GO TO HELL
Actually, I’ve already gone (to the town of Hell, MICHIGAN, that is). But that was just for the hell of it — weather I like it or not, Hell lately has been temperatures in the high nineties (with 80% humidity) in my red neck of the woods (“red neck,” as in sunburn-hot around the collar, not the kind of neighborhood I live in). In short(s), friends, we’re having a….
But as hot as the heat wave is hereabouts and, no doubt, in Hell, Michigan, it’s an even hotter scene in Hellzapoppin’ (1941). When these guys and gals scorch the surface, I can feel the floor burns from afar:
In the end, is there a hell? Who knows….nonetheless, we can go there in quotes:
Go to Heaven for the climate, to Hell for the company. –Mark Twain
If there is no hell, a good many preachers are obtaining money under false pretenses. –Evan Esar
My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is. –Ellen DeGeneres
Hell is other people. -Jean-Paul Sartre
Eskimo: “If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?” Priest: “No, not if you did not know.” Eskimo: “Then why did you tell me?” –Annie Dillard
Mankind is not likely to salvage civilization unless he can evolve a system of good and evil which is independent of heaven and hell. –George Orwell
Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned. –Milton Friedman (I would’ve said, “like an autocrat scorned”)
The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.–Philip Roth
In that case, my work on this post has come to where the pavement ends.
Lynette d'Arty-Cross 2:20 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Wow – that dancing is amazing! There was a time when I was that young, but in that kind of athletic shape? Probably not.
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mistermuse 8:12 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
I could’ve danced like that standing on my head….which is exactly where I would’ve landed the first time I tried! 😀
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rawgod 5:06 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
I know you mean well, and are just quoting someone else, but the “E” word is as bad as the “N” word! It is an insulting colonial term. The correct word to use when speaking about my northern relatives is “Inuit.” (Pronounced In – oo – it!)
Thus: Inuit person: “If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?” Asshole priest: “No, not if you did not know, I guess.” Inuit person: “Then why the hell did you tell me?”
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mistermuse 8:09 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
You’d think Pulitzer Prize winning author Annie Dillard (born 1945) would have known. I remember reading the quote years ago, so perhaps that was before she was aware of this:
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/24/475129558/why-you-probably-shouldnt-say-eskimo
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rawgod 1:08 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink
Thank you for this article, sir. My only fault with it is the word “probably”! Maybe it is not as derogatory in Alaska which is somewhat cut off from the rest of the Inuit world, but the only other people who use it about themselves are the result of colonial brainwashing. The situation is similar to other First Nations people who still use the “I” word to describe themselves. Hopefully in the next few generations both those words will totally disappear from all language.
My choice of labels is to call ourselves OHITI, or Original Human Inhapbitants of Turtle Island. It would help if we could change the colonial names North and South America back to the original name, when translated into English, Turtle Island.
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ladysighs 7:30 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Hell, hell your gangs all here enjoying your posts – as usual.
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mistermuse 8:30 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Likewise, ladysighs. Thank you!
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Rivergirl 7:57 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Temps in the 90’s with 80% humidity is definitely my idea of Hell.
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mistermuse 10:24 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
I suppose I shouldn’t complain — I could be living in Florida.
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Rivergirl 5:38 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink
Perish the thought.
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BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES 8:08 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
That was funny. Thanks for the morning laugh!
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mistermuse 10:26 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Thanks for the comment!
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equipsblog 10:43 am on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
You pun-nished us as far the word play will stretch. One of you must be tethered.
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mistermuse 12:17 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Hmmm. Perhaps I should have chosen a different title for this post. 😉
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Don Ostertag 12:31 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Hell of a post, Mister Muse.
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mistermuse 1:13 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Thanks, Don….and may I say (because I mean it), you have a hell of a blog, to which I recommend my readers go. 😀
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magickmermaid 1:53 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Best trip to Hell I’ve ever taken. 😀 Songs and dancing extraordinaire!
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mistermuse 2:42 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Apparently I missed my calling, mm — I should’ve become a travel agent!
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snakesinthegrass2014 2:19 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Ah, what a wonderful way to end your post. Well done.
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mistermuse 3:09 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
Thanks. I opened this post not knowing how I’d close it –I just trusted that all good things must come to an end (so they say) 😀
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Elizabeth 3:59 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
I am not sure about the coloring of the old film, but I loved the clip. Most delightful for me was contrasting all the musicians’ day jobs with their real amazing talent.
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mistermuse 4:55 pm on June 15, 2022 Permalink |
For the most part, I don’t approve of colorizing classic b&w films, but in this case, I think color actually enhanced it. Either way, the musicians and dancers were indeed amazing!
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D. Wallace Peach 7:19 pm on June 17, 2022 Permalink |
Sorry about the heat, Mr. M. Where I live Hell has frozen over. It still feels like March! Very weird, but of course, this is all normal, right? Love the quotes. Twain and DeGeneres had me rolling. Always wonderful to end on a laugh. 🙂
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mistermuse 9:43 am on June 19, 2022 Permalink |
Those two quotes are priceless, but I think they’re all on the money — even Satre’s quote, which some might consider misanthropic, but when you think of people like Trump, Putin and Hitler and their followers, they’ve made life hell for many millions.
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D. Wallace Peach 1:10 pm on June 19, 2022 Permalink
No kidding on that point. Those men are all monsters.
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luisa zambrotta 8:31 am on June 20, 2022 Permalink |
The temperature is like hell in Italy, too
… and the quotes are gorgeous
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mistermuse 9:01 am on June 20, 2022 Permalink |
Thank you. I too think the quotes are “gorgeous” ((though I suspect that particular word applies more suitably to you). 😀
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luisa zambrotta 9:27 am on June 20, 2022 Permalink
You make me blush
I’ve reached an age where compliments, even if false, are even more pleasing than when I was young
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literaryeyes 2:26 pm on June 20, 2022 Permalink |
I knew the Sartre quote but not the Orwell one which is food for thought. The Ellen quote was funny and remined me of a recent book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, where a retired man goes for a walk and just keeps walking. Great post.
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mistermuse 2:53 pm on June 20, 2022 Permalink |
Thank you, Mary — I think this post turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself.
Your capsule description of that recent book brought to mind the old saying that “You can run, but you can’t hide.” I wonder if the same applies to “just keeps walking.”
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barkinginthedark 1:17 pm on June 24, 2022 Permalink |
well MM …it seems today 6/24 we have officially “gone to hell” on the backs of 5 liars who have the nerve to use the appellation “justice” before their names. continue…
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mistermuse 3:56 pm on June 24, 2022 Permalink |
They’re also known as “Supremes,” which is an even greater affront.
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selizabryangmailcom 3:51 pm on June 24, 2022 Permalink |
Well, even when I WAS young, I couldn’t dance–especially like that, lol !! Great video.
Also, I understand RG’s interest in the colonial-given word Eskimo and how it’s unacceptable these days, but I must disagree that the E word is as bad as the N word. Not even close. But I won’t go into it beyond that ’cause this isn’t a political post, but about music and dancing. 🙂
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mistermuse 4:06 pm on June 24, 2022 Permalink |
Thanks — this was a fun post to put together.
As for RG’s interest, I take it that it’s personal to him, so I’d no doubt feel the same in his place. I join you in understanding where he’s coming from.
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Ricardo 7:07 pm on June 25, 2022 Permalink |
Baphomet is originally from Michigan, which is home to the Satanic Temple. Has he been to Hell, yet? https://www.richardcahill.net/home/satan-comes-to-arkansas
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mistermuse 8:08 pm on June 25, 2022 Permalink |
Looks like he went to Arkansas, where there is always Hope (where Bill Clinton is from)
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Open Minded Observer 10:33 am on July 8, 2022 Permalink |
“Actually, I’ve already gone (to the town of Hell, MICHIGAN, that is)”
Did you get ice cream?
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mistermuse 10:58 am on July 8, 2022 Permalink |
Hell has a general store, but I didn’t stop for ice cream — or anything, for that matter (can you blame me?). That was long before anyone heard of Donald Trump, but now I understand Hell has a standing invitation for The Donald to make his permanent residence there. Talk about an invitation you can’t refuse!
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