Life Behind the Camera

The most exciting part of being a publisher is sharing that first moment the author sees his new book. My co-publisher David Stern and our newest author, Chuck Quinzio, hold the first hot-off-the-press copy of "Life Behind the Camera" (available for pre-order now at Eckhartz Press www.eckhartzpress.com)

Mind Games

Released on this day, 40 years ago...

Dexter Manley

Former Washington Redskins lineman Dexter Manley had finally successfully rehabilitated himself. His football career ended years ago after a series of drug offenses. He was banned for life by the league. About seven years ago he collapsed after an all-night party, and had to have brain surgery. But he had recently gotten on the radio on WTOP, the highest rated show on the dial in Washington, as a football commentator. Then this happened. From Radio Ink...

Former Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley went on WTOP and alleged Fox broadcaster and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman was gay. Manley said, "I think Troy was a queer." Manley backed off a bit after being challenged by WTOP news anchors Mike Moss and Bruce Alan. "I'm sorry about that," Manley said. "I take that back. . . . I apologize." WTOP VP/News and Programming Jim Farley said that Manley will no longer being appearing on WTOP.

Chicago Radio Ratings

The latest Chicago radio ratings news, comes from Tom Taylor's NOW column...

Urban AC “V103” WVAZ, celebrating its 25th anniversary, has claimed 17 of the last 18 books in the Windy City. It moves 6.7-6.2-6.5. Second place goes to CBS all-news AM/FM simulcast WBBM, with a major 4.9-5.4-6.2 move. That’s its highest standing since October 2011. Hubbard’s hot AC “Mix” WTMX is third, 5.0-5.2-5.2. No wonder Tribune’s talk WGN wants a better deal out of the baseball Cubs – there was no kick this season, 4.6-4.0-4.0. Cume dropped from 778,600 in August to 727,800 in September and 699,100 in October. Hubbard’s classic hits “Drive” WDRV is up 3.6-3.8-4.1. But not Merlin Media’s classic rock “Loop” – drifting down 3.7-4.0-3.4-3.0-2.6-2.5 in the last six books. Cumulus talk WLS is up, 1.7-1.9-2.3. Cume leader is Clear Channel CHR “Kiss” WKSC at 2.25 million. In AQH share rank, Kiss ties WGN in seventh place with a 4.0.

Joke for a Tuesday Morning

This one comes courtesy of "MS", a gentleman in his 60s.

You should see my new neighbor. She's young and beautiful and single...and lives right across the street. I can see her house from my living room.

I watched as she got home from work this evening. I was surprised when she walked across the street in the rain and up my driveway. She knocked on my door...I rushed to open it.

She looked at me, and said, "I just got home, and I am so horny! I have this strong urge to have a good time, get drunk, and have sex all night long! Are you busy tonight?"

I immediately replied, "Nope, I'm free... I have no plans at all!"

Then she said, "Good! In that case, could you look after my dog?"

Be True To Your School

As an Illinois grad (class of 86), I'm not true to my school when they get blown out 42-3 during homecoming weekend, but I still get the message of this Beach Boys classic recorded 50 years ago today. From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac...

October 28, 1963…The Beach Boys released the single "Be True To Your School." They recorded two studio versions of this song. The original recording, which appeared on their "Little Deuce Coupe" album, was in a higher key and at a slower tempo than the second version, recorded later that week, which was released as a single. The second version features the Honeys doing various "cheerleader yells" before the first chorus, and after the second and third. Marilyn Rovell of the Honeys later became Beach Boy Brian Wilson's first wife and is the mother of Carnie and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips.

Today's Best Tweets

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




Karis Hustad ‏@karishustad 55s
Pinterest valued at $3.8b, Fab at $1b, Snapchat $3.5b. What else do they have in common? Not a drop of revenue http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/are-eager-investors-overvaluing-tech-start-ups/?ref=technology&_r=0 … #tech

Robert Loerzel ‏@robertloerzel 6m
NYT obit for Lou Reed: http://nyti.ms/16EDbmH

Dave Martin ‏@martindave 7m
ICYMI: Lou Reed Expanded Boundaries of Rock Music. By Christopher Morris http://variety.com/2013/music/news/lou-reed-expanded-boundaries-of-rock-music-1200769058/

Matt Spiegel ‏@MattSpiegel670 9m
For the many asking, Mac is physically fine. And this is not a repeat of a prior event. He'll update you when he wants to. Not my place.

USA TODAY Life ‏@usatodaylife 12m
Found! The mysterious Beatles fans that Ringo Starr took a photo of nearly 50 years ago have been identified: http://usat.ly/19MSZXU

steve rosenbloom ‏@steverosenbloom 21m
TV Spoiler Alert: The Packers look like the best offense the Bears won't tackle this season. The RosenBlog: http://trib.in/Hr9qip

MLB Public Relations ‏@MLB_PR 32m
#WorldSeries Game 4 overnight rating = 10.5. Best of Series to date, best non-clinching Game 4 since 2009.

Taegan Goddard ‏@politicalwire 35m
David Ortiz's inspiration for his dugout pep talk during the World Series last night? Bill Clinton
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/10/28/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html

Pope Francis ‏@Pontifex 39m
We are all sinners. But God heals us with an abundance of grace, mercy and tenderness.

Romenesko ‏@romenesko 53m
Politico's culture explained in a memo. ("This place isn't for everyone," says Jim VandeHei.) http://bit.ly/HoFHYx

Happy Halloween

Thank you "JM" for this one...

RIP Marcia Wallace

Marcia Wallace was Bob Newhart's secretary Carol in the old Chicago-based Newhart show from the 1970s, but she was also the voice of Edna Krabapple on the Simpsons. She passed away yesterday at the age of 70. She had been battling breast cancer for years, although it's unclear if that was the cause of her death.

CNN To Challenge Stewart/Colbert

CNN is supposedly developing a comedy show for their 11pm eastern/10pm central timeslot to go up against the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. The host of the show, according to the New York Post, would be former Chicago television anchor/and recent Nightline anchor Bill Weir.

Bill is funny...but he isn't exactly a comedian. I smell a trainwreck.

Hollywood Drama

I suppose the way this Nikke Finke/Deadline Hollywood story is playing out is only fitting. It's a standard Hollywood melodrama.

If you can conjure up any interest at all, the details are here.

The shorthand version is that she is trying to leave the company she founded (and sold), and it's getting ugly.

John McVie

Some sad news for Fleetwood Mac fans. From today's RAMP Newsletter...

Fleetwood Mac has canceled their upcoming tour dates in Australia and New Zealand, announcing yesterday that co-founding member John McVie is battling cancer. A statement posted on the band's official Facebook page read, "Fleetwood Mac, who has just completed the European leg of their phenomenally successful worldwide tour has announced the cancellation of their upcoming 14-date tour of Australia and New Zealand. John McVie, one of the co founding and original members of Fleetwood Mac is now scheduled to be in treatment for cancer during that period of time." The statement concluded with, "We are sorry to not be able to play these Australian and New Zealand dates. We hope our Australian and New Zealand fans as well as Fleetwood Mac fans everywhere will join us in wishing John and his family all the best." There were no further details about the severity of McVie's illness, and the status of the band's Dec. 30 Las Vegas show remains up in the air.

RIP Lou Reed

This was a shocker to me. I hadn't even heard he was sick. Lou Reed was 71 years old.

I was never a huge fan of his Velvet Underground material, which I realize is blasphemous to say in the rock and roll world. I was, however, a big fan of his solo material. He will probably be most remembered for this one...

Ricketts in Politics

One of the board members of the Chicago Cubs, Todd Ricketts, has apparently become a big-wig in Republican politics. The Chicago Sun Times has the story.

This isn't the first time a Cubs shareholder has become active in Republican politics. In the 1920s, Harry Sinclair was a minority shareholder of the Cubs (photo), and a major contributor to the campaign coffers of Warren G. Harding. Todd should take note. It didn't turn out so well for Harry or the Cubs. He was one of the major players in the biggest political scandal of the time; the Teapot Dome Scandal.

New Voting Laws

Amazing bit by the Daily Show the other night. The Republican activist featured in this segment was forced to resign the next day. I don't think it's hard to understand why.

Today's Best Tweets

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





Neil deGrasse Tyson ‏@neiltyson 21m
In a sunset plane ride from NYC to LA, if you flew 850 mph you would cancel Earth's rotation, freezing the Sun on the horizon

Eddie Volkman ‏@EddieVolkman 3m
Can an internet troll dress up like a regular troll for Halloween? Just kidding. We know they're not invited to any parties.

Los Angeles Times ‏@latimes 6m
"Why does the TV business hate people over 50?" An obsession with youth doesn't even make financial sense http://lati.ms/q9JAO

KorinaLopez ‏@KorinaLopez 1h
#BadGrandpaMovie sounds a lot like Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton. And that's a good thing. http://usat.ly/1bjF76M

Dennis M. Lyons ‏@Brooklynguy55 35m
Another speak before he thinks politician: N.C. Republican activist resigns after Voter ID remarks http://usat.ly/1bkmFLi via @usatoday

Jesse Rogers ‏@ESPNChiCubs 25m
Cubs could do worse than Wedge..worked his way up as a manager from Single-A in 90's..decent success in Clev., Sea was messed up...respected

TIME.com ‏@TIME 10m
Man drives car down Philadelphia's 'Rocky' steps like it's no big deal (VIDEO) | http://ti.me/1ePEAMk

ABC News ‏@ABC 1m
Mystery Gypsy Girl's Identity Confirmed by DNA http://abcn.ws/H6Arbh

Huffington Post ‏@HuffingtonPost 1m
BREAKING: Previously sealed indictment in JonBenet Ramsey case RELEASED http://huff.to/1d6uczq

Deadspin ‏@Deadspin 1m
Mike Miller considers suing Heat for setting him up with con man: http://deadsp.in/N7DjmSl

Pinterest vs. The New York Times

What would you rather own, Pinterest or the New York Times?

If you said the New York Times, you're a very bad investor. Pinterest is worth 15 TIMES more.

Greatest Book Title Ever

Thanks "OG" for tipping me off to this one...

Steve & Garry

Robert Feder has two very interesting pieces on his website this morning. The first one is about Steve Dahl saying he won't go to his own HOF induction. The second piece is an open letter to Steve & Garry by Chaz Ebert, which I really thought was great. I think she sums up the feelings of a lot of their fans.

People often ask me for updates about Steve and Garry, but the truth is, I have no idea. I was just their producer. We had an employer/employee relationship for five years, and that was twenty years ago. I haven't talked to Steve in a long time, so I really don't know what his mindset is these days. I've only seen Garry a few times over the past few months. When I talked to him last time he seemed pretty at ease with this whole Hall of Fame thing. But that's about all I can tell you.

They say that time heals all wounds. I know it has healed all of mine from those very tense days. I can now look back on that time fondly, and thank both of them for giving me my start in the business and teaching me so much. It helped make me who I am today. But the truth is, and I've never really admitted this publicly before, after I left their show I needed several years to recover from it. It was an emotional roller coaster ride that really can't be described in words.

And I was just their producer. Imagine what is what like for them.

I'm not shocked they don't want to get on that ride again.

But I wish they would. At least for one night. Just to let everyone give them one last round of applause for a job well done.

UPDATE: Steve responds to Chaz.

Hey Jude

#1 on this day in 1968, part of it's nine week run in the top spot. It ended the decade as the top selling single of the entire decade.

Today's Best Tweets

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





Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 53s
Statement from MLB's Pat Courtney on alleged Lester foreign substance: "We cannot draw any conclusions from this video

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 27s
Cont. "There were no complaints from the (STL) and the umpires never detected anything indicating a foreign substance throughout the game."

Baseball Tonight ‏@BBTN 11m
Most Career Postseason RBI - @MLB History
Bernie Williams 80
Manny Ramirez 78
David Justice 63
Derek Jeter 61
David Ortiz 57

James Finn Garner ‏@jamesfinngarner 15m
AJ Hinch
Might do in a pinch
But if they want a manager whose chops are serious,
The #Cubs should look at Rick Renteria's.

Robert Loerzel ‏@robertloerzel 1m
RT @calumet412: Three daily departures from Toronto to Chicago, 1893, Chicago. http://tmblr.co/ZPoUUwyVvR-5

Mike North ‏@North2North 7m
Rams talking to Andre Ware ...Chad Pennington...Eric Hipple..and..Archie Manning.after Farve says no

The Daily Beast ‏@thedailybeast 19m
John Grisham's sequeal to 'A Time to Kill' arrives just as original heads to Broadway http://thebea.st/1gIxv4B

Gawker ‏@Gawker 19m
Even The Daily Show was shocked by how racist this GOP leader's responses were http://gaw.kr/gjIkXku

Jim Gaffigan ‏@JimGaffigan 1m
For a traitor, Benedict sure knew how to eat breakfast.

Talking Points Memo ‏@TPM 3m
Iowa state rep.-elect gets phone call from Biden while watching World Series at Applebees: http://bit.ly/1fXNjzm

Greatest Stadiums and Arenas

Rolling Stone ranked the best arenas in America...and Wrigley Field comes in at #2, right behind Madison Square Garden

The Happiest Country In the World

According to this recent study, it's Denmark.

Sounds like a pretty good place to me. Read the explanation of why it was chosen, and see if you agree.

This naturally doesn't factor in people who only live somewhere because of the climate (you know who I'm talking to--old pals of mine). They wouldn't agree with the findings of this article.

Don Geronimo

Last week I noted that former Chicago radio personality Don Geronimo was leaving his station in Sacramento. Yesterday the news came out where he is headed next. The site of his biggest success in radio, Washington D.C. From this morning's RAMP newsletter...

Don Geronimo is making his triumphant return to where it all began for him -- our nation's capital, and to his former station -- CBS Radio Sports WJFK/Washington, where he the cleverly named Don Geronimo Show will roll 7-10pm weeknights, starting tonight. He will also do a Saturday 9am-noon show and be part of the station's Sunday NFL programming, Washington Gameday Uncensored. Geronimo spent the past three years doing middays at CBS Sports sister KHTK-AM/Sacramento until he went M.I.A. on October 3. "I'm thrilled to continue my relationship with CBS Radio and return to my roots at 106.7 The Fan," said Geronimo. "It's good to be back. It's good to be home and I can't wait to be a part of 106.7 The Fan," Geronimo said. "Radio is my life and I'm elated the next chapter will continue on WJFK in D.C."

U of Iowa TA accidentally sends out explicit pictures to students

Gawker has the story about a University of Iowa Math for Business TA who thought she was sending out a syllabus, but was actually sending out explicitly sexual pictures of herself and her boyfriend. Some of them were in Gif form.

Whoops.

It's certainly embarrassing, but I'm betting she has great attendance the rest of the semester.

Grammar Police

Another friendly postcard from the grammar police. Thanks "CM"...

Shake

Going to the dogs...

Carrie Underwood To Star in Live-TV "Sound of Music"

The AP has the details.

I'm scratching my head a little bit about the casting. On the one hand, Carrie Underwood is a good singer, which is essential for the role of Maria.

On the other hand...An Austrian? ("Let's start at the very beginning, y'all.")

I've previously written about my love of the film, and have personally met a few of the stars (Read here and here), so I am a bit biased against doing it at all. But Carrie Underwood? Who will be playing Liesl? Taylor Swift?

I'll probably check it out, but I've got a very bad feeling about this. I'll have my autographed copy of the film soundtrack nearby, just in case.

8 Subconscious Mistakes Our Brains Make Every Day--And How to Avoid Them

I'll list the eight mistakes below, but you'll have to read this to find out how to avoid them.

1. WE SURROUND OURSELVES WITH INFORMATION THAT MATCHES OUR BELIEFS.
2. WE BELIEVE IN THE “SWIMMER’S BODY” ILLUSION.
3. WE WORRY ABOUT THINGS WE’VE ALREADY LOST.
4. WE INCORRECTLY PREDICT ODDS.
5. WE RATIONALIZE PURCHASES WE DON’T WANT.
6. WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE ANCHORING EFFECT.
7. WE BELIEVE OUR MEMORIES MORE THAN FACTS.
8. WE PAY MORE ATTENTION TO STEREOTYPES THAN WE THINK WE DO.

I have been guilty of all of those things, although I had to read what the anchoring effect was.

Today's Best Tweets

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




Rolling Stone ‏@RollingStone 3m
Ron Burgundy learns valuable life lessons in the new trailer for #Anchorman2: http://rol.st/1gENBfB

CollegeHumor ‏@CollegeHumor 6m
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so consider this an essential part of healthy diet http://ow.ly/q56oc

Hub Arkush ‏@Hub_Arkush 7m
My column today on why the Lance Briggs loss is much worse for the Bears than Jay Cutler: http://shawurl.com/u81

Gordon Wittenmyer ‏@GDubCub 9m
Bloomberg says Cubs have "total value" of $1.32 billion. Worth more than when Ricketts purchased. Sucks more, too http://bloom.bg/1idL33v

Sunlight Foundation ‏@SunFoundation 10m
About 30% of the money raised in the 2012 presidential election came from just 10 counties in the US: http://snlg.ht/18Kpneg

Matt Lindner ‏@mattlindner 21m
"What kind of ladies are you trying to attract with a syrup cologne?" "The kind of lady who enjoys a good stack of flapjacks."

Simon Rosenberg ‏@SimonWDC 51m
Remarkable to see a son of one of most storied GOP families in US history comparing Ted Cruz to Joe McCarthy. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/23/opinion/the-cry-of-the-true-republican.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1&

Deadspin ‏@Deadspin 40m
VIDEO: Steve Kerr's story about Toni Kukoc's pregame ritual is wonderful http://deadsp.in/3p9apLm

Nancy Davis ‏@nancyk329 Protected account 44m
“@nbcchicago: High school teacher charged with taking kids to strip club, giving them booze at his house http://bit.ly/1h88PAc ” WTF?

Groovyhoovy ‏@Groovyhoovy 53m
If you are lucky enough to be making a living doing what you love, don't be a jackhole. Be thankful. Be humble. Be kind. That's it.

Mel Brooks on Conan

I could watch this guy talk all day and all night...(Mel not Conan)

So True

You should read the original transcripts of the phone interviews I try to conduct over the summer when the boys are home. Very professional. Thanks "ND" for this...

TV Intros to 18 Short Lived Sitcoms

I don't remember any of these, and I watched A LOT of television in this era...



OK, I'll confess. I actually do remember Paul Sand's show, Barefoot in the Park, and Bridget Loves Bernie. Not proud of that, but it's true.

Wisdom from Bill Watterson

The creator of Calvin & Hobbes has some great life advice in this new comic strip.

I couldn't agree with him more.

Gawker Outs Shep Smith

This is about as shocking as the Anderson Cooper's outing (as in--it's not), but it's also different because Cooper was allowed to come out on his own terms. Slate Magazine examines the motivation for Gawker outing Smith, and makes some pretty good points about why they shouldn't have.

You can read it here.

The Best Pizza in America?

The food-and-drink website The Daily Meal ranked the top 101 pizzas in America, and Chicago placed seven on the list. But the top one was only #23 on the list (Spacca Napoli's Bufalina) and Lou Malnati's was only #37. Wha?

Look, I've had pizza in both California and New York (42 of the top 101 come from those two states) and the pizzas there do have their charm. (Although...greasy New York pizza will still be barking at you several days after you've eaten it). I also understand the bias against deep dish pizza (I only eat it occasionally myself).

But give me a break here. Chicago is the epicenter of the pizza world. Even a neighborhood pizza joint has better pizza than New York. And if you think that deep dish pizza isn't really pizza because it's not like anything they serve in Italy, than what on earth are those California pizzas doing on the list? Find me an arugula barbecue free range chicken pizza in Italy. Seriously.

You can rip our politicians. You can rip our sports teams. But when you rip our pizza...well, sir, now you've gone too far.

The 1886 World Series

On this day in 1886, the Cubs (or the White Stockings as they were known at the time) played in a winner-take-all championship game against the St. Louis Browns.

Guess who won?

You can read it here at Cubs 365.

Advanced Praise For Life Behind The Camera

Chuck Quinzio's book "Life Behind The Camera", which chronicles his 30 years working as a television news cameraman, is available for pre-order now and will be shipping by November 4th. Only a few select people have seen it, and they are raving about it...

"This is a must read for anyone interested in learning about the world of TV journalism --- as seen through the eyes (and lens!) of Chuck Quinzio -- one of the best in the business. Reading Chuck's many stories -- well-spiced with his terrific dry wit -- is a great way to discover how television photo-journalism has evolved from the 1980s to the present day. That said, Chuck's often-hilarious tales about the foibles of the true characters he's encountered these past three decades makes for wonderful reading."
-Bill Zwecker, Fox-32 News and the Chicago Sun Times

"Anyone in broadcasting will be fascinated by Chuck Quinzio's TV and radio adventures. I thought I heard Chuck's best stories during my time working with him in the TV news business, but he saved the best for this book! His writing talent makes it a great read for everybody."
- Bob Sirott, WGN Radio


You'll never look at the local television news business the same way again after you read "Life Behind The Camera"

Today's Best Tweets

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





Huffington Post ‏@HuffingtonPost 46m
This dad has the BEST reaction to his son's report card http://huff.to/1cPjPQi

Allison Prang ‏@AllisonPrang 7m
25 Steps To Faking Your Way Through A Business Party http://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewzeitlin/25-steps-to-faking-your-way-through-a-business-party … via @buzzfeedbiz

Robert Loerzel ‏@robertloerzel 15m
1895 — RT @calumet412: The Chicago bottling plant of the Fred Miller Brewing Company (Miller High Life, etc… http://tmblr.co/ZPoUUwyKxlEq

Jesse Rogers ‏@ESPNChiCubs 28m
Live chat at 2 pm today from the Fall League. Heres a sit down w Bryant yesterdayRT @ESPNChiCubs: Kris Bryant Q and A http://es.pn/1h2x0jx

Jonathan Wald ‏@jonathanwald 36m
Content is the new black is a great line. http://nyti.ms/16nSoxv

Slate ‏@Slate 5m
Young people in Japan have given up on sex: http://slate.me/1gBrlmM

James Finn Garner ‏@jamesfinngarner 12m
Which one of the Spice Girls was Pumpkin Spice again? Was she the round orange one?

Sam Stein ‏@samsteinhp 2m
Pew finds that 56% of Ocare website users had a easy or fairly easy experience. 40% found it difficult http://huff.to/1874ky4

Ezra Klein ‏@ezraklein 18m
Approval ratings: Obama, 50%; Obamacare, 46%; Democratic Party, 46%; Republican Party, 32%; Tea Party, 26%. http://wapo.st/1bST50l

Crain's Chicago ‏@CrainsChicago 16m
Some call it a "man bag," some call it a "murse." It may have a shoulder strap, but it's no Coach purse http://fw.to/CnXE5Ii

The Man Behind Deadspin's GIFs

I'm probably hopelessly biased as a former producer, but I love it when the behind-the-scenes guys get their moment in the sun. The New York Times has a feature about the guy at Deadspin who goes through all that sports footage to get the GIFs that go viral.

You can read it here.

Fox News' PR War

There's a new book about Rupert Murdoch called "Murdoch's World" written by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik. A few of the details are already emerging and Slate has highlighted them today. This little tidbit pretty much confirms what I suspected...

On the blogs, the fight was particularly fierce. Fox PR staffers were expected to counter not just negative and even neutral blog postings but the anti-Fox comments beneath them. One former staffer recalled using twenty different aliases to post pro-Fox rants. Another had one hundred. Several employees had to acquire a cell phone thumb drive to provide a wireless broadband connection that could not be traced back to a Fox News or News Corp account. Another used an AOL dial-up connection, even in the age of widespread broadband access, on the rationale it would be harder to pinpoint its origins. Old laptops were distributed for these cyber operations. Even blogs with minor followings were reviewed to ensure no claim went unchecked.

Nice. Helps explain some of the insane vitriol on media websites.

Berghoff' Takedown

I got a kick out of Neil Steinberg's blog about The Berghoff in Chicago. You can read the whole thing here, but my favorite part is below...





For me, the lowest rung of chthonic corporate ill-will must be reserved for The Berghoff Restaurant. The Berghoff used to be my favorite place to eat. When out-of-towners came to Chicago for the first time, I would take them proudly to the Berghoff, as if I had created it -- my pal Adam Gopnik, the New Yorker's man in France, and I had our first meal there.

Then, in 2006, the Berghoff pretended to close, in order to fire its union waitstaff, putting its customers through this elaborate mock farewell, only to reopen, on the down low, a few months later. They did it for a little money. It was if your mother staged her own death and funeral, fooling you kids, in order to get out of some magazine subscriptions she no longer wanted...The Berghoff never apologized, never explained. Just a big, loud, drawn out, middle finger in the air...to all its devoted, long-time customers. Then turn around, smile broadly, adopt a different tone of voice and welcome them all back in with a sweep of the arm to spend their money there again. No thanks.

Incredible Halftime Show

Remember when they used to actually show the marching band halftime shows on television? I kind of miss that, don't you? Especially when it's a great band like Ohio State's band. This is their halftime show from this past weekend's game. It's a Michael Jackson tribute, and it's incredible...

Winter Jacket Jackpot

That first time I put on my winter jacket every season is always a voyage of discovery. In my pockets this year: $1.68 in change, a box of matches (?), and a ticket stub from the Who concert at the All State Arena.

Wayne Newton's Yacht Sinks

It's bad enough that it sank.

It sank while docked in the harbor.

The picture is kind of funny--you can see it here. I mean, not funny for Wayne Newton, but...

Nintendo Ends Production of the Wii

The story is here.

My boys will be holding a vigil later this evening.

Angie

The #1 song in the country 40 years ago today...

50 Years of Swimsuit Issues

Sports Illustrated is releasing a 300 page book containing photos of every model who has ever appeared in an SI swimsuit issue.

The Daily News has the details.

I subscribed to SI when I was a teen, and remember those issues from the 1970s quite well. But I don't think I've seen one in the last ten years.

Today's Best Tweets

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




Robin Baumgarten ‏@WGNRobin 3m
Folks are freaking out that FACEBOOK is frozen and can't do status updates. Here's an idea: Go talk to someone. @WGNMorningNews

The Stiles Files ‏@TheStilesFiles 13m
#Facebook outage already affecting more people than the govt #shutdown.

TheBeverlyBOO!master ‏@BvrlyBrewmaster 3m
With Facebook down, I don't know which of my friends ran or Crossfitted this morning. The suspense is killing me.

CBS Chicago ‏@cbschicago 17m
A Catholic high school in Arlington Heights is set to begin random alcohol testing of students. http://cbsloc.al/180rINB

Andy Borowitz ‏@BorowitzReport 18m
Nation That Waited Decades for Health Care Infuriated By Slow Web Site http://nyr.kr/15X9ikf

Lin Brehmer ‏@LinBrehmer 45m
I'm curious. How often have the Bears lost a game in which they scored 41 points?

Al Yellon ‏@bleedcubbieblue 36m
@LinBrehmer Since you asked, I looked. The answer is: Before yesterday, never. (At least not since 1940) http://ow.ly/q0XgW

davidfrum ‏@davidfrum 54m
Three steps to prevent future blow-up-the-world budget standoffs, my column for http://CNN.com http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/21/opinion/frum-next-budget-crisis/index.html

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 1h
Marc Trestman tells @WBBMNewsradio the #Bears will probably have the results of Jay Cutler's MRI later this afternoon.

The Daily Show ‏@TheDailyShow 1h
The long wait is almost over. The #DailyShow returns tonight. 11/10c.

Jerry Lee Lewis

I thought this one was pretty funny too (Thanks "DK" for sending it). For you youngsters who don't get it, google Jerry Lee Lewis song titles.

Penguin Slapdown

Thanks to "TF" for this one...

Ryan Dempster

Another Ex-Cub makes the World Series. The LA Times has a piece about Ryan Dempster on the eve of the World Series. (He is with the Boston Red Sox now)

I believe Dempster is the only ex-Cub playing in the World Series this year. There's usually at least two or three.

Barsky

Former Z-95 morning jock (and Chicago Radio Spotlight interviewee) Paul Barsky has been undergoing some serious health issues in Florida. This past weekend he finally communicated an update to his fans on facebook...

Thought I'd check in with an update on my recovery from cervical spine fusion surgery. I had my first x-ray, and my Doc said my bones seem to be fusing and healing properly. I've been in this hard cervical neck brace for the past 8 weeks and he'd like me to be in it for a couple more before he moves me to a soft collar, which I'll be in for another two. After that, if all looks good...I'm free !

Wearing this thing 24/7 with very limited head movement, not to mention sleeping and eating in it has been a bit of a challenge, but now there's light at the end of the tunnel. Being pretty much housebound, with the exception of Dr. and physical therapy appointments, hasn't been fun either so I'm looking forward to getting myself out and about to enjoy South Florida's best weather of the year. Thanks to all who have privately e-mailed or messaged me to check up on my recovery and inquiring when I'm going to be back on the radio. My birthday is coming up in mid November, and getting back on the air doing what I love to do would be a real nice birthday gift ... Much love to you all...Barsk

The Birth of Tommy Kaempfer

My oldest son was born 18 years ago today...







The following is a transcript of the telephone conversation on the air the morning of Tommy's birth. The participants are John Landecker (center), sidekick Vicki Truax (the only female in the group picture), and proud papa Rick.

John: Oldies 104.3 WJMK, It's 12 minutes after 6:00 with John Records Landecker and Vicki Truax. The hotline...the private line...is ringing. Hello.

Rick: Hello.

John: Well?

Rick: I'm a papa.

(Loud cheering and whooping in the studio)

Vicki: A girl or a boy?

Rick: A boy.

Vicki: I KNEW IT!!! What's his name?

Rick: Thomas Peter.

Vicki: What time?

Rick: 4:06 a.m.

John: Wow. How's everybody doing?

Rick: Everyone is fine.

Vicki: Bridget is fine too? Is she exhausted?

Rick: Yup, she's holding Thomas right now.

John & Vicki: Awwwww.

Rick: 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

John & Vicki: Awwwww.

Rick: And I recorded the entire thing on Digital audio tape.

Vicki: You're kidding? She didn't make you turn it off?

Rick: No. I had it put in a nice place where it didn't get in anyone's way.

John: We've got Thomas' birth on tape.

Rick: Yup. And we got his first bath on tape too, and his first cry.

John: Something tells me we better get more tape. OK, here's his first eyelid opening. Better get that on tape. We're going through his first toll...let's get that on tape. Hey Rick, don't you just want to...

John, Vicki & Rick: Hug and kiss them all the time?

(That was something Vicki said so often about her daughter it was a running joke on the show)

Rick: He is so damn cute.

John & Vicki: Awwwwww.

Rick: Wait a second...is he crying? Hold on.

Sound: A tiny baby cry can be heard.

John: Is that him?

Rick: Yup. His on-air debut.

John: Wow!

Rick: He's got some lungs on him.

John: That kid sounds like he's two years old.

Rick: Yeah, he's got good pipes.

John: Does he want to come in and do a few record talkovers?

Vicki: How long is he?

Rick: 21 inches.

John: So what was it like?

Rick: It was so cool. It was just like the movie "Alien." The baby kind of popped out and looked around. Then he jumped up and sucked my eyes out...

John & Vicki: (Laughing)

John: Then Siguorney Weaver came in with some sort of a mechanical device. It was unbelievable.

Vicki: You guys. Is he all wrinkly. Does he have hair?

Rick: Yeah, he does have hair. That was the first thing we saw. I asked the nurse...ewww...what is that? That's his hair. Oh.

John: Did you get it on tape?

Rick: Of course. Uh, oh. I have to go. We need to take Bridget up to the recovery room.

Vicki: You're still in the delivery room?

Rick: Yeah.

Vicki: That's dedication.

John: How many calls have you made so far?

Rick: This is my second call. I called my mom first.

John: Wow. Well take care of everyone.

Rick: Thanks.

John & Vicki: Bye.

John: There they go. Dad Rick, Mom Bridget and now Thomas Kaempfer.

Vicki: I kind of liked the other name Rick was talking about before.

John: I don't think Bridget was ever going to agree to Ringo.

Yeah Baby

The incredibly creative world of television news...

Today's Best Tweets

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





USA TODAY Health ‏@USATODAYhealth 14m
Is bacon birth control? Are Oreos addictive? @USATODAY's @KimPainter takes a look at the week's health headlines, http://usat.ly/1i1YrYy

Washington Post ‏@washingtonpost 16m
FACT CHECK: Ted Cruz’s claims about Obamacare http://wapo.st/H1ETZ1 by @GlennKesslerWP

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 20m
Sources: Bidding for Abreu was close and furious. Four clubs bid between $63 and $66M. #WhiteSox’s winning bid was $68M.

Chicago Bears ‏@ChicagoBears 37m
LM: #Bears averaging 28.7 ppg (third best in NFL); on pace to break team record held by '85 Super Bowl champs by 3 points.

USA TODAY Life ‏@usatodaylife 30m
REVIEW: Harrowing '12 Years a Slave' is "a mesmerizing period drama for the ages." http://usat.ly/19Rfzv6

Los Angeles Times ‏@latimes 13m
The World Health Organization has declared air pollution a human carcinogen like tobacco smoke, asbestos and arsenic http://lati.ms/pWaDB

Paul McCartney ‏@PaulMcCartney 26m
If you overslept & missed Paul's interview on @XFM's Breakfast Show with @jonholmes1 you can listen to it HERE: http://www.xfm.co.uk/london/radio/breakfast/highlights/paul-mccartney-reveals-john-lennon-insecurities

The Daily Beast ‏@thedailybeast 33m
"Walmart Moms" are furious with Washington, and Hillary may be the only one who can win them back http://thebea.st/1atlck3

ABC 7 Chicago ‏@ABC7Chicago 7m
BREAKING: Former U.S. Speaker of the House Tom Foley has died, according to House Democratic aides.

DRUDGE REPORT ‏@DRUDGE_REPORT 11m
GENDER BLENDER: Woman finds new catwalk career posing as male model... http://drudge.tw/1bFtc41

Chuck Berry

87 years old today...

F.C.C. Chairman's Confirmation Blocked

Guess who is blocking it. Ted Cruz.

Cruz is concerned that this potential chairman will enforce a law that doesn't currently exist (it was defeated), but might be passed in the future.

Sigh.

Christmas Present Idea

Yikes.

The Great American Menu

Deadspin writer Albert Burneko ranked regional dishes from around the country. The map is below. His rankings are here. Illinois comes in first place.

The Science Blogging Scandal

I must admit I don't read science blogs. It's not that I'm anti-science, it's just that science is not exactly my area of expertise or interest.

So I had no idea there was a huge scandal going on in the science blogging world until I read this in Slate Magazine.

It's pretty sad that the scandal got my attention, but the science didn't. What can I say? I am who I am.

Bill Watterson Interview

A very, very rare interview with recluse cartoonist Bill Watterson appears in the December issue of Mental Floss.

You can read it here.

If you don't know Watterson, he's the creator of the best and most creative comic strip in history; Calvin & Hobbes.

Winners of the Shutdown

The winner of the Government Shutdown wasn't the Republicans, obviously, and it wasn't the Democrats who will have to go through this all again in a few months.

The big winner was National Review reporter Robert Costa. His reporting on the behind the scenes machinations of the Republican planning was indispensable.

New York Magazine has a profile of him this morning.

Could the Cubs be leaving WGN Radio?

That's the subject of speculation in today's Tom Taylor NOW column...

Rights fees for Chicago’s WGN (720) shot up when Sam Zell sold the Cubs to as much as $10 million a year, says the Chicago Tribune – and “maybe more.” Plus the team’s new ownership, the Ricketts family, hasn’t exactly endeared itself to the fans, and that’s showing up on the field and in the ratings. Now the Tribune-owned talk station wants a reduction in the rights fee, during a 2014 negotiating window that’s built into their deal. WGN boss Jimmy de Castro says “the contract calls for us to take a look at it, and we’re going to do that.” The Tribune paper says WGN is “losing significant money on the Cubs broadcasts, with listeners and advertisers tuning out a team that has lost 197 games in the last two years.” But how low will the Cubs go, and how much does de Castro want to keep them?...It's not hard to imagine CBS making a run at the Cubs. And the Dickey family has the Braves in Atlanta, so WLS would be in the mix, too. de Castro may find the field more crowded than he’d like.

1910 World Series

103 years ago this week the Cubs were playing in the World Series. The full story of the snakebitten series of events is told in today's Cubs 365.

And would you believe there is actually some film from that series?

2013 Book of the Year Finalist

Well lookee here. The Chicago Writers Association has named "Records Truly Is My Middle Name" by John Records Landecker and Rick Kaempfer as a finalist for 2013 Book of the Year (in the traditional non-fiction category)!

See the full list here.

Congratulations John!

(Where is that book available, again? Oh yeah, at Eckhartz Press.)