Wednesday, November 25, 2009

IS JAG-OFF REALLY A CHICAGO WORD?

Speaking of the aforementioned...
I guess the whole thing began in the film 'CASINO.'
Robert DeNiro's character was all jovial, and he complimented the "gambler" character on his quality ball-point writing utensil, or "watermark."
Next thing you know, gambler gets all up in the DeNiro character's face, and he calls him a jag-off, and the next thing you know, he's dead.
I guess you could say that if you want to call somebody a "jag-off," you can do one of two things.
1) pack some kind of weapon
or
2) try viewing the director's cut of 'CASINO,' take notes, and remember that actions have consequences.
Or you could just ignore anyone who uses that kind of language.
Because life isn't a casino.

Monday, November 23, 2009

ODE TO STEVEN 'LAWMAN' SEAGAL

Why do you dance on the edge of a knife
When Fat Guy rules the roost?
Liars lie
Cheaters cheat
Scream it's all no use

How does it feel, to know you're about to die?
We've all been there before
Maybe you punks haven't had enough yet;
Maybe you want some more

He knows the spirit
He knows the flesh
I think he speaks Chinese
One time, they tried to steal his bike...
He kicked them in the knees!

Don't mess with the Lawman
Don't mess with his wife
Don't mess with his kids
You'll pay with your life
Final warning, Jag Bag.
Stay out of the Lawman's way;
Start paying your respects right now,
Or there'll be hell to PAY

MORE FROM EDDIE BERTHANSE

Greetings.
Eddie Berthanse here.
Remember Michael Mann's "jag-off classic," Thief (1981)?
Did you see that one?
I did.
There was a top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art jag-off named Leo.
He was played by Robert Prosky.
At first, he was nice.
He offered to be friends with James Caan's Frank character.
He called him a "high-line pro."
He called him "Dr. Wizard."
Then?
Then Leo turned into a ball-bustin' jag bag!
He stole Caan's money.
He blew a hole in Jim Belushi's chest.
He said, quote, "I'll whack out your whole gosh darn family. Kids'll be eatin' 'em in their wimpy burgers tomorrow, and not know it."
So Caan blew his innards all over the wall.
You know why?
Because Leo was a Jag-Off!
Don't be a jag-off.
Don't be a jag-BAG.
Maybe, just maybe, YOU won't get "jagged."
Got it?

GREETINGS FROM "MR. IMPORTANT VOICE"

Greetings, Freinds.
My name is Edward Voorhees Berthanse.
Eddie to those.
I statrted out as a clipboard-smacker for Brain Trust Enterprises Limited, and nowI make Clones.
Still?
Still, I love a good movie.
Back in 1996, Luke Perry and Ashley Judd starred in a straight-t0-cable television drama called NOrmal Life.
Judd was some kind of research egghed.
Perry played a clueless law enforcement professional who ran a bookstore.
Anyway, they show the first time they make love, and we get to see them rip off each other's underwear.
Later, they owe people money, so they start robbing banks.
So, that pretty much takes care of the plot, as such.
Luke's fellow police officers don't like Luke very much.
He doesn't go to bars with them.
He opts out of their drunk-beating sessions.
And he doesn't join them when they shoot animals.
he doesn't do ANY of that stuff.
So they hate him.
He quits.
One cop says, "Adios......JAG-OFF!!!"
That's just about the funnies thing I've ever heard.
Real--or movie.
"Adios.....JAG-OFF."

FAT GUY CALLS IT QUITS

At three o'clock low, Fat GUy barged into Suite 2323 (the Dream Factory) like he owned the damn place.
Jack Bronstein snuffed out his cigar, and sprang to his feet.
"Fat Guy, you big fat ass!" he grinned. "Sit down, Fatty."
He offered the fat-assed fellow a Fig Newton, but he was rebuked.
"Just business, sir," said Fatty. "Just business."
Rebuked, Bronstein lit up another cigar, and frowned.
"This is a side of you I haven't seen, Fatty," he said. "And frankly? I don't like it. But you're here to talk business. So talk."
Fat Guy took a hit off his asthma inhaler before speaking.
And speak he did.
"here it is, Mr. Bronstein," he beamed. "Baseball Ben Very Good to Me--the legend of Sammy Sosa."
Jack sighed.
Fatty remarked, "And that ain't all, Jack. That ain't all."
"'That ain't all,' Fatty? 'THAT AIN'T ALL'? Come on, Fatty. You haven't even named a male lead. What is this?"
Fat Guy said, "I'll TELL you what this is. I quit."
Jck tossed his cigar out the window, and threw in the lighter for good measure.
"You what?" he gasped.
FAtty replied, "I QUIT. Feel me? Out the door! I"m through working for you. I've had it!"
Bronstein said, "Uh, Fatty, you don't really do any work for me in the first place. YOu bring me half-baked movie ideas, and DickSharkwater makes movies LOOSELY based on said ideas. By the time Dick gets through with 'em, I can't even RECOGNIZE your original IDEAS. That ain't workin'!"
Enraged, Fatty fumed, "Balls."
Jack said, "Make no mistake; i appreciate the way you help me murder the burrito delivery man every day. Make no mistake."
"Don't try to blackmail me, Jack," barked Fatty. "I may have made the phone calls, but YOU pulled the TRIGGER. MURDERER! ELF-FRIEND!"
"Lose the Tolkien airs, FAtty," chuckled Jack. "They don't suit you."
"Suit THIS, boss," laughed Fatty. "you're on your own!"
Jack, struck with solitude, graspoing for something solitude, shoved a cigar in his mouth and wept.

the smoking 'gum'

Remember "Bazooka Joe"?
Was the Bazooka Joe character "Mort" the tragic hero writ large?
Think about it
Did anything good ever happen to that guy?
He always had that "freaked-out" look on his face; signified by lines jumping from his head.
I htink we s hould devote some serious time and effort toward solving this riddle.
WAS "Mort" THE tragic hero writ large?