Monkees to the Hall?

WEDNESDAY SWING—John and Shadow remind me that Friday, June 29, is the Golden Prague Gala dinner at the Chicago Hilton Hotel; and Saturday, June 30, is the rededication of Cermak Road in the presence of both mayors of Chicago and Prague. It is preceeded by the commemoration ceremony at the mausoleum of former mayor of Chicago Anton Cermak at the Bohemian National Cemetery.

WEB ROCK—The Power Line Forum and other music chat boards are heavy with The Monkees these days. Seems the talk is all about why they aren't already in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. I think the clip below should settle any doubts. That is, if the editors at Rolling Stone magazine blog here. (Which I'm sure they do, after all, doesn't everyone?) Insider gives a happy-monkee thumbs-up to The Monkees in the HoF.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=x9iDTn7hlhg


What do YOU think, should The Monkees be in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame? Blog your vote.

777, very lucky

COMING IN THE JULY/AUGUST ISSUE—the focus story is on the 60th CSA Bowling Congress results; one of the big feature stories is a new Family Paths; our Summer Jingleer will be announced; there's a Spot-The-Faker once again; and another Vintage photo to guess; and lots more. Watch for the next Journal in your mailbox about the second week of July.

THANGS that are sorta true, kinda interesting and of some remote importance....first, I think on June 30th we will be as far away from last Christmas as we are to next Christmas, about 177 days—start counting down your shopping days. Second, ants can live for many days underwater. Third, Sir Paul McCartney is going to have a secret concert in L.A. Shhhh, don't tell anyone! Fourth, the July 7 concert (7-7-7) you may have heard something about is a 24-hour continuous show happening in several places around the globe.

CZECH FUN PHRASE—Drzet (nekomu) palce.

Still We're Goin' Round

Since Insider has provided a blast from the 1970s, it's time for a little 1960s. There's lots to choose from but I came across The Hollies song On A Carousel. Just sounded fun.

I'll go sort out the recycling

TYVM—Thanks go out to core bloggers for their continued support of Insider. Nineteen months of Insider. Yippee! Couldn't have done it without you. I'm thinking ahead a few months to the 2-year anniversary on Friday, November 9. Maybe a little bash to celebrate? Insider will host at a local downtown Chicago establishment. Mingle, sip and relax. Let me know who is interested? Also Insider welcomes newbies to climb onboard and comment. Have something to share about your lodge activities or anything else? Just click on Comments below and tell it.

MORE JOURNAL MAIL:
"The Journal just keep getting better and better. Every issue. Love what it's become over the past few years." —Mary
"We're just letting you know we do enjoy the look to the Journal and find it so much more interesting. Thanks!" —Carolyn

FUN CZECH PHRASE—Aport! Sedni! Hodnej or Hodná Hint: these words might work on your dog if he knows Czech.

IT'S WEDNESDAY, THERE'S NOTHING GOOD ON TV—Anyone who has been hanging around the blog for the past year or more has probably heard me mention Wednesdays as being known as "business time". This was taken from Flight of the Conchords. They are a funny duo and play good music. Well, the lads from "noo-zilin" have hit the big time in the big apple with their own HBO series starting this Sunday. They're all over youtube now. Check them out. (Insider blog has obviously been instrumental in promoting them, so I'm sure HBO will be forthcoming with a percent of the show profits....right?)

Remembering Lidice

Nick Churnovic, Mayor, Crest Hill, Illinois, speaks at the Lidice memorial ceremony on Sunday, June 10. Photo provided by Cary Mentzer, Vice President, CSA.

June Journal

Above: front and back covers of the new June 2007 issue of the Journal headed to your mailboxes right now. On the front are photos of four of the 43 CSA scholarship recipients for 2007-08. Congrats to all! On the back are two new fraternal products CSA is offering, Scriptsave pharmacy discount card and LifeLink medical alert heart pendant.

Below: the Czech flag (along with the U.S. flag and the City of Chicago flag) flies over Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on Tuesday for the opening of Prague–Chicago Fest, a summer-long celebration of Czechs in America with social, cultural and other events. Photo provided by Cary Mentzer, CSA Vice President. THURSDAY SWING—an historic exhibition on the importance of Czech immigration opens at the CSA Home Office this coming Saturday, June 9. Visit CSA, located at 122 W. 26th Street, Oak Brook, Illinois. Contact Cary at 630-472-0500 for more information. The exhibit will run until August 31.

Sing a song, song a sing

CZECH FUN PHRASES—Den otcu, svatba, narozeniny. Hint: these are three happy days and usually partying goes on.

WORDERATOR WEDNESDAY—words that sound like what they describe. Know any? It's a little game we play here at Insider. How about "Thunderstruck"! Sound powerful doesn't it? Or "Bubbles". When you say it you think they are floating in the air around you. "Ooo-la-la" sounds french and frisky and "Squashed" makes you look down to check the bottom of your shoe. Got any? Let 'em fly.

"Gliddy, glup, gloopy
Nibby nabby noopy
La, la, la, lo, lo
Sabba sibby sabba
Nooby abba nabba
Le, le, lo, lo
Tooby ooby walla
Nooby abba nabba
Early morning singing song"

We never knew what they meant, but then again we sorta did, didn't we.

She walks, looks and drives like an ace

...Who writes these lines? Masterful. Brian Wilson does of course in Fun, Fun, Fun off Endless Summer; blasting off our triple threat Wednesday of songs. Cars play a heavy theme here, yes, I'll give you that. I almost put up The Game of Love by the Mindbenders but I don't have the Mindbenders in my stack of wax so there you go. Do you ever "walk, look and drive like an ace?" Huh? Do you?

Lt. Frank Bullitt

Lalo Schifrin does the theme from Bullitt off the Jazz Goes To Hollywood CD. Just had to throw this in today for the second of the triple play Wednesday tunes. You needed a powerful jazz instrumental to get your blood flowing strong didn't you? Admit it. You did. You are picturing Frank Bullitt's car chase scene in that ultra-rad, highland-green Shelby Mustang right now up on Mt. Tamalpais aren't you? Dig that applause at the end. Take a bow, go-hed.

Whatever road you choose, I'm right behind you, win or lose

Ever been accused of "not acting your age"? I think it's probably the nicest compliment you can get. Well, for all those people who just can't "act their age" and never will, this one is for you. Rod Stewart, Forever Young.

"Sol, Doll, Give Me A Beam"

IT WON'T GET STUCK, WILL IT?—I heard that summer begins on June 21st, at about 3 p.m. CST. That's called the summer solstice. Where will you be? I will certainly be ready. Think I'll park my car right near the beach at about five to three. This from infoplease.com: "Solstice, is Latin for 'sun stands still'....for several days before and after, the sun appears to stand still in the sky—that is, its noontime elevation does not seem to change." —s'a little unnerving isn't it?

RADIO BLASTING—Have a favorite summer song? Fun, Fun, Fun? Margaritaville? Or something by Frank Sinatra or Bobby Darin? Or maybe you like the cool jazz of Stan Getz? Or the alternative rock scene? Blog and let Insider know. Are you new here? Click on the word 'Comments' below. It's easy to post a message. Blog and tell us what your favorite summer music is.

YOU COULD BE THE NEXT 'INSIDER'—I'm looking for someone to be 'Insider for a day'. If you are interested, email me at tburke@csafraternallife.org.

WONDERING—If the sun stands still (for days), can't it get sunburn? You know on the shoulder-neck area? That's where I get it.

Samba through life

Elaine Elias gives you So Nice. She does it so nice, doesn't she?

Neon is a favorite color

Did you know that in the summer, Saturn glows neon?
Here's proof:



See? I told you so.
Insider would never lead you astray.

What can we say about June that hasn't already been said? Let's see, umm, well there are plenty of summer blockbuster movies out there if you have the coin. It's the summer of "threes" what with Shrek, Pirates and Spidey. Which one do you think will win the box office derby? Last I heard Shrek was in the lead.

GAMERS—you already know so many. Have you been lately to miniclips.com? How about freearcade.com? Try it out when you get some time.

CZECH FUN PHRASE—Ucím se cesky. Mluvíte anglicky? (No hints this time.)

YOU SO FUNNY—some recent blogger chat revealed favorite all-time comedians. I'll still take Groucho, Moe, Larry, Curly, and WC. I'm old-old skool. But I gotta throw in Raymond Burr in the original black-and-white Godzilla. An unintentional laugh-riot. Think: Raymond plays a reporter named Steve Martin (steve martin!) the "only western journalist in Japan" during the famous Godzilla outbreak of 1954. Bad joke overheard: what's big, is always smoking and can't act worth a darn. Hint, it's NOT Godzilla! Check out stomptokyo.com for info if you are a 'zilla head.


Have a fun-tabulous weekend....Er, fun-rific....uhh, that is to say, fun-tacular. Yeah, fun-tacular. I like that. That's the one!