Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on March 2nd, 2012
Good morning!
If you grow up in America, it’s pretty rare if you don’t love money. One of the first things I ever remember being punished for was stealing money. Five dollars, off my father’s dresser. I was so little, I don’t think I even knew it was wrong to take something that wasn’t specifically mine — I recall this being my introduction to the concept of “larceny is bad.” But somehow, I knew it was good to have cash.
After I left my middle class household at 18, standard of living took a real tumble for a while. At Cornell, I had no money, and boy did I look it. They called where I lived the last three years Collegetown, but Collegetown was really slums in a rural setting. Landlords did not have to work that hard in Ithaca, N.Y. — every year, there was fresh supply of eager tenants among the students who didn’t want to live in a sorority or fraternity. It was a sweet market for a slumlord.
But even that looked good compared to what was waiting for me as I began my illustrious career as a standup comedian in New York City in 1979. First year I lived on 99th Street in Spanish Harlem, a five-floor walk up, toilet down the hall. No shower — a tub that sat in the kitchen with a snake-like attachment that hooked up to the kitchen sink. Walked home every night from the comedy clubs on the tony Upper East Side, watching the neighborhoods become poorer and scarier as I made my way north, and I’m sure the only reason I was never robbed was, they took one look at me and knew it wasn’t worth the trouble. Sometimes, freedom really is just another word for nothing left to lose.
And yet, in a short 33 years, things had turned around enough so that I was able to give a million dollars to the super PAC of a certain mixed-race president who, I would like to remind all my overconfident progressive friends, does NOT have this election in the bag. And a lot of people this last week have said the same thing to me: “You’re not picking up the drinks tonight?”
The great thing about having been poor is how liberated it makes you if you eventually become rich. There’s nothing like the knowledge that you don’t need money to survive. That the money cushion you lie on every night doesn’t have to be three feet thick, and you can still get to sleep.
Other people seemed surprised I had a million dollars, which amused me. I’ve had a television show since 1993; television pays well — I may even have another million lying around somewhere. Every year when I visit my accountant in December to see how the year went, he always says I’m the best saver of all his clients, which amazes me, because I feel like I deprive myself of absolutely nothing. I once asked him, what do your other clients spend their money on? Because I know who some of his other clients are, and I know they make WAY more than I do. He said that what they spend their money on is always changing, and that’s not even the point — the point is, however much money they make that year, they always spend all of it! That’s how they think: have money, spend it, because the real tragedy would be to die and have money left over.
Me? I just don’t have expensive tastes I guess — I don’t collect cars or paintings or jewelry, and I gave up my heroin habit years ago. But I also know that, as I said when I presented that giant check to Priorities USA Action last Thursday at the end of my stand up special on Yahoo!, “This hurts!” I was trying to make the point that if I could do it, a lot of other people could do it a lot more easily than me. You know, the only place in America where the millionaires and billionaires are predominantly liberal is here in Hollywood — with the possible exception of Silicon Valley and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. There’s a reason that of the 16 billionaires that have contributed to super PACs this year, 14 have given to Republicans. It is generally the party of the rich. And in a post-Citizens United world, the party of the rich has an advantage like they’ve never had before. In 2008, the most you could give to a candidate was $2,300. Now it’s Infinity. No, the election is not in the bag.
*******
Al: You’re welcome. It seems Henry is a great testimonial that it works. I HOPE you have the same results. All I can say is that I wish I had kept up with drinking it. I don’t have any pain in my joints but I bet it is great for maintenance.
Kent: You certainly have created a popular thread on my blog, and my readers are no doubt enjoying it. Although I admit I smiled while reading the comments (thanks for all of the compliments), your story is amusing, only because it is made personal by copying the story lines given here, and by involving all of the characters/readers who comment here. How could I not be amused? -But…you do have gall. Let this be known…fun aside, I am in no way giving my okay, nor approving of the fact that you are not honoring my copyright, by basically stealing what is not yours.
Anonz: Unfortunately, I know what you say is true. Let’s HOPE everyone else takes your words seriously. And I HOPE you are taking good care of yourself.
Ruth!: So great to see you here! I have missed seeing your comments. Paris, and you and everyone there, is still on my mind as you know. I HOPE you’ll stick around. I want to see your name here more often. Kisses and hugs to you and yours.
Now…I can see there are many more comments but my time is up. If you want to continue, the forum is open.
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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March 2nd, 2012 at 9:57 am
The day is still young. I may or may not donate to Michelle’s blog. She may or may not say if I have or do.
All of those options are her prerogatives. None of them make me a liar. Nor does she require anyone to contribute to appreciate her blog.
I realize that Howie’s unreasonable reaction to my post has put you in an untenable position, but that is no reason to suggest that I belong in the LSOS Club.
I merely suggested one of a possible thousand scenarios for the characters on this blog. Are you suggesting that just because no one else has volunteered theirs that I am the bad guy for volunteering mine?
Can you Doug, TMD, honestly say you have not thought about the possibilities of making a movie out of the characters on Michelle’s blog?
What happened to all the champions of free speech on this blog? Has anyone not seen the “stop Censorship” banters prominently displayed on this blog.
I am certainly aware of the proprietary rights that could be legally exercised by Michelle. But how does that, and why should it, preclude people like me from speculating on the potential of this rich medium provided by Michelle’s hard work?
I put it out to elicit just the kind of responses I got. It’s both a test for the interest and a search for any plot suggestions that are out there(thank you Zen Lill for yours).
Howie and Doug,TMD, how that impugns the morals of those that were willing to give their opinions is beyond me. I would ask in my defense How many movies have you attended that you were not in favor of the politics of the plot, directors, actors, or theatres that was involved in the presentation of that movie to the viewers?
The last untouched freedom we as Americans have is the right to our opinions.
Ken
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:00 am
Howie, What makes you think you know how all the aliens that come on this blog will think? You are a human like the rest of us.
And as a human you should know that we like a good movie. Listen to the blog and lighten the fuck up.
Inga
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:00 am
Why do you have to come off so important and better morally than the rest of us? So you got lucky and found a God who likes you. Does that mean we have to kiss your ass.
If some on the blog would like to see themselves played in a movie, why do you have to impugn their characters because of it. I like you but on this issued you need to shut the fuck up.
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:01 am
Yeah, Howie get off their cases. They are regulars like you are. What right do you have to demean their characters or motives just because you are not interested in being in a movie.
My vote is to allow some old has been ham actor to play you. Based on your current behavior it would certainly be appropriate.
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:02 am
Howie, Who gives a fuck if your are not flattered? You are not the conscious of the blog. How dare you question Michelle about her intentions.
She has a sense of humor that you are evidently lacking. She like most of us who feel that this blog is as much ours as it is yours enjoy humor of all kinds.
Horace
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:04 am
Howie, Shut the fuck up and let us enjoy ourselves. Whether we believe Kent or not is not the issue. If a movie was made by ANY FUCKING BODY we have the right to imagine what we would like it to be without your moralizing about our behavior.
You are an asshole. It’s that type if attitude that makes women want to get rid of all men.
Shame on you Doug for encouraging what is basically hypocrisy on your part.
Elliot
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:07 am
I don’t think Howie is an asshole. He just over reacted. Let him alone. He means well. He is just overly sensitive to his surroundings.
You still have many fans Howie.
Love
Lisa
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:08 am
Lighten the fuck up Howie, I can see why the need for an Al to show the true human traits of the males on earth are needed. You would get us all killed with your inability to have a true sense of human.
Who died and made you the conscious of the world? And for your information Kent could make the movie without any permission from anyone. As usual you have very little patience.
Give it time, I for one would like to see the movie and who would it hurt?
Darrel
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:09 am
Howie, I am still a big fan. But I also disagree with you stand on this one.
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:14 am
Faster Healing After Knee and Hip Replacement
You may have heard that aquatic therapy—exercising in a warm pool—is helpful for those who have undergone knee or hip replacements,
but new research shows that exactly how soon the therapy is started after surgery can make a difference…and that for best results, knee patients should not follow the same schedule as hip patients!
These surgeries are so invasive—and the stakes for the patients are so high—that I decided to call aquatic therapy expert Bruce Becker, MD, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation and director of the National Aquatic & Sports Medicine Institute at Washington State University in Pullman, to discuss the new findings.
GETTING A HEAD START ON THERAPY
The study, done in Germany, involved 465 men and women (average age 58) who were scheduled to have knee or hip replacement.
The goal of the study was to evaluate whether starting aquatic therapy earlier than the usual German starting point (on the 14th day after surgery) helped, hurt or made no difference.
(In the US, there is no standard starting point.) Some knee and hip patients were assigned to begin pool-based therapy the sixth day after their surgery, while others were told to begin on the 14th day.
All had three weekly, 30-minute supervised physical therapy sessions in a pool for up to five weeks post-op. Since most post-op pain relief and improvement in joint function tends to take place after three months,
the subjects were asked a variety of questions (including ones about range of motion, stiffness and pain) at three months, six months, 12 months and 24 months post-op.
Who fared the best? Knee-replacement patients who started aquatic therapy on day six, compared to knee patients who started on day 14, reported better scores on almost every question asked during all four follow-up measurements (except for one question during one follow-up measurement—they reported more stiffness after 12 months).
Hip-replacement patients, on the other hand, didn’t fare as well with an earlier start. Hip patients who started aquatic therapy on day six, compared to hip patients who started on day 14, reported worse scores on all the questions asked during all four follow-up measurements.
WHY EARLIER IS SOMETIMES BETTER
How come knee patients were better off starting early? The study author hypothesized that it may have to do with the amount of fluid buildup in the joint capsule, which causes some of the pain. And Dr. Becker agrees.
For example, after surgery, the knee capsule is closed, so fluid can build up inside it, but the hip capsule is not closed, so no fluid can build up.
The force of the water during aquatic therapy reduces the build up of fluid in the knee, but not in the hip.
PUTTING THIS RESEARCH TO USE
The rub with aquatic therapy, though, said Dr. Becker, is that it’s underused here in the US. Dr. Becker is one of only a few thousand specialists who offers this kind of therapy.
One reason is that warm-water therapy pools are expensive to staff and maintain. He also mentioned that there’s concern among some doctors about the potential for a recent surgical wound to become infected in a pool
—especially since moisture can invite infection even after leaving a pool—but Dr. Becker said that today’s waterproof wound dressings are quite protective.
Bottom line: If you’re interested in trying aquatic therapy in the US after a knee or hip replacement, ask your surgeon about it, but know that it may take some work finding a supportive surgeon who is willing to write a prescription and help you find a rehab center with the right kind of pool.
You can find an aquatic therapist and rehab pool near you by clicking on “Findpool” at http://www.AquaticNet.com, a site run by Aquatic Resources Network.
And bring your surgeon this article to show him that the time you start the therapy could make an impact on how well you heal.
Source: Bruce Becker, MD, clinical professor at University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, adjunct research professor and director of the National Aquatics & Sports Medicine Institute at Washington State University, Pullman.
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:17 am
Republicans and Democrats in Congress are working on some popular bipartisan legislation to begin partially repealing parts of ObamaCare — no doubt parts of ObamaCare that would never have made it in had the Democrats read the bill first.
I think any partial repeal, and we’ve already seen some, is a disastrous plan for the Republican Party to follow and will almost certainly ensure that ObamaCare stays around forever. The only strategy the Republicans should pursue is full and complete repeal, repeatedly getting the Democrats on record supporting a policy the American people are opposed to by significant majorities.
In a partial repeal strategy, as the GOP is now pursuing, once they’ve gotten rid of all the stuff on which there is bipartisan agreement, every additional point of repeal becomes a full on partisan fight just like a full repeal vote, but with one big difference: a full repeal vote has the American people on the side of the GOP.
Each additional partial repeal vote will have the public breaking off back and forth between the Republicans and the Democrats depending on the particular part of ObamaCare being considered for repeal, making partial repeal a mine field for the Republicans.
If the GOP will not commit to votes on full repeal with the American people so clearly on their side, prepare to be nickeled and dimed into an even more costly form of ObamaCare where all the stuff both sides agree they hate (the stuff that was initially designed to keep costs down) goes away and all the stuff the Democrats love stays because a handful of Republicans are too scared to vote with the rest of their party to get rid of the programs.
That also adds one significant issue — the items in ObamaCare that are the most unpopular on both sides of the aisle are the things written into the bill designed to mitigate the costs of ObamaCare. Once both sides get rid of those proposals with no alternatives to mitigate the costs, ObamaCare will not just stick around, but be an even bigger budget burden.
—Erick Erickson
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:24 am
Why men on all the news media are willing to say that the claim by the Right that their attempt to force women to be subject to the will of their employers for their insurance needs is a religious issue is just males giving a shit about women’s health.
I say movie or no, zap all the bastards.
Helen
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:26 am
Really, Doug, TMD, did you really encourage Howie to make a fool of himself with that outburst?
A gentle prod to get him to see a more tolerable point of view would have been more like you.
Cynthia
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:29 am
Whoa, simmah down…!
I think Kent will take care of the copyright sitch with MM’s owner and blog host when the time is right (now, Kent) bc she could always exert her energy with an attorney, though Kent I am giving you honorable man status here, so please do the follow through. I think some males are miffed and so might Mischa be as well bc it is her blog, it states clearly not to lift the material without her expressed permission though clearly we present some mostly flushed out characters (and just so you know, Kent – you and everyone else here get a tiny taste of what I’m on about, I don’t give my serious personal detes here ever, sorry, and Anonz and I never gave more detes than necessary for contact and safety) and you are grabbing them and elaborating. Is it right? Not unless you do the right thing, Kent. Is it wrong? Unless you do the right thing, Kent, yes it is. Is it lazy as hell? Yep, Kent, it’s very lazy. Clearly, as a amateur creative writer myself it is MUCH easier to lift characters off here and create a ‘profile’ though I would think you couldn’t ever ‘get’ any of us, so why didn’t you make up your own premise and story?
Did I BUY IN – no, I merely gave my two and sorry, I did not catch that I was Madaline, (why isn’t Madaline herself?), I just offered into the cast of characters and who would play us fantasy, there’s nothing wrong with that.
I did offer to start a screenplay with Mischa two years ago bc I thought it was amazing here, we didn’t do anything so I cannot speak for Mischa, Kent, and especially not about anyone else’s feelings (offended or otherwise) though I think if you do the right thing, you could make us all very happy and I do believe the public would enjoy the organic beginnings of this blog and it’s transformational qualities over the past 4 years. I know I have loved being a part of it which is why I thought to write in then, so that part I do understand…
I don’t need 15 of fame, I don’t NEED anything (though I’m always open to fun) and those who feel they’re above it are just blowing smoke bc they weren’t consulted personally. MM is owned by MM and she should be consulted, I agree.
Howie, I love you, man, and I do appreciate your relationship with CARR and all your wonderful and rich stories though I would think that maybe we can all allow for Kent to do the right thing and approach Mischa. Kent, the onus is on you dude, do what you will…and I’m hoping you will bc you know how I get trashed here for ‘seeking approval’ or ‘backing up’ men, on this one, I’m extending myself – so man up. Get in touch with Mischa otherwise you will be called a leech, which technically, at the moment, you are. Who the hell knows what I’ll be called for saying all of the above though in ZL style, I won’t truly care, I care what I think about me, not what everyone else does…
Luv, Zen Lill
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:32 am
Great response to Kent, Michelle, I see you as Keiko Kitagawa. She beautiful like you and I like her a lot.
Akira
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:38 am
i agree with you Michelle this race is not over. We need to get behind President Obama in a big way and not take his reelection for granted.
If anyone plays you I think it should be Maggie Cheung. You both are so beautiful that I sleep between pictures of you both at night.
你是一个华丽的贝贝。
Chan
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:49 am
Chan, You can not be serious. If an asian is to play Michelle it had better be Ziyi Zhang. All of Heilongjiang loves her.
She brings action, beauty and the kind of sensuousness that gushes from Michelles photos. to every part she plays.
PS your chinese is not good. If you are trying to say “you are a gorgeous babe,” try 你是一个华丽的贝贝。
Jing
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:50 am
I agree leave Howie alone. He is just too sensitive to the trifles of this world.
We love you Howie
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:53 am
Michelle, please come to Paris. Let us put you in the movies the way only the French can.
And please publish a full silhouette. We need more to put the character to the statute.
Seriously it would help. We french love a great heroine.
Pierre
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:55 am
People, you seem to want Kent to and are ok with him to rip off an idea which is not his…and I’m the hypocrite? I’m just not seeing that. Free speech is one thing, however, the freedom to rip off an idea and make it one’s own is criminal…and I’m the hypocrite? It is amazing to watch the readers salivate at seeing the blog fodder in film, regardless of the fact that they see a better image in their own minds daily through the reading and imaginations of themselves. It is obvious that Kent has no imagination and therefore finds need to steal another’s ideas and material, but I am the hypocrite? It is no wonder the GOP are able to find an audience of believers despite the candidate’s histories and activities…It all paints into a full canvas doesn’t it.
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:57 am
Doug, TMD, you are a better man than I am. I couldn’t sleep well knowing all those nuts were out there lusting after my lady love.
I think think Depp would make the best you.You have the ability to mode yourself to many parts.
Samuel
March 2nd, 2012 at 11:15 am
Samuel,
The part of my life that I have spent with Michelle, since the moment I laid eyes on her, I’ve known and experienced the energy that any hetero male in this world salivates over her. I see it where ever we go. Let me say this, it behooves the self to know that we are all unique in our own fashion and that I am grateful to her that she chose to spend her time in this plane of existence with me. I am not the jealous type of person, as that is a serious human weakness. It benefits no one and only creates unnecessary dynamics to any relationship.
I appreciate the Depp idea, he is the fucking guy, and that would have been my first choice in all of this shit movie talk. That is, of course, assuming that I didn’t pass a screen test…But, then, I would much rather run it off of my own screen play than from Kent’s “ideas”.
March 2nd, 2012 at 11:30 am
Main dude, you’re the coolest, no bout adout it! & you are both quite fetching as well. That’s not a come on, that’s a compliment. – ZL
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Dear Blog readers: Please forgive me for trying to judge what people on Michelle’s blog should or shoulden’t believe.
It is not up to me to decide what you want to believe. I am NOT the Blog Police.
I just didn’t think it legal or proper to steal four years of other people’s work, especially when there is a very clear disclaimer that all posts are the property of Michelle Moquin.
Let it play out the way it plays out. I was trying to protect the ingtegrity of MM blog by abiding by its laws.
No one has any idea what I go through to acquire the information for my comments. It is a full-time job for me.
Please do not misjudge me.
HOWIE
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Howie: I can’t believe you are appologizing to this blog who has attacked you because Kent is stealing your work which you worked so hard to bring to it’s readers.
I would never give another word about what you know about the doings of aliens to this group again if I were you. Nobody appreciates it anyway. That much has been proven by your loyal fans.
Al
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Al, I appreciate it.
Kent, it must be an interesting, unsettling, personally unfulfilled feeling to know that “your” project is hanging on the lifeline of so many others. You have no true control as to the future of “your” thoughts and creative ideas, since none of it is you. Wow, I would imagine that makes one feel pretty inadequate and such that of a bottom feeder. An ambulance chaser of creativity…damn, that sucks…but, hey, have a good day!
March 2nd, 2012 at 1:27 pm
The courage of Sandra Fluke, the compassion of President Obama, and the idiocy of Limbaugh
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/02/10563272-obama-calls-sandra-fluke-offers-support
March 2nd, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Hi Mischa, forgot to ask who wrote the above article, I admired the words, just curious…
Also, all the talk of politics and I swore I would not make specific political comments here and I still won’t bc it’s all redundant but one thing is sure with rethugs, they have mastered #27 of the ’48 laws of power’ – ‘play on people’s need to believe to create a cultlike following (keep the words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking; give them rituals to perform; ask them to make sacrifices on the behalf of the cult…done, done and still being done…with no questions asked and bold lying on the GOP side. This is 2012 and a candidate openly speaks about contraception being wrong, why isn’t he dragged off the stage, bc of #27, they are all under a dangerous spell of control…and women are in the crosshairs, and beta males, too, but even they can still get viagra under insurance without questions.
That’s it, hope it’s done for with Kent and he’s made this right with you, Misch.
Main dude, the ambulance chaser of creativity, that’s a coinable phrase right there : )
Luv, Zen Lill
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Doug, TMD:
It is thrilling to know that I have an excellent opportunity to make a major motion picture that will rival the best in this genre.
Whatever else is said, is merely sour grapes.
Kent
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:22 am
Btw, I was talking about attitude when I mentioned Whoopi Goldberg, think most of you went for beauty over being formidable when playing the casting mm blog character game anyway, I’m ok with that though you do realize all this banter is perpetuating the ‘value as beauty over brains’ that the media and society has been drilling into the female mind for a long time, though why not have both…? Just my two…ZL