Trilogy

Finally saw the last part of that French series of films called the Trilogy*. Part One, On the Run, was in December, and I loved it and it was the best of the lot. An Amazing Couple was next, and amazing as they may be, it was an ordinary movie. But it was time to say goodbye to the gang with After Life, and it was pretty good- not the toppermost of the first film, but I liked it.

The conceit of the trilogy was great. I watched the first film and loved it- the next film was interesting, but mainly because of the lite it shed on the first film. Then the last film- stuff i didn't expect happened, but when viewed as part of a greater whole, it made sense.

And good bye to Le Roux, pictured. A James Bond/Bourne Supremacy type guy, except he's not a gvt worker; he's one of those Red Brigade types in 1970's Europe, and he just punishes. Watch the first film

*=wiki calls it "three films with interlocking stories and characters, each of which was filmed in a different genre"

Here is some stuff on the director Lucas Belvaux

km's

Nice review from Rockey on the Simpsons movie. Out near Gf's place they have one of the ten Kwiki Marts/7-11's they 'opened' across the country to pub. the movie. Kinda kool that it's out here and not, say, y know, somewhere else. Driven by several times, and its always packed with people. Saw a line to get in evn, well after it was open.

Soccer Moms

Summer time for me means going to the Dan Ryan Woods (a giant (((well, by city standards))) forest preserve @ 87th and Western) where for years my neices and nephews have played summer soccer. I started to go up when only neice.1 was involved, but eventually there would be five playing twice a week, either m-w or tu-th. I should have been cosching from the start, since I'd already coached in sevral schools by the time niece.1 started, but I only got it to-gether in summer of '04 and '05. In '04 I had niece.2 and nephew.2 one on team, and niece.3 on another. '05 was nephew.2 again on one team and niece.4 on another. It meant coaching from 10 June to 10 Aug mon thru Thursday, from 6pm- 8.30. In all honesty, I felt I was good @ it and I only worked part time in one of those summers, so I felt it was my duty to do it. I loved it, but like all coaching, the amount of time can be a total grind.

Like all else that has ground to an almost halt this summer in my life, i have only made it up to watch games twice this summer. Three are involved now, and one will be too old next year. The other plays volleyball in hs. So I pay most att'n to niece.3, currently playing hs soccer: I figure that whatever positive energy I create going to games is best spent on her, since she's now the only one paying competitively.

And, yes, there's other reasons to go watch A.Y.S.O soccer other than to watch the kids play.

Morrissey singing "Suedehead" @ a Fire game

i know i am im sure i am

this doublescore y uno year old understand the silliness of it all............

link to some news story...

link to some news story...

feeble

Some bloggers are really good @ it. This from one of the librarian websites i get sent aevery few weeks, here tis a good one. I love how y get the joke @ the beginning, and then it gets better as its spelled out. good'n, and ll i have to say is "..Uhhhh...uhhhhhh..."

The Spider

Saw Spiderman 3, and I say 'no no no' to the critics= I loved it and thought it was the best of the three. No, it wasn't the greatest movie of all time, but I loved the whole black suited part. The black suited part I refer to was a plot line in the movie where a space alien latches onto Spiderman and changes his personality-- well, excentuates the personality wildly, not changes it. These scenes were great.

Emerick

So, got those eight books that i'd ordered before in the mail, and lo and behold it was the beatle recording enginee Geoff Emerick's that I'm into first. I'm 1/3 in, and I'm liking it a lot.

A lot of the stuff I read I read because it's "good for me", not really what I want to read. I guess grad school really taught me to slog through some deeply unappetising books to get a greater appreciation of the whole. My technique is thus shown on my first approach to the American war- i read a 600+ page over-view of it first by james macpherson, then started to get into the individual battles. Ditto the air war in Korea- first the 700+p official USAF history of the war, then got to strategic bombing, the role of the chinease airforce, interdiction, air combat, jets, etc etc etc.... It seems the same progression is taking place with the Beatles. i read that huge bio out in 2005, and two years on it's 'what did the Beatles engineers think??"

So far its a fun read. He breaks into recording the Beatles bit by bit,and it took time before he was a #1 Beatleguy: he'll be all over a session of a single he was at, but then he misses an album and can only relate bits about hearing it being overdubbed or whatever. However, it still early, and its kool when one of the Beatles are kool to him- it's a bit like they're being kool to us.

Some kool insites. I wonder why this one caught my att'n:

" ...I had the distinct impression that (Paul) was the leader of the group. When he spoke, the others listened intently and invairabily nodded thir heads in agreement, and before each take, he was the one urging them onto give it their all. Looking back on it now, its funny how most people thought of John Lennon...as leader of the Beatles. It might have been his band in the beginning, and he might have assumed the leadership role in the press confrences and public apperances, but throughout all the years I would work with them, it always seemed to me that Paul...was the real leader of the group, and nothing got done with out his approval. "
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(Here, There, and Everywhere by Geoff Emerick)

Klas all over the place...klas.1

Saw the smorgasbord of songs and stuff of the 21st of July. There was a bunch of different groups-- well, four would be that bunch-- in the ‘happening’ @ Klas Restuaraunt. It was pretty kool- a bunch of the musical people who were in the same secondary school --L.T.-- @ the same time-- middly- 80’s-- reupping for another concert. This time not in somebodies basement but on main street Cicero.

The last happening @ Klas (insert link) occurred in the beer garden. This time it was a super done concert review, so it was held in one of the many rooms and chambers and passages and outbuildings in the Klas Komplex. The room was perfect.

I came in midst of the first act. They sounded pretty good, though I could judge not their songs fairly- never heard before.

Bully Pulpit spake next. Ah, there was a bit of murkiness about some parts, but its progression. The sound was zippy; Gf pointed out their sound system mita not been 100%, but I sense it’s just them beginnings times. Sing louder. Sing prouder.

They played my favourite B.P. song, yellownadbluemakegreen, which was treat to hear live- but needed work. Gotta sound crisper. A wonderful homes pop song, “oo la la…” was my best song of the set- sounded as good as it did the first time I heard it live. Sing louder. But what I wanted to hear still didn’t come for me: they have that stunningly great lick but they refuse to use it as anything more than a PART of a song. My mind tells me to build the whole track around this one beat, instead of hiding it worthless. Play it LOUD!

The Placard Pups- Err, Poster Children- had a bit of a rockfest- I’ve seen them several times before, but I’d have to say this was rockingest time. They always play loud. My favourite song is the talker between Rose and javabro.

J.A.V.A. himself played in both Bully Pulpit and Pkids. I noticed funny about J.A.V.A.: I’m sure it’s been said, but the his stage demeanor fluctuated with the rocking guitar in Placards Cards and the “I’m no longer a guitar hero” bass play hidden behind in Bull Pen Plummets.

National Trust was the shocker. Per usual , they opened with a 25-30m jam*, but with a jam that I have never heard before. Crank faced out the fucking jace via the jumbomatron keystacks he was partially hidden behind*, there was a drummer ( who is-- ready?-- really good, and I love listening to) and Pfenning on Pfguitar. This song, really loud and funky, arrested us all. It was great, a real treat. I generally know this bannds songs, so this was a real shock.

The second song was also a long song. That is all I remember.

There then occurred a most funny moment. After this ten minute song rite after a 15m song was over, Rocky yelled out-Hey do you have any shorter songs?, which I thought fantastically funny. He got a lot of laughs from all his frenz- I bet if I’d yelled it out, I’d’ve only gotten a Crank smirk.

Shockingly, all we were to get was one last song- but again, since this song was another 15m’er, it made for a 40-45m concert. Also shockingly, it featured Crankguitar- yes, really. I will admidt I’ll follow the sun wherever my artistfrenz lead me, but I sorely miss Crankguitar. I missed it so much I was plotting a massive revival of it myself-- all my wonderful plans and getting people to act and film and walk and all that was also centered about getting cf to cut some guitar skerranging……….I’m saying that I was much surprised to see him guitar it.

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*=no I’m not serious

Saurkraut...klas.2

There's only one old 'friend who is a girl'* who I have had a better 'apres nos amour temps' than saurkraut, who was @ the Klas show. One old 'friend' i'm still on talking/telephoning/'hey a bunch of people are going to this place to-nite y should come and hang' sorta terms with (which is real kool-- there are no /zroe/none/zilch mbers left, and really never was-- but we both realised that each other is kool etc........no, Gf has no clue we were one....frenz........but then again, the only other person who knows is knows is veto, and he's not tellin'.

But Saurkraut was there, and it was good to see her. She and I hug out for a protracted amount of time in the early 90's- we were never serious, but helped each other get over those proximo loves. Well, I wanted to be serious, but she was too hung up @ the time-- or just not that into me-- so it went nowhere. But she was always upfront about ou situation and she helped me out in many ways since we parted our 'special' days, so I've always held a soft soft for her. We hung out many times since then, but have since lost touch.

So, Klas nite, and here's my chance to catch up with an old 'girlfriend'......and I say hi and that's it. Really wanted to say hello, but was too stuffed up inside, jazzeled and jaded and incapable of talk. I have a real sour side to me- when i bejax my case, the anti socialness of it all comes out and stupid stuff comes out of me like silence. I'm too lazy to talk, I'm too challenged to talk, i'm to scared to talk- A combo of the three and many more.

Anyway, it was good to see her. She looked great but I would have loved to have heard how great she getting along. Next Klas gogg.

*=she wasn't a girlfriend, but it's the best term to use, so bear with.

Has Anyone Yet Determined What a Reverse Massage Is?

written by DL
names edited by Hilts

Benkowski’s prior prediction of a revitalized TC Pub trivia night was not looking very good last night. The bar was so empty that Benkowski was floating the idea of having a 2-person maximum per team. None of the regular Bar group was there at first, although Kearney Meats did call to say they were on the way.

While waiting for more arrivals, Benkowski fires this trivia question to J&B- name the first three baseball players to reach 500 homeruns?

J&B pays two separate entry fees, expecting to be split into factions. The second “J&B” entry was going to be named The Mindworms (after it quickly became apparent that using B&J would have been a bad idea). However, as Benkowski continues to solicit teams, he spends a large amount of time talking with Trophy, who had recently arrived. Benkowski comes back to our table and returns one of our entry fees, indicating that negotiations with The Bar have nixed the 2-person team idea.

J&B represented by: Chemical Man, Stix, Lazy Hilts, Saintly Gf and Nixon

Competition: Bar, LNC, Chi, and a second half entry of Jim

TC Pub represented by: Initially Glasses, who was heard calling Oak Lawn native Rob Mackowiak a "fag." When Glasses left, bar duties were taken over by Earth Mother.

First Half: NFL/Entertainment/In the News in July

Saudi Arabia is currently ahead of its record pace for beheadings in one year- what is the record for one year?
Who played the Wicked Witch of the West?
Who is the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys?
Led NFC in quarterback rating in 2006 season?
How much did some German bankers pay to have a private show from the Rolling Stones?

The last question singled out due to the J&B guess of $4 million called “too low” by Benkowski. LNC then guesses $2 million. They had many similar math problems tonight.

The Bar’s Lawyer to Lazy Hilts: “I’m going to piledrive you tonight.”

An early J&B discussion has Juan Uribe shattering the record for grand slams this season. When Uribe later does bat with the bases loaded, J&B decides to put the White Sox season “all in” based upon whether or not he comes through with a granny. Had the game taken place in a telephone booth, the result would bode well for the team. Unfortunately, the game was in Fenway Park. The White Sox have been eliminated from contention.

Scores at the half: Bar 1700 J&B 1200 LNC 600 Chi 280 Jim- not yet playing

Second Half: Chicago Area/Animals/Sports

Led the ’83 White Sox in batting average with .307?
1980s era Cub nicknamed “Zonk”?
England has over 200 captive elephants- what other two countries have over 100 captive elephants?
Three 50+ homer seasons in the 1960s- name the three players?
The two Detroit Tigers currently in the top 6 in batting average for the season (games through Wednesday)?

Saintly Gf wins a “Ladies Only- Most Occupied Piercings” contest against LNC, as her opponent did not have enough of her many piercings occupied.

Scores into final question: Bar 2600 J&B 2040 LNC 1120 Chi 970 Jim 720

Menu of final question categories: States and Cities, Celebrity Birth Years or Groups of Animals.

J&B, Bar and LNC select States and Cities. The other teams select Celebrity Birth Years.

J&B wagers 201 to protect against LNC while assuming it needs the Bar to lose a decent sized wager in order to steal the victory.

Two of three wins the wager. Bonus for all three correct.

States and Cities- name both the largest city and the capital city for Tennessee, Virginia and Alaska (separate cities in each case).

Celebrity Birth- within two, years of birth of Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore and Peter Gabriel.

Gentlemen?

Part II

J&B guesses Nashville and Chattanooga (TN), Norfolk and Richmond (VA), and Anchorage and Juneau (AK). J&B isn’t overly confident in its choices.

Benkowski’s “informal question” answers:
Babe Ruth
Jimmie Foxx
Mel Ott

First half answers:
191 beheadings
Margaret Hamilton
Wade Phillips
Drew Brees
$8 million

Second half answers:
Tom Paciorek
Keith Moreland
USA and Germany
Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Willie Mays
Magglio Ordonez and Placido Polanco

Final question:

Jim- 720- Celebrity Birth- guesses Phoenix 1977 (no), Moore 1961 (close enough), and Gabriel 1941 (no)- only one correct- wagered it all- thanks for playing.

Chi- 970- Celebrity Birth- guesses Phoenix 1975 (close enough), Moore 1965 (no), and Gabriel 1954 (no)- only one correct- wagered 920- down to 50 points.

LNC- 1120- States/Cities- guesses Memphis and Nashville (yes), no guess for Virginia (no), and Anchorage and Juneau (yes)- two correct- wagered 500- up to 1620 points.

J&B- 2040- States/Cities- guesses Nashville and Chattanooga (no), Norfolk and Richmond (no), and Anchorage and Juneau (yes)- only one correct- wagered 201- down to 1839 points and needing incorrect guesses from the Bar.

Bar- 2600- States/Cities- guesses Memphis and Nashville (yes), Alexandria and Richmond (no), Anchorage and Juneau (yes)- two correct- wagered 1481- up to 4081 and an end to the J&B 3-game winning streak.

The correct answers:
Tennessee- Memphis (largest) and Nashville (capital)
Virginia- Virginia Beach (largest) and Richmond (capital)
Alaska- Anchorage (largest) and Juneau (capital)
Joaquin Phoenix 1974
Demi Moore 1962
Peter Gabriel 1950

J&B stays to watch the White Sox game to the end (4-2 victory), with the bullpen managing not to implode. I can only wonder if sometime during 2008 we will get a Benkowski trivia question about Ryan Bukvich that starts “this former White Sox reliever…”

Next trivia night is Thursday, August 2nd. I likely am “out.”

Decembrists in July

Both Smokey Treats and Mr. John Gunners have recently sent out ele. smoke signals about getting btter use out of Mil. Park for 'that crowd'. I'm betty glad dat der be proactive frenz getting the crowd out. Gf and I'd been wanting to usas well, so stars aligned with moons and the rockers palyed with the orchastra.

The temporarily unemployed reached the park early and soonered some nice farmland. Gf and I, per usual racing, up to Odessa and then back down again to park west in the Loop. come 6.30p, its many times not that hard to find parking.

Show was.......well, I didn't pay that much attention. not much of a fan of the group, and when they came out for an oncore, I discovered that I actually know one of therir songs. The song got some in the crowd dansing, so it has merit.

Again, the emphesis s just hanging out w/ frenz. There was about 15-20 people spread amongst the assembled blankets: lots I didn't know, several were kids. As fer the crowd as a whole, since I'm sure a watcher, there were much the same trends as in my little band : lots of young people, many pretty, and lots with kids.

Cath(wo-oh) had gotten some eatables, and others had brought drinkables, but no one wanted what i had bought. Then again, it was so fucking crowded- as i'd said before, people had been starting to use the space, and when they'd been to the park before, they'd experienced a totally less filled place. the decembrists brought'm out, huh??

Rained a bit, but it twas a dribble. Nice nite.

Also hung apres show w/ Frida. I was going to a job fair on Friday, and Gf and I stopped by to collect some of her resumes for me to hand out then. She was leaving on a jet plane @ zero oclock the next morn, so we talked for a bit, enjoyed the crazy summer storm's 'lite and pony show' from up in the building. Love the violence of a summer storm.

Chicago Cubs 3, White Sox 1 (16 July)

Sat in the Wrigley Bleachers with Jaxxon & Bonniax. I had a good time. Y know, it's almost worthless to carry on- i'm such a lame writer these days. This is a link to that nite. I also got tix from Peppys this game, which Neice #1 took. she went with her friend, a Cubs fan. This friend is the actual daughter of the writer of the song "South Side Irish", a deeply provincial song that contains a couplet that goes somewhere along the lines of that there are only two teams the singer roots for, the Sox and whoever plays the Cubs. Wierd things everywhere- my neice is a member of my family, but somehow her allegiances are first to the Cubs.

Maxim of mine, but : Context is Everything

time today is out runned by responsiblilties- even the 4sentances for here canna be used- the.....just later....

Blaxx you Thanky

Neither the time nor place for a review of one of my bestus LP's of LP-times ever, the Fall's Shiftwork. Rite when Mark E. Smiths's heart was broken, so's was mine. a novel experience the time.

Like him, the stunning nostalgia of once walking Edinburgh's bridges bridges @ dawn- great art, as 've never been to Scotland, but I walked every fucking one of those bridges in my own way back then.

This- an LP i'd yes say walks alongside Sister- and several others are being reissued. Now, if they could only fix those shittiy early releases.

This Blaxx'd'd-it over ta me. see title above.

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