Today's Best Tweets

Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...




Miles Kahn ‏@mileskahn
I enjoy DL's rants almost as much as my own. Check out @RealDlHughley on guns here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dl-hugley/gun-rights_b_2472929.html?utm_hp_ref=black-

The New York Times ‏@nytimes
Read the White House Gun Proposal summary, fact sheet and list of executive actions http://nyti.ms/V8gkPK

daveweigel ‏@daveweigel
Who will break it to Twitter that removing a POTUS from office requires 67 Senate votes? :(

Nicholas Kristof ‏@NickKristof
I'm one person who comes from Gun Country (rural Oregon) who strongly supports Obama gun measures.

LOLGOP ‏@LOLGOP
"It's invasive to do background checks!" -- the guys who demanded 13 birth certificates from the president

Niala ‏@NialaBoodhoo
#Obama calls for universal background checks on gun purchases, to applause of audience.

Dan Bernstein ‏@dan_bernstein
Big day for Marc Trestman tomorrow. Here's what he should (and shouldn't) do at his unveiling. Column: http://cbsloc.al/UQrnI0 #Bears

Gawker ‏@Gawker
Undergrad's shockingly honest internship cover letter lands him more job offers than he can accept http://gaw.kr/WfRgl3s

Roger Ebert ‏@ebertchicago
The humor—and searing honesty—of Smart Ass Cripple. http://bit.ly/UsrfAb

Eddie Volkman ‏@EddieVolkman
My wife hates that I can't order Girl Scout Cookies without yelling, "Samoans! Do The Humpty Dance!"

Help Wanted

Mel Karmazin is looking for a job.

Please help this poor man. He's worried he's going to get bored.

Don't you have people he can fire at your company until he gets another CEO gig?

NRA Logic

The NRA put out an ad yesterday (which I won't link to) that criticizes the president for using the Secret Service to protect his own children, while rejecting the need for armed schools.

They want you to be VERY UPSET by this double standard.

Follow the NRA's logic with me, won't you? They apparently believe that the president has exactly two choices now: Armed teachers and administrators in EVERY school, or no Secret Service protecion for his own children.

Granted, Obama has received more death threats than any president in history, and polls of teachers and school officials show they overwhelming do NOT want to be armed, but if the president doesn't force teachers and school officials to carry guns (or hire only those that will), the only intellectually consistent course of action is to offer up his own children for target practice. If he won't do that, well then, I guess the NRA must be right.

Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

I've been reading as much as I can about this subject since the last mass shooting, but I think I have to stop now. Every time I read a piece that critically examines gun facts (and, to be fair, there are some supporting facts on both sides of the sane debate, it really is possible to study this you know), I drift below to the comments section, and get completely depressed.

Holy crap.

There are people in this country who really believe the United States government is going to disarm its people (like Hitler did!), so that they can, I don't know...take over their own country with military force...so they can inflict...what? Taxes? Health insurance? Food stamps for poor people? Yikes! Better buy more guns.

You can see their point, I guess. Obama really is just like Hitler, other than the fact that he believes in racial diversity (Hitler had a slightly different take), wants to end wars (Hitler was a little different there too), and put an end to torture (again--not exactly Hitler's position). Other than that, they could be twins.

I think part of the problem with this debate is that it's impossible to debate with crazy (Cuckoo. Cuckoo. Cuckoo) and the NRA is clearly crazy. No wonder they're pushing for mental health reform instead of gun control.

They need it desperately.

Blackhawks Radio Deal

This is really surprising news considering the unrest over at the Tribune company. The Chicago Blackhawks just signed a five-year extension with WGN Radio.

Details at Radio Online.

RIP Jimmy O'Neill

His name might not ring a bell, but in the 1960s, Jimmy was a big deal as the host of "Shindig!" He passed away January 11.

In 1964, he flew all the way to London to do Shindig! so that he could get the Beatles on his show. I found that appearance on YouTube this morning...

The Next Great Voice Talent

I know there are a lot of radio/advertising industry-type folks that read this blog, and thought this might be of interest to you. This report comes from this morning's RAMP Newsletter...

Our pals at Studio Center Total Production are just 24 hours away from the launch of their nationwide voice-over talent search. The stakes are huge -- the grand prizewinner will receive a $100,000 voiceover contract from Studio Center...Contestants will be judged on such criteria as vocal pitch and tone, uniqueness of voice, pronunciation, acting ability, copy interpretation and accent versatility. One winner from each market will compete in the giant-sized finals in Virginia Beach on April 12. Complete contest information is available at thenextgreatvoicetalent.com.

Book Clubs

Remember, if your book club wants to read an Eckhartz Press book, and you happen to live in the Chicago area, feel free to ask the author to attend. (E-mail either rick@eckhartzpress.com or david@eckhartzpress.com to co-ordinate). If his or her schedule allows, our authors are always happy to participate.

"The Living Wills" is a year old now, but Brendan Sullivan and I are still appearing at book clubs all the time. I did one last night in Winfield, Illinois. Brendan will be doing one tonight in Beverly--he's been doing a ton of them (including the one in the photo above).

Kim Strickland ("Down at the Golden Coin"), Randy Richardson ("Cheeseland"), and Felitsitas Sudendorf ("A Reluctant Immigrant"--our Helgard Press book) would also be happy to attend a book club in the Chicago area. We'll even supply a list of discussion questions if you'd like them.

We're guessing that "The Balding Handbook" isn't really Book Club material...unless you've got a Bald Guys Book Club. If that hasn't been started up yet, by the way, it's never to late, fellas. Dave will bring the dip.

The Four Tops

Forty years ago today, the Four Tops released "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)". Here they are on Soul Train performing it...

Arrested for Wedgies

It's one thing to give a wedgie to your little brother. (That sort of behavior is rampant in my house). It's another thing to go a movie theater and start giving wedgies to everyone--while filming yourself doing it. That'll get you arrested.

Technology Soap Opera

C-NET is a website dedicated to reporting about technology. Every year they report on the Consumer Electronics Show and name a "Best in CES" award to the best new gadget from that year's show. The reporters and editors of C-NET voted and awarded it to Dish Network's "Hopper". That's a gadget that allows you to "hop" over television commercials.

Not exactly controversial, right?

Not until C-NET's owner, media giant CBS, urged C-NET not to give the award out to the Hopper. The CEO of CBS himself, Les Moonves, made that "suggestion" because he is currently suing Dish Network because Hopper destroys television's business model. If people don't watch the commercials, television can't sell the commercials, and if television can't sell commercials, they will go out of business.

Hopper's award was revoked.

Full soap opera details here at the Hollywood Reporter.

I try to keep this in mind when I read stories about media conglomerates: There are no "good guys" in any story. In this particular case, 24/7 Wall St. named Dish Network #1 among "America's Worst Companies To Work For". The Hollywood Reporter itself has a rather sordid past, which includes naming names during the Hollywood Blacklist era and blackmailing Hollywood studios into advertising with them.

Ah, the media.

Good people.

Jimmy Hoffa

According to this article in the New York Daily News, Jimmy Hoffa is buried in a shallow grave north of Detroit, in Oakland County Michigan.

So says a reputed Mafia figure.

The New York Jets can now officially stop claiming there's a curse in the Meadowlands endzone.

Today's Best Tweets

Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...




CNN Breaking News ‏@cnnbrk
Oprah on Lance #Armstrong interview: He acknowledges using banned substances. http://on.cnn.com/UNiMpy

Keith Conrad ‏@keithrconrad
18 human heads found at O'Hare. http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/20589543/17-human-heads-found-at-ohare-airport … Just another Tuesday morning in Chicago.

Holly Robinson Peete ‏@hollyrpeete
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr would have turned 84 years old today. Happy Birthday Dr. King! #dream #MLK #MLKDay

Josh Liss ‏@JoshLissSports
3 in the mix for Bears coach; Bruce Arians, Marc Trestman, Darrell Bevell (2nd interview today). Arians' interview w/Eagles is cancelled.

Richie Benaud ‏@RichieBenaud_
I received my first "wish you were dead" tweet just now. My dear friend, I'm in my 80's. Just be patient.

MancowMuller ‏@MancowMuller
Sunday night's "Golden Globes" were seen by almost 20 million viewers. None went; "Wait a sec...Jodie Foster's gay?"

POLITICO ‏@politico
From @PoliticoClick -- Ann Romney passes on 'Dancing With the Stars:' http://politi.co/13yKhd7

@StuartScott Blessed by prayers..I'm back in the Fight. C reared its head again. Chemo evry 2 wks

Groovyhoovy ‏@Groovyhoovy
Happy 62nd birthday to Charo. She's as much 62 as my penis is 8 feet long.

Leonard Nimoy ‏@TheRealNimoy
John Chambers depicted by John Goodman in Argo made some fine Spock ears but Fred Phillips designed them and created the whole makeup. LLAP

A New Radio Station for Chicago

From Northpine.com, news of a radio station coming to town...

WZRK/1550 (Lake Geneva, WI) has gone silent pending a move into the Chicago market. The station tells the FCC it went off the air Thursday (1/10) and is seeking permission to remain silent until it constructs its new facility in Highland Park, IL. The station, owned by GS Radio of Illinois, will be licensed to Northbrook and use 1.5kW nondirectional, daytime-only. The CP for the move expires on Nov. 15. A message posted on the station's website says it "has ceased operations at this time due to repeated theft at our transmitter." WZRK was also silent for a time last summer after copper thieves struck its Lyons Township, WI tower site. It had carred "The Avenue," a syndicated mix of Jazz, Rock, Swing, and Blues.

Colin Kaepernick

When you watch the NFC Championship Game this weekend keep in mind that one of those players was actually drafted to play baseball by the Chicago Cubs. He's the guy that ran for almost 200 yards last week against the Packers: Colin Kaepernick.

By the way, if he and I ever live in the same town, he'll be the very next name listed below mine in the phone book. There aren't a lot of us KAE-ers out there.

Father Knows Nothing

My mother said something to me recently I guarantee that your mother has NEVER said to you. Details in Father Knows Nothing.

You can read it here.

Elvis in Hawaii

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac...a momentous day in music history exactly 40 years ago today.

January 14, 1973…Elvis Presley drew the largest single television audience ever for his "Aloha From Hawaii" concert, broadcast live via satellite from Honolulu's International Center Arena to more than one billion people in 40 countries. Viewers in North America didn't get to see the show live, or at all, until April 4 when it was aired by NBC-TV. The audio from the concert was released as a double-album later that year.

Cara Carriveau

My old Loop pal Cara was in the news today. This report came from Robert Feder...

"Two of Hubbard Radio’s highest profile female air personalities are switching stations and swapping jobs this week. Cara Carriveau, who’s been hosting middays on hot adult-contemporary WTMX-FM (101.9), will shift to evenings on adult hits WILV-FM (100.3). And Lisa Allen, who been hosting evenings on Rewind 100.3, will shift to middays on the Mix. "In making this move, we feel that we have improved and reinvigorated each brand, and we're doing it with two terrific on-air hosts and two terrific people,” Greg Solk, senior vice president of programming for Hubbard Radio, told staffers in a memo Monday."

I know Greg is a big Cara fan, but I'm guessing Cara isn't thrilled by this news. I've previously interviewed both Cara and Greg for Chicago Radio Spotlight

The Bad Boy Radio Trial

That's what they're calling it in Tampa.

It's a defamation case. Todd "MJ" Schnitt versus Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. Here's my favorite part of the article:

"Witness lists include dozens of media personalities — including disgraced former Tribune Co. chief executive Randy Michaels — plus a Tampa breast implant surgeon, Hills­borough's top prosecutor, and assorted radio characters with such names as Jabberjaw, Cowhead and 25 Cent. Don't fret that Hulk Hogan was left out. He's on the list, too.

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is going to be interviewed by Oprah today. He's on a quest to rehabilitate his image. I have a feeling it won't work because he has been such a defiant in-your-face liar over the past few decades.

To me, the tragedy of his lying and cheating isn't the disgrace it brought to the sport of cycling. Don't care. To me, the tragedy is that Armstrong really was an inspiring figure for cancer survivors. I personally know a few who read his book, got his bracelet, and used his story to inspire them. His charity foundation LiveStrong did a lot of good things.

The New York Times looks at that angle this morning.

Manchester United

Love this Manchester United tune...sounds like a TV-theme song.



Matt Busby, by the way, was the manager of Manchester United in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. He was also referred to in the Beatles song "Dig It".

The Golden Globes

The Golden Globes were on last night. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted.

Didn't watch it.

I really only watched it the last couple of years to see how mean Ricky Gervais was going to get.

If you care who won, here's the list.

Jake Hartford

Unexpectedly sad news yesterday. WLS Radio's Jake Hartford (real name Jim Edwards) passed away at the age of 63 (heart attack). He had just gotten his big radio break a few months ago when he was named the co-host of the midday show at WLS (with John Kass).

The WLS website posted a statement from Hartford's family, "We're currently mourning the loss of Jake Hartford, a husband, father, and friend. This is devastating news for everyone in our family, and we greatly appreciate all of the kind words that have been offered to us during our struggle. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts as we do our best to 'spring forward'."

I interviewed Jake/Jim for Chicago Radio Spotlight back in 2009.

McBooks

In the UK, McDonald's Happy Meals will no longer include toys. They will now include...books!

I don't know how much the kids will like that idea, but as a parent, I'm totally on board. (Not to mention as a publisher)

Today's Best Tweets

Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...




Jimmy Johnson ‏@JimmyJohnson
Looks like 2 of my guys getting NFL jobs..Chud Cleveland and my QB coach at U Trestman to Chicago

Kevin Seifert ‏@espn_nfcnblog
Other than Jimmy Johnson tweet, no indication #Bears are close to naming a head coach. Still have first interviews scheduled this weekend.

Greg Sargent ‏@ThePlumLineGS
Karl Rove accidentally reveals that GOP's debt ceiling threat is a con game: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/01/10/karl-rove-accidentally-unmasks-the-gops-debt-ceiling-ruse/ …

davidfrum ‏@davidfrum
I don't agree that video games cause gun violence, but they sure aren't doing any good for my son's college GPA.

Roger Ebert ‏@ebertchicago
"I'm shutting your butt down," Tarantino tells London TV interviewer who questions violence in "Django." http://bit.ly/VrIPqb

Lou Brutus ‏@LouBrutus
Meanwhile in China, a hipster has a random English word tattooed on his arm. #TGIF

Rich Samuels ‏@rsamuels
Gas issues in the workplace: Social Security Administration takes back reprimand of flatulent worker http://wapo.st/13k8mEf

Huffington Post ‏@HuffingtonPost
Beyonce, Katy Perry, Stevie wonder and many more to perform at inauguration http://huff.to/VrYJka

Ezra Klein ‏@ezraklein
Fun @brianbeutler piece on the origins of the platinum coin: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/01/the-wild-origins-of-the-trillion-dollar-platinum-coin.php … Takeaway: Blog commenters can change the world!

Elizabeth Rago ‏@bethrago
“When you are tempted to give up, your breakthrough is probably just around the corner.” ― Joyce Meyer

The Nominations Are In

I don't know why I find this so interesting every year because I almost never go to the movies anymore, but I really do care about who gets nominated for Academy Awards.

The full list for this year is here.

UPDATE: This is a better list.

Mancow & Stern

A few more pictures from David Stern's recent appearance on the Mancow radio/television show in Chicago...

Randy Richardson

There's a great interview with Randy Richardson in the current Hypertext Magazine. He talks all about his excellent novel "Cheeseland", his experience working with this awesome local publisher named Eckhartz Press, and much more.

You can read it here.

The Piers Morgan Petition

I don't know if you've been following this story about CNN's Piers Morgan and gun enthusiasts who filed an official White House petition to have him deported for not supporting the Second Amendment.

You probably saw that famous blow up on the air between Morgan and the author of the petition the other day. I'm not posting it here because it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I'm not even writing Crazy McTemplethrob's real name because he's not worthy of it. (And I don't even like Piers Morgan...I can't imagine being on his side of any other argument)

Well, because the petition did reach the 100,000 signatures level, the White House has been forced to officially comment. They did that yesterday. Here it is...

"Let’s not let arguments over the Constitution’s Second Amendment violate the spirit of its First. President Obama believes that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. However, the Constitution not only guarantees an individual right to bear arms, but also enshrines the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press — fundamental principles that are essential to our democracy. Americans may disagree on matters of public policy and express those disagreements vigorously, but no one should be punished by the government simply because he or she expressed a view on the Second Amendment — or any other matter of public concern."

Sounds about right to me.

Sammy Sosa

The baseball writers have spoken. Sammy Sosa only got 12.5% of the Hall of Fame vote. I think Jesse Rogers has it about right in his ESPN post analyzing the vote.

Sammy may make it in someday (probably not), but if he does, he certainly shouldn't make it in before Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens--two guys who probably would have made the Hall without the roids.

The Balding Handbook on the radio/TV

The Balding Handbook's David Stern was on Mancow's show this morning.

Charlie Watts

50 years ago today Charlie Watts left his band Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated to join a new band called The Rolling Stones...

Super Bowl Overkill

If you thought the ridiculous five hour pre-game shows of the past were a bit much, buckle up. This year's pre-game will last...are you ready for this?

Six days.

Brett Jackson

How bad was Cubs outfielder Brett Jackson last season? Real, real bad.

His strikeout rate (49.17%) was the second worst in baseball history.

Baseball has been around for 143 years.

More Popular Than Congress

According to the latest PPP Poll (Best Poll Ever), the following are all currently more popular than Congress.

Root Canals
Headlice
Colonoscopies
Carnies
Traffic jams
Cockroaches
Used Car Salesmen

Jimmy Kimmel

Six Reasons Why Jimmy Kimmel Might Actually Become The King of Late Night

It's not as crazy as it sounds.

Today's Best Tweets

Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...




Chuck Todd ‏@chucktodd
Meanwhile, here's hoping a guy like Biggio doesn't get overshadowed today; a legit non-PED 1st ballot-er. As for Jack Morris, on fence

Scott Smith ‏@ourmaninchicago
Doctor on @WGNMorningNews says current H3N2 flu strain is so strong even some people who get vaccine may get a mild case.

Paul McCartney ‏@PaulMcCartney
Paul has posted a personal message on http://www.PaulMcCartney.com remembering his friend Sir Richard Rodney Bennett who recently passed away...

Joel Achenbach ‏@JoelAchenbach
Love honest Adam LaRoche on his deal with the Nats: "We all make more than we should anyway. It's a ton of money." http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/nationals-baseball-first-baseman-adam-laroche-re-signs-for-two-years/2013/01/08/3e5ae2a4-59e3-11e2-88d0-c4cf65c3ad15_story.html …

Huffington Post ‏@HuffingtonPost
"Jeffersons" star -- Ralph the Doorman -- dies at age 89 http://huff.to/ZnOLhC

Big John & Amy ‏@BigJohnandAmy
Congress is less popular than NFL replacement refs & Genghis Khan but more popular than Gonorrhea and The Kardashians

Roger Simon ‏@politicoroger
Canada working on its own platinum coin, but it won't work in U.S. vending machines.

Robert Feder ‏@RobertFeder
Hurry! Just a few more weeks to stand in front of the Studio 5 window and wave to mom: http://bit.ly/WvKy9i

Matt Lindner ‏@mattlindner
@phil_rosenthal I always found that ironic, that it was difficult to get a cell phone signal at a ballpark named for a cell phone company

Keith Olbermann ‏@KeithOlbermann
ICYMI - latest Baseball Nerd post: Nobody Elected To Hall Of Fame Today? We All Deserve That. http://j.mp/UIiFkn

Nixon's 100th birthday

100 years ago today, Richard Milhouse Nixon was born...

Canadian Joke

I don't know why this one made me laugh out loud when I read it this morning (in Vanity Fair), but it did.

Q: How do you get 35 Canadians out of a pool?

A: Say: "Everybody out of the pool"

David Bowie

David Bowie turns 66 years old today, and has released a brand new song as a birthday present to himself. It's been ten years since he released a new song. Apparently he's been wandering the streets of Berlin. Here it is...

Soaps On-Line

Remember when all of the Soap Operas were cancelled? The creators of those shows assured the die-hard Soap Opera fanatics that the shows would live on...on-line. So far that hasn't been true. But according to this article, that will be changing soon, at least for "All My Children" and "One Life to Live".

Now all they have to do is teach people like my mom how to turn on their computers.

Jimmy Kimmel

He's now officially going up against David Letterman and Jay Leno. All three have something to offer. May the best show win.

Today's Best Tweets

Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...



MancowMuller ‏@MancowMuller
...Normally, to see the Irish strike out so badly, you need to go into a pub and watch them try to pick up women.

MancowMuller ‏@MancowMuller
...Luckily, Notre Dame's chaplain was on the sideline and was able to administer Last Rites to the team in the third quarter.

MancowMuller ‏@MancowMuller
...But in the end, Alabama fans still have to live in Alabama, so who are the real winners?

BobVorwald ‏@BobVorwald
Somewhere in Florida, Nick Saban is scowling at an omelette and telling his dog Max "I must stop Christmas from coming!"

DRUDGE REPORT ‏@DRUDGE_REPORT
COPS: Lottery winner killed by cyanide day after collecting $1 million... http://drudge.tw/WqzI4P

HowardKurtz ‏@HowardKurtz
Sirius XM is pushing a sex channel - and it doesn't involve @HowardStern. It's even called Radio Sex. Subtle! http://bit.ly/WpEpMh

Adam Franklin ‏@radstarr
Oregon Beer Maker Develops Brew for Dogs :@Paste http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/01/oregon-beer-maker-develops-brew-for-dogs.html …

Scott Simon ‏@nprscottsimon
Richard Ben Cramer, poet of Teddy Ballgame, Joltin' Joe, & pols. A fine, fierce, funny man, RIP: http://nyti.ms/V6NbCX

Lisa and Ray US99.5 ‏@LisaandRay995
What do you think of Mike Singletary Coaching the Bears? He's in town to interview http://bit.ly/VBiVgI

Groovyhoovy ‏@Groovyhoovy
Breaking (wind) News: NBC Weatherman Pooped His Pants at the White House http://fb.me/2nbBCekfT

The Cubs Top Prospects

Baseball America ranks the Cubs top ten prospects

1. Javier Baez, ss
2. Albert Almora, of
3. Jorge Soler, of
4. Arodys Vizcaino, rhp
5. Brett Jackson, of
6. Pierce Johnson, rhp
7. Dan Vogelbach, 1b
8. Jeimer Candelario, 3b
9. Kyuji Fujikawa, rhp
10. Arismendy Alcantara, ss



Baseball America actually sounds pretty optimistic about the Cubs chances...in 2016! Oh boy, three more years. (Notice where they have Castro playing)

PROJECTED 2016 LINEUP

Catcher Welington Castillo
First Base Anthony Rizzo
Second Base Starlin Castro
Third Base Jeimer Candelario
Shortstop Javier Baez
Left Field Brett Jackson
Center Field Albert Almora
Right Field Jorge Soler
No. 1 Starter Jeff Samardzija
No. 2 Starter Matt Garza
No. 3 Starter Arodys Vizcaino
No. 4 Starter Edwin Jackson
No. 5 Starter Pierce Johnson
Closer Juan Carlos Paniagua

The Laughing Elvis

Oldies guru Ron Smith checked in with me today to remind me that it's St. Elvis Day, and on this particular St. Elvis day, with Eckhartz Press' "The Balding Handbook" soaring on the charts, maybe it's time to bring out the infamous Laughing Elvis song.

What made Elvis laugh in this live version of "Are you lonesome tonight"? It was the line..."Do you gaze at your bald head and wish that you had hair?" A bald man pulled off his toupee just as Elvis said that.

The Balding Handbook on TV

Tomorrow morning at 6 AM, The Balding Handbook's David Stern will be arriving at the televison studios for the Mancow show, which airs in Chicago on WPWR-TV. Check him out, he'll be spreading his words of balding wisdom.

Father Knows Nothing

Father Knows Nothing has officially returned for 2013. Here's my first column of the year.

Would you believe it's the beginning of my eighth year writing this column in one form or another? (Two years as "Suburban Man" and five years as "Father Knows Nothing"). The two little boys walking in this picture with me are now 17 and 14 years old.

Today's Best Tweets

Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...




James Finn Garner ‏@jamesfinngarner
At least the new #NHL season will be almost as long as the playoffs.

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale
Why Bonds,Clemens,Sosa, and the rest of juicers deserve to be in #MLB Hall of Fame as the best of the steroid era. http://usat.ly/UA3IRj

Groovyhoovy ‏@Groovyhoovy
Lance Armstrong is going to finally admit that he took performance enhancing drugs. That takes a lot of ball.

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat
#Cubs' leadership confident in youthful foundation http://atmlb.com/UvMMpL via @cubs

Keith Conrad ‏@keithrconrad
Alabama vs. Notre Dame! The Golden Dome vs. The Mobile Home! The Catholics vs. Cousins! http://youtu.be/lhX0-Q6Yv5U

Susan Orlean ‏@susanorlean
Most writing doesn't take place on the page; it takes place in your head.

David Corn ‏@DavidCornDC
The "smoking gun" memo that triggered the @FreedomWorks feud: http://mojo.ly/V2y7WW

david carr ‏@carr2n
Why dinosaurs still dance: For Legacy Media Companies, a Lucrative Year http://nyti.ms/UCR1S9 my Monday bit

CBS Chicago ‏@cbschicago
Excited about Obama's next term? Here are the best Chicago ways to celebrate his 2nd inauguration: http://cbsloc.al/13dqGOx

Chicago Tribune ‏@chicagotribune
Did somebody say Macca's? McDonald's to dump name in Australia http://trib.in/ZxpGWh

Just When You Think You Know 'Em

Want to hear something that's hard to believe? My boys were not at all amused by my "You have to go back to school today" song and dance. I guess they don't share my glee.

Go figure.

Jobs Most Likely To Attract Psychopaths

The book "The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success", came up with a top ten list of jobs most likely to attract psychopaths.


The top ten are...

1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media (Television/Radio)
4. Salesperson
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police officer
8. Clergy person
9. Chef
10. Civil servant

I'm glad to see that writer isn't on the list, and that both CEO and Lawyer are still ahead of media.

As for the lowest rates of psychopathy:

1. Care aide
2. Nurse
3. Therapist
4. Craftsperson
5. Beautician/Stylist
6. Charity worker
7. Teacher
8. Creative artist
9. Doctor
10. Accountant

I'm claiming #8 for writers everywhere. Phew.

Records Truly Is His Middle Name

The Chicago Sun Times had a piece Sunday written by Mike Thomas that mentioned our upcoming book "Records Truly is My Middle Name" and features a picture of the author, John Records Landecker. (Photo by: Rich Hein/Chicago Sun Times)

Here's the pertinent excerpt...

The newest crop of titles, published in the past couple of months or forthcoming shortly, includes works by WGN-AM (720) agri-business oracle Orion Samuelson, Illinois politician Debbie Halvorson, TV newsman Walter Jacobson and radio broadcaster John Records Landecker.

They all postponed or had serious reservations about taking on one of the most daunting and nerve-racking tasks of their careers.

“What do I want in this?” Landecker says he asked himself during the bookmaking process. “Why am I doing this? This is stupid. Who gives a s---?”

Soon enough, however, he overcame the psychological hump that has hampered writers since time immemorial — and can seem especially towering for someone who’s baring it all in print: Will anyone care?

“You get to the point where [you think], ‘I don’t care if anybody does or not,’ ” Landecker says. His memoir, “Records Truly Is My Middle Name,” was written with the help of Landecker’s former producer Rick Kaempfer and is due out in March from the Chicago-headquartered Eckhartz Press (which Kaempfer co-owns). It includes “a fair share of drugs, sex, indiscretions [and] slightly humorous tales,” the author says, as well as more serious topics.

“It gave me a better perspective on — it sort of sounds clichéd — the real importance of events in my past … that at the time seemed so cataclysmic and in retrospect seem like a blip,” Landecker says of the writing process.

I'm tellin' ya' folks, this is a good book, and I'm not just saying that because I'm the co-writer. John has lived a life that is truly worthy of a book.

I'm sort of glad that I haven't. :)

Jay Leno

It looks like all talks about who will succeed Jay Leno on the Tonight Show have been put to rest...at least for a while. Jay just signed an extension beyond 2014.

Beck and Limbaugh on FreedomWorks Payroll

FreedomWorks is the organization that essentially runs the Tea Party. Next time you hear Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh defend or publicize them, you might want to keep this in mind: They are paid to do so. From Tom Taylor's NOW newsletter today...

Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh helped FreedomWorks do fundraising, says Dick Armey. Beck got $1 million or more in 2012, says the former leader of FreedomWorks, but he now thinks the deal yielded “too little value” for the money. Conservative activist Dick Armey says Rush Limbaugh had a similar arrangement, but he’s not sure how much money changed hands. Armey, who left Freedom Works last year, tells Media Matters “I put it down as basically as paid advertising for FreedomWorks by Beck.”... There was talk of “embedded media programs” in association with Beck and Limbaugh, and word that the two personalities had helped the organization raise nearly $1.3 million. Armey says the original terms of the Beck deal were for $250,000, but that “it took on a life of its own…all of a sudden, we were paying Limbaugh as well as Beck.”

Embedded media programs? Let that terminology sink in for a second. Now that we know for sure that Beck and Limbaugh's words during their programs (not during commercials..."embedded" in the actual program) are for sale, can we as a nation just officially agree not to ever again take anything they say seriously?

Motherhood

This about sums it up. Am I right, moms?

Kommt Ein Fogel Geflogen

That's the title of a German song that my mother sang to me as a boy, although I changed the spelling of Vogel to Fogel because of the most recent Chicago radio news. (Vogel is pronounced "Fogel" in German)

This is the radio story: Dave Fogel is back doing mornings...but instead of landing on my foot (like the song), he's landed on K-hits, the direct competitor of the station that fired him (WLS-FM). Germans did invent the word "Schadenfreude". If he's honest, he must be experiencing just a tiny little bit of that right now.

For those of you that would like to sing along with the song my mother sang to me, the full lyrics go like this...

Kommt ein Vogel geflogen,
Setzt sich nieder auf mein' Fuß
Hat ein Zettel im Schnabel,
Von der Mutter (Liebsten) ein' Gruß

Lieber Vogel, flieg weiter,
Bring ein' Gruß mit, einen Kuß
Denn ich kann dich nicht begleiten,
Weil ich hier bleiben muß.

Vogel means bird. Here's the translation of the German song...

A bird comes a-flying
It settles on my foot
It has a piece of paper in its beak,
A greeting from my mother (beloved).

Dear bird, keep flying,
Bring a greeting, a kiss
For I cannot go with you,
Because I must stay here.

It loses a little something in the translation. In German, it's almost sentimental.

Mel Brooks

My boys and I did a Mel Brooks film fesitval over the break. I hadn't seen these two movies in thirty years. They were both much funnier than I remembered them. The boys laughed their butts off during "Silent Movie". I thought Sean was going to need medical help.

Good to See We're All Getting Along So Well

After that ridiculous fiscal cliff negotiation, Democrats and Republicans vowed to get along better in 2013. It's off to rip-roaring start.

The Republicans sent "offical lap dog kits" to freshman Democrats emblazoned with corgis to teach them how to graduate from "Nancy Pelosi's obedience school." (I'm not kidding about that, by the way)

The Democrats sent the Republican freshman this...

(Sigh) Looks like it's going to be another long year.

Soccer Out of Context

I stumbed onto this site the other day. Very interesting concept.

He designs soccer-style shirts for non-soccer things. In this case, teams from the National League Central.

It looks like he doesn't sell 'em though. It's just for fun. That's too bad. I would have bought one.

The Balding Handbook in the media

Last week Balding Handbook author David Stern appeared on the WGN radio show Sports Central to discuss his book. I accompanied him and got a chance to tell my famous 'Jose Cardenal at the Jewel' story (during one of Dave's rants about how Jose Cardenal used to rub all of our faces in that big Afro of his). It went very well...Kaplan and Stern had a lot in common, it turned out.

This week The Balding Handbook has been featured on the radio in St. Louis (Sherry Farmer on KLOU), and the Dave & Jimmy show (i Heart Radio). Both shows were intrigued by Dave's petition to have the Bald Eagle's name changed to the "Follicly Challenged Eagle".

And next week on Wednesday morning, Dave will appearing on Mancow's show (seen in Chicago on WPWR-TV).

Back in the saddle

There were a few things that went on while I was gone...

On Wednesday, Esteemed Chicago media columnist Robert Feder gave another shout out to our upcoming book: "Records Truly is My Middle Name", a memoir by Chicago radio legend John Records Landecker.

Mr. Feder mentioned it as one of the big upcoming stories to look for in 2013...

"Chicago radio icon John Records Landecker will mark publication of his new memoir, Records Truly Is My Middle Name. Written with longtime producer Rick Kaempfer, it will feature contributions from Bob Sirott, Jonathon Brandmeier, John Gehron, Joey Reynolds, Jan Jeffries, Catherine Johns, Eric Ferguson, Bill Zehme, Kevin Matthews, Don Wade and others. More than 40 years after he first conquered the nighttime airwaves in Chicago, Landecker, 65, is still going strong as evening personality on WLS-FM (94.7). Anyone for a Boogie Check?"

I've been working hard on that book over the break. It's really going to be something.

Over at the Just One Bad Century blog, another year of Cubs 365 has begun. Click here to catch up if you're interested.

And, I also wrote another year in the history of Green White Soccer Club, the soccer club co-founded by my father in the 1950s. This time it was 1971.

My Father Knows Nothing column returns on Monday.