Why are Democrats voting yes on Health Care Reform?

As found at VASS

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rep. Kucinich, Senator Gillibrand, oh the list could go on and on. What reason do they all have in common to vote yes?



It seems that not much has changed since 1940.

If you can't laugh you'll wind up crying.

Bill Cosby given the Mark Twain Prize

There are but a few comedians that have had the ability to entertain the masses for more than just a moment. They are people whose names can be remembered by gerations, across the globe. To these few, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is given.



Bill Cosby recieved this honor yesterday, at an event filled with stars and fans. Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Sinbad, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Phylicia Rashad, Rita Moreno, and many others were on hand to celebrate the gift of humor that Cosby has shared with us all for decades.

Without a single curse, without a need to be ghettofabulous, Cosby has acheived greatness and opened doors for all that have come after him. There would be no Martin, no Lining Single, no In Living Color, and on without Cosby and I Spy. There would be arguably be no Tyler Perry without The Cosby Show. His footprints cover movies, television, and stand-up comedy.



Many may not realize it, but back in the 80's as the Cosby Show was shocking Hollywood that an African American family could be successful and funny, and America would flock to it in droves, Dr. Bill Cosby had the chance to buy NBC - and turned the deal down. Just having such an option is remarkable. In fact I only can recall one other star that was capable of such a feat, Dezi Arnaz (who oddly enough was also a person of color).

These days Dr. Cosby may be covered by the media mostly for his comments about our society, and Black culture. It's an insight that is both piercing and accurate. No statement ever causes more discussion and complaint than the absolute truth. But I believe he has earned the right to chide the very same people that he joked with through out their formative years.



For all these reasons, I am glad to know that Dr. Bill Cosby has received the Mark Twain Prize. Because it is his ability to communicate with us, in humor and abject gravity, that defines what he was and is today. Like Mark Twain he has used the American language and culture to inform, educate, and unify us. As I said, few can ever hope to acheive such great levels, and when they do we should take note.

Keep an eye out. The tribute will air on PBS on November 4th. It will surely be worthy of watching.

Do you know Abbott & Costello?

Yesterday, while at an event at the Chameleon Café in Endicott (which I will review later) I was speaking with a group of friends. As the conversation was going along, the subject of comedy came up. Initially we were speaking about Eddie Izzard, who I think is fantastic.



But as we went along the discussion turned to some of the funniest comedy skits ever. Obviously the discussion ran into Monty Python. And thus we talked about the Dead Parrot skit. Which I believe is one of the greatest comedy skits ever.



But not everyone in the group agreed. Why not I don’t know. Probably because this is a very British skit. But I love it.

So as we continued we came on what is the greatest comedy skit ever. I believe there is nothing ever done that beats this. It’s family friendly, before such a term existed. It’s about sports, but done in a way where even non-sports fan can enjoy it. It has a fast pace, yet anyone can follow it. It’s simple in the set-up, and delivers multiple times in the execution.

Abbott & Costello’s Who’s On First.



In over 60 years of comedy and films, no one and nothing tops this. I found it amazing that the younger people in my group had no idea what this skit was. I felt really bad that they did not know the joy of true pure comedy at its best.

Now that I have presented this to you my readers, I’m wondering. Do my younger readers agree? If you don’t can you offer a better skit than this? Of all comedy teams, who is better than what I just presented?