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2012/02/01

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Why Did Bill Murray Keep Going Back in Groundhog Day?

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 05:10 AM PST

Neatorama presents a guest post from actor, comedian, and voiceover artist Eddie Deezen. Visit Eddie at his website. This post contains spoilers.

Almost everyone loves the movies, and along with viewing our personal favorites and other movies, most of us enjoy discussing the subjects and contents of films. Opinions and tastes, of course, vary. But almost everyone I know loves, or at least likes, Bill Murray’s best film, Groundhog Day.

In the film, Murray plays Phil Connors, an obnoxious, self-centered TV weatherman. Phil wakes up one day and realizes it’s actually the same day as it was yesterday -and this occurs over and over and over… Finally, Phil “evolves” and finds his true love (his colleague Rita, played by Andie MacDowell) and his true identity and a “new day” is finally allowed to dawn. The film is actually a great movie version of The Twilight Zone.

The great thing about Groundhog Day (or any other great movie) is that it is endlessly rewatchable (a bit of irony there). Last Groundhog Day, February 2nd, one cable channel played Groundhog Day over and over, for the entire day. Nice gag.

Groundhog Day also makes for great discussions, and numerous theories about the movie and its meaning have been put forth. Is it karma? What goes around comes around? Is it a commentary on man’s true nature? His true goodness -reflected by kindness, understanding, and warmth? Some Buddhists have adopted the film as a modern symbol of their religion. One keeps “coming back” until they finally evolve into a “perfect state,” at which time the endless “coming back” ceases. All valid and very metaphysical theories.

But why was poor Phil stuck in the “endless” time loop in the first place? This is one thing that the film leaves nebulous and unclear. In one sense, it is “hell,” i.e. a world of endless repetition, with no randomness, no unpredictability. But in another sense, this is the situation we all want and need: endless chances to fix and correct our mistakes, and then to understand why they were wrong. In the film, when Phil finally straightens out what he’s done wrong, the “endless” loop stops.

But again, why the punishment? After all, Phil is undeniably a jerk, but hey, he never murdered anyone. He’s not a rapist. He didn’t torture any small animals. Why Phil?

Okay, here’s the answer. The second draft of Groundhog Day says, actually, it was caused by Phil’s scorned ex-girlfriend Stephanie. The second draft of Groundhog Day is pretty close to what we all see in the film. There is a bit more of Phil in the studio at the beginning, but nothing major. But also in the second draft, Stephanie, Phil’s ex-girlfriend, puts a curse on him. Literally, she opens a book of magic spells and does a little ritual that causes him to get stuck in time.

Near the beginning of this script, we meet Phil’s girlfriend, Stephanie, who Phil coldly and unceremoniously dumps. Later, as Phil is going to bed in Punxsutawney, we see Stephanie in her room, using Phil’s business cards and broken watch (conveniently set at 5:59) to perform a magic spell from a book titled 101 Curses, Spells, and Enchantments You Can Do At Home. This sets the theme of Groundhog Day in motion. There is no “higher purpose” given, just an angry, embittered ex-girlfriend with a little book.

Excerpt from the second Groundhog Day script:

Stephanie: Are you saying that our relationship was a waste of time?

Phil: Our relationship? We went out a total of four times, and only once did anything happen. It was fun, but I don’t see that as a big commitment.

Stephanie (closing in again): I had our charts done. My astrologer says we’re extremely compatible. There may even be some past lives involved here.

For whatever reason, the director, the writer, or whoever, made the decision to completely excise any mention of Stephanie and her vindictive curse. I guess they just felt it was unnecessary to the movie or that it “slowed down the action” or that it made Phil too sympathetic, or some such Hollywood reason. Well, maybe they were right.

Groundhog Day is Bill Murray’s (who is a great actor with a great body of film work to his credit) finest and most memorable film. By the way, I never liked Andie MacDowell as an actress. She seems like a very nice lady, but  just never liked her on screen. But in Groundhog Day she puts in a very likeable performance.

Oh, and that’s not the only mystery that’s solved here. The screenplay also specifies that Phil will spend the next 10,000 years (Holy cow!) trapped in the time loop. It also has a more definite answer as to why he comes out of it. It was apparently the kiss with Rita at the end of the film that broke the spell, much like a fairy tale. Even in the final filmed version, you can hear a tinkly magic sound as Phil and Rita lock lips.

Oh yes, one last note on Groundhog Day. My friend Kenny had a bit part in the film. I asked him what Bill Murray was like to work with.

“Oh, he wasn’t that friendly, but he got nicer as the film went along.”

“Just like in the film, ” I said.

“Yeah,” he said (as if it had just dawned on him),

“Just like the film.”

 

Using Morse Code To Tweet It Out

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:16 AM PST

Is it just too easy typing out 140 characters to fill up your Twitter account? Then maybe you should try slowing down the process by morse coding your way across the micro blogging platform. You can find schematics for your own Tworsekey at the link.

Link via Geekosystem

Crochet Succulents Are Hardy As Can Be

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:02 AM PST

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m terrible at gardening. That’s why these crochet succulent gardens seem like such a great option. If you know someone who wants a garden but kills plants at an record-breaking rate, these might make a great Valentine’s Day gift.

Link Via CraftZine

What Angry Birds Look Like After The Game

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:00 AM PST

If you’ve ever wondered what the Angry Birds look like after they take down those dastardly pigs, these illustrations by deviantARTist Scooterek should fill you in on what they look like after battle. Their medical bills must be through the roof, good thing their game is so popular!

Link  –via Rampaged Reality

You Can Help Name A Baby Penguin

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:57 PM PST

This adorable little critter is the newest addition to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in New York. But it has a problem -the chick (whose gender remains unknown as of yet) still doesn’t have a name. That’s where you come in. You can submit two names, one for each gender and Spanish names are preferred. The zoo staff will narrow the selections down to five finalists and the public will get to vote on the official name. As for prizes:

The winner will receive a VIP tour of the zoo and will become the adoptive parent of the named chick for one year.

Any ideas?

Link Via ZooBorns

Super Mario World Shuffles Off To Buffalo

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:53 PM PST

(YouTube Link)

Scott Bradlee and Alex MacDonald got together and decided to add a touch of class to the Super Mario World theme song.

“What’s the best way to do this?” you ask nonchalantly, as you swish your cocktail around, ice clinking against the glass.

I reply enthusiastically “By adding tap dancing, of course!”

You nod, take a sip, and hit play on Super Mario World For Piano And Tap.

-cue the credits-

–via Best Week Ever

Self Guided Bullets Will Arrive At Their Destination Safely

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:51 PM PST

As if combat isn’t scary enough, imagine a future where bullets zip around, homing in on laser guided targets and doing a deadly dance in the air, curving and rolling until they hit home.

Well, this future battlefield phenomenon isn’t that far off, because Sandia National Laboratories have created a prototype for a self guided bullet that can hit a laser designated target from over a mile away. Here’s how it works:

While in flight, the guided bullet collects information with an optical sensor and relays it to an eight bit central processing unit that controls electromagnetic actuators. You may think it'd be tough to load all this equipment onto a bullet, but the researchers say that the bullet's diminutive size has actually made things easier. With a rocket, course adjustment is a slow, meticulous process. With the bullet, adjustments are so responsive that the guidance system can compensate for over-correction pretty easily, which gives everything a little extra wiggle room.

I hope someone creates bullet proof armor with laser targeting jammers before these suckers start flying!

Link

 

The Littler Cats Found At The Big Cat Rescue

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:42 PM PST

(Video Link)

We’ve shown videos of the Big Cat Rescue group before, but one thing left out of their usual videos are all the tiny cats and the non-cat species living on the organization’s property.

Via I Can Has Cheezburger

Adorable Legend Of Zelda Animated Short

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:37 PM PST

(YouTube Link)

This great Legend Of Zelda trailer was created by Joel Furtado for a game called The Lost Oracle, a sequel to The Wind Waker that doesn’t exist, at least not yet, because Nintendo might decide to do a sequel when they see this great animated short!

Link  –via Topless Robot

The Ultimate Pokemon Card Proposal

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:36 PM PST

I have no idea how the gentleman in question managed to smuggle this Pokemon card into the rest of the deck what with the giant diamond ring attached to it and all, but however he did it, the proposal idea is certainly impressive.

Link Via The Daily What

Artwork Shows What May Lie At The Center Of The Earth

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:27 PM PST

Scientists have known what is contained in the Earth’s core for about 75 years now, but that hasn’t stopped sci-fi authors and artists from doing some wild speculation of their own.

These images by Japanese sci-fi illustrators are really far out, and I’m sure you’ll agree that the Earth’s core would make the awesomest setting ever for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, or a great video game premise-Astronauts Vs. The Earths Core.

Just don’t go looking for science, because these sci-fi illustrations are mostly fiction.

Link

You’re Never Too Old To Be A Gamer

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:19 PM PST

(YouTube Link)

The centenarian in this video is here to tell you that you’re never too old to be a hardcore gamer, and she stresses the fact that gaming can do wonders for your mental health as she happily plays her beloved Nintendo DS. And I got to use the word centenarian in a blog post that relates to video games, so yay life!

–via The Mary Sue

Is It Wrong to Call Someone “Babe”?

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:39 PM PST

Bus drivers in Brighton and Hove, England, are finding out the answer the hard way: their bosses are forbidding them from referring to passengers as "babe," "love," or "darling" because of complaints.

But critics of the move argued that such terms were part of the region's linguistic heritage, and that people were simply employing traditional Geordie terms of endearments.

So when bus drivers, cabbies and shopkeepers the nation over use words like "luvvie", "darling" or "flower", they are being "affectionate, not patronising", says Tony Thorne, editor of the Dictionary of Contemporary Slang.

"It's only urban sophisticates - usually under the age of 40 - who choose to find them distasteful. It is the 'language hygienists' who choose to see them as discrimination," he says.

"It's folksy - part of a tradition in this country, a momentary affection between strangers. I know people who don't live in Britain any more and when they come back they say how much they like to hear terms of affection, such as the Essex 'babes'."

So, what do you think Neatoramanauts? Is it sexist to call someone "babe"? Link

The Sport of the Future: Bubble Soccer

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:19 PM PST


(Video Link)

Whether you’re watching lacrosse, hockey, or golf, body checking always makes a sport more interesting. Here’s a Norwegian exhibition of soccer than incorporates this insight.

-via @JessFink

Shortnin’ Bread

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:51 PM PST


(YouTube link)

By Carl LaFong & the Spunk Holler Boys. From the YouTube page:

Not knowing the real lyrics to the song, Carl wrote his own and as a result debased a timeless traditional folk classic.

Warning: listening to this song may raise your cholesterol level. -Thanks, Steve Cloutier!

What’s Wrong with the Teenage Brain?

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:38 PM PST

Science asks and answers the question in every parent's mind, why are teenagers reckless? It's due to how the teen brain interprets risks and rewards:

Recent studies in the neuroscientist B.J. Casey's lab at Cornell University suggest that adolescents aren't reckless because they underestimate risks, but because they overestimate rewards—or, rather, find rewards more rewarding than adults do. The reward centers of the adolescent brain are much more active than those of either children or adults. Think about the incomparable intensity of first love, the never-to-be-recaptured glory of the high-school basketball championship.

What teenagers want most of all are social rewards, especially the respect of their peers. In a recent study by the developmental psychologist Laurence Steinberg at Temple University, teenagers did a simulated high-risk driving task while they were lying in an fMRI brain-imaging machine. The reward system of their brains lighted up much more when they thought another teenager was watching what they did—and they took more risks.

Link (Image: Harry Campbell)

The Cathedral of Light

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:34 PM PST

This mesmerizing structure is an arrangement on display at the 2012 Light Festival of Ghent, Belgium. The Italian firm Luminarie De Cagna carefully arranged its 55,000 LEDs. The apparent height of the ceiling is no camera trick. It’s twenty-eight meters high and visitors can walk right in.

Link -via Colossal | Photo: Stijn Coppens

Sheep Cyclone Would Actually Be a Pretty Good Horror Movie

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:21 PM PST


(Video Link)

And from that day on, none of them could look at a woolen scarf without breaking out in a cold sweat.

The sheep. They’re coming for you.

-via Geekosystem

Call Center Workers Object to High-Tech Monitoring System That Alerts Supervisors if an Employee Is in the Restroom Longer Than Eight Minutes a Day

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:10 PM PST

Union representatives and government inspectors are looking into complaints that managers at a Norwegian call center forbid employees from spending more than eight minutes a day on, uh, personal business:

Managers are alerted by flashing lights if an employee is away from their desk for a loo break or other “personal activities” beyond the allotted time. [...]

A spokesman added: “Surveying staff to limit lavatory visits, cigarette breaks, personal phone calls and other personal needs to a total of eight minutes per day is highly restrictive and intrusive and must be stopped.”

The firm said the aim of the checks was not to measure the breaks taken by individual workers but to assess staffing needs to ensure all calls from customers were answered and it would now be reviewing the policy.

It is the latest example of lavatory rules in Norwegian companies.

Last year the country’s workplace ombudsman said one firm was reported for making women workers wear a red bracelet when they were having their period to justify more frequent trips to the loo.

Another company made staff sign a lavatory “visitors book” while a third issued employees with an electronic key card to gain access to the lavatories so they could monitor breaks.

Did you see that, Alex? Employees at other companies are allowed to go to the restroom during their shifts.

Link | Photo: Flickr user John Steven

Venom Symbiote Caterpillar

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:43 PM PST

I haven’t done any actual research, but I think that we should jump to the conclusion that these Brahmaea certhia caterpillars are four feet long and, once having tasted human flesh, become insatiably ravenous for it. Why? Because it’s the decent and honorable thing to do.

Artist’s deviantART Page -via Geekologie | Photo: Igor Siwanowicz

Girl Can Say Any Word or Phrase Backwards Immediately

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:32 PM PST


(Video Link)

Say a word or a short phrase to Alyssa. She’ll promptly say it backwards. How does she do it? There’s no preparation or complex thinking involved. She just reverses the words like she’s a machine designed for that purpose. Which is probably what’s actually happening.

There. Mystery solved.

-via Dave Barry

Spicy Vegan Vodka Shots in Chocolate Glasses

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:18 PM PST

We’ve previously featured Spabettie’s scrumptious-looking vegan s’more cocktails. The cups were made out of chocolate using Cool Shooters ice trays, so you can devour them with no clean up concerns.

Now Spabettie is continuing with the same theme, this time using vegan white chocolate. She poured a pepper-infused vodka into the chocolate cups to create a hot Valentine’s Day treat.

Link -via Tasteologie

How Does Your Food Spending Compare to the Rest of the USA?

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:37 PM PST

Find out how your food spending compares to the rest of the United States with this nifty calculator over at Mother Jones:

Most of the data comes from Bundle.com, a startup that tracks US spending trends by studying the credit card transactions of 20 million American households each year. Bundle gets credit card data from Citigroup—one of its major investors—scrubbed of names and other identifying characteristics. We looked at Bundle data from 2009 for the biggest 100 US cities and noticed some fascinating foodie trends. For instance, Austin, Texas, spends almost twice the national average for dining out; five Detroit households could eat for a year on an average Austinite's food budget.

Link - via Moneyland

Baby’s First Word: Bacon

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 02:36 PM PST

Something tells me that this baby will grow up to love the Bacon Store over at the NeatoShop!

Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - via Arbroath

Sex, Politics and Beer Riddles Decoded from 3,500-Year Old Babylonian Tablet

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 12:35 PM PST

Did you hear the one about the jokes inscribed on ancient Babylonian tablets?

No, that's no joke: researchers studying a 3,500-year old tablet from ancient Mesopotamia have intepreted riddles and jokes about (surprise!) sex, politics and beer.

Some of the decoded riddles are crude and sexual, while others are complex and metaphorical. One of them reveals what appears to be a bit of political humor, albeit with a dark, violent twist.

He gouged out the eye:
It is not the fate of a dead man.
He cut the throat: A dead man (-Who is it?)

The answer is a governor.

"This riddle describes the power of a governor namely to act as a judge who punishes or sentences to death," write Streck and Wasserman in the journal article.

Wasserman has seen examples in other Akkadian texts of people criticizing their leaders. "We have some interesting traces of political criticism, and [I] might say even say political anger," he said. "It could be a kind of political humor expressed in this governor riddle."

While the governor riddle reflects a sort of gallows' humor, others are much lighter.

In(?) your mouth and your teeth (or: your urine)
constantly stared at you
the measuring vessel of your lord (-What is it?)

The answer, it appears, is beer.

Link

Previously on Neatorama: World's Oldest Joke Traced to Sumeria in 1900 B.C.

Birthday Sloth

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 12:19 PM PST


(YouTube link)

This is just too downright cute not to share. All her life, actress Kristin Bell wanted to interact with a sloth. She got the opportunity on her birthday, and was overcome with emotion, as she tells Ellen DeGeneres. -via reddit

Thylacosmilus

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:56 AM PST

From the look of the fossilized skull, you’d think this was a Smilodon, a sabertooth tiger. But no, this is Thylacosmilus, not a cat at all, but an ancient form of today’s marsupials. Note the strange lower jaw that runs the length of the saber teeth. Read more about Thylacosmilus at TYWKIWDBI. Link

An Animated History of Aviation

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:34 AM PST


(YouTube link)

The important developments in flight are shown in just three minutes, courtesy of Utah Valley University Aviation Science Department. -via the Presurfer

Khan Meets Tattoo

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:04 AM PST

Ricardo Montalbán on the set of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan meets an inflatable replica of his co-star in the series Fantasy Island. Pop culture occasionally gives us these strange juxtapositions. Link -via @JohnCFarrier

Staring Longingly

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:32 AM PST

This Twaggie was illustrated from a Tweet by @DrTwittenheimer. Wouldn’t it be nice if our lives were as simple as our house cat’s lives are? Link

Maru’s New House

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:06 AM PST


(YouTube link)

Maru received the gift of a new Kamakura house, which he apparently appreciates. See more pictures at his blog. Link -via Buzzfeed

10 Foreign Remakes of American TV Shows

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:40 AM PST

U.S. TV networks take shows from other countries and rework them to show to American audiences. In the same way, other countries do their own versions of American TV shows -but they often end up being quite different. Check out this list of 10 Foreign Remakes of American TV Shows Very Different Than the Original, with clips showing what some of your favorite sitcoms, cartoons, and dramas look  like in other parts of the world. Pictured here are the Russian versions of How I Met Your Mother, The Nanny, and Everybody Loves Raymond. Link -Thanks, Katina!

Dog Has a Job at the Vet’s Office

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:37 AM PST


(YouTube link)

Maizey aims to please as she works in the front office of the veterinarian. That’s a good dog!  -via reddit

Colbert’s Super PAC Surpasses $1 Million

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:44 AM PST

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert is busy highlighting the absurdities of our political election system by participating in it. He is no longer a candidate for president, so he has retaken control of his legally-obtained Super PAC (political Action Committee). He filed a report just after midnight this morning with the Federal Election Commission on the Super PAC’s fundraising, which has exceeded all expectations. The cover letter reads:

Dear Sirs and Sirettes,

Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow (ABTT) would like it entered into the record that as of January 30th, 2012, the sum total of our donations was $1,023,121.24.

Stephen Colbert, President of ABTT, has asked that I quote him as saying, "Yeah! How you like me now, F.E.C? I'm rolling seven digits deep! I got 99 problems but a non-connected independent-expenditure only committee ain't one!"

I would like it noted for the record that I advised Mr. Colbert against including that quote. Sincerely,
Shauna Polk Treasurer Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Inc.

Read more details at the New York Times. Link

Fresh Impressions on Brandmarks

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:25 AM PST


(YouTube link)

When a five-year-old girl recognizes your brand logo, you’ve done it right. Of course, when your dad is in the logo design business, you might have a leg up. Adam Ladd’s daughter knows her logos, but as far as big cats go. she just likes cheetahs. -via Laughing Squid
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