Baby get yer rag on / We're going out tonight

I feel vaguely guilty. I tweeted some silly off the cuff remark about dumb Americans, and the fuss from the loopy right about Obama's school address.

Sometimes you just sit there with your mouth open, wondering if half the nation is simply taking the piss, just wondering in disbelief if these people are in any way to be taken seriously. But, yep, at that site linked, about half those who (admittedly unscientifically, but I like those sort too) took the poll think that the anti-Christ is about to pevert the minds of America's youth. And then you read the comments and the wackiness gets worse, with all it's CAPS. The left can claim it's fair share of nutters and very vocal ones at that, but they tend to be out at the periphery, whereas the right's wackos tend to exist all the way from the far, far right to pretty much the centre, allowing, of course that in the US the centre (or center as they put it....even though it wasn't John Cleese, I think John Cleese's letter to the USA revoking their independence still nails it on the language failures of that great nation) is rather to the right of the mid point in most other democracies.

And of course our own NZ right has it's moments of self-important wackiness, witness this odd site:

Normally I smile politely to myself, but tonight I AM writing New Zealand First off as a going concern.

Cool, at least we have the definitive word, from, uhhh, someone...

The thread on Public Address concerning some of the odd goings on at that site is highly amusing, and worth a squizz, if only for a smile. Currently it's running about 5-0 to Keith Ng, who clearly is having some fun, and the level of comments on that thread vis-a-vis those on the other side's blog speak absolute volumes. I best like the one that goes:

Nggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg is an irritating word

Sharp, indeed.

But this thread in the NZ Herald, that center / centre of artistry and progress in my hometown, is my favourite right now, and provides hours of fun.

The question posed was:

Who are the most overrated bands and singers?

Which is a fucking stupid question at the best of times..really. Amongst the replies (and, like the American thread, are these people serious? I hope so):

Michael Jackson, Dave Dobbyn, Split Enz, Neil Finn et al, The Beatles, Haley Westenra, Bon Jovi, ACDC. I could go on, but I haven't the time. (from PPP of Rangiora, please more...gagging to know who et al is...)

Locally: Dave Dobbyn can't sing for toffee. If I hear "Loyal" one more time I think I'll vomit.
Internationally: With the possible exception of "Angie" The Rolling Stones make nothing but a huge, screaming noise. (from Doctor of Whangarei, poor Dave gets a right slagging in this thread, they hate him out there in Mt. Roskill and Rangiora. Who knew?)

Bob Dylan - who can honestly count 3 songs of his they know. (from somebody called Ace, in Auckland. I think it's the killer comment..I can't think of 3, can you?)

As individuals go Amy Winehouse is the most overrated singer to ever exist. She known more for her weirdness than anything she sings. Actually what does she sing? (DDB from Danemora (I'm not sure where that is) doesn't know any of her songs but says she can't sing)

Rolling Stones - ......The duet with David Bowie was excruciating (from Povi in Huapai..uhhh, Povi the Rolling Stones didn't do a duet with DB..it was Mick, and by definition The RS can't do a duet with anyone)

The same guy says:
Elvis - good image but the songs were not exactly masterpieces. 3 chords and a few hip shakes.(I'm off to sell my Sun Sessions today)

And then we have Others from Tauranga:
Smashproof - That song was lame and unoriginal rnb/hiphop or whatever genre it is and so was the rest of the album plain and simple (so you bought the album, after hearing that lame and unoriginal song over and over again? Just to check it out? Or did you, uhh, borrow a copy online just for 'preview' purposes, y'know? The record industry urgently needs more dimwits like you, people who hate the single but buy the album anyway)

Marcus from NSW reckons:
Easy. The Beatles.

Octopuses Garden, Yellow Submaire, Penny Lane, When I'm 64, Maxwell's Silver Hammer. so much awful music in such a short space of time. (yep, I reckon the lyrics in Penny Lane suck too, and these were, after all the sum total of their output, there was nothing else of worth on Revolver or Sgt Pepper from whence two of these songs came)

there are dozens more, but my favourite comes from kwikkan, a fellow Aucklander (cher bro!), who's contribution includes:
The Beatles are terrible. Some good jingles for sure, but listen to songs when they try to harmonize! It really is pure rubbish.

Sorry America...