22 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM News WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2008
Books: 'America' doesn't live up to humor of its author
Stephen Colbert is one of the best political commentators on television. He comes across as intelligent, articulate and very, very funny. I am convinced he is a genius, and will be my future boyfriend.
"I am America (And So Can out)," however, is not quite as humorous as his show, The Colbert report.
While the subject material, pictures and historical anecdotes are musing, this book is best for bathroom reading, not the coffee table.
Each chapter starts out promising enough, like "Sex and Dating: 001 abstinence positions", but quickly become boring rants that aren't all that interesting.
If you want a humorous, easy-to-read diatribе on American life, try David Sedaris. He doesn't have a T.V. show, but at least his books are worth reading.
Gretchen Gier
Movies: 'Zohan' too messy with jokes, delivery
"You Don't Mess With the Zohan" is a comedy that uses the Palestinian-Iraeli conflict as a backdrop. It's also a movie in which the main recurring joke is the main character's penchant for pleasing (much) older women.
If those two themes don't seem to mix, it's because they don't.
In his latest foray into acting and scriptwriting, Adam Sandler teams up with big-name funnymen Robert Smigel (Saturday Night Live) and Judd Apatow (Knocked Up). Despite its wealth of writing talent, the film veers too quickly from weighty issues to silly gags.
Sandler is frequently funny as Zohan, an Israeli soldier who comes to America to cut and style hair only to have his past catch up with him. The stunning Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage) stands out as Dalia, Zohan's main love interest. The celebrity cameos are frequent throughout, with Mariah Carey, Chris Rock and John McEnroe making appearances.
All the star-power in the world can't save "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" from itself. The film can't decide between delivering a
heavy-handed and sentimental take on worldly problems or delivering raunchy jokes. Perhaps Sandler and friends should have stuck with the lowbrow gags.
Asher Fusco
Greening It: Building your own rain garden
Here are some tips to get started on building your own rain garden.
STEP1
STEP 3
Determine the size of your garden. Jason Dremsa, a restoration ecologist at Applied Ecological Services, said you should determine how much water will be draining from the rooftop and then size accordingly.
For more information and tips on how to maintain your rain garden, go to Kaw River Restoration Nurseries Web site at www.appliedeco.com/krrn.
The 44-year-old rapper was released roughly five hours after officers pulled over his gray Hummer around 1:45 a.m. in Hollywood. He posted $10,000 bail.
Soil type is important. Dremsa said you should test your soil before you
LOS ANGELES — Coolio was arrested Tuesday on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for driving with a suspended license, Los Angeles police said.
begin. This will help you determine whether the soil drains well or not and will help you design the proper garden.
Use native plants. Dremsa said to use local plants because they were not invasive and their deep roots would soak up storm water.
STEP 2
— Mandy Earles
Associated Press
BRIEF
Rapper arrested
Voted Best Pizza by Lawrence & Kansas Students!
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