So... am I missing something? I took Grayson to McDonalds today for a happy meal... and the toy choices were completely random. There was a bumblebee doll, a couple of other random dolls, and finally, there was an iPod looking things featuring Bob Sinclair. Being that Serena and I both have iPods, Grayson has wanted one of his own... and this was his chance. But I had one question... who the heck is Bob Sinclair? And why is he the inspiration for a McDonald’s toy? All I knew is when you pulled a lever on the toy iPod C&C Music Factory’s “Everybody Dance Now” plays.
So, when I got home I looked him up... Bob Sinclair is a French techno DJ. So, I will ask again... why is he the inspiration for a McDonald’s toy? Now, I know that house music is terrible popular in Europe... and I admit, that it isn’t my bag... but really? A McDonald’s toy? I am sure Bob is excellent, but is a McDonald’s toy really necessary? Could you imagine walking into a McDonalds in the States and getting a toy for your three year old advertising “The Chemical Brothers” or “Prodigy” or “Fatboy Slim”? I’m just saying.
Anyway, Grayson loves his new “iPod”... and I am learning a thing or two about European house music.
I guess it is a win-win.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Day 324: Fun with English Translations
I’m keeping today’s post pretty quick and dirty. Because something very funny just happened. Serena and I decided to order Chinese take-out for dinner tonight. Which I am very excited about. Recently a local Chinese restaurant had papered our neighborhood… so why now? Let’s check it out. So, we each looked at the menu to see what we wanted… and then I saw it:
Svinjetina sa bademom sa pet zacina
The provided English translation in the menu said the following: “Almond pork with five species”.
Now, my Serbian isn’t all that great… but I have to assume that “zacina” means “spices”… but, just to be safe… because you never know… I passed on my curiosity.
Svinjetina sa bademom sa pet zacina
The provided English translation in the menu said the following: “Almond pork with five species”.
Now, my Serbian isn’t all that great… but I have to assume that “zacina” means “spices”… but, just to be safe… because you never know… I passed on my curiosity.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Day 319: Nick Slaughter for President?
It comes as no surprise that most “A” list American celebrities are worldwide sensations. And for a lucky few, they become cult figures in certain countries around the world, like Jerry Lewis in France. But every once and a while a “lower grade” American celebrity is able to achieve cult status overseas. I think we are all still scratching our heads over David Hasselhoff’s iconic status in Germany... and even more peculiar, how Hasselhoff has been able to use that German support to relaunch his career multiple times in the States. This kind of phenomenon is not unusual and in most cases, when I find out some “B” or “C” list celebrities are insanely popular in some random part of the world, I’m like “Really? They love Jimmy Smits in Iceland? Who knew?” I might not understand their popularity... but at least I know who they are and for the most part I can where their recognition could come from.
That is until a colleague and I recently found out Serbian’s are nuts about Rob Stewart. And no, “Rob” is not a type-o... I meant to type “b”. Yesterday, one of the local Serbian newspapers ran a front page article about the upcoming visit from “Popular American Actor Rob Stewart, aka, Nick Slaughter”. Which of course raised an eyebrow among the American staff... “who the heck is Rob Stewart?” And better yet, “who the heck is Nick Slaughter?” This dilemma reached its apex when we were overheard by our Serbian counterparts... “What do you mean you don’t know who Nick Slaughter is? Come on! It’s Nick Slaughter! Tropical Heat!” And it was at this moment my Serbian colleagues unfolded a story of a seemingly unknown actor (Rob Stewart), his obscure over the top character (Nick Slaughter), and a forgettable television show in which he appeared (Tropical Heat, aka, Sweating Bullets). Of course, I am the one using words like “unknown”, “obscure” and “forgettable”... because for Serbians, Nick Slaughter is far from either... and in 1996 actor Rob Stewart had no idea that he played another part, in real life... one of a revolutionary icon that would help initiate the NEW Serbian path.
Now, before I continue, I should point out that Rob Steward is Canadian... and Tropical Heat was a Canadian television show... but no one here seems to care about that... after all, what kind of Canadian wears unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts showing off his hairy chest? Yeah... I know... it sounds like a very American thing to do.
Anyway, for us Americans, Tropical Heat was renamed to Sweating Bullets and introduced to insomniacs across the country every Monday night/Tuesday morning on CBS... as part of a program line-up called “Crimetime after Primetime”... in 1991. Other distinguished alums of this dubious timeslot on CBS includes “Forever Night” and the originally instalment of “Silk Stalking”
But, while most of us were sleeping through Sweating Bullets in the States... a Serbian station picked it up in syndication and Topical Heat was a breakaway hit. Where an American audience would describe the shows antics as cheesy... for a country in turmoil, Tropical Heat was pure escapism. For everything about the show was the exact opposite as life in Serbia at the time. And although Tropical Heat only lasted three seasons, for a total of 75 episodes... Serbian audiences welcomed Nick Slaughter into their homes well into the mid to late 90s. And those reruns are what transformed him from an escapist ideal to a cult icon. I am sure you have seen the Andre the Giant stickers that were so popular for a while in the States. In some major cities they are plastered everywhere. Well, Nick Slaughter became the subject of a similar movement in the mid 1990s... when graffiti artists began using his likeness all over Serbia with the caption, “Nick Slaughter, Serbia Hails You!”
And as the anti-Milosevic movement began to materialize, those seeking a NEW Serbia turned to Nick Slaughter as their symbol of oppositional politics. It was not uncommon to hear protesters chanting and see banners declaring “Nick Slaughter for President”. Furthermore, Slaughter was the hero in numerous anti-Milosevic political cartoon strips and deified in song by Serbian bands... most notably: Atheist Rap.
What makes this story so wonderful is that Rob Stewart never knew of his popularity, impact, and role in Serbia’s rebirth... or that Tropical Heat had ever aired in Serbia in the first place for that matter, until January 2009 while surfing Facebook:
“I accidentally bumped into a Face Book profile of a Serbian Ivan Jovanovic who wrote next to his name ‘Nick Slaughter for the President’. I wrote a witty comment: ’Hey, if you want me to be your president, all you have to do is to ask’ and I thought that would be the end of this story. “ – quote from Blic (Serbian Newspaper)
Of course... it wasn’t the end of the story. Ivan wrote back explaining everything that I just explained... and even sent Rob an English translation of Atheist Rap’s lyrics.
What now? A documentary about the impact of the Nick Slaughter character on Serbia is in the works... and tomorrow, Rob Stewart will join Atheist Rap in Novi Sad, Serbia for a concert celebrating the bands 20th anniversary... how cool is that?
That is until a colleague and I recently found out Serbian’s are nuts about Rob Stewart. And no, “Rob” is not a type-o... I meant to type “b”. Yesterday, one of the local Serbian newspapers ran a front page article about the upcoming visit from “Popular American Actor Rob Stewart, aka, Nick Slaughter”. Which of course raised an eyebrow among the American staff... “who the heck is Rob Stewart?” And better yet, “who the heck is Nick Slaughter?” This dilemma reached its apex when we were overheard by our Serbian counterparts... “What do you mean you don’t know who Nick Slaughter is? Come on! It’s Nick Slaughter! Tropical Heat!” And it was at this moment my Serbian colleagues unfolded a story of a seemingly unknown actor (Rob Stewart), his obscure over the top character (Nick Slaughter), and a forgettable television show in which he appeared (Tropical Heat, aka, Sweating Bullets). Of course, I am the one using words like “unknown”, “obscure” and “forgettable”... because for Serbians, Nick Slaughter is far from either... and in 1996 actor Rob Stewart had no idea that he played another part, in real life... one of a revolutionary icon that would help initiate the NEW Serbian path.
Now, before I continue, I should point out that Rob Steward is Canadian... and Tropical Heat was a Canadian television show... but no one here seems to care about that... after all, what kind of Canadian wears unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts showing off his hairy chest? Yeah... I know... it sounds like a very American thing to do.
Anyway, for us Americans, Tropical Heat was renamed to Sweating Bullets and introduced to insomniacs across the country every Monday night/Tuesday morning on CBS... as part of a program line-up called “Crimetime after Primetime”... in 1991. Other distinguished alums of this dubious timeslot on CBS includes “Forever Night” and the originally instalment of “Silk Stalking”
But, while most of us were sleeping through Sweating Bullets in the States... a Serbian station picked it up in syndication and Topical Heat was a breakaway hit. Where an American audience would describe the shows antics as cheesy... for a country in turmoil, Tropical Heat was pure escapism. For everything about the show was the exact opposite as life in Serbia at the time. And although Tropical Heat only lasted three seasons, for a total of 75 episodes... Serbian audiences welcomed Nick Slaughter into their homes well into the mid to late 90s. And those reruns are what transformed him from an escapist ideal to a cult icon. I am sure you have seen the Andre the Giant stickers that were so popular for a while in the States. In some major cities they are plastered everywhere. Well, Nick Slaughter became the subject of a similar movement in the mid 1990s... when graffiti artists began using his likeness all over Serbia with the caption, “Nick Slaughter, Serbia Hails You!”
And as the anti-Milosevic movement began to materialize, those seeking a NEW Serbia turned to Nick Slaughter as their symbol of oppositional politics. It was not uncommon to hear protesters chanting and see banners declaring “Nick Slaughter for President”. Furthermore, Slaughter was the hero in numerous anti-Milosevic political cartoon strips and deified in song by Serbian bands... most notably: Atheist Rap.
What makes this story so wonderful is that Rob Stewart never knew of his popularity, impact, and role in Serbia’s rebirth... or that Tropical Heat had ever aired in Serbia in the first place for that matter, until January 2009 while surfing Facebook:
“I accidentally bumped into a Face Book profile of a Serbian Ivan Jovanovic who wrote next to his name ‘Nick Slaughter for the President’. I wrote a witty comment: ’Hey, if you want me to be your president, all you have to do is to ask’ and I thought that would be the end of this story. “ – quote from Blic (Serbian Newspaper)
Of course... it wasn’t the end of the story. Ivan wrote back explaining everything that I just explained... and even sent Rob an English translation of Atheist Rap’s lyrics.
What now? A documentary about the impact of the Nick Slaughter character on Serbia is in the works... and tomorrow, Rob Stewart will join Atheist Rap in Novi Sad, Serbia for a concert celebrating the bands 20th anniversary... how cool is that?
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