Urban Legends...

[Edward]

Manson wasn’t totally bereft of musical talents, but the existing recordings of him and his songs makes Melcher’s refusal to sign him seem perfectly reasonable. There are untold thousands of people in every corner of the country who play a guitar and sing well enough to give a listen (and even more in greater Los Angeles, then and now), but few who warranted the time and resources it took to produce a record and get it to market.

Certainly talent is a mere part of the picture; some of the most talented musicians in history will never be signed because they will never be popular enough to sell in the sort of numbers the industry really wants.

“I can see Russia from my house.”

Credit Tina Fey’s brilliant impersonation of Sarah Palin on SNL in 2008.

Palin never uttered the phrase, of course, although it appears that large numbers of people believe she did. Fey was satirizing Palin’s response to a question regarding her foreign policy chops when she said that due to her home state of Alaska’s proximity to Russia she would be among the first to witness the potential effects of a Russian military air incursion.

That one always amused me. I think it says a lot about the quality of the satire's observational point that it was so widely believed. Of course, Tina Fey's impression, and how she looked doing it, was impressive too from a basic act of mimicry pov.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Old popular urban legend from Germany:

When Germany was divided, it was said, that the grass in West-Germany is (much) greener than in GDR.

But until today, the evidence wasn't performed.

 

[Fading Fast]

Old popular urban legend from Germany:

When Germany was divided, it was said, that the grass in West-Germany is (much) greener than in GDR.

But until today, the evidence wasn't performed.

literally or figuratively?

 

[Trenchfriend]

literally or figuratively?

Literally.

But seemingly, no photographer, etc., ever brought the evidence.

 

[tonyb]

...

That one always amused me. I think it says a lot about the quality of the satire's observational point that it was so widely believed. Of course, Tina Fey's impression, and how she looked doing it, was impressive too from a basic act of mimicry pov.

Thing is, the physical resemblance wasn’t particularly strong, but the attire and the hairstyle fairly screamed “Palin,” and Fey nailed the mannerisms and voice.

 

[Edward]

Thing is, the physical resemblance wasn’t particularly strong, but the attire and the hairstyle fairly screamed “Palin,” and Fey nailed the mannerisms and voice.

Much like Michael Sheen and Tony Blair!