Party room


   
    Hi, c'mon in. Thanks for coming. Welcome to Every goddamn day's special One Millionth Visitor chat party. First, music. And if you're wondering how I happen to choose Parliament's "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication," I would draw your attention to the opening lines, "Give the people what they want when they want/And they wants it all the time..." A motto for the online world if ever there were. To be honest, when I began the blog, I considered having that song play whenever a visitor opened the page.
      But a) I wasn't sure how to do that, technically b) there might be copyright infringement issues and c) as cool a song as it may be, eventually it would drive people crazy.
    Which it might be doing by now. So what's good party music? Something you can dance to, or talk over if you wish. Maybe an instrumental.  Maybe something jazzy. At the risk of tarring myself as an anachronism, I've always loved Milt Jackson, though it feels odd to listen to this without a glass of Jack on the rocks and a bowl of Japanese rice crackers: help yourself, by the way, it is a party.
     So while you listen, and perhaps indulge, and dance if you like, I'm going to go to the comments section and jump in. 

124 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. You're early Tom. If you like, greet the guests, tell them I'm upstairs putting on my red velvet host's tuxedo jacket (actually, I'm making dinner). But I'll make my entrance at 7. Until then, make yourself at home.

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    2. Grilled steaks, sauteed mushrooms, cole slaw. "You can make dinner anytime," Edie said.

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    3. Edie knows how to flatter. Sounds good enough to eat.
      We're planning on grilled eggplant on garlic bread sandwiches tonight.

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  2. Hey Walter, thanks for coming. How was your day?

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  3. Hi. Visiting from millennium park movie night.

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  4. Hi. Visiting from millennium park movie night.

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  5. Still at it, playing "virtual hookey" to drop in for a visit. Got another hour or so.
    My wife & I operate a Speech Pathology practice and it's the first week of fall schedule with new kids and one new SLP. I't only Tuesday and I think we've put in close to 40 hours each already!

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    1. That's a tough job, speech pathology. I assume you've seen "The King's Speech." One of my favorite films.

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    2. I haven't (I'm married to the SLP, I just take care of payables/receivables, changing light bulbs, cleaning up spills etc.) It's on our "to see" list. The main focus of the practice is correcting reading disorders, commonly called dyslexia, and it sure is hard but rewarding work. We have a fantastic group.

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    3. Rent it for a date night. I guarantee it. Two words: Colin Firth.

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    4. We tend to be library movie renters but that will work just fine. Perhaps after this week winds down.

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    5. Indeed. "The King's Speech" is a brilliantl film.

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    6. I'll third that. Worth the time and effort.

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    7. Okay, okay we'll watch it this weekend!

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  6. Well, there's you, and me, and Walter. Do you know Walter Wolfe? Walter, meet Tom Zielinski.

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  7. Neil, I feel abused that never in all these years have you worn the red velvet jacket for a soiree. Apparently we are not high falutin enough.... :-) Mazel tov on the milestone!

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    1. Now Lise, it's a virtual red velvet jacket. Though, in the day, I did have a bitchin' black velour smoking jacket, that I would wear, with a tie, at the luxo parties we used to throw in the city.

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    2. Hmm...maybe Edie and I need to go resale shopping to see if we can find you a real one.....

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    3. Edie loves Goodwill, though the women's clothes seem to be a higher quality than the men's. Though the virtual one is lovely. I'm wearing the fez that Kent didn't get me in Morocco with it.

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    4. We could loan you J's fez....

      yes. The boy owns a fez.

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    5. Of course he does. Probably wouldn't fit.

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  8. I'm out and about this evening, so to my regret I won't be able to stick around and enjoy the occasion. But I had to pop in to offer my congratulations and a toast to our host. You may not get as many eyeballs as TMZ or the Kardashians, but you have created a space where the discriminating reader can find an acute take on the issues of the day or a fascinating look at a facet of our world we may never have been aware of otherwise. I thank you, and I hope you grace us with your presence for years to come.

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    1. Thanks Coey, that's very kind of you. And I appreciate all you regulars who keep an eye on things and a solid level of intelligent conversation.

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    2. Well said, Coey

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  9. My groove has been duly busted out. Looking forward to my steak.

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    1. BTW, congrats on your milestone. Hopefully the first of many.

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    2. Thanks. I'm not sure I want to do this forever. But for now, it works.

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  10. Hello. Congratulations Neil. I love reading the blog. I have no idea how to comment as anything but Anonymous.

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    1. Thanks. I wish I could help you, but I signed up so long ago I've forgotten. Would it help if I cobbled together some kind of tutorial?

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    2. Under your post you'll see a box marked as "Reply as." Click on it and select from the drop down menu. I just use Name/Url since it's easiest.

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  11. Hey Neil. I'm a long time reader of yours. I believe i started following you right when you stoped drinking. In fact, you answered an insane Facebook message of mine when I was in the throes of my alcoholism, and you were kind and helpful :) Anyways, I'm more than well now and still a huge fan. Loyal follower - keep up the great work my friend.

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    1. Hey thanks -- that's nearly a decade. People who were looking for new ways to be nasty used to suggest that being sober somehow damaged my writing, but I think just the opposite is true. Glad I replied -- I try to, and consider it something of a duty. Congrats on keeping on the path yourself, and thanks for reading.

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    2. Just clicked off ten years myself, way to go Anon and Neil.I was reading the column well before then too.
      The edge is sharp as ever in your writing, that's for sure. As for me I can't think of a thing I do that's suffered due to sobriety. I'm an amateur musician and can play one heck of a lot better than I was playing the previous ten years, I tend to not loose instruments among other things also these days.

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    3. Yes, look how Jimmy Page's guitar work suffered when he got too strung out on drink or heroin.

      Is the million counting the miscellaneous posts too or just the column related ones?

      Who was the millionth blogger, if one may ask?

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  12. Sandy K sends her regrets. She had to work tonight, which is too bad, because it really was her idea.

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  13. Nice party, sharp jacket. Congratulations on this great milestone, and for staying true to the name of the blog.

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    1. Thanks Nikki. It's gotten to be a habit at this point. Thanks for your frequent contributions.

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  14. My (sadly) virtual drink for the occasion is God Damn Pigeon Porter from Spiteful Brewing. For obvious reasons.

    "EVENTUALLY it would drive people crazy...?"

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    1. Good name. I guess I could have a virtual Jack Daniels, but at this point even that would be strange.

      I've moved onto the Ventures, though they're grating in their own way. It wasn't intentional. Thanks for coming, Jakash. I was hoping you would make it.

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    2. Mr. S, You can try no alchohol beers. The taste is nearly the same.

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  15. Replies
    1. Thanks. I worried the Ventures was a little Bob Greenish. But they swing.

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    2. If we're going to have The Ventures, I believe that the Hawaii Five-0 theme song is required...

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcvo4U33_L4

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    3. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ja38uNRJ2ro

      The Ventures, as done brilliantly by Brian Setzer. The whole concert is pure entertainment.

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  16. I'll start by saying, that I have read your column for many years, Neil. I have loved the S-T since I was a wee lad. Royko, Ebert, Roeper, Marin. And still the best sports section of any paper in the city. So well done.

    Oh. And Steinberg, of course.

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    1. Thanks Tom. We're trying to hold on. Some people only see the losses. But we're enduring, which is about all that can be done at the moment.

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    2. The S-T has indeed endured. Been through some Black days. ;)

      I worked for a world class healthcare company (north of the city) for many years. I remember once walking into the office with the S-T tucked under my arm. My director asked me, with no hidden derisiveness, "You read the Sun-Times"?

      Goddam right, I do.

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  17. Congrats on a successful blog, Mr. Steinberg.

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  18. I thought you were kidding about this chat room!

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  19. I am thrilled to be here, and my gown stunned (in a great way) my husband. I am happily taking a break from putting together my property tax appeal - I would not miss this occasion for the world! NS, love your music selections, and the cole slaw is the best I ever tasted!

    Thanks for everything! NW Pat Carey

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    1. Thanks Pat, and you look lovely. We'll tuck this bottle away for later -- very kind of you to bring. I think you know most everybody....

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    2. "NW Pat Carey", yet another commenter that I had assumed was a guy, as with certain anonymice here and a couple folks on Zorn's blog. I'm afraid that says more about my sexist preconceptions than anything else... Nice to see your comments, always, though!

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    3. Thanks, Jakash, and double back at'cha. There is another Pat Carey on board the blog, and the more the merrier!

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  20. What is "luxo"? (I am very un-hip.)

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    1. It's the word that you grab when you decide that "swish" has a bad connotation. I meant "fancy."

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    2. I still like the old word "tony", for something polished and cool! I like "luxo" too.

      Pat Carey

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    3. "Tony." Yes. A most excellent adjective.

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    4. I should dig up a picture. When I was 21, I wore spats.

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    5. Now you just engender spats.

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    6. Then we could try to guess where you were, a new spin on Saturday contest perhaps. Please tell me you also had a swagger stick.

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    7. But not now, of course. This is a nice party.

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  21. I always read your column in the paper, but seldom seem to click on your blog posts. Do you think the opposite is also true?

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    1. The opposite? That you often click on the blog and seldom read the column in the paper? Apparently not.

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  22. Replies
    1. Thanks Wendy. This is certainly working out nicely. More than 100 guests showed up.

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  23. Oh, I forgot to congratulate you on the 1 millionth page-view, Neil. D'oh! You know how to deliver, in plenty of time for the party, with hundreds to spare. Uh, unlike your buddy Spike, sad to say. : (

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    1. Thanks. The readership is fairly regular, so it wasn't hard to pick a safe party night -- though Tuesday can be risky.

      Poor Spike. Just didn't have the oomph to do the job.

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  24. BTW, thanks for putting the post about Antony and the Tramps up. Of course, seeing the cello caught my attention, which led to me checking out their videos, which led me to buying their album. Very eclectic sound.

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    1. Glad. I thought they were pretty proficient. I only gave them a listen because I didn't want to plug this guy if it was awful, but it has a nice folky vibe.

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  25. I love this particular cut -- Milt and John Coltrane. The best.

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  26. Kudos in the millionth visitor. You deserve it.

    Now if each visitor forwarded just a penny...you would have a million pennies.

    That's a lotta copper!

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  27. Got tired of always sending copies via e-mail, finally got my correspondents to get their own subscriptions to the blog. Yesterday copied the MI vs. OR cherry kerfuffle & sent on to a MI friend who would have liked Bernie. Glad for NS hanging on, sad for those gone. Loyal to S-T because that's how I learned to read: 50's White Sox coverage important enough for my father to import S-T to Iowa after WWII, having grown up in what was Little Bohemia.

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    1. It can be sad to realize all those voices who've passed on. Every election season, I think of the glee Steve Neal would have with whatever madness is going on.

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  28. Someday we'll figure that out, micropayments where you pony up a cent if you linger for 10 seconds on a site. I hope. Until then there's advertising. Speaking of which, a big shout-out to Marc Schulman, of Eli's Cheesecake, who'll be advertising for a third year this holiday season.

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  29. Look at the time! Already a quarter till. Anyone else here with any questions? Comments? I should do this every Tuesday -- my numbers usually sag in the evening, but they've peaked just now.

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    1. I asked a couple times in the motels what you thought about the Jordan/Dominick's lawsuit. If there's some reason you prefer not to address it, that's fine, of course. I thought Zorn and Haugh at the Tribune pretty much nailed it, regardless.

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    2. I answered it below -- no snub intended Jakash -- I just didn't see your request until now.

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  30. Yes, Sir. Would like to hear your opinion on the M. Jordan trial.

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    1. I almost wrote about it. Jordan is like King Midas: all he cared about is money, and now that's all he has. Compare his legacy to Muhammad Ali, who stood for something, even when it cost him. Ali is beloved, while Jordan, well, I suppose he's respected. And people do remember the great zeal they had for him. But I find him a sad figure who could have done so much more but didn't. One wonders what he needs all the money FOR.

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    2. Yes, he was never well known for mixing with fans or visiting his restaurants or doing much with charity or getting involved in pol. causes.

      I wish you would write about it, but don't put it in the regular column. He might sue you for something.

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  31. Kanye in 2020? Thanks Trump!! Now all the crazy blowhards think they can run for president.

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  32. Maxed Tov on your achievement! Neil!

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  33. Thanks Susan. "Maxed Tov" is kind of cool. "Tov" is good, as you know. So Tov to the Max! And a new tradition is born.

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  34. Replies
    1. I'd say at the 2nd million, but that could be a while off. Hmmm....hey, today is the 1st of the month. We could make it the 1st of the month party. That could work. It certainly wasn't a burden to sit here and chat with people. Not gate crashers. No Jerry Berliant. (If you remember, famous gate crasher).

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    2. "No gate crashers." A drawback to Blogger -- you can't correct comments.

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  35. Sun-Times SubscriberSeptember 1, 2015 at 7:56 PM

    Mr. Steinberg, Perhaps you should do this in real life at some café on a pre-set evening. The bloggers can join in. They can bring in a book of yours that maybe you can sign or discuss. Or one can have general conversation.It might only be mentioned here, so you don't have too many showing up.

    It's good of Mrs. S. to not mind you taking time out of your evening so you can go to the blog.

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    1. I had that thought. We do have an actual party for the opera contest winners. And I've invited readers to the book parties, though not terribly often. It would end up with me and five readers ... I don't know. I'll have to think about it. Maybe we could do something at Eli's Cheesecake World.

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  36. Congratulations Neil! I bet the two million milestone will arrive more quickly. I just finished reading You Were Never in Chicago . You know more about small business operations then you let on, I now realize some of my posts have been somewhat sophomoric.

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    1. No harm Bernie. Some of my comments have been too. Glad you read the book. Quite proud of that.

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    2. Yes, I enjoyed the book as well.

      Mrs. G.

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  37. Berliant must have been before my time, starting early this year. But I do recall Anon not Anon.

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    1. He was an actual person in the living world. Family owned a drug store on Michigan Avenue, if I recall. Anon not Anon, yes, well, if you remember him, then you don't miss him as much as I don't miss him.

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  38. Thanks for the splendid time, and for your inspiring and enjoyable blogs and columns. We are all lucky to be here and having a great time!!

    Pat Carey

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    1. Thanks for coming, Pat, and for sticking around. And thank you all, again, for the interest and support throughout the two years i've been doing this. A swell party --I'll leave it up, if you want to mingle and dig your arm into the tub of ice water and fish out that last beer. This was fun. Maybe we'll do it again sometime. Until then, a new post goes up at midnight. Drive home safe.

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    2. The party was a success. 120 comments or so in just an hour.

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  39. Incase the question was missed up above, who was the millionth visitor?

    Thanks for doing this, Mr. S.

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    1. Not kidding, I was just one shy of the million.

      Lovely party, but I must be going. Have to let the dogs out, and hopefully there isn't a fox in the garden for them to chase tonight. Not pretty.

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  40. I think it is hilarious about the spats - wherever did you get those? What fun tonight!

    NWPC

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  41. Hey, partyers, sorry I'm late, just now arrived home. Wow, what a grand party, a smashing success I'd say! I was driving home after working at Wrigley Field at 8:45 while eating a (free) ballpark hot dog with mustard and onions, a few french fries and a diet Coke. Pretty lame compared to the food, drinks and music offered her..Anyway, thanks for throwing us a party, NS and congrats again on the (now) 1,000,000+ visitors.

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  42. I am jealous that I am late to the party

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  43. Thanks for your time, Mr. S.

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