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Andy Kaufman took the whole world for a ride.



From his beginnings as a stand-up comic, Andy marched to his own beat. When he performed a short bit on the premiere episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live,  no one knew what to make of him... and that's just what Andy wanted. After an introduction by guest host George Carlin, Andy took the stage and set up a small phonograph. He stood quietly as a recording of the Might Mouse cartoon theme played - to the awkward chagrin of the studio audience. When the tune reached the familiar "Here I come to save the day" lyric, Andy bounced and gestured dramatically, lip-syncing the words perfectly... then resumed his position and waited for the line to roll around again. When he finished his unusual act, he thanked the crowd in an a unplaceable, but decidedly foreign accent. On a subsequent appearance, he did disastrous impressions of President Carter and Archie Bunker, each in the same uneasy, foreign-tinged voice. The confused studio audience rewarded him with nervous, awkward giggles. Then, he announced his finale — an impression of "de Elvis Presley." After brief preparation of fixing his hair and altering his clothes to reveal previously hidden sequin accents, Andy transfixed the audience with a dead-on impersonation of The King.

And so began Andy's life-long quest to baffle everyone.

Andy was a hot property on the stand-up circuit and was soon cast on the sitcom Taxi,  playing mechanic Latka Gravas, a variant of his "Foreign Man" character. He began playing larger venues when his popularity increased and audiences came in droves never knowing what to expect from one of his shows. He gave one performance with his grandmother seated prominently on the stage for the entire show. At the show's conclusion, it was revealed that Andy's "grandmother" was fellow comedian Robin Williams concealed under heavy theatrical makeup. Another show concluded with Andy taking the entire audience — twenty busloads — out for milk and cookies. Sometimes, Andy would punish his audience by reading the novel The Great Gatsby,  never yielding even as complaining patrons left the venue. Even as Andy's fame and recognition heightened, he regularly and dutifully worked as a busboy at Jerry's Famous Deli in Los Angeles.

Andy gave an infamous performance on the late-night ABC show Fridays  (a knock-off of Saturday Night Live ). He appeared in a sketch in which he broke character and refused to deliver his lines. Cast members grew furious and the audience was bewildered. Cast member Michael Richards (in an early pre-Seinfeld  role) dumped a stack of cue-cards on Andy's head and producer Jack Burns took a few swings at the comedian. It was all a elaborate practical joke masterminded by Andy.

While on Taxi,  Andy introduced obnoxious lounge singer Tony Clifton and insisted he be given a role on the show. Again, it was another hoax, as Clifton turned out to be Andy in disguise.

In the early 80s, Andy switched gears and adopted a leering, abhorrent personality, becoming the self-appointed "Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion of the World". He wrestled women, taunting and humiliating them, offering $1000 to any woman who could pin him in the ring. Among his "opponents" were his friend, singer Laurie Anderson. Andy accepted a challenge from professional wrestler Jerry Lawler. During their match, Lawler delivered a piledriver that seriously injured the much-smaller Andy. A hospitalized Andy threatened a lawsuit. Years later, it was revealed to be a hoax executed by long-time friends Andy and Lawler.

In late 1983, Andy's family expressed concern at the persistent cough Andy exhibited during a visit for Thanksgiving dinner. Andy, a life-long, non-smoking, health conscious vegetarian, was diagnosed with a rare type of lung cancer. He took all sorts of measures to combat the disease, from special diets to chemotherapy to psychic surgery performed in Philippines. Keeping his illness a secret from the public, Andy passed away from kidney failure in May 1984 at the age of 35. Once again, Andy's death was believed by some to be just another extravagant prank. A year later, when Tony Clifton appeared at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, those beliefs were reinforced. (Tony was actually portrayed by Andy's long-time collaborator Bob Zmuda.)

Although, Andy had the last laugh.

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The following is a transcript of a recently discovered recording of a conversation from the command module of Apollo 11 on July 19, 1969.  WARNING! Contains adult language!


Michael Collins: Well, here we are, heading to the moon. Man, this is cool!
Neil Armstrong: It sure is, Mike.
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin: Hey, Mike.... um, you missed the meeting we had just before lift-off, didn't you?
Michael Collins: Meeting? I wasn't told about a meeting. I had orders to report right to the launch pad and that you guys would be a little late. There was a meeting? What did you talk about?
Neil Armstrong: We discussed the procedure for tomorrow's moon landing.
Michael Collins: Oh yeah, baby! The moon landing! I can't wait! The first three men on the moon! Oh, YEAH!
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin: Uh, Mike.... Mike..... I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it.
Michael Collins: Say what?
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin: Well, Neil and I are walking on the moon. And since you're the "Command Module Pilot", you're staying in the capsule.
Michael Collins: I'm WHAT ??? Staying in the capsule??? Are you fucking kidding me?? I didn't travel 238,000 miles to sit in the fucking capsule so you two assholes can get all the glory!
Neil Armstrong: First of all, Mike, haven't you noticed that your spacesuit isn't the same as mine and Buzz's? Yours doesn't have nozzles for external breathing tanks. Didn't that make you wonder a little? You step outside the command module and you are a deadman! Besides, this was planned a long time ago. The plan was that me and Buzz are walking on the moon and you're driving around the block a few times and picking us up later. Got it?
Michael Collins: Got it? Got it? NO, Neil, I don't fucking "Got it?"  My family will be watching TV tomorrow! What am I supposed to tell THEM? I told all the guys in aerospace training that I would wave to them from the moon. Aw, Jesus Christ, Neil.
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin: C'mon Mike, you'll still be in the history books. You'll still be remembered.
Michael Collins: But, Buzz, I was gonna...
Neil Armstrong (interrupting): You're not walking on the fucking moon, Michael! End of story! (A door slams and several minutes of silence pass.)
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin: That Collins. Jeez.
Neil Armstrong:Yeah, what a douchebag.

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Here is the reason why I haven't posted in a while.
Third boy!
Pretty cute reason huh! :)

Welcome to the very first Southern Breeze Studio Video Tour. A peek into MY office - Elizabeth O. Dulemba (Southern Breeze Illustrator Coordinator). We hope to do these regularly to give you an idea of how some of our Illustrator members work. Mine is the guinea pig tour. So have a look and leave some feedback in the comments. Please let us know - is it too long, too short, what else would you have liked to see?


Next month's tour will be in children's book author/illustrator Sarah Frances Hardy's studio (Southern Breeze Assistant Illustrator Coordinator West). So subscribe to the blog to be alerted!

Thanks for the comments guys! I've added a photo of me to the post so you have an idea who's talking. And I'm hearing SHORTER!!! Good to know. ;-)

Check out the new sidebar widget I put up over to the right. Yup, that's it- the Canadian Wildlife Federation widget.  One thing I cherish most about Canada is our beautifully diverse wildlife. And it is in trouble. There are already 52 endangered mammal species with many more animals at risk. I'm proud to show this sidebar widget in an effort to bring more awareness to the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

I have to give my mom a nod here because she introduced us(my sister a I) to the idea of conservation, to love and respect nature, from an early age. I remember she'd take us on nature walks and cross country ski treks through natural areas like Rattray marsh, Lake Ontario Parks and the Kortright Centre, to teach us about the wonderful wildlife around us.

I know I have said before how excited I am about my current picture book project- illustrating Skink on the Brink( Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Spring 2013) written by Lisa Dalrymple.
Stewie, the main character, has carved a special place in my heart. He is a five-lined skink.
 One of a kind.
He is the only species of lizard found in Ontario.
Well yes, he has a great personality and is so darn adorable, but he is also sadly on the Ministry of Natural Resources endangered species list. Stewie belongs to the Carolinian population of five-lined skinks that populate small areas along the shores of Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron. Sadly their numbers are dwindling due, in part, to habitat loss from agricultural, recreational and urban development.

Lisa was lucky enough to meet Stewie during a recent trip to Pinery Provincial Park.

Welcome to the very first Southern Breeze Studio Video Tour for SCBWI Southern Breeze. A peek into MY office - Elizabeth O. Dulemba (Southern Breeze Illustrator Coordinator).
     We hope to do these regularly to give you a peek into how some of our Illustrator members work. Mine is the guinea pig tour. So have a look and leave some feedback in the comments - here or at its home on the Southern Breeze Illustrators' Corner blog. Please let us know - is it too long, too short, what else would you have liked to see?


     Next month's tour will be in children's book author/illustrator Sarah Frances Hardy's studio (Southern Breeze Assistant Illustrator Coordinator West). So subscribe to the Southern Breeze Illustrators' Corner blog to be alerted!

P.S. - The Little Free Library showcased in the video is now on auction to raise money for the Decatur Book Festival!

– Enjoy this post? Leave a comment at http://dulemba.blogspot.com/ or share it with a friend.

Nein, natürlich nicht, aber als Illustrator muß man Weihnachtsillustrationen sehr oft im schönsten Sommer machen. Deshalb hier ein CD Cover Titel Skizze.

Hi all! It's now fall (or at least school has started) and I'm back in the studio, hard at work . . . and back to a more regular blogging schedule.

First up, for the voyeurs (or just curious folks!) check out a new feature we're starting on the Southern Breeze Illustrators' Corner blog. We're doing virtual studio tours of our illustrators' workspaces. First up, we have Elizabeth Dulemba's super-organized studio. Check it out here.

Next, as a buildup to the upcoming WIK SCBWI Conference on October 19-20 in Birmingham, several members are hosting interviews of many of our presenters on their own blogs. Here's a schedule of what's happened so far and what's coming up:

(via 10 Rules for Students and Teachers (and Life) by John Cage and Sister Corita Kent | Brain Pickings)

Buried in various corners of the web is a beautiful and poignant list titled Some Rules for Students and Teachers, attributed to John Cage, who passed away twenty years ago this week. The list, however, originates from celebrated artist and educator Sister Corita Kent and was created as part of a project for a class she taught in 1967-1968. It was subsequently appropriated as the official art department rules at the college of LA’s Immaculate Heart Convent, her alma mater, but was commonly popularized by Cage, whom the tenth rule cites directly.

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I'm back from  a week of work (more on that later) to some nice reviews about the upcoming picture book GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS AS RETOLD BY MO WILLEMS. First off, here's a nice Q+A in the LA Times yesterday. The New York Times likes the book, and they coin the word "Willemsian". As does the Houston paper. I also chatted with Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine about