"He's considered a genius in Iraq"

[muckefuck]

Years ago now I stumbled across the official Bud Spencer homepage. I don't remember how I got there, all I remember is the amusement at discovering the popularity of some big Italian bear actor I'd never seen or heard of before. Alas, "Budworld" seems not to exist any more, but at the time, it had an online form for requesting a personalised postcard from Bud himself, so I sent one to my buddy ottr4bear. Since this is the wondrous age of the web, a Google search reveals no shortage of unofficial sites dedicated to him. (Most in Italian or German, though here's one also in English.)

I hadn't really thought about any of this until today when I read a travelogue from a reporter who claims (with a degree of credibility worthy of Roland Hedley) that Bud Spencer is the most popular actor in Iraq. "Equal famous to George Bush!" says his interpreter. There's something oddly appropriate about that, given than Iraq is a land so bear-rich I can hardly watch any reportage of crowd scenes from there without salivating. In fact, if I were to set out acquiring my own harem, I think it would draw disproportionately from the area bounded by Turkey and the Levant on the west, Armenia and Afghanistan on the north and east.

Comments

[princeofcairo.livejournal.com]

In fact, if I were to set out acquiring my own harem, I think it would draw disproportionately from the area bounded by Turkey and the Levant on the west, Armenia and Afghanistan on the north and east.

Well, it has tradition on its side. I don't know that I'd draw *disproportionately* from it (in that I'd likely draw extravagantly dispoportionately from North America), but it would certainly represent.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I'd be Americocentric, too, if this were a buddy pool rather than a harem. But it's easier to objectify people who aren't from the same culture. Also, Middle Easterners would be far more likely to accept the liberty vs. security trade-off on offer.

[princeofcairo.livejournal.com]

But it's easier to objectify people who aren't from the same culture.

You either aren't trying hard enough, or you don't consider California the same culture. We have whole *industries* demonstrating how easy it is to objectify Californians.

[aadroma.livejournal.com]

Ah, Buddy ...

I never DID get the card. /_\