On the Radio Tonight

It's been quite awhile since I've been in a radio studio, but I will be tonight. Tune in around 9:00pm to Sports Night on WGN Radio (720). My co-author Brendan Sullivan and I will be on the air talking about our new book "The Living Wills". Looking forward to chatting with Brian Noonan and the rest of the gang.

Another Arrest in Rupert's Empire

For those of you following the Rupert Murdoch phone hacking case (and I know, if you read this blog you can't possibly avoid it), another arrest was made today.

British news media identified the man as Glenn Mulcaire, the private detective at the center of the scandal.

That makes EIGHTEEN arrests, by the way. Can you imagine the uproar in this country if there were eighteen different people from one newspaper arrested? At least in Britain, and at least at this one particular newspaper, Rupert was running a criminal enterprise (even though he claims that he had no idea at all).

Odd Coincidences

This week's Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow is about the weird coincidences City Mom Kim Strickland and I have experienced over the thirty years of our friendship

You can read it here.

Pearl Harbor Day

70 years ago today...a date that will in infamy.

Sun-Times Paywall

The Sun-Times announced they are going to erect a paywall for their online content.

Honestly, I haven't read the Sun-Times regularly since Robert Feder left, and their website is absolutely terrible. Good luck with charging people to read it.

2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Here's the list...

Guns N' Roses, the hip-hop trio Beastie Boys; rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the late singer/songwriter Laura Nyro; Donovan; and influential British rock group The Small Faces/The Faces, which included Rod Stewart and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

Is it just me, or this is a pretty underwhelming list? (Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood are both already in the Hall)

Commissioner Copps

January 1st is the last day on the job for F.C.C. Commissioner Michael Copps. He has been an F.C.C. Commissioner for ten years, and a darn fine one at that. In the early years of the Bush Administration when the Republican-led F.C.C. tried to shove through even more de-regulation of the business that had been killed by deregulation, Copps was one of the loudest voices in opposition. He forced public hearings across the country, and was in no small part responsible for the more than 3 million e-mails sent to the F.C.C. begging them to please stop.

He will be missed.

And I'm not just saying that because I received a nice letter from him after the release of my novel "$everance".*


*But let's just say that didn't hurt his esteem in my eyes.

RIP Dobie Gray

Dobie Gray passed away yesterday at the age of 71.

He will always be remembered for this big hit from 1973...

A Sample of "The Living Wills"

Today the Eckhartz Press blog features an entire chapter of "The Living Wills", free of charge.

Get a taste of my new book here.

Better yet, just buy the darn thing here.

Most Searched Media Personality?

Would you believe it's Anderson Cooper?

I wonder who it would be if you eliminated Anderson Cooper's searches for himself.

Ridiculous Argument

The NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) is petitioning the Supreme Court to overturn the ownership regulations currently being enforced by the F.C.C., because...are you ready for this...because they are too restrictive.

Nothing gets me back on my soapbox quicker than this subject, but I just about spit my coffee when I saw this quote in The Wrap: "The NAB argues that rather than resulting in dangerous monopolies, allowing broadcasters to own multiple news organs helps them improve their financial health. That in turn gives them the flexibility to invest in higher quality reporting."

Pardon my French, but that is the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard. Higher quality reporting? Are you kidding me? Find me one single example where consolidating broadcast operations has led to better quality reporting. I'm being serious here. The friggin' balls on these people...unbelievable.

As I said, back in 2007, and still believe today...

EU Investigates Apple, e-Book Publishers

This is interesting.

The European Union is investigating whether or not Apple and e-Book publishers are colluding to restrict competition in the e-book market.

As someone about to jump into this market, it caught my eye. I'll let you know what I find out in the next week or two, as "The Living Wills" prepares it's e-book release.

Bill Leff Overnight Host

Bill Leff has bounced around the dial in Chicago (and was, of course, interviewed for Chicago Radio Spotlight a few years ago), but it sounds like he's found a radio home. He was officially named the overnight host at WGN Radio this week, replacing long-time overnight hosts Steve King and Johnnie Putnam.

This is the way he described to Robert Feder what his new overnight show will sound like: "“It will be a unique blend of circus acts, live executions, stare contests, fondue recipes, and vacuuming,” he said. “Some of it will be in Dutch.”

Punnett Steps Back

Ian Punnett has previously been interviewed for Chicago Radio Spotlight. He hosts a morning show in Minneapolis/St. Paul, but until this week he also hosted the weekend version of "Coast to Coast", which aired on WLS. Tom Taylor has an update this morning...

"A severe case of tinnitus forces Ian Punnett to back off on hosting the weekend 'Coast to Coast AM.' He can do one overnight a month, but not one show every weekend, he tells listeners – he needs to spend more time addressing his medical condition of a persistent ringing in the ears. After December 31, he'll turn the weekly job over to John B. Wells, who's done guest-hosting for the popular late-night talkshow since 2005. L.A.-based Wells has done rock radio (KZEW, Dallas), fulltime voiceover work, and the announcing for movies and TV shows, including CBS-TV’s “Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.” Ian says "while nobody likes to leave a show they love, I'm grateful to remain a part of the Coast to Coast family." That roster includes George Noory (weeknights and the first Sunday of each month) and George Knapp (third and fourth Sundays)."

Ron Santo

Finally. A Hall of Famer.

The JOBC Souvenir Stand

A note for all of you Christmas shoppers out there, even though our website Just One Bad Century has closed down shop for the off-season, the JOBC Souvenir Stand remains open. There are a handful of different shirt options, not to mention our popular JOBC hat.

The "Losing is soooo last century" shirt is a popular choice this year. It looks like optimism has returned to Wrigley Field.

Magazines Dreading End of Saturday Mail

When the U.S. Postal service ends Saturday delivery, which is coming soon, one industry that will be hit hard is the magazine business. They're already struggling to keep current in a world where instant information is at your fingertips.

The industry's dilemma is discussed this morning at Ad Age.

Robert Feder Interviews Johnny B

As usual, Robert Feder gets the scoop.

He had the scoop on Friday that Brandmeier was coming back almost before Greg Jarrett was out of the building, and he had the scoop that Steve & Johnnie were being let go (overnight hosts at WGN) and replaced by Bill Leff before it was even announced by WGN.

You've got to hand it to him. Robert Feder has the best sources in the business.

Father Knows Nothing

This week's "Father Knows Nothing" column has been posted. I'm calling this one "10,000 Favors".

You can read it here.

Brandmeier

He's back on the air beginning Friday morning, as the morning host at WGN Radio.

Wow.

The Catalyst Ranch

From the e-newsletter of the Catalyst Ranch, a chance to meet Eckhartz Press authors Brendan Sullivan and Rick Kaempfer in person at the very location they improvised the story lines of "The Living Wills"...


SAVE THE DATE
Match Books: THE LIVING WILLS by Brendan Sullivan & Rick Kaempfer

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 6pm - 8pm

One novel, two authors!? Creativity coach Brendan Sullivan wants to show you, not tell you how he used the same techniques he brings to clients like Kellogg's, PepsiCo, GE and Harley-Davidson (improv, mind mapping and other ideation processes) to create a just-published novel with co-author, Rick Kaempfer. Much of the work was done during sessions right here at the Ranch! Join us as Brendan & Rick share these techniques with you and show you how to incorporate them into your life and work to be more creatively productive. Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune calls THE LIVING WILLS "rollicking and real on so many levels." This Match Books session is not to be missed!

Radio Interviews

Brendan Sullivan and I will begin making the media rounds promoting "The Living Wills" over the next few weeks if you're interested. So far, we've been booked on two shows.

On Wednesday night (December 7) we'll be on WGN Radio (Sports Night) with David Kaplan, Brian Noonan (photo), and Andrea Darlas at 9:00 PM. (I've interviewed all three of them at Chicago Radio Spotlight over the years. Click on their names to read those interviews)

On December 18th we'll be "Living Large with Geoff Pinkus" on WIND radio (560 AM) at 7:00 PM. (I've also interviewed Pinkus at Chicago Radio Spotlight)



Looking forward to both of those shows. We've got quite a few more in the pipeline, and I'll let you know as soon as they are officially confirmed.

Ugly Renaissance Babies

It's my new favorite website: Ugly Renaissance Babies

Somebody Wants Soriano?

According to this report, three AL teams are interested in Alfonso Soriano. I imagine the conversations went something like this...

A.L GM: "What would it take to get Soriano from you?"

Theo: "Cough. Cough. Cough. Sorry. I just spit up my coffee. Did you say you wanted Soriano?"

Even if a team is willing to pay only a few million of his $14 million salary, and offers a crappy prospect that has virtually no hope of making the big leagues in return, I say take it.

Imus being Imus

Have you heard what Don Imus called the PR team at his own Fox Business Network? Probably not, judging by the ratings, but if you missed it, he's got to be in trouble (at least internally) for this one.

He called the PR people at Fox Business Network "Scum" and then compared them to Jerry Sandusky (the disgraced alleged child molesting former Penn State coach). That's bad enough, but then he said the following sentence, which I suspect revealed the real Don Imus: “Tomorrow will be 40 years I’ve been doing this,” Imus said. “I can ruin people’s — not that I want to–but I can make a day just not fun.”

I'm sure that's true.

Full details are here.

The Living Wills debuts!

Today is the day we get the actual copies of "The Living Wills" in our hands. The first press run will be picked up at the end of the day, and the large number of people that already ordered it (sheesh--thanks so much) will be getting their copies within a few days.

If you haven't ordered it yet, this is the only place to get it.

Chicagoland Radio & Media Gives Some Love to "The Living Wills"

All we can say is wow! Thanks so much to Larz at Chicagoland Radio & Media for this incredibly kind write up about "The Living Wills". (It looks so much nicer on his site here.. He has links to all of the different things he talks about in the text, and pictures of our middle-aged mugs.)




This is what he wrote...

Well-known blogger, author and former Chicago radio producer/personality, Rick Kaempfer has had a busy year. Not only has he started up a new book publishing company, but he authored all or part of a few new books, one of which gets released today.

Rick Kaempfer, along with his long time collaborator and friend David Stern, founded the new boutique book publishing company Eckhartz Press this year. The name comes from combining the first names of both founder's Fathers and features a logo of a laughing letter "E." The company has a handful of new books coming out by a few different authors.

The very first publishing from Eckhartz Press happens today, as the new novel "The Living Wills" is now released. The book was collaboratively written by both Rick Kaempfer and Brendan Sullivan.

Rick Kaempfer is, of course, the former radio producer for Chicago radio legends Steve & Garry (1987-1991) and John Records Landecker (1993-2003), among others, who also hosted and co-hosted his own radio shows on WLUP-FM/AM. After 20 years in radio, Kaempfer walked away to focus on raising his family, writing, co-owning an advertising agency that specialized in creative radio ads, and other pursuits. He was the author of the hilarious 2007 novel "$everance," which gained universal rave reviews for its satire of the current radio & media industry -- a subject he knew well. In 2004, he co-authored a different book on a subject he knew well, along with another well-known Chicago radio producer, John "Swany" Swanson, called "The Radio Producer's Handbook." That book has been called by many as the definitive how-to book on radio production. Kaempfer contributed to the 2008 book "Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year." He is the owner of the humorous Chicago Cubs history website Just One Bad Century. If that wasn't enough, Kaempfer is also a writer and contributing editor for the NW Indiana Times' Shore Magazine, a writer for NW Indiana Times Parent's blog "Father Knows Nothing," interviewer on his Chicago Radio Spotlight website, and a blogger on his own self-named site. Kaempfer won a National Writing Award for an essay written in 1999.

Brendan Sullivan is another veteran of Chicago radio. From 1991-2001, Sullivan was a producer and writer for the Jonathon Brandmeier Radio Showgram. In addition to producing, he would create pre-recorded bits, do on-air character voices, and help create the comedic atmosphere for the program. He has also done his fair share of acting, appearing in national television commercials, feature films, and on the live theater stage. Using his comic timing, Sullivan was a member of the improvisational group Blue Velveeta at Chicago's IO. Since 2002, he has been a successful creativity coach & corporate trainer. More information about Brendan Sullivan's "day job" can be found on his website.

Kaempfer & Sullivan met at WLUP-FM around 20 years ago and struck up a friendship. These two friends recently decided to try a new & innovative way to co-write a book together, using improv skills, brainstorming, mind mapping, and other idea-generating techniques. For "The Living Wills" novel, they came up with a storyline together -- three interweaving storylines, actually -- wrote chapters separately, and then collaborated on the editing, improving and combining of all parts.

The Eckhartz Press website describes the plot of then book this way: "'The Living Wills' is a story about a split-second decision made 30 years ago and the ripple effects it caused. Can the man who made that decision and the people he affected maneuver their way through a world of baristas and Army veterans, bowling teams and exploding port-a-potties, cartoon pirates and young love, to find the strength to heal before it's too late?"

"The Living Wills" is available as of today for only $15.95 and can be purchased online at this link HERE. The authors are hoping to have the e-book version of "The Living Wills" available by the end of December.

I'm not worthy. That is too kind.

David DeJesus?

The first signing of the Theo Epstein era is not exactly a blockbuster. They signed left-handed outfielder David DeJesus.

He had been with the KC Royals for eight seasons before going to Oakland last year. In his nine big league seasons, his highest total of home runs in a year was 13. The most RBI in a season? 73. The most stolen bases? 11. And yes, he was a full-time player.

So, not exactly exciting, but still probably better than what we had there (and how sad is that?). At least he hits for average most years (lifetime .284) and has a good on-base percentage (lifetime .356).

His greatest asset however, may be his wife. She's from Chicago, is a die-hard Cubs fan, had a childhood crush on Ryne Sandberg, and nearly burned out Twitter yesterday with her excited tweets.

You can read them here. It's nice to see that somebody is excited about coming to Chicago.

The Girl Can't Help It

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning...

December 1, 1956…"The Girl Can't Help It," starring Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell and Edmond O'Brien, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters. Regarded by many to be one of the best rock 'n' roll films of the 1950s, the comedy features musical performances by Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, the Platters, Fats Domino, Julie London, Ray Anthony, the Treniers, Abbey Lincoln, Freddy Bell & The Bell-Boys, Teddy Randazzo, Eddie Fontaine, and Nino Tempo.

Bob's right, it was an important rock and roll film, but I suspect the young rockers that went to see this movie were more excited by something else...

New Facebook Policy

According to this article, they are now allowing 60,000 characters in their status updates.

They should change the name of it now to Faceblog.

Commenting Philosophy

I've previously written many times about my disdain for the comments section of on-line newspapers and blogs, particularly when they are done anonymously. Over the past decade or so on-line comments sections have been taken over by people who spew bile on both ends of the political spectrum.

It's truly depressing. Even a place like Yahoo! News, which really only reports AP stories, has a comments section that will ruin your day.

So, I applaud the new approach by The New York Times. My guess is that others will follow their lead. Their new approach is to offer "trusted commenting" status to people that have proven over time that they are thoughtful and reasonable in their responses. These will be the only commenters on the New York Times site that won't have their comments moderated in advance.

Everyone else...and that means you, obnoxious troll...will have to get their comments approved. Before you start screaming about censorship, you have ZERO rights to spew your nonsense on their site. You do it at their invitation. It's about time they escorted you to the door. You've been ruining the party for everyone else for many years now.

Herman Cain Train

A parody song by Edwardo and Squire Hogg..

Nice Herman Cain impersonation...and yes, of course, it's incredibly politically incorrect.