Friday, August 09, 2019

A very special Minutia Men

The Museum of Broadcast Communications was kind enough to allow us to record this week's Minutia Men podcast in their radio studio. We invited our old college friends; Emmy award winning journalists Dane Placko and Jay Shatz to join in. What a blast. Thanks to everyone who participated, including our producer Tony Lossano who was there to help us work the controls.

HERE IS THE AUDIO

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Thursday, August 08, 2019

Field of Dreams

This would be very cool to see...

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Drunk Shakespeare

My cousin Barb called us up recently and asked if we would be willing to check out something in Chicago called "Drunk Shakespeare." I'm always up for a night on the town, and so I said yes. It was a lot of fun. Hard to explain exactly what we saw, but there were scenes from MacBeth interspersed with drinking and wacky bits. Enjoyed it very much. Check it out if you're looking for an unusual night out.
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Free Kicks

The Premier League is back beginning tomorrow night! That means its time to fire up the soccer podcast once again. The new episode of Free Kicks is up at the Radio Misfits podcast network.

Listen to it here.
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Least satisfying job?

Thanks so much to Burt Constable for including me in his article this morning. It was fun to talk to him. I tried to defend the producer job, fellow producers...

Read it here.
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Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Love This

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Tuesday, August 06, 2019

EveryCubEver branches out



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Hacked!

If you received an e-mail from me, my apologies. My yahoo account was hacked and it was cloned into a new g-mail account that isn't mine at all.

I would never send an e-mail asking for money.

Sorry about that. What a pain in the ass this has been this morning.
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Chicago Radio Ratings

These are the lastest radio ratings in Chicago, Courtesy of Robert Feder...

1. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 5.4 (5.1)
2. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 5.2 (5.6)
3. WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 4.9 (4.3)
4. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 4.8 (4.8)
5. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.3 (4.2)
6. WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 4.0 (4.8)
7. (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.8 (3.4); WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 3.8 (3.9)
9. (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 3.3 (3.7); WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 3.3 (3.5)
11. (tie) WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.1 (3.2); WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 3.1 (3.0)
13. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 3.0 (2.8); WGN 720-AM news talk, 3.0 (3.0); WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 3.0 (3.0)
16. (tie) WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.8 (2.7); WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary,2.8 (2.8); WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 2.8 (2.9)
19. WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 2.7 (2.5)
20. WLS 890-AM news talk, 2.2 (2.1)
21. (tie) WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 1.9 (2.0); WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 1.9 (2.2); WPWX 92.3-FM urban contemporary, 1.9 (1.9)
24. WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.6 (1.6)
25. (tie) WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.5 (1.2); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.5 (1.2)
27. WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.4 (1.7)
28. WERV 95.9-FM classic hits, 1.3 (1.3)
29. (tie) WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 0.8 (1.0); WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 0.8 (0.8)
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My Kind of Town

Beautiful photo by Barry Butler...

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Monday, August 05, 2019

Minutia Men, Episode 144

EP144: Rick and Dave discuss litigious dodgeball, cathedral putt-putt, Nazi amusement parks, Warren G. Harding, Rick’s brush with Marilu Henner, and interview rock and roll photographer Mick Rock.

Listen to it here.
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Janet's Mom's Final Wish

When Janet Sutherland-Madden's mother passed away recently, one of her final wishes was to donate a hundred of Janet's books ("Nose Over Toes") to the UIC Department of Neurosurgery. That wish was fulfilled over the weekend. Here is a photo of Janet with Dr. Konstantin Slavin.

Dr. Konstantin Slavin's clinical interests are diverse applications of surgical neuromodulation and functional neurosurgery. This includes treatment of pain, movement disorders, epilepsy, and psychiatric diseases with a particular interest in the treatment of facial pain, cancer-related pain, Chiari malformation, stereotactic radiosurgery, brain tumors, and spinal problems. He has received many clinical and professional awards, including "Most Compassionate Doctor," and for many years has been included in the prestigious "Top Surgeons" and "Best Doctors" lists in the USA. Dr. Slavin is a professor of neurosurgery and head of the Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery section at UIC.

The book will be given out to patients who are afflicted with brain aneurysms. Janet is an inspiration to those patients because of her determined and successful recovery. She shows them that anything is possible.
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New Radio Hall of Famers

From this morning's RAMP newsletter...

1. Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton -- WKTU/New York and the Weekly Top 30 Countdown, syndicated by Premiere Networks.
2. Harry Harrison -- morning personality, WMCA-AM, WABC-AM and WCBS-FM/New York (Longstanding Local/Regional, 20+ years).
3. The Kevin & Bean Show (Kevin Ryder & Gene "Bean" Baxter), KROQ/Los Angeles (Active Local/Regional, 10+ years).
4. Joe Madison -- Joe Madison, The Black Eagle, SiriusXM's Urban View.
5. Jim Rome -- The Jim Rome Show, CBS Sports Radio (Longstanding Network/Syndication, 20+ years)
6. Ryan Seacrest -- KIIS-FM/Los Angeles, On Air with Ryan Seacrest and American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, syndicated by Premiere Networks.
7. John Tesh -- Intelligence for your Life, syndicated by Compass Media Networks (Active Network/Syndication, 10+ years).
8. Dr. Ruth Westheimer -- The Dr. Ruth Show on NBC Radio and host of Sexually Speaking on WYNY/New York.
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Friday, August 02, 2019

Rick in Elgin

Got an early start on my day today. A few photos from this mornings broadcast. Thanks to the good folks at the Gail Borden library in Elgin, Mark and Larry from 1410 AM, and George Rawlinson for setting it up and taking these pictures. Had a great time.

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Thursday, August 01, 2019

Phil Manicki

The August issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and features my interview with the Drive's Phil Manicki

You can read it here.
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Cubs Trades

I like these moves...

Cubs get Tony Kemp from the Astros. (He's a nice second baseman with speed and pop. A little guy. Fan favorite type)

Cubs get Nick Castellanos from the Tigers. (Former infielder turned outfielder with a great bat. Last year he was one of the best hitters in the league. Having a down year for him--but way better than what we have.)

And all it cost us was a third string catcher and two pitching prospects that aren't even in our top 15 prospects. I'll take it.
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Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Friday Morning

This Friday morning I'll be appearing at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin at 8am--as part of the WRMN 1410AM radio broadcast. Hosts Marky B and Larry Jones will be talking to me for about an hour about the Cubs and my book "EveryCubEver" in the shadow of the library's great new Cubs vs. Sox display (https://www.gailborden.info/).

I'll bring some books along if anyone would like to purchase an autographed copy.
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Tuesday, July 30, 2019

One town that won't let you down

This is pretty darn cool...

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The Alma Mater

I'm a sucker for this one. I don't exactly bleed blue and orange, but I did go there, and graduate from there, and meet some of my best friends ever there...

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Another Shooting

There are real-live consequences to racism being allowed to exist in the open. This shooter in California was only 19 years old...

Investigators said three weeks ago the suspect legally purchased an AK-47 style assault rifle in Nevada. Sunday afternoon he walked about a half mile from his car to the festival where he cut through a fence. That day he had posted at least two images to Instagram, one showing the fairgrounds and another that referred to an author with white nationalist views and contained a derogatory reference to mixed race people.

And of course it was an AK-47. This story has already receded from the news. It's that common. This is who we are as a country right now.
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Monday, July 29, 2019

Eckhartz Press Sunday

Yesterday two of our authors (Deb Tokarz and Janet Sutherland-Madden) appeared on Playtime with Bill & Kerri on WCGO. Thanks for having them on!

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Nice catch Dad

The sleeping baby in his arms didn't even wake up. Dad power.

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Minutia Men, Episode 143

EP143: Rick and Dave discuss fast food fights, Obscene wedding invitations, branding problems, the day Rick was born, Rick’s brush with former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, and they interview Schoolhouse Rock’s Essra Mohawk.

Listen to it here.

Essra, by the way, sang this immortal School House Rock song...



And this one...

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Art

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Club 400 Podcast

On Friday night I got a call asking me if there was any way I could do the Club 400 podcast on short notice in Algonquin Illinois the following afternoon. I said "Sure"

Thanks to Stew and William for having me out there. It was a blast.

You can listen to it here.

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Sunday, July 28, 2019

Viva Baltimore

Incredible responses to President Trump's racist tweets about Baltimore. This is the last paragraph of the Baltimore Sun editorial...

Finally, while we would not sink to name-calling in the Trumpian manner — or ruefully point out that he failed to spell the congressman’s name correctly (it’s Cummings, not Cumming) — we would tell the most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval Office, the mocker of war heroes, the gleeful grabber of women’s private parts, the serial bankrupter of businesses, the useful idiot of Vladimir Putin and the guy who insisted there are “good people” among murderous neo-Nazis that he’s still not fooling most Americans into believing he’s even slightly competent in his current post. Or that he possesses a scintilla of integrity. Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.

This is a CNN morning anchor and Baltimore native...

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Thursday, July 25, 2019

Caddyshack

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Record Heat in Europe

I grew up in Europe, and that continent is totally unequipped to handle this: Europe heat: Temperature records are shattered in Europe, with Paris hitting all-time mark of 109 degrees

Almost no-one has air conditioning.
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The Bottom Line

Unfortunately this didn't happen until the final moments of the hearing, but it should be in any anti-Trump ads next year...



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Mueller Hearing

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Writer's Event

Members, non-members, friends, colleagues and guests are invited to join Chicago Writers Association and the Illinois Woman's Press Association for an evening of literature, conversation, storytelling, food and drink.

Click here for more details about the event and RSVP instructions.

This event is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you! I will be there.



July 27, 2019
7:00 - 10:00 pm
The Atlantic Bar & Grill
5062 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60625
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New Morning Show at US-99

This arrived in my e-mail box this morning. A press release from Entercom...

Entercom, a leading media and entertainment company and one of the two largest radio broadcasters in the U.S., today announced a new morning show on US99 (WUSN-FM), Chicago’s #1 Country Station. Chicago-area native Katie Bright and Jason Pullman will host the show with contributions from Erin, weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. CT beginning on August 8. In addition, the morning show will also feature a rotating group of contributors.

“We are thrilled to welcome this talented team to US99,” said Jimmy de Castro, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Chicago. “The team will bring country music fans an entertaining and informative live, local show that is built for Chicagoland.”
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Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Who is Covering the Mueller Hearings?

Don't call me. I'll be watching. Looks like I'll have a choice of stations.

According to Variety, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and C-SPAN will be covering it live.

The Fox News broadcast plans on redacting the Democrats with big black boxes over their faces during their questioning, and putting Snapchat filters on Mueller's face, and will play the Battle Hymn of the Republic during the Republicans questions.*



*Not really. But would it really surprise you?
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Flakus Leaves Chicago

Lost another radio pro this week. This one is heading west. From the RAMP newsletter...

Entercom Alternative KNDD (107.7 The End)/Seattle has managed to nail down the services of major market Alt/Rock star Walter Flakus as APD and afternoon drive personality, effective August 6. Flakus is inbound from Chicago, where he spent the past five years as APD/MD and evening entertainer at Cumulus Alternative WKQX. He was also MD for the late, great WLUP (The Loop)/Chicago, and he previously worked for SiriusXM and the former WHRL-FM/Albany, NY. "We're thrilled to welcome such a talented programmer to the 107.7 The End team," said Jack Hutchison, SVP/Market Manager, Entercom Seattle. "Walter brings extensive experience and leadership both on and off the air, which will benefit listeners and partners."
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Monday, July 22, 2019

Tarp Monster

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Albert Brooks

Happy birthday to one of the funniest men on the planet, Albert Brooks. I quote this scene all the time in our house..."You can't say nest, you can't say egg"

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MInutia Men, Episode 142


EP142: Rick and Dave discuss a parent of the year, the grossest furniture possible, Jenkins in Israel, an ex-Cub who was murdered, Rick’s brush with former Beatle Pete Best, and they interview and play audio genius from production wizard Vince Argento.

Listen to it here.
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They would know

When the Germans see it...

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Friday, July 19, 2019

Paul Musical



OK, this has got my brain moving...


(I saw her standing there)
She is just 17,
My Bedford Falls queen,
And the way she looks,
In that swimming robe,
If I step on the bottom of that robe now,
Whoooo,
She will not be clothed.

(Get Back)
Georgey was a man, who thought he was a loser,
Working with and for his dad,
Georgey had a giant trunk, but couldn't use 'er,
That kept makin' him mad

(Let it Be)
When I find myself in times of trouble,
Mary Bailey comes to me,
George lassos stork now,
More Baileys

(Uncle Albert)
We're so sorry, Uncle Billy,
We're so sorry, that you've lost the loot again, my friend
We're so sorry, Uncle Billy,
But without that loot, our new home will be in the state pen

(Live and Let Die)
When you were young,
always sledding on a shovel George,
You used to say "Hee Haw Harry"
(you know you did, you know you did, you know you did)
But lets say you weren't there the day he fell in,
You could kiss him goodbye,
Harry would die.

(Yesterday)
Yesterday,
Martini's bar was a place I could stay,
But now they tell me I should go away,
I said "C'mon Nick, man, whadda ya say?"
He looked at me,
Called me and Clarence two pixies,
And threw us through the door onto the street,
Oh I believe,
That Nick's a creep.


(Blackbird)
Bailey, greatest man that we have met,
Please don't worry, there's no to fret,
Don't be upset
We collected money to help pay off all your debt


(Let 'em in)
Press that button by the door,
when you hear a bell,
There's an angel somewhere,
feelin' so swell,
Do 'em a favor,
ring that bell,
get his wings.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.




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Kennedy Center Honors

Breaking new ground with this year's nominees. The first TV show to be honored. From Deadline...

Sesame Street, actress Sally Field, singer Linda Ronstadt, R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire and conductor and San Francisco Symphony co-founder Michael Tilson Thomas have been named the 2019 recipients of the 42nd annual Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements.

I think we can all agree on Sesame Street, right? Let me know if that has also become a political football.
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Savages in the Box

I think this means he thinks his boys can hit the ball well and need good strikes and balls to be called. His technique is a little more colorful...

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Club 400

I accompanied Eckhartz Press authors Randy Richardson and Becky Sarwate Maxwell last night to Club 400 in Lake in the Hills for a Cubs party. It was incredible. They raised six figures for charity, and I got to meet Willson Contreras, Carlos Zambrano, and more. Thanks so much to our host Stewart, and we hope the 200+ people who went home with copies of "Cubsessions" really enjoy the book.

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Thursday, July 18, 2019

What he said

And this was before the nazi chanting last night...

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Congratulations!

I haven't seen them since the night John Landecker was inducted into the Hall of Fame. They were engaged already at that time. Very happy for them...

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Wednesday, July 17, 2019

RIP Ernie Broglio

Sad news. Former Cub Ernie Broglio has passed away at the age of 83. Here's his updated entry in #everycubever...

~Ernie Broglio 1935--2019 (Cubs 1964-1967)
It’s too bad that Broglio’s name has become a punchline. He was actually a pretty good pitcher before the Cubs traded Lou Brock to get him. Broglio was a former 20-game winner and was coming off an 18-win year, but he was not happy to be traded to the Cubs. He never liked the day games because he felt the batters could see the ball better, and though he didn’t tell anyone, he was beginning to get arm problems. He won four games with the Cubs the second half of 1964, but his elbow blew up on him, and he won only three more games over the next two full years.
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RIP Johnny Clegg

The African singer Johnny Clegg passed away this week. He was 63 years old. I really loved this song of his when he was in the group Juluka...

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Textbook Racism

How on the money are people that called Trumps tweets racist? The exact phrase he used is mentioned in the government's own handbook about avoiding racism...



Stop debating this. The debate is over. He's a racist. Period.
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1969 Cubs

Last night the Cubs wore their 1969 throw back jerseys. Because their numbers are retired, nobody on the Cubs wore the numbers of 1969 Cubs Ernie, Billy, Fergie or Ron last night. However, a few of the current Cubs did wear numbers of 1969 favs like...#9 Randy Hundley (Javy), #11 Don Kessinger (Yu Darvish), #12 Gene Oliver (Kyle Schwarber), #20 Oscar Gamble (Brandon Kinzler), #22 Paul Popovich (Jason Heyward), #27 Phil Regan (Addison Russell), #28 Jim Hickman (Kyle Hendricks), #29 Don Young (Brad Brach), #30 Ken Holtzman (Alec Mills), #32 Rich Nye (Tyler Chatwood), #34 Hank Aguirre (Jon Lester), and #38 Jim Colborn (Martin Maldanado).

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RIP JPS

Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens passed away yesterday. Here is his entry from our extended JOBC edition of everycubever...

~Justice John Paul Stevens (Cubs fan 1920-2019)
He was a moderate Republican when he was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Gerald R. Ford in 1975, and was later considered the most liberal member of the Supreme Court, but Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens had other interests besides the law and politics. Namely Baseball. More specifically; Cubs baseball. Judge Stevens was born in Chicago in 1920. His father built the famous Stevens Hotel (which is now the Hilton), and John and his brothers posed as models for the bronze sculptures by the grand stairway. In 1932 at the age of 12, Stevens, who had become a huge Chicago Cubs fan, remembers sitting at Wrigley Field and watching Babe Ruth, in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series, gesturing with his bat toward center field and hitting his famous “called shot” home run. He went to college in Chicago, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago in 1941. During those years, he was a frequent visitor to Wrigley Field. During the 1950s and 1960s while he practiced law in Chicago, he continued to follow his favorite team. Starting in 1975, however, after becoming a Supreme Court Justice, his visits to Chicago became less frequent. After retiring from the court, he lived in Washington & Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. But every now and then, he still stopped by the favorite place of his youth. In 2005, at age 85, he threw the first pitch at a Cubs-Reds game at Wrigley Field and got it right over the plate. (Photo by AP Photos/Jeff Robertson)
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New Night Jock at US99

From this morning's RAMP Newsletter...

RAMP has learned that Kimmie Caruba has exited her evening on-air position at Entercom Country WUSN (US 99)/Chicago after nearly three years, the result of corporate restructuring.

We have also confirmed that US 99 APD/MD Marci Braun will now annex the care and feeding of the US99 night show. A staff memo from PD Kenny Jay read, in part, "I'm excited that our very own Marci Braun will step into the evening on-air position at US99. She brings unmatched knowledge of the music, artists and Chicago to the table every day and now we will share it with our listeners on a consistent basis."

Caruba returned to her hometown of Chicago in Sept. 2016 to do nights on US99, earning the transfer and serious market bump up from then CBS Radio Phoenix, where she did nights on Country cousin KMLE and middays on Top 40 KALV (Live 101.5). Earlier career stops include Burlington, VT and Syracuse, NY. Caruba began her radio career at iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC (Kiss FM)/Chicago interning for Fred & Angi twice.

"I had a dream of doing radio in my hometown & I still can’t believe that I actually lived that dream the past few years," Caruba tells RAMP. "I'm excited for the possibilities of what could come next!"
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Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Chance the Snapper

If you live in the Chicago area, we've been obsessed with an alligator seen in the Humboldt Park lagoon. They finally captured the scary beast last night, and he looks cute.


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Tony Lossano

Our Minutia Men producer is in the news this morning, courtesy of Robert Feder...

Tony Lossano, the prolific producer of radio shows and podcasts, is going back to his roots. Starting Monday he’ll relaunch “Nude Hippo: The Podcast.” Ryan Chiaverini of “Windy City Live” will be Lossano’s first guest for the new series of one-on-one interviews. The new format is billed as “more intimate and memorable” than his previous broadcast ventures, including “Nude Hippo: Your Chicago Show” and “Lossano and Friends!” Lossano should have no trouble lining up guests. Over the years, he’s been a producer for such radio legends as Dick Biondi, John Records Landecker, Bob Sirott, Robert Murphy and Melissa Forman.
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Monday, July 15, 2019

Minutia Men, Episode 141

EP141: Rick and Dave run with the bulls in Spain, expose brothers that fight more than you did, discuss Russians blessing weapons, do a Cubs tongue twister, talk about Rick’s brush with Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung, and interview Pulp Fiction/Boardwalk Empire/Walking Dead actor Paul Calderone.

Listen to it here.
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Paul & Ringo

Totally jealous that I missed this...although let me point out that Paul could have gone right into "With a Little Help from My Friends" right after Sgt. Pepper. Ringo was right there.

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Marty Brennaman

I've never forgiven him for the comments he made about Cub fans, and I was never a fan of his son, but I have to say he is a good baseball announcer. Not thrilled to learn we share a birthday, however. Good interview in the Sun Times...


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Stone Cold Racist

I've known it since the birther years, and had it absolutely confirmed when he said there were "very fine people" among the torch-wielding Nazis who chanted "Jews will not replace us", but all doubt had to be removed even from his blind followers after he tweeted this yesterday...

“So interesting to see ‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run,” he tweeted. “Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done.”

The Congresswomen he was tweeting about were all brown-skinned. Three of them were born in America. The president is a stone-cold racist. Period. End of discussion.
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