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Artificial Intelligence, Ben-Hur, And The Making Of Modern American Cinema

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Recently I was walking through the park with somebody I know, and he brought up the subject of film, and his fascination with the motion picture. I was at the time beginning to attend an online seminar on film, and photography. And so was happy to share my thoughts on the subject. Eventually the conversation began to turn to Charlton Heston, and his display of acting chops in the seminal, Roman, classical masterpiece Ben-Hur. Heston, someone I would meet in 2003, during my first stint in Hollywood. Had, by the time I met him, become heroic action figure come to life. As the titular movie star, and the then namesake of the National Rifle Association. A Republican leaning Washington run Gun Control Advocacy, and International Lobby. My expectations when first meeting him, Heston, were not at all unlike others, whom would broach a conversation with him at the time. His svelte, and smooth, almost figurine like charisma, and leading man archetypal body type. Along with his bright blue eyes, chiseled jaw line, and approachable good looks and smile. You sometimes wondered out loud, at this more youthful, and exuberant age, as I was, whether a career in cinema, was truly something which was meant to occur for only people like him. And whether this “A-List”, included yourself as its own. As I spoke to him, however, I could tell that even at the advanced age he was at, me being just nineteen at the time. That his reputation preceded him, and that his strength, wit, and acuity, were just as strong then, as they were in his heyday.

But as I was saying, as I spoke to my friend about this meeting, and just, movies and politics in general. I eventually began to elaborate on Heston, and the individuals whom made the Epic Movie Ben-Hur become a reality. Epic’s, at the time were some of the most expensive, complicated, and time consuming projects of Movie Cinema at the time. Akin to our modern day versions of Steven Spielberg led “Jurassic Park”, or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator” Franchise. And their skill and craft, necessitated that their budgets were often into the millions of dollars, and required years of prepositioning, and planning, an order to execute. This was true of Ben-Hur, which aside from a few other select films, Ridley Scott Born “Spartacus” not excepted. Were the only ones that truly existed.

At the beginning of the 1970’s, the movie industry was in transition. Metro Goldwyn Mayer, the, at the time, most prestigious, and vaunted movie making studio, and the vehicle for countless A-List movie stars. Had found itself in a decided slump releasing just two Oscar winning films over the course of three years. This, which worried the executives at the head of the then transitioning corporation. Were rattled even more by the inclusion in the mix, of several relatively unknown, but then seasonal Oscar winning studios which had recently been created, after a United States Supreme Court Ruling, that guaranteed the freedom of speech of several important actors, and actresses in the Movie, and Entertainment Industry. Whom were frustrated by the way they, and their intellectual property were being treated by the “big three” studios, MGM, Warner Bros., and 20th century Fox. Whom were at the time, in control of almost every single American Movie Making Contract, and Movie ever made in the Industry.

This pronouncement by the high court, meant that almost every single movie that was ever made throughout the time of the formation of the studios, to then, would have to be released, or re-released through accompanying subsidiaries. However, rather than continuing to concentrate power into the hands of this handful of studios, as the court had originally intended. It instead “spun off”, at least three high profile “little three” studios, Paramount Pictures, Tri-Star (United Artist) Pictures, and Universal Pictures. Which were then free to release, and re-release the content, at a premium to eagerly waiting consumers, and movie goers. A similar event occurred at the apex of the invention of the video tape.

These, and other worrying events, including a backlash in global, and world affairs to Hollywood movie making (The Tet Offensive, Iran Hostage Crisis), sets the stage for the acquisition of, and chief executive tenure of Bob Evans. The one-time Hollywood leading man. Evans, someone who grew up around those with the means, and knowhow to create films. Quickly rose through the ranks of the Hollywood establishment, and soon found himself burgeoning on the mediocrity, of chairmanship of one of the largest movie producing filmmakers of the twentieth century, Paramount Pictures.

But before Evans could take the helm, it was incumbent upon him to both satiate the studio execs appetite for successive films, as well as anticipate audiences, and their quickly varying taste. In a stroke of both science, as well as artistic genius. He wins the chairmanship by promising not one, but two filmmaking “Epics” within his first year at the helm. One which would be directed by a well-known filmmaker, would eventually become the movie which he eventually acquired from MGM, and re-released, the Charlton Heston led Ben-Hur. The other, which was a project which centered around the Vietnam war, Platoon, would take another decade before release, and be the second directorial debut from a young and upcoming filmmaker named Francis Ford Coppola. And in a twist of magic, which only Bob Evans, could truly encapsulate, he at the last minute for the executives, debuts a third “upcoming” film which was only half finished by the young Ford Coppola. But starred a face which was immediately recognizable to the heads of the studios involved, the reclusive, brilliant, and enigmatic Marlon Brando, as the title character for the movie “The Godfather”. This scene, which includes the first fifteen minutes of the Francis Ford Coppola Directed “The Godfather”. Is one of the most famous in movie making lore, and by the time Brando steps onto the stage, to collect an Oscar, for one of his most dramatic, and endearing roles ever in 1973. Evans, had firmly supplanted the “big three” studios, and had on the way, accidentally reinvented the filmmaking industry, while making Columbia, Tri-Star(United Artist), and Paramount, Billions in the process.

This changing of the guard, which famed filmmaker, and director Ridley Scott at first acquiesced to, by releasing the rights, and privileges to an updated digitally “colorized” version of his 1959 “Ben-Hur” epic classic. Remains one of the most mysterious moves a filmmaker has made over the course of the 20th century. After all Ridley Scott, formerly of “Spartacus” fame, already knows that Ben-Hur is one of the highest grossing, but also costliest films to have ever been created. And to add further doubt, and cloud his actions in mystery. He, Scott, had just signed a contract with 20th Century Fox, an order to create at least two more epics over the course of the next twenty years. A Paramount Pictures rival. As for Heston, the re-releases, and its release on Video Cassette Tape, a then newly formed media, later in the decade. Only enhances his, Heston’s, stature, and career. And with the accompanying grosses from the movie sale. Makes him one of the richest men in Hollywood for the next thirty years.

Joel Schumacher, the famed 1980’s producer, and of a similar movie making lineage as Evans. Makes his movie making fortunes off the sale of Ben-Hur to Bob Evans, and Paramount Pictures as well. As he at the time was selling movies, in cassette form from his car out in Los Angeles. And it was said by him, in a later interview, that the receipts from “Ben-Hur alone”, were enough to fund the later John Hughes films, whose rights were acquired from the aforementioned Ridley Scott, whom found Hughes to be “childish”, and “amateurish”, in his approach. But whom would later become the basis for Hollywood pop cultural references, and careers of multiple “Brat Pack” actors, and filmmakers, throughout the 80’s, and early 90’s.

If there’s one thing that could be said about this, is just how much the movie industry is genuinely connected to one another. And how, the most seemingly simplest things, the changing of a CEO, and the invention of the cassette tape. Can transform the entire ecosystem, and landscape of a growing, and evolving, and burgeoning, now Artificially Intelligent Movie Making Industry.

Before I conclude this piece, this seeming happenstance in the movie, and entertainment industry, elucidates a broader, and more salient point about Artificial Intelligence, and change in the Movie Industry.

I want to talk about the big three and their original intentions for Movies, and the movie distribution system, or digital mediums, and inherently the internet itself. There biggest worry at the time, was that the Intellectual Property which they owned. And therefore, the amount of monies, and thereby movies which they could make, would dry up, driving a stake into the heart of the movie making industry as a whole. With the advent of online file sharing websites, and applications. First delegitimated, and then coopted, and legitimated. While being backed by some of the biggest studios in the movie making industry. Along with digital physical media rising. And then co-opted by Microsoft, Apple, and Netflix, into digital arts, and entertainment empires. Has the movie industry worried again about the idea of Artificial Intelligence, and the wherewithal that it will play in the future of cinema. Both here in America, as well as in the future, in other countries, such as China, which may wince at the idea of artificial character creation, and even plotlines, and movie culture as a whole. I feel now, and I do now so as well feel, that the line between art, and fiction are never as clearly delineated, as would be allowed in an earlier time in human history. Therefore, the securing of Intellectual Property rights, and the maintenance of additional United Nations Copyright Laws, and even cultural identity. Play a role in upholding the civil, and moral rights of all citizens of the United States, and indeed, including those whom come from different parts of the World, and some of whom are not even born yet. I call on Congress to help research, and enact customized Intellectual Property laws for this Artificial Intelligence revolution which we are at now going through. And to help secure the intellectual, and property rights of all Americans. From the very wealthy and powerful, to even individuals who are maybe independent in their outlook, but are just as rigorous with the rights, and privileges which they give their intellectual property, as any other would be.

In the past it has been argued that the current state of monopolization of intellectual, and property rights, precludes the idea of intelligence, charisma, and creativity, an order to be successful.

I don’t believe it.

The state of Intellectual Property rights has never been stronger, and the utmost of care can, and should be taken an order secure a soft landing, in this ever evolving landscape. I trust that Congress sees the ideas that have taken root. And while most are legitimate. Some are coercive in their manipulation of names, images, and likenesses. Which is why stronger laws are required an order protect all whom seek to express themselves in the communicative commons of the internet, and beyond. Therefore, the curtailing of these kinds of forces which seek to delegitimize others, and only legitimize untold of untruths, and fallacies, should be included in any pending legislation which is promulgated by the media, the tech industry, or any and all others, whom have a stake in this volatile, and changing landscape.                      

Kevin's Lifestyle Blog, Lifestyle

Mia Rodriguez Is More Than Just An Episode

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Mia Rodriguez/Kevin’s Politics Blog

Mia Rodriguez is no “Psycho”.

Her eyes, Mia Rodriguez’s, which throughout the performance, of her recent video [“Psycho” (Acoustic)], from the very beginning, begin to pierce into the viewer. With their dark purple hue, which accompanies her, the singer’s, Billie Eilish “like”, quality of sound, and ennui. Conjures a sort of, Thai made, Ming Dynasty, Jade, Partially Nude, Sculptural Figurine. Whose, almost realistic features, and drawings. With it’s curves, and accented hips. And dark foreboding, have come to life. Though under less provocative, and more comelier, appurtenances. No matter how drab, her Fitted Jean Punk attire, may appear her to be.

With her, Mia’s, hair, pulled back, in short pygmy style ponytails. Into straight black strands, that begin to resemble some unknown brand of cotton candy. The ubiquitous fairgrounds food. Mia Rodriguez, with her mellifluous, effortless, almost natural singing style. Which, while sitting down on a Italianate foot stool, for one of her latest endeavors. Forgoes the usual, brash pop songstress desire, to necessarily enunciate every syllable, sweating under bright lights, while standing before an audience on stage. Instead, her now natural look. Becomes one, that is all at once electrifying, while at the same time entrancing, and insatiable to witness. Ms. Rodriguez’s coy, and timid online presence. Which, aside from the usual social media produced cadre’s, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etcetera, etcetera. Her fanbase appears to currently be devoid of any of the usual intimate boyfriend/girlfriend media, or press frenzy, which would accompany a singer, and artist, of her expectation, and caliber.

But this does not stop her from cultivating one of the internet’s most loyal, and devoted fanbases. “Psycho” (Acoustic), is one of Ms. Rodriguez’s latest exception, for her mostly established, and newly held record contract with the fabled Atlantic Records. Her origins, which begin in Australia, but have been purposefully obscured, by both the COVID-19 lockdown, she was only seventeen, in 2019, when she recorded, and released her first successful single. As well as by the owner of her first record label, Michael Chugg, of the eponymously named, Chugg Music, of which is the previous record company, to which she was formerly signed.  The video for “Psycho (Acoustic)”, is accompanied by a now standard, big label release of the song, in both its acoustic, as well as pop infused title track release, on the YouTube platform, for Mia Rodriguez’s personal YouTube Channel, which currently has over 3.6 Million views. The song which clocks in a bit over three minutes (3:06) on the Spotify music streaming platform. Has the hook obsessed, and categorically attitudinal Pop phrasing that any Taylor Swift Fan, has undoubtedly grown accustomed to.

“Part Of Me/Wanna To Do/Stupid Shit/Gotta Admit/I’m A Hypocrite/I Like It Way Better/Than Being On The Side Of It/I’m A Psycho/Loving It”. Is not the only provocative line, which the Warner Entertainment Behemoth, Atlantic signed, Mia Rodriguez, appears to easily crescendo in and out of, with relatively little want, for additional talent. Admittedly, I’m not the Pop Superfan which she hopes to ultimately influence. Though you can count me amongst the Taylor Swift faithful. And while Pop Music, particularly of late, has caught my attention. Particularly with the advent of TikTok, and social media promoting concerts, and worldwide tours. It’s unknown if Mia Rodriguez, who is, admittedly, only in her most embryonic stages with Atlantic, a record label which in the past, has scored a number of hits. Though its most promising aspect, for what genuinely, must be, one of the most bona fide successes, that have been successfully cultivated by the label, throughout the pandemic era.

And Warner’s been down this road before, negotiating the early stages of not only future “Pop Princesses” Taylor Swift, and Olivia Rodrigo’s now storied careers. But also producing the early stages, of the likes of, the Beyonce led, Destiny’s Child. Along with working with Justin Bieber, Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, David Guetta, and other just as important Pop, and Rock acts. Which have gone on to establish themselves, successfully in the coveted American Media Market, and thus the wider Global Pop Cultural Landscape, as a whole.

But Mia Rodriguez, with her now characteristic moxie, and silhouetted Punk, “Pop Princess”, leit motif. Has decidedly come for all that and more.

Her most important beginnings, which were at then only encountered in her Sydney, Australia bedroom. Shortly after the start of the Pandemic, quickly caught the attentions of Warner Music, and Atlantic Records.

Mia Rodriguez/YouTube

With her brief, but illuminated adolescence, and time in the spotlight. Seemingly squandered on the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was up to Mia, as one of the most promising Aussie musicians of her generation. To identify, define, and proceed, with her own unique brand, of some of the same adulatory, and sophisticated Pop Music Branding, which has been known, almost collectively, in almost every successful Pop Act prior. From the Beatles, and their British “Invasion” of America. To the diehard “Swifties”, whom have generated billions of US dollars, for Taylor Swift, and her World Wide, “Eras”, Concert Tour.

With the promising release of her, Mia Rodriguez’s, first single for Atlantic and Warner Music Group, “Psycho” now available. And her subsequent smash hits “Shut Up”, “Luv You”, and her latest just released Dance Club Pop hit “Ride”. It appears that what Australia has seen all along in Mia Rodriguez. May yet only be the promising beginnings, of Australia’s latest successful import. Not only to the United States. But, with a potential Pop Music fan base, that now numbers into the hundreds of millions worldwide. It’s only a matter of time before her success, becomes not only Atlantic, and Warner Music Group’s own. But, with the stakes more, and more inordinately higher, as the successful “reset”, of American Pop Music, and its Generational Global Branding takes place, in real time. Only the latest success for a Global American Pop Music landscape. Which has spanned the Globe, from Korean K-Pop, and the success World Wide of Latin American Pop, and Rap infused Reggaeton acts such as Bad Bunny. To the seemingly insatiable peculiarities, of a huge potential fanbase, that has sold out arenas worldwide.

Mia Rodriguez/YouTube

And, has come to be incorporated in potentially successful Presidential Campaigns. In highly industrialized countries such as the United Kingdom, and the United States itself. But also, newly developing, and industrializing countries like Indonesia, South Korea, The Philippines, as well as most legitimately competitive elections in Africa.

All of this Mia Rodriguez, has managed to somehow process, and accomplish, at the tender age of 21.

Mia Rodriguez “Psycho”/Feng – YouTube

If her latest foray into the Pop, Punk, Music vernacular of a generation of stay-at-home students, and adolescent troglodytes (read: cave dwellers). Is to be anywhere as successful, as the high expectations which have undoubtedly been placed on her (and they are mighty). Then it will be up to her to chart her own path to success, and new beginnings. As she has plenty of peers, and label mates whom she can count on (Think American Crossover Country Artist Megan Moroney). To help ease the transition to an American audience, which can be just as sophisticated about their Pop Music as Australians. In what can sometimes be an exceedingly judgmental, and flat, online marketplace, that inevitably can become dominated by trolls, and other nefarious actors.

But Mia has good company.

Her most earnest beginnings, have included input from some of American Pop, and Urban Hip Hop music’s most successful Producers. With the Chad Hugo, and Pharrell Williams led Neptunes, and their former aide de camps. Contributing to her latest Atlantic Music foray.

But also, the former Warner Music Flagship, one time Disney bred, and charismatic Pop and Hip Hop Crooner, Chris Brown. Whom has acted, as a sort of surrogate, and has taken on an “elder statesmen” role, to the 21-year old Pop Prodigy.

This last reference, the decidedly, media absorbed Chris Brown. Would normally, elicit the sort of groans, and moans. That most onetime admittedly “cookie cutter” Male Pop Idols. Whom have since gone through their post-adolescent bad boy era, never again finding the success that they formerly perceived, and at the levels that they maybe, one time sought. Even if yet still the potential exist.  

However, this time may be different. Brown, one of the most prolific singer, and dancers, to come out of the Mickey Mouse Club infused, American, Britney Spears dominated Pop era of the early 2000’s. Still has a devoted fanbase in his adopted hometown of Los Angeles, California. But also, within the Disney Corporation writ large. And its devotion of followers, which can span the globe. His recent nomination for a grammy, has seemingly calmed the fervor surrounding his off the script past misdeeds, while also burnishing his credentials as one of Pop, and Hip Hop Music’s most sought after Producers.

Mia Rodriguez/YouTube

And if Ms. Rodriguez hopes to one day channel her energies, to take on successfully the likes of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, or Olivia Rodrigo. Then it will take not only a multi-talented sensation, like Chris Brown, who can sometimes have his near constant musical success. Drowned out, by his verbal, and sometimes physical altercations, and spats of violence which he’s intemperately known for.

But also, a face, a name, a song, someone who can introduce her to the newly coveted Chinese Media, and Pop Market. Which at over 100 million alone, can make up the bulk career sales of an artist like her, easily.

And that takes into account the not so casual, and yet still even more sophisticated politics, and censoring, which may inevitably follow the singers personae, irregardless, of how far, and deep, she intends on penetrating this lucrative, and accessible “eastern” marketplace.

From my own experiences with the process of the making of a Pop Star. I can attest to, while trying out for one of the many back up boy bands, for the Justin Timberlake led N’SYNC. While they (N’SYNC) were on hiatus from contract talks in my home state of Florida. Just how grueling a schedule it can come to inhabit.

I remember happening upon the younger Chris Brown, who was in the middle of one the most successful tours of that decade. With his own solo boyband act. What I can tell you about him, and his demeanor, which by then, was already accustomed to success, and the benefits which can come from it. At his most earnest, he could be entirely convincing. From his almost manic obsession with performing, and dancing to get the Paula Abdul tutored choreography in place. To his patient, and now stereotypical “genius”, in the production and post-production process of his record breaking career.

And I never doubted his commitment to his tour mates, and his management, which did, and still does, closely guard his image, and perhaps true personae, which at times can be deeply, and coolly intellectual. Of course, from the peering, and public eye.

When I asked him, Chris Brown, at the time, if he plans on going to school after his Global Worldwide Tour was over. He simply shrugged, and said that he was focused on singing right now. When I told him that I planned on pursuing a career in Hollywood as a writer, and actor. He simply shrugged, and said he might do some acting later on. “If the right project” comes along. He was at that time in negotiations to do both the Super Bowl, and a lengthy Pepsi advertisement campaign. Later he would beat me pretty easily in a game of pick-up basketball. This at the zenith of my adolescent athleticism.

Mia Rodriguez/YouTube

After that, and seeing how hard he worked, and put into even the nutritional support he received during the day. I knew that he had in all likelihood earned every bit of his now storied success in the music industry. And that his most successful ideas, were often the ones he would end up endeavoring upon.

What I mean is this.

With a musician as talented as Chris Brown, and the Neptunes, open to paving the way for her continued success. It seems that the same success which I witnessed in Chris Brown, and others. With their help and guidance. Is only that much closer for Mia Rodriguez, and her erstwhile Punk “Pop Princess” musical ambitions.

And that’s not “Psycho”.

No matter how many times she must repeat it.

Even, while still getting it right.

Not Psycho, at all.            

A Moment Of Your Time..., Character Building Exercises

Stephanie, Consuela, and Ariana

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Daily writing prompt
Write about your first crush.
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Stephanie, Consuela, and Ariana

  • The Author Kevin Michael Miller, at his Home. (Instagram.com/kevinmmillerr)
    The Author Kevin Michael Miller, at his Home. (Instagram.com/kevinmmillerr)
  • Image:(Instagram.com/kevinmmillerr)
    Image:(Instagram.com/kevinmmillerr)
  • The Author in his Class Yearbook. Palatine High School 2002. (Palatine Spotlight Yearbook 2002/facebook.com)
    The Author in his Class Yearbook. Palatine High School 2002. (Palatine Spotlight Yearbook 2002/facebook.com)
  • A Picture of David Morris. (PHS Spotlight Yearbook 2002)
    A Picture of David Morris. (PHS Spotlight Yearbook 2002)
  • Image: PHS Spotlight Yearbook 2002
    Image: PHS Spotlight Yearbook 2002

An Excerpt from “Time of My Life” (Forthcoming)

A little while before all these events came to pass, Freshman year, and perhaps thoroughly along the same lines, I found what could only be described as what I thought was eureka, or some Diocletian retreat.

I mentioned that I was someone who came from Florida originally?

Well, my first encounter with someone who happened to be from South Florida, while in Illinois happened to be two girls who lived near me in those suburbs of Chicago.

After me, and David, got done playing squash indoors, we moved outside near the pool, to rest, and relax.

When I met them, they were in the hot tub at my communities clubhouse. It was dark, and the scene is so vivid that I occasionally still reminisce about them, and their whereabouts.

As I was with my friend David, and they were older than us, they at first presumed that we were going to the local community college.

After contriving some sentences in Spanish to them, I had firmly convinced them that we were in both high school, and college!

Consuela, who was as beautiful as the girls that I can recall back in Florida, was shy and reserved. While her cousin Ariana, was more talkative, though probate.

This was a scene which had played out many a’ time beforehand with me, but one that I was now attempting to seize, this time to my own advantage.

My friend, Stephanie Palomares, who I was attempting to make my girlfriend after all, was snide at any remark I made about them, and her nonchalant, though incisive commentary on Consuela, and her apparent folly. I took, out of my neglect to know such things at the time, as something which all girls, and women did, whenever they saw another woman, that they for whatever reason, chose not to have friendly relations with, at all.

After walking them back to their home, I can recall waiting outside of their upstairs window until the lights came on.

As I stared up at her, Consuela, in between the volleyball nets, and sand, I knew that I instantly had found my latest, and perhaps greatest High School Crush.

Later, during what was supposed to be a Turnabout Dance, where the girls ask the boys to be their date, I attempted to sway Consuela’s emotions toward me, and have delivered to her a half dozen pair of roses, which were available in the school’s cafeteria for sale. Upon serendipity, I came across the hall monitors, as they were delivering them, class by class. I waited outside her classroom, so that I could have the first impressions of how she felt.

As they were being delivered and she saw the name, I saw her smile, and she seemed to be comforted by the angle which I chose.

“This must be like Diocletian!”, I declared to myself! “Like Ticonderoga!”

However, as I saw Ariana, her cousin, whisper something in her ear, she at first nodded, and then smiled more broadly.

But, as Ariana motioned to the front of the classroom where I now stood, she quickly showed her intemperance, and was now merely satisfied, with the arrival, of this set of roses.

To make it worst, I was already on my way to hand deliver the chocolates, from Russel Stover’s, which I thought would deliver the final edge I needed, to formally ask her to Turnabout.

As I attempted to deliver them, her intemperance grew to despair, and then finally embarrassment, as Michael Ayala, the school’s Captain, and Head Amateur Wrestler, a Wilmer Valderrama look alike, was coming in quickly behind me, to deliver his own, dozen or more set of flowers, and chocolates!  

As the teacher asked me to please leave, so that she could teach the class, I felt my embarrassment climax, and then stabilize.  

By then, my futile attempts to open my box of chocolates for her, so that we could at least share one, had become quite the extraordinary scene!

Ultimately, it was an aborted attempt to attend my first High School dance.

It’s here, like in so many other chances, I would learn, for me, love, is a losing game.

 I came away from that particular engagement proud of my efforts, but upset and embarrassed at the circumstances, and inconsequentiality of my actions.

And my friend David Morris, even said that it became a hot topic of conversation in the school cafeteria.

Later, I would see Consuela during a college summer break, in Palatine, only this time at her local community College.

Stephanie, someone whom I’d been closer too, had eventually moved away.

While in Medical School, however, I was surprised to see Stephanie’s name, and face in one of my Selected Studies in Surgery classes be passed along to me, in an article with her in it.

I could only laugh as it showed her, and at least two other of her now friends (later I would learn at least three), receiving several Plastic Surgery Operations, all at the same time, and all together.

The amount, and the former I knew, which had done the deed, was something which had begun to place a smile on my face, the instant I knew she was okay.

The look, which was impressive to me, was surprising nonetheless.

Later, we had a short discourse on the different techniques, and maneuvers which made the surgeries success possible, while I chuckled in class about her newfound fame as a fashion model.

She had apparently moved on to dating NBA, and NFL Football players, and was living in Las Vegas with her friends.

She was already beautiful, but the breast, lips, and buttocks augmentations, only made it appear more so.

Earlier, and perhaps in another life, while there was still filming from what was for me, a chance to model, and a place on YouTube’s then nascent lineup of teen, and teen oriented internet reality shows.

These shows, along with at least one other show for kids from another local school, New Trier High School, along with the shows on ESPN, that would come to see my school play Football, Baseball, and Basketball, constituted the majority of my prestige in high school, and time in front of the camera, and nation, bar-none.

And while the filming was going on, I may have not had any idea, as to the existence, of the proliferation, of its erstwhile production.

And, while I was never an athlete, that would be looked at as a prototypical sports obsessed individual. By the time I graduated from Palatine, in 2002, and as individual, after individual admitted to steroid, and performance enhancing drug use.

I became regarded as one of the most highly recognized Football Quarterbacks in the Nation.

Add to that my studies in Home Economics, and Cuisine, resulting in a successful promotion to a single Michelin Star, upon graduation.

And, I felt more than preoccupied, by the end of my High School, Academic Career.   

This luck, being a part of an elite All-American class, which was pure happenstance, and coincidence, was precipitated, as my School Administrators said, by the amount of fraudulent homework assignments, which were turned in, throughout the four years at Palatine, by my class.

And the schools at the surrounding Suburban Schools.

The rampant culture of drug, and steroid use amongst the football, and sports teams.

As well as the remarks, and very real heroism, which I displayed on the days before, during, and following, the then attacks of 9/11, on the country.     

As for Stephanie, When I last spoke to her, while still in high school, she had described the idea of “simply dying”, and “going away”.

I had anguished over my inability to convince her of not killing herself, and when news erroneously reached me of her death.

I decided to fundraise through a run-a-thon for her, and her families expenses to cover the funeral.

Her mother was someone, whom she had never truly gotten along with, or the crowd which she hung out with, and only added to her sense of alienation back home.

When I attempted to finally contact her mother, and deliver the said amount raised, from the run-a-thon.

I was bewildered, to say the very least, to know that her mother, wasn’t speaking after a series of health problems.

And the most she could provide, was a half-way erroneous account of how “long-ago”, Stephanie had run away from home, and never returned.

 However, her new found fame, so many years later, came, with a sort of sense of sticker shock. Not only was she alive, and thriving, but she also happened to have a successful modeling, and singing career.

Later, we would reconnect over Instagram of all places, and I found it comforting to know that her success, and her name preceded her, even on the internet. Though, I still often wonder if it’s her, I truly am speaking of.

However, as for Consuela back in Palatine?  

Her ability to speak English was much improved, and she even remembered me.

Her choice of friends, however, along with her newfound experience as a Community College attendee, led me to believe that she was less than educated about the World, and its expectations of her.

Having impressed her with my attendance at a prestigious University, I asked her to a movie, and we made out in the back of the theater, which soon proceeded to my car.

Afterwards, I dropped her off at home, and she was soon, towards the end of that summer, consumed by those same crowds that were once perceived, but never fully accepted by me at Palatine.

Later, after our encounter, I was told by her cousin Ariana, that she was pregnant, and expecting.

I knew it wasn’t mine.

I lost contact with Consuela, only later seeing her in Chicago, at Downtown Ogilvy Train Station.

I attempted to see her again, but soon lost contact with her, and her cousin, Ariana.

My impression is that the child, a little girl, had been given up for adoption to a local agency.

Presumably, so that Consuela could maintain her sexually active, and heavily drug dependent, risky social habits.

Her whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

But every time I hear about Venezuela, her hometown Caracas, or the events which may transpire there.

I’m reminded of the time we spent together, and that summer after high school when we first met.      

A Moment Of Your Time..., Character Building Exercises, Lifestyle, Pre-Wordpress Papers

Working on a New Book!

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I’ve recently started working on a new book, that outlines my history up until this point in my life. It’s a memoir, and I’m completing it next month. I’m hoping to have it published by the end of the summer, and begin promoting it. While reminiscing, I found a copy of the 1999 movie “American Pie” and its soundtrack, on Spotify. I decided to include the video of one of the songs by Super Transatlantic on the soundtrack called “Super Down”. I’ve included a link to a youtube video of the same song, and I hope you like it. Enjoy!