and the idea was that we were just frazzled by all the cords at our computer desk and the ringing of phones and the baby crying and the fax machine beeping and wouldn't it all be easier if you used a cordless Logitech mouse? Well, my boyfriend would tell you that I would be a shoe-in for this because he's always laughing at my frustrations behind the computer. But guess what - I was frazzled when it came to be my turn because I was nervous and a novice. Because maybe if they asked for reactions or even to run some lines, I might have even remembered what I did. But after pantomiming through the action, I couldn't tell you WHAT the Hell I did. However, what I COULD have done, ran through my head for the next ten hours. How annoying!
Well, like I said - more power to the actors for putting themselves out there time and time again. I've heard directors and producers say that they desperately want the next person that walks through the door to be the one and that any actor should think that way. But for me? I prefer to be able to paint over what I don't like or throw away what I just wrote or open up a rejection letter in the privacy of my own neurosis, thank you very little. So next time Barbara calls I think No will definitely mean no....
July 23, 2003
Star Date!!
Last night we had a viewing gathering of my friend's episode of Star Dates. Here's the thing. Barbara is a talent agent. A while back, she saw a breakdown come through the pipes for this gig and for some unknown, godforsaken reason she called and pitched herself under the assumed name, "Darby". E! wants to meet this "Darby" so Barbara goes to the audition and books the show. About a month ago, J.J. "Jimmy" (aka - "Dy-no-mite") Walker shows up at her door with a camera crew and they go out on a date. They go skeet shooting and to dinner. Since this gig pays a whopping hundred bucks(!), "Darby" orders lobster and eats everything on her plate. (Thankfully they edited out most of the chomping and worked around their witty repartee instead...) We get the distinct feeling J.J. has the hots for "Darby", and "Darby" has a sweet spot for J.J. Alas, Barbara is just playing along for the kitch of it all and we are thankful for the entertainment, as was J.J.
Check out the encore presentations all this week -
Airs: July 24, 10 p.m.; July 25, 1 a.m., 8 p.m.; July 27, 9 a.m.; July 28, 5 p.m.; July 29, 9:30 p.m.; July 31, 10:30 p.m.; Aug. 1, 1:30 a.m.
A couple addendums - J.J.'s first date (each "star" has two per episode) was a previous client of Barbara's. Small world.
Two - a week after her date, Barbara won a trip to Ireland to see R.E.M in concert. She just returned a couple days ago in time to view her star date on the tube. Something tells me she had a lot more fun in Dublin. She waved her new Irish flag for us which she traded her REM autographed signed ticket for. I think she's on a definite roll... A big Irish Soda Bread, perhaps.
July 22, 2003
BAT BOY IN SAN FRAN
See the latest on BAT BOY THE MUSICAL on Bad Boy Brian Flemming's blog! If you're in San Francisco, don't miss it!!!
July 21, 2003
July 18, 2003
TUNE IN, DROP IN
For those of you that live in the LA area, I want to suggest that you visit The Light Space Gallery at 1732 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice before the end of the month. "23 Drawings by Timothy Leary along with works by dozens of his friends" will finally be ending after an extended run. Make sure you have an hour to spend -since it's opening, the show has grown and their walls are covered with more and more offerings from people that knew Tim. It's become like a book that's been torn page by page and pinned to the walls...
"Complementing these uninhibited self-explorations are artworks by Robert Williams, Kenny Scharf, Dean Chamberlain, Alex Grey, Allyson Grey, Suzanne Williams; contributions from Ram Dass, Michael Horowitz, Winona Ryder, Paul Krassner, Ralph Metzner, Laura Huxley, John Perry Barlow, Tom Robbins, Douglas Rushkoff, Genesis P-Orridge, R.U. Sirius, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Keith Haring, Tom Davis, and other friends of Leary's; authentic Leary artifacts and handwritten papers; and excerpts from Leary's many writings."
My own encounter with Mr. Leary, aside from appearances at Lollapaloozas and other such venues, came in 1994 at a house warming party for Bill Maher. Brand new house, brand new furnishings... I sat across from Tim at the dining room table for a good part of the evening. At one point he had one gal on his lap and one around his neck and I guess this made him forget about the cigarette he was smoking and he burned a big hole right into the upholstered chair. Well, this created a bit of comic disorder, but Bill took it in stride and everyone made jokes to ease the faux pas. I suggested that as long as he ruined it, he might as well sign it. Someone immediately produced a Sharpie and Tim set to signing his name in big swirly script around the hole. At the time, Bill was very proud of his new art piece, but I'd bet a lot of money if I had it that he probably reupholstered the chair and when he bought his next house, it was sold with the rest of them.
Also that night, Tim told me I was the best dressed person at the party - alas, I don't remember what I was wearing...
July 17, 2003
TALL TALES AT THE ESPY'S
Yesterday started with Magic Johnson and ended with Barry Bonds, Serena Williams, Rich Gannon, Al Michaels and LeBron James. Thanks to my friend Paula, the script queen of variety shows, we got tickets to the ESPY awards. Held at the beautiful KODAK theater at Hollywood and Highland, we were able to walk to the show which had Hollywood Boulevard closed for three days and looked like the Oscars all over again. Even though we had a shiny red ticket to the red carpet, we chose to have a cold cocktail at The Grill which was just outside the entrance to the theater. We enjoyed some champagne before the show and stood next to Dr. J and watched as two young men (17ish) stalked him to get their picture taken with him. We noted that after it was flashed they pretty much just walked away without thanking him which made us wonder about the state of manners amongst our youth. We enjoyed the next two hours and ten minutes with Jamie Fox hosting the awards while taking many jabs at the 90 million dollar LeBron and hinted at a relationship between Serena and Keeshon Johnson. You go girl! She of course won for Best Female Athlete and Best Female Tennis Player and looked incredible in her pink gown. A bit more elegant than when Jamie prompted a picture of her up on the big screen and called her body "weapons of mass destruction".... The after party was held at the Highlands just across from the theater and we marvelled at the cost and wondered just how much money does ESPN have! We dined on various mediterranean foods and more champagne which flowed literally free. It was a good night of people watching and a good night of feeling really small and short.
July 16, 2003
LAKER IN THE HOUSE!
Today I had the pleasure of maneuvering around MAGIC JOHNSON in the hallway of my gym. Now it's not unusual to see Jason Priestly working out the kinks of his race car crash, and doing well I might add, but it was an unexpected star gazing to see Magic emerging from the VIP locker room. I guess that's why they have one. What amused me most about this encounter, was that I realized, hey, he's a big guy, but really not THAT big. I was told upon my return home that he's in fact about 6'4". This reminded me of another encounter with another Laker - the one and only Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain. This was about fifteen years ago at the LA Improv when the LA Improv was THE spot to be spotted. As I walked into the club there was Wilt standing in the doorway, and I immediately thought, my God, if he were horizontal, he'd stretch from one doorway to the next. He was HUGE! Well, it just so happened that one of my best school chums went to college in Hawaii shortly before this and spent a lot of time not studying and claimed instead to have spent plenty of time playing racketball and volleyball with "the Stilt". At the bar that night at the Improv, I checked her story with Wilt, and sure enough it was true, he remembered her wicked serve. So, I enjoyed the pleasure of his company and his then companion, probably one of his 30,000 "girlfriends"- for the next couple of hours -at the bar.
Funny, not one of those 30,000 women ever accused Wilt of sexual misconduct. I guess the money just wasn't the same in those days... FREE KOBE!!!
July 15, 2003
Tipplers VS. 4-H
Let the beer flow
Change in tradition: After years of being dry, tipplers get their way
By John Zaremba
ST. CHARLES Ñ Finally, beer lovers will have a place of their own at this year's Kane County Fair.
The fair's keepers have decided to sell beer and lemonade-flavored malt beverages when the fair begins on Wednesday, answering years of requests by fairgoers who showed up wanting to knock a few back, but came up dry.
This year, they'll have a 7,200-square-foot beer tent all to themselves. It will seat 250 to 300 people, and other beer drinkers will be allowed to graze elsewhere on the fenced-off acre-and-a-half slice of land on the fairgrounds' north side.
This is the first time organizers can remember selling alcohol at the fair, and it might even be the first time in the fair's 135-year history. "It was the single most requested change," said Chris Unger, who has managed the fair for 15 years.
The tradition of a beer-free fair wasn't so much Prohibition as it was practicality. For years, organizers toyed with having a beer tent, but they either couldn't' find room for it, or they felt it would be too close to the fair's other features.
"I wanted to keep it separate from the 4-H activities," said Larry Breon, president of the fair's Board of Directors. "We would have had to move something or disrupt something else to put it in, and I didn't want to do that."
With a little freedom, however, comes rules. Only people 21 and older will be allowed inside the area, and there will be carding at the gate. Beer will not be allowed outside the fences. Beer will cost $4, bottled water $3. On tap will be Miller Lite and Miller Genuine Draft. A lemonade-flavored malt beverage will be available, too.
Oh Mickey You're So Fine
Mickey Rourke added to the cast of "Man on Fire"
Mickey Rourke has been added to the cast of "Man on Fire" for director Tony Scott. He will play attorney Jordan Calfus. Rourke most recently appeared onscreen in the indie feature "Spun." Upcoming projects include "Masked & Anonymous" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico."
An attorney!! Now there's something to look forward to! And a good challenge to the makeup artist and costumer.
July 14, 2003
first concerts
I have recently become friendly with a few young people that I met through mutual friends. Last night we were sitting around the pool asking the wife of a young actor about her tour with Starlight Express. She was talking about her travels and her stay in Chicago where she saw her FIRST concert which happened to be Dave Matthews. I believe she's 23ish so I thought that was pretty old for having just gone to her first concert. I teased her because Dave Matthews is not one my favorites but I assured her my first concert wasn't that stellar. Mine was Boz Scaggs, also in Chicago - but some 25 years ago. Yipes! 25 years - that's more than she is old! So anyway, we went around the group and compared notes on what everyone's first concert was. There was some good ones, like Prince and Billy Idle, etc. I tried to tell this young lady that mark my words, Dave Matthews was going to be her Boz Scaggs. She and her husband hadn't even heard of 'ol Boz. Which brought us to the husband. This Minnasotan's first concert was Helmut at 1st Ave. in Minneapolis. This got me excited just because of the venue which is historic in the annals of some of my favorite bands including my all time fave, the Replacements. I told the actor this much and he nodded knowingly, ah yes, the Replacements, right. I knew then he was just humoring me. Probably really couldn't connect the name to a band, probably could only think of the Keannu Reeves movie. Probably thinking these people are old. Probably wondering what he's doing hanging out with us. Probably thinking this lady could be my mother. Okay, that's what I was thinking - I could be HIS mother. It only stung for a second, cuz Hell, if I was, I would've taken him to 1st Ave myself. Okay, not to see Helmut, but... So we let each other off the hook, clinked beers and cheered the 1st Ave like friends with something in common and no diapers had to be changed.
July 12, 2003
Fashion crisis
I'm currently lost within the dilemna of being an artist wanting to look like an artist without looking like an affected artist, without the money to affect anything besides looking like an artist on the edge of looking like a slob. Phew. Basically, I am remembering fondly, the grunge era. I know it wasn't the most attractive of fashion genres, but aside from being on the edge of sloven, it was identifiable as artistic and it was comfortable. At this juncture in my life, I welcome comfort. Back in 1993 when the Seattle look made it to the glossy pages, it couldn't have come at a better time for me. I was making a lot of art, going to a lot of rock shows and I was painting houses for a living. 1994 came along - I got earthquaked out of my home, Kurt Cobain died and all I wanted to do was hit the road in a pair of baggy cutoffs, a t-shirt and my steel-toed boots. I feel I'm in a similar place in 2003 - I'm making a lot of art, downloading a lot of rock and trying to find a way to make a living. I'm looking for comfort in my clothes in a town that's all about what you look like and I don't have the energy or the funds to get it up for being a fashion plate.
But listen - this is coming from someone who's been known to dress outlandish and for attention. I was one Hell of a fashionista in my day. I'd say I have represented each decade fashionably if not accordingly if not outrageously. Just refer to THAT 70'S SHOW to what I might have looked like towards the end of that decade... In the early 80's I no doubt embarrassed myself by buying into all that was flamboyent and garrish. Think Prince combined with Boy George combined with Madonna (Suddenly Seeking) and top it all off with a near-shaved head with chevrons and a rat-tail. Yikes. I carried a lunchboxe as my purse well before Marilyn Manson was out of his cubscout uniform, though sevenish years later, while working in Florida, I would sit with Marilyn (then still calling himself Brian) and his lunch boxes every Thursday night at a retro 80's Disco in Ft. Lauderdale and wax nostalgic over toys and music. My 80's was flanked by my signature jean jacket that I pinned every conceivable toy and bobble to including plastic fish, cub pins, tassles, key chains and my brother-in-law's Bronze Star.
Heading toward the end of that decade, it all segued into the Big Hair, Leather Biker Jacket Glam Rocker look. I snickered at the myriads of students from the Musicians Institute strolling Hollywood Blvd all wishing to be the next Axel Rose - but hell, I could've been mistaken for one of them had I been carrying a guitar instead of a camera and had not been working at SAKS at the time and had some sense of higher fashion that helped my big hair look more 5th Ave than Trailer Park...
BLACK was the new blue. If I was asked what my favorite color was the coquettish answer was "black". Rolling over into the 90's, my answer became "plaid". I'm not talking about beach madras, I'm talking about tartan, Sex Pistols, fisherman's plaid, what ever checks and stripes you wouldn't be caught dead putting together, I'd put together. Oh, yeah, and might as well throw some granny florals in there too. Eddie Veddor and Seattle made granddad's flannel comfortable and de rigueur and suddenly comfort was comforting. As soon as the scene died down and all flannel went back to the thrift stores, I found myself back employed by one of the high end specialty fashion stores where we were expected to dress better than our customers. In and out of trends as fast as they could put them on sale. Fun stuff, but where is it all today? Either ruined by paint or next to the flannel at the resale shop.
My lifestyle today, in the early 2000's could certainly use a uniform. Lately my day consists of hiking with the dog, doing some computer work, painting for several hours, doing chores and then showering in the late afternoon. What do I need with Manohlos and Prada bags? Don't get me wrong - I love them and if only I had them, I could sell them for a Gap T-shirt, some paint and canvas. Oh, yeah, and food.
I caught a Seinfeld rerun the other night and his monologue had to do with a fantasy world where everyone wore a uniform. Of course, if you are a Trekkie, you might believe that eventually this all comes to be. In certain circles, there already are uniforms. Gangsta rappers got their look. Business men, truckers, even models. Alas, I don't want to look like everyone else and I don't want to have to wear a smock and a beret. Carrie Bradshaw on SEX AND THE CITY reminds me of a day when I had the energy to dress to the left of everyone else - the whackier the better. It was part of expressing myself as an artist, even though it probably scared most folks. It showed personality, or so I thought. Nowadays, aside from the girls on SEX which is fairly unrealistic, I'm not sure I see any individuality from young women. All I see are belly buttons and butt cracks. Okay, so maybe that's a reflection of their personality, I don't know.
Maybe I've got it all skewed because I live in LA. Maybe LA is the only place where it matters how you look and how you dress. As I write this, a young fellow passes and tells me he likes my sunglasses. HUH. Blue aviators bought on Venice Beach for 5 bucks. Maybe THAT's all I need. The little accessory that sets you apart like my old adorned jean jacket. The haircut or the shoes or the glasses or the bag or the single signature item that says ME. Of course if it were me, I'd like one of each in every color.
July 10, 2003
Nothing so strange in NYC
NOTHING SO STRANGE -- NEW YORK PREMIERE
Monday, July 21, 2003, 7:30 pm
The Opening Night Film of the VideoTheatre NYC Vidfest
at the Kraine Theater
85 East 4th St. (Between Bowery and Second Ave)
Tickets $5, call 212-868-4444 or go to
http://www.nothingsostrange.com/
"Brilliant" --Salon
"Sick" --New York Post
"Brilliant" --Boston Phoenix
"Chilling" --Seattle Times
"A genre-bending experience" --Austin Chronicle
"Dangerous" --Fox News Channel
"A crackling good movie" --Variety
"Pitch perfect. See this film" --Wired
For all the latest on Nothing So Strange and other things strange and curious - please make an occassional visit to Brian Flemming's Blog!
Cheers!
July 09, 2003
July 08, 2003
Hastert truck hit by water balloon
25 grand for a balloon toss? He should have taken home a stuffed Hulk doll. What's a Petunia Festival without a little water?
DIXON, IL Ñ A 33-year-old man faces felony aggravated battery charges for tossing a water balloon at U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Yorkville.
John S. Allen of Dixon posted his $25,000 bail on Monday. He was arrested Sunday after throwing the balloon during the Dixon Petunia Festival parade. The balloon broke on an antique fire truck driven by Hastert, who got wet but was not injured.
Allen said in court he didn't know Hastert was driving the truck. Lee County Judge Tomas Magdich reprimanded Allen for not recognizing Hastert. "He is third in line to the presidency of the United States. You won't forget it next time, will you?" Magdich told Allen.
July 07, 2003
Midol VS. the Bible
President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee has not met for more than two years, during which time its charter has lapsed. As a result, the Bush Administration is tasked with filling all eleven positions with new members. This position does not require Congressional approval. The FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee makes crucial decisions on matters relating to drugs used in the practice of obstetrics, gynecology and related specialties, including hormone therapy, contraception, treatment for infertility, and medical alternatives to surgical procedures for sterilization and pregnancy termination. Dr. Hager's views of reproductive health care are far outside the mainstream of setback for reproductive technology.Ê
Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-lifeÓ and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women. Hager is the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now." The book blends biblical accounts of Christ healing women with case studies from Hager's practice. In the book Dr. Hager wrote with his wife, entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome should seek help from reading the bible and praying. As an editor and contributing author of "The Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of Sexuality Reproductive Technologies and the Family," Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically inaccurate assertion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient. Hagar's mission is religiously motivated.ÊHe has an ardent interest in revoking approval for mifepristone (formerly known as RU-486) as a safe and early form of medical abortion. Hagar recently assisted the Christian Medical Association in a "citizen's petition" which calls upon the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone in the name of women's health. Hager's desire to overturn mifepristone's approval on religious grounds rather than scientific merit would halt the development of mifepristone as a treatment for numerous medical conditions disproportionately affecting women, including breast cancer, uterine cancer, uterine fibroid tumors, psychotic depression, bipolar depression and Cushing's syndrome.
Women rely on the FDA to ensure their access to safe and effective drugs for reproductive health care including products that prevent pregnancy. For some women, such as those with certain types of diabetes and those undergoing treatment for cancer pregnancy can be a life-threatening condition. We are concerned that Dr. Hager's strong religious beliefs may color his assessment of technologies that are necessary to protect women's lives or to preserve and promote women's health. Hager's track record of using religious beliefs to guide his medical decision-making makes him a dangerous and inappropriate candidate to serve as chair of this committee. Critical drug public policy and research must not be held hostage by antiabortion politics. Members of this important panel should be appointed on the basis of science and medicine, rather than politics and religion. American women deserve no less.
Please email President Bush at president@whitehouse.gov and say "I oppose the appointment of Dr. Hager to the FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. Mixing religion and medicine is unacceptable. Using the FDA to promote a political agenda is inappropriate and seriously threatens women's health."Ê
Ê
July 06, 2003
A 4th of July recap
Independence was celebrated by all and now we recover from the freedom to party. Gene again opened his Mullholland home to us overheated, hungry, thirsty and easily amused. The fireworks were seen all over the city, from Hollywood to Anaheim to Long Beach. Saturday, the 5th was spent with much down time, but we made it to El Coyote for dinner for their own version of a light show. 
After all the corndogs and baked beans and tacos and beer, I made myself get to the Hollywood Farmers Market Sunday morning for some fresh produce and people watching. Mixed in with the avacados and strawberries are always some politics,music and men dressed as women calling themselves Jennifer. What else can you ask of a Sunday morning?
July 05, 2003
Had to share
VAIKE-MAARJA, Estonia Ñ Take it from a world champion: The best way for a man to carry a woman is to dangle her upside down over his back, with her thighs squeezing his neck and her arms around his torso.
ÊÊ"That way, your arms are free to help with balance. It's more stable. There's less shifting of the weight," says Margo Uusorg. He has just carried Egle Soll, her pigtails flapping against his back, around a 278-yard oval track that includes a 3-foot-deep water trough and two hurdles of wooden logs. In just over one minute, they won the Estonian championship here, and qualified for this weekend's Wife Carrying World Championship in Sonkajarvi, Finland, where Uusorg is a heavy favorite to win his third world crown.
ÊÊ"When you carry this way," he says, "it's much easier."
ÊÊSoll, upright again and flushed by the experience, if not the victory, says, "It's not so bad. But you don't see much."
ÊÊEstonian men turned up in this little farming village lugging their women upside down five years ago, and the sport of wife carrying hasn't been the same since. Suddenly, gone were the glory days of the piggyback carry, the fireman's carry, the wrap-around-the-shoulders carry. The "Estonian carry," as it was dubbed, was in. And Estonians have won five straight wife-carrying world championships. (Actually, "wife carrying" is a misnomer, for the rules in the freestyle competition allow the man to carry any woman older than 17, his wife or not.)
ÊÊThis Estonian dominance doesn't sit well with the Finns, who have been wife-carrying since the late 1800s, when marauding gangs would make off with women from neighboring villages. According to legend, a notorious brigand of the time named Rosvo-Ronkainen recruited only men who had first proved their worth by carrying heavy weight on a challenging track.
ÊÊNow, it is the neighboring Estonians who are getting the spoils of victory. And a frosty Baltic Sea rivalry is getting fiercer.
ÊÊ"Every year," says Taisto Miettinen, "the newspaper headlines say, 'Once again, Finnish guy doesn't win.'" That would be him. For the past two years, Mr. Miettinen has finished second at the world championships.
ÊÊ"The Finnish wife carriers are like the Boston Red Sox," says Michael Toohey, a Maine house painter who captured sixth place in last year's world championship after winning the North American Wife Carrying Championship in Sunday River, Maine. "People root for them, but they sort of know they won't win."
ÊÊHe figured his own chances were slim when he awoke the day of the race and saw one of his Estonian opponents warming up with an early morning work out. "I saw that and I said, 'Wow, they're serious.'"
ÊÊThe Finns, on the other hand, apparently just want to have fun. One of their world championship rules, in addition to the one imposing a 15-second penalty for dropping a wife, stipulates that "All the participants must have fun."
ÊÊIn past competitions, Finns have awarded winners the woman's weight in beer. The Estonians, at their national championships here on June 21, gave winners the woman's weight in mineral water.
ÊÊ"We take too many things seriously," concedes Indrek Keskyla, the mayor of Vaike-Maarja. He blames the communists who ran this Baltic nation. "In the old Soviet Union days, we had to be serious, gray people," he says. Under communist rule, the village pushed to be the best farm cooperative in Estonia. Now, it produces the best wife carriers.
ÊÊThe mayor himself produced a lot of laughs when, leading off for the municipal team in the wife-carrying relay competition, he stumbled in the water hazard, drenching himself and his "wife," a woman who works for the city. But next year, he knows, it might not be so funny. "My wife wants to do it next year," he says. "I said if we do it, we do it for fun. But she says, 'No, we must be serious, we must train.'"
ÊÊThere were some other laughs. A man dressed as Santa Claus carried Mrs. Claus. Robin Hood carried Maid Marian. And the several hundred spectators gasped when a woman dressed in a nun's habit assumed the Estonian carry position over the shoulders of a man dressed as a monk.
ÊÊDespite the rather intimate carrying style, there were no jealous wives or partners fuming at trackside. "I'm happy that he won," says Kaia Laas, Uusorg's girlfriend. "He was already carrying other women when I met him. So I can't complain."
ÊÊBesides, says Uusorg, "she's too heavy. Wait, that sounds bad. She's not fat, she's just too heavy for the competition."
ÊÊ
July 04, 2003
where was the fuss & what's all the fuss?
Maybe I'm a little late in the game, but I finally saw Spike Lee's 25th Hour and all I gotta say is - He got robbed! I'm becoming less and less a fan of awards shows but as long as they're there my opinion on this one is that Spike and Edward Norton were robbed of at least nominations. Not to mention the Cinematographer who had also shot Frida and 8 Mile.
In other Spike news, my household is in headslapping awe over his lawsuit against TNN over the usage of "Spike TV" as their new name. A great filmmaker and basketball fan Spike is, but what does he care about a "man's network" using the moniker? Is Spike Jones up in arms over it?
In court, Lee's famed lawyer, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., said his client's "acclaimed" name would be harmed by sharing a moniker with a network full of "demeaning, vapid and quasi-pornographic content."
Believe me, if TNN had changed their name without all the fuss, I never would have correlated it with Spike Lee. There, I said it.
July 03, 2003
Chicken & Rice
Last night we went up to our friend Gene's house for dinner. What a treat he had in store for us weary folk when he produced not only sorbet for dessert, but a movie. Not "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "Philladelphia Story", but "Buddy Hackett - Live and Uncensored"! Nothing like trying to digest a big meal with some Jameson's and two hours of dirty Catskills jokes. Shot twenty years ago in Atlantic City, it was an anthropological revelry watching the audience of 40 to 60 somethings sweat along with Buddy through his derogatory and scatological repertoire. A different time. Only then could an "entertainer" get away with hurling insults for two hours then get the audience to cry (From embarrassment?) along with you as you sing a song you wrote for your daughter. Can you imagine seeing Chris Rock or Bill Maher 
after lambasting the whitehouse and the taliban close a show with a weepy ditty? 
Certainly not, but I'd venture to guess if they were watching any tribute films over the last week, it was probably a Buddy Hackett fest.
July 02, 2003
Preposterous Quote of the Day (so far)
Maybe it's just my mood today, but is this guy twisted?
"It's not just that Arnold's playing his most famous role, but he's playing what I would argue is the most famous role ever in the history of movies."
-ÊJonathan Mostow, director, on Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role in the upcoming T3: Rise of the Machines.
Ê
1st Gregory, then Kate, now Buddy
We bid adieu to Buddy Hackett. As I recently worked with the same TV crew that worked with Buddy on ACTION , I can shake my head in amusement and pass on that he was a character till the end. We can only hope someone was taking notes every minute and is writing the book we are all scared to read. That might be one story that would help moms and dads everywhere keep their sons and daughters away from Hollywood...