I mean what could be cooler than putting your desire to blow your load with East German spies over national security? At least the more recent gross pervert POTUS kept his wad with clueless interns.
JFK was a piece of shit.
My answer is Bill Gates. He is saving an absurd amount of lives around the globe.
If we're going more with the external, then Kerouac.
Aren't you the same dude who said his assassination wasn't that big of a deal? Did JFK cheat on your grandparents or something?
Years ago a pitcher through a fastball aimed right at Johnson's noggin. Waiting until the very last millisecond and without moving a single other muscle in his body, Johnson turned his head profile as the ball whizzed past, missing his face by a centimeter or two. And then he turned his head back just as calmly staring down the pitcher.
If we're going more with the external, then Kerouac.
Kerouac was an anti semitic mommas boy who died a reclusive alcoholic in his mothers basement. Not quite the progenitor of cool, at least in my book. And I'll do you one better: he, and most of the Beats not named "Ginsberg", is ridiculously overrated. It's ironic that he wrote so much while on speed when his prose acts as a natural benzo.
(Founder of the hyper Bull-Moose Party, he was the Old School definition of OCD, just like Trump is the modern version)
Ike was cool as a cucumber, even under the most intense pressure.
I'd put Lincoln #1, but I read a long time ago, I read that one time when he was giving a speech, he saw a bully beating up another man. He jumped off the stand and kicked some ass. Amazing thing to do, but cool ?, maybe not.
It depends how one defines “cool”. If we’re considering character and not merely the external, then yes Kerouac is off the list (as is JFK, as I mentioned). Someone like Sinatra would gain points. Bill Gates – obviously not “cool” in the traditional sense – would be off the charts.
And disagree that he’s overrated. Extremely original at the time. Nor is someone like Ferlinghetti and I don’t even really like poetry.
And if one includes Kesey as a “Beat” (debatable, maybe more associated with the Merry Pranksters) then I strongly disagree as he is one of the great American authors. 2 absolute powerhouse, thematic rich novels.
(Founder of the hyper Bull-Moose Party, he was the Old School definition of OCD, just like Trump is the modern version)
Ike was cool as a cucumber, even under the most intense pressure.
I'd put Lincoln #1, but I read a long time ago, I read that one time when he was giving a speech, he saw a bully beating up another man. He jumped off the stand and kicked some ass. Amazing thing to do, but cool ?, maybe not.
There's a difference between completely fucking awesome and cool. Roosevelt and Lincoln - both too bizarre and weird to ever be cool, certainly fall in the former.
Bruno Mars is an incredible performer. He can sing, he can dance, play multiple instruments, produce, he writes hits for himself and for others, and he just owns every room he's in, it seems. His Super Bowl performances (twice in three years) were awesome, and I love that he is bringing motown and soul back with his horns section and choreography.
Justin Timberlake is a similarly great talent. Singer, dancer, multi-instrumentalist and he's brought the house down in situations catering to pop, to hip-hop (collaborations with Timbaland and Jay-Z), and country (he's brought the house down in performances with Chris Stapleton and with Garth Brooks). On top of that, he is a consistent hit on Saturday Night Live.
What makes Timberlake's coolness all the more impressive is where he came from. He started out as the embarrassing face of NSYNC, wearing denim tuxedos with bleached hair, and pretending to be in a celibate relationship with Britney Spears. I'm around the same age as him, and when NSYNC was a huge deal in pop music, every guy thought he was a huge tool. That he overcame that stigma takes a ton of swagger, confidence, and hard work.
And Tom Hanks is just the man. Great comedy chops (Punch Line, Big, A League of Their Own), great drama chops (Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Cast Away). More than that, despite super stardom, he's still considered one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. Every story I've read about him, and every story I've heard through a few degrees of separation are about how genuine he is. I completely respect that.
The Haunting story of Quentin and Theodore Roosevelt -
Theodore was fearless and I believe that he could not imagine anything bad happening to him. He was of the generation that believed that Men proved their metal by going to war.
When his son was killed in WW1, I believe it really shook his world and his beliefs and there were two different TR's before and after.
Obama, to me, was always trying too hard to be cool, to actually be cool. The Bushes were anything but, Clinton was too much of a scumbag and got caught a little too much, and Reagan had too much buffoonery going on. Some were good Presidents (in my opinion) and some weren't (I won't say which is which), but I don't think any were really cool.
The first person that did come to mind was Samuel L. Jackson Â
But, then I reconsidered, as he loses his cool too much to be at the top of the list. The next person who came to mind was Morgan Freeman. Others were :
Walt Frazier
Steve McQueen
Billy Dee Williams
Ali
Denzell Washington
Harrison Ford - on screen only; off screen/real life he is strange and a bit of a dud. But, he played a couple of the coolest characters around in Han and Indy and is usually smooth in everything else
About 20 years ago, his name JD - about 6'2", "Richard Cory" slim, about 190. His natural voice, just a bit over a whisper. Looked late 20s, but was about 43 ....
Highly intelligent, loved to play basket ball at the base gym (where he dominated the young guys, but never told them his true age).
One day, my real good friend and co-worker, Ira (who was a brilliant computer science graduate [and extreme nerd]), stops by my office and says to me - "Manny, do you think I'm cool ?"
I answer - "Ira, I love you to death, but you don't know the meaning of cool. See that man walking down the hall (JD) ? - that's the meaning of cool"
Ira (who was a brilliant computer science graduate [and extreme nerd]), stops by my office and says to me - "Manny, do you think I'm cool ?"
I answer - "Ira, I love you to death, but you don't know the meaning of cool. See that man walking down the hall (JD) ? - that's the meaning of cool"
As explained to my nephew years ago, cool is not caring if you're cool. It doesn't matter who you are or what you're like, if you can be yourself you are cool.
Bruno Mars is awesome. I hear a little Prince when I listen to him. You're also spot on about Timberlake. He was indeed a boy band farce and is now deservedly recognized as a dynamically talented performer.
I love Tom Hanks. I don't put him in the upper upper tier of actors (DDL, young Nicholson, Brando) largely because he has such a distinct look, it's hard to forget you're watching Tom Hanks, but he's still a master of his craft. I confess I'd like to see him in a balls out villain role (serial killer e.g.) because he is somewhat type cast as the good hearted hero.
Still many sensational roles. The mid 1/3 of Cast Away is among my favorite filmmaking of all time. I put it on a number of years back at a bad point in my life as a source of inspiration.
I love Tom Hanks. I don't put him in the upper upper tier of actors (DDL, young Nicholson, Brando) largely because he has such a distinct look, it's hard to forget you're watching Tom Hanks, but he's still a master of his craft. I confess I'd like to see him in a balls out villain role (serial killer e.g.) because he is somewhat type cast as the good hearted hero.
You won't find mom jeans on:
T. Roosevelt
Jackson
Lincoln
Washington
Jefferson
JFK
Grant
Eisenhower
Ford
Clinton
I'd put Obama in the Top Four with TR, JFK and maybe Jefferson, who gets in on the "Enlightenment Renaissance Man" ticket. I guess Andrew Jackson was sort of cool, in a despicable, "Yes-I'm-an-asshole-what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it" way. Others, like Lincoln and Washington, achieved extraordinary things; does that qualify them as cool?
If he had come along eighty years later, FDR would have been the coolest president ever. Back in 1932, disabilities were so uncool that Roosevelt couldn't be photographed in his wheelchair.
Hemingway
Kerouac
John Lee Hooker
McQueen
Patti Smith
Jackie O
Ralph Lauren
Joe Strummer
Salvador Dali
Oscar Wilde
Bob Marley
Miles Davis
Mick Jagger
Don Draper (Jon Hamm)
Burt Reynolds
Johnny Cash
Tom Wolfe
Hunter S Thompson
Societal breakdown cool - Mel Gibson - Road Warrior
Broken down Soldier cool - Al Pacino - Scent of a Woman
NBA Super fly cool - Clyde Frazier - 1973
"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long" last cool - Mr Welch
Coolest bar none - Major Dick Winters - Easy Company
and James Dean ... man I don't get it there. Some of his acting was down right cringe worthy.
Thanks?
Yes
Thanks?
Hell yeah!
JFK was a piece of shit.
My answer is Bill Gates. He is saving an absurd amount of lives around the globe.
If we're going more with the external, then Kerouac.
Aren't you the same dude who said his assassination wasn't that big of a deal? Did JFK cheat on your grandparents or something?
Years ago a pitcher through a fastball aimed right at Johnson's noggin. Waiting until the very last millisecond and without moving a single other muscle in his body, Johnson turned his head profile as the ball whizzed past, missing his face by a centimeter or two. And then he turned his head back just as calmly staring down the pitcher.
That to me was the definition of cool.
[quote] [/quote
Came here to post that.
Fred Astair, Snoop Dog, Sammy, Davis Jr.,
2 votes for Snoop made me do it
Christopher Walken
Denzel Washington
Idris Elba
Jean Reno
Elvis
T. Roosevelt
Jackson
Lincoln
Washington
Jefferson
JFK
Grant
Eisenhower
Ford
Clinton
If we're going more with the external, then Kerouac.
Kerouac was an anti semitic mommas boy who died a reclusive alcoholic in his mothers basement. Not quite the progenitor of cool, at least in my book. And I'll do you one better: he, and most of the Beats not named "Ginsberg", is ridiculously overrated. It's ironic that he wrote so much while on speed when his prose acts as a natural benzo.
(Founder of the hyper Bull-Moose Party, he was the Old School definition of OCD, just like Trump is the modern version)
Ike was cool as a cucumber, even under the most intense pressure.
I'd put Lincoln #1, but I read a long time ago, I read that one time when he was giving a speech, he saw a bully beating up another man. He jumped off the stand and kicked some ass. Amazing thing to do, but cool ?, maybe not.
The Coca Cola Kid - ( New Window )
And disagree that he’s overrated. Extremely original at the time. Nor is someone like Ferlinghetti and I don’t even really like poetry.
And if one includes Kesey as a “Beat” (debatable, maybe more associated with the Merry Pranksters) then I strongly disagree as he is one of the great American authors. 2 absolute powerhouse, thematic rich novels.
(Founder of the hyper Bull-Moose Party, he was the Old School definition of OCD, just like Trump is the modern version)
Ike was cool as a cucumber, even under the most intense pressure.
I'd put Lincoln #1, but I read a long time ago, I read that one time when he was giving a speech, he saw a bully beating up another man. He jumped off the stand and kicked some ass. Amazing thing to do, but cool ?, maybe not.
How could anyone call George Patton or Ronald Reagan cool...jeez
Bruno Mars is an incredible performer. He can sing, he can dance, play multiple instruments, produce, he writes hits for himself and for others, and he just owns every room he's in, it seems. His Super Bowl performances (twice in three years) were awesome, and I love that he is bringing motown and soul back with his horns section and choreography.
Justin Timberlake is a similarly great talent. Singer, dancer, multi-instrumentalist and he's brought the house down in situations catering to pop, to hip-hop (collaborations with Timbaland and Jay-Z), and country (he's brought the house down in performances with Chris Stapleton and with Garth Brooks). On top of that, he is a consistent hit on Saturday Night Live.
What makes Timberlake's coolness all the more impressive is where he came from. He started out as the embarrassing face of NSYNC, wearing denim tuxedos with bleached hair, and pretending to be in a celibate relationship with Britney Spears. I'm around the same age as him, and when NSYNC was a huge deal in pop music, every guy thought he was a huge tool. That he overcame that stigma takes a ton of swagger, confidence, and hard work.
And Tom Hanks is just the man. Great comedy chops (Punch Line, Big, A League of Their Own), great drama chops (Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Cast Away). More than that, despite super stardom, he's still considered one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. Every story I've read about him, and every story I've heard through a few degrees of separation are about how genuine he is. I completely respect that.
Theodore was fearless and I believe that he could not imagine anything bad happening to him. He was of the generation that believed that Men proved their metal by going to war.
When his son was killed in WW1, I believe it really shook his world and his beliefs and there were two different TR's before and after.
Nothing cooler than an 80+ year old Buzz Aldrin cold cocking that moon landing denier who was twice his side in the face.
Walt Frazier
Steve McQueen
Billy Dee Williams
Ali
Denzell Washington
Harrison Ford - on screen only; off screen/real life he is strange and a bit of a dud. But, he played a couple of the coolest characters around in Han and Indy and is usually smooth in everything else
and of course Miles Davis
...and just in time for spring training! - ( New Window )
About 20 years ago, his name JD - about 6'2", "Richard Cory" slim, about 190. His natural voice, just a bit over a whisper. Looked late 20s, but was about 43 ....
Highly intelligent, loved to play basket ball at the base gym (where he dominated the young guys, but never told them his true age).
One day, my real good friend and co-worker, Ira (who was a brilliant computer science graduate [and extreme nerd]), stops by my office and says to me - "Manny, do you think I'm cool ?"
I answer - "Ira, I love you to death, but you don't know the meaning of cool. See that man walking down the hall (JD) ? - that's the meaning of cool"
I answer - "Ira, I love you to death, but you don't know the meaning of cool. See that man walking down the hall (JD) ? - that's the meaning of cool"
Bruno Mars is awesome. I hear a little Prince when I listen to him. You're also spot on about Timberlake. He was indeed a boy band farce and is now deservedly recognized as a dynamically talented performer.
I love Tom Hanks. I don't put him in the upper upper tier of actors (DDL, young Nicholson, Brando) largely because he has such a distinct look, it's hard to forget you're watching Tom Hanks, but he's still a master of his craft. I confess I'd like to see him in a balls out villain role (serial killer e.g.) because he is somewhat type cast as the good hearted hero.
Still many sensational roles. The mid 1/3 of Cast Away is among my favorite filmmaking of all time. I put it on a number of years back at a bad point in my life as a source of inspiration.
I love Tom Hanks. I don't put him in the upper upper tier of actors (DDL, young Nicholson, Brando) largely because he has such a distinct look, it's hard to forget you're watching Tom Hanks, but he's still a master of his craft. I confess I'd like to see him in a balls out villain role (serial killer e.g.) because he is somewhat type cast as the good hearted hero.
Ironically his foe is...... - ( New Window )
Uncle Ned - ( New Window )
Bruno Mars is an incredible performer.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Mars' Super Bowl performance, but a very cursory glance at the lyrics to Amazing eliminate him from contention.
T. Roosevelt
Jackson
Lincoln
Washington
Jefferson
JFK
Grant
Eisenhower
Ford
Clinton
I'd put Obama in the Top Four with TR, JFK and maybe Jefferson, who gets in on the "Enlightenment Renaissance Man" ticket. I guess Andrew Jackson was sort of cool, in a despicable, "Yes-I'm-an-asshole-what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it" way. Others, like Lincoln and Washington, achieved extraordinary things; does that qualify them as cool?
If he had come along eighty years later, FDR would have been the coolest president ever. Back in 1932, disabilities were so uncool that Roosevelt couldn't be photographed in his wheelchair.
Kerouac
John Lee Hooker
McQueen
Patti Smith
Jackie O
Ralph Lauren
Joe Strummer
Salvador Dali
Oscar Wilde
Bob Marley
Miles Davis
Mick Jagger
Don Draper (Jon Hamm)
Burt Reynolds
Johnny Cash
Tom Wolfe
Hunter S Thompson