A question for you [regarding “The Measure of a Man,” by Lisa Bertagnoli, Nov. 2]. Did your writer actually check the measurements of the male model or did she just take his word for it on what his measurements were?
Had she checked, she probably would have found out that his 32-inch waist isn’t.
Recently I lost 40 pounds. Right now according to my tape measure, I have a 38-inch waist.
However, I have had to give away all of the 38-inch waist pants I owned because none of them fit, some of them being so loose that they would just drop down to my ankles after being buttoned and zipped up.
The pants I have had to buy are both 36-inch and 34-inch waists.
None of these are too tight. Recently I purchased a pair of 33-inch waist Levi’s as they were the ones that fit.
I am looking forward to loosing a few more pounds and getting down to a 34-inch waist. I want to be able to wear 30-inch waist jeans.
–Kevin Stankewicz, Chicago
Not so funny
Every Thursday night for the last three months, I’ve been the opening act for Ray Hanania, one of the nation’s best known Arab-American comedians, at Al-Khayam Restaurant & Sports Bar on Foster and Western Avenues.
Ray and I sought out publicity for our show, the “Homeland Insecurity Tour.” We sent out humorous press releases and invited just about every entertainment reporter in town to our show.
Some reporters assured us that they would cover our show but never showed up. Other reporters never bothered to return our phone calls and e-mails. We weren’t happy about the lack of coverage but held out hope that we could get something for our final three shows in November because it’s Arab-American Heritage Month. Let’s face it, there aren’t a whole lot of entertainment options beyond our show and some belly dancers.
But, then, we saw the nearly full-page story in Q about the guys doing a live talk show at an area bar [“A Star Is Brewing,” by William Hageman, Nov. 9]. They were telling old Borscht Belt jokes and using cheap pick-up lines on female audience members.
I can handle being ignored by the press, but it’s harder to deal with being ignored when you read big, bold stories highlighting other comedians–especially when you know you’re just as good or better.
But we’re going to keep on smiling. Ray and the other comics in our show feel good about what we’re doing and we know the lack of media coverage isn’t a reflection of our abilities as comedians.
Maybe we’re lousy publicists, but we’re going to continue having fun whether performing our comedy for two people or 200.
–Jon Bigness, Chicago Ridge
