Rupert Murdoch's HarperCollins is being accused of using endangered rainforest fiber to make children's books.
It sounds like I made that up, doesn't it? Nope. The story is here.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Almost Comically Evil
Rupert Murdoch's HarperCollins is being accused of using endangered rainforest fiber to make children's books.
It sounds like I made that up, doesn't it? Nope. The story is here.
The Rolling Stones
You'll never guess who showed up and played with the Stones last night in Newark...former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. It was his first time playing with them in the U.S. since 1981. This isn't the greatest quality video, but you can see and hear him...
Today's Best Tweets
Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...
Duane Dudek @TheDudekAbides
The man who invented bar codes dies at 91. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/daily-report-n-joseph-woodland-inventor-of-the-bar-code-dies-at-91/ …
Peter Gammons @pgammo
If I were to bet today, MLB Final 4 ten months from now-Tampa, Detroit, Cincinnati, Washington
DRUDGE REPORT @DRUDGE_REPORT
Police: Man Tries To Drown Wife In Dog Bowl After Fight Over Frozen Pizza... http://drudge.tw/Wbltmq
DH @PeggyKinnanes
Morning Blend: “Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.” ~ Steven Wright
Groovyhoovy @Groovyhoovy
Larry Potash is out today to have his lazy sphincter looked at.
Rolling Stone @RollingStone
Get an inside look at Johnny Cash's collaborations over the years in this exclusive video clip: http://rol.st/UWrbtG
Jeff Dickerson @ESPNChiBears
@BradBiggs reports #Bears QB Jay Cutler's knee injury is a sprained MCL. Cutler still expected to start Sunday vs. #Packers.
New York Daily News @nydailynews
Hugh Grant has been BANNED-FOR-LIFE from the 'Daily Show'. Find out why: http://nydn.us/12d7LUk
Eric & Kathy @EricandKathy
Studies Show: Women are attracted to men who flirt with other men. #MIXMindBender
Bob Nightengale @BNightengale
The #Cubs ownership and Theo Epstein were in Miami yesterday and presented $77 million offer, but #Tigers jumped up and stole him back
The Most Hated Blogger in America
I've never heard of him, but I don't trust him. Bloggers. Sheesh. Who do these people think they are?
Um...wait a second.
Pork Chop Murder
Two roommates got into a fight about a pork chop, and one of them is now dead.
There Was Only One Watergate
I got a big kick out of Al Kamen's column in this morning's Washington Post. Here's my favorite part...
Washington generally exists in a hyperbolic state, but even the most jaded ears had to prick up when Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) declared to the Washington Times that L’Affaire Benghazi is “10 times bigger” than the Watergate and Iran-contra scandals combined. So, let’s do the math. If Watergate ended in a president’s resignation, plus dozens of criminal convictions, and Iran-contra yielded 11 convictions, and Benghazi is 10 times that serious . . . wait a sec . . . the one . . . then it will result in at least 10 presidents resigning and hundreds of convictions.
Of course it's ridiculous to constantly call everything bigger than Watergate. It's just nice to finally see somebody pointing that out.
Of course it's ridiculous to constantly call everything bigger than Watergate. It's just nice to finally see somebody pointing that out.
Cubs 365, December 14
Billy Buck went on to have a great Cubs career, capped off by a batting title in 1980. In his seven plus seasons with the Cubs, Buckner never hit less .280. When the Cubs traded him early in 1984, it was only because they had another player to take his place at first base...Leon Durham.
Durham and Buckner, of course, share a common fate. Both of their outstanding careers will always be remembered for one little ball that went through their legs at the worst possible time.
More about Don Wade
Yesterday he announced he and his wife Roma wouldn't be returning to WLS (see story below). Today there was a lot written about Don in the trades, but I found this part very interesting in Tom Taylor's column this morning. I had NO IDEA about this...
"Wade’s conversion from music jock to talkhost was not atypical for pros of his generation. His bio even says “Don is proud of being fired from more radio stations than he could count…because his opinions got him in trouble.” He worked in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Dallas, Denver, Seattle (and Tacoma) before hitting Chicago. The Beatles, whom he’d interviewed, liked him enough to give him a quick cameo in their movie “Help.”
WHAT? Doggone it. I interviewed Don for the upcoming John Records Landecker memoir, and he told me some great stuff about his days in Philly (they will be in the book), but he never mentioned the Beatles story. I have to go back now and watch the movie again. Any idea where Don's cameo was in the film?
WHAT? Doggone it. I interviewed Don for the upcoming John Records Landecker memoir, and he told me some great stuff about his days in Philly (they will be in the book), but he never mentioned the Beatles story. I have to go back now and watch the movie again. Any idea where Don's cameo was in the film?
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Don & Roma won't be back at WLS
Don's health is the reason why. The incredibly tiring and physically taxing morning show hours are completely incompatible with his rehabilitation from brain cancer. The decision is understandable under the circumstances.
Here's to a full and healthy recovery away from the spotlight's glare.
Today's Best Tweets
Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...
New York Daily News @nydailynews
PHOTOS: Bruce Springsteen, other legends help blow the roof off MSG in emotional #Sandy fundraiser concert http://nydn.us/12aChOG
Slate @Slate
The remaining members of "Nirvana" reunited last night. They were joined by Sir Paul McCartney--WATCH: http://slate.me/STz80D
MancowMuller @MancowMuller
Nirvana reunited at a benefit for Hurricane Sandy with Paul McCartney taking the place of Kurt. So, afterward, Courtney Love killed him.
Roger Catlin @rcatlin
McCartney ends with "Live and Let Die"and brings Alicia Keys back for "Empire State of Mind." More fitting than "Let It Be" or "Hey Jude."
Paul McCartney @PaulMcCartney
http://www.PaulMcCartney.com Track of the Week is 'Here Today' from the album 'Tug Of War'. Let us know what you think... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbIdnUbcpHk …
The Onion @TheOnion
[In Focus] Area Man Hasn't Told Co-Workers About His Billy Joel Fanpage Yet http://onion.com/TcJwk4
Jake Tapper @jaketapper
Folks who drum their fingers on desks + counters like they're the second coming of Gene Krupa: I am telling Santa to put you down as naughty
ChiTribSports @ChiTribSports
Report: Dempster close to signing with Red Sox http://trib.in/TcUyFX
Huffington Post @HuffingtonPost
30 reasons women cheat, according to women http://huff.to/TVveGS
The Daily Caller @DailyCaller
TheDC's @mattklewis: Conservative Members were purged because of ‘asshole factor,’ not voting record - http://bit.ly/TcMzsm
Media Ownership Rules
It turns out that I'm not the only one that notices when the F.C.C. talks about changing media ownership rules. From Inside Radio...
"FCC gets earful on its proposed ownership rules. The issue that brought all five FCC commissioners before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology yesterday wasn’t media ownership. But the thorny subject was a recurring theme during a hearing about the FCC’s new broadband spectrum law. Subcommittee members continually brought up the commission’s controversial media ownership rules, which would abolish the radio-TV and radio-newspaper cross-ownership limit."
Nobody wants this except the big media companies (who constantly ask the F.C.C. for this). Nobody.
Nobody wants this except the big media companies (who constantly ask the F.C.C. for this). Nobody.
Find the Typo
Read this and see if you can find the typo. I'll give you a hint, the sentence begins with "Davis is recovering from..."
Bee Venom Facials?
It's supposedly all the rage these days, ever since Kate Middleton had one right before her wedding.
From the NWI Times article..."the venom is put into a cream that can slathered on the face up to twice a week, left on for twenty minutes, and then washed off. Users say the cream has a strong tingle when applied. The venom contains melittin, which is an anaphylactic responsible for the lingering pain caused by bee stings. Melittin also has anti-inflammatory abilities."
You know, as I get older, these things are sounding less and less crazy to me.
NirvCartney
Did you see this in the Sandy Benefit last night? Nirvana with Paul McCartney. Pretty odd...
Hall & Oates in a bloody fight
Despite rumors, it wasn't started when one of them said: "I can't go for that."*
*Joke stolen from reader "BP"
Cubs 365, December 13
One of my childhood heroes turns 70 today. On this day in 1942, future Cubs Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins was born in Canada. His time with the Cubs is captured beautifully in this Canadian film...
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Balding E-Handbook
It's now also an e-handbook. The Balding Handbook is now available on the kindle format at amazon, and will soon be available on Apple, Sony, and Barnes & Noble (Nook).
12/12/12 Sandy Benefit Tonight
It's being aired on 37 cable networks including HBO, AMC, and The Cooking Channel (?!).
It's being live streamed on 29 websites including AOL, hulu, and iHeartRadio.
I'll be watching. The lineup includes Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, Roger Waters, Eddie Vedder, Kanye West and The Who. Celebrity presenters include Jon Stewart, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Combs and Chris Rock.
A well trained dog
If this was my dog, the kid would have been dragged across the concrete and abandoned.
The Balding Handbook
Yesterday he was at the Horseshoe Casino (probably researching for his next book; either an homage to flashing lights or oversized horeshoes), when he played poker with a man named Fat Ali.
I don't want to say what Fat Ali's brothers will be receiving as holiday gifts this year, but he asked Dave to mention this on the blog. Here goes: "Special shout out to Fat Ali who will be spreading holiday cheer to his six bald brothers this Christmas."
By the way, we're having a little party for The Balding Handbook this weekend and we need your advice. Is there a thematically appropriate beverage or food we should serve? Send your ideas to rick@eckhartzpress.com
The Sporting News
It's no secret that the company has been struggling for years, but they announced yesterday that the end of 2012 officially marks the end of their print edition.
After 126 years.
Full details are here.
The Tribune
There is another potential buyer, however, according to Reuters today: "San Diego Union-Tribune owner Doug Manchester and Orange County Register owner Aaron Kushner are interested in acquiring Tribune's stable of newspapers, according to people familiar with the situation."
Stones Medley
Got a kick out of hearing this again. John Landecker posted this on his facebook page. He and I wrote it years ago, but it's even more appropriate now.
It's one of more than 100 songs John and I wrote together. The most memorable of those songs, the news stories they were inspired by and the news coverage our songs inspired, will be covered in the upcoming "Records Truly Is My Middle Name" on Eckhartz Press.
It's one of more than 100 songs John and I wrote together. The most memorable of those songs, the news stories they were inspired by and the news coverage our songs inspired, will be covered in the upcoming "Records Truly Is My Middle Name" on Eckhartz Press.
Cumulus Lineup
"Laura Ingraham should announce her new syndication deal today. Will it be with Cumulus? That was the hallway talk at last week’s Arbitron Client Conference in Annapolis. Ingraham is the second high-profile talk personality to split from Talk Radio Network. The first one was Michael Savage, and he landed at Cumulus. Ingraham (just two syllables, please) joined TRN from Westwood in 2003 and was rewarded with a daytime slot instead of her previous nighttime gig. That helped free her up for other work, such as appearances on Fox News. When she left TRN, she said it was time to “expand and re-tool my radio program” – perhaps broadening it past politics to more topics around popular culture."
Cubs 365, December 12
On this day in 1937, the Cubs were still smarting from their 2nd place finish to the New York Giants, but Wrigley Field did not go without a championship game that year.
On December 12, 1937, the Washington Redskins came to Wrigley Field to face the Chicago Bears for the NFL championship. The Bears were the Western Division champs with a record of 9-1-1, and the Redskins were the Eastern Division champs at 8-3.
The rookie quarterback for the Redskins (Sammy Baugh) called the Wrigley turf that day "the worst I ever saw. The field had been torn up the previous week, and it froze solid with jagged clods sticking up. I've never seen so many people get cut up in a football game."
The Bears were led by Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski, but they couldn't stop the Redskins passing game and lost 28-21. Sammy Baugh became the leagues first superstar passing quarterback.
The rookie quarterback for the Redskins (Sammy Baugh) called the Wrigley turf that day "the worst I ever saw. The field had been torn up the previous week, and it froze solid with jagged clods sticking up. I've never seen so many people get cut up in a football game."
The Bears were led by Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski, but they couldn't stop the Redskins passing game and lost 28-21. Sammy Baugh became the leagues first superstar passing quarterback.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Behind the Scenes with Stewart & Colbert
Some good stories I hadn't heard before.
South Carolina's Top Choice?
Their top pick was Stephen Colbert.
Maybe South Carolina isn't as backwards as I thought it was.
Movin with Nancy
45 years ago today, the TV special "Movin with Nancy" aired. Here's a clip from the show...
Love the white pants and white skirts.
Love the white pants and white skirts.
Today's Best Tweets
Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...
Newsweek @Newsweek
Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' shatters a genre by tackling slavery head-on http://nswk.ly/1235Wt8
Steve Grzanich @SteveGrzanich
PHOTO: If you have youngsters, this may interest them. Photographer may have caught Santa's sleigh practice: http://twitpic.com/bkpz2j
ColonelTribune @ColonelTribune
Snackers, a treat: Jewel says it has the country's final shipment of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Zingers. http://trib.in/125cZ4C
ESPN @espn
"It means Charles Barkley needs to shut up," LeBron James on the meaning of Dwyane Wade's performance last night (http://es.pn/uduaDj )
ThinkProgress @thinkprogress
Bill Clinton joins world leaders in declaring Drug War a failure, "it hasn’t worked" http://thkpr.gs/VvHBpe #icymi
Karl Klockars @karlklockars
And so begins the season where women wear full body sleeping bags and call them 'coats.'
ChicagoBreaking @ChicagoBreaking
Cubs leave StubHub ticket-reselling market http://trib.in/RmT2UQ
Drew Walker @radiodrew
Would you love Burger King delivery to your front door? It could be happening SOON: http://ow.ly/fZmBB (I'd prefer In & Out Burger...)
Romenesko @romenesko
Columnist & “America’s most accurate psychic” Irene Hughes dies at 92. Predicted Oprah's move to Chicago. http://bit.ly/Uzn9VQ
Darren Marlar @darrenmarlar
I just read that over 70% of Americans have insufficient math skills. How pathetic. I mean, that's almost half... http://fb.me/2cn09W5sp
Cubs 365, December 11
In return for Santo the Cubs got pitcher Steve Stone, catcher Steve Swisher, and pitcher Ken Frailing.
It actually turned out to be a good deal for the Cubs. Santo only played one year for the White Sox and retired after hitting a woeful .221 for them. Steve Stone, on the other hand pitched three years for the Cubs (including a 12-win season in 1975), as did Ken Frailing, and Steve Swisher became a National League all-star in 1976.
Santo was very upset by the trade, but he obviously eventually forgave the Cubs. His #10 flag will fly on the Wrigley Field foul pole forever.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Father Knows Nothing
I'd love to tell you about two things that happened in my house this week, but that information has been vetoed.
Today's Best Tweets
Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...
Huffington Post @HuffingtonPost
Holy slit! How can Paz de la Huerta even sit down in this dress? http://huff.to/TNkR7U
Ezra Klein @ezraklein
Feds estimate "that homelessness could be effectively eradicated" in the US for $20 billion. Current budget? $1.9b. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/us/homeless-rates-steady-despite-recession-hud-says.html?_r=0 …
MancowMuller @MancowMuller
Christina Aguilera says the less clothing she wears, the better she feels. Tragically, Madonna agrees.
Romenesko @romenesko
“For the love of pete, stop putting two spaces after a period," WaPo's Hank Stuever tells students. http://bit.ly/QPM1ul
The Associated Press @AP
AP VIDEO: More than 17 inches of snow falls in Southwestern Minnesota: http://apne.ws/U9Cwmv -RAS
nwi.com @nwi
Chicago could break record for longest streak without snow today http://bit.ly/VLdY9e
Rob Hart @RobHart1980
Rickles guest hosting the Tonight Show in the summer of '79: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPVvttyCfJM …
msnbc @msnbc
“What do you do to a schoolyard bully? You punch them in the face”- @JoeNBC. Guess who he was referring to: http://on.msnbc.com/VyzyI2
DH @PeggyKinnanes
Morning Blend: “I find TV very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” ~ Groucho Marx
Alex Walsh @ajwalsh08
Sad news in manufacturing: cassette tape players being discontinued. Wait, what? http://en.akihabaranews.com/121398/dap-pmp/sony-to-discontinue-the-production-early-2013-of-cassette-player-
Are you a sound sleeper?
These people did.
More Love for The Balding Handbook
It's getting attention all over the country. Joe Donatelli is "The Humor Columnist" (based in Cleveland) and he has published an excerpt from the book in his most recent column. It's a section that particularly tickled his funny bone, the description of the different kinds of combovers.
You can read it here.
A Springsteen Confession
Bruce confesses he has only been to New Jersey a few times...in the Onion.
I got a kick out of that one, for some reason.
Prank Tragedy
Every disc jockey who has ever made a prank call is rethinking his or her approach after what happened this past weekend. Tom Taylor had this report in his newsletter this morning...
Thanks to social media, Sydney’s 2Day FM is being punished by a global wash of anger and spite, after the object of a phone prank killed herself. Friday’s NOW newsletter had the story of Aussie jocks Mel Greig and Michael Christian posing as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, and getting all the way to a nurse involved with the medical care of Kate Middleton. They considered that a bit of fun – but as you probably heard all weekend, 46-year-old nurse (and mother of two) Jacintha Saldanha committed suicide. Was that foreseeable? Probably not. And five years ago, she wouldn’t have been subjected to the avalanche of criticism from Twitter and other social media. Now the abuse has turned to Mel Greig and Michael Christian, and their station. Owner Southern Cross Austereo has suspended their show.
This is a horrible, tragic story. I should note, however, that the prank calls do go both ways. Ask that moron who will do anything in his power to get on live television shows only to say "Howard Stern". He has done so at the most tasteless times--during live coverage of horrible tragedies. Nobody killed themselves, but at the very least I'm guessing a few people were fired. I'm also wondering if that jerk who pranked me into thinking he was Michael Dukakis in 1988 (almost getting me fired from the Steve & Garry show) has any feelings of remorse for that.
Cubs 365, December 10
When Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano pitched a no-hitter Sept. 14, 2008, Blagojevich proclaimed Sept. 16 "Carlos Zambrano Day."
Before the 2008 playoff series against the Dodgers, Blagojevich helped lead a big rally in support of the Cubs. He got a little long-winded that day, and the fans eventually drowned him out with a chorus of "Go Cubs Go," but still. He was pontificating about his love of the Cubs.
He handled similar honors in 2007, getting a prime slot talking to the crowd at the lunchtime playoff push rally at Daley Plaza. Here's what he said:
“As the governor, I stopped asking myself first the question ‘Is it the right thing or the wrong thing?’ Now the first question I ask myself when I govern Illinois is, ‘What would Lou do?” I’ve got to tell you, speaking for me as a lifelong Cubs fan, this is a heck of a lot better than winning elections."
When Kerry Wood had his charity bowling benefit, Governor Blagojevich was there. In July 2005, he joined Cubs legend Ron Santo on a crusade to raise money for diabetes research, and signed legislation that cleared the way for even more money to be raised for Diabetes research.
He idolized players like Santo. When he was boy, he said his dream was to play center field for the Cubs.
In 2003, when Steve Bartman was excoriated by many fans, Governor Blagojevich was one of them, blaming him publicly for the loss.
Granted, Rod has made Illinois the laughing stock of the nation, but he truly loves the Cubs. It's ironic that one of the charges against him involved extorting the Tribune to fire editorial staff in exchange for the state securing the sale of Wrigley Field.
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