Thursday, September 13, 2012

What's the deal with bumper stickers?

As I was driving home from work today I ended up behind someone who had a pair of Obama/Biden bumper stickers on his car.  That got me thinking.  What is the purpose of political bumper stickers?Are they trying to convince others to vote for that candidate?  I mean, do people really see political bumper stickers on the back of a car and think to themselves, "You know, that guy supports Obama.  I think I will too!"?  Or is it purely to show your support for a candidate?  Because if it is, I have to think there are better ways to do it.  A bumper sticker is a pretty permanent show of support.  Four years later, you just look silly.  But to each his own I guess.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Triggering my inner actor

I have been searching for months for a new topic to write about, and as of today, I'm still searching.  But I really had the itch to write, so I'm reaching for something here.  But I know today's topic is something everyone can relate to.  Do you ever hear a word or phrase and automatically think of a line from a movie and instantly have to recite it out loud?  I thought so.  Well, I do it all the time, so I thought I'd share my most commonly quoted lines.

1. "Forrrrrreeeeeeevvvvvvvvveeeeeerrrrrrrr" - Every time I hear the word 'forever' I can't help but quote The Sandlot.  And usually when I do, countless others around follow suit in a chorus of 'forevers".  For those of you who may be lost, watch here:
 Of course, unless you remember the movie well and know that this scene is from the flashback when the boys tell the story of the Beast, you might not recognize it as being from The Sandlot.  But it is, trust me.

2. "Power" - This one is a little more obscure.  When I hear the word power I immediately think of Griff Tannen chasing Marty McFly in the future in Back to the Future II.  Like I said, obscure.  But watch:
I will say that when I repeat the line, "Hoverboards don't work on water.  Unless you've got power," I don't follow it with that ridiculous laugh.  But I do say it in that ridiculous voice.

3. "Paper Jam" - I know there are multiple people who know this one.  Office Space is a cult classic, one that everyone who has a job, whether in an office or not, can relate to.  And the dealings with the printer make for an easily repeatable movie line.
We have all been there and I'm sure we have all wanted to take our printer out to a field, blast some Geto Boys, and know that it does feel good to be a gangsta.

4. "What did you do?" - This is another obscure one, but when I hear this question asked, I immediately go into a mini Ghostbusters monologue.  And everyone who knows Ghostbusters, knows the answer to the question is, of course, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
Most people don't get it when I say, "What did you do, Ray?"  They wonder why I'm calling them Ray.  But there are a few, and you know who you are, who follow my question with, "It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man."

5. "One, two, one, two" - This one is a two for one.  Haha, get it.  I totally accept pity laughs.  So depending on how this line is uttered is what I think of to recite.  If I hear it as it is written here, I immediately think of one of my favorite poems, The Jabberwocky, and the line, "One, two, one, two/ And through and through/ The vorpal blade went snicker snack/ And with its head he left it dead/ And went galumphing back."
And if I hear it like someone is counting, I start doing this:
But really, who doesn't? 

So those are the five lines I recite randomly most often when triggered by certain phrases.  I know you all have your own triggers as well, so feel free to share some of yours.  And hopefully, I'll get back on the writing horse and start posting more frequently.