Chicago Radio Spotlight: Catherine Johns & Karen Hand

This week I went to the hypnosis center run by former radio pros Catherine Johns and Karen Hand. We talked about radio and hypnosis, and then, they hypnotized me.

Read the interview here.

Black Friday

This song by Steely Dan came out on this day in 1975. It's a little scary how well the lyrics still work today...

Richie Ashburn

He is a Hall of Famer, and he was a Cub...but, let's face it, he isn't a Hall of Famer because of years with the Cubs.

Richie Ashburn was born on this day in 1927.

Read all about his Cubs years here.

Toyota Sign

The Cubs are proposing putting a huge Toyota billboard above the left field bleachers.

My first thought is that they should put it in right field. It might make Kosuke feel a little more at home. He won two batting titles in Japan. Maybe a little reminder of home will remind him how to hit.

The Census

I got mine in the mail this week. I'm worried about filling it out because I'm sure this is some sort of a plot to round up my guns. (I don't actually own one, but not because I have a moral problem with it. It's just a preventative move on my part to avoid accidentally shooting myself.)

Stephen Colbert has a slightly different take on the Census...

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
United States Census 2010
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care reform

Henry Blake

It was on this day in 1975 that M*A*S*H killed off Lt. Col. Henry Blake, proud graduate of the University of Illinois...

The Husband Store

Thanks to "JT" for sending this one in...

The Husband Store

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:
You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs

She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor. The sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.' So she continues upward . The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth f loor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.

'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!' Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.

Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

Bronco Billy

Bronco Billy was one of America's first silent movie stars, and he was based right here in Chicago...during the time of the Cubs greatest dynasty.

He was born this week in 1880.

Read all about his Chicago days here.

If you were a corporation

This is brilliant, and not just because it says what I've been saying. It says it in a much funnier way. Fast forward to the 5:00 minute mark. From that point to the end of the video is really really great.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
In Dodd We Trust
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

An Irish toast

An Irish Joke for St. Patrick's Day

There was once an Irishman named Murphy who walked into an American Bar. He sat down and asked the Bartender "Give me three shots o' your finest Irish Whiskey!" the Bartender complies.

After about a week the bartender asks, "Murphy, would it be better for yeh if I put all three shots of Irish Whiskey into one glass?"

Murphy replied, "well no. See I have two other brothers back at home, Patrick and Owen, and everytime I come into a Pub or Bar I order a shot for each o' them so I can remember the good times."

Well, after another week of this routine, Murphy comes into the bar and only asks for two shots of Irish Whiskey. The bartender immediately says "Murphy, is everything ok? Did somethin' happen to one of your brothers?" "Oh no", Murphy said, "I just decided to quit drinkin!"

Nat King Cole

Here's another St. Patrick's day birthday, the merry Irishman Nat King Cole.* He was born on St. Patrick's day 1919. I ran into this old clip the other day and thought I would share...




*He might not be technically Irish.

Born on St. Patrick's Day

Charlie Root (1899)








Hank Sauer (1917)













Cub Fan Gary Sinise (1955)













Cub Fan Billy Corgan (1967)

Timber!

Do you believe in omens?

The Cubs were on the way to a game versus the Rockies yesterday, when their bus broke down.

Here's the full story.

I'm not an expert in omens and signs, but I'm guessing this isn't a good one.

Scott Simon

Author.

NPR reporter.

Cubs Fan.

Birthday boy. (58 years old today)

Bobby Bonds

Bobby Bonds was born on this day in 1946.

He was a great ballplayer. He had power and speed and charisma. Bobby starred for the Giants, the Yankees, and the Angels.

And yes, he also played for the Cubs. Notice I didn't say he starred for the Cubs. In fact, he was god awful.

Bobby, of course, was also Barry's dad. During Bobby's long illness, Barry even showed actual streaks of humanity. Bobby passed away in 2003.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's is called "Just the Two of Us," and it's about my weekend home alone with my seven year old boy Sean.

You can read it here.