Wait 'til Next Bear Year (and why Caleb Hanie made me proud)

Photo Credit: John J. Kim, Chicago Sun-Times

Well, except for losing to their most hated rival in one the biggest home games in Chicago football history and thereby failing to reach their third Super Bowl, this is a season of which the Bears should be reasonably proud, especially given the low expectations--mine included--going in.

And in a perverse way, excepting that it ended without a ticker tape parade, it has also been a season that should have made Bears fans exceptionally happy. Because the defining elements for many Bears fans--again, myself included--are:

1) Rooting for the Bears through thick and thin
2) Complaining about the front office, coach and starting quarterback
3) A perpetual sense of disbelief, whether in how well or how poorly the team is playing

Today's NFC Championship game, in which the Packers beat the Bears 21-14, was a pretty good--or bad--microcosm of all of the elemental emotions Bears' fandom entails.

Wearing my Urlacher jersey and watching with my friend Dave, I wanted nothing more than for the Bears to punch their ticket to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV--and I honestly wouldn't have been too surprised had they beat the Packers--yet all season I've had the nagging feeling that they weren't as good as their record.

After I predicted the Bears would only win 4 games in 2010, and they then barely won their opener against the lowly Detroit Lions in a game they should have lost, the Bears wound up going 11-5 and taking the NFC Central. During the season, friends pointed out that the Bears mostly beat losing teams, but they did defeat the Packers (in one of 2 regular-season games), the Eagles and the Jets. Yet even as they put together an impressive record, their losses included some terrible clunkers, such as against the Giants, Redskins and Patriots.

Photo Credit: John J. Kim, Chicago Sun-Times

So throughout the season, all three elements were pretty well fulfilled, as fans relished the team's solid playoff push, but--while wondering if it might be a mirage--also spent a good amount of time ripping Coach Lovie Smith, Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz, GM Jerry Angelo and on up the ownership hierarchy.

Many fans may have been satisfied with franchise quarterback Jay Cutler, who on the surface seemingly vindicated himself after an atrocious 2009 campaign, but I still found his decision-making rather suspect. He seemed to throw too many silly interceptions and, though I would be silly to say this really matters all that much, I've been disappointed with his off-the-field demeanor.

Rick Reilly's recent negative column about Cutler on ESPN.com includes too many outdated attributions to hold much water with me, but Cutler has always appeared mealy-mouthed and arrogant in post-game interviews and I've heard direct accounts about how he has been less-than-polite in his interactions with fans, even kids seeking his autograph. None of this is enough for me to hate Jay, or to demonize him, but I've never really liked him, on or off the playing surface.

Funny thing is, while many callers to sports radio after today's game are bashing Cutler and questioning his manhood for leaving the game due to an as-yet-clearly-defined knee injury, I actually think it is unfair to take him to task for that. I don't remember any other cases of him begging off the field, even in games where he got sacked on nearly every play, so I'm willing to take him at his word. What I have a greater problem with is the seven Bears' offensive possessions while Cutler was in the game, which ended in 6 punts and one interception. Plus, there were at least two throws that should have resulted in Bears' touchdowns, but Cutler overthrew his receivers. Superstar quarterbacks can't do that in big games, and in earning $22 million this season Cutler certainly has a salary to put him in that category, if not the pedigree.

Photo Credit: John J. Kim, Chicago Sun-Times

Other than Smith's stupid--and potentially catastrophic--decision to initially insert Todd Collins rather than Caleb Hanie for Cutler, I actually think Jay leaving the game was the best thing that happened to the Bears today. He couldn't get anything going and, after Collins failed miserably--justifying ire aimed at Angelo for making him seemingly the best backup option--third-stringer Hanie, pumped some life into the team, drove them to two touchdowns and had the Bears in position to potentially tie the score within the last minute of a game in which they were badly outplayed.

In fact, the 16 minutes for which Caleb Hanie was at the helm today were my favorite of the Bears' 2010-11 season. Up until then, the Bears lethargic performance today had me perpetually on the verge of posting my sarcastic Facebook comment asking, "When do pitchers and catchers report [for Spring Training]?" But Hanie kept proving rumors of the Bears' demise to be premature, bringing the score to 14-7 and then 21-14, even after throwing an interception that was returned for a 4th Quarter Packer touchdown. In a game the Bears didn't otherwise look like they had any business winning, Hanie made me proud. Although he ultimately fell short and threw a final interception to seal it for the Packers, after a "successful" season full of elements #2 and 3 above, he almost single-handedly justified my commitment to #1.

I don't know if I would want Hanie to be the Bears starting quarterback next year, and even had he pulled a miracle and led them past the Packers, Cutler probably would have been the right pick--on most levels--to start the Super Bowl (in which the Packers will now play the Steelers). But I also don't think I want Cutler to be the starter next year, although he almost certainly will be. Not because I think he "quit," but because Caleb Hanie showed far more than Cutler what may have been possible.

In fact, it's not with anger but enhanced expectations that I wouldn't mind the Bears starting anew in 2011, with no Cutler, Smith or Angelo. Otherwise, "next year," we might not even be lucky enough to get a repeat.

Reliving Past Glories (in faded photographs): Bears Helmet on House, 1985; Bar Mitzvah Boy, 1981

As one might imagine, there's a lot of excitement around Chicago leading into Sunday's Bears game against the Packers in the NFC Championship. I can't deny being amused at some of the silly Packers jokes being posted on Facebook, but while I am very much looking forward to the game and cheering the Bears onto the Super Bowl, I can't honestly say that my fervor is quite the same as it was in 1985-86 or even 2006-07.

Maybe it's the residual effect of having predicted the Bears would go 4-12, but I've never quite believed in the greatness of this season's team. I hope they keep proving me wrong and would like nothing more than for them to beat the Packers, but that's about as much vitriol I can work up for the denizens of Green Bay. I've never been big on hatred, particularly when it comes to sports.

But, as I'd expected, like in their Super Bowl chases of '85-'86 and '06-'07, the city is supporting the Bears by putting oversized helmets on the lions outside the Art Institute of Chicago. I haven't been downtown to see it, but I also imagine the Picasso in Daley Plaza is adorned (as it was during the Blackhawks' run) and some buildings say, "GO BEARS" with office lighting patterns.

But I still fondly recall the above Skokie house (not mine) which was adorned with an oversized Bears helmet during the 1985-86 campaign. My friend Jeff went to take a picture of it for the high school newspaper, and as Sports Editor I tagged along and snapped one of my own. I have no idea what happened to the helmet and haven't seen anything quite like it since. But as the sign says...

Go Bears!

---

Besides the Bears game, it's a big weekend in my family because my oldest nephew, Jacob, will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday. I've been invited to do an "aliyah" (a blessing before and after the Torah is read) and look forward to hearing Jacob recite his "Haftorah." A celebration with family and adult friends will follow the service and in the evening, Jacob's friends will party with him, and I'll stick around for that as well.

In looking for the Bears' helmet-on-the-house photo in some boxes at my Mom's house, I came across some photos from my Bar Mitzvah on October 24, 1981 (no photos are allowed during the service). Yes, that's me from nearly 30 years ago. Sure, make whatever requisite jokes about me trying to fit into the suit, but I wouldn't be surprised--if it still existed--that it would fit Jacob. Sometimes the past revisits us in strange and funny ways.

Hard Working Cast Fails to Make "9 to 5" Worth Promoting -- Theater Review

Theater Review

9 to 5: The Musical
Music & Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Bank of America Theatre, Chicago
Thru January 30
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I think I saw the movie "9 to 5" once, but back near its 1980 release and I have no real recollection, other than that it starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, who had a hit with the title song.

And while I have plenty of respect for Dolly--who in celebrating birthday #65 yesterday still looks good--for the longevity of her musical career, I've never been much of a fan.

So without any built-in familiarity or fondness--and while a show like this was produced to capitalize on such, it lasted just 5 months on Broadway and was well undersold on its first night in Chicago--I can only judge the stage musical on its own merits. Unfortunately, there weren't all that many.

That's not to say "9 to 5" is horrible; it isn't and the touring production features a fine enough cast to make it sufficiently fun. But it just isn't anything special.

Credit: 9to5themusical.com

The show opens with a video introduction of Dolly Parton accompanying the title song, which is by far the best one in a musical for which she newly wrote all the others. Some of Parton's other numbers work as passable show tunes, which is both a positive and negative at the same time. Dolly is talented enough to have written some nice melodies and well-crafted lyrics, but very few have the country-flavor one might imagine, nor as befitting the show's 1979 setting, any homages to disco or other sounds of the '70s.

For example, the late second act number, "Get Out and Stay Out" was a decent ode of female self-empowerment very well-sung by Mamie Parris as Judy Bernly (the Jane Fonda role). But in a musical that greeted attendees with a curtain adorned by '70s icons like Sylvester Stallone, All in the Family, Jimmy Carter, Burt Reynolds and Cher (unless I was right in thinking it was Linda Ronstadt)--it might have been shrewder had the song hewed closer to "I Will Survive" than just a typical Broadway torch song.

Multiple Tony nominee Dee Hoty was excellent as Violet Newstead (aka Lily Tomlin) and American Idol alum Diana DeGarmo sufficiently filled Dolly's bra if not quite her shoes.

Diana DeGarmo

But there was just something amiss about the flow of the show. I realize the narrative--and much of the dialogue--was likely matching that of the movie, but on-stage it didn't really connect with me. And I'm sure I'm being way oversensitive given recent real-life events, but for me the scenario of three terribly mistreated secretaries fantasizing about killing their boss, then kidnapping him at gunpoint and holding him hostage even bordered on bad taste. Maybe there just wasn't enough mirthful glee to their vengeance, but I almost felt bad for the jerk.

Despite the lack of any incumbent affinity for the source material, I was actually excited that Broadway in Chicago was presenting its subscribers with something new; a recently-created show with new songs and featuring a first-rate touring cast. But by intermission I was already looking forward to seeing Les Miserables for the sixth time, which I will in just three weeks.

And for those who might think it was my responsibility to know the movie going in, or that I would have better enjoyed "9 to 5: The Musical" if I had, "The Producers" and "Hairspray" are two examples of musicals I instantly loved despite not having seen their film inspirations. I also admired "Legally Blonde" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" for the way they enhanced upon comedic films I only somewhat liked. So while screen-to-stage adaptations are being created en masse these days, in order to capitalize on built-in branding, I still think it's requisite that each new musical be able to shine within its own spotlight, even--or especially--to the uninitiated.

Thus, while I have no problem saying "Nice job" to the cast of "9 to 5," which also features some strong choreography by director Jeff Calhoun, I can't suggest you work really hard to see it.

Recommending a Few San Francisco Treats

My friend Dave will soon be going on a trip to San Francisco. His impetus is a Film Noir Film Festival, which should be phenomenal for him, as no one I know loves the genre more.

The movie screenings will be at night and it isn't exactly baseball season--another of Dave's most fervent passions--so he will seemingly have several daytime hours to explore the wondrous City by the Bay.

He has been there before, probably as often as the four times I've been, but I was telling him about some cool places I remembered from my trips (most recently in '03 and '05). So I thought I might expand my list of suggestions--really just possibilities--into a blog post, allowing Dave to easily access it.

And while I hope some other Seth Saith visitors might enjoy reading this, I'm also hoping a few might have some places to add. Please do so in the Comments.

This isn't intended as a comprehensive Travel Guide and as Dave has seen or knows about many of the more obvious tourist attractions--Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Ghiradelli Square, Chinatown, the Embarcardero, Sausalito and Napa Valley/Wine Country--I won't mention them again.

But some places he (and perhaps you) might like knowing about are:

Haight-Ashbury - The legendary Summer of Love conclave is still a vibrant, albeit touristy neighborhood with some fun hippie-ish shops, centered around the intersection of Haight and Ashbury Streets. The Grateful Dead House, at 710 Ashbury, won't welcome you inside, but is an excuse to walk past several beautiful Victorian homes.

City Lights Bookstore - I'd have assumed a voracious reader like Dave would have already visited this famed shop on Columbus Avenue, a great walking street through the heart of Frisco, but he hasn't. Co-founded and still (I believe) co-owned by legendary poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, it was a 'Beat hangout' for Kerouac, Ginsburg, Neal Cassady, etc. and still retains much of its original spirit.

Vesuvio Cafe - Next to City Lights--with just Jack Kerouac Alley in between--this is a trippy old cafe (from 1948) with wonderfully kitschy decor (see photo at right) that likely hasn't changed much since the famous Beats hung out there.

Caffe Trieste - When heading north on Columbus from City Lights, turn right on Vallejo St. and you will find the original location of Caffe Trieste. Most times of day, it's just somewhere to get great sweets and coffee (I don't drink it, but have heard great things), giving a little flavor of North Beach, SF's famed Italian neighborhood. There is often opera music playing and, although the website is confusing as to exactly when (Thursday or Saturday?), there still seems to be regular weekly live music at the Caffe.

John's Grill - At 63 Ellis St., close to where Dave will be staying, this steakhouse is famed for having existed since 1908, for being where Dashiell Hammett often ate and for being featured in Hammett's book The Maltese Falcon. I haven't actually eaten there, but it's worth a peek inside.

Saints Peter and Paul Church - In the heart of North Beach, Columbus Avenue intersects Washington Square Park, where in the morning many Asian residents do group exercises. Overlooking the park is a beautiful white church, magnificent in its own right but more important to me as the place where Joe Dimaggio married Marilyn Monroe. Although, according to what I just found Wikipedia, this isn't quite true, as the couple only posed for pictures there after getting married in a civil ceremony. I think the church displays some photos of the SF-bred Yankee Clipper, whose funeral was held here. The church, also according to Wikipedia, is prominently featured in the movie Dirty Harry.

San Francisco Movie Tours - I haven't done this but think Dave might enjoy. According to the website, it includes locations from Vertigo, Bullitt, The Maltese Falcon, Mrs. Doubtfire and more.

Cafe Zoetrope - located in the beautiful Sentinel Building (at left), on Columbus near the Transamerica Building, this is an Italian restaurant owned by Francis Ford Coppola. I haven't eaten here, but the reasonably-priced menu may offer a deal you can't refuse.

City Hall - Well off the Columbus Ave. tourist drag, it takes some effort getting here, but the gorgeous city hall building looks more like a state capitol and affords the chance to explore other historic buildings near Civic Center Plaza, home to many a demonstration.

Cable Car Turnaround - At the corner of Powell & Market Streets, this is a fun gathering of humanity and lets you jump on a cable car for a ride up the hill. (also quite close to your hotel, Dave)

Legion of Honor Art Museum - A fancy name for what is the primary San Francisco art museum; I like it better than the SF Museum of Modern Art, which is much easier to reach. The 'Legion' has a great collection, beautiful setting and I believe admission is free (but either can or must be reserved in advance; you might want to call - 415-750-3600)

Xanadu Gallery - Just to the east of Union Square at 140 Maiden Lane (also walking distance from the hotel), this art gallery is notable for having been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The photo at right might illustrate why it reminds me of a mini-Guggenheim.  

House of Prime Rib - A good place for good prime rib (if you're looking for one), but not essential compared to what you can find in Chicago.

Berkeley - You can get to the home of the University of California on BART and I've found Telegraph Ave. near the campus an enjoyable place to stroll.

SF Playhouse (Harper Regan) - Dave, I don't know if you'll have time for this around the movies unless you have a Saturday afternoon (for a 3pm matinee), but a theater very close to your hotel will be having a play called "Harper Regan," which I saw in Chicago and think you might like. It's about a woman in England who grew up in the heyday of punk; the show isn't about music per se, but relates to it. (This was my Chicago review.)

Obviously, you're not going to get to all of this, if even any. But although San Francisco is one of those cities that's really hard to "do wrong," I've found that wandering somewhere previously unknown based on someone's suggestion can often provide much residual enjoyment beyond the specific place itself.

If you need any further details on anything, just let me know. Have a wonderful time and try not to leave your heart.

A Truly Devastating Account of How America Got Taken For (Nearly) All Its Worth -- Book Review: Griftopia by Matt Taibbi

Book Review

Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America
by Matt Taibbi
Non-Fiction; published by Spiegel & Grau in November 2010
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This Wednesday, I imagine at least 25 million people will watch the season premiere of "American Idol." Nothing wrong with that, even if I won't be among the huddled masses, but I can't help but think that if, at most, one-third of domestic American Idol viewers--or roughly the 8.45 million who watched the season debut of "Jersey Shore"--also chose to read Matt Taibbi's 250-page book, Griftopia, there would most likely be a revolution in the United States.

That's how powerful and precise Taibbi--who regularly writes incredibly incisive pieces on similar subjects for Rolling Stone--is in explaining, in as close-to-layman's terms such esoteric information can get, the root causes of the financial collapse of 2008 and the complicit culprits who continue to swindle the American public.

Matt Taibbi

His skewer is surprisingly non-partisan and impales both Republicans and Democrats (including Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel) and not simply the obvious targets such as the Wall Street investment banks--particularly Goldman Sachs--and subprime mortgage brokers (although the depths of their duplicity is descriptively detailed). The caustic but never churlish Taibbi also rips Alan Greenspan a new asshole (or more accurately, calls him one) in a remarkably revelatory chapter that debunks any notion of the former Federal Reserve chief as some sort of economic oracle. With in-depth research, much historical context and numerous substantiating sources, Taibbi shows how continuously and catastrophically wrong Greenspan has been about most economic forecasts and decisions.

As a Chicagoan--actually a suburbanite--it was also interesting to read Taibbi's take on Mayor Daley's decision to sell the city's parking meters, for, as it turns out, a fraction of their true worth and to a consortium comprised largely of Arab wealth funds. You'll also be stupefied by the real reasons behind skyrocketing gas prices.

And though at odds with what I would like to believe, Taibbi's arduous accounting of the manipulative reality behind President Obama's health care bill--mainly that it was concocted by Emanuel as a deal to give insurance companies oodles more cash in exchange for a few election cycles' worth of campaign contributions--really helped me see the ever-dimming light about the American political power structure.

In sum, Griftopia further and more comprehensively clarifies what a variety of other sources--including the books The Big Short and The Two Trillion Dollar Meltdown and documentaries Inside Job, Capitalism: A Love Story and Casino Jack and the United States of Money--have already put into my head. Namely that A) Unless you are a member of the top levels of government, the Wall Street investment banks or their co-conspirators, you have been directly screwed by them in ways you can't even imagine, and B) the 2008 financial collapse (and resulting recession) was not caused by everyday citizens buying homes beyond their means and being unable to pay their mortgages when home values dropped.

This is what the powers that be want the American Idol-worshipping public to believe, but as Taibbi does a great job in explaining--as did Michael Lewis in the more mortgage meltdown-specific The Big Short--outright criminality was at play, not merely misfortune or consumer overreach. (I tried explaining what happened a bit more in this piece, but you really owe it to yourself to read Taibbi's and Lewis' user-friendly expositions.)

I have never been much of a conspiracy theorist and I am not an anti-capitalist. But having lost my job amid the fallout from the financial collapse of September 2008--and Taibbi reveals how it may have been avoided, not just by redressing years of deregulation, collusion and avarice, but had Goldman Sachs not pulled an unnecessary, cohorts-in-the-Treasury-aided power play to push AIG over the precipice--I've felt obligated to investigate the root causes a bit further than the mainstream media has presented. (Taibbi, who has only been on the financial beat for a couple years, embarrasses most of the press by revealing so much that the general public has never known, but should have.) And though in my case, Griftopia was a tremendous complement to other coverage I'd read and seen, I recommend it as strongly as possible to anyone as a place to start in deciphering what has brought us to where we still are today.

It won't be easy, throwaway reading, but Taibbi artfully keeps it from becoming too dense, with considerable humor to mitigate the detailed explanations of complex matters (like financial derivatives). And while Taibbi never advocates specific actions that us Main Streeters should take, he includes more than enough fodder for anyone looking for a reason to take to the streets.

I don't want to give away too many of Taibbi's numerous great tidbits, but this was one that especially made me cringe:

In 2008, the year by which the routinely immoral actions of Goldman Sachs, among others, would wipe out roughly 40% of the world’s wealth, the investment bank paid out $10 billion in compensation and bonuses—including $42.9 million to CEO Lloyd Blankfein—and made a $2 billion profit, they paid just $14 million in taxes. Ruin the world, get bailed out by the American taxpayer and give back less than what a superstar athlete makes in a year.

Where's my pitchfork?

---
Next up, from the Skokie Public Library, I will be reading Washington Rules by Andrew Bacevich, about how Congress is in bed with the military-industrial complex, and Travel as a Political Act, by my favorite travel writer, Rick Steves.

Celebrating a Decade of Wikipedia (with the help of Wikipedia)

As evidenced by much of what I write about on Seth Saith, and even more so the tidbits I throw up on Facebook, I enjoy recognizing milestones—birthdays, anniversaries and the like. This isn’t due to any overt sentimentality nor need for vicarious celebration; a living or long-dead celebrity, or historical event, isn’t really all that more important to me on any given day than the other 364.

But milestone recognition and referencing serves as a rather cogent reminder—mainly to myself, but also to anyone who may care about the things I share—of people and events that have much merited significance or deserve for me to learn more. 

While I already knew that today’s date, January 15, is the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I also just discovered that it is also the birthday of (late) musicians like famed drummer Gene Krupa, Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant and the recently passed Captain Beefheart. On the flip side, two disparate but highly acclaimed songwriters, Sammy Cahn and Harry Nilsson, both passed on this day, a year apart (in 1993 and 1994, respectively).

January 15, 2011 is also the 44th anniversary of the first Super Bowl, precisely 112 years since the incorporation of the Coca-Cola Company and the first anniversary of the miraculous landing—by Captain Chesley Sullenberger—of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, resulting in the survival of all 155 people on-board.

Not coincidentally, today is also the 10th anniversary of the source of all this knowledge (trivia? minutia?): Wikipedia.

Yes, on January 15, 2001, what has become the world’s predominant encyclopedia and 8th most popular website, first went online.

Sometimes it's hard to remember life before Wikipedia, although I clearly do. In fact, when considering possible detrimental effects of the all-too-instant and frequently impersonal Internet age, I often wonder if Wikipedia makes it too easy for people—especially those without another point of reference—to instantly find what they seek while eliminating the residual benefits I gained from riding my bike to the library, walking past the stacks of books and perusing the encyclopedia far beyond my assigned subject.

But while I worry that a desirable balance between the analog and digital world is forever slipping away, my opinion about Wikipedia, in and of itself, is 110% favorable.

I visit Wikipedia.org virtually every day, often several times per day, both on my desktop and through its handy iPhone app. There is rarely a movie I watch, a play I attend, a book I read, a band I discover, an artist I recall or a blog article I write that isn't enhanced by learning more through Wikipedia. If I'm confused about a movie's plot, the Wikipedia article helps explain it. If I'm curious about where an author's or artist's given work fits into his or her entire oeuvre, Wikipedia fills me in. If something "based on actual events" leaves me wondering where the line was blurred between fact and fiction, Wikipedia sets me straight.

And beyond simply looking things up on Wikipedia, I've come to also love it for what I've drawn upon here: discovering milestones. On the main page (in English or many of its 257 active language editions), there is an "On This Day" section through which you can find Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances. Such as it being John Chilembwe Day in Malawi.

I know that Wikipedia has its detractors and skeptics--probably out-of-work encyclopedia salesmen--but studies have shown that the accuracy of articles on Wikipedia holds up against Encyclopedia Britannica and other sources, despite their being compiled and edited by the general public. It's never smart to take any single source as 100% gospel truth, but I've yet to find any substantive reasons not to believe what I read on Wikipedia.

Jimmy Wales

Larry Sanger

Of the billions of websites in existence, Wikipedia is probably my favorite--excepting SethSaith.com, of course--or at least the one I find most useful. So on its 10th anniversary, which is being celebrated in myriad ways around the world wide web, I thank and salute its founders, Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger--though I doubt either is starving, they are to be applauded for not selling or commercializing Wikipedia, which could have easily made them billionaires--and all who have contributed to making Wikipedia the phenomenal resource it is today.

Ironically, I learned that today was Wikipedia's 10th anniversary not through Wikipedia itself, but via Time magazine, whose new issue features a "10 Questions With..." piece with Jimmy Wales. Like much on Wikipedia, it is well worth reading.

A 50th Birthday Video Celebration For Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, plus a bit of Madness

I have a book called This Day in Music, which lists numerous births, deaths and other anniversaries for every day of year. It's pretty fun to reference and--excepting anything that's happened since being published in 2005--has always seemed rather thorough.

But while it lists four birthdays for January 13, including two that have some pertinence to me--Graham McPherson (known by the moniker Suggs), the lead singer for British ska sensation Madness, turns 50 today and Zack de la Rocha, lead singer for Rage Against the Machine, turns 41--it missed a pretty big one (at least in my book) that I discovered on Wikipedia.

Wayne Coyne, lead singer, guitarist and chief songwriter for The Flaming Lips, also turns 50 today. I have enjoyed the Lips since 1994, when my friend Jordan introduced me to their album Transmissions From the Satellite Heart and their great single, "She Don't Use Jelly."

The video for that song--which still remains my favorite by the Lips, despite a boatload of great work since--is below, followed by a few others that showcase the Flaming Lips' quirky brilliance and their ability to do knockout cover versions.

Happy Birthday Wayne.








In 1994, I went to Lollapalooza in Tinley Park, IL. The Flaming Lips were on a side stage and I only saw them do one song. But it was the one below, and I've never forgotten it. Though I am glad someone caught it on video and posted it to YouTube years later.


Awhile back, I was in Oklahoma City, OK, the hometown of the Flaming Lips and saw them immortalized with this street sign, intersecting with that of another local hero.

As I mentioned above, today is also the 50th birthday of Suggs, the lead singer of Madness. While never as big a fan of theirs as the Flaming Lips or myriad other bands--in fact, their only big U.S. hit, "Our House," kinda annoyed me when it was popular--I've come to realize their output and UK fame was rather substantive.

Though I've come around on "Our House" and also like "Baggy Trousers," "It Must Be Love" and others, the one below, "My Girl" is my favorite.

Farewell to a True Blue Friend as DuPage Democratic Activist Amy Tauchman Departs for Denver (on "Inauguration Day")

“I think I’m gonna be sad, I think it’s today
The girl that’s driving me mad is going away
She’s got a ticket to ride, she’s got a ticket to ride, she’s got a ticket to ride
But she don’t care”
The Beatles, “Ticket To Ride”

Ever since I thought about writing an appreciation of Amy Tauchman as she prepares to leave her longtime home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois for the wide open possibilities offered by Denver, Colorado, the above stanza has been in my head as the way to open such a piece.

And yet, virtually nothing about it is particularly accurate or apt. Yes, I am “gonna be sad” because Amy is going away, but I’m also happy for her to be making a new start. Rather than a girl that’s driving me mad, she’s a woman who’s been one of my best friends over the past five years. Instead of having a ticket to ride, she’ll be driving her own car as she goes on her Rocky Mountain way.

And more than almost anyone I’ve ever known, Amy very much does care.

So I hope some of what I write conveys just how passionate she has been about many things of great import, and how impressively she has inspired change as a result.

“Sometimes we move with no choice /
To the call of wild crazy voices”
BoDeans, “Dreams”

I met Amy Tauchman almost exactly five years ago. We lived a half-mile from each other in Glen Ellyn for more than 10 previous years, but never had reason to interact until we both made our initial forays into the world of campaign politics. After meeting Christine Cegelis at a candidate debate in January 2006—she was making her second run for the U.S. House seat in Illinois District 6—I volunteered to do some office work and Amy was Christine’s Office Manager and de facto Volunteer Coordinator.

I enjoyed working for Christine and with Amy; both warmly welcomed some proactive marketing concepts I shared, though it was too late in the campaign for them to be implemented. Although Christine had done better against longtime incumbent Henry Hyde in the 2004 general election than any previous challenger (as far as I’m aware), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee— headed at the time by Rahm Emanuel—decided to enlist wounded Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth as a primary challenger. Tammy won a tough battle in March 2006—by less than 1% in a race where a third candidate, Lindy Scott, earned 16.5%—before losing to Peter Roskam in November.

Although I had made some friendly acquaintances on the Cegelis campaign, including Amy, this was before Facebook had become a ubiquitous way to further fledgling relationships and Amy & I never even exchanged phone numbers or email addresses. But soon thereafter, through the power of Google, I discovered that she was the co-leader and co-founder of DAWN (DuPage Against War Now). Given the political climate at the time, especially in DuPage County, where every elected official was a Republican (and most still are), I was somewhat surprised to find Amy’s phone number listed on DAWN’s website.

Even Amy’s compatriot in the formation and leadership of DAWN, Kathy Slovick (who continues to run the organization), says, “I felt that she was pretty courageous to allow her phone number to be published in the paper and on our website. I still remember some of the confrontational phone calls she would get from people.”

But as I soon came to know, even beyond the tenacity she brought to the Cegelis campaign, Amy Tauchman has never been one to let popular sentiment keep her from demonstrably championing her beliefs. 

“I won’t take all that they hand me down /
And make out a smile though I wear a frown”
The Kinks, “I’m Not Like Everybody Else”

In 1994, as a suburban mother and housewife—albeit one who had ruffled feathers on the local PTA by surveying the entire biography section of her children’s school library and insisting that it expand to better reflect the cultural diversity of the community—Amy Tauchman dyed her hair purple.

And kept it that way for the better part of two years.

For most of us, doing something sure to engender such attention, incredulity and derision would be merely a ‘pigment of our imagination.’ (Amy loves my puns;-) But in finding her surroundings far too homogenized—in practice if not in truth—she felt obliged to shake things up a bit while advocating for a greater sense of inclusion and acceptance among citizens outside the Caucasian Christian commonality.

The YWCA of DuPage would recognize Amy’s efforts to raise cultural awareness at the Parkview School and beyond by giving her their “Racial Justice Award” for Outstanding Women Leaders in 1998. 

So although Amy wouldn’t truly “get political” until 2006 or become an avowed peace activist until 2002, her social stridency was readily apparent long before DAWN. In fact, prior to starting a family, her first job out of college (at the University of Illinois) was as a social worker at a battered women’s shelter in Pilsen.

Outstanding Octogenarians and Beyond (or: Remembering the Legendary Among the Living)

The other day I went to a concert by one of the greatest living legends I can think of: Chuck Berry.

OK, so as I wrote about here, it wasn't the most satisfying evening. But it was still a thrill to see a man who basically helped to invent rock 'n' roll. As I said to a friend, it costs $22 to visit the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. To see one of its greatest members live on stage for not much more, even for a subpar, abbreviated show, wasn't hard to justify.

Anyway, as I was looking forward to seeing Chuck Berry, it got me thinking about all the "living legends" that I, and perhaps you, don't think about often enough. Too often, it takes someone posting an RIP notice on Facebook to remind me that a legend who recently passed--such as Blake Edwards, Bob Feller or Jerry Bock--had still been alive until they weren't. And in some cases, such as with jazz great Billy Taylor, I wasn't familiar with someone I should have been until reading their obituary.

So today, I'm going to spend a few moments remembering, researching and citing legendary artists and athletes that are of this writing--unless my information is faulty--still alive. I'm sure I'll omit some folks I shouldn't and I'll be happy to hear about such cases. But as a barometer, I will limit those included here to people who are 80 years old and above (or will turn 80 in 2011) and who I perceive as having been among the best or most famous in their particular field.

The people below are listed in no particular order and for each I will link to Wikipedia so that anyone so inclined can learn more about some of history's greatest figures while they're still with us.

Musicians

Chuck Berry
Fats Domino
B.B. King
Tony Bennett
Ravi Shankar
Harry Belafonte
Sonny Rollins
Ornette Coleman

Composers

Stephen Sondheim
Burt Bacharach
Jerry Herman
John Kander
Charles Strouse
Sheldon Harnick (lyricist)

Actors & Actresses

Kirk Douglas

Ernest Borgnine
Sidney Poitier
Joan Fontaine
Olivia de Havilland 
Lauren Bacall
Mickey Rooney
Clint Eastwood
Robert Duvall (turned 80 today!)
Gene Hackman
Doris Day
Angela Lansbury
Betty White
Andy Griffith
James Earl Jones
Hal Holbrook
Jean Stapleton
Harry Morgan
Cloris Leachman
Eva Marie Saint
Maureen O'Hara
Carol Channing
Elaine Stritch
Theodore Bikel
Jerry Lewis
Christopher Lee
Max von Sydow


Movie Directors, etc.
Franco Zeffirelli
Richard Attenborough
Sidney Lumet
Mel Brooks (and Carl Reiner)
Stanley Donen
Norman Jewison
Norman Lear (TV Producer)

Athletes
Stan Musial
Yogi Berra
Willie Mays
Ernie Banks
Whitey Ford
Duke Snider
Tommy Lasorda (manager)
Earl Weaver (manager)
Bob Cousy
Gordie Howe
Y.A. Tittle
Frank Gifford
Don Shula (coach)
Joe Paterno (coach)

Writers
Edward Albee
Maya Angelou
Ray Bradbury
E.L. Doctorow
Tom Wolfe
Toni Morrison
Harper Lee
P.D. James
Elie Wiesel
Maurice Sendak
Stan Lee

Artists & Architects
Jasper Johns
I.M. Pei
Cesar Pelli
Frank Gehry
Claes Oldenburg

Etc.
Buzz Aldrin
Neil Armstrong
Jimmy Carter
Noam Chomsky 
John Glenn
Hugh Hefner
Andy Rooney
Mike Wallace
Barbara Walters
Chuck Yeager

Suggested Additions
Eli Wallach (actor)
Vin Scully (baseball announcer)

Return of the King: Why Five More Years of Howard Stern Is Sirius Cause for Celebration

Happy New Year.

Today is the first workday of 2011 for most of those fortunate to be employed, although as I've corroborated with a number of people, far too many of those who do have jobs are under-employed, overworked (often due to departmental downsizing), underpaid, under-appreciated, unenthusiastic and, while most have the decorum not to complain, seemingly pretty miserable.

So while I certainly am trying, and hopeful, to land something worthwhile in the not-too-distant future, I remain thankful for what was a rather enjoyable and gratifying 2010, even without substantive employment.

Beyond good health and wonderful relationships with friends and family members, I am quite grateful to the myriad creative folks--from part-time local actors to long-dead classical composers--who once again so greatly enriched my life with performances and creations that not only provided hours of entertainment, but truly significant emotional nourishment. I have tried to share many of my passions and pursuits on this blog, and hope that whether you are particular to opera or baseball, Renaissance painting or Radiohead, all of the above or anything in between, you have found some merit in my meanderings, even when our tastes don't match.

For today I am opting to sing the praises of the self-proclaimed "King of All Media": Mr. Howard Allan Stern.

Someone to whom I am not only thankful for years of entertainment--in December 2009, I ranked Howard Stern second among My Favorite Entertainers of the 00s (behind only Bruce Springsteen)--but quite grateful that just three weeks ago, on his last contracted day on air at SiriusXM, he announced that he had renewed his deal for another 5 years.

I know it may sound hollow to those who hate Howard or those who just don't bother to listen--often one and the same, particularly since he's been on satellite radio--but there would be a considerable void in the brainwaves of my life if I wasn't able to hear Howard Stern four days a week (plus rebroadcasts), most weeks of the year.

Given that Stern is, by far, the highest paid radio personality in history and that studies have shown that his audience is far more educated and affluent than many might assume, I'm not sure why I feel compelled to write of my affinity almost as a defense, or at least a justification. Although as a regular listener I know that more than 90% of his shows' content would be fine for teenagers--and the other 10% not much worse than much of what passes for mass culture these days--I am an adult listening to subscription-based programming that can't be accessed by accident. 

Howard Stern & wife Beth (photo: HowardStern.com)

And yet, openly admitting that I'm an avid Howard Stern fan still feels a bit like being caught looking at a Playboy in a bookstore, hidden between the covers of TIME.

In fact, I can't deny that it's crossed my mind that writing and posting this might not be the smartest thing at a time when potential employers can easily access one's entire online footprint. But while none of this should really reflect on my capacity to do excellent work--as I always have in the past--I hope that anyone who might hold liking Howard Stern against me not only avoid any hypocrisy, but factor it below my never having taken drugs, driven drunk, been arrested, gotten a speeding ticket, caused an accident, insulted a co-worker, started a fist-fight or danced topless on Daytona Beach.

OK, I did that last one when I was a freshman in college, but I don't think it was caught on tape. Heck, I don't even care much for pornography.

But then, Howard isn't nearly the lewd provocateur nor misogynistic hate-monger that many non-listeners may presume (or that the silly "Shock Jock" moniker seems to denote).

Sure, I'll switch the station if my Mom's in the car with me--one of the great things about Stern's show on SiriusXM is that it repeats all day, making "drive time" listening largely irrelevant--but even when Howard is at his most profane or perverse, which is honestly only about once a month, it's not like he's saying anything she hasn't heard from a theater stage.

And truly, although very little truly offends me, I find Stern and his longtime cohorts (including Robin Quivers, Fred Norris, Gary Dell'Abate and formerly, and hopefully sometime again, Artie Lange) often at their least compelling when discussing naked porn stars in the studio. Although even here, "haters" would likely be shocked at how humanely he treats his guests, I much prefer when Stern is interviewing more mainstream stars or just discussing everyday minutia with Robin. (For a guy who many people associate with "going over the edge," Stern has an almost perversely uncool attraction to American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, The Bachelorette and almost all lame reality TV.)

No less a respected commentator on American life than Roger Ebert has said that there's "no better interviewer than Howard Stern; he asks what people want to know." And while there are some questions Howard asks that make me a bit queasy--and even days when I just choose to "change the channel"--in a world of artificial, publicist-ratified drivel, Howard Stern dares to be real, honest, open (and self-deprecating) about himself and expects nothing less from his guests.

Sure, most "A-listers" avoid him, but there are few stars who've answered Howard's most inquisitive questions that I haven't gained more respect for, although I also admire the guests that know how to artfully avoid anything they don't want to discuss.

A few weeks before Christmas, the three members of Wilson Phillips came in to promote their new holiday album and wound up discussing sexual acts, but far beyond being prurient, it was really just a refreshingly candid conversation. I've never cared all that much about Wilson Phillips, but I couldn't get out of my car; it was that compelling. Demonstrating his rare gift for going from salty to sweet in the same sentence, Howard was able to elicit intimate details from Chynna Phillips, not just about her bedroom preferences with husband Billy Baldwin, but about her feelings about her father's ("Papa John" Phillips) incestuous relationship with her half-sister Mackenzie Phillips, and about Mackenzie's decision to go public with the revelations.

Now, I may have just mentioned a boatload of topics you might never wish to hear discussed, but if nothing else, you have to admit there's nowhere else you would. Although Howard has rightfully complained, especially when he was frequently fined for things he said while on terrestrial radio, that Oprah often gets away with talking about much more intimate topics, demonstrating not only the double standard of the FCC, but much of the public. And I think it says something that co-host Robin Quivers, who provides a remarkable counterbalance to some of Stern's debauchery, has stayed by his side for 30 years, along with much of his loyal staff.

Co-host Robin Quivers

Anyway, I am not insisting that everyone listen to Howard Stern--and for $12.95/month, SiriusXM may
not be worth your while, although there are also tons of great music channels with no commercials; I bought a "lifetime" subscription for $500 in 2005, all the more reason I'm delighted that Howard re-upped--as he certainly may not be everyone's cup of tea.

But if you have access--and SiriusXM is offering a free 30-day trial--I suggest that if you stick with listening to Howard and his crew for a four-day Monday-Thursday period, you're quite likely to go from "this crap is exactly what I expected" to "hmm, that's kinda funny" to "you know, he's not that bad all the time" to "sign me up, I can't stop listening."

After starts and stops with Howard dating back to the late-80s--because he only intermittently broadcast into the Chicago market, because I preferred Steve & Garry and believed Steve Dahl's claims to have pre-developed a similar act and because I just didn't love what I was hearing--I reached the last phase above about 10 years ago. (Stern's biographical 1997 movie, Private Parts, also helped sell me.)

Now in his mid-50s, he's even better on satellite radio than he was over-the-air, and though he can say swear words, his act is actually considerably less ribald. Love him or hate him, there's no one like Howard Stern--even just his longevity in a fickle business is damn impressive--and I'm Siriusly delighted he'll be around for another 5 years.

Not Much Goode To B. Said -- Concert Review: Chuck Berry

Photo Credit: Joel Wintermantle, Chicago Tribune

Concert Review

Chuck Berry
with opening act Deals Gone Bad
Congress Theater, Chicago
January 1, 2011
No rating given

On New Year's Day, I went to see a rock concert by an 84-year-old man in a theater of the same age.

And when legendary Chicago DJ Dick Biondi introduced Chuck Berry to a surprisingly full house at the Congress Theater and the world's greatest living rock 'n roll pioneer--with apologies to Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis--took the stage and began playing the opening riff to "Roll Over Beethoven," it was genuinely a thrill with much historical resonance.

Unfortunately, it all went downhill after that, with the downward slope quickly escalating to a point of genuine concern, when Berry ultimately had to leave the stage for medical observation (as you can read about in a bit more detail in the Tribune's coverage).

As you can see from my video below, even the relatively solid opening rendition of "Roll Over Beethoven" saw the once hyperkinetic Berry sounding, well, like an 84-year-old man.



The two classics that followed, "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "School Days" were similarly astonishing simply to be heard in any form, but far from the sparkplugs whose revolutionary sound did nothing less than directly influence the Beach Boys, Beatles, Rolling Stones and basically the entire realm of rock 'n roll.

Then things started to get strange. Originally, when Berry expressed concern about his guitar being out-of-tune along with his keyboardist's piano, I thought it was kind of endearing for such a legendary performer to still be so obsessive about the sound quality he was delivering to his audience. Then when Chuck seemingly started bad-mouthing the keyboardist himself, and the bassist, while still struggling to tune his guitar, it became a bit disconcerting.

And when he rushed through an almost unrecognizable version of his most famous song, "Johnny B. Goode," it was becoming apparent that Chuck B. Not So Well. While a subsequent rendition of "Reeling and Rockin'" could likely be done better by every teenage garage band in America, I was contented to hear a song played and sung in full, if nothing else.

But Berry continued to plaintively express his exasperation to the audience, then took a half-hearted stab at playing the piano while the keyboardist tried to tune Berry's guitar. I was wondering why there didn't seem to be any roadies present or why the opening act couldn't lend Chuck an in-tune guitar, but when Berry collapsed upon the piano, it was obvious that the problems went far beyond Chuck's acoustic sensitivities.

He was led off-stage and seemingly checked out by paramedics. He soon came back on stage, with his band still waiting, but could only continue to fumble with his guitar tunings. Wisely, he was led back off-stage and an announcement was made that the show was over, but that "Golden Oldies" would continue to be played by a DJ in the lobby.

At that point, the fully-packed balcony at the beautiful Congress--my friend Dave and I were lucky to get adjoining General Admission seats--emptied out. Only a rest room stop prevented me and Dave from hustling back out to what well may rank as the coldest night of the year long past the first day.

And upon hearing a roar, we went back into the auditorium, where the balcony was virtually empty but there still seemed to be plenty of folks who had paid $100 at the front of the main floor (our tix were only $30). Somewhat surreally at this point, an announcement was then made asking the remaining audience if they could wait 15 minutes while Chuck Berry was checked out by medical personnel.

Although I was disappointed by the subpar and then abbreviated show--Chuck's time was about an hour, but there was only about 20 minutes of legitimate performance--I didn't really see the point of continuing what had become a circus at risk of it being a calamity. But much more out of sheer curiosity than any real desire to hear more music, Dave and I waited until Chuck indeed came back onstage. He didn't have a guitar, but did manage an apology and a brief "duckwalk" as you can see in the video below (not shot by me).



All in all it was a very sad night. I certainly wasn't expecting Chuck Berry to be his 30-year-old self, and really just "seeing him" was enough to justify the outing and outlay. But I read today that he had done two New Year's Eve shows in New York the night before, so perhaps this booking wasn't all that wise.

I sure hope Chuck is alive and well for years to come, and reverently say, "Hail! Hail!" But whereas my interest was piqued pre-show when Dick Biondi said the promoter was trying to bring Jerry Lee Lewis to the same venue, perhaps I shouldn't press my luck (although "The Killer" is only 75).

As much for myself as for anyone else, here is a clip to remind of the legend and genius I had gone to see. I'm glad I had the chance, even if it was seemingly a few--likely several--years too late.

My Favorite Musings of the Past Year (and some of my favorite blogs by other people)

It might sound strange, but maintaining this blog--and sticking with it to the extent that I did--throughout the past year, after numerous starts & stops over the years, has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.

Simply the writing of it--and through a very rough estimate, I'd say the content in 2010 has been the equivalent of a 600-1000 page book--has been extremely enjoyable, and beneficial, and is now a topic of interest in most of my job pursuit communications.

But certainly, my writing wouldn't mean that much, even to me, if it weren't for a healthy level of readership and resulting comments & compliments.

I'm sure these statistics aren't all that impressive in the huge realm of the blogosphere, but it's quite gratifying to me to have averaged over 1,300 visitors to Seth Saith over the last 4 months of the year (including 2 months over 1,500), with more than 2,000 pageviews (i.e. blog articles read) each month. I didn't start any analytics (visitor tracking) until late-April, but as late as July I had just 298 monthly visitors/534 pageviews, so to more than quadruple site traffic--and maintain it--has felt good.

While not quite as quantifiable, but just as rewarding, Seth Saith has brought me a number of new friends and online acquaintances, and facilitated many great dialogues with existing ones. And in a year that saw me continue to struggle in my efforts to find full-time employment, in a way I think my writings serve as a document to much else that I did, saw, thought and accomplished in 2010, with the blog in sum being itself a notable achievement.

Predominant among my topics have been reviews of live events I attended, including virtually every concert, play, musical and opera. Links to reviews of some of my favorite events can be found through recent "Best Of 2010" articles (concerts, plays, musicals) and you can access all articles through the BLOG ARCHIVE on the right sidebar.

But perhaps mostly to remind myself, below are links to some of my favorite blog articles from the past year, besides any reviews or Best Of pieces:

(Feb 15) Remembering a really cool guy I once met

(Mar 9) Another Bloody Take on Tarantino

(Mar 17) This Note's For You: A Guide To Free Online Music

(Apr 2) When It Comes to Contemporary Artists, I Know Jack

(Apr 9) Citizen Kane vs. Casablanca, a classic debate

(Apr 12) Cubs Opener and Shutter, a photo essay

(Apr 17) Admitting One's Obsession Over Ticket Stubs

(Apr 21) The (Green) Day Broadway Went Punk

(Apr 23) The Enduring, Unveiled Genius of Raphael

(Jul 8) Spending A Day in Chicago's Past

(Jul 22) New Twins Stadium on Target, Not Above & Beyond

(Aug 12) Daring To Get To The Root of Evel

(Aug 19) Latest "Mindset List" Seems Terribly Out of Touch

(Aug 31) Historical Lessons in Pride & Passion from Mr. Cub

(Sep 1) Exploring the World Through Moving Pictures (Subtitled: My Great Foreign Film Adventure)

(Sep 6) An Exhibit Worth 300,000 Words (but I use just 685)

(Sep 23) The Tenor of His Saxophone Remains One of My Favorite Things -- Birthday Tribute: John Coltrane (b. Sept. 23, 1926; d. July 17, 1967)

(Sep 28) You Never Sausage A Thing! -- Why Hot Doug's Is Chicago's Greatest Food Phenomenon

(Oct 9) Celebrating the 70th Birthday of John Lennon

(Nov 1) Tomb It May Concern: A Halloween Exploration of Chicago's Graceland Cemetery

(Nov 3) The Seth Saith "Our World's Gone Amiss" Manifesto, Volume 1: Awaking to the Further Disunited State of Democracy Inaction as Wall Street Continues to Laugh All the Way to the Bank

(Dec 3) Remebering Ron Santo (1940-2010)

(Dec 14) Role of a Lifetime: Heading Back to Africa, Chicago Actress Britni Tozzi Proves Activism is No Act

Throughout the year, I got a bit better in certain aspects of blogging, including including tags, being more topic-specific in my headlines (for SEO purposes) and including photographs and other graphics. So some of the earlier pieces might seem a bit archaic and in some cases, images may have dropped out for one reason or another. Some of the information (such as in the guide to online music) may no longer be completely accurate and I'm sure there are a number of typos and grammatical errors. But while I hope some of you might enjoy some of these past musings, I'm opting to focus on the future rather than re-write or re-touch anything.

Some Other Fine Blogs To Enjoy

Beyond my own writings, there are a number of other blogs that I am happy to draw your attention to; most of these are linked at right under OTHER BLOGS TO ENJOY. But beyond the ones of a more recognizable nature--from Roger Ebert, Chicago Tribune, Playbill, Rolling Stone (from which I mean to specify Matt Taibbi's blog, although the link at right doesn't), etc.--these are a few from friends, acquaintances and other "everyday bloggers" that I've come to enjoy. (If you have others to suggest, please do so in the comments.)

Britni Tozzi: Activist and Actress - The last article of mine that I cited above was about the amazing humanitarian work Britni has undertaken in Africa, which you can follow throughout the past and coming year on her own excellent blog.

Art-for-a-Change - Years ago, when I lived in LA in the early '90s, I worked with and befriended a great artist named Mark Vallen. As you can see here--on a blog that's part of a site spotlighting his socially-conscious art--Mark is also quite a gifted, insightful writer.

Movie Morlocks (TCM Classic Movie Blog) - This one might seem like something of corporate blog, but has a number of contributors writing about old movies, including an excellent film historian I've befriended (through a Film Discussion Meetup) named Suzi Doll.

Iowa Girl Eats - This isn't by anyone I personally know, but I stumbled across this outstanding blog on which an Iowa girl named Kristin posts in-depth recipes with great photographs, as well as other pieces including articles on her travels. It's one of the best personal blogs I've seen, and I don't even cook.

Ramblings of G1000 - I also don't knowingly know "G1000," but he is a frequent commenter on my writings and has his own blog, primarily about TV and Movie topics.