• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

This fight is for everything.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Good lord, these people are nuts.

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

“woke” is the new caravan.

She burned that motherfucker down, and I am so here for it. Thank you, Caroline Kennedy.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / Excellent Links / This Deserves a New Thread

This Deserves a New Thread

by John Cole|  April 9, 20109:54 pm| 88 Comments

This post is in: Excellent Links

FacebookTweetEmail

The new nine part seventy minute review of Star Wars II is now available:

I actually like bagpipes, though. I’ve been known to wake up roommates who kept me up too late with their drunken antics with an early morning Black Watch cd at ear bleeding volume. But I like bagpipes for other reasons, too.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Another Open Thread
Next Post: Early Morning Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

88Comments

  1. 1.

    jibeaux

    April 9, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    Bagpipes were played at my pop’s funeral, and they were exactly the right hauntingly beautiful instrument for the job. I wouldn’t have thought of it, myself, but it was perfect. So there ya go, free funeral planning advice, trust me, they’ll love it.

  2. 2.

    madmommy

    April 9, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    I’m confused. Why would someone do a reveiw of a movie that is nearly as long as the movie itself?

    Had some completely delish fried shrimp and boiled crawfish for dinner. As always seems to be the case, I had a paper cut on my finger. For the uninitiated, peeling crawfish with a papercut is exceedingly painful. But still quite yummy. My finger will stop stinging at some point.

  3. 3.

    Chuck Butcher

    April 9, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    I saw the Black Watch as a little kid, by age 6 I was playing drums. That’s a tad over 50 years ago and I still have a pair of ’59 vinyl Black Watch. They get very very little play on the Techniques/Grace tone arm setup.

  4. 4.

    Mark S.

    April 9, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    I don’t know which was worse: Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones. They are both really bad in different ways.

  5. 5.

    SiubhanDuinne

    April 9, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    @John: What other reasons? (I’m not being crtical or snarky, I happen to love bagpipes.)

  6. 6.

    SIA

    April 9, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    LOVE bagpipes. They make my blood wake up.

    Weird review, weird, guy, weird ending – did.not.like.

  7. 7.

    mr. whipple

    April 9, 2010 at 10:14 pm

    I like wahwah fuzztone bagpipes, with a lot of feedback.

  8. 8.

    r€nato

    April 9, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    My two second review of SW II:

    DO NOT WANT

    There, I just saved you 69:58.

  9. 9.

    r€nato

    April 9, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    …shit, I got 2:06 into that YT clip and decided I couldn’t put up with that droning voice any longer. He still had not started to go through any scenes to tell me what specifically was so awful. Ugh.

  10. 10.

    jeffreyw

    April 9, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    @mr. whipple: Loved that cover of the Zep’s Dazed and Confused by a local electric bagpipe band.

  11. 11.

    Poicephalus

    April 9, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    John Cole, you are my kind of asshole.
    Wish you had been in my unit.

    C

  12. 12.

    kid bitzer

    April 9, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    i watched the first segment (linked above) but the guy is still cutting in these episodes of unfunny misogynistic joking about his kidnapping and abusing women in his basement. it was ugly in the first round, it’s ugly now, and i’m not giving him any more hits.

    it’s a shame, because he has interesting things to d
    say about movies and stories. but the sexist stuff is just uncalled for and unacceptable.

  13. 13.

    John Cole

    April 9, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: I like the music.

  14. 14.

    Trainrunner

    April 9, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    Talk about missing the point.

  15. 15.

    Svensker

    April 9, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    Hey, about some French Canucks wearing kilts and playing accordians and bagpipes? Very cheery.

  16. 16.

    arguingwithsignposts

    April 9, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    In case you missed it, Lady Smudge likes the bagpipes. And since this is nominally an open thread, if you get a chance to check out Sarah Vowell on tour, do so. She’s got a new book coming out this month about Hawaii’s annexation. Very funny reading.

  17. 17.

    JBerardi

    April 9, 2010 at 10:47 pm

    @kid bitzer:

    The videos aren’t misogynist. They feature a [i]character[/i] who is a misogynist to a ridiculous (some might even say humorous) extreme. It’s not like someone is going to watch these videos and decide that tying women up in their basement is a good idea, or acceptable behavior, or anything like that.

    What’s misogynist is me reminding you that you really need to wash that sand out of your vagina.

  18. 18.

    Mike Kay

    April 9, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    Alright, who plugged the “hillary hole”?!?

    Who did it!?@

  19. 19.

    Svensker

    April 9, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    Aw, I haz a happy. “Consistently wrong since 2002” is in the rotation. Thank you. May your LaZBoy remain upright and all your pets loyal and healthy for many happy years.

  20. 20.

    r€nato

    April 9, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    OK I liked the guy’s Avatar review much better. Good snark.

  21. 21.

    Comrade Darkness

    April 9, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    @kid bitzer:

    You’re totally missing the point. He’s demonstrating in 10-15 seconds, how easy it is to create, real characters, dramatic tension and plot, all the things he’s criticizing Lucas for lacking in an hour and a half movie. That the scenes are uncomfortable and really make you want to change the situation, demonstrates how skillfully they are done.

    I love these reviews. The droning voice fits for me with the depression about the movies.

  22. 22.

    ari

    April 9, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    @Comrade Darkness:

    If I had to guess, I’d say that kb gets the point. And that he nevertheless thinks the reviewer’s character is needlessly creepy.

  23. 23.

    Mike Kay

    April 9, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: Love the Smudge. Thanks for the photos.

  24. 24.

    Redshirt

    April 9, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    Attack of the Clones is the worst Star Wars movie by far. That’s objective fact, so there’s really no point in debating it.

    I would argue Phantom Menace is better than Return of the Jedi. But some might disagree with that, perhaps rightfully so!

  25. 25.

    r€nato

    April 9, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    @Comrade Darkness: that was a 90 minute film? Felt more like three hours. I got stuck going to see it at the theater (in digital projection!!!!) with a bunch of talented artists types who all raved about it after. I regret to say that peer pressure forced me to avoid saying what I really thought. Even the eye candy couldn’t make up for the typically shitty Lucas script.

  26. 26.

    davematson

    April 9, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    I’m with @kid bitzer. The creepy stuff is unnecessarily creepy, and a cheap, lazy way to make whatever point he is making.

    Which is a shame, because I like the commentary otherwise. Would watch with that crap cut out.

  27. 27.

    BethanyAnne

    April 9, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    @kid bitzer: Yea, all the junk about him rather than about the film I found unnecessary. The misogyny didn’t amuse me; instead it distracted me from the funny bits in the first one. I got to the 3rd part of this one, and just had had enough. I don’t care if it’s in the tradition of “unreliable narrators” or not. I don’t think it added anything of value.

  28. 28.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    April 9, 2010 at 11:18 pm

    Never been a Star Wars fan. Though the first one I liked ok, but then I was fully loaded when I watched it.

    The Reds won again today by a run, two in a row after dropping the first two, so that made a better evening.

    And today was just a perfect spring desert/foothills day. 75 degrees, no wind, blue sky and zilch humidity. I cannot even fathom ever moving back east.

  29. 29.

    Comrade Darkness

    April 9, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    @r€nato: I actually don’t know, I watched it on an ipod, so I jumped around. I thought it didn’t make any sense because of THAT.

    The eye candy just makes it feel like a video game to me and even less like a movie. I think the world has moved on and Lucas is being dragged behind on that count alone.

    @ari: The person I was watching the review with didn’t get it and was backing away until I pointed it out. Then he was cool with it. So I thought I’d explain it, just in case. I’m fine with the creepy too. I’m just twisted that way, I guess.

    These reviews almost justify the existence of the movies for me. Almost.

  30. 30.

    Mike in NC

    April 9, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    I’ve been known to wake up roommates who kept me up too late with their drunken antics with an early morning Black Watch cd at ear bleeding volume.

    I had a friend who liked to listen to bagpipe music on his car’s CD player when we took long road trips. Frankly, as someone of Irish/Scots ancestry, it all started to sound all the same to me pretty quickly.

    On the other hand, we once stayed at the Lord Nelson Hotel in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, where you’d wake up in the morning to the sound of live bagpipes in the nearby public park. Lovely.

  31. 31.

    Mike Kay

    April 9, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: Where digya live, back east?

  32. 32.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    April 9, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    @Mike Kay:

    I am from east Kentucky, but lived in several states like VA, OH, and most recent MS Gulf Coast in the 90’s. Before I came back to NM, where I had lived for a while in the early 80’s/

  33. 33.

    Christian Sieber

    April 9, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    It’s been a couple weeks since we had a good Balloon Juice vs. The Hippies fight. Where can I find a DFH to punch?

  34. 34.

    Mike Kay

    April 9, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: Hmmm, the Lexington chicks are hwat.

  35. 35.

    Will

    April 9, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    I watched the whole fucking thing a few days ago. The best parts are 4, 5, and 6, when he breaks down the flagrant weaknesses in the romance between Anakin and Amadallah.

    Yeah.

  36. 36.

    New Yorker

    April 9, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @Mark S.:

    “Menace” was immensely stupid, “Clones” was immensely boring. You’re right, bad in different ways.

    Also, the first video rules for the “Last Starfighter” references.

  37. 37.

    Will

    April 9, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    @BethanyAnne:

    Did you get to the end? Because the creepy stuff does have a payoff, if you make it to the end.

  38. 38.

    Will

    April 9, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @kid bitzer:

    Yeah, again, you really have to make it the end of the videos to get the point of the “kidnapped woman”.

  39. 39.

    ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty

    April 10, 2010 at 12:03 am

    Bagpipes are to music what haggis is to food.

  40. 40.

    lahke

    April 10, 2010 at 12:06 am

    @Jberardi

    That was pretty uncalled for.

    @Will
    I’m not going to watch it all, but I guess you’re implying that it’s a joke and she somehow turns the tables? So what? He gets to spend a whole lot of time sexualizing violence, and then pretends to make it all right in two minutes at the end. It’s still sick.

  41. 41.

    Fern

    April 10, 2010 at 12:06 am

    @Svensker: Ooh, that was fun.

  42. 42.

    mr. whipple

    April 10, 2010 at 12:10 am

    Never been a Star Wars fan. Though the first one I liked ok, but then I was fuNever been a Star Wars fan.

    Never saw one, I don’t think. And if I did I forgot.

    OTOH, this Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scott’s I’m watching freaking rocks.

  43. 43.

    Will

    April 10, 2010 at 12:10 am

    @lahke:

    I’m not going to watch it all, but I guess you’re implying that it’s a joke and she somehow turns the tables? So what? He gets to spend a whole lot of time sexualizing violence, and then pretends to make it all right in two minutes at the end. It’s still sick.

    No, it’s not the way you describe. I understand why you’re bothered by it. But you’d have to make it through to the end to fully judge it, rather than just assume how it’s gonna go down.

  44. 44.

    mcd410x

    April 10, 2010 at 12:11 am

    Humor is lost on some people.

  45. 45.

    Martin

    April 10, 2010 at 12:11 am

    @madmommy:

    I’m confused. Why would someone do a reveiw of a movie that is nearly as long as the movie itself?

    Because the review is more entertaining than the movie was. It may have taken 8 years, but I finally feel like I got my money’s worth out of that film.

  46. 46.

    Vince CA

    April 10, 2010 at 12:14 am

    I thought the tied-up prostitute in the basement (in his review of T.P.M.) was creepy funny. Like the movie. Except the movie wasn’t trying to be either.

    That said, my wife thinks these reviews are just a reminder that it’s really, really easy to make fun of crud. Point.

    I just saw Clash of the Titans tonight. I didn’t see for the acting, that’s for sure! I actually got a night out away from the baby with some friends and I just laughed and laughed through the whole thing. The Jr High kids probably thought I was nuts. But yeah, definitely a great movie for jr high (no kissing it it either, what a disappointment!)

  47. 47.

    ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty

    April 10, 2010 at 12:16 am

    @mcd410x:

    Not around here.

    Heh.

    Heh heh.

    Uhh.

  48. 48.

    Comrade Kevin

    April 10, 2010 at 12:17 am

    Don’t know how many of you have seen it, but here’s some more for the Hamsher-dislikers out there.

  49. 49.

    Arclite

    April 10, 2010 at 12:18 am

    This guy is genius. I saw is Star Wars Ep 1 review several months ago and watched this one a few days ago. Not only is his critique spot on as to the problems with the movies, but they are also funnier than a lot of actual comedies as well. His deadpan delivery and off the wall comparisons are great.

    He does critiques of other movies, like Avatar and Star Trek, but his best ones are the Star Wars prequel ones since there’s so much wrong with them.

    All his stuff can be browsed here:

    http://www.youtube.com/user/RedLetterMedia

  50. 50.

    Comrade Kevin

    April 10, 2010 at 12:21 am

    Bagpipes are the best joke the Irish ever pulled on the Scots.

  51. 51.

    Martin

    April 10, 2010 at 12:22 am

    @Vince CA:

    I thought the tied-up prostitute in the basement (in his review of T.P.M.) was creepy funny. Like the movie. Except the movie wasn’t trying to be either.

    I’m 98% positive that these reviews are made by BOB.

  52. 52.

    Martin

    April 10, 2010 at 12:24 am

    OT, but Bacevich was on Moyers tonight. Will probably be on the PBS website tomorrow.

  53. 53.

    Phoebe

    April 10, 2010 at 12:24 am

    love love love bagpipes. love. that is all.

  54. 54.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    April 10, 2010 at 12:29 am

    More GOP family values fund raising. From NPR interview with Pete Sessions = gooper congresscritter.

    Sessions: That’s right, we do a Las Vegas fundraiser every year and not only raise money, but see Las Vegas. It’s a beautiful town.

    Henn: Forty Deuce is a strip club.

    Sessions: You know, I’ve never seen that. It is what I would call a burlesque show where there’s a woman who comes out and has a dress on… Uh, she never get’s naked. There’s no nudity, there’s no nudity in there.

    This is how the club’s owner, Ivan Kane, describes his brand of burlesque.

    Ivan Kane: The key component would be to have girls who were dancers taking their clothes off, not just girls taking their clothes off.

    Burlesque, of course is perfectly normal for growing boys. Stippers, not so much. These guys are national treasures in the comedy department.

  55. 55.

    mcd410x

    April 10, 2010 at 12:37 am

    “Maybe there’s 10 Nausicaans waiting for the Jedi at the dom-jot table.”

    That was worth the price of admission!

  56. 56.

    ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty

    April 10, 2010 at 12:42 am

    If I lost my hearing, the silver lining would be that I would never have to hear another bagpipe.

  57. 57.

    Emo Pantload (fka Studly)

    April 10, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Holy crap apples! Dog whistle much, Newt?

    Gingrich: “We need a president, not an athlete.”

  58. 58.

    Kobie

    April 10, 2010 at 12:52 am

    @Mark S.: IMHO, Attack of the Clones is FAR worse than Phantom Menace. TPM had its moments of narm, but AotC is dog shit from beginning to end except for two scenes: the opening battle on Geonosis (after the clones show up) and the final scene with the clone army boarding the big ships.

  59. 59.

    ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty

    April 10, 2010 at 12:58 am

    Hey, all kidding aside, I have a story.

    I have a rental house in a modest middle class neighborhood here in Phoenix. It’s empty right now while I fix it up and decide whether to rent it or sell it. Meanwhile, I am taking the mail over there.

    Thru a snafu I won’t describe in detail, at this house I am getting a steady stream of crazyazz rightwing mail, every day, the most amazing collection of stuff you have ever seen. Relentless, insane, mean, subversive as far as I am concerned, always asking for money and drumming up the hate and the fear and the negativity. Literally pounds of mail every month. Not a day goes by without some hateful shit arriving in the mailbox.

    I want to quote to you from a piece I got today:

    Dear B_______,

    Together you and I have really rocked the Radical Homsexual Lobby.

    You and I are the reason why the Homosexual Lobby has failed to pass its Gay Bill of Rights and repeal Dont Ask Dont Tell.

    …. In the past, the Radical Homosexuals have attempted to kill me and stalk my family. But that onlymakes me more determined than EVER to fight them.

    The Radical Homosexuals desecrate churches, spread their filth across the internet, run naked through the halls of Congress. But when I try to tell people about it, my letters are labeled OBSCENE by small minded bureacrats serving the Homosexuals’ purposes.

    I need your help. Please send a contribution of $50 or more today.

    —//

    This thing goes on for six single spaced pages of madness and hatemongering.

    And this is just one of hundreds of pieces of this crap that B______ gets in the mail every month.

    It just blows my mind, I have never seen such a vast machine of propaganda and hatemongering at work. Hate against gays, against liberals, democrats, immigrants, muslims, you name it.

    Check out the website this particular mail points to

    Sorry, but this stuff just blows me away. The constant torrent of it…..the mailman tells me that he delivers tons — literally — of this mail every year.

  60. 60.

    mai naem

    April 10, 2010 at 1:06 am

    Paul McCartney had a song Mull of Kintyre with bagpipes around 1977. Pretty song.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JPHNuAAZDE

  61. 61.

    Emo Pantload (fka Studly)

    April 10, 2010 at 1:14 am

    @ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty:

    Twenty to 25% of our country’s population is functionally developmentally disabled. (And, yes, I *did* just use the DD phrase.)

  62. 62.

    Comrade Darkness

    April 10, 2010 at 1:14 am

    @ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty: You’d think people would grow numb to it. But, I’ve never run solely on a diet of hate for more than five minutes at a time, so I guess I really can’t know.

  63. 63.

    Nicole

    April 10, 2010 at 1:31 am

    I liked the Ep 2 review. I originally didn’t like the women in the basement thing, but now I’m curious if it’s going to pay off in his review of Ep 3. And I’m wondering if the end of that subplot in the review of Ep2 is meant to mimic the end of Empire (since he does so much comparison of Ep 2 and Empire) and I also wonder if my wondering so much about that means I need a life.

    For those for whom 70 minutes is too long, here’s:

    Clash of the Titans (in 60 Seconds)

  64. 64.

    IndyLib

    April 10, 2010 at 1:36 am

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    I love Sarah Vowell. Have you ever listened to her stuff on audiobook? She does her own narration, and it’s frikkin’ hilarious.
    Thanks for the heads-up on the new book.

  65. 65.

    Mike Kay

    April 10, 2010 at 1:40 am

    @Emo Pantload (fka Studly):

    Yeah, that’s what I thought, as well, but I also think it’s Newt’s envy showing. After all, Newt is a fat disgusting slob who is approaching 70. Newt got dumped by his own party, while the President is beloved by his party (sans Firebaggers, of course).

  66. 66.

    Robert Waldmann

    April 10, 2010 at 1:51 am

    I don’t see how that narator guy keeps his job. He must be represented by fucking AFSCME (they don’t take shit from nobody) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3mw49mk_x0

  67. 67.

    TuiMel

    April 10, 2010 at 1:53 am

    I like bagpipes, but when I see someone playing a bagpipe, I am struck by what a Seussian instrument it is. I wonder at the conception / invention of it. All in all, I think I prefer the Irish bagpipe the the Scottish.

  68. 68.

    mcd410x

    April 10, 2010 at 1:58 am

    Hopefully, Walnuts is going to email us our pizza rolls any day now …

  69. 69.

    Cliff

    April 10, 2010 at 2:31 am

    I like this guy’s reviews (except for the serial killer schtick, I get weirded out at that).

    But I hate that every time (which makes three times now) a blog links to the Star Wars reviews, some rabid fan lurches in from the depths of the Internet to explain how the prequels weren’t really that bad.

    Yes, they are that bad. They are precisely that bad.

  70. 70.

    Anne Laurie

    April 10, 2010 at 2:38 am

    @TuiMel:

    I like bagpipes, but when I see someone playing a bagpipe, I am struck by what a Seussian instrument it is. I wonder at the conception / invention of it.

    Since the original inventors were Turkish (or possibly Greek) goat herders… I’ve always preferred not to dwell on the creative cognition involved, ifyouknowwhatimean.

  71. 71.

    ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty

    April 10, 2010 at 3:50 am

    @Comrade Darkness:

    Oh, for a minute there I thought you were talking about bagpipes. Heh.

    Okay, what I really think about bagpipes is, I am intrigued by the way some people seem to like listening to something that cannot be distinguished from the sound of a radiator hose just about to burst.

  72. 72.

    GregB

    April 10, 2010 at 3:50 am

    Extremism,

    I checked out that link.

    There is an anti-gay screed by, ahem, Lt. Col. Dick Black.

    I kid you not.

  73. 73.

    HRA

    April 10, 2010 at 4:20 am

    When you think about bagpipes, you automatically associate them with Scotland. The origin of bagpipes however are nowhere near the Highlands of Scotland but presumably lie somewhere in the Middle East, in ancient Mesopotamia. Thanks to troubadours (traveling musicians) the instrument reached several places throughout Europe. The Romans also played a major part in the distribution of the bagpipes. The Roman army used to march to bagpipe music. Some historians even suggest that Emperor Nero was a piper himself. The Romans introduced the bagpipes into Scotland. In those days Scotland was known as ‘Caledonia’. In Scotland the bagpipes started to lead a life of their own, but the pipes developed in different ways in other countries in Europe as well. That’s why we know so many sorts of bagpipes today. Remainders of these are the Musette in France, the Gaita in Spain and Portugal, the Zumarah in Egypt, the Uillean pipes in Ireland, and many more.
    http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:Jps1…

    Various forms of bagpipes have been attributed to many ancient civilizations. A style of bagpipe is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. Some historians believe the bagpipes had their origin in Sumaria. While others believe it was spread to Persia, India, and the Roman Empire by the Celtic peoples. An Athenian dramatist, writing in the fifth century BC, mentioned the bagpipe.
    http://www.bagpipesonly.com/origin.htm

    Contrary to popular belief, the bagpipes are not of Scottish or Irish origin. The first version of the instrument can be traced back to the Middle East several centuries before the birth of Christ. It was most likely a rather crude instrument comprised of reeds stuck into a goatskin bag. As civilization spread throughout the Middle East and into the Mediterranean lands, the people brought along their music.
    http://www.bcfpb.com/id11.html

  74. 74.

    Calouste

    April 10, 2010 at 4:43 am

    @ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty:

    Apparently enough rubes who send the “$50 or more” in reply to those letters.

    I guess the moment one of the people who sends out that crap gets a check in the mail, they sell on the address to the other conmen.

  75. 75.

    Calouste

    April 10, 2010 at 4:46 am

    A plane has crashed in Russia with the President of Poland and other Polish dignitairies on board, among them the President of the Central Bank and the head of the army. Current reports say no survivors.

  76. 76.

    Xenos

    April 10, 2010 at 5:16 am

    @Cliff: The serial killer schtick? It was cheap and lazy and pronographic in ‘Silence of the Lambs, and if there is a joke hiding in there I fail to find it. The whole series of Hannibal films is based on toxic homophobia and misogyny, and their critical success really shines an ugly light on many of the jerks who produce and review films.

    If anything, the exploitative vignettes make me want to defend Lucas. Sure can produce dramatic tension in ten seconds with that sort of thing, but what is the point? Lucas, as much as a hack as he is, is trying to produce something spectacular that may be all surface glimmer, but is not unnecessarily exploitative. As far as women are concerned, at least.

  77. 77.

    bob h

    April 10, 2010 at 6:54 am

    Edinburgh has an arts festival every August, at the close of which there is a bagpiper parade. The one I saw in 2000 had 10,000 bagpipers. You’d love it.

  78. 78.

    arguingwithsignposts

    April 10, 2010 at 7:03 am

    @IndyLib:
    Actually, I’ve listened to all of her books, only own one hard copy. Ditto David Sedaris. Both of them have an excellent dead-pan delivery.

  79. 79.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    April 10, 2010 at 7:21 am

    I like bagpipes too, but I suspect it is genetic.

    I didn’t watch, have no plans to watch and would violently resist any attempts to make me watch Attack of the Clowns or Revenge of the Shit because Phantom Menace SSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKED.

    /Star Wars Geek Rant.

  80. 80.

    swalker

    April 10, 2010 at 8:20 am

    Me, too, John. I just posted on your most recent thread. I saw The Black Watch when I was a kid and I’ve enjoy bagpipes ever since. I get why they’re not for everybody, but I always hear a level of derision for them normally reserved for Palin.

  81. 81.

    Jason Bylinowski

    April 10, 2010 at 8:55 am

    What I love about the Redletter Media movie review guy is how anytime I see one of these video reviews get posted somewhere, it immediately causes a huge shitstorm of controversy due to the sketch comedy. So I’m going to stick my neck out and say and that your aversion to and my defense of his video is all just a part of his plan.

    Dude is the PT Barnum of cinema criticism.

  82. 82.

    Caravelle

    April 10, 2010 at 11:04 am

    I liked the creepy misogyny better in the Episode I reviews because it built up so slowly at first you weren’t really aware of what the deal was. In this one the subtlety goes out the window. It might be like replacing the unseen aliens in Alien with special effects aliens in the sequels, if I had seen Alien or its sequels.

    I can see why some people find them too creepy to watch or think they’re misogynistic or exploitative even though I personally don’t feel that way. It’s too bad because the reviews themselves are quite good.

  83. 83.

    Cerberus

    April 10, 2010 at 11:19 am

    @Xenos:

    Haven’t yet made my mind up about the creepy serial killer misogyny (showing how the serial killer is almost always built out of that vile bed of misogyny and the like is good, but presentation can just be women-hating murder porn especially in modern horror, so where does this fit into it, etc…), but I wanted to address a shallower point.

    That is Lucas does exploit his female characters. Leia in her slave bikini, Padme being put into various fetish outfits, and some outdated Earth views of the roles of women transplanted on space race women who supposedly have impressive jobs and combat prowess.

    There is often a casual sort of nerd-community sexism in Lucas’s works, even his much vaunted earlier works (doesn’t stop me loving those works, mind) that like many things didn’t get better in the new versions.

    Of course, I’ve pretty much just sort of let go of the whole thing. Star Trek and Star Wars died a long time ago, before I was even a fan even, and its okay that they did. Things can be great for a time and go away. New amazing works will arise (most everything Joss Whedon does) and old works will get impressive new makeovers in new talent (Doctor Who and Battlestar Gallactica).

    And that’s all okay.

  84. 84.

    moe99

    April 10, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    @kid bitzer:

    agreed. the abuse of the women detracts from what the guy has to say and it’s a shame because it’s good stuff otherwise.

    PS: bagpipes originally came from the middle east. The Romans imported them to Britain and thence to Ireland and Scotland. Massed bagpipes can have a very intimidating effect as part of warfare (pre guns).

  85. 85.

    moe99

    April 10, 2010 at 12:31 pm

    @HRA:

    Sorry, HRA, missed your fine post on the history of bagpipes first time through. As a proud graduate of Macalester College, I have a real fondness for bagpipes.

  86. 86.

    bago

    April 10, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    @r€nato: Because a two minute song is just one minute and 59 seconds to god damned long!

    –Mindless Self Indulgence

  87. 87.

    Cliff

    April 10, 2010 at 3:38 pm

    @Xenos:

    Lucas, as much as a hack as he is, is trying to produce something spectacular that may be all surface glimmer, but is not unnecessarily exploitative. As far as women are concerned, at least.

    That’s because there’s like two women in all six movies.

    But even then, one of those two women falls in love with creepy psychopath who loves slaughtering tribes of native folk with laser swords, and the other gets to wear a brass bikini.

  88. 88.

    Nick the Australian

    April 11, 2010 at 4:41 am

    I disagree with “Attack of the Clones” being worse than “The Phantom Menace” (except for the title)

    But re. the point “Why not just start the prequel films here?” — GOOD QUESTION!

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

What we should do right now
Image by Tim F. (5/10/25)

Recent Comments

  • Another Scott on Why Does Fascism Have To Be So Fucking Tacky? (May 11, 2025 @ 10:50pm)
  • Another Scott on Why Does Fascism Have To Be So Fucking Tacky? (May 11, 2025 @ 10:41pm)
  • Melancholy Jaques on Why Does Fascism Have To Be So Fucking Tacky? (May 11, 2025 @ 10:39pm)
  • prostratedragon on Why Does Fascism Have To Be So Fucking Tacky? (May 11, 2025 @ 10:37pm)
  • Jay on Why Does Fascism Have To Be So Fucking Tacky? (May 11, 2025 @ 10:35pm)

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
War in Ukraine
Donate to Razom for Ukraine

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Meetups

Upcoming Ohio Meetup May 17
5/11 Post about the May 17 Ohio Meetup

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Hands Off! – Denver, San Diego & Austin

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!