A Short Story Idea

So for the past year or so, I've been dabbling my hand at writing short stories. I was really inspired by J.D. Salinger and his collection of short stories called Nine Stories. If you have never read them, I suggest you go and check them out. They are fantastic. Anyways, while I've been writing, it dawned on my that I had no real way of "publishing" them to the public. Of course I have this blog here, but in the past, for some reason, I didn't see this outlet as a viable option.

Then an idea struck me, I could turn them into short radio monologues. I really like this idea, and so I've been re-visioning some of my stories into radio monologues, while others I've decided to keep as a written piece. One story idea I've been toying around with for about six months, involves a local cemetery. When I was little, my dad and I would ride our bikes through this one cemetery on 111th street. We would go there to visit his parent's graves. As we would ride our bikes, I would look at some of the grave markers and see people who were World War I veterans, or individuals who were born in the 1880s/1890s and they then lived into the 1970s or 1980s.

I would think about the history these people had lived through, and I would begin to imagine what their stories were like. What their experiences were, things like that. I also began to create a life story for them in my mind, and how they reacted to the big world events of their days. (I hope this doesn't make me sound weird...) So I'm trying to write a story about a struggling writing who goes on a bike ride through a local cemetery, and they end up writing a fictional story about someone they pass.

Would this sound like an interesting tale?

Hey It's My 100th Posting

Hard to believe it, but this post, the one you are reading right now, is my 100th posting!!! I would like to thank you for sticking with me. I went back and reread some of my first posts...boy were they bad. (I like to think I've improved, but I leave that to your judgment) In these past 100 posts, we have talked TV, music, movies, Superman, terrible movies, The West Wing, and so much more.

I have really enjoyed writing this blog. I feel like writing this blog has helped strengthen my writing abilities, and disciplined how I approach writing and publication. Since we have made it this far, I think it is time to shake things up. I'm debating changing the name of the blog, design, and topics I write about on here.

One idea I have had is to include some of the short radio monologues I've begun writing. For the past three years, I've been a fan of the terrific podcast called WireTap. One of the main elements to this podcast is about a 5-minute monologue on a particular topic. Listening to these monologues I've been inspired by me, and thus I've tried my hand at writing a few.

So if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments section. And be on the look out for a new and hopefully improved blog.

Winning a Illinois Broadcasting Association's Silverdome Award for Veteran Matters

So this past week, I received rather some terrific news. Veteran Matters, a radio documentary series I worked on for the better part of two years, won an Illinois Broadcasting Association's Silverdome Award. We won 2nd Place in the category "Best Radio Series or Documentary in the Chicago Market". WDRV 97.1FM The Drive took 1st Place on a series about Led Zeppelin and WTMX, 101.9FM The Mix took 3rd Place for their Mix Matters Series.

Even though I found out on Tuesday that we had won this award, I still find myself at a lost for words. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would of received an award from a "Professional" awards competition. In my mind I still view myself as a college broadcaster. Maybe I still view myself like this because I still work at my college radio station. But to have your work recognized as being quality by professionals that work in the 3rd largest market in the country is truly a humbling experience. And it's a big kick in the pants too. Don't view yourself as a college broadcaster. View yourself as a broadcaster!!!

I feel rejuvenated by it.  In fact since Tuesday I've come up with a few potential ideas for radio shows that I would like to working on. One of those shows would focus on poverty and the stigma we as a society have towards poor people. It's time for me to get cracking again.

Here's the complete winners listing

Great New Music

If you have not heard the new album from California band Rogue Wave, you are missing out on a super catchy indie pop album. The lead single off of 'Nightingale's Tale' is College. This song has been stuck in my head for the past week and a half. Now it is time to share the wealth with others.

Man of Steel Review

Awesome Movie Poster

I wanted to give it a few days, and let the story and the experience set it before I wrote this post. Now that it has set in, I feel that I can adequately comment on the brand new Superman movie, Man of Steel. For the readers of this blog, you are well aware that I am a HUGE Superman fan, and I've been  anxiously awaiting this movie for the past year and a half.

That being said, I felt that Man of Steel was absolutely terrific. It introduced Superman as a multi-layered character, and showcased him in a fascinating way. One of the best reviews I saw on Rotten Tomatoes was "It Puts the Man into Superman". A common complaint against Superman is that the audience can't relate or connect with him, he's too powerful, or he's too good and always does the right thing, hence there is no drama to the story. This is not the case in Man of Steel. Henry Cavill's portrayal showcases a conflicted and introspective individual, looking for his place in the world. Something that every person goes through at some point during their life.

Additionally a major theme throughout the movie is "How would the world react if it was discovered that a man can do all of the things that Superman can do?" This element of mistrust between the public and Superman is quite interesting. Most of us are just used to the fact that when Superman first arrives the public instantaneously loves him, and blindly trusts him to be a hero all of the time. You don't have that in Man of Steel. Hence you have an element of drama added to the story. The very people Superman is trying to save, are apprehensive of him. Will he still do the right thing?

Amy Adams as Lois Lane

The liberties that the filmmakers took with the Jor-El, Lois Lane, and Pa Kent characters added another layer of depth and human emotion to the story. These characters were truly relatable and I see why Clark Kent becomes Superman. It's because of these great characters and the support they provide. I especially loved what they did with Lois and Clark. I could write about that in more detail, but it would spoil a major plot of the story, so I will refrain from doing so.

Surprisingly Man of Steel has received mixed reviews from critics, and from some fans alike. For some the movie was too serious. Others thought that the action was over done. And some felt that the supporting cast was a tad under developed. All legitimate observations.

But still, I would like to address those complaints. When it was announced back in 2009/2010 that Superman was going to be rebooted, the executives at Warner Bros. stated that they wanted a more serious and action packed Superman movie. Enter David Goyer and Christopher Nolan, the team that reinvented what Batman movies could be. While developing the story for The Dark Knight Rises, Goyer approached Nolan with an idea he had for rebooting Superman. Nolan loved the idea, took it to Warner Bros. and got the project green lighted. So there very team that wrote an incredibly serious Batman trilogy, writes Man of Steel, and yet people are surprised that it is a very serious movie? If it wasn't serious, I would of been shocked. Also why can't a Superman movie be serious? Does Batman have a monopoly on seriousness?

Zod and Superman Duking It Out

The second complaint is that the action was over done? (A slight spoiler alert, the end battle between Superman and General Zod is in Metropolis. The fight scene is on par with the end fight sequence of The Avengers. So basically it's an awesome fight sequence.) In 2006 when Superman Returns came out, that films common complaint was that there wasn't enough action in it. So now we get a very action packed Superman movie and now we don't want that?? People we need to make up our minds here. Do we want action or not? I'm cool either way, I thought Superman Returns was a fine movie. I know I'm in the minority, but still. It was unique.

Lastly, the supporting cast was under-developed. That is a fair complaint. You don't get a lot of screen time with Perry White, Ma and Pa Kent, and even to some degree, General Zod. But should we? After all, this is a movie about the beginnings of Superman. He should be the character with the most face time. After all it is a Superman movie. Plus the great thing with movies like Man of Steel, is you know there will be a sequel. So you can develop those characters in the sequel.

Overall, I think the best way to describe Man of Steel is, it's along the lines of Batman Begins, just with a looser story. The action is spectacular, and it sets up Warner Bros. and DC with an opportunity to have a shared film cinematic universe, just like Marvel. If you want to keep reading about Man of Steel, I found this terrific article about it on uproxx.com about how it maybe too much like a comic.
Click Here

An Internet Treasue

Score another one for the Internet. I was on eBay the other day, and what do I find? The Ghostbusters 2 soundtrack... on vinyl. Hell yeah!! So of course I had to buy it, and it arrived today. (As I write this blog I am listening to it, and may I say that it is magnificent.) A few blog posts ago, I wrote about the Ghostbusters 2 soundtrack here, so I don't want to go into too much detail.

That being said, this soundtrack is a perfect representation of the late 1980s. It has this particular vibe to it that I can't explain it. Maybe I'm crazy but don't certain time periods have a certain feel to them? If you asked me to identify what the vibe of the late 80s is, I'd have to plead the 5th Amendment. I can't even fully explain it, but I can identify it when I see it.

Maybe it's because the late 80s were my youth, and you view your youth through rose coloured glasses? All I know is that Bobby Brown's "On Our Own" is pretty dope.

Band of the Day

Last night I was introduced by a friend of mine to this music App called: "Band of the Day" The premise of the app is, each day a new underground band is featured. Along with being able to listen to their music, you are sent their bio information, music videos, and links to the bands sites.

This is such a great idea! I am always on the look out for new music, and this is a convenient way for me to discover new music. Today I discovered a band called Groenland. They are from Montreal, and are a pretty terrific indie rock band. Below is a video for you to check them out. If you are looking for new music, I highly recommend the Band of the Day App.