OK...back to the world around us.

Kids buy lunches with scans of fingers
(Apparently they must have run out of Hot Wheels to trade.)










All right, I've been slackin' off for long enough. It's time to make snarky comments regarding the world around us and how cranky it can make me.

First of all, I'm tardy with this, but a sincere R.I.P. for two under-rated celebrity types.

1. Glenn Ford

I always liked him because he seemed to give honesty to a role...whether a "bad guy" or a "good guy".

He had kind eyes, he looked like an "everyman", and he was just one of those people that was never flashy when on the Hollywood scene.

I think my favorite film of his was "A Pocketful of Miracles". He played Dave the Dude (I think that was the character's name...correct me if I'm wrong) and he and his cronies work together to help Apple Annie (a neighborhood apple vendor with a heart of gold and a drinking problem) present herself as a society matron. I'm not going to tell you why...you have to see the movie for yourself.

PS: For you film buffs out there, the woman at the bottom of the photo is Gloria Grahame. The reason she may not look familiar is because she's just as well known for her role as "Ado Annie" in the filmed version of "Oklahoma!". She is miles away from Ado Annie (at least in the style of dress). *END OF TRIVIA, AND IF YOU WIN ON "JEOPARDY" WITH THIS INFO, I DESERVE PAYMENT FOR THIS INFORMATION!!*

2. Ed Benedict

The name doesn't send up any red flags, but the characters he created will...

Droopy Dog...Ruff and Ready...Yogi Bear...the Flintstones...Snagglepuss...Quick Draw McGraw...and many more.

Benedict started out with Disney in 1930, then Universal, then MGM. He bounced around to different studios, which was not unusual in that day and age. Among other things, he was Tex Avery's lead layout artist and character designer, then moved on to Hanna-Barbera. The rest is cartoon history.

Over the years, he's earned the admiration of such modern cartoon directors as Van Partible ("Johnny Bravo") and John Kricfalusi ("Ren and Stimpy"). In other words, he's one of those artists that other artists respect and love, but the general public may not know about.

So the next time you watch "The Flintstones", think about the man that designed them. He did so much to bring those cartoon icons (and many more besides) to our livingrooms. Wow.

OK...so since I've paid tribute to these two gents, and the internet is just ABUZZ with discussions about this...Rest In Peace, Steve Irwin. Here's the special li'l card I made for him.


As we all know by now, Steve Irwin died on Monday at the age of 44, due to being stung by a stingray.

I really do feel for his wife and children (he has more than one, right?). This has to be terrible for them - he was so young.

However, how does one deal with the conflicting feelings of sorrow mixed with relief that we don't have to listen to his voice anymore except in (gulp) reruns?

I'll have to ask Big Ernie about that one.

OK...NEXT!

This was originally going to be a "Bonehead Award", the good staff here at Rancho Sudiegirl have decided to create a different award. So ladies and gentlemen, I give you...


First Inductee(s): The religious organization "Jews for Jesus"

Reason for award: They put Jackie Mason on the cover of their pamphlets.

You may ask, "Why would this be a problem?" Well, because Jackie Mason, in addition to being a comedian, is also an ordained rabbi. To quote Mr. Mason in a quote from Reuters:

"I found it disgusting and obnoxious, and I find it even more disgusting and obnoxious that the spokesman for that organization says, 'Why doesn't he have a sense of humor about it?"' Mason, 75 and famously Jewish, told Reuters on Friday.

"It's like if they kidnap my children and say, 'So what, you never saw a child before?"'

Mason seeks a court injunction stopping distribution of the pamphlet with his likeness, $2 million on compensatory damages and $2 million in exemplary damages.

Jews for Jesus had this to say, again quoting from the article directly...

"He's a public persona. It postulated that even someone as Jewish as Jackie Mason could come to faith in Jesus if he wanted to," said Susan Perlman, a spokeswoman for the group.

"It's humorous, hardly labeling him a Jew for Jesus. ... We thought it would be flattering to him," she said.

Mason shot back with, quote, "...there's no such thing as a Jew for Jesus. If you believe in Jesus you're a Christian. That's the point of Christianity. You can't be a table and a chair."

Judge's Comments:

As open-minded as I can be regarding religion, I have to say Jews for Jesus messed up on a couple of levels.

1. Jackie Mason has been on the comedy scene for years, and really, he's famous enough that he should have been asked by Jews for Jesus first before they made the fliers. That way, he could have told them "no" and why.

2. Jews for Jesus obviously didn't do their research - hell, I'm a Protestant and I knew that Jackie Mason was a rabbi. For cryin' out loud, if a sheltered little Midwesterner knows this, why doesn't a national organization?

Please note that I am not against Jews for Jesus when I say these things. One thing I try to keep in the forefront of my belief system is that old rhyme:

Roses are red, violets are bluish
If it weren't for Christmas, we'd all be Jewish.

I'm not saying one faith is better than the other, but part of being a Christian is understanding Christ's heritage. To me, anti-Semitism commited by a Christian is abominable. That's like slapping your parents in the face.

Maybe that's how Jackie Mason felt when he heard the news...it cut to the core of his beliefs. It was disrespectful. He's right to be pissed.

Hang in there, Jackie. Something tells me you're in the right on this one.

And with that, I am off once again to annoy others.

Crikey!
Sudiegirl