Welcome to WeeklyWilson.com, where author/film critic Connie (Corcoran) Wilson avoids totally losing her marbles in semi-retirement by writing about film (see the Chicago Film Festival reviews and SXSW), politics and books----her own books and those of other people. You'll also find her diverging frequently to share humorous (or not-so-humorous) anecdotes and concerns. Try it! You'll like it!
Flugtag (“Flight Day”) competition in Chicago, Illinois on September 21, sponsored by Red Bull.
Flugtag, Chicago, went down (literally) on Saturday, September 21 at Burnham Park on South Lakeshore Drive. Flugtag means “flight day.” The winner of the Chicago competition, Chicago Duck Hunt, flew only 39 feet, while, in Long Beach, California (one of 5 cities hosting simultaneous competitions) during their Flugtag competition today, the winning entry, the Chicken Whisperers, flew 258 feet, setting a new record.
Chris Yamamoto of Purdue’s Engineering College, at Flugtag on September 21, 2013.
I spoke with the captain of the Purdue team, Chris Yamamoto, who is not only a graduate student in aeronautical engineering at Purdue, but has taken part in the competition since 2010. Chris said it took the Purdue group about four months to build their plane, billed as the World’s Largest Flying Drum. He said this year he had invested $750 in the plane, but last year invested $1800.
Purdue “Flugtag” members Chris Yamamoto (left) and Ben Kuttesch at Flugtag on September 21, 2013.
Chris said that the Red Bull Flugtag teams are to be of five members. [His Purdue team has 8 members, but Red Bull, the sponsor of the competition, only recognizes 5.] Another Big Ten team was in the competition from Nebraska and teams from Omaha and Iowa were also on the list. On Yamamoto’s team were 2 female engineers (one with a job at Starbucks after she completes her senior year) and Purdue engineering graduate Ben Kuttesch. Yamamoto, in addition to being an aeronautical engineer, also holds a pilot’s license. He was to be the only team member actually going into the water with the craft. Among other groups, besides engineers, competing, there were planes built by firefighters and dentists.
“Flugtag,” Burnham Park, Chicago, IL, September 21, 2013.
The competition in Burnham Park on South Lakeshore Drive drew over 65,000 spectators, all attending for free and enjoying the sight of colorful planes dropping into the drink (i.e., Lake Michigan.) In Miami, over 85,000 were said to have attended the competition, but the record for attendance is 220,000 in Cape Town, South Africa in 2012. Yamamoto said the World Record for Flugtag, which traditionally has been held in various European cities, was a World Record flight distance of 290 feet and 209 feet in the U.S., flying off a thirty foot high launching platform. The competition was held simultaneously in 5 U.S. cities this year: Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Miami, Florida; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas; and Long Beach, California.
Purdue’s entry in “Flugtag.”
Winners of the Chicago competition, besides the Chicago Duck Hunt were (second place) The Bamzonies. The People’s Choice award, voted on online, went to a Chicago team, HellonWheels.
Chicago skyline at “Flugtag” in Chicago on September 21, 2013.
Selsey a seaside town in the south of England, created the competition, under the name “Birdman Ralley” in 1971. The first Red Bull Flugtag competition was held in 1992 in Vienna, Austria. It was such a success that it has been held in over 35 cities worldwide every year since.
Entrance to Burnham Park and Flugtag in Chicago.
To participate, each team must submit an application and their flying craft must meet the criteria set forth by the sponsor Red Bull, which varies by location. In the USA each flying machine must have a maximum wingspan of 30 feet (9.14 m) and a maximum weight (including pilot) of 450 lbs. (204 kg). Australian Flugtags are limited to a wingspan of 26.25 feet (8.0 m) and a weight (NOT including pilot) of 396.8 lb (180.0 kg).[3] The craft must be powered by muscle, gravity, and imagination.
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Another entry in Chicago’s “Flugtag” competition.
It may not have any loose parts and advertising space is limited to 1-square-foot (0.093 m2).
(L to R) Bob Haner, Craig Wilson, Steve Marlier, Susie Marlier, Bob DeJonghe
Alleman’s 50th class reunion was held at the Holiday Inn in Rock Island on Saturday, September 14, 2013. Here are some pictures from the event, with identification if (and only if) I can identify the participants. Since it wasn’t my class, you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t put names under some of the pictures I took that night.
Steve Marlier (Charlotte, NC) and Bob DeJonghe.
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Craig (far left, obscured), Bob Hafner and a bit of Steve Marlier, in the back of the group photo, which needed risers (or, at least, for the tall guys to go stand in the back.)
The class, en masse, by the elevators. The drinks in the air are Bob Hafner, Craig Wilson and Steve Marlier.
Judy (Fecht) DeJonghe is having way too good a time in this partial photo.
This group (Bob DeJonghe, Craig Wilson and Bob Hafner) is being sent to the office for misbehaving.
Former Silvis Superintendent of Schools Rene Noppe (and my former teaching colleague), who now teaches course for WIU chatting with classmate.
Why does it not surprise me that it is Bob Hafner of Hafner’s Wagon Wheel hodling the drink aloft.
Someone may have just fallen down the elevator shaft, but this group would not have noticed.
No idea who you all are, but I hope you had a good time.
Again, carry on.
One (of [caption id="attachment_3869" align="alignleft" width="150"] Me, flanked by Marvis Hafner and Susie Marlier (none of us Alleman grads, but oh, well).
3) of the priests in the class appears (just barely) on the far lefthand side of photo.[/caption]
The Mistress of Ceremonies (“St. Anne’s! St. Anne’s! Where are you!”). I think it is Diane Coene Kennedy, but don’t hold me to that. Bravo! Job well done.
One member of the class (far right) appeared to be heading downstairs on the elevator, but, meanwhile, I think there might be a mugging taking place off to the left, given the reaction(s) of the group in that area.
Group nearest the Audio Visual screen.
Craig Wilson (my handsome husband) and the beautiful Susie Marlier. Aren’t you a good-looking class!
I just got off an internet chat session from Comcast support… this is the actual exchange (I just cut and pasted here)… I found it kind of humorous:
Maria: Hello Scott, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Maria. Please give me one moment to review your information. analyst Maria has entered room Scott: My Issue: Regarding Ticket #017527451, I keep getting contacted from a collection agency even though Comcast has confirmed the charges are incorrect. Can you please contact the collection agency and inform them? Maria: I appreciate you taking the time to chat with us. I hope your day went well. Scott: sure Maria: Thank you. Scott: There is an incorrect charge owed of $89.74 on my account. Maria: I understand that you are having a hard time connecting to Collections Department and would want me to contact them on your behalf, Scott. Scott: These charges against me occurred AFTER I disconnected service Scott: Not the collections department Scott: n outside third party who does the collections for Comcast Scott: (an) Maria: Oh, I can perfectly understand your concern on this matter, Scott. No worries, I can definitely check the status of your ticket # you have provided. Scott: thanks Maria: You are most welcome. Maria: Would you mind giving me one moment to pull up your account? Scott: sure Maria: Thank you. Maria: I am now pulling up your old account. Scott: taking a long time Maria: Thank you so much for patiently waiting. I have now pulled up your account. Maria: To protect your account I will need to verify some additional information. Would you please provide me with the last 4 digits of your social security number? Scott: 1234 Maria: Excellent! Maria: Thank you so much for verifying your account. Maria: Great news! Scott: sure Maria: I am seeing here that your current balance is $0.00. Maria: The $89.74 has already been adjusted on your account. Maria: Isn’t it great? Scott: great. Can you officially inform the collection agency then so they stop calling me? Scott: And confirm to me that they were contacted? Scott: I can even provide you with their phone number Scott: Isn’t that great! Maria: Oh, I can definitely note this on your account so the collections department would be able to see the updates on your balance. Maria: Oh, Sure thing, that would be great! Scott: great! Scott: Would you mind giving me one moment to pull up the number? Maria: Oh, please take your time, Scott. Scott: great! Scott: (elevator music) Maria: That’s a good one! Scott: great! glad you liked it Scott: please continue to hold while I pull that up Maria: Oh, sure thing, I am just right here waiting for you. Maria: Scott, just to let you know, at the end of this chat there will be a short survey. Scott: great! Maria: I would greatly appreciate if you grant my simple request to spare few seconds of your time to complete a short survey on how well I have assisted you. Scott: great! a survey Scott: I love surveys Maria: Yes, a survey, Scott. Maria: Oh, I love to know that you love taking surveys! thank you so much for your cooperation. Your comments and suggestions means a lot to me. Scott: The collections agency phone is 877-236-5791 Maria: Perfect! Scott: Yes! Scott: Amazing! Maria: One moment please as I note the number down for you. Scott: Oh, sure thing, I am just right here waiting for you. Maria: Wow! thank you so much for your patience. Scott: Snap! No worries! Maria: Great news! I have already taken cared everything for you. Maria: Thank you. Scott: Great! What is it that you have taken care of? Contacted the agency and informed them? Maria: Oh, I have noted everything that we have discussed here today and that includes the number you have provided to be called (Collections – third party #). Scott: Oh, great! Scott: Is there anything else I can do for you? Maria: Sure thing it is! Scott: Have a great day! Oh… and a great evening! Maria: Oh, I should be the one asking you that, Scott. Sure thing you have a sense of humor! Maria: Oh you too! Have a blessed evening! Maria: Would there be anything else before we end? Scott: Right back at ya! Scott: (boomerang style) Maria: Oh! I am so happy I was able to resolved and help you with your issue today by giving you the assurance that the $89.74 has already been adjusted on your account. Maria: Oh! that’s a good one! Maria: I have also noted everything on your account for Collection’s reference before contacting you back again. Scott: Not as happy as I! After all, it is my $89.74 we are both excited about! Scott: Goodbye Maria! Maria: I am so happy that you don’t need to pay $89.74 anymore! Maria: Good bye to you too, Scott. Maria: That pretty much covers everything, Scott. Once again, thank you for contacting Comcast chat support. It has been a pleasure assisting you today. We thank you for choosing Comcast as your provider, remember it is our guarantee to be available to answer questions at your convenience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Scott: (or is that your “XFINITY Chat” name?) Scott: Wow, you typed that fast! Maria: Yes, Maria is my real name and chat name at the same time. Scott: nimble! Scott: Great! Maria: Thank you! I am glad to hear that. Scott: Me too! Scott: Now go out there and give XFINITY your best today! Maria: Sure thing I will, Scott! Scott: Oh, one other thing while you are here “Maria”… Maria: Sure thing, go ahead please. Scott: Any chance you can reduce my cable bill costs… by as much as 50%… without any loss of service? Maria: Oh, I can definitely understand that you would want to save and keep your current services at the same time, Scott. Maria: No worries we still have a solution for this. Scott: Great! Scott: Does it involve others paying my bill? Maria: For more promo options and offers, you may contact our Customer’s Solutions. They will have access to more promotions available specifically to retain loyal customers like you. They can be reached at #1-800-934-6489 and is available from Mondays to Saturdays at 8am-6pm. Scott: Again… you are a fast typist! Maria: May I ask if what do you mean by that? Maria: Oh, thank you! Scott: Sure! means I think you are a fast typist! Maria: Oh! thank you for the compliment, Scott! Scott: You typed that paragraph in like 2.7 seconds! Maria: Wow! Scott: Zoinks! Maria: Oh, before I forgot, that is eastern standard time. Scott: Well “Maria”… it’s been great… I’m exhausted… I don’t know if I ‘ll have enough energy for that “survey” your gonna throw at me Scott: Sounds a lot like an ACT or something Maria: Oh, that is alright. Scott: Will I be graded? Maria: That’s a good one, Scott! Maria: It’s alright. No worries. Scott: Can you take the survey for me? Scott: Just enter the name “Scott” instead of Maria Maria: Oh, I am saddened that I can’t. Scott: I am more saddened that you can’t Maria: Oh! Scott: Ok then… get those nimble fingers back to work… at this rate you only end up assisting 3.4 customers per day Maria: Surveys are optional. It’s perfectly fine if you are unable to participate. Scott: I’ll think about it during the next music interlude Scott: Ok.. bye “Maria”! Maria: Perfect! Maria: Good bye now, Scott! Maria: I enjoyed assisting you today! Maria: Have a blessed evening! Scott: what do you mean by that? Scott: Oh! I enjoyed you assisting me as well! Scott: Good by now, “Maria”! Maria: Oh, I mean, I enjoyed the chat conversation. Scott: Oh! Great! Scott: Bye! Maria: Good bye now scott! Maria: Please click on “Exit Chat“ or `Close Chat` button to properly close this chat and to take the survey. Thank you for contacting Comcast and have a great day. Scott: Oh! Scott: One last thing “Maria” Maria: Oh, that’s alright if you just click exit and not take the survey. Maria: Sure thing. Scott: Will I indeed receive a confirmation once the collection agency is contacted? Maria: Yes, you will be. Scott: Great! Scott: Take care! Maria: You too, take care!
British visual artist Bruce Munro, best-known for using light as an artistic medium, has produced the second-ever North American exhibition of Light on the 55-acre grounds of Cheekwood Estate in Nashville, Tennessee. The U.S. debut at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, featured an enchanting, dream-like effect, composed of 20,000 lighted glass spheres, each rising from the ground on a slender stalk. It ran from June until October, 2003, commissioned by the DuPont and Pierce families.
Cheekwood Mansion, Nashville, Tennessee.
Munro, who was born at Salcombe in Devon (UK) in 1959 attended Bristol Polytechnic and emigrated from Australia, where he had done light work for Qantas and Honda, to Great Britain in 2002. Since then, he has created installations at Wiltshire near his studio, the Eden Project in Cornwall, the CDSeaRegatta (made of discarded CD disks), Light Shower at Salisbury Cathedral and 2004’s Field of Light at the Victoria & Albert Museum. From February through April of 2010, his work was part of the exhibit in New York City entitled Contemplating the Void.
Stacey near Water Tower display at “Light” exhibit at Cheekwood Estate on Labor Day, 2013.
Cheekwood’s 55 acres of gently rolling lands and the Cheekwood Mansion grounds are the largest Field of Light expanse Munro has ever created. The existing pathways and installations on the grounds are utilized to allow visitors to wander amidst the 20,000 lighted glass spheres on the mansion’s lawns, the Japanese Bamboo Garden Fireflies exhibit (reminiscent of scenes from the film “Life of Pi”), the 5-foot “Blue Moon” orb in the Japanese Garden Dry Lake, and the 40 structures known as Water Towers, which are built from one-liter recyclable plastic bottles filled with water and which features music created by fiber optics linked to an LED projector and sound system.
Near Cheekwood’s lawn, by the ponds, is the Mustard Meadows Light Reservation, an assemblage of 60 watt spent fluorescent tubes. Also featured at the installation at 1200 Forrest Park Drive in Nashville are a reflection pool entitled “Fagin’s Urchins,”made of polycarbonate, acrylic polymer fiber optics and stainless steel, and several stunning creations within the Cheekwood Mansion itself, including “Light Shower,” an installation of 1,650 teardrop-shaped diffusers suspended from the ceiling by fiber-optic strands, and a stunning transformation of the Cheekwood Mansion Rotunda Staircase by the Bell Drop Chandelier.
“Blue Moon” installation at Cheekwood (Bruce Munro, artist), “Light” display.
“Blue Moon,” unlit.
The exhibit began May 24 and runs until November 8, 2013. It is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday beginning at 4:30 and continuing until 11 p.m., with three October Tuesdays (Oct.1, 15 and 20). Cost for adults is $15, with seniors (over 65) admitted for $12 and college students with ID $8. Admission for children 3 through 17 is also $8; children two and under attend free. (See www.Cheekwood.org/Art/Light for music and dining options, which vary.)
The first bona fide Oscar-caliber female performance of the year is Cate Blanchett’s turn in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.” Probably based on the Bernie Madoff massive pyramid scheme scandal, the film examines what Mrs. Madoff may (or may not) be experiencing, now that she’s as poor as the rest of us.
There are several messages that come through loud and clear, including this one: “When Jasmine doesn’t want to know something, she’s got a habit of looking the other way.” As Jasmine’s step-son, Danny, asks her, “Did you not suspect anything, or did you not care.”
Cate Blanchett in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.”
When Hal French, the Bernie Madoff-like crook, played expertly by Alec Baldwin, is arrested and imprisoned, Jasmine (whose real name is Jeanette) loses it. Most of the film, we see Jasmine teetering on the brink of a complete breakdown. She even admits to having had some of “Edison’s medicine” (electro-shock treatments) and downs Xanax as though they are breath mints. Jasmine is a totally manufactured persona without an ounce of genuine sincerity in either her words or deeds.
After her husband’s arrest, Jasmine is so broke that she is forced to move in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins), a blue collar cashier at a grocery store. Jasmine tells Ginger, “I’m dead broke. I’m worse than tapped out,” but then reveals she flew from New York City to San Francisco (to move in with Jasmine) first class. When asked (by Ginger) how it is possible for Jasmine to be destitute and yet fly first class, Jasmine replies, “I don’t know. I just did,” which p sums up Jasmine’s general attitude towards spending money. (She quotes her dead husband, “As Hal said, it’s not the money, it’s the money.”)
Both girls were adopted and raised by the same family, but Ginger reveals that she ran away while Jasmine was the family favorite. Jasmine constantly references her short-lived college career in Anthropology at B.U. and spouts things to her two nephews like, “With wealth comes responsibility.” One of her small, noisy ADD nephews says, “Mom said you used to be okay and then you got crazy.” Jasmine replies, “There’s only so many traumas you can withstand before you take to the streets,” referencing her disconcerting habit of talking to herself in public places, as deranged mental patients often do. (Her seat mate on an airplane ride says, “She couldn’t stop babbling about her life.”)
Another underlying message is that Jasmine has brought all this on herself. She mentions this in a car ride with ostensible fiancé Dwight Westlake (Peter Saarsgard) and we see previous actions on Jasmine’s part that reinforce this point-of-view.
The consensus: Jasmine is a phoney, as was her husband and as was her entire ivory tower life of privilege. The “real” people in the film recognize this, and that includes Andrew Dice Clay as Ginger’s ex-husband, Augie; Chili (Bobby Cannavale of “Boardwalk Empire”), who intends to marry Ginger; and Jasmine’s own step-son, Danny (Alden Ehrenreich). Jasmine looks every bit the affluent Park Avenue socialite, with her Louis Vuitton luggage, her pearls, Chanel jacket and belt, Hermes bag and expensive Vivienne Westwood shoes. Ironically, she gives her young nephews a lecture about working hard and tipping big, when she, herself, is dead broke. At the same time she is talking a good game, she initially rejects a job as a dentist’s receptionist because it is “too menial.” Cate Blanchett’s Jasmine seems to be a direct descendant of Vivien Leigh’s character in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” who has always depended on the kindness of strangers and looked down upon the little people.
There are still the hilarious Woody Allen lines and funny situations in the film, despite its serious insights and subtext. (To Ginger, re Chili: “There’s a world of men out there who’d never think of ripping a phone out of the wall.”) Placing Jasmine in a world that she has not inhabited in years, populated by “the little people” who actually work for a living, is a recipe for humor.
She is forced to fend off the unwanted advances of ordinary males like Eddie (Max Casella), a friend of Chili’s, who gets great lines like: “You get a bad clam, you’ll wish you’d never been born,” and “I had a friend that used to do that (stare into space), but there was something wrong with him. Epileptic, I think.” As she attempts to cope with the rigors of a real job, Jasmine has one elderly dental patient who rejects the appointment time offered saying, “That’s my colonoscopy prep day, and it’s always very special” with a dreamy expression on her face. You can’t help but smile. The expressions on Blanchett’s face in fending off the advances of ordinary suitors who are not wealthy is priceless. (Comedian Louis C.K. plays one such ordinary suitor seeking her sister Ginger’s affections, Al Munsinger.) All of the supporting players are spot-on. It’s refreshing to see Andrew Dice Clay articulate “the common man’s” emotions at being swindled of their hard-earned money, saying, “Some people, they don’t put things behind so easily.” Peter Saarsgard as a promising suitor who is with the State Department is equally good in the part of the white knight Jasmine thinks might rescue her from her new reality.
Sally Hawkins, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Louis C.K.—all are perfect in their parts. But the actor who seems to have a lock on an Oscar nomination is Cate Blanchett’s unhinged socialite-turned-pauper. She may well have brought all this upon herself, but her totally convincing turn as a woman on the brink of a breakdown (or trying to recover from one) is Oscar-worthy.
