Theo's a Cub

ABC News reported it last night.

Full details are here.

Time for a collective exhale, Chicago.

Another Twit in the Wall

Over the past few years, every time I met a fellow author and we discussed the various different platforms we use to promote our writing, they were always shocked that I hadn't yet joined Twitter. "You have to be on Twitter. It's essential."

I didn't want to do it. I really didn't. I'm a little overextended as it is. But with a brand new novel coming out in a few weeks, I buckled. I joined Twitter yesterday. And now, after pathetically asking you to "Friend" me on Facebook a few years ago, I must now also beg you to please follow me on Twitter.

Here's my Twitter page.

I promise to be brief. Of course, I have no choice. 140 characters is the limit.

Now can someone please explain the whole hashtag thing to me? I'm serious. I need some help. I'm a technical moron.

Baseball Costumes

Yahoo! Sports offers up five baseball costume ideas for Halloween this year. Among their suggestions: Giants pitcher Brian Wilson, Babe Ruth, A League of Their Own, a baseball toddler outfit, and making his triumphant return on the list this year...Steve Bartman.

Are you still wondering why Bartman refused to take part in that documentary?

Theo Update

Depending on who you believe, Theo will either be announced by the Cubs today (on the World Series off day) or Commissioner Selig may have to step in to mediate the situation. Both of those possibilities are suggested within this one article.

Asparagus

Had a wonderful side dish of asparagus last night with dinner and it had it's usual effect on me. I don't know why, but that chemical reaction never fails to amuse me.

I'm 48 going on 12.

The Song Remains the Same

35 years ago today Led Zeppelin released their concert film "The Song Remains the Same". It was a Midnight movie staple for many years after that...

Book about Bartman Play

A man from New Lenox has written a book about the Bartman play, looking at every conceivable angle. His conclusion: the ump should have called fan interference.

The details about the book are here.

16 years ago

My annual birthday tribute to my oldest boy Tommy makes it's way onto the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow this year.

It was 16 years ago today.

Happy birthday, kid. I'm still a very proud papa.

Why Teachers Drink

"ER" sent me this, and yes it's one of those forwarded e-mail things, but even if it's not true it's funny...


The following questions were set in last year's GED examination

Q. Name the four seasons
A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar

Q. Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink
A. Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists

Q. How is dew formed
A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire

Q. What causes the tides in the oceans
A. The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins the fight

Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on
A. If you are buying a house they will insist that you are well endowed

Q. In a democratic society, how important are elections
A. Very important. Sex can only happen when a male gets an election

Q. What are steroids
A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs

Q.. What happens to your body as you age
A. When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental

Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty
A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery

Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes
A. Premature death

Q. What is artificial insemination
A. When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow

Q. How can you delay milk turning sour
A. Keep it in the cow

Q. How are the main 20 parts of the body categorised (e.g. The abdomen)
A. The body is consisted into 3 parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels: A, E, I,O,U..

Q. What is the fibula?
A. A small lie

Q. What does 'varicose' mean?
A. Nearby

Q. What is the most common form of birth control
A. Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium

Q. Give the meaning of the term 'Caesarean section'
A. The caesarean section is a district in Rome

Q. What is a seizure?
A. A Roman Emperor.

Q. What is a terminal illness
A. When you are sick at the airport.

Q. Give an example of a fungus. What is a characteristic feature?
A. Mushrooms. They always grow in damp places and they look like umbrellas

Q. Use the word 'judicious' in a sentence to show you understand its meaning
A. Hands that judicious can be soft as your face.

Q. What does the word 'benign' mean?
A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight

Q. What is a turbine?
A. Something an Arab or Shreik wears on his head

Epstein Talks Stalemate

It sounds like the talks between the Cubs and Red Sox have hit a bit of a snag. According to this piece on ESPN.com, the Red Sox have agreed to let him bring along a couple of their staffers (including the guy Ricketts admires the most--the guy who remodeled Fenway) but they haven't yet agreed on compensation.

Full details are here.

Jimi Hendrix

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac, this little tidbit from 45 years ago today...

"October 18, 1966…The Jimi Hendrix Experience played its debut concert in Paris as the opening act for French pop star Johnny Hallyday."

This is what it sounded like...

Red Sux

Good to see the Red Sox are being reasonable. All they wanted in return for Theo Epstein is our only good pitcher, Matt Garza.

Details are here.

And yes, the Cubs refused.

Capone Convicted

Exactly 80 years ago today...Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion.

Chicago has been crime-free ever since.

The Billy Goat

There's quite a bit of background about William Sianis and the Billy Goat in this article.

I knew about the Cubs game portion of this story, but hadn't heard about what happened with the goat and Sianis in the eleven years before the Cubs incident. It's pretty interesting if you're into Chicago history.

Father Knows Nothing

My latest Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "The Little Brother Protector (Patent Pending)"

You can read it here.

1957

My ongoing writing project continues. I'm writing the history of Green White Soccer Club (a club that my father co-founded in 1956) one year at a time.

This is 1957.