Archive for January, 2009
January 22nd, 2009
Got an e-mail this morning about Scriptapalooza, an 11-year-old annual screenwriting competition.
It piqued my interest, because I used the “palooza” suffix in this story that appeared in today’s paper about “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which I’ll participate in at the Coronado Jan. 29. I end the story with this sentence: “That’s B-l-a-g-o-j-e-v-i-c-h, as in the man behind C-o-r-r-u-p-t-a-p-a-l-o-o-z-a.”
The Phrase Finder says Rube Goldberg had a cartoon character named “Lala Palooza” in the 1930s, but the word is older than that. The etymology is uncertain. The “American Heritage Dictionary” says a lollapalooza is: “something outstanding of its kind”, but after the Lollapalooza music tour, it’s usually used as a suffix to indicate an extravaganza of some sort. (Hockey-palooza, Bingo-palooza, etc.)”
Care to share any local or worldwide “paloozas” you’ve heard or made up?
How ’bout WallStreetJournal-is-noticing-Rockford-in-a-not-so-flattering-way-palooza. Or Where-does-the-Rockford-teachers’-union-stand-on-the-Rockford-charter-schools-palooza. Or Protect-us-from-embarrassing-the-police-palooza.
January 21st, 2009
Watched some of the Neighborhood Ball on TV last night. What a star-studded affair, with everyone from Beyonce to Leonardo DiCaprio.
Then this morning, I heard some editor-type being interviewed on Today, and I appreciated her observance of the difference between former President Clinton and new President Obama with regard to Hollywood. She said Clinton was infatuated with Hollywood stars and that Hollywood stars are infatuated with Obama. Big difference.
And speaking of DiCaprio, did I mishear him when he introduced Vice President Joe Biden? I thought DiCaprio said something like “Gerald” Biden.
January 20th, 2009
Hollywood says ‘cut’ to lavish paychecks
Producer J.J. Abrams agreed not to take any money upfront to get “Morning Glory” made.
Because of the faltering economy and falling DVD revenue, the studios are chipping away at the generous financial deals long enjoyed by the most established stars and filmmakers, according to this LA Times story.
January 19th, 2009
What Recession? The $170 Million Inauguration
Obama’s Inauguration Has Been Financed Partially by Bailed-Out Wall Street Executives
according to this abc news report.
January 16th, 2009
How will you (won't you) celebrate Obama's inauguration?
January 16th, 2009
Yesterday’s jet landing in the Hudson, caused perhaps by the plane hitting birds, makes me wonder if planes can’t be equipped with whistles that scare birds away, kind of like deer whistles on cars.
My brother has deer whistles on his vehicles, and he’s never hit a deer. Do they really work as well as he thinks they do?
January 15th, 2009
Interesting story in today’s Daily Herald:
“Pam Davis believes vengeance has prevented her from building a new hospital in Plainfield.
“The CEO of Edward Hospital in Naperville said Wednesday she believes there are people still influencing the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board who have it out for her because she blew the whistle on a wide-ranging array of corruption within the state agency. Her actions eventually helped lead to the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich as well as several other powerbrokers and government officials.”
January 14th, 2009
Cheap Trick, the Rockford-based pop-rock band, is close to finalizing a headliner deal with the Las Vegas Hilton that would feature the group performing The Beatles’ epic album, ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ live with a full orchestra, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
“Word has it their performances could begin as soon as March and stretch throughout 2009.”
Calls placed to Cheap Trick by the Register Star were not immediately returned Wednesday.
Other Web sites have picked up the news, including this one and this one.
January 13th, 2009
I’m sorry that Howie Mandel had an irregular heartbeat that hospitalized him. 
His not-really-a-heart-attack made me think of the almost-heart-attacks that his new show “Howie Do It,” which debuted Friday on NBC, must be inflicting on the unwary.
I watched some of the hidden-camera reality show Friday and wondered if someone with a weak heart who was the brunt of any of a number of skits might have just keeled over during filming.
In one segment, a man and his wife go on what he thinks is a real cosmetic surgery TV show, only to see his wife’s face disfigured and her come out in a wheelchair. The wife was in on the joke, but he was aghast. Ha ha. Not very funny.
In another segment, a guy’s wife is in bed with a supposedly getting-naked commercial producer for a mouthwash ad. As the producer gets fresher, the hubby squirms more. Again, the wife was in on the joke. A lesser hubby might have blown a gasket or an artery. Ha ha. Not that funny.
But I couldn’t switch channels until I saw the unwary become aware.
January 9th, 2009
 ”Her characters are so realistic and dialogue so on target that you’ve just got to ask yourself what congregation has Roby been spying on?” That’s what the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Miss., says about Rockford native Kimberla Lawson Roby’s books.
And her just-released noval, “The Best of Everything,” is sure to keep to similar comments coming. Here’s a tease from tthe cover of the book: “Meet Alicia, all grown up and just like her father, the Reverend Curtis Black.”
You can meet the New York Times bestseller Roby at her book-signing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Barnes & Noble at CherryVale Mall in Cherry Valley.
I’ll even give you a copy of “The Best of Everything” to take to the book-signing, if you so choose.
Just tell me why you dig Roby’s books so much. I’ll choose the comment I like best, and let you know who the winner is here on my blog by noon Monday.
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