Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Dictators Are Silly

Sometimes, dictators can be cruel, heartless, murderous, and any number of other horrible traits. But sometimes they can have just enough whimsy to be hilarious (when viewed from a distance, of course).

Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan is one such figure. In his twenty years as Turkmen dictator, he has fought moral crusades against some of the worst scourges to befall mankind: opera, ballet, facial hair, and gold tooth caps. Now, he's turned his attentions to lip synching. He says it negatively affects the development of singing (which can also be said for, oh, say, outlawing opera).

So much for Milli Vanilli's Central Asian tour.

8 comments:

Mike said...

Well that tour was pretty much debunked anyway since Milli (or is it Vanilli? or do they have actual names?) is dead. However, I'm sure Ashlee Simpson is extremely distraught.

Ben said...

There goes my chance to break into the Turkmen market.

Unknown said...

I have to side with the dictator on this one: gold-capped teeth just look stupid. I would also outlaw the word "Yo", red beets, infomercials and Kenneth Branagh. What a cheeseball!

Jeff said...

Down, Ben... down... :)

Mike said...

Yeah Andy, your words about Kenneth Branagh may have just created a new enemy in my and Jeff's former roommate. Be afraid... be VERY afraid.

Ben said...

Don't mess with me and Kenny Branagh, Andy. You'll get hurt.

Rhetorically speaking.

Henry V still kicks ass. Any movie with any general trying to give an inspirational speech to rally his soldiers in their darkest times....they are all just copying Branagh giving the St. Crispen's Day speech. Even if they did it before his movie. They were just anticipating Branagh.

Oh, and have you ever seen Dead Again? It's a great movie. You really should see it.

Mike said...

Oh NO!

Ben said...

No, really. It's a good movie. You should see it. Go see Dead Again.

Experience tells I can be persistent.