31 December, 2010
2010 Trivia Championship
Written by Lazers
edited by Hilts
J&B returned to Salerno’s in defense of its 2009 Championship. This is the roster of rascals, riff-raff and rogues chosen to defend:
Stix (aka Big Tit aka Stix)
Nitenurse (aka Nurse Stix)
Mothers (aka Head Cruncher)
Peppys (aka Hammer)
Lazers (aka Lazers)
Moho (aka Moho)
Mike Trivia (aka MG)
Chemical Man (aka Chemical Man)
Hilts (aka Hilts)
It took a bit of time for all of the teams to pour into Salerno’s, but the result was that 9 teams would be involved in the battle. In addition to J&B, the combatants included Auntie Joanie, Sharks, Shake & Bake, Garzilla (without Garzilla), Southside Avengers, See You On Tuesday, Porch, and Cobblestones.
As the anticipation built, some teams (including J&B) faced an immediate obstacle in the form of the Filibustering Waiter- the table would have to provide a credit card for the drink tab, but if we wanted to switch to a cash tab, he could close out the credit card tab and start the cash tab, though we could restart a credit card tab but would have to provide another credit card and blah blah blah. After his lengthy tab explanation to us, the waiter moved to the next table, where the same filibuster began with the preface, “As I just told that table, blah blah blah.”
It being Championship Night, the rules of the game have been altered a bit. There will not be halves or even quarters- tonight we will play 3 periods of 7 total categories. This twist seemed to confuse even Benkowski, as the distribution of categories went from 2-3-2 through a few evolutions until finally settling on 3-2-2 (with the food served after the 1st period). I think some of the permutations did not add up to 7.
Also tonight- no Free Point spaces, and only 2 throws per team (distance for the throws determined by the period of play, with the throw line moving further and further back from the box).
Of course, Benkowski’s son was on hand for a live version of the Music category.
First Period: Classic Brands/NFL 2002/Name that Tune Pt I
This NFC QB led the league with 23 fumbles?
This AFC player had a 99-yard kick return?
This Kansas City QB had a 99-yard touchdown pass?
This NFC QB led the league with 23 interceptions?
This AFC QB led the league with 4,689 passing yards?
This AFC RB led the league with 21 rushing touchdowns?
This AFC RB led the league with 115.8 yards rushing per game?
This AFC WR led the league with 107.6 yards receiving per game?
The Classic Brands category had a few decent questions but overall was too easy to be Championship caliber.
Minor controversy when J&B decides to utilize one of its “throw the ball” options. A cord (microphone? TV camera?) was draped across the destination box. I don’t know if Hilts requested it to be moved or moved it himself, but Benkowski ruled that other teams already had faced the cord obstacle during their “throw the ball” tries, so J&B would have to do the same. Hilts nails the points anyway.
A “Ladies Only- Most Occupied Piercings” contest led to the following (paraphrased) exchange at the J&B table:
Pepys: “This is not championship caliber.”
Moho: “He uses games like that to bring in lower quality players.”
Pepys: “I thought that’s why he had Music categories.”
That’s why they call him Hammer.
Not wanting a repeat of last year’s poor food service fiasco, Benkowski preps the kitchen when the end of the first period was approaching with yells of “Red Alert” several times. Although the pizza was slow in reaching the buffet table, the red alerts helped, and a good portion of food trays were ready at the end of the period.
With J&B and Cobblestone tied for the lead after the first period, Benkowski decided to hold a coin flip to determine which of those teams would get first access to the food. Unfortunately, as Benkowski updated the scoreboard (on his new grease board!), he didn’t notice that Garzilla had already pounced on the food table. Behind much booing from the crowd, Benkowski shoos them away, noting “it’s a trivia game, not a beauty pageant” (in reference to Garzilla’s roster that featured a decent collection of women).
J&B loses the coin flip and gets to eat second. The filibuster position never comes into play.
Second Period: Name that Tune Pt II/Celebrity Year of Birth
No questions noted from this period, but J&B was in third place at the end of it.
Third Period: I Love the 70s/2010 Late Night TV
70s- Billy Beer- was related to what politician?
2010 Late Night TV aka What’s On TV on New Year’s Eve/Day mixed with Movies Recently Watched by Benkowski. Not a championship caliber category!
Stix (aka Big Tit aka Stix)
Nitenurse (aka Nurse Stix)
Mothers (aka Head Cruncher)
Peppys (aka Hammer)
Lazers (aka Lazers)
Moho (aka Moho)
Mike Trivia (aka MG)
Chemical Man (aka Chemical Man)
Hilts (aka Hilts)
It took a bit of time for all of the teams to pour into Salerno’s, but the result was that 9 teams would be involved in the battle. In addition to J&B, the combatants included Auntie Joanie, Sharks, Shake & Bake, Garzilla (without Garzilla), Southside Avengers, See You On Tuesday, Porch, and Cobblestones.
As the anticipation built, some teams (including J&B) faced an immediate obstacle in the form of the Filibustering Waiter- the table would have to provide a credit card for the drink tab, but if we wanted to switch to a cash tab, he could close out the credit card tab and start the cash tab, though we could restart a credit card tab but would have to provide another credit card and blah blah blah. After his lengthy tab explanation to us, the waiter moved to the next table, where the same filibuster began with the preface, “As I just told that table, blah blah blah.”
It being Championship Night, the rules of the game have been altered a bit. There will not be halves or even quarters- tonight we will play 3 periods of 7 total categories. This twist seemed to confuse even Benkowski, as the distribution of categories went from 2-3-2 through a few evolutions until finally settling on 3-2-2 (with the food served after the 1st period). I think some of the permutations did not add up to 7.
Also tonight- no Free Point spaces, and only 2 throws per team (distance for the throws determined by the period of play, with the throw line moving further and further back from the box).
Of course, Benkowski’s son was on hand for a live version of the Music category.
First Period: Classic Brands/NFL 2002/Name that Tune Pt I
This NFC QB led the league with 23 fumbles?
This AFC player had a 99-yard kick return?
This Kansas City QB had a 99-yard touchdown pass?
This NFC QB led the league with 23 interceptions?
This AFC QB led the league with 4,689 passing yards?
This AFC RB led the league with 21 rushing touchdowns?
This AFC RB led the league with 115.8 yards rushing per game?
This AFC WR led the league with 107.6 yards receiving per game?
The Classic Brands category had a few decent questions but overall was too easy to be Championship caliber.
Minor controversy when J&B decides to utilize one of its “throw the ball” options. A cord (microphone? TV camera?) was draped across the destination box. I don’t know if Hilts requested it to be moved or moved it himself, but Benkowski ruled that other teams already had faced the cord obstacle during their “throw the ball” tries, so J&B would have to do the same. Hilts nails the points anyway.
A “Ladies Only- Most Occupied Piercings” contest led to the following (paraphrased) exchange at the J&B table:
Pepys: “This is not championship caliber.”
Moho: “He uses games like that to bring in lower quality players.”
Pepys: “I thought that’s why he had Music categories.”
That’s why they call him Hammer.
Not wanting a repeat of last year’s poor food service fiasco, Benkowski preps the kitchen when the end of the first period was approaching with yells of “Red Alert” several times. Although the pizza was slow in reaching the buffet table, the red alerts helped, and a good portion of food trays were ready at the end of the period.
With J&B and Cobblestone tied for the lead after the first period, Benkowski decided to hold a coin flip to determine which of those teams would get first access to the food. Unfortunately, as Benkowski updated the scoreboard (on his new grease board!), he didn’t notice that Garzilla had already pounced on the food table. Behind much booing from the crowd, Benkowski shoos them away, noting “it’s a trivia game, not a beauty pageant” (in reference to Garzilla’s roster that featured a decent collection of women).
J&B loses the coin flip and gets to eat second. The filibuster position never comes into play.
Second Period: Name that Tune Pt II/Celebrity Year of Birth
No questions noted from this period, but J&B was in third place at the end of it.
Third Period: I Love the 70s/2010 Late Night TV
70s- Billy Beer- was related to what politician?
2010 Late Night TV aka What’s On TV on New Year’s Eve/Day mixed with Movies Recently Watched by Benkowski. Not a championship caliber category!
Scores after 3 periods:
Cobblestone 1520
Sharks 1510
J&B 1250
Porch 1020
Garzilla 950
Garzilla 950
Avengers 910
Auntie J 800
Tuesday 690
Shake & Bake 600
Benkowski holds a lottery to determine the order in which competitors will select from 13 final category options: 2000s Entertainment (available twice, either A or B), 1990s Entertainment (A or B), 1980s Entertainment (A or B), 1960s Entertainment (A or B), Chicago Locations, Northwest Indiana Locations, NBA 1980s, NHL 1980s, or MLB 1990s.
Not sure where J&B landed in terms of getting to select its category, but Moho suggested picking the NHL; however, that category leaves most of the team on the sidelines. Despite concerns that its questions could cover “TV/Radio Facts from Benkowski’s Career”, J&B selects 1980s Entertainment A.
Assumed 2 correct wins wager with a bonus for all 3 correct. J&B wagers 791, enough to beat the 4th place team if they double their score.
NBA 1980s (Shake & Bake):
From 79/80 through 88/89 seasons, the only player to win 3 NBA MVP awards?
87/88 season- LA player led the league with 13 rebounds per game?
81/82 season- led league with 9.65 assists per game?
2000s Entertainment A (Tuesday):
Co-hosts for the 4th hour of “The Today Show” are Kathie Lee Gifford and who?
2003 Pixar movie was one of the top grossing movies for 27 weeks?
Who sang “Circus”, which charted during 2008-2009, peaking at #3?
MLB 1990s (Auntie J):
1997- hit 56 HR with 147 RBI?
1995- hit 50 HR with 52 doubles?
1996- AL Cy Young winner with 20-10 record?
1990s Entertainment A (Avengers):
During 95/96 TV season, “Roseanne” kicked off a string of sitcoms at 7:00 (CST)- which sitcom ended the string with its 8:30 (CST) airing?
1999- who played Trinity in “The Matrix”?
1991- who sang “Joyride”?
1960s Entertainment A (Porch):
During 64/65 TV season, the top ten rated shows featured 5 sitcoms. Two of those featured female leads- name one; and name a male lead from one of the other three shows?
1968- who played Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet”?
1966- who sang “Summer in the City”?
2000s Entertainment B (Garzilla):
Up to 2006- who played CJ on “West Wing”?
2003- name the heist movie that featured Donald Sutherland?
2000- it charted up to #3- who sang “Kryptonite”?
1980s Entertainment A (J&B):
Who played George on “Mr. Belvidere”?
1985- three movies topped $100 million box office receipts- all were part of a series of movies (2 sequels, 1 initial)- name two?
1980- who sang “Please Don’t Go”?
NHL 1980s (Sharks):
85/86 season- Gretzky had 52 goals and 163 assists. What player led the league with 68 goals that year?
81/82 season- Gretzky had 92 goals. What player finished second with 64 goals?
85/86 season- which goalie won the Vezina Trophy?
1980s Entertainment B (Cobblestone):
On “Full House”, what actresses played DJ and Stephanie?
1985- “The Color Purple”- top billed actor and actress?
1980- sang “Woman in Love”?
Gentlemen?
xmas
First time Ive been to sister.3's for xmas in along longtime. mu family tend sto go there every year. In the past few years, however, Ive been in California for break or went to Gf's family. So, been a long time.
This yeasr I was only able to go for a little bit - Mom, who is getting really old, felt she couldn't go. We tend to circle around Mom a lot thesedays, so it was an easy decision to go to the party just for a little bit - then break out w. a plate for my Mom.
Stayed for an hour. Internal dialouge about the race of time fruits up this for you: the cycles of growing noted in that when the preent day 20-30 yo's were kids, they made every Xmas. Then, when they get their first boy/girl/friends, they skip town for a few years. And, then, as they near 30 again .... theyr eappear. So, funny to see so many growing faces again.
A similar thing happened when the boys and girls, spread out throughtout all of the three sets of frenz i tend to go on about here (that would yes be the Old Guard; but heavy strains evolved in both the the Middle Guard and the Young Guard). Whne they hooked u w. a new girl/boy, they immed. dissapeared for a metter of months - until that old 'wall/other/keroscene around' deal inevitably appears.
Funny - not even in those most incorrigible of acts has this dynamic failed to appear.
This yeasr I was only able to go for a little bit - Mom, who is getting really old, felt she couldn't go. We tend to circle around Mom a lot thesedays, so it was an easy decision to go to the party just for a little bit - then break out w. a plate for my Mom.
Stayed for an hour. Internal dialouge about the race of time fruits up this for you: the cycles of growing noted in that when the preent day 20-30 yo's were kids, they made every Xmas. Then, when they get their first boy/girl/friends, they skip town for a few years. And, then, as they near 30 again .... theyr eappear. So, funny to see so many growing faces again.
A similar thing happened when the boys and girls, spread out throughtout all of the three sets of frenz i tend to go on about here (that would yes be the Old Guard; but heavy strains evolved in both the the Middle Guard and the Young Guard). Whne they hooked u w. a new girl/boy, they immed. dissapeared for a metter of months - until that old 'wall/other/keroscene around' deal inevitably appears.
Funny - not even in those most incorrigible of acts has this dynamic failed to appear.
Burn
Gorgeousflights of horrid destruction -
planned flites of 800-900 heavy bombers (which means, a heavy heavy raid - gone are the days of nuclear strikes) -
(good/bad)-
didnt pan out-
instead, 'weather', 'communications', 'effective countermeasures'-
whatever jibber you use to communicate plans not going rite-
meant that the planned heavy strike of 800 heavies actually was somewhere in the range of 200 planes-
yeah, plans can be like that-
and a second strike, rushed into planning stages a few days later, was but to be around 350 planes -
but it turned out to be, say, 150.
The War, must be won.
Destruction loses the war.
But, the repeated use of massed flight of heavy bombers to do - do what - burn the world down? This loses wars. Destroys the peace. Loses the war.
It loses the war. div>
21 December, 2010
On Weeping
Devin Hester gloriously returns kicks for TD's on MNF- I mut be in Evanston watching the game w. Rocky. Was @ the crib w. the family a bit, but then we went to a bar to watch the balance of the game. Parking lot, snow covering up it all, chill. Drinx were great after the first deep mistake - some drink that was impossible to drink except those who actually think beer tastes good.
But Roxx gave me a good one. He got pretty drunk, and out came a "Hey - do you weep?" Of course, i weep every day - I really do. And, as we agreed, as we get older, we weep more. For me, weeping is totally ok - it's a mans thing to do. Why? Dad would weep - not as much as i do these days. But the fact that this man - of course, The Arch Man as far as I'm concerned growing up - meant that to me, weeping is just a part of being .... well, a manly man. True.
But we agreed, generally yes
- how this scene was shot and the music involved mixed w. the plot of the movie
-or
- the touch of a sentence or paragraph in this or that book
-or
- a particular full of life memory
-or
whathaveyou.
I'll amidt I was a little worried that ever more I weep - but seconded, unbidded, and extremely similar thoughts about it - have eased all worries. Hey, Jesus wept, correct? Why can't we?
But Roxx gave me a good one. He got pretty drunk, and out came a "Hey - do you weep?" Of course, i weep every day - I really do. And, as we agreed, as we get older, we weep more. For me, weeping is totally ok - it's a mans thing to do. Why? Dad would weep - not as much as i do these days. But the fact that this man - of course, The Arch Man as far as I'm concerned growing up - meant that to me, weeping is just a part of being .... well, a manly man. True.
But we agreed, generally yes
- how this scene was shot and the music involved mixed w. the plot of the movie
-or
- the touch of a sentence or paragraph in this or that book
-or
- a particular full of life memory
-or
whathaveyou.
I'll amidt I was a little worried that ever more I weep - but seconded, unbidded, and extremely similar thoughts about it - have eased all worries. Hey, Jesus wept, correct? Why can't we?
20 December, 2010
if y dont tri, y wont be dissapoint'd
All my life, finishing anything off. Anything. The rue of me. Decades go, and ideas that were heavier than Atlas's load finally are shoehorned into a workable format - then decades go tho and here I am.
Films are an easy deal. I have, easily, 20 2-3m films purely to go. Well, the shots were thought out - but the shooting sites, angles, actors... not there. But in what format? Burnishments of Monty Python adorn my epaulets, so that solution - hey, no plot, no punchlines, and be as out there as you want to. Then there are the need for actors. I always thought fair ground would be to use my nieces and nephews a lot - but they have grown up, need the time themselves, and although they deeply love their uncle, it's hard to gather them. Plus, the need for female actors. Dudes will not blanche @, say, a fart joke. But when it comes time to ask a girl to do a riff on cuckolding ..... I cant ask my nieces to do that (I know, I should, and the artists out there are disappointed in me, but...)
Music is another aspect - and a much easier arena to produce.
It's been a year now since I learned how to play the guitar at this level (I'll say it now - I can play, at a beginner level -but i am a guitarist now, no doubt). At first I was overjoyed just to be able to play some cords. But the deal now is, of course, to write my own stuff - which, of course, I have. I had soe riffs, but now some of these riffs have been linked in ways that I accept. Now, Ive written songs when I was in grammer school (advantages of growing up a punk rocker) - but these are the first, y'know, actual tuneful songs to be produced.Films are an easy deal. I have, easily, 20 2-3m films purely to go. Well, the shots were thought out - but the shooting sites, angles, actors... not there. But in what format? Burnishments of Monty Python adorn my epaulets, so that solution - hey, no plot, no punchlines, and be as out there as you want to. Then there are the need for actors. I always thought fair ground would be to use my nieces and nephews a lot - but they have grown up, need the time themselves, and although they deeply love their uncle, it's hard to gather them. Plus, the need for female actors. Dudes will not blanche @, say, a fart joke. But when it comes time to ask a girl to do a riff on cuckolding ..... I cant ask my nieces to do that (I know, I should, and the artists out there are disappointed in me, but...)
Music is another aspect - and a much easier arena to produce.
There's ,more. I can play, yes - but over the years Ive collected many instruments. Now, It's not like Blackies "music room" - but i do have a piano, a snare drum, tambourine, washboard, various whistles and fifes, maracas, and my own imagination. So - have instruments, have a little bit of ability, and---- have the Audacity program that allows me to record stuff. The last addition was this deeply beautiful microphone - a stunner - that really nicely records what I play and sing.
For me, then, I should start reeling off song after song. Not great songs, i know - simple - but in my decades of being a rocker and artist, I fully realise simple is totally and completely equal to complex. It's all there.
But I have to put up my stopgates. It just can't be 'making music' - it has to be silly and cause a laff. So, as a small little hedge against my frenz - who love me deeply, i know- finding my music boring - my band consists of, rite now, me, Bolo, and Mom: Fassbinder - which originally started as 'The Pasolini Trio'. So, w. a blind dog and an 88yo woman as bandmates, Im 101% hedges against any criticism.
But also, just about any chance of actually presenting a song that has actual access to any accolades is impossible in this mode as well.
Said it before, but Rocky told me he expected a lot of art to be produced by me during my unempolyment period. He brought up a similar Blackie period where Banksy's and Shermans and Donovans were produced - in his style. His prompting has stuck in my head. I have to just get on w. it.
19 December, 2010
card gone
Taken away from me at the library was the library card i'd had since 2005 - Gf had made it for me. I had not has a lib. card since 1991 - the original Bolo had chewed through a library book on Japanease baseball I had. Since I was penniless in those days, I couldnt pay for the book.
Fast forward to 2005, when I met her working at her library. When we were start to get chummy, I'd sometimes hang around the front desk. I asked her finally, to look me up - an lo' - no trace of me in the system. She made me a new card on the spot - finally writing my name w. a marker on it.
You know. Kinda sentimental. Little bit. Always loved that card. But today i got something from Mt. greenwood Library and the librarian there couldn't get the machine to read the fading bar code on it. She took my card away- despite my asking for it - and I had to stand there, suddenly being overwhelmed by very deep and ever deepening saddness, as she made me a new card. I was watching my old card laying there out of reach.
I said thanks and smiled. Walked out the door into the night. Alone on the street, I could express my saddness a little more openly.
I know. She's a long time ago, now. But I am a bit sentimental. Plus there's that weepiness that seems to come easy to me at times. I know - not a good thing.
Fast forward to 2005, when I met her working at her library. When we were start to get chummy, I'd sometimes hang around the front desk. I asked her finally, to look me up - an lo' - no trace of me in the system. She made me a new card on the spot - finally writing my name w. a marker on it.
You know. Kinda sentimental. Little bit. Always loved that card. But today i got something from Mt. greenwood Library and the librarian there couldn't get the machine to read the fading bar code on it. She took my card away- despite my asking for it - and I had to stand there, suddenly being overwhelmed by very deep and ever deepening saddness, as she made me a new card. I was watching my old card laying there out of reach.
I said thanks and smiled. Walked out the door into the night. Alone on the street, I could express my saddness a little more openly.
I know. She's a long time ago, now. But I am a bit sentimental. Plus there's that weepiness that seems to come easy to me at times. I know - not a good thing.
army of one.army strong.be all you can be.
The ending of 'dont ask dont tell' will only result in a stronger armed forces. Other countries experiences in having gay warriors serve generally has gone off well. The broadening of horizons of the kids who do Americas - my - fighting will make them better at all things, including fighting. The quality of the human material available to our services should go up. The massive over strain on all branches, resulting in deployment after deployment in fighting zones for our fighting kids, will be alleviated a bit by the new fighters (although it actually has a lot already - a dual combo of things -1- the drawback of our Iraq deployed forces are down to 50k - from 140k during the Surge -2- the terrible economy means more people to fight.).
With the Senator Sanders Filibuster last week and this vote, sometimes politician are kool and do good things.
17 December, 2010
organicwatch
The soccer program I'm involved in is a real good thing - why even tho' I haven't taught @ the school since 2006 I'm still one of the coaches. Getting kids to play sports while they are young - especially girls - is a great thing (please note parents and someday parents)- having them involved in a on a team makes the rewards even greater - physically, mentally, spiritually, etc ... rewards verifiable and obvious. And whenthey are city kids, w. all the stresses that encompasses...However, we - kids and the coaches - are just humans. Food is a concern - the coaches LOVE Macdonalds. Lovve it. We have it all th time, and we treat the kids to Macdonalds after Saturday games. Some of my favourite memories are there - that 2009 group playoff win over raF? Gloriously did I buy #1's or whatever my girls wanted @ the Mac's on Lincoln and 4900n. Beat a freshman boys team this Eall? Macs. Hey hey hey - going to practice, this Fall, practically every day going in I got a $1 Coke and a $1 Mcdouble. gotta have stomach full so I wont hurt during practice.
Arriving @ practice one random day this Fall and offhandedly telling fellow coach Pito "God I eat too much Macs" and he verifying "I know, I know.". So, I realise we should be making better role models for our kids, rather than opining on Macs.
So, saw "Food Inc." this week. Didnt horrify me so much as to the horrid quality of food served in America - I really kinda knew that, obviously. But in terms of "Hey, this is an arena where you can fight the power, Hilts", it has resonated inside me. So, slowly, I'll start to check out organic stuff - I'll go slow. I know - Im just so cheap. But I will.
And the greater response from inside me centers around the garden. The last two years the garden has been cheap. Pumping out tomatoes, etc - but @ 30% of were it should be. One of the suggestions for 'saving the planet' was to use yr on garden. So, tis spring, it will be expanded by another footinto the grass - and I will get double crops out of it.
However another problem. We compost so much stuff - egg shells, tea bags, coffee grinds, veggie stuff left over, etc ... and Im sure it is plumped full of nonorganic fertilizers from before. Also, I always bought a few bags of 'manure' - but now realise that, like the compost, it's probly full of antibotics etc etc etc.. So, what to do? Organic compost, obv. - but what about our cherished family composting? What to do?
Well, finally, thinking on the matter.
16 December, 2010
try
Went to a school today to see if I could get some sorta job -they have an open library position, so I was hoping. Wasn't used to getting up that early anymore (0720h !!) - but did actually get some sleep in the nite before and was fresh enough. I was put in charge of two classes, and oversaw one class in an assembly.
Went well. I liked the school - I was suprised, actually, that things were so in control. Grammer schools, for me, are tuff as hell - kids tend to be ansy and scattered and wanting to play all day (much do I prefer the high schools - HS kids, generally, are much more chill.) However, this school was well run. Kids respectful, working, writing, behaving - what a change from the last school I was at (oi!). They also had an actual library - although I was a "librarian" @ my last school, I didn't have a library (conducted classes in their own class). Here, however, they have a really nice - albeit MESSY - space. The collectionof books was somewhat old and very very thin - it would be incredible to be able to build the collection.
Funny. Real nice school. Library of possibilities. I want the job.
Went well. I liked the school - I was suprised, actually, that things were so in control. Grammer schools, for me, are tuff as hell - kids tend to be ansy and scattered and wanting to play all day (much do I prefer the high schools - HS kids, generally, are much more chill.) However, this school was well run. Kids respectful, working, writing, behaving - what a change from the last school I was at (oi!). They also had an actual library - although I was a "librarian" @ my last school, I didn't have a library (conducted classes in their own class). Here, however, they have a really nice - albeit MESSY - space. The collectionof books was somewhat old and very very thin - it would be incredible to be able to build the collection.
Funny. Real nice school. Library of possibilities. I want the job.
15 December, 2010
an opportunity
Decided to go after it. Kahla years ago advised me to get a job I should go to the schools w. resume in hand and try to talk to the principal. So, last week and this week - when I could jab myself out in the afternoon- I visited a bunch of mainly Southside side grammer schools w. posted open full or half library positions. There were only four full positions available (600 schools?) and maybe 14-15 "half" or ".5" positions. These ".5" positions would require me to work half the week at one school and half the week at another other (BUT - fulltime!!). To confuse the matter further, there are "E Track Schools" (four of which have .5/library position) which run on another schedule - and can only be matched w. another E Track school.
Fun to drive around the South side, especially in neighbourhoods I rarely go. Mad at myself because because even thou it is important that I get a job, It still takes maximum effort to even get up so I can visit these schools before they close for the day.
But, finally, I have a chance. Tomorrow I go to a school that has a full open position. Since I cannot legally sub, I will "volunteer" and they will see if they want to hire me. It is very important - there are just about zero jobs, and if I don't get a break here tomorroww....or, to use Napoleon's "Is he Lucky?", meaning When he gets a chance, will he make the most of it?
But, a chance. So, good.
Fun to drive around the South side, especially in neighbourhoods I rarely go. Mad at myself because because even thou it is important that I get a job, It still takes maximum effort to even get up so I can visit these schools before they close for the day.
But, finally, I have a chance. Tomorrow I go to a school that has a full open position. Since I cannot legally sub, I will "volunteer" and they will see if they want to hire me. It is very important - there are just about zero jobs, and if I don't get a break here tomorroww....or, to use Napoleon's "Is he Lucky?", meaning When he gets a chance, will he make the most of it?
But, a chance. So, good.
11 December, 2010
09 December, 2010
emptybottle
ANother Monday nite @ the bottle. Missed the last few weeks, determined to make sure this week, bouyed extra by positive read in Reader. So, we went, making time @ Dragons before weighs slipped and bows pointed Bottlewise - Dragon, Me, and Jacob.
Two bands we did see - late for openers. The nites Starchilds were "Talk Normal", a two girl group featuring odd tunings, playing the guitar behind the pickup, lots of vocals stylings/shoutings/emotives, drumming on a specially made set. Lovely to experience. Never know what y'll get - lucky this week.
Two bands we did see - late for openers. The nites Starchilds were "Talk Normal", a two girl group featuring odd tunings, playing the guitar behind the pickup, lots of vocals stylings/shoutings/emotives, drumming on a specially made set. Lovely to experience. Never know what y'll get - lucky this week.
And the thought: So hard am I trying to learn up the guitar - and then these masters, both playing and conceptually, make me feel like I'm speaking like a child w. an instrument in my hands. No prob - I realise that it's a long war, and the power IS in my hands. Is kool. But so far to go.
Also saw "Buke and Gass", or some named band. They were very good - but not as swell as Talk N. And the Jacob show - he loved this band so much he started to talk to the girl ((2 members - one on a toy acoustic (seriously), and the other on a demibass/guitar)). After some banter, Jacob threw out something that made her freak a little - like he does. All in good show, however.
I’m Crushing Your Head (redux)
Written by Lazers
names edited by Hilts
J&B returned to Salerno’s while riding a long overdue one-game winning streak (courtesy of Bill and MG…plus a player who had a “cup of tea” with J&B back in the 90s). Fortunately, Salerno’s is relatively quiet, as Benkowski left his microphone in Oak Forrest (no repeating questions tonight!).
J&B represented by: Chemical Man, Stix, Hilts, Dragon, MG, Lazers and…for the Final Question only…the return of the 90s era “cup of tea” player…Chem's friend Mothers.
The competition: Sharks, Peeps, Awesome, and Auntie J
First half: 90s Sports Champions/William Shatner/The Globe (the tabloid, not the Earth)
’97 Red Wings won Stanley Cup by beating which team in the finals? Flyers
’96 Bulls won NBA Championship by beating which team in the finals? Seattle
Shatner player “Stan Fields” in what Sandra Bullock movie? Miss Congeniality
Shatner had a recurring role on what 60s TV medical drama? Dr. Kildare
Lynda Carter of “Wonder Woman” fame currently has career as? (hint: t.s.)
Scores at the half: J&B 960 Auntie J 870 Sharks 750 Awesome 610 Peeps 260
By halftime, J&B had taken on the new project of providing a nickname for the daughter of the restaurant’s owner. She again was sitting at the bar- white sweater, jeans, ponytail, stripper boots- causing erections. The project would not reach its conclusion on this night- we can do better than “Boots”.
Second half: NFL 2010/90s Country Music/Steve Martin & Teri Garr
Only NFC QB with over 3,000 yards passing this season? Rodgers
Only NFC RB with over 1,000 yards rushing this season?
Only NFC WR with over 1,000 yards receiving this season?
NFC player that leads the NFL with 11 ½ sacks?
NFC player that leads the NFL with 7 interceptions? guy on Eagles
Scores: J&B 2070 Awesome 1510 Sharks 1450 Auntie J 1370 Peeps 900
J&B wins the random number lottery and will get to pick its final category first from: Everybody Loves Raymond, Leslie Nielsen, Eva Longoria, Male Celebrity Year of Birth, Hamburger Chains, Presidents, or Female Celebrity Year of Birth.
J&B wagers the classic and selects Female Celebrity YOB despite the protests of MG, who wanted to select Presidents.
Female Year of Birth:
Pat Benatar?
Christina Aguilera?
Aretha Franklin?
Raymond:
Ray Romano Year of Birth?
Show ran from 1996-2005: how many episodes?
In the 80s, Brad Garrett won $100,000 on this talent-oriented show?
Presidents:
Dan Quayle was VP for which President?
George Washington Year of Birth?
Which President was between Jackson and William Henry Harrison?
Male Year of Birth?
Emilio Estevez?
Usher?
Jermaine Jackson?
Leslie Nielsen:
Year of Birth?
Was born in what country?
Career breakthrough was on this Disney TV miniseries in the 60s?
Hamburger Chains:
Year Burger King started?
Year Hardee’s started?
Year White Castle started?
Gentlemen?
J&B represented by: Chemical Man, Stix, Hilts, Dragon, MG, Lazers and…for the Final Question only…the return of the 90s era “cup of tea” player…Chem's friend Mothers.
The competition: Sharks, Peeps, Awesome, and Auntie J
First half: 90s Sports Champions/William Shatner/The Globe (the tabloid, not the Earth)
’97 Red Wings won Stanley Cup by beating which team in the finals? Flyers
’96 Bulls won NBA Championship by beating which team in the finals? Seattle
Shatner player “Stan Fields” in what Sandra Bullock movie? Miss Congeniality
Shatner had a recurring role on what 60s TV medical drama? Dr. Kildare
Lynda Carter of “Wonder Woman” fame currently has career as? (hint: t.s.)
Scores at the half: J&B 960 Auntie J 870 Sharks 750 Awesome 610 Peeps 260
By halftime, J&B had taken on the new project of providing a nickname for the daughter of the restaurant’s owner. She again was sitting at the bar- white sweater, jeans, ponytail, stripper boots- causing erections. The project would not reach its conclusion on this night- we can do better than “Boots”.
Second half: NFL 2010/90s Country Music/Steve Martin & Teri Garr
Only NFC QB with over 3,000 yards passing this season? Rodgers
Only NFC RB with over 1,000 yards rushing this season?
Only NFC WR with over 1,000 yards receiving this season?
NFC player that leads the NFL with 11 ½ sacks?
NFC player that leads the NFL with 7 interceptions? guy on Eagles
Scores: J&B 2070 Awesome 1510 Sharks 1450 Auntie J 1370 Peeps 900
J&B wins the random number lottery and will get to pick its final category first from: Everybody Loves Raymond, Leslie Nielsen, Eva Longoria, Male Celebrity Year of Birth, Hamburger Chains, Presidents, or Female Celebrity Year of Birth.
J&B wagers the classic and selects Female Celebrity YOB despite the protests of MG, who wanted to select Presidents.
Female Year of Birth:
Pat Benatar?
Christina Aguilera?
Aretha Franklin?
Raymond:
Ray Romano Year of Birth?
Show ran from 1996-2005: how many episodes?
In the 80s, Brad Garrett won $100,000 on this talent-oriented show?
Presidents:
Dan Quayle was VP for which President?
George Washington Year of Birth?
Which President was between Jackson and William Henry Harrison?
Male Year of Birth?
Emilio Estevez?
Usher?
Jermaine Jackson?
Leslie Nielsen:
Year of Birth?
Was born in what country?
Career breakthrough was on this Disney TV miniseries in the 60s?
Hamburger Chains:
Year Burger King started?
Year Hardee’s started?
Year White Castle started?
Gentlemen?
PART II
BLOGGER RITE NOW NOT ALLOWING ME TO PUT IN SCOND HALF
06 December, 2010
Reading
Love Dan Savage. Always read his column --total highlight. Had an interesting letter on cuckolding which led him to write about the book Sex at Dawn, the Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by C. Ryan and C. Jetha. Book - just started it - is fantastic. Basically the early thesis (again, im on p40) is that in th huntergather days everything was shared - guys had several sexual mates, women also had several sexual mates. It was w. the advent of agriculture - about 8-10,000 years ago - that lead to private property - and "monognmy" as one of the forms of private ownership (woman as property).
The authors thesis is that "manogomy" (and other sexual practices - there are many things discussed in the book...)has only been around for maybe 5% of humans beings existance. Hence, the many "wierd" and "fucked up" ways of expressing sexuality -well, some people feel they are 'wierd' and 'fucked' - have their genesis in these prehistoric days.
This mite be a book club selection.
Also reading another Nick Hornby book How to be Good. Pretty good. Love it, actually - love everything Horny writes. Haven't read it all - but on picking this one up, the idea that I should read everything I haven't yet - is a good idea.
The authors thesis is that "manogomy" (and other sexual practices - there are many things discussed in the book...)has only been around for maybe 5% of humans beings existance. Hence, the many "wierd" and "fucked up" ways of expressing sexuality -well, some people feel they are 'wierd' and 'fucked' - have their genesis in these prehistoric days.
This mite be a book club selection.
Also reading another Nick Hornby book How to be Good. Pretty good. Love it, actually - love everything Horny writes. Haven't read it all - but on picking this one up, the idea that I should read everything I haven't yet - is a good idea.
Cafe
Remember when so much time was spent in coffee houses? Rogers Park especially - Panini panini (sp), Cinema Cafe, and Enuiu. Well, Enuiu is closed (horrible, me viewing that place as an historical place. Again: this is here we swan/walked/hunted/take a souvinier.), Jinx in Wicker Ark is gone (as well as that really famous one - that whareouse place on North Ave just East of the Big Intersection ((North/Milwaukee/Damen)) ).
However, some still exist. Lovely Andersonville still rocks Kopi on Clark. Jacob and I went to Kopi last week to kill a few hours. These days we be poor - if it was 3m ago, I'd spring for the bill, make sure we ate there, and we w/out any cares. These days? Before we went to kopi, we stopped @ Mac D's so we could line our stomachs first w. a $1 Mcdouble. Made Jacob pay the $1 for hisown. These days I have to watch my cash.
Into Kopi we went. Kopi was always kool - but also tilted a bittine the gay way. (Andersonville's a little gay). However, tonnes of chixx also frequented the place - which means The Eternal Chase after Women has some purpose in going into pansexual places such as Kopi. But - knowing the gay past of the place - we were thinking - "It'll just be a slew of guys, and no chix to rapp w." However, it wasn't - were chix there, tho' we didnt talk.
Instead what happened was that I played guitar the whole time. Wasnt sure it would be kool, but then jacob paraphrased "Dude, it's a cafe, and it's a koolone at that - they'll tell you to stop." He wa srite. Played quiet, played joyfully, wasn't obnoxious (rither of us), left a tip, want to go back again - w. th guitar. Was fun, and reinded me of being - again - 20. Was kool. Forgot how enjoyable. Plus .... chix are about.
However, some still exist. Lovely Andersonville still rocks Kopi on Clark. Jacob and I went to Kopi last week to kill a few hours. These days we be poor - if it was 3m ago, I'd spring for the bill, make sure we ate there, and we w/out any cares. These days? Before we went to kopi, we stopped @ Mac D's so we could line our stomachs first w. a $1 Mcdouble. Made Jacob pay the $1 for hisown. These days I have to watch my cash.
Into Kopi we went. Kopi was always kool - but also tilted a bittine the gay way. (Andersonville's a little gay). However, tonnes of chixx also frequented the place - which means The Eternal Chase after Women has some purpose in going into pansexual places such as Kopi. But - knowing the gay past of the place - we were thinking - "It'll just be a slew of guys, and no chix to rapp w." However, it wasn't - were chix there, tho' we didnt talk.
Instead what happened was that I played guitar the whole time. Wasnt sure it would be kool, but then jacob paraphrased "Dude, it's a cafe, and it's a koolone at that - they'll tell you to stop." He wa srite. Played quiet, played joyfully, wasn't obnoxious (rither of us), left a tip, want to go back again - w. th guitar. Was fun, and reinded me of being - again - 20. Was kool. Forgot how enjoyable. Plus .... chix are about.
Suntimes reminds me of those days...
Once in awhile you'll see former students and players I coached in the newspaper - here's some story on grade inflation in CPS. In th sunday print version there was a picture of her.
For me, very cool. Always great to be reminded of great times. My favourite team I have vever coached was the JV spring girls 2008 team. Again, we got to the quaterfinals of the City playoffs before we we topped by the #1 team @ that time. But the girl in the story - she was freshman back then, and because of her obvious maturity and skill I put her in the defense. She was always a bright spot- sunny attitude in practice, in class: everywhere. And it was fun to watch her grow and take on different roles as she changed from 14 to 15 to 16. Miss those days. Wish I had another crack @ that team - I know Id do a much better job now.
Todays version of the print Suntimes brings a column by Cheryl Lavin. She used to have a great relationshi type column way back - and then dissapeared. She has been back for two years or so - but she really is not back. The column now is not as interesting (it used to be younger issues - now, it's middle age issues) as itused to - but I still read it.
So, todays column by Lavin has a story of a reunion 30 years in the making (typical column fare these days in Lavin). However, what caught my eye is that it involved people from St. Rita HS, right about the time I was going there. The names have been changed, of course - but reading between the lines, my guess is that there is a heavy chance I know these two people - im sure I know the girl. However - completely can't tell. I'll put this colum out on FB and see if the rita people can't figger out the two.
For me, very cool. Always great to be reminded of great times. My favourite team I have vever coached was the JV spring girls 2008 team. Again, we got to the quaterfinals of the City playoffs before we we topped by the #1 team @ that time. But the girl in the story - she was freshman back then, and because of her obvious maturity and skill I put her in the defense. She was always a bright spot- sunny attitude in practice, in class: everywhere. And it was fun to watch her grow and take on different roles as she changed from 14 to 15 to 16. Miss those days. Wish I had another crack @ that team - I know Id do a much better job now.
Todays version of the print Suntimes brings a column by Cheryl Lavin. She used to have a great relationshi type column way back - and then dissapeared. She has been back for two years or so - but she really is not back. The column now is not as interesting (it used to be younger issues - now, it's middle age issues) as itused to - but I still read it.
So, todays column by Lavin has a story of a reunion 30 years in the making (typical column fare these days in Lavin). However, what caught my eye is that it involved people from St. Rita HS, right about the time I was going there. The names have been changed, of course - but reading between the lines, my guess is that there is a heavy chance I know these two people - im sure I know the girl. However - completely can't tell. I'll put this colum out on FB and see if the rita people can't figger out the two.
03 December, 2010
Stones from Rockit
Seems he should blog about this. Dangerous thing for me - hearing isolated Keith tracks, and the though popps up int me head ... "hey, i bet I can play that... doesn't seem too hard...." realising now it's not so much in the playing f it - it's in the writing someting new. That's it.
On saying Goodbye
Been loving the comic book "Y: The Last Man". Originally published by DC via their Vertigo line, it was a 60 issue run cntered in a world where EVERY MALE DIES, except for ...... well, lets just say. except for two : a monkey, and a human named Yorick Brown. It follws Yorick and three compainans - a doctor who mite be able to clone Yorick to keep the human race alive, 355, a secret agent trying to keep Yorick alive, and Yrricks pet monkey.So - I will say - it very much is a comic book. The art isnt especially the drawing point. The plots involve typical comic fare - "oh uh, now we have to go all the way to San Fran to get this piece of the puzzle - uh oh, now to Australia, now to ..... But, having written that - I'll tell you i LOVED this series.
I was @ Scottsdale library when I first came across it. Earlt August. They have the 60m issue run collected in 10 seperate 'omnibus type' issues, w. about six issues of the original comic in each of the ten omnibus issues. "Hm" methinks "Well. Let me get the first issue, since it seems it mite be interesting. Wait - let me get the first two, incase it's actually good."
Again - I loved it. I ran through those first two 'omnibus' issues that nite, then went back the next day to get issues 3-7. I had too many books out to get #8 that day - so i had to wait YET another day to take me up to #8.
But then the problems - Scottsdale didn't have #9 or #10- I'd have to get it from another library in the system. The way the library system is set upnowadays is that they really have to share resources - it's too expensive for individual libraries to have all books in their collection. It's a problem @ all libraries, not jusy Chicago. So what CPL does is stock almost every branch library w. Y the LAst man #'s 1 and 2 - and then if the people like it, they have to order it interlibrary loan from one of the few libraries that have the issues. Fact is, while most branches have #'s 1 and 2 - there are only FOUR COPIES of #10 in the entire system. So. Took a little time.
Volume #9, via interlibrary loan, came and I decided to save it for my trip to Louisville to visit w. the Iversons. Read it one the bus trip down. That takes us to August what, 20th? Then came the huge wait - till last week. Took me 3m to finally get to the last issues and FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT in this comic series. But now, it's all over.
Two favourites things, of many. One glorious, one deeply saddening. The glorous? Love the artists way when they draw the facial and body expressions of the women when they first encounter Yorick - remember, the woman survivors of whatever killed all the men are incomprhensively shocked to come face to face w. what they thought didnt't exist - an alive man. It happens 5-6 times in the book,and I loved every time. Acyually, it was the garbage truck driver's and then Yoricks mother's expression that actually drove me to fall in love w. this series - espeially the moms. I'd reread thise panels in the early days ......
And, finally, the later days. The end of days. The end of the Last Man. In the final issuse, it's time to say goodbye. Goodbye to all the characters. Good bye to the Monkey (one of the saddest and unexpected scences in literature for sure .... but also right, and what was supposed to happen). And, finally, to Yorick ......
In the end, despite the tears of loss and goodbye, there was one last time to say "Damn! Of course! How did I forget??"
Winner plays winner of Italy-USA tomorrow in the Stadium.
Neice.1 and Nephew.2 have been organizing a Friday after Thanksgiving soccer game involving the hicago Fire's supporter groups. They have been doing it @ for awhile - I think this was billed as "Fourth Annual". Both of them are good @organizing things. This year a little different - instead of playing @ the local field (St. Christina's- arrainged to play on the field by one of their olld soccer coaches in grammer school), we actually got to play on the Fire's practice field to the west of the stadium. Cold!
Per usual - i got there late - Per usual, I sat down every few minutes. So out of shape - stunningly so, even tho' im not fat. Then again, i was playing amidst a field full of 20-25year old kids.
A funtime had by all. I got a few touches, but benerally speaking, I knew that if I played a lot my team would lose - Im terrible. It was good to see something the kids set their mind to that got done. Plans already for the fifth annual.
Per usual - i got there late - Per usual, I sat down every few minutes. So out of shape - stunningly so, even tho' im not fat. Then again, i was playing amidst a field full of 20-25year old kids.
A funtime had by all. I got a few touches, but benerally speaking, I knew that if I played a lot my team would lose - Im terrible. It was good to see something the kids set their mind to that got done. Plans already for the fifth annual.
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