Chicago Radio Spotlight: Bruce DuMont

This week on Chicago Radio Spotlight I interviewed Bruce DuMont, the president/CEO/founder of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Bruce and I talked about the museum, the Radio Hall of Fame (housed in the museum), Chicago radio and television history, and Bruce's distinguished broadcasting career. You can read the whole interview here.

7-year-olds discuss beer

This was sent to me by "CK."

A handful of 7-years old children were asked "What do you think of beer?" None of these answers came from my children. (And please don't ask them what they think)



(1) I think beer must be good. My dad says the more beer he drinks the prettier my mom gets. (Tim)
(2) Beer makes my dad sleepy, and we get to watch what we want on television when he is asleep, so beer is nice. (Melanie)
(3) My Mom and Dad both like beer. My Mom gets funny when she drinks it and takes her top off at parties, but Dad doesn't think this is very funny. (Grady)
(4) My Mom and Dad talk funny when they drink beer and the more they drink the more they give kisses to each other, which is a good thing. (Toby)
(5) My Dad gets funny on beer. He is funny. He also wets his pants sometimes, so he shouldn't have too much. (Sarah)
(6) My Dad loves beer. The more he drinks, the better he dances. One time he danced right into the pool. (Lilly)
(7) I don't like beer very much. Every time Dad drinks it, he burns the sausages on the barbecue and they taste disgusting. (Ethan)
(8) I give Dad's beer to the dog and he goes to sleep. (Shirley)
(9) My Mom drinks beer and she says silly things and picks on my father. Whenever she drinks beer she yells at Dad and tells him to go bury his bone down the street again, but that doesn't make any sense. (Jack)

Fountains of Wayne

These guys are currently my favorite (non-Beatles) band...

E-mail, we get e-mails

From JE...

"Rick, I was reading your blog this morning and read about your encounter with Ernie Banks/Michael Jordan. I also got to meet Ernie in an unexpected way. Last summer, I went to one of Brandmeier's live broadcasts - it was at Harry Caray's on the first day of the Crosstown Classic. Since I am a radio junkie, my main motivation for going was to see how Johnny does a show and how all that works. I didn't pay any attention to who was going to be a guest that day or anything else about what was going to happen on the show (I have learned from that little mistake). So, I get there at 6am when this is supposed to start and realize that virtually nobody else is there - there are maybe 5 other listeners at this point and Johnny's crew.

So, I sit down at a table and just hang out. Johnny was not there yet, he was still broadcasting from the studio (I didn't realize he wasn't coming by until 8am)...The two people at the table next to me start talking to me. One I knew was Dutchie Carey because I had seen her before at other events. The other guy was really pleasant and interesting to talk to but I didn't know who he was -- eventually we all introduced ourselves...it was Ernie Banks. He was one of Johnny's guests that day (along with Ron Kittle who came in later).

I am very embarrassed to admit that I knew he played baseball but that was about all I knew - I totally admit I am a sports idiot. My husband tries to educate me but it will probably take him his whole lifetime to get me up to speed. So, I got to spend time with Ernie before he went on the show with Johnny just talking about general stuff - I don't think we talked about baseball at all. It wasn't until he was on the air that I realized what a legend I had the luck to spend time with. My husband was incredulous that I was so clueless. So - bottom line - he was a very nice guy - even to somebody like me - who didn't even deserve to be talking to him."

Jerry and Harry

This is a momentous day in Cubs history for two reasons.



On this day in 1949, one of Just One Bad Century's Mustache Hall of Fame members, Jerry Morales was born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.







Unfortunately, it's also the day that Harry Caray died (in 1998). We still miss the guy. In honor of Harry, here's our all-time favorite Harry Caray moment for old-time's sake. Almost 175,000 people have enjoyed this clip since we posted it on YouTube last year...

Suburban Man

If you're stopping by this blog today looking for Suburban Man, this is just a reminder that Suburban Man is now known as Father Knows Nothing, and I post it at the NWI Parent blog every Sunday. This week's column is called: "Lending a Hand." It's about trying to function with a cast on your right hand, and what the implications are for a family that counts on you to do everything.

Mel's heiney saved again

I don't know he does it, but...Mel just found someone to loan him more money than the company is worth in exchange for only half of the company (Sirius/XM).

Liberty Media Corp., headed by John Malone, is reportedly close to a deal to acquire a minority stake of Sirius XM for $250 million in a senior secured loan. The loan would be the first step in a "multi-stage" deal to rescue the company, the Financial Times reports. If consummated, the deal would put Malone's group, which controls DirecTV, in bed with the satcaster.

According to the New York Times blog, DealBook Malone's investment, which could be upwards of $450 million, is more than the company's market capitalization -- and Malone would only get several board seats and a minority stake for just under half the company.

Missed a flight?

This is why Germans are always punctual...

Embedded video from CNN Video

Mustache Hall of Fame

Carlos Zambrano arrived at Cubs camp this year with a mustache...a blatant attempt to curry favor with Just One Bad Century. We're sorry Carlos, it's a fine mustache, but it's not quite worthy of induction into our brand new Mustache Hall of Fame at Just One Bad Century. Take a look at the ten great Cubs mustaches we've honored here. Not just any mustache makes it in the Hall of Fame. These are the mustaches to end all mustaches.

These two Cubs mustaches, for instance, didn't make the cut. Both of them are celebrating birthdays today...



Barry Foote



Rolando Roomes

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at the NWI Parent blog. It's called "Lending a Hand" and it's about the challenges I'm facing these days with a cast on my thumb.