Eileen's Blog

Eileen Byrne's Review of Brokeback Mountain:

First, let me tell you about the cinematography. (Okay, that's a bad sign right there. If anyone starts to tell to you about a movie and begins with the cinematography, it's almost a certainty that this is one movie you'll never sit through long enough to find out who the key grip is.)

The movie stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllleennnahal-- (yeah, that's definitely wrong. If you're going to misspell something, you might as well butcher it.) Anyway, the movie opens with the two getting work on Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming, tending sheep. Ennis (Heath Ledger) is a young man of few words and meets Jack (JG) who sees himself as a rodeo star, except he's not very good. They spend a summer cooking beans and herding the sheep and then, really out of nowhere, Ennis gets drunk and decides against guarding the sheep one night (the whole point of the job) and passes out in front of the fire. Jack warns him that he'll freeze when the fire goes out...and when it does...he invites him into the tent. Then there's the male rape. Roger Ebert calls it "making love"--but it is a violent act, nothing whatsoever beautiful, romantic or loving about it. I had to keep myself from laughing because it was so out of the blue. The theater was packed , by the way. Esquire Theatre, Friday...afternoon show....and it was quite a crowd. I was on a date with my coat.

Okay, the summer is over and Ennis gets married to a woman named Alma. They seem very happy, at first. Ennis quickly becomes a father of two girls. Jack goes back to Texas and keeps trying the rodeo thing and meets a young, beautiful cowgirl and they, too, get married. This is where I start getting angry with the movie. If two guys want to get it on, go ahead. But now they are husbands and fathers and yet they still continue their secret affair. Before their second encounter, Ennis drinks himself into a stupor until Jack shows up so they can go "fishing" while wife Alma is the only person interacting and caring for these children. When the two men kiss passionately and Alma sees, heartbroken, the audience starts laughing. When Ennis dumps the two girls on Alma the next year so he can meet up with his "secret" lover again, the audience practically cheers. And I can't understand why this is funny. Is infidelity a laughing matter? Is finding out your husband is gay in the early seventies...or at any time...funny? When your husband cheats on you with a male prostitute...that's pure comedy? This audience apparently thinks so...and more so.....the movie makers want to make these two men sympathetic. I found them pathetic and selfish and childish and found nothing redeeming at all about these guys. During the film, I found myself thinking of the movie, "Terms of Endearment". Remember the scene when Debra Winger's character...Emma was left with the children and she finds her husband, Jeff Daniels.. the bastard guy, with the hot student? We felt sorry for THAT woman. Why is Alma not a sympathetic character? To me, this is more about making gay forbidden love mainstream than making a good movie.

And before you think I have anything against two men LOVING each other...I felt more male love and bonding between Andy DuFrain, if you please, and Red...or...Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption than a romance between two guys that basically began with a rape. I read in Friday's paper that this movie is supposed to appeal to heterosexual women. Why any woman would applaud two men ruining two women's lives ....actually three....when you count Ennis' girlfriend...is beyond me. And then there are three children involved that are neglected while these two fuck in a motel. Beautiful.

This is a movie that starts about two men who walk out on their work responsibilities and blame the boss when they're not wanted back. This is a movie that supposedly celebrates the "love" between two men. But I can't help but wonder if Jack had never sent that postcard to his friend, Ennis, and backed off when he knew the guy was married...never succumbing to that temptation in life, in marriage, that we all feel...perhaps the movie could have had a happier ending. And that might have been true "love". But then it wouldn't be a "statement"....and then we'd never see that cinematography. It sure was nice. And...I'll always be left wondering who that key grip was.

ALERT***************************************ALERT*************************

I have a special announcement....no...not baby news yet......but I need those listeners who have sons in Iraq and Afghanistan....namely, Bob, and two Marilyns who recently called in: The person who took your information did not give me your addresses. Please contact me at eileen.f.byrne@abc.com so I can get those packages to your courageous loved ones overseas. Thanks!

Would love to see you this weekend! I will be at the Best Buy in Schaumburg from noon until 2pm. You have a chance to win an RCA 50" DLP-HDTV valued at $3,299!! I wish I could win! I need a TV real badddd (As Napoleon Dynamite would say!)
Best Buy is at 900 E. Golf Road...for directions...call847-843-3515.

Okay...have to go to the doctor's office now. Been having problems hearing recently...but after that...I'm OFF TO BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. I just hope I can hear well enough to catch Jake whispering sweet nothings into Heath Ledger's ear. ooh.

Thanks for joining us for the 1st Ever WLS Radio Baby Shower for eight-days-overdue- sister, Sheila. I was hoping that her being nervous on the air would spur on the contractions...but it didn't seem to work. She was completely at ease! Thank you for all of the advice for her...we are very excited to welcome the new baby to the family. I'll keep you posted.

If you are interested in providing a holiday dinner for a military family, read on. Give what you can. That's what the season is all about:

Dear USO of Illinois Volunteers, Friends and Supporters~


The holiday’s are quickly approaching. Many of us will be surrounded by loved ones, friends and families. Some of those serving our nation, will however be away from home and many family members will have an empty seat at the table as their Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Coastguardsman serves overseas. We currently have requests for almost 200 meals for the holidays for military families and we need your help!



Please consider Sponsoring a holiday meal for a family of deployed military personnel.

Just as for Thanksgiving, the USO has teamed up with Honey Baked Food, Inc. and will order and have delivered a meal for families in need as identified by unit Commanders and Family Support Coordinators. The cost per meal is $95 and will be delivered on 23 December 2005. The meal includes a honey baked ham, two side dishes and a pie (bigger based on size of the family). If you would like to sponsor a meal, please contact Susie at 312-923-7070 and she can take your donation over the phone or mail to USO of Illinois, Attention: Holiday Program, 700 E. Grand Ave., #105, Chicago, IL 60611



Thank you for your tremendous support of those serving our nation.

May your holiday season be filled with friends, family and freedom!



Sincerely,



Lisa M. Moeller

President

A friend forwarded this to me....I thought you might like to read it. AND...if we have any baby news, I will be sure to let you know. Sheila is two days overdue and it can't be long now! Have a nice weekend.

>> >> TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
>> >> >HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
>> >> >IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
>> >> >PLASTER AND STONE.
>> >> >
>> >> >I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
>> >> >WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
>> >> >AND TO SEE JUST WHO
>> >> >IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
>> >> >
>> >> >I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
>> >> >A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
>> >> >NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
>> >> >NOT EVEN A TREE.
>> >> >
>> >> >NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
>> >> >JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
>> >> >ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
>> >> >OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
>> >> >
>> >> >WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
>> >> >AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
>> >> >A SOBER THOUGHT
>> >> >CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
>> >> >
>> >> >FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
>> >> >IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
>> >> >I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
>> >> >ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
>> >> >
>> >> >THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
>> >> >SILENT, ALONE,
>> >> >CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
>> >> >IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
>> >> >
>> >> >THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
>> >> >THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
>> >> >NOT HOW I PICTURED
>> >> >A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
>> >> >
>> >> >WAS THIS THE HERO
>> >> >OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
>> >> >CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
>> >> >THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
>> >> >
>> >> >I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
>> >> >THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
>> >> >OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
>> >> >WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
>> >> >
>> >> >SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
>> >> >THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
>> >> >AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
>> >> >A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
>> >> >
>> >> >THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
>> >> >EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
>> >> >BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
>> >> >LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
>> >> >
>> >> >I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
>> >> >HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
>> >> >ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
>> >> >IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
>> >> >
>> >> >THE VERY THOUGHT
>> >> >BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
>> >> >I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
>> >> >AND STARTED TO CRY.
>> >> >
>> >> >THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
>> >> >AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
>> >> >"SANTA DON'T CRY,
>> >> >THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
>> >> >
>> >> >I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
>> >> >I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
>> >> >MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
>> >> >MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
>> >> >
>> >> >THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
>> >> >AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
>> >> >I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
>> >> >I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
>> >> >
>> >> >I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
>> >> >SO SILENT AND STILL
>> >> >AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
>> >> >FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
>> >> >ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
>> >> >THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
>> >> >SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
>> >> >
>> >> >THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
>> >> >WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
>> >> >WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
>> >> >IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
>> >> >
>> >> >ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
>> >> >AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
>> >> >"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
>> >> >AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
>> >> >
>> >> >This poem was written by a Marine.
>> >> >

Iran's Ahmadinejad says Israel should be moved to Europe



Dec 08 11:51 AM US/Eastern

Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that if Germany and Austria feel responsible for massacring Jews during World War II, a state of Israel should be established on their soil. Ahmadinejad, who sparked an international outcry in October when he said Israel "must be wiped off the map", also repeated his view Thursday that the Jewish state was a "tumour".


"Now that you believe the Jews were oppressed, why should the Palestinian Muslims have to pay the price?" the hardline president asked in an interview with Iran's Arabic-language satellite channel, Al-Alam

*****

You know what I'd like to ask him, given the opportunity. Before the state of Israel existed, what did the Arab states, Egypt and Jordan do for the Palestinians..and why didn't they give them the land?

It's been a heck of a day! The heating company has now called and is trying to resolve the problem with the blower/motor/"board" whatever "problem du jour" is keeping me from having a warm home in 10 degree weather.

If you didn't hear the show today, I've had to live elsewhere because I have no heat. Tried to get it fixed and feel like I'm getting the runaround. I am sure you can relate. Problems with your car, home, garage door, computer, you name it...you try to make it right--get the "professionals" to come fix it...shell out big bucks...and they leave and it still doesn't work. Karen called in and said, sometimes you just need a new furnace. I agree. I asked Jeff for one for Christmas. Ohhhhh! A furnace with a big red bow...under the tree. I could just picture me saying, in my pajamas, slippers and overcoat: You really shouldn't have...how did you know?! Just want I really want and really do need!" Does that come with AAA batteries or do I need to provide those?

Seriously, I don't mind shelling out for a new furnace, washing machine...whatever I need to make this problem GO AWAY. I just want to feel, as a customer, that I'm not being taken advantage of...that I don't just pay to have the furnace to be fixed and then all of a sudden....the water heater breaks. How convenient.

Can I ask a favor to home/car repair people? Can you just talk to us without the eye-roll, without the long, aggravated sigh....as if to say, it's so beneath me to talk to someone who doesn't know what a blower is. In my profession, a blower is Monica Lewinsky. Just help me understand what you're doing. Tell me what I need to do so I don't have to bother you in the middle of dinner tomorrow night. And if you can do that...when I need to do a boiler check, or the tires rotated or I need to get that new humidifier installed, we will be happy (okay, not really happy)...but we will have faith and trust that you are the right people for the job and we will feel comfortable that the job is being done well and that the price will be fair.

On the other side of the coin, here's an email from my buddy Dale:


Great show today.

We like listening to your personal problems.

Really, because your problems are real everyday things.

Keep up the good work and remember ... RENT don't own!

I DO feel like selling the place because of the furnace...but I'll hang in there...primarily because I still have money to burn on the problem.

Love you and thank you for your help today. Eileen Byrne

I was invited to speak last night to members and friends of the Chicago Republican Women's Network (CRWN). I apparently "turned on" the crowd by addressing the political year 2005 and closed with predictions for 2006.

For many, 2005 has not been a great year. Not so hot for Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston--but maybe, for Angelina Jolie and Vince Vaughn, it was a blessing in disguise. As for Nick and Jess, I predict that this time next year we'll be asking, "Who's Nick Lachey again?" Ohhhhhh. That guy. I also predict a similar inquiry for Scooter Libby. "Didn't that guy play for the NY Yankees? No? Ohhhh. That guy." What a non-story that was.

Yes, 2005 has provided more information than we ever needed or wanted about Valerie Plame and the Runaway Bride. We learned about hurricanes and tsunamis...(I learned how to spell tsunami). We were introduced very briefly to Harriet Miers and not-so-briefly, it seems, with Cindy Sheehan. Politically, it wasn't a great year. Economically, it was a fantastic one and I'm very, very optimistic for 2006.

At summer's end, Katrina became a household name. We watched in awe as Americans stood helpless at the New Orleans Superdome and convention center while yellow school buses, sank, never dispatched, in what seemed like an ocean of water. Democrats sensed vulnerability and they pounced. Completely ignoring the responsibilities of local and state authorities, Hurricane Katrina was not a natural disaster, but the evil concoction of George W. Bush. The piling on continued for months, resorting back to Iraq and the far-left mantras of "Bush Lied/People Died" and "Bring the Troops Home" And then something extraordinary happened-- Republicans fought back!

Perhaps emboldened by the replacement of Miers with Samuel Alito, or figuring they had nothing to lose or perhaps fearing their political futures, Republicans said: "Fine. You want to echo Congressman John Murtha--put your vote where your malicious speech is." And the din died with the introduction and subsequent defeat of the "Cut and Run" bill.

I'm told Democrats now have to meet and confer and strategize next week, so confounded they are with their own flip-flopping positions on Iraq and the conflicting Lieberman/Clinton/Kerry/Sheehan positions on the war.

So the first reason I am very confident for 2006...is that conservatives are fighting back and fighting hard. From the success of the Minuteman Project to taking back Christmas, conservatives will welcome the New Year with a fight over the confirmation of Sam Alito that, not only are they NOT fearing, but anticipating and looking forward to. Why are we getting into the fight? More Americans listening to talk radio, watching FNC, gathering news from alternative sources on the internet, we realize that we are not alone craving this data. We now have outlets for strategizing and planning and these I call the Weapons of Mass Information.

Second reason for great optimism is that 2006 will be a banner year for Illinois Republicans. We know now that Governor Blago is a one-termer. Even Democrats tell me that they are ashamed of this elected offical's childish family spats, the war on JUNK FOOD and video games and borrowing over 2 billion dollars from the state pension fund to pay for other pet projects, such as a health care plan that even doctors have protested. If we can't pay for our current obligations, how are we going to pay for these new ones? We've got a healthy number of Republicans in the fight....and I only ask, that if your "guy" is Topinka, Rauschenberger, Oberweiss, Brady, Gidwitz....let's keep it together and debate the policy not the person. The media and Democrats are looking for an opportunity to divide the party and make us look bad.

Finally, personally....2005 has been an amazing year. I had mixed feelings about working "solo"....but Cisco Cotto has been terrific and I really enjoy working with him. I am so proud of what I have done at WLS this year. We raised over $20,000 to send a great group of kids from Carver Military Academy to Orlando when their Spring Break money was stolen. I emceeed the USO Star Spangled Salute, the kick-off of Marine Week in Daley Plaza, Great Chefs 2005 for United Cerebral Palsy with Dutchie Carey, the Freedom Festival in Barrington and I was even a celebrity chef for the Dave Thomas Foundation and didn't poison any of my guests! The event I am most proud of in my career and life---the erection of the statue in the square at Elk Grove Village, unveiled by members of four Gold Star Families. Meeting the Frank family, the Olson and Salem families, I am humbled by their sacrifice, their bravery and their strength. I thank you for your donations in making all of these events possible in 2005 and look forward to new opportunies to give back to our community that does so much for all of us. Last .....but certainly not least.....I am so thankful to God for a new addition into the Byrne family. My sister's baby is due in less than a week and I am very excited! Can't predict that the babe will be a Republican...but I do ask for your prayers for a healthy boy or girl. Thank you!

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll see ya on Monday. Eileen