Author Archives: Dazzling Erin

Happy Dinosaur Day!

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

by Alex Schomburg

Today, we observe Dinosaur Day!

The first recorded discover of dinosaur fossils occurred in 1820 and, since then, dinosaur remains have been found on all seven continents.  Richard Owen, an English anatomist, came up with the word “Dinosauria” in 1842. The word comes from the Greek word “deinos,” meaning terrible or fearfully great, and “sauros,” meaning reptile or lizard. He applied the term to three animals that fossilized bones had been found of over the previous few decades.

The best way to observe today is to go down to a museum and take a look at the fantastic creatures who inhabited this planet before human beings came along.  But if you can’t get to a museum today, check out these magazine and paperback covers below.  Not surprisingly, dinosaurs were very popular with the pulps.  Here’s just a few of them:

by Edmund Emshwiller

by CC Senf

by Earle Bergey

by Hans Wessolowski

 

by Thomas Beecham

Artist Unknown

by Jerome Podwil

 

I Re-Watched Anchorman (2005, Dir. by Adam McKay)

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

“Ron Burgundy was the balls.”

You got that right!  That’s one reason why I’ve lost track of the number of times that I’ve watched Anchorman.  Whatever’s going on in the world or my life, I know that Anchorman is going to make me laugh and make me feel better about things.  The adventures of anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and his news team (Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Steve Carell) never cease to amuse me, whether they’re capturing the birth of a panda or getting involved in a street fight with their rival newsmen.

“Brick killed a guy.”

He did!  Where did Brick get a trident from?  When the street fight started, he only had a hand grenade.  Ron Burgundy suggests that Brick should find a safehouse and I hope Brick took his advice.  There’s a lot of funny people in Anchorman but Steve Carell, playing the weatherman with an IQ under 80, is my favorite.  Brick saying that he loves the lamp is so touching.

“Fare thee well, Baxter.  You shall always be a friend of the bears.”

The first time I saw Anchorman, I couldn’t believe it when Baxter was drop-kicked off that bridge.  I swore that I would never watch another movie featuring Jack Black!  Baxter was so cute!  When Ron broke down over the loss of his dog, I wanted to break down with him.  Later, when Baxter emerged from the river and barked, “I’m coming, Ron!,” I was so relieved.  Baxter lives!  Baxter’s conversation with the bears warmed my heart.

“Stay classy, San Diego.”

That’s right, San Diego!  Stay classy.  Anchorman is in a class all of its own.  Ron Burgundy makes beautiful music with his jazz flute.  Brian Fantana is a walking advertisement for Sex Panther.  Veronica Corningstone (Christine Applegate) strikes a blow for women’s liberation and teaches Ron an important lesson about teleprompters.  It’s the little moments that make me laugh the most, whether it’s Fred Willard talking to his son’s school about why his son has been expelled or Tim Robbins as the PBS anchor who smokes a pipe and chops off Luke Wilson’s arm or Vince Vaughn shouting about the ratings.  Best of all, Will Ferrell has never been better than as the pompous Ron Burgundy, so stupid but so committed to his job that you can’t help but love him.

“Wow, that really escalated.”

You bet it did, Ron!  Each moment of Anchorman is funnier than the last.  (I wish the same was true of Anchorman 2.)  That’s why Anchorman is a film that I watch and rewatch.  In fact, I think I’ll go watch it right now!

“Thanks for stopping by, San Diego.”