RandomCha

Read the article in The Economist:

http://www.economist.com/surveys/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5601463

starring William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Maria Bello, Paul Sorvino.
written by Frank Hannah & Wayne Kramer
directed by Wayne Kramer

An ingenious set-up is sadly wasted in this unsatisfying film. The setup? Macy plays a loser who transfers his bad luck to anything he comes into contact with; he works at a Vegas casino “cooling” any lucky streaks. A brilliant idea that could have been developed many ways: a cynical rumination on fate; a goofy satire of Vegas; even a sweet-natured fairy tale (he meets a waitress and falls in love). Instead, the script makes the very uninteresting choice of having every character a stereotypical cipher, chained to the contrived machinery of a predictable plot. Which could very well have worked as a comedy (think Preston Sturges, or even Frank Tashlin). But instead we’re treated to nasty, unecessary bouts of violence and swearing. So the film ends up neither here nor there. The actors certainly can’t be faulted: Macy, Balwdin and especially Bello dig into their parts with relish and consistently contribute interesting bits. But the film just doesn’t gel. An “oh come on” ending doesn’t help either. Oh well. Stick with “Hard Eight,” “Casino,” or even “California Split” if you want to see it done right.

The reading went over like gangbusters. I chose some of the “humorous” cards to read, and for the first time ever people were really laughing it up. Kinda felt like I was doing a standup routine. Then I read two excerpts from the novel-in-progress and they liked those as well. During the Q & A afterwards, this very tall professorial type said that the section I read about Pere Lachaise was “right on the money.” That was very heartening; it’s the first time I’ve read that particular part in public.

The other two authors (Charles, a U of C writing teacher who read from his early 20something college slacker looking for love novel and Mack, a South Side minister who read from his book on the genesis of the Chicago Gospel sound) were great as well. Charles was there with some friends, one of which was the host of “Check, Please!” on PBS. Suzie had me autograph all the copies of 100SP before I left.

Afterwards my friend Steven bought me a beer at Heuttenbar and we talked about bands, music, and films. On the TVs they were showing women’s college softball.

Know what’s great about doing going to a reading at The Book Cellar? It’s also a wine bar.

So come see me tomorrow night!

Rob will be reading @
The Book Cellar
4736-4738 North Lincoln Avenue
in Chicago
Wednesday, March 15th, 7.00 pm

http://www.bookcellarinc.com

Read the speech he gave this weekend at the Gridiron Club dinner:

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2006/03/obama_on_bush_b_1.html

Gosh. Is it okay to spend $115 on two tickets to an opera? Think about that. That’s a lot of money for a three-hour experience (in the balcony, no less). On the other hand, the opera is “Nixon in China,” which has never been performed in Chicago before even though it was first produced in 1987. And I do LOVE this opera. I’ve listened to it over and over again since I first heard the CD recording in college. BUT $115 is … well, that equals about two days of work. Hmm. Hmm. Need to think this one over. But tickets are selling fast, so I don’t have very long to think it over either. Sunday, May 21st …

1 1/2 oz. vodka
3/4 oz. Auburn (or other vanilla liquer)
juice of 1/2 lemon

Combine ingredients in a tall glass which is half-filled with ice. Top up with tonic water but do not stir.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-bush-ap-poll,0,7342698.story

Everything is really anoying me today, making me angry, and I’m not sure why. I mean, yeah, the networking thing yesterday really annoyed me, and there are countless little things going on at work that are annoying. And our lunch delivery was just cancelled because the delivery guy couldn’t find a way to get to our office by going around the protest march. But still. On a normal day, I’d find ways to deal with all this crap using some gallows humor, or even methodical indifference. So why is everything so fucking stupid today?

1: Men who wear gloves when the temperature is above 45 degrees. Give me a BREAK.

2: Why, no, the fax machine does not automatically replenish itself with paper. I put paper in there, regularly. Howewer, this is a task that can be done by ANYONE. But apparently no one else has thought about this. Because whenever I stop, or forget to, or am out of the office for a day, I return to find an empty fax machine. “Why aren’t any faxes coming in?” they ask me, perplexed. Same goes for the printer, folks.

3: Actually, I’m going to be getting off at the next stop too. That’s why I’m STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR. So don’t crowd me. Or try to get past me. Trust me, I’m going to be getting off this bus/train faster than you could anyway.

4: People who hold the notion that any movie in black & white is automatically boring, and/or antiquated, and/or has no relevancy to our lives today.

5: Why didn’t I get any mail today? Whay hasn’t anyone emailed me? Why isn’t my book selling? Will anyone show up at the reading? What happens if I finish my new novel and nothing happens to it? What if, when it comes down to it, I’m just mediocre?