Midwestern Eavesdropping

Sixtysomething woman at restaurant while several thirtysomethings at her table discuss the TV show Quantum Leap: "I think I better go to the bathroom because I don't understand this conversation."
--Chicago, Taverna 750, Halsted and Cornelia
Eavesdropper: GMYH

Listen to Hair Band Friday - 5/3/13

Retro Video of the Week: "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil

Apologies for the lack of posting over the last few days.  I was getting over an eight-week bender, but I should have more time to devote to posting now that I'm physically and spiritually cleansed.  Speaking of spiritual cleansing, that's exactly what Midnight Oil was advocating in its classic 1987 hit "Beds Are Burning," which is a politically charged song demanding that Australia return certain lands to Aboriginal tribes.  One thing I find to be pretty amazing is that the video on YouTube has over 12 million views, and not a single "thumbs down" vote.  On a somewhat related note, I was watching Saturday Night Live back in '93, and Midnight Oil was the musical guest (it was the one that Christina Appelgate hosted, with the first Matt Foley sketch -- pretty sure I've never laughed harder during an SNL sketch).  My dad was watching with me and said, "Well that's just rock and roll," apparently indicating his shock that a band on Saturday Night Live at that time was not a grunge or alternative band.  That probably means nothing to you, but for some reason, I always remember that whenever I hear a Midnight Oil song or see someone totally bald.

Midwestern Eavesdropping

Thirtysomething woman: "Have you had a cunt punch? It's pretty good."
--Chicago, Rocks, 1301 W. Schubert
Eavesdropper: GMYH

Listen to Hair Band Friday - 4/26/13

2 Grams for $40

I am all for punking one's parents, and apparently so is comedian Nathan Fielder.  On his Twitter page, he issued the following challenge:  "Experiment: text your parents 'got 2 grams for $40' then right after 'Sorry ignore that txt. Not for you' Then tweet pic of their response."  Here is a link to a postwith some of the more hilarious results.  Thanks to The Weez for sending the link.  Unfortunately, my mom doesn't use text messages and my dad doesn't have a cell phone with text message capabilities (I kid you not), so I can only appreciate these types of things as an observer.  Enjoy.

Retro Video of the Week: "Playground" by Another Bad Creation

Sorry for late post.  No time for complete sentences.  Subject predicate.  Enjoy ABC.

American Psycho Musical

I didn't have time to write a Tuesday Top Ten today, but thanks to Ryan for sending me a link to this story about the fact that there is going to be an American Psycho musical. Other than those involving Mormons, uncle fuckers, time warps, or deaf, dumb, blind kids, I'm not a huge fan of musicals.  I have no doubt that list would be expanded to include killing Paul Allen (or Owen, if it's true to the book) with an ax to the face if I am able to make it to London next December or January.  My hope is that there is a musical version of "I like to dissect women, did you know that I'm utterly insane?"  "Murders and Executions" should be a pretty big number.  Anything glorifying Ed Gein would be a nice bonus.  No matter what, I expect it to be a laugh riot.

He Lives . . . And So Do The Rapings

Damn near seven years ago, I brought to your attention the story of a man I named Edgar Bellefontaine.  He stood at the outskirts of Daley Plaza, holding a sign accusing an FBI agent of the ongoing rape of his wife.  The rapings continued through at least September of 2006, and Edgar went so far as to hand out business cards relating to the rapings and "outlaws" who allowed, if not outright encouraged, the rapings, and yet Edgar refused to explain himself.  A few months later, we learned that the rapings had stopped, as they had never been rapings to begin with.  In August 2007, however, the rapings unexpectedly restarted, even as I attempted to take a break from you all to write a book that I finished several years ago but have yet to fully edit or attempt to get published.  We didn't hear from our beloved Edgar for a while, until after Obama got elected, when Edgar set out a personal plea to our President, despite the fact that the Commander in Chief has absolutely no authority over Cook County domestic relations proceedings.

I haven't seen Edgar in the last few years, so I assumed he finally got back together with his wife, Obama spared his child, and FBI agent Chris Saviano was brought to justice.  This morning, I happened to walking past Daley Plaza, and look who greeted me -- with a whistle.

Things appear to have gone downhill for Edgar.  He's still a dad, as you can tell by his "hat."  The top of his sign, which I was unable to capture photographically, declares, "RAPE HQ: FBI," which I think we all knew was the case.  How else would FBI agent Chris Saviano learn how to rape Edgar's wife so effectively while escaping prosecution?  Worse yet, Edgar's food seems to have gone the way of the FBI.  If I am to understand the placard affixed to his chest, a mere 18 days ago -- presumably while Edgar was distracted, making dolls out of the many strands of his ex-wife's hair that he still keeps in a shoe box next to his bare mattress in the middle of the master bedroom in his otherwise empty Gold Coast penthouse -- his food "druged" and raped him.  For those of you not familiar with druging, it's a medieval Flemish torture technique involving a lot of tickling.  Poor guy.

Listen to Hair Band Friday - 4/19/13