Friday, November 02, 2018

Cubsessions

If you have a Cubs fan on your Christmas list, I have a suggestion. The book "Cubsessions" is all about Cub fans--in this case celebrity Cub fans--talking about what being a Cubs fan means to them. It's a perfect gift for the Cub fans in your family. The authors Becky Sarwate Maxwell and Randy Richardson are going to be signing copies of the book this Sunday at El Jardin's in Chicago (3335 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657) beginning at 2pm. Pick up a copy or two, have a margarita or two, and enjoy! I'll be there.
Posted by at

Good Interview

Stephen Colbert had one of the three actual journalists at Fox News on his show last night. It was a very good interview...

Posted by at

Lachlan Murdoch

Do you ever wonder how the Murdoch family sleeps at night? I have wondered that for many years, but never more so than recently since Fox News has become a White Nationalist network. I know that the souless patriarch Rupert (photo) sleeps like a baby, but what about his sons? Lachlan once left his dad's company because he didn't like the direction they were going. Now that he's running the thing, how does he feel.

The answer is in this interview, published by Variety today...

“I’m not embarrassed by what they do at all,” Murdoch said. “Fox News is the only mass media company in America with conservative opinions. It’s the only one. Frankly I feel in this country we all have to be more tolerant of each other’s views. We’ve come to this point where we are more and more intolerant of each other and frankly that has to change.”

Got it, people? Time to allow more tolerance of intolerance.

Maybe he just uses ambien.
Posted by at

Smell Like Joe Biden

Have you ever wondered what Joe Biden smells like? Me neither. But that doesn't mean you can't find out. The Delaware History Museum is selling Joe Biden-scented candles. Not a joke.

They have a hint of orange.
Posted by at

Eric Ferguson

This month's Illinois Entertainer is out and features my interview with top rated morning man, Eric Ferguson. He talks about Kathy leaving the show, his health issues, and where he sees the show going from here.

Read it here.

I think Robert Feder wisely picked out the newsworthy portion of this interview. Thanks so much for this mention today!

How has Eric Ferguson adjusted to life after his radio breakup with Kathy Hart? Just fine, according to the longtime morning star of Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM. “I feel like we’re doing the show the way we’ve always done it, with the people who are here,” Ferguson tells Rick Kaempfer in the latest edition of Illinois Entertainer. “There has been a renewed sense of energy. Every time there is change and the dynamic shifts, people get up on their toes a little bit, and ready to go. It creates a new [and] exciting energy and allows us to explore new things. In the long run, while that was a difficult and surprising transition, it’s worked out for us.”
Posted by at

Thursday, November 01, 2018

Johnny B

From today's Robert Feder column, this info about my former Loop colleagues...

When Jonathon Brandmeier gets inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, he’ll be introduced by Jimmy deCastro, senior vice president and market manager of Entercom Chicago. It’s only fitting, since deCastro was the Chicago radio exec who brought Brandmeier to The Loop in 1983. (Thirty years later, deCastro cut Johnny B. from Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM, but that was just a bump in the road of their long friendship.) Syndicated radio host and Hall of Famer Scott Shannon will emcee this year’s induction ceremony November 15 in New York. Other inductees include syndicated hosts Nanci “The Fabulous Sports Babe” Donnellan, the duo of Mike Golic & Mike Greenberg, Kid Kelly, Mark Levin and Dr. Laura Schlesinger; local hosts Mike Francesa, Joan Hamburg and Jim Kerr; and consultant Fred Jacobs.
Posted by at

RIP Willie McCovey

Going to Wrigley Field when I was a kid was like going to heaven. Not only did I get to see all of my favorite Cubs (Banks, Williams, Jenkins, etc) in full color (we had a black and white tv), but I also got to see some of the all-time greats who played for the other team.

One of the biggest thrills of my life was the first time I saw the Cubs play the Giants. The Giants only came into town once a year, but in 1970, I was in the crowd. I remember it was a Sunday in June. The Giants weren't that great in 1970, but the middle of their order featured Willie Mays (batting third) and Willie McCovey hitting cleanup. Mays hit a homer off Ken Holtzman in an early inning (the third?), and as he rounded the bases I remember thinking to myself--this isn't fair! McCovey is up next. He hit a screaming double.

The game had a little bit of everything. Billy Williams hit a homer and so did Jim Hickman (he was playing for Ernie Banks). My favorite sub, Paul Popovich, was in the game. The Cubs won 8-4.

It was the only time I ever saw Willie Mays or Willie McCovey play in person. I'll never ever forget it.

Willie passed away yesterday at the age of 80.

This is a great piece about him in the Washington Post today. It's about Willie and one of his biggest fans...Charlie Brown.

(Photo: Topps 1969 Willie McCovey card from my personal collection)
Posted by at

A Reminder

This one is near and dear to our hearts at Eckhartz Press. One of our authors, Mark Gelinas, is suffering from pancreatic cancer. He wrote a very inspiring book about it ("GelStrong") that we highly recommend. We donate our proceeds from that book to pancreatic cancer research. It's a nasty disease. A killer. Since the book came out Mark has had a relapse, and recently decided to stop treatment entirely. We'll be going down to his hometown of Atlanta this month to say our farewells. He still has a great attitude. He still is one of the bravest people I know. His book is still an inspiration. But cancer is a horrible beast. And Pancreatic cancer, in particular, is very bad. If there's anything you can do to donate to the cause, please do. This is the month to do it. Click on this link for more information. Thanks.
Posted by at

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Happy Halloween

Still the creepiest, funniest sitcom of all-time...

Posted by at

14th Amendment

Yesterday the president said he could overturn the 14th amendment to the constitution via executive order. Of course he can't. But I started thinking about what would happen if he actually could pull this off. I know the idea of it is to get rid of so-called "anchor babies" who are allegedly bleeding us dry (they aren't).

But revoking this rule (if you are born in America, you are a citizen) and changing it to say that you must be born of United States citizens (which Lindsey Graham said yesterday), would kick millions of people out of the country.

Including me. My parents weren't citizens yet when I was born in Chicago in 1963.

You know who else would be outta here? Check out this tweet...



Far be it for me to say he doesn't think these things through.
Posted by at

Music Summit

From Radio Online...

iHeartMedia Hip Hop WGCI-FM/Chicago's annual Music Summit will return on Saturday, November 10 from 8:30am to 6pm at The Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago. The annual music summit is sold out, but listeners can still win a chance to attend by listening to WGCI. The summit will give Chicago artists, producers, songwriters and managers an inside look on what it takes to make it in the music business. It's hosted by morning co-hosts Leon Rogers, Kendra G and Kyle, midday host Frankie Robinson, afternoon host Tone Kapone and evening host DJ Moon Dawg with appearances by recording artist Jacquees, Jeremih, Dreezy and KeKe Palmer, with more to be announced.

"The Hip Hop music scene is more vibrant than ever in Chicago," said WGCI's Program Director Johnnie D. "This is a perfect time to bring the Music Seminar, now called the Music Summit, back to Chicagoland. It will be a powerful day of networking, education and entertainment for aspiring artists."
Posted by at

Secret to a Long Life

From Supercall...

Forget superfoods and exercise, the secret to long life can be found in a cocktail. At least, that’s what Mabel Jackson believes. The 100-year-old resident of Suffolk, England, credits her long life to the six Gin & Tonics she consumes daily, according to the Suffolk Gazette. Jackson first started regularly drinking gin at the age of 18. To date, she has consumed the equivalent of 4,264 bottles of the stuff, primarily in Gin & Tonics.

Looks like I better get my act together. I'm over 4000 bottles behind.
Posted by at

Now THAT'S how you do a book launch

As a publisher, I'm more than a little jealous about this item in Robert Feder's column today...

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will launch a monthlong, 10-city tour to promote her new book, Becoming, by appearing with Oprah Winfrey and thousands of their fans November 13 at the United Center. “Can’t wait to kick things off in my hometown!” Obama tweeted Tuesday. Winfrey, who last filled the United Center with her farewell show in May 2011, will moderate a discussion with Obama about her memoir, set to be officially released the same day.

The United Center. For a Book launch. With Oprah. The book launch for my last book was held at a soccer clubhouse.
Posted by at

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

This is where I will be...

Posted by at

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Incredible Discovery!


Posted by at

Bad Lip Reading--MLB

Posted by at

Early Voting

Son #2 and I went today. Piece of cake. Happy to do my civic duty.

Posted by at

Good Advice

Posted by at

Chicago Radio Ratings

From this morning's Tom Taylor column...

Chicago is more tuned in to news (and the NFL Bears?), boosting Entercom’s news WBBM/WCFS to second (4.6-4.8-5.6). It’s up to #1 mornings and second on weekends, where the Bears play. Still #1 overall is iHeart’s urban AC “V103” WVAZ (6.0-5.7-5.7, and the weekend leader). From there – up to third is Univision’s regional Mexican WOJO (4.8-5.0-5.3, and the leader in PM drive). “Largest share on 105.1 in the facility’s history,” says Chris Huff about WOJO. Fourth is Cumulus classic hits WLS-FM (5.3-5.4-5.0), followed by Hubbard’s hot AC “Mix” WTMX (4.9-4.1-4.6), Entercom’s sports/Cubs baseball WSCR (3.5-4.3-4.2) and Hubbard’s decelerating classic rock “Drive” WDRV/WWDV (5.5-4.4-4.1). Filling out the top ten are Entercom’s country WUSN (3.3-3.7-3.7) and – tied for ninth – iHeart’s AC WLIT (2.9-3.2-3.5) and Entercom’s adult alternative WXRT (3.4-3.6-3.5, not counting the additional 0.3 from its stream). Just missing that pair is Weigel-run easy oldies WRME-LP, on the audio channel of a low power channel 6 TV station (3.8-3.8-3.4). “US 99.5’s” country competitor is iHeart’s “Big” WEBG (1.8-1.6-1.5). Tribune’s fifteenth-place talk WGN is flat (2.5-2.8-2.8). #1 station for cume is a player we haven’t mentioned yet – iHeart CHR “Kiss” WKSC, showing a cume of 1,683,300. Back to the AQH standings, it’s tied for twelfth (3.2-3.1-3.1).
Posted by at

Monday, October 29, 2018

One Lone Voice


Posted by at

5 Years?

Hard to believe it's already been five years. This was one of our earliest books. We now have nearly 50.

Posted by at

Fox News

I've been saying it/writing it for ten years now. Creating a world that you wished existed instead of reporting actual news (Republicans are always right). Stoking anger with completely made up stories (Democrats/Jews are paying the caravan to infiltrate us). Creating the entire concept of white resentment (when none of them actually experience racism against them for being white in real life). That's the legacy of Fox News.

I parodied it in my novel "$everance". I said their motto was BIWR (Black is White Repeat).

I agree with Bill Kristol.




In the 90s, it was Rush. Read Timothy McVeigh's words and you'll realize that Rush has blood on his hands. Now read what the Pittsburgh shooter said about George Soros and Jews bringing those migrants here. Anyone who repeated it, or aired it, or said it, has blood on their hands.

And it's not even true. That's the sad part. Black is White repeat.
Posted by at

Congratulations

I was rooting for the Red Sox all the way...


Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)