One of my on-going writing projects is writing the history of Green White Soccer Club, a club co-founded by my father in 1956. Every month I write about one year in Green White history. This month, it's 1984.
You can read it here.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Green White
One of my on-going writing projects is writing the history of Green White Soccer Club, a club co-founded by my father in 1956. Every month I write about one year in Green White history. This month, it's 1984.
You can read it here.
What Will They Think of Next?
"DS" sent in this picture....
I'm not a big fan of this company. Their agents are a bit cocky, but I understand it's 99% effective protection, and inch by inch they'll eventually cover all of your needs.
I'm not a big fan of this company. Their agents are a bit cocky, but I understand it's 99% effective protection, and inch by inch they'll eventually cover all of your needs.
Today's Best Tweets--January 31
Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...
Rolling Stone @RollingStone 1m
Watch Harry Connick, Jr. spaz through the robot dance on #AmericanIdol: http://rol.st/1eDah9r
Prospect High School @KnightsofPHS 2m
Woohoo! @KnightsofPHS again ranked top 10 in IL by @USNewsEducation. Top 5 if you remove selective enrollment schools.http://bit.ly/1jSvOlR
Historical Pics @HistoricalPics 9m
Eiffel Tower under construction in July 1888. pic.twitter.com/Yd53ec0lYG
Steven Berger @TheStevenBerger 8m
"There has never been a sadness that can't be cured by breakfast food." - Ron Swanson @parksandrecnbc
WPGU 107.1 @WPGU1071 18m
Weird Fact of the Day: A slugs sex organ actually turns blue and glows while they mate... That's hot.. #WFD
WGN Radio 720 @WGNRadio 20m
January is 3rd snowiest month ever in Chicago, and six more inches may be on the way for Saturday. http://bit.ly/1fhzjg5 #winter
BuzzFeed @BuzzFeed 1h
.@thesimpsons predicted the Super Bowl back in 2005 pic.twitter.com/ptRDZI8mwa
Paul Plaine @ballparkprints 3h
Home Run Derby S01E02 Mickey Mantle vs Ernie Banks: http://youtu.be/lWD9w5PyzCM via @youtube
Great #baseball show
Mark Edwards @markedwards 23m
Happy 83rd birthday to Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks!@Cubs#LetsPlayTwo One of his most recent inter... http://bit.ly/1eDdQMV
The Associated Press @AP 2m
Teacher's aide who was briefly placed on leave over her second career as a lingerie model says she's a role model: http://apne.ws/1eD7ey0
Beatles 50th
You can read it here.
One Man's View of Justin Bieber
I laughed out loud. This is definitely NSFW, but it's funny. Thanks for pointing this out to me, "DD"...
Media Spotlight--January 31
Every weekday in 2014, I'll be keeping an eye on what's happening in the media. My focus will be on some of my favorite subjects...the moguls, the pundits, the broadcast news biz, show business, and the publishing business. (Read "$everance" if you want a crystallization of my positions on those subjects.) And, of course, I'll also keep tabs on Chicago's media.
Chicago Media
~Leslie Harris to WCKG
Most recently she's been rockin' at the River in Naperville. WCKG announced yesterday that she will be WCKG's director of community programming. That station (1530 AM) is attempting to focus on hyper-serving the suburbs. I previously interviewed Leslie back in 2011.
~Jim Ramsey Health Update
Robert Feder tracked down WGN Channel 9 weatherman Jim Ramsey to find out why he hasn't been on the air these past few weeks during a terrible stretch of Chicago weather. He had a very strong flu, and will be back this weekend. Details at the link.
Broadcast News
~CNN to Relaunch "Inside Politics"
Another day, another CNN ever-so-slightly-rearranges-the-deckchairs story.
The Pundits
~The Republican Party Boycotts MSNBC
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus is behind this boycott, presumably because he's outraged (Outraged!) about a tweet that mocked conservatives (The tweet was: "Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/biracial family.") In my book "$everance" I tried to point out to conservatives that Fox News isn't the conservative answer to the mainstream media by creating something to show them what the liberal version of Fox would actually look like. It was satire in 2007, but it exists for real now; MSNBC. Now you've got something to balance...and boycott. At least the outrage (Outrage!) is semi-plausible now, even though things are said on Fox News every day that are just as offensive about liberals.
--By the way, MSNBC fired the tweeter, which is something Fox would never do in similar circumstances.
The Radio Biz
~Bob Uecker cuts back on his 2014 schedule
Give the man a break, he's 80 years old. He'll be doing fewer roadtrips this year with the Brewers. When I'm in the car in the summer I can pick up the Brewers broadcasts occasionally. It's always entertaining to listen to Uecker.
~Pandora Stock Surges
Tom Taylor has the info in his NOW Newsletter: " A Goldman Sachs report pushes Pandora stock up 11% yesterday, to a new all-time high of $36.53. The stock went public in June 2011 at $16 a share and soon wilted below $10. Yesterday Goldman analyst Heath Terry suggested that as Pandora gets a handle on content costs and sells more of its short ads, the stock could double over the next couple of years. The one-day stock-price gain was $3.61. Yesterday's action was likely helped by favorable ad-revenues reported by Facebook, which lifted the market in general."
~The Lone Ranger (radio anniversary)
I worked with John Landecker for ten years and he constantly talked about his love of "The Lone Ranger". He grew up near Detroit (where the Lone Ranger began on the radio), and he and his grandfather bonded while listening to it. The full story of the radio origins of that great series is at the link (Indian Country)
Showbiz
~The Tonight Show Move Causes Layoffs
164 positions were eliminated in the move from Jay Leno's Los Angeles to Jimmy Fallon's New York. The article linked here is in the Los Angeles Business Journal. I'm sure there will be a similar number of jobs created in New York. Look for that news in the New York Business Journal.
Social Media
~Facebook doesn't consider itself a media company
It's a conent company, according to Facebook executives. Granted, it's your content and my content, but it is content. Not to quibble or nitpick, but it's called social media, Facebook, not social content.
Just One Bad Century--January 31
Today's JOBC Cubs Almanac--Ernie Banks is 83 today and we've got lots of info about Mr. Cub, including a video of him taking on (and beating) Gil Hodges in Home Run Derby.
You can check it out here.
Joel Daly's Book
You can read it here.
I'm not quite sure how he managed to find out so much about the book, but I thank him for doing it, and publicizing it. Joel Daly's life has truly been amazing and the stories Larz teases in that article are worth a measly $15.95. Don't you think?
The book is available for pre-order now at Eckhartz Press.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
The Next Generation
Here's a sneak peak: "Take my teacher...please (rimshot) I take my teacher everywhere...but she keeps finding her way back (rimshot). The food in the cafeteria is fit for a king. "Here King"...(rimshot). OK, our next act is lip synching a Jonas Brothers song. Let's have a big round of applause for..."
Today's Best Tweets--January 30
Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...
CollegeHumor @CollegeHumor 4m
16 Hilariously Honest Company Slogans http://ow.ly/t7ax5 Hot Pockets pic.twitter.com/SMUeub1Ww9
Judd Apatow @JuddApatow 7m
“@JesseThorn: Incidentally: saw the Alan Partridge movie last night and it's f**king hilarious. Do go see it.” Where they stole his baby?
Gawker @Gawker 11m
My coworker's mustache makes him look like Hitler. Is that OK? http://gaw.kr/DF0H55M
Brian Stelter @brianstelter 12m
Seeking public apology from MSNBC prez, RNC chair @Reince says he's banned all staff from appearing on the channel: http://bit.ly/1a3WQn8
Dana Gould @DanaJGould 18m
For all you dudes itching for a threeway, the twins from The Shining have grown up. pic.twitter.com/WNlp2sCcg6
People magazine @peoplemag 24m
Kevin Jonas is inviting you to his house for Super Bowl weekend -- but it will cost you $20,000 a night: http://peoplem.ag/t77Bq
Eddie Volkman @EddieVolkman 26m
A lot of people don't know this, but you can quietly like or dislike Obama.
BillMoyers.com @BillMoyersHQ 30m
Obama has issued fewer executive orders per year than Reagan, both Bushes & Clinton: http://wapo.st/1fA6ZFW @monkeycageblog #morningreads
MLB @MLB 41m
With the free agents still available, you could put together a solid ballclub, writes @philgrogers: http://atmlb.com/1hREFAC
The Onion @TheOnion 44m
Al-Qaeda Operative Can’t Believe How Expensive Super Bowl Tickets Are http://onion.com/1eazI7t
Which Muppet Are You?
I'm Bobo the Bear, a muppet I've never heard of. Here's the description: "You’re kind-hearted, funny, and always have the best intentions, even though you’re a bit of a klutz in the love department."
And like Bobo the Bear, completely unknown.
Media Spotlight--January 30
Every weekday in 2014, I'll be keeping an eye on what's happening in the media. My focus will be on some of my favorite subjects...the moguls, the pundits, the broadcast news biz, show business, and the publishing business. (Read "$everance" if you want a crystallization of my positions on those subjects.) And, of course, I'll also keep tabs on Chicago's media.
Chicago Media
~Tom Kent's Open Letter To the Radio Business
Tom Kent was a disc jockey at WLS in the 80s, and was inspired by the death of his old colleague Larry Lujack to write this open letter. The gist of it is that radio's biggest problem is that they don't care about the audience, and they haven't for years.
~Tom Langmyer
The former WGN Radio General Manager is making his move in Milwaukee. From Radio Ink:
Tom Langmyer is now the VP/GM of Journal's Milwaukee cluster which includes WTMJ-AM and WLWK-FM. The announcement was made today by Journal Executive Vice President, Radio, Steve Wexler, who was recently named to his current role and is stepping away from his day-to-day general manager role to focus on Journal's 35-station radio division. Langmyer will continue to support Journal's spoken-word stations as vice president of News/Talk programming.
~Andy Masur
For the past seven years Chicago-native and former WGN Radio broadcaster Andy Masur has been the radio voice of the San Diego Padres. According to this piece in U-T San Diego, that's no longer the case. They hired someone who is more of a social media expert to take his place. (I interviewed Andy years ago when he first started in San Diego. You can read that here).
Media Criticism
~Media Reporting's Blind Spot
There are some very good points in this Buzzfeed piece, some of which I'm as guilty of as anyone who reports on the media. It's about the tech side of the business, which this writer points out is the only side of the business that has any relevance at all.
~David Carr of the New York Times examines the same subject
But his focus is more on the financial realities of the so-called "media tech bubble". So far, it hasn't been a very successful journey, even though there are a few encouraging signs.
The Moguls
~Hacking Trial Update
More news from the hacking trial of Rupert Murdoch's News of the World executives. This is pretty damning...
A former reporter at the News of the World told a London court that he lied in previous cases as part of an “enormous conspiracy” to cover up phone hacking at the News Corp. (NWSA) tabloid. The reporter, Dan Evans, said he invented terms such as “sticky keys” at meetings with News Corp. lawyers to explain how he had heard celebrities’ voice-mail messages. Evans is under cross-examination after two days of testimony in the case over wrongdoing at News Corp. tabloids...“I did lie, yes,” Evans said during questioning by Coulson’s lawyer, Timothy Langdale. “I was part of the conspiracy. I’m ashamed to say that I did.”
~The Patch Lays Off Hundreds of Journalists
Why is this in the moguls section? This is the quote from the New York Post: "The move is a black eye for AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, who had co-founded the site as a side venture when he was still a Google executive." I don't know anything about Armstrong's politics, but the glee I'm seeing in the likes of the New York Post, the Fox Business website, and Breitbart gives me a hint.
Broadcast News
~The Average Viewer of Fox New is 68 years old
The very oldest Baby Boomers were born in 1946, which means they will be turning 68 this year. Fox News viewers are the generation older than the Baby Boomers. Frank Rich analyzes the implications of that in this New Yorker piece.
~ESPN Blocks Producer From Joining Today Show
From the article: A network source told THE DAILY, "He has a contract with ESPN, and ESPN is going to require him to fulfill it." You know me. I'm always on the side of the producer.
~Larry King Analyzes CNN
This about sums it up: “CNN’s got problems,” he said. “I don’t know what they’re going to do.”
Showbiz
~Billy Joel's Net Worth
This article lists his net worth at $160 million. If there's anyone who has truly earned that kind of money, it's Billy Joel. He has sold more than a hundred million records and sold out concerts around the world since the mid-70s. Some of that money has come from me. I'm taking the whole famiily (all five of us) to see him at Wrigley Field in July.
Snow Forecast for this Week
I wish this was a joke, but I'm afraid it's not. This is what we can expect between now and next Wednesday at midnight according to WGN Television...(click on the photo to enlarge)
Just One Bad Century--January 30
Today's JOBC Cubs Almanac--Davey Johnson, Doc, FDR, Andy Frain, a cup of coffee from 1908 and more.
Check it out here.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Halftime Shows
Rolling Stone has the videos for every halftime show of that big game that can't be named. This is #1 on the list. I think I agree. (Although I still think the Who is ranked too low. I thought they were very good, despite the bad reviews).
Today's Best Tweets--January 29
Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...
Pete Schroeder @peteschroeder 28m
Dow down 648 points since Justin Bieber arrested for DUI and drag racing.
David Kaplan @thekapman 17m
Shared an article. Kaplan: Key points of the Cubs' Wrigley Field Rooftop contract: http://fw.to/mhlrYaR
Kevin Pang @pang 22m
Someone tweeted last night the Atlanta Journal-Constitution should've gone with winter traffic snarls headline: "Waiting for GA D.O.T."
ThinkProgress @thinkprogress 20m
As Obama spoke about the need for gun reform last night, there was another school shooting
http://thkpr.gs/1efaoLS
NRA News @NRANews 18m
Obama vows to pursue gun control ‘with or without Congress’ - http://dailycaller.com/2014/01/28/obama-vows-to-pursue-gun-control-with-or-without-congress/#ixzz2rnhHfMKk … #NRA (via @dailycaller)
The Daily Beast @thedailybeast 1m
America before the Beatles landed: Sex, sex, liberation, and sex http://thebea.st/1ctNyjm
The AV Club @TheAVClub 2m
10 Taxi episodes that find heart and humor in a dead-end job http://avc.lu/1njUp35
Radio.com @radiodotcom 4m
Bob Dylan will perform during the Super Bowl...in ads for Chrysler and Chobani http://cbsloc.al/Log9MA
Marcus Leshock @marcusleshock 10m
Conan O'Brien with another "local newscasters reading the same script" montage.... http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/judging-by-local-news-theres-an-even-bigger-story-thats-sweeping-the-nation_b114158
The Daily Show @TheDailyShow 18m
.@iamsambee explores the devastating economic effects of raising the minimum wage to the poverty level. http://on.cc.com/Loedns
Media Spotlight--January 29
Every weekday in 2014, I'll be keeping an eye on what's happening in the media. My focus will be on some of my favorite subjects...the moguls, the pundits, the broadcast news biz, show business, and the publishing business. (Read "$everance" if you want a crystallization of my positions on those subjects.) And, of course, I'll also keep tabs on Chicago's media.
Chicago Media
~Joel Daly
The former Channel 7 anchor's book is now available on Eckhartz Press (my publishing company). There are tons of great stories about Chicago media in the book, not to mention stories about the news events of the past 50 years. Click here to pre-order or just read more about the book. Emily Barr, the former boss of Channel 7 said this about Joel's memoir:
"Joel Daly's warmth, humor, and intelligence shine in this fascinating memoir. He was an eyewitness to over 50 years of news and history, covering it all with compassion, perspective and absolute dedication to his craft. What an honor to have worked with one of broadcasting's true giants."
~Mary Dixon
I'm interviewing the WXRT Morning News Anchor later this morning. She will be the focus of my March column in the Illinois Entertainer. WLS Radio's Greg Brown will be featured in February. I believe it will be posted on Saturday.
~Darren Davis
Just a few years ago Darren Davis was in charge of Chicago's Clear Channel stations. He has moved up the ladder very quickly. This was the news yesterday, reported by the RAMP Newsletter...
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has created a new unified Networks group, designed "to take full advantage of Clear Channel's power, reach and scale to deliver more compelling content opportunities to its partners, affiliates, advertisers and consumers, as well as providing a unique platform to its content partners and talent." Darren Davis will lead this effort as President, Clear Channel Networks Group. In his newly expanded role, Davis will oversee the company's key Network divisions, including: Premiere Networks, Total Traffic and Weather Network, 24/7 News Network and The iHeartRadio Network.
~Elroy Smith
The former boss of WGCI and V-103 is changing jobs too. Since 2007, he's been programming a station in Philadelpia. He resigned yesterday. No word yet on where he will wind up next.
~Roe & Roeper Sports Hour Dropped
Robert Feder has the details about the move, which seemed inevitable the day after it began.
The Moguls
~Twitter Founder Raises $25 Million For Media Start Up
He's trying to create something between Twitter and Blogger. Recode has the details above.
Broadcast News
~Congressman Threatens To Throw TV Reporter Off Balcony
It's all captured on videotape at the link above if you'd like to watch it. The New York Times has more information.
~Weather Channel Reporter Knees College Kid in the Groin
Jim Cantore was trying to keep the kid out of his live shot. Watch it below...
~Jake Tapper to Interview The President
This will be the first interview after last night's State of the Union. It will air on Friday, two days before Bill O'Reilly's big interview. CNN can use the bump. Their numbers are down 39% since this time last year.
Showbiz
~The Emmy's Moved To A Monday Night
It's aired on Sunday nights forever, but this year it's moving to Monday. The link above goes to TVguide.com if you want more details.
~Oprah Cancels Her Own Birthday Party
The guest list was getting a little too unwieldy, so she just cancelled it. Sounds like a bit of a hissy fit to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)