Well, it's no cowbell, but...

Boy, it's been a while since I've written anything. Where to begin? I could comment on the new Batman movie (very good, but not the mind-blowing experience it was hyped to be...but the "magic pencil trick" was amazing). I could comment on the political scene. (Actually, I don't think I'm even capable.) I could comment on everyone's favorite topic...outrageous gas prices. (I think it's become the go-to topic when running out of things to say, edging out even the weather.)

None of that's really my style, though. (Well, maybe the Batman...but that's not where I'm going.) I'd rather comment on something smaller. Sometimes, it's the little things in life that somehow make getting through the day-to-day bearable. Not the "big" things that relate on a more grand scale, you know?

Then again, Gavin Rossdale sang that it's the "little things that kill," so maybe I don't know about what I am talking. (or maybe he doesn't)

That's beside the point, though. Today something little happened. Sure, there were some bigger things, such as jamming to Muse on Rock Band with the Laskey boys (they're so good at that game...), playing football with the junior highers, and Max Weinberg returning to The Late Show with Conan O'Brien, but those aren't what still has me grinning like a fool this evening.

This morning, while at work, I was listening to the Eric & Kathy show on 101.9, "The Mix." I often listen to their show for some good info, many laughs, and the amazing "Friday Song."

This morning they gave a report on something that had to do with lasers, and started playing a silly laser sound effect over all sorts of things, thereby making them, as we say in the shipping business, "better." It was cracking me up, especially when they played it during that new Coldplay tune that, I am rather certain, is playing on a radio station right now. (It's EVERYWHERE, but don't get me wrong...I kinda dig it.)

So anyway, time moved on, as it often does, and they, too, moved on from the amazing laser sounds to other less interesting non-laser-involving stories. I kept plugging away at my job, and decided that I needed something to give me a little lift...something to lift my spirits on a tired monday morning.

I knew what I needed...and I knew where I might be able to get it. I quickly hopped on the computer and sent an email to Eric, of the aforementioned Eric & Kathy Show. It was short. It was simple. It said the following:

Subject: MORE LASERS!!!

That's all...I just want more lasers, please.

And if possible, more cowbell.

Much luv,
Rob

What I got blew me away...approximately two minutes later, upon returning from a commercial break, I was stunned to hear Eric reading my email on the air, including my trademark "Much luv, Rob." (I don't know how that started, but that's how I've signed off just about every email I've ever written.)

Anyway...

Eric proceeded to apologize for not having cowbell, but then unleashed a bevy of hilarious sound effects, including more lasers, cows mooing, zippers zipping, etc.

I couldn't help but smile. Maybe you heard it on the radio, too. I hope it made you smile as well.

And if not, perhaps this laser-related video will make you smile. If nothing else, it's got a good song in it...

Much luv,
Rob
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Song of the Day: "Breath Into Me" by Red

We'll see...

So I just wrapped up watching a very interesting movie. It's called "Charlie Wilson's War." It's a story about, go figure, Charles Wilson, a Texas congressman who helped spearhead the "largest CIA covert operation" against the Soviets in the eighties. It was a very good movie...I think I'd give it 22 Spartans on my Spartan Scale.

After a trip to Pakistan and seeing the suffering that is happening there, "Good-time Charlie" decides that he simply MUST get involved. Wilson, though many different means, finds a way to raise funds to get "modern" weaponry into the hands of those who need it. This proves to be the turning point and leads to the crumbling of the communist occupiers.

Inadvertently, this also leads to supplying weapons to, what would later become, Al Queda. We all know what happens with them.

It was a very interesting, thought-provoking movie, and it's all based upon true events. Kinda scary when you think about it.

At one point, Gust Avrokotos (aptly played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman...seriously should've won an Oscar for his performance) tells a story to Charlie. It goes a little something like this:

There's a little boy and on his 14th birthday he gets a horse... and everybody in the village says, "how wonderful. the boy got a horse" And the Zen master says, "we'll see." Two years later The boy falls off the horse, breaks his leg, and everyone in the village says, "how terrible." And the Zen master says, "We'll see." Then, a war breaks out and all the young men have to go off and fight... except the boy can't cause his legs all messed up. and everybody in the village says, "How wonderful."

Of all the things in this movie, this is what sticks out to me. No, I'm not suddenly all into the "Zen" thing, but the "Zen master" in the story makes a good point. We don't always see the big picture. Everyday circumstances play a part in more than just the everyday. Sure, you may get what you want now, but at what cost in the end? We just don't know.

That may sound depressing when thinking about something "good" that you experience, that it may have a "bad something" to follow...and possibly even be caused by it. It's comforting, though, to consider how the bad things can work for good, too.

Ultimately, the movie concludes with victory over the Soviets, but things get held up when funding is cut for building schools. They mention that (and I don't remember the exact numbers)about 50% of the population is under the age of fourteen. By not following through and helping rebuild, we may have seriously dropped the ball.

As Charles Wilson put it:

"These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world...and then we f---ed up the end game."

Sobering thoughts. A lesson in finishing what you've started, but we'll see.

Much luv,
Rob
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Song of the Day: "Let's Dance" by David Bowie

Toot, toot...

Whoo-weee! The creative juices are flowing tonight!

Ever just feel like your brain is racing a thousand miles an hour and your pancreas just can't keep up that kind of pace? Me neither, but I do feel excited at some of today's events. I even managed to pull myself away from a movie because I felt the urge to write a bit. (The Bucket List, for those who are curious.)

For those who do not know, I like to pretend that I can play the bass guitar. I am still pretty-much a beginner at the instrument, but I'm getting better. I play with the worship band at my church and have picked up some tips here or there. I suppose that I might someday even take a lesson.

I'm getting side-tracked, though...back to my point.

Tonight, I had an opportunity to get creative musically. A friend of mine wrote song and was playing it on his beautiful sounding twelve-string. As I was listening, I was singing along with the words on the page, trying to hear some harmonies in my head and think of a suitable bass line to accompany it. When he was done playing, he said, "You need to come up with a bass line for it, and we'll be good to go."

I hesistated not a second. I said, "Let's do it." I grabbed up a bass and we began to play. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I pulled out a few tricks from "Bass Guitar 101" and it worked! Not to toot my own horn, but I thought it sounded pretty good. It was all so very exciting.

When you hear "Let Us Not Forget" on the radio someday...that's Gary's song and I helped a bit.

I may not have done much, but it was more then I thought I was capable of doing. I guess you just never know until you try.

So give something a shot. You might suprise yourself.

In other news, 45 days until the Bears pre-season begins! I'll try to keep my naive, relentless, Bears-related optimism under control this year, but I can't make any promises. Let's just agree that they'll go undefeated and Mike Ditka will, in a suprise move, win the presidential election in a landslide.

Much luv,
Rob
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Song of the Day: "Diverse City" by TobyMac

Settle down there, buddy...

So I've had something on my mind a bit lately. A little over a week ago, I went to a baseball game. It was a local Schaumburg Flyers game. On the very first play of the game, a routine fly ball turned into an inside-the-park home run when the fielder turned his ankle trying to make the player. Later in the game, the Flyers tried to steal home plate.

Neither worked out too well for the home team, and neither had I ever seen in a ballgame before. How very exciting for me...(not so much for the Flyers.)

But that's not really what's been on my mind. I've been thinking about personal responsibility.

I can almost hear you now..."WHAT?"

Yeah, something pretty heavy.

Here's the rub (never realized that's Shakespere before):

There was a guy sitting in front of me who was behaving inappropriately for much of the game. He was sending out "creepy old dude" vibes that were off the charts. I think you know what I mean.

The thing is, he was otherwise very friendly. His leering and lewd remarks towards the young ladies in the stands, dancing on the field, and anywhere else he could see, however, was less so.

So where do you draw the line? I was conflicted between saying something to the guy and just minding my own business. I'd love to say that he wasn't hurting anyone, except that his young son seemed to look up to him and I worry about what type of values he's learning from the "role model."

Still is it any of my business? Do I have any right to get involved?

In the end, I did nothing, and it's bugged me a bit ever since. As a fellow blogger once put it:

"At what age does a person become immature? Who decides this? I really would like to know the difference between having a good time and making an ass out of yourself."

Was this guy just having a good time? In his mind, yes. To me? It was more the latter. But who is to decide?

I don't know where I'm going with this. Perhaps it's just that I'm getting older and noticing how behavior effects more than just the one acting out.

I guess the message is...

HEY! BEHAVE YOURSELF!

In lighter, happier news...the Lakers are down 2-0. GO CELTICS!!!

Much luv,
Rob
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Song of the Day: "Lakini's Juice" by Live

Hmm, I'll bet that burns...

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words...

First of all, who are "they," anyway? Are "they" the Men in Black? Tommy Lee or Will? Are "they" a coalition of worldwide fashion designers like in Zoolander? Or are "they" some conglomerate from some other group of movies?

Most likely, "they" are none of the above. (Although I'm watching you, Tommy Lee Jones...I know you're up to something.)

Regardless of who "they" are, it is my belief that they have seriously underestimated the word value of a picture. Behold!


Amazing, no? I found that picture over here.

I'd say that picture's worth about one hundred billion, zillion, gafillion, words.

Even made up ones.

To sum it up in just one word, though:

AWESOME!

Happy monday!

Much luv,
Rob
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Song of the Day: "The Silent Man" by Dream Theater