Arnie quotes
October 2, 2012 2:52 PM Subscribe
The shorter wit and wisdom of Arnold Schwarzenegger - highlights from his autobiography 'Total Recall'
I think Mike Tyson still delivers more wit and wisdom.
posted by H. Roark at 3:04 PM on October 2, 2012
posted by H. Roark at 3:04 PM on October 2, 2012
What a joyless and unfair way to review the story of a person whose personal voice and story are unique, inspiring, and at this point iconic — despite a number of mistakes, about which the man has been quite candid. What did this person expect, exactly?
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 3:05 PM on October 2, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 3:05 PM on October 2, 2012 [8 favorites]
The former Arnold Strong reminds me of this article from Livestrong:
The Connecticut Clearinghouse adds that anabolic steroid users are prone to mood swings, violent behavior and psychotic symptoms, which include hallucinations and delusions.
The hippocampus, which is responsible for converting short-term memories into long-term memories, is also part of the limbic system and is affected by anabolic steroid use. People who use steroids experience problems with learning and memory. Users also have impaired judgment.
allegedly.
Though as far as books titled after movies, it's better that he called it Total Recall than say True Lies or Collateral Damage, or, if you want to go out of his filmography, the worst choice (though the one that most accurately describes why most of the world is interested: The Help.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:07 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
The Connecticut Clearinghouse adds that anabolic steroid users are prone to mood swings, violent behavior and psychotic symptoms, which include hallucinations and delusions.
The hippocampus, which is responsible for converting short-term memories into long-term memories, is also part of the limbic system and is affected by anabolic steroid use. People who use steroids experience problems with learning and memory. Users also have impaired judgment.
allegedly.
Though as far as books titled after movies, it's better that he called it Total Recall than say True Lies or Collateral Damage, or, if you want to go out of his filmography, the worst choice (though the one that most accurately describes why most of the world is interested: The Help.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:07 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
IT'S NOT A TOME.
posted by Kabanos at 3:07 PM on October 2, 2012 [19 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 3:07 PM on October 2, 2012 [19 favorites]
16. Plo Chops
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:09 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:09 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
"Maria and I are very different in that way. She grew up in a world where a sharp line was drawn between friends and the help. With me, there is almost no line."
Heh.
posted by Artw at 3:09 PM on October 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
Heh.
posted by Artw at 3:09 PM on October 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
BlackLeotardFront: "What did this person expect, exactly?"
More plochops?
Unique, yes. He's also proven himself to be a bit of a sexist ass.
posted by zarq at 3:10 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
More plochops?
Unique, yes. He's also proven himself to be a bit of a sexist ass.
posted by zarq at 3:10 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
He thinks Nixon was a great guy and a fabulous president, if you overlook Watergate.
I can't disagree. More liberal than any president after Carter, for sure.
posted by DU at 3:12 PM on October 2, 2012
I can't disagree. More liberal than any president after Carter, for sure.
posted by DU at 3:12 PM on October 2, 2012
His "I'm too old for this shit" style lines in the trailer for The Last Stand are oddly unendearing and false... He is looking old as hell now though.
posted by Artw at 3:17 PM on October 2, 2012
posted by Artw at 3:17 PM on October 2, 2012
Flex, Memory
posted by Egg Shen at 3:22 PM on October 2, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by Egg Shen at 3:22 PM on October 2, 2012 [9 favorites]
I'm also not sure what it says about me that I consider "Total Recall" a dumb title for a Schwazenegger autobiog but "All These Memories" for a Rutger Hauer one genius level wit.
posted by Artw at 3:25 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:25 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
It's "All Those Moments", yeah? I assume, anyway, since that would be the quote from Blade Runner.
posted by Justinian at 3:29 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:29 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
The point about his real estate deals is seriously impressive, and a reminder that he's not stupid at all... which makes his affairs look all the more stupid. But then, smart people do stupid shit all the time.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:42 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:42 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
He thinks Nixon was a great guy and a fabulous president, if you overlook Watergate.
I can't disagree. More liberal than any president after Carter, for sure.
Maybe, but that does not equate to his being either a "great guy" or a "fabulous president".
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:17 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
I can't disagree. More liberal than any president after Carter, for sure.
Maybe, but that does not equate to his being either a "great guy" or a "fabulous president".
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:17 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
smart people do stupid shit all the time.
Totally -- and though my quote about steroids above was probably a low blow and meant with snark, it really was inspired by around that same thought. I know Schwarzenegger isn't stupid. But his press tour for this book -- and apparently now it seems the book itself -- makes him seem like the idiot a lot of people thought he was. I do really wonder what's up with him.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:18 PM on October 2, 2012
Totally -- and though my quote about steroids above was probably a low blow and meant with snark, it really was inspired by around that same thought. I know Schwarzenegger isn't stupid. But his press tour for this book -- and apparently now it seems the book itself -- makes him seem like the idiot a lot of people thought he was. I do really wonder what's up with him.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:18 PM on October 2, 2012
Arnold Schwarzenegger Total Recall DVD Commentary
posted by mcstayinskool at 4:19 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mcstayinskool at 4:19 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
"a person whose personal voice and story are unique"
Indeed... growing up with his Nazi dad, idolizing Hitler.
Getting into bodybuilding, subsidizing his early career as a male escort / poolboy for prominent gay millionaires...
Doing nude photography for gay men's magazines...
Going AWOL from the Austrian Army...
The statutory rape of a 16-year-old while working in this country on a green card...
Accusations of directly profiting on illegal steroid sales in his gyms.
Concealing and denying serious cardiac issues -- likely related to heavy steroid usage -- from the public prior to running for office.
Meeting secretly with Ken Lay of Enron who wanted prominent CA Republicans to lobby Bush to keep his hands off of their business, while overlooking Enron's involvement in the intentional brownouts and price gouging in the state...
His later dropping or quickly settling lawsuits against Enron and other power companies for a fraction of the damages inflicted on Californians.
Using his involvement in the magazine industry to buy exclusive rights for a "tell all" from the aforementioned victim of statutory rape, in order to stop the story from going public.
His quiet, very hefty settlement of a lawsuit against him, while in office, for libeling one of his victims of sexual harassment and abuse...
Indeed, there's a story there. Unfortunately, Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't telling it.
posted by markkraft at 4:32 PM on October 2, 2012 [22 favorites]
Indeed... growing up with his Nazi dad, idolizing Hitler.
Getting into bodybuilding, subsidizing his early career as a male escort / poolboy for prominent gay millionaires...
Doing nude photography for gay men's magazines...
Going AWOL from the Austrian Army...
The statutory rape of a 16-year-old while working in this country on a green card...
Accusations of directly profiting on illegal steroid sales in his gyms.
Concealing and denying serious cardiac issues -- likely related to heavy steroid usage -- from the public prior to running for office.
Meeting secretly with Ken Lay of Enron who wanted prominent CA Republicans to lobby Bush to keep his hands off of their business, while overlooking Enron's involvement in the intentional brownouts and price gouging in the state...
His later dropping or quickly settling lawsuits against Enron and other power companies for a fraction of the damages inflicted on Californians.
Using his involvement in the magazine industry to buy exclusive rights for a "tell all" from the aforementioned victim of statutory rape, in order to stop the story from going public.
His quiet, very hefty settlement of a lawsuit against him, while in office, for libeling one of his victims of sexual harassment and abuse...
Indeed, there's a story there. Unfortunately, Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't telling it.
posted by markkraft at 4:32 PM on October 2, 2012 [22 favorites]
"I do really wonder what's up with him."
He sees his career winding down, and is trying to get the big payoff, by floating a few nuggets of his life pretty much everyone already knew about, while glossing over the crap he did that was, frankly, criminal, and should've disqualified him from bodybuilding, the governorship, and even basic citizenship.
Money and fame can still buy anything. It's the American Dream, sho'nuff.
posted by markkraft at 4:37 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
He sees his career winding down, and is trying to get the big payoff, by floating a few nuggets of his life pretty much everyone already knew about, while glossing over the crap he did that was, frankly, criminal, and should've disqualified him from bodybuilding, the governorship, and even basic citizenship.
Money and fame can still buy anything. It's the American Dream, sho'nuff.
posted by markkraft at 4:37 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
What should have disqualified him from bodybuilding?
posted by Egg Shen at 4:50 PM on October 2, 2012
posted by Egg Shen at 4:50 PM on October 2, 2012
Like most profoundly unfunny people, Arnold Schwarzenegger is very proud of his sense of humour.
"Profoundly unfunny?" Sorry, that's just plain wrong. Maybe he's funny accidentally occasionally, or some of his comedies have misfired badly, but "profoundly unfunny" accurately describes neither the man, nor his overall career.
posted by ShutterBun at 5:07 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
"Profoundly unfunny?" Sorry, that's just plain wrong. Maybe he's funny accidentally occasionally, or some of his comedies have misfired badly, but "profoundly unfunny" accurately describes neither the man, nor his overall career.
posted by ShutterBun at 5:07 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
"What should have disqualified him from bodybuilding?"
Professional bodybuilding has had rules banning steroids since the '70s, and testing for steroids and other banned substances began in that time period, but testing for steroids is imperfect. You could literally base an entire professional career on steroid usage, and never fail a doping test.
*cough*
posted by markkraft at 5:07 PM on October 2, 2012
Professional bodybuilding has had rules banning steroids since the '70s, and testing for steroids and other banned substances began in that time period, but testing for steroids is imperfect. You could literally base an entire professional career on steroid usage, and never fail a doping test.
*cough*
posted by markkraft at 5:07 PM on October 2, 2012
Perhaps you could just do one comment with all the ways you don't like Arnold, markkraft?
posted by Sebmojo at 5:48 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sebmojo at 5:48 PM on October 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
"Picasso would go into a restaurant and do a drawing or paint a plate for a meal. Now you go to these restaurants in Madrid, and the Picassos are hanging on the walls, worth millions of dollars. That wasn't going to happen to my movies."No worries there, Arnie!
posted by smirkette at 5:56 PM on October 2, 2012
I also wonder how much of this book is a believable fiction, gone over by lawyers, as Schwarzenegger may be facing lawsuits that could hurt his reputation. By leaking the narrative he'd like people to believe, he glosses over the things that really mattered more. In this case, glossing over a long-term sexual relationship that was originally with a minor, which reportedly was far more of an issue in the dissolution of his marriage than any of his other affairs.
He'd rather his fans think of him sleeping with this actress, rather than this one.
Arnold and Gigi Goyette met on the set of Little House, apparently. And, of course, there's the housekeeper he had a son with, too...
posted by markkraft at 6:12 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
He'd rather his fans think of him sleeping with this actress, rather than this one.
Arnold and Gigi Goyette met on the set of Little House, apparently. And, of course, there's the housekeeper he had a son with, too...
posted by markkraft at 6:12 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Perhaps you could just do one comment with all the ways you don't like Arnold, markkraft?"
He was my governor. And I watched the general public elect him to office, despite having a really checkered past and no political experience whatsoever.
And the thing is, the Gigi Goyette story, the steroids, the drug use, the abusive behavior to women, and even the Ken Lay allegations... all of this was known before he was elected, but our state's media ignored it, because they were too starstruck. Nobody took the claims seriously until his divorce, and even now, he's trying to spin the truth or duck it entirely.
So, sorry, but no. I fully expect to remind people of his real behavior for as long as he lives, whenever he tries to spin it, and I hope one day to be pissing on his grave, just like Hunter S. Thompson did to Nixon, especially when everyone else in the world wants to tell us how great a man he was...
Really, he deserves no less.
posted by markkraft at 6:33 PM on October 2, 2012 [7 favorites]
He was my governor. And I watched the general public elect him to office, despite having a really checkered past and no political experience whatsoever.
And the thing is, the Gigi Goyette story, the steroids, the drug use, the abusive behavior to women, and even the Ken Lay allegations... all of this was known before he was elected, but our state's media ignored it, because they were too starstruck. Nobody took the claims seriously until his divorce, and even now, he's trying to spin the truth or duck it entirely.
So, sorry, but no. I fully expect to remind people of his real behavior for as long as he lives, whenever he tries to spin it, and I hope one day to be pissing on his grave, just like Hunter S. Thompson did to Nixon, especially when everyone else in the world wants to tell us how great a man he was...
Really, he deserves no less.
posted by markkraft at 6:33 PM on October 2, 2012 [7 favorites]
Admit it, markkraft. You're Lou Ferrigno.
posted by Atom Eyes at 6:33 PM on October 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 6:33 PM on October 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
Professional bodybuilding has had rules banning steroids since the '70s
Schwarzenegger became Mr. Olympia in 1970. Competing against a stage full of men on as much gear as himself.
posted by Egg Shen at 6:40 PM on October 2, 2012
Schwarzenegger became Mr. Olympia in 1970. Competing against a stage full of men on as much gear as himself.
posted by Egg Shen at 6:40 PM on October 2, 2012
Crap. And timed-out on editing too...
Totally not what it's for.
posted by adamdschneider at 7:58 PM on October 2, 2012
Totally not what it's for.
posted by adamdschneider at 7:58 PM on October 2, 2012
markkraft: "Doing nude photography for gay men's magazines..."
Quelle horreur!
Seriously though - I am not a Californian, but Schwartzenegger is a tremendous bastard, not "inspiring" in any way, and he should not be allowed within ten miles of even the lowliest position of power imaginable. Still, this detail does not belong with the others. If anything, Arnold is a bastard for doing so many awful things that he's deprived us of the giddy pleasure of supporting a minor star of vintage gay porn.
posted by koeselitz at 8:18 PM on October 2, 2012 [6 favorites]
Quelle horreur!
Seriously though - I am not a Californian, but Schwartzenegger is a tremendous bastard, not "inspiring" in any way, and he should not be allowed within ten miles of even the lowliest position of power imaginable. Still, this detail does not belong with the others. If anything, Arnold is a bastard for doing so many awful things that he's deprived us of the giddy pleasure of supporting a minor star of vintage gay porn.
posted by koeselitz at 8:18 PM on October 2, 2012 [6 favorites]
If I were him, I wouldn't have published this. Whatever he thinks it's going to do to boost his career, it isn't.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:04 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:04 PM on October 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Has the axegrinding and threadshitting qualified for Meta yet, or are we still reaching for that particular rainbow?
posted by Behemoth at 9:55 PM on October 2, 2012
posted by Behemoth at 9:55 PM on October 2, 2012
Has the axegrinding and threadshitting qualified for Meta yet, or are we still reaching for that particular rainbow?
He's not a neutral figure, and he's just published a biography which omits several significant issues. I'd be surprised if folk weren't hashing out those same lacuna.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:04 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
He's not a neutral figure, and he's just published a biography which omits several significant issues. I'd be surprised if folk weren't hashing out those same lacuna.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:04 PM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
Arnold certainly has plenty of flaws or worse, but his accomplishments and drive are extraordinary. And his movies? Some of the best sci-fi ever made, running-man alone, what an incredible film.
posted by Shit Parade at 11:50 PM on October 2, 2012
posted by Shit Parade at 11:50 PM on October 2, 2012
What an opportunity missed. If only he had gone to a decent ghostwriter and said, "Your prose. Give them to me."
posted by MuffinMan at 4:20 AM on October 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by MuffinMan at 4:20 AM on October 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
Concealing and denying serious cardiac issues -- likely related to heavy steroid usage -- from the public prior to running for office.
He had surgery to replace an aortic valve in 1997. The surgical team noted that his heart problem was a congenital defect -- a bicuspid valve. It was also noted by medical experts at the time that he would likely need another surgery in 2-8 years, as he went with a human tissue replacement rather than a mechanical one.
He'd already admitted taking steroids in 1977. Nothing was concealed. He was elected 6 years after that surgery and had already been candid about his heart issues. The surgery was front page news all over the world when it happened.
Can steroid use cause heart problems? Sure. Can they cause congenital heart problems in the user? No. Could they have further weakened an already weak valve? Not really. Anabolic steroids can cause thickening and hardening of the left ventricle though. Different conditions.
You're claiming unfounded and disproved rumor as fact. The guy has done enough damning things. You don't need to make shit up, or get homophobic.
posted by zarq at 5:08 AM on October 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
He had surgery to replace an aortic valve in 1997. The surgical team noted that his heart problem was a congenital defect -- a bicuspid valve. It was also noted by medical experts at the time that he would likely need another surgery in 2-8 years, as he went with a human tissue replacement rather than a mechanical one.
He'd already admitted taking steroids in 1977. Nothing was concealed. He was elected 6 years after that surgery and had already been candid about his heart issues. The surgery was front page news all over the world when it happened.
Can steroid use cause heart problems? Sure. Can they cause congenital heart problems in the user? No. Could they have further weakened an already weak valve? Not really. Anabolic steroids can cause thickening and hardening of the left ventricle though. Different conditions.
You're claiming unfounded and disproved rumor as fact. The guy has done enough damning things. You don't need to make shit up, or get homophobic.
posted by zarq at 5:08 AM on October 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Arnold Schwarzenegger's tell-all book takes bad taste to a new level
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:47 AM on October 4, 2012
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:47 AM on October 4, 2012
Arnold Schwarzenegger's autobiography: the most unpleasant celebrity memoir ever
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:02 AM on October 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:02 AM on October 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
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