Hoover Hilarity

This was pretty darn funny this morning on WGN-TV...

Do you remember Bill "BJ" Jackson from Cartoon Town, Dirty Dragon and Gigglesnort Hotel? He's one of Chicago's legendary Children's television hosts. I like to pay tribute to him on @WGNTV's @WGNMorningNews. Sometimes it becomes more adult... pic.twitter.com/0CZJGBU5Jq

— Groovyhoovy (@Groovyhoovy) February 12, 2019

Abe Lincoln Poem

It's February 12th, Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

Every year I trot out the audio of David Stern reciting the poem he wrote about Abe in sixth grade.

Listen to it here.

Q&A with Janet Sutherland-Madden

In 2004, Janet Sutherland left work early to walk her dog Bogie after a grueling day knocking door to door selling radio ads. She was suddenly struck with the worst headache of her life. Sutherland had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. On March 22, 2004, as friends and family sat at Janet’s bedside, she was given a three percent chance to live. For weeks her co-workers raised money for her family, joined her battle, and prayed she would survive. 15 years later, Sutherland has miraculously recovered. NOSE OVER TOES tells the story of her recovery and includes research from The Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

The trade paperback of Nose Over Toes is being released on the 15th anniversary of Janet’s aneurysm, March 22, 2019. It can pre-ordered at www.eckhartzpress.com.

We recently sat down with Janet to talk to her about her book...

EP: I'm sure you've heard this question before, but what is the significance of the title Nose Over Toes?

Janet: Nose over toes is how my physical therapist would direct me to stand up to get out of my chair. It was also how my figure skating teacher told me to stand up straight. It's really for any people who have trouble walking or standing up. Nose over toes is the key phrase.

EP: The thing that really grabbed at my heartstrings while I was reading the book was the role your parents played in your recovery. I know it's hard to sum up, but how would you describe their roles?

Janet: My parents never left my side. They were my rock during recovering. My Dad was my drill sergeant when I got home, making sure I continued my exercise. My mom made sure I stayed on a healthy diet and got back into a normal life routine so I could live on my own. Both parents pledged to make sure I was well enough so I could be the independent woman I was before the rupture. In honor of my Dad who died June 25, 2018 and who’s journal is part of the book, I created a Research Chair in his honor after he died with the foundation and will be continuing it with some of the proceeds of the sale of the book. Before my Dad died he wanted to make sure he donated money to the BAF because he knew how important research funding for brain aneurysms is right now. He wanted to make sure survivors and caregivers are given hope and support. (Photo: Janet as a girl with her dad)

EP: You somehow have the tape of the 911 call you made that day. First of all, do you remember making the call, and secondly, what made you think of going back and getting it?

Janet: I do not remember making the 911 call. But it’s funny, when I was a reporter in Joliet, my JPD and JFD friends trained me about 911 and how important it was. I asked a friend how to get the tape, and my friend reminded me of a talking to the watch commander, I thought 'Yes the watch commander!' So I called the fire department and told the watch commander my situation that I needed the tape “to heal and piece things together.” He left the tape at the fire station. My Dad and I picked up the tape popped it in the car’s cassette deck, heard the screaming and we both started to cry. I started to piece the story together. The tape helped me understand what happened. It was traumatizing but I also knew it was going to help tell my story and promote awareness.

EP: You don't seem to have any lingering effects to your speech, which is obviously helpful in your role as a spokesperson. After going through this for 15 years, I'm guessing you understand exactly why and how it is that you were so lucky. Is that true?

Yes I am lucky. First, my speech would be affected medically if the aneurysm had ruptured on my left side. I would not be able to accomplish as much as I have done or have spoken. When I heard there was an aneurysm on the left side and it would impact my speech and cognitive, I said fix it immediately!!! I have work to do! I’m lucky, but having a big mouth and a journalism background makes me the perfect person to write my story and promote awareness. I do have a limp but that doesn’t seem like a big deal considering what could have been.

EP: If you could go back in time and talk to the 2004 version of you, what has this whole experience taught you that would have given comfort and/or hope to that woman lying in the hospital bed?

Janet: The 2004 person should have told my doctor about the headaches and flicker in my eyes, not sure if that would have raised big concern. But I would have told myself lying in bed, give yourself time to heal, it takes time. I mean I am still healing but who knew what I have accomplished. Whew!

EP: There is so much great information from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation in this book. How do you envision people using this book as a resource?

Janet; I hope people will read the book and feel hopeful. When I was laying in the hospital my mom would run into the room and tell me about a survivor she met and how well they were doing. My response would be “bring them in here I don’t believe it”. So if someone would read my book and know I went from “death’s door” to writing a book. That would give them hope. Also the information should help a family member and provide useful information, there is nothing worse than trying to recover from an illness you don’t’ know much about or what to expect. I hope my book will be comforting to survivors.

EP: You are going to Washington in March to testify before Congress. Tell us about that.

Janet: For 6 years I have traveled to DC with my husband to meet with Congress and about 100 other brain aneurysm survivors and their family members with The Brain Aneurysm Foundation. We meet with members of Congress. We are asking for passage of Ellie’s law, calling for further brain aneurysm research funding as well as promoting awareness. The federal government only spends approximately $0.83 per year on brain aneurysm research for each person afflicted. Women, more than men, suffer from brain aneurysms at a ratio of 3:2. African-Americans suffer at twice the rate of rupture of whites (a 2.1:1 ratio). Hispanics suffer at nearly twice the rate of rupture of whites (a 1.67:1 ratio). An estimated 6 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm, or 1 in 50 people.

A year as a graduate

On this day last year, Eckhartz Press author John Landecke wasr surprised with a college diploma by Grand Valley State University (2018), 50 years after he began college.John does a great job of telling that story in the updated Hall of Fame version of "Records Truly Is My Middle Name", now availalbe as an e-book on amazon.

Pick up your copy here.

"New" Morning show on B-96

From this morning's RAMP Newsletter...

The DreX & Nina morning show on Entercom Top 40 WBBM (B96)/Chicago is now minus the "DreX" portion of the equation as host Kevin "DreX" Buchar exits after ten months. His co-hosts Nina Hajian and Gabe Ramirez will remain in place as the station's permanent morning duo, Gabe & Nina. That news was confirmed in a staff memo from VP of Programming Todd Cavanah, which read, "Today was the last day for DreX on the B96 Morning Show. He will remain a friend to many of us and I want to thank him for being a great teammate and true professional in every sense of the word." Cavanah continued, "During the past 10 months, Gabe and Nina have developed not only a friendship off the air but a great deal of chemistry with each other and the audience on air, at our Bashes, their appearances and their social media platforms. We see enormous potential with both of these rising stars to achieve our goals on B96 for mornings. Gabe and Nina will take over mornings immediately and we are confident that their engagement with each other and the listeners will be a huge success."

WLS PD Retires

According to Robert Feder's column today, WLS PD Peter Bolger is retiring. He gave Dave and I a chance at filling in on his station, so I will always be grateful for that. But this paragraph in Feder's column does explain the situation pretty well...

Programming the once-mighty 50,000-watt powerhouse may have been the pinnacle of Bolger’s career, but he leaves the station in a deeper hole than when he arrived in November 2013. At that time, WLS was in 27th place among adult listeners with a 1.4 percent share. Today it’s tied for 30th with a 0.6 share.

The Tax Cut

Remember the hoopla about the "middle class" tax cut when it was passed last year. Well, people are doing their taxes now for the first time since the cut went into effect, and guess what?

On average, tax refunds are *down* eight percent.

25% fewer people are receiving refunds at all.

Minutia Men, Episode 124

EP124: Rick and Dave discuss cops arresting cops, runners killing mountain lions, an inappropriate place for a sausage museum, and Rick’s brush with Dr. Demento, and they interview a mystery celebrity that you have seen before.

Listen to it here.

RIP Frank Robinson

RIP Frank Robinson, one of the all-time greats. https://t.co/ktgugUTlF4

— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) February 7, 2019

Racist Cubs Owners?

I always knew that Joe Ricketts was one of those nutball Republicans (like his son Todd) because he hasn't made any secret of it. But, until this week, I had no idea he was more than that. He's one of those Republican nutjobs who believes and forwards those crazy racist e-mails.

CNN has the details.

The Cubs pretended like Joe isn't involved in the team. That may be true, technically, but where do you think the kiddies got the dough to buy the team?

Motown 60

The last few years the Grammys have been going the extra mile and paying tribute to certain acts and/or labels with a whole different show. This year it's Motown. From the RAMP Newsletter...

Just two days after the 61st Annual Grammy Awards®, the Recording Academy™, AEG Ehrlich Ventures, and CBS will celebrate historic American record label Motown Records by presenting Motown 60: A Grammy ® Celebration. Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and the legendary Smokey Robinson, the tribute to the iconic sound that changed America will feature (in alphabetical order): Boyz II Men, Chloe X Halle, Ciara, Lamont Dozier, Fantasia, Brian & Eddie Holland, Thelma Houston, Tori Kelly, John Legend, Little Big Town, Ne-Yo, Pentatonix, Martha Reeves, Diana Ross, Valerie Simpson, Mickey Stevenson, Meghan Trainor and Stevie Wonder. The live concert taping will be held next Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7:30pm PT at Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The special will be broadcast on April 21 on CBS.

Like every other scene has been cool

"That cat over there better stop it, man." A black cat crosses the path of 22 soccer players in this week's episode.

Listen to it here.

Glass Onion video

Always loved this song. I approve of the new video too...

The Country Shuffle

From today's RAMP Newsletter...

iHeartMedia Country WEBG (BIG 95.5)/Chicago made two big announcements -- 1) Afternoon personality Brooke Taylor has been awarded Assistant Program Director stripes, and 2) Trace Hamilton has been elevated from part-time/fill-in to fulltime evening entertainer, weeknights from 7pm-1am.

Taylor and Hamilton both report to BIG 95.5 PD Lance Houston, who said of Taylor, "During my first eight months on the job in Chicago, it became more and more clear that Brooke's passion for both BIG 95.5 and iHeartCountry brands made her the obvious choice for this role. Brooke's drive, creativity and leadership will help us take our station to new heights in 2019.

Kim Gordon

From Radio-Online...

WGN-AM/Chicago taps Kim Gordon to anchor the weekday afternoon news. She'll assume the role on "The Roe Conn Show with Anna Davlantes," heard weekdays from 3-7pm. Gordon started her career at WHAS in Louisville and has been an anchor and reporter at WGN Radio for 12 years. Most recently she was heard anchoring mid-afternoon newscasts on WGN, Amazon's Alexa Flash Briefings and MeTV FM News Minutes.

It's Getting Harder and Harder to Remain Catholic

I still love Pope Francis, but man oh man, just when you think this sex scandal can't get any worse, you see a headline like this: Pope Publicly Acknowledges Clergy Sexual Abuse of Nuns

I have two suggestions that don't go against anything in the Bible. Ready? Let priests marry. Let women be priests.

I'm telling you--this will solve 90% of the problems.

Robert Falls

Nice article about theater maestro Robert Falls.

Surprised he didn't mention the choreography he did for us when the Cliff Dancers performed on stage for Steve & Garry, but I guess he's done some other stuff too.

One More Year of Modern Family

The ABC Sitcom "Modern Family" has been renewed for one last season. It will be it's 11th.

Right now it's literally the only sitcom I still DVR weekly.

Joan Esposito

There's a new afternoon talent at WCPT (820 AM) in Chicago. Former Chicago news anchor Joan Esposito has the gig. Robert Feder reports...

It’s official: Joan Esposito has been named afternoon personality on Newsweb Radio progressive talk WCPT 820-AM. The former Chicago television news anchor will host from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting next week. “Joan brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and professionalism to our weekday lineup,” said Mark Pinski, general manager of WCPT. “We look forward to her connecting with our listeners, especially now, when America needs our voices heard.” Esposito, who’s been a fill-in host on the station since 2016, replaces Ben Joravsky, who was cut at the end of December.

Super Bowl Ratings

The game certainly didn't live up to the hype, and as it turns out, neither did the ratings.

Less than 100 million tuned in, which is the lowest since 2009.