Tonight!

See you there!

USA Today Makes First Ever Presidential Endorsement

USA Today has been around for more than 30 years, and in that time they have never endorsed a presidential candidate. This year they felt they had no choice...

In the 34-year history of USA TODAY, the Editorial Board has never taken sides in the presidential race. Instead, we’ve expressed opinions about the major issues and haven’t presumed to tell our readers, who have a variety of priorities and values, which choice is best for them. Because every presidential race is different, we revisit our no-endorsement policy every four years. We’ve never seen reason to alter our approach. Until now.

This year, the choice isn’t between two capable major party nominees who happen to have significant ideological differences. This year, one of the candidates — Republican nominee Donald Trump — is, by unanimous consensus of the Editorial Board, unfit for the presidency.

This is such a "duh" statement, but I still applaud USA Today for making it. Every American in their heart and in their gut knows that Donald Trump shouldn't get anywhere near the White House. I've heard many rationalizations from my Republican friends, but I can see it in their eyes. They know the truth.

The Philippines

Don't know if you've been following the news in Asia, but the president of the Philippines has gone completely over the edge. From this morning's Washington Post...

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday compared his campaign to kill criminals to the Holocaust, saying he would like to "slaughter" millions of addicts just like Adolf hitler "massacred" millions of Jewish people.

"Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there are 3 million drug addicts. ... I'd be happy to slaughter them," he told reporters early Friday, according to GMA News.

"You know my victims, I would like to be, all criminals, to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition," he said.

Just so you know, Rodrigo, Hitler isn't considered a role model.

And we thought the leader of North Korea was nuts.

Tim Clue on Patty & the Stump

Eckhartz Press author Tim Clue (half of Manton Clue) discusses his book "Patty & The Stump"...

Minutia Men, Episode 22

EP22 – Rick and Dave discuss a debate faux pas worthy of Jenkins, Stiff Bull coffee, a perfect example of Dave’s black-hearted Cubs hate, and Rick’s brush with Larry King.

Listen to it here.

Braggadocious

Pretty clever...as a former parody writer, I tip my cap...

Bill Murray at the Ryder Cup

Only Bill could get away with this...

Arizona Republic Endorses Clinton

Why is this a big deal? The newspaper was founded in 1890 and has NEVER endorsed a Democrat before.

They write...

The 2016 Republican candidate is not conservative and he is not qualified. That’s why, for the first time in our history, The Arizona Republic will support a Democrat for president...

In a nation with an increasingly diverse population, Trump offers a recipe for permanent civil discord. In a global economy, he offers protectionism and a false promise to bring back jobs that no longer exist.

Top Tweeted Moments During Debate

Top 3 Tweeted Moments of the first US presidential debate: pic.twitter.com/35l5PhEw4y

— Twitter Government (@gov) September 27, 2016

That "I have a good temperament" line is the single most ridiculous moment in debate history. He had just screeched an incoherent defense of a provable lie (his support of the Iraq War) with his temples throbbing and his arms waving. He was screaming into the microphone. Then he pivoted to "I have a good temperament."

Classic.

Katy Perry Votes Naked

Katy Perry Votes Naked from Funny Or Die

Around the Publishing World (September 27)

At Chicago Author Solutions (a division of Eckhartz Press), we stay on top of happenings/trends in the publishing world to help out busy writers who are spending their time doing what they should be doing: writing.


1. Six Tips for Writing a Science Fiction Novel
The tips are courtesy of science fiction author K. Eason via Writer's Digest.

2. The Nook is on Life Support
There are many reasons this is true, but here are a few you might not have heard. From the blog, The Passive Voice

3. 65 Authors Share their tips for new writers
Some great stuff here.

4. No, the printed book is not dead!
It's important to keep this in mind, despite the hype. From the New York Times.

5. Writing errors even published authors make
You'd be shocked. It'll make you feel better.

6. New genre: Adult Children's Book?
This is just the latest example, and it comes from our publishing company Eckhartz Press. It also comes with a video...


7. Bobby Skafish's "We Have Company" now available via Eckhartz Press
Our latest book is a great read for anyone who loves rock and roll...

Last Night's Truly Special Moment

It had absolutely nothing to do with the debate...

.@FlashGJr was mentioned more than 340K times on Twitter after his emotional home run.https://t.co/n8HsRniRxD

— MLB Social (@MLBsocial) September 27, 2016

This Friday Night

Come one, come all. Promises to be a fun night!

Who Won Debate?

CBS had a focus group of undecideds in Pennsylvania run by Republican pollster Frank Luntz. Clinton won big.

CNN had a focus group of undecideds in Florida. Clinton won big.

Politico did a poll of insider experts in all the swing states. 80% of them thought Hillary won big.

But at the Chicago Tribune, John Kass has clearly lost his mind. He thinks it was a great night for Trump.

He was clearly watching something else.

100!

While Hillary and Donald were debatin', the Cubs were rakin'.

Kyle Hendricks' ERA is now below 2 (1.99), Kris Bryant got his 100th RBI, Javier Baez hit a grand slam, and the Cubs won their 100th game of the season.

Chicago Radio Ratings

From this morning's NOW Newsletter...

Chicago shows you Cubs power – the power of having this special season on CBS-owned sports “Score” WSCR. The station jumps to fifth place overall, 4.0-3.7-4.5, and it’s second at night. Chris Huff digs way back for a higher share on the 670 frequency, and it was in the far-off diary days of Winter 1991, when 670 was WMAQ. There’s a tie at the #1 spot between CBS news WBBM (5.8-6.1-6.0) and iHeart’s urban AC “V103” WVAZ (5.6-6.0-6.0). ’BBM is #1 mornings and middays, while V103 is #1 afternoons, nights and weekends. Third total-week is Hubbard hot AC “Mix” WTMX (4.9-5.5-5.2, and second in mornings with Eric & Kathy). Fourth is iHeart’s top 40 “Kiss 103.5” WKSC (4.6-4.5-4.8). That’s its best topline since March 2012, and it’s second in afternoon drive. Hubbard’s classic rock “Drive” WDRV rises to its best number in exactly two years (3.6-3.6-3.8) – and it’s third, middays. Nice performance by Cumulus classic hits WLS-FM (3.2-3.0-3.6, and fourth in middays). The country competitors are within a tenth of a share – CBS’s recently-revamped “US 99” WUSN (3.0-2.9-3.8) versus iHeart’s “Big” WEBG (2.4-2.5-2.7). An off-book for Cumulus-managed/Emmis-owned alternative WKQX (2.8-2.6-2.3), and an up-book for easy oldies WRME. It’s up 1.8-2.0-2.3, heard on the audio of a low power Channel 6 TV station leased by Weigel. WRME beats CBS classic hits WJMK in middays. For the full week, WJMK has a nearly 2-to-1 lead over WRME in cume (about 1.325 million compared to about 705,000). Not-for-profit Window to the World operates classical WFMT as a commercial operation (it’s even got a “.com” website). WFMT’s up to its largest share since March 2012 (1.5-1.4-1.6). CHR “Kiss” holds the cume lead at about 2.6 million.

Bobby Skafish on WGN-TV

Bobby Skafish went over to the WGN-TV studios this morning on the day his book is officially released, and had a great conversation with Larry & Robin about some of the stories in "We Have Company: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Encounters".

Most people are a little nervous about doing a television interview like this, but Bobby was cool as a cucumber. He rolled with the discussion, and laid a few rock and roll stories on the morning crew.

Waiting in the wings...


Just before the interview began...


Watch the entire segment here.

After the interview, Bobby was asked to stay for another segment. Felt a little bit like the old days when Johnny Carson called the comedian over to the couch after his routine. Bobby played a part in a game to match rock and roll tattoos with mugshots.

If you want an autographed copy of Bobby's book, he'll be making his first appearance at the book launch/open house this Friday night at Toons Bar & Grill, 3857 N. Southport in Chicago, from 5-9pm. Everyone is welcome. It's sure to be a star-studded affair. See you there!

WGN-TV Morning News

Tune in to the WGN-TV Morning News this morning during the 9am hour TODAY and see Eckhartz Press author (and radio legend) Bobby Skafish bantering with the morning crew about Bobby's great new book "We Have Company: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Encounters" on it's official release date! It's sure to be a good time.

Amy Landecker

Another interview with John's youngest daughter Amy, one of the stars of the megahit "Transparent".

She really does a great job in these interviews. Her secret is her honesty. There's nothing fake about Amy.

Trump and the Germans

I get a big kick out of this Twitter user (below). He (or she) translates Donald Trump's quotes into the original German. (Get it?)

Trump quotations google-translated into German, a continuing series. pic.twitter.com/7EBnW6DgTg

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) September 24, 2016

Speaking of the Donald and the Germans.

His actual German relatives want nothing to do with him.