A few minutes with my dog on a Sunday afternoon

 I promised my dog I'd make time to sit with him for at least a few minutes in our backyard this afternoon, and so I did. 

The temperatures only reached the low 50s today, but the sun was shining, and Otto and I were warm and comfortable.

And so we sat. I rubbed the underside of his snout, and he seemed to like that. There were few distractions. No cell phone. No visitors. A passing vehicle could be heard on the street out front, and birds sang in the trees above.

But beyond those noises, Otto and I sat undisturbed. 

It took me several minutes to get comfortable with the near silence, but before long I found myself content to lounge in the warmth of the sun in the quiet company of an old dog who asked for nothing more than to have his chin gently rubbed. And that was the best part of my day. 

-- Thank you for reading. Your comments and questions are always welcome. You may post them here or send an email to kbotterman@gmail.com. 

 

Siskel & Ebert and 'Opposable Thumbs'

With the passing of time, it's easy to forget the influence and popularity Gene Siskel, film critic for The Chicago Tribune, and Roger Ebert, film critic for The Chicago Sun-Times, enjoyed as hosts of a PBS TV show featuring movie reviews. 

Matt Singer, in his engaging and mostly fast-paced book "Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever"  (2023) reminds readers Siskel and Ebert once were so influential to the U.S. film industry they made regular appearances on late-night TV talk shows, could make demands of Woody Allen (then at the height of his Hollywood power) and shared a dinner table in 1989 with George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. Pretty good for two film critics from Chicago. 

Singer's book is a good slice of nostalgia and a reliable choice for those seeking some lightweight reading for an upcoming summer vacation.

Singer does a fine job of telling how the two reached their positions at their respective newspapers (I found Ebert's journey more interesting, but that's me.). Singer gives attention to the creation of what was the pair's first effort in TV,  "Opening Soon...at a Theater Near You." It was on WTTW, Chicago's public broadcasting station, and featured a cast of three - Siskel, Ebert, and Spot the Wonder Dog. Spot was called on to help introduce the "dog" film of the week. 

The production remained at WTTW, but went through a number of name changes as it grew in popularity and influence - "At the Movies," "Sneak Previews," and "Siskel and Ebert." Singer offers details about the internal struggles that accompanied each name change and other show changes, for those interested. Readers learn how Siskel and Ebert came up with the now famous "thumbs up" (or down) manner of endorsing a film for viewing. 

He also offers plenty of humorous stories involving Hollywood's famous and self-important, including the time Marlon Brando called the production office to speak to either Siskel or Ebert, but someone concluded he was a prankster and hung up the phone. 

Singer does a good job arguing how Siskel and Ebert influenced the way in which a generation of movie viewers looked at movies, but he falls short of convincing readers the two changed movies forever. He shares the criteria each critic attempted to follow when evaluating a movie, noting that each man always asked if a movie was worth the price the average film-goer would pay for a ticket at the box office.

Singer also includes an important piece of advice Ebert once offered to his readers: If a movie doesn't engage you within the first hour, it probably isn't going to get any better, and won't be worth your time. 

I enjoyed both Siskel's and Ebert's reviews, and frequently found myself agreeing more with Siskel's. However, there was an aspect of Ebert's reviews I always appreciated and valued, and it was this: Even when offering a less than enthusiastic review of a movie, Ebert would note if the movie was a strong contender in a particular genre. 

For example, if the movie being reviewed was a science fiction tale, Ebert might write, "if you're a fan of this type of film, you might enjoy this aspect about this movie ...". I think that qualifier spoke to a specific audience, and said this movie isn't for everyone, but you might find it entertaining. And that is valuable, I think.

Back to Singer's work. He offers an interesting passage from that 1989 dinner Siskel and Ebert shared with Lucas, Scorsese and Spielberg. During the evening's conversation, Spielberg reportedly outlined a detailed (and sadly accurate) prediction of what the future of Hollywood would look like by 2020.

Singer also reminds readers that Siskel and Ebert probably would never have achieved the fame and influence they experienced in the 1980s and '90s without William J. McCarter, the president and CEO of WTTW from 1971 to 1998, considered the station's most creative and successful years. In addition to his work with Siskel and Ebert, McCarter also had a hand in "Soundstage" and "Chicago Tonight." 

-- Thank you for reading. Your questions and comments are always welcome. Post them here, or send an email to kbotterman@gmail.com

 

State's journalism task force issues final report

 

The Illinois Local Journalism Task Force recently released its final report.

The task force was created by law in 2021 and looked at the state of local newspapers and journalism in Illinois. The report details the findings, which are not surprising to anyone who has followed the newspaper industry during the past couple of decades.

The report also includes some suggestions for helping the industry. As one might expect those suggestions involve tax credits, grants, and government subsidies. None of the recommendations involve purely market-oriented solutions. That's a pity, I think.

The report is 22-pages long, including the appendix and a list of the task force's members, which alone is worth reading, and sheds some light as to the final recommendations, I think.

The report all but ignores the many important factors that contributed to the decline of newspapers and that continue to contribute to the slow death of legacy "journalism." Of course, it is the product of a government panel, so one ought to expect some serious flaws.

For a better read about the challenges to local journalism, one that provides market-proven success stories, I suggest "Beacons in the Darkness" by Dave Hoekstra, an Illinois based writer and recovering newspaper man.

-- Thank you for reading. Your comments and questions are always welcome. Kevin Botterman

What I hope to avoid (but probably won't) in 2024

 

Now that we've entered 2024, here are a few of the things I hope to avoid during the next 12 months. I acknowledge the struggle is real.

Anything related to or about Taylor and Travis - I have nothing against either personally and wish them all the best. I imagine they're a warm and engaging couple. I'm just not interested in seeing their photos or videos about them everywhere I turn, or in my news feed daily. So as nice as they might be, I'm happy to leave them behind in 2023.

Celebrity news and opinion - They've been with us forever, and celebrities of all types and stripes receive a disproportionate amount media coverage (see the couple named above), and that's just the way it is in our culture. I saw too much of it in 2023; more than any one reasonable, relatively balanced individual should see. I'm done. I'm trying to avoid all of it in 2024, and so far (yes, it's early), I'm doing fine. Wish me luck, and maybe offer up a prayer, if you're so inclined.

Professional sports - This one won't be as challenging for me as it was in the past. I lost interest in the NBA decades ago (about the time the league gave up any interest in playing defense) and can't recall the last time I watched a full game. 

I stopped watching the NFL back when the league allowed politics to become a part of the game. If I want that, I'll watch the news. Also, the broadcast became too long. I simply don't have the time or interest to commit more than three hours to watching a game. Professional hockey never captured my interest, but I do enjoy watching the college game. If you've never watched one, give it a try. 

I admit to watching a couple of MLB games in 2023, just to see how the pitch clock affected the game. I liked it, but not enough to watch an entire game. I shifted to radio broadcasts and enjoyed those. 

Anything related to The Walt Disney Corporation - The fools running that operation completely turned me off in 2023. It's not just that they produced weak movies, which they did. It was their decision to insert their cultural agenda and politics into everything they do and produce. That's the company's choice, of course. It's also my choice to walk away and spend my dollars elsewhere. That's easy for me to do on this one. 

Netflix and HBO - I've never cared much for the productions Netflix offers and the operation's movie collection doesn't match my tastes. Avoiding Netflix is doable for me. However, my lovely wife frequently watches the streaming service, so I might have to take the hit in order to spend time with her.

As for HBO, well the decision to run commercials during their presentations ended things for me. I understand most streaming services have or soon will be introducing commercials to their basic offerings. There's little I can do about that trend. But I've watched HBO since the early 1980s, and loved its commercial-free model in exchange for my cable (later streaming) subscription. Introducing commercials strikes me as a betrayal, one I can't bring myself to forgive.

Arguing with the misinformed and blindly partisan on social media - What was once an amusing distraction now leaves me annoyed. It seems the number of ignorant, blindly partisan and willfully misinformed grows with each day. The stupid and lazy live among us in great numbers. I once enjoyed toying with them, much as a cat plays with string, but I've lost interest in them. I can use your prayers on this one, too. 

Those are just a few of the things I hope to avoid in this new year. I could probably add many more, but I'm ready to move ahead, eager to meet the challenges of 2024. 

-- Thank you for reading. Your comments and questions are always welcome. Please post them here, or feel free to email me at kbotterman@gmail.com.

Hollywood's class of '83 is worth remembering

The year 1983 was one of the best years for Hollywood, one that offered something for audiences of all ages. Productions released that year included Oscar-caliber dramas, crowd-pleasing adventure movies and popular comedies. My list of favorites (and honorable mentions) includes many of the year's biggest box office hits and ones that I think capture Hollywood's spirit in that long-gone time. 

1. Terms of Endearment - When Hollywood made movies for adult audiences it made some fantastic movies, and this is one of them. Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson star in director James L. Brooks' Oscar-winning tale of a demanding mother and her relationship with her adult daughter and her family,  and a former astronaut. The movie won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (MacLaine), and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson). The movie is at times funny, and a true tear-jerker. The great supporting cast includes Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, and Danny DeVito. 

2. The Big Chill - Director (and writer) Lawrence Kasdan's tale of seven former college friends reuniting for the funeral of another friend from their college days was a hit with fans and critics alike. The movie received three Oscar nominations (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Glenn Close) and Best Writing). In addition to Close, the stellar cast includes William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum, JoBeth Williams and Meg Tilly. Oh, and it has a rockin' soundtrack. 

3 The Right Stuff - Director Philip Kaufman's engaging and gripping telling (Kaufman shared script-writing credits with Tom Wolfe, the book's author) of the Mercury Project during the early days of America's effort to put a man into space. A talented ensemble cast delivers wonderful performances and includes Sam Shepard, Dennis Quaid, Veronica Cartwright, Levon Helm, Fred Ward, and Pamela Reed. The movie earned five Oscar nominations (including Best Picture) and won for Best Sound. And it has a powerful soundtrack.

4. Risky Business - Tom Cruise stars (in his breakthrough performance) as a high school student who gets involved with a high-end prostitute and her friends. Rebecca De Mornay and Richard Masur also star. And Joe Pantaliano is terrific as Guido, the killer pimp. 

5. Trading Places - The best comedy of 1983, in my opinion. Director John Landis hit gold with his tale of what happens when a snobby blue-blood (Dan Akyroyd) is manipulated into trading places with a slick con man from the streets (Eddie Murphy). Jamie Lee Curtis and Denholm Elliott also star.

6. Silkwood - Director Mike Nichols' film received five Oscar nominations, including Best Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Supporting Actress (Cher), and Best Director. Kurt Russell delivers a solid dramatic performance, and the supporting cast includes a number of noteworthy actors. The movie is largely forgotten today, but is well worth watching, or watching a second time.

7. A Christmas Story - It's now a holiday classic and needs no summation. You know it and love it. 

8. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - The third installment of the original Star Wars trilogy earned four Oscar nominations (all in technical categories). The movie was a hit with critics and audiences alike, and the original trilogy remains the best of the Star Wars franchise, in my opinion.

9. Scarface - Al Pacino stars as a Cuban migrant who makes it big in Miami's cocaine distribution market in the early '80s. The movie closely matched real life in 1983, struck a chord with audiences and remains popular with younger audiences today. The cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Loggia, and the late Mark Margolis. Good stuff.

10. Valley Girl - Director Martha Coolidge scored a commercial and critical hit with this work, one of the best of the teen romance movies, which were a Hollywood staple in the 1980s. A young Nicholas Cage and Deborah Foreman star as a dude from the wrong part of town in love with a girl from the Valley. The supporting cast includes Michael Bowen, Elizabeth Daily, and Frederic Forrest, who delivers a memorable performance as the girl's father. This one is reflective of the early '80s and includes an impressive soundtrack.

11. Lone Wolf McQuade - Chuck Norris stars as J.J. McQuade, Texas Ranger. Norris was well-established as an action star with a loyal and growing fan base, and this one certainly added to his popularity. Norris stars opposite David Carradine ("Kung Fu"), who plays a gun-running drug king. As one might expect, there's a climatic fight featuring Norris and Carradine. The supporting cast includes L.Q. Jones, R.G. Armstrong, and William Sanderson. It still packs a punch and captures the basic formula of the Norris films to follow.

12. Under Fire - Gene Hackman, Nick Nolte, and Joanna Cassidy star as three journalists covering the final days of the Somoza regime in Nicaragua in 1979. Many things are not what they appear to be. While the politics of the late 1970s seem a bit naive today, the film remains engaging and entertaining. Hollywood lost its interest in political thrillers some time ago, and that's unfortunate for audiences. The supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Ed Harris, Hamilton Camp, and Jean-Louis Trintignant. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode 

Honorable Mentions - (Ten entertaining productions that I think reflect the spirit of 1983 and are worth viewing.)

All the Right Moves

Blue Thunder

Breathless

Flashdance

Gorky Park

The High Road to China

National Lampoon's Vacation

The Outsiders

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Wargames

-- Thank you for reading. Your comments and questions are always welcome. Post them here or send an e-mail to kbotterman@gmail.com.

Successful Living: Lesson 2- Get a Dog

 

Nothing fuels success like a good dog. That's a fact. Want to succeed in life? Get a good dog, I say.

An entire industry exists to help individuals find success in life. It offers videos, books, blogs and an assortment of other products all designed to help others succeed at the work of living. All the products cost money; some of them cost a lot of money. 

Dogs can be expensive, too, but it might be the best investment you make. It has been for me. The self-help books might produce some good results for some people, but I know many who found little but frustration and disappointment with those things. 

Not so for those with a dog they love and treat as a member of the family. Here are a few reasons why I think a good dog can help you achieve happiness, if not success:

• Life is short, and it's more enjoyable with the companionship a good dog provides. 
• A dog will never complain about the chores you didn't perform or the tasks you failed to complete.
• A dog doesn't care how you dress when you leave the house. The dog only wants you to return as soon as possible.
• A dog doesn't object if you decide to spend Saturday afternoon napping on the sofa. In fact, the dog will be happy to join you there. Be sure to leave some space for your friend.
• A dog will be more loyal than most humans, is always excited to see you, and only wants your attention. Those are valuable and pleasant qualities. 

I could offer many more reasons, but you get the idea. Get a dog and you'll be happy, rested and at peace with yourself - all qualities that contribute to successful living. 

--Thank you for reading. Comments and questions are always welcome.

Some thoughts about the Huskies Halloween loss to CMU

Here are a few thoughts I have about Northern Illinois University's 37-31 loss to Central Michigan University on Halloween night. 

1.) I detest the contract with ESPN that has the Mid-American Conference playing football games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in November. College football should be played on Saturdays, in my opinion. The mid-week games are terrible for tradition, are bad for attendance and erode the fan base.  I hope the MAC will not renew the contract with ESPN, but I fear money will talk and the mid-week games will continue, much to my disappointment. 

2.) With the loss, NIU fell to 4-5 overall, 3-2 in the MAC, and appears to be looking at another mediocre season under head coach Thomas Hammock.  For the record, CMU moved to 5-4 overall, 3-2 in the MAC. 

3.) While CMU dominated the first half, NIU played a good second half.  Here's a look at some key stats:

Total yards of offense - NIU posted 506 yards, while CMU tallied 447

Time of possession - NIU: 29:48, CMU: 30:47

Fourth downs NIU: 2-4, CMU: 0-0

Rushing yards - NIU: 208, CMU: 331

3rd downs - NIU: 0-10, CMU: 4-12

4.) NIU continues to struggle on offense in the first half, which is a consistent weakness for the Huskies, not only this season, but during the 2022 campaign, too. During Tuesday's game, NIU scored a field goal in the first quarter and came up empty in the second quarter, while CMU posted 7 points in the 1st quarter and 17 in the 2nd quarter. 

The Huskies offense mounted a vigorous comeback in the second half, posting 14 points in the 3rd quarter to CMU's 13, and NIU scored another 14 points in the 4th quarter, but a Chippewa interception late in the game ended NIU's comeback bid.

I've followed the Huskies for more than 40 years. I've known several coaches, players and have been personal friends with more than a few of the reporters who covered the team over the years. I know NIU is capable of being a conference champion, and it's difficult to see where things stand today. 

-- Thank you for reading. Your comments and questions are always welcome.