Musings, observations, and written works from the publisher of Eckhartz Press, the media critic for the Illinois Entertainer, co-host of Minutia Men, Minutia Men Celebrity Interview and Free Kicks, and the author of "The Loop Files", "Back in the D.D.R", "EveryCubEver", "The Living Wills", "$everance," "Father Knows Nothing," "The Radio Producer's Handbook," "Records Truly Is My Middle Name", and "Gruen Weiss Vor".
Monday, September 30, 2019
Minutia Men--Hops, Skip & a Jump
Listen here.
Free Kicks--Chelsea Blues
Adam & Rick discuss Chelsea’s climb up Liverpool mountain, throat-crushing Man City, the bubbles at West Ham, take a quiz about a Premier League star, and pick the scores of the top 5 games for next weekend.
Listen to it here.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Al Franken
It will good to get him back on the radio. When he was with Air America he was a good counterbalance to Rush and his ilk. I think that radio show actually showed the people of Minnesota that Al was more than just a comedian.
He was super serious as a senato thoughr. Hope he remembers to keep it light like he used to. That's the secret of Rush. He's a hyper partisan, but he's also funny (for conservatives).
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Dahlcast
I was invited to go to the live Dahlcast last night at Zanies in Rosemont by Joe Callahan, and I thought, "what the heck, I haven't seen that before".
Enjoyed it. They did three shows and I had to leave during the third one, but I enjoyed it very much. It was nice meeting Joe. I saw a few people I haven't seen in years (like Jennifer Keiper in the picture), and Steve fans from many years ago. Didn't get a chance to talk to Steve or any of the other guys in the show (or Janet), but only because I couldn't stay all the way until the end.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Will Byington
Beautiful #Sunset down the #Chicago river last night! Perfect opportunity to experiment and compare my #iPhone11promax vs. my #pixel3aXL. Very small enhancements to both of these...otherwise straight out of each phone with each cameras #nightshot mode. Which is your favorite? pic.twitter.com/tNRShvnt2E
— Will Byington (@willbyington) September 24, 2019
Why are they so scared of a 16-year-old girl
A guest on Fox News called her a "mentally ill Swedish girl". That made Fox News do something it never does--they apologized and banned him from their station.
Get a grip, people. She's 16. She has Aspbergers. She's really smart. But she is no threat to you. Stop acting like whiny little brats. She's the one that's 16. Not you.
Monday, September 23, 2019
Todd Manley
It didn’t take long for the new owner of WGN 720-AM to start shaking things up. Less than 24 hours after acquiring the former Tribune Broadcasting news/talk flagship, Nexstar Media Group fired Todd Manley, station manager and vice president of content, and named news and operations director Mary Sandberg Boyle interim boss. Manley, who’d headed programming since 2013, took the fall for WGN’s precipitously low ratings. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, the station tied for 16th place overall, with mornings, middays, afternoons and evenings all out of the top 10. In a meeting with staffers Friday, new executive vice president Sean Compton hinted at more changes to come.
Autumnal Equinox
Chicagohenge Sunrise from Saturday morning, the Autumnal Equinox is upon us. #weather #news #chicago #ilwx pic.twitter.com/5GjSyuqtgb
— Barry Butler (@barrybutler9) September 22, 2019
Minutia Men--Mind the Gap
Listen to it here.
Friday, September 20, 2019
17th birthday
Free Kicks--Upset of the Year
The latest episode of Free Kicks is out. We've now started to give score predictions for our wagering friends. If you're a Premier League fan, check it out: https://radiomisfits.com/fk44/
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Strawberry Fields
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
RIP Alex Grammas
Here's his entry in Everycubever...
~Alex Grammas 1926--2019 (Cubs 1962-1963)
Grammas was a big league infielder for ten years, the last year and half of which were with the Cubs. He came to the Cubs (along with Don Landrum) from the Cardinals in the midst of the College of Coaches fiasco. The veteran glove man backed up young Cubs studs Ken Hubbs, Andre Rodgers, and Ron Santo. After his playing career he became a big league manager for the Pirates and Brewers.
Bobby & Chuck

RIP Cokie Roberts
They are dropping like flies now.
Monday, September 16, 2019
RIP Ric Ocasek
Socctoberfest '19
Brain Aneurysm Walk






Friday, September 13, 2019
RIP Eddie Money
Thursday, September 12, 2019
RIP Tom Phoebus
This is his obit in the Baltimore Sun.
Here's his writeup in Everycubever...
~Tom Phoebus 1942--2019 (Cubs 1972)
Phoebus was a member of the very impressive Baltimore Orioles starting rotation of the late 60s. He was a star right out of the gate. He threw shutouts in his first two big league starts and was named Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1967. He won 15 and 14 games the next two years as well, tossed a no-hitter against the Red Sox, and won a game in the 1970 World Series. By the time he came to the Cubs in 1972, however, he was primarily a relief pitcher. He struggled with his control in Chicago, and the Cubs traded him to the Braves after the season for a career minor leaguer named Tony LaRussa. Not sure what happened to that LaRussa kid.
RIP Charlie Silvera
His NY Times Obit is here.
Socctoberfest
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Brain Aneurysm Walk
A Very Brady Renovation
HGTV scored their highest ratings ever. Details are here.
Great Article About Abbey Road
This one is for the Beatle nerds like me.
h/t to Brent Petersen for pointing it out to me.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Interview with me
Behind the Pen: Meet CWA board member Rick Kaempfer
Interview by Meryl D'Sa
Interview with Chicago Writers Association board member, Rick Kaempfer
Rick Kaempfer, author of four books and co-founder and publisher of Eckhartz Press, has a wide range of writing experience from writing for radio, hosting a weekly podcast, to writing fiction, nonfiction, and collaborating on novels with fellow writers. Kaempfer has utilized and developed his writing skills across different forms of media and continues to do so by forming important connections and relationships within Chicago’s media.
Q: Would you say your writing process has evolved over time? If so, how?
A: My writing process is probably pretty unusual because of my background. I began my professional career in radio (with Hall of Famers Steve & Garry at WLUP and John Records Landecker at WJMK). That was a very different type of writing than I do now. My process has changed a lot over the years.
When I wrote my first book (The Radio Producer’s Handbook), I was given three months to deliver the manuscript. I’ve written seven books since then on wildly different subject matters, and each one required a different process. For my first novel ($everence), I mapped out every twist and turn before I wrote the first word. My second novel (The Living Wills) was on the opposite end of that spectrum. I wrote it with another author, using improvisation techniques to unlock intersecting storylines. I’ve since written a non-fiction book that took me ten years to research (Everycubever) and that was a totally different process. Another book required me to cull ten years of my newspaper and magazine columns (Father Knows Nothing). I adapt my process to the project, if that makes sense.
Q: How do you handle writer’s block?
A: I’ve never experienced writer’s block and I think there is a very good reason for that. When I wrote for radio, my job was to come up with four hours of material every single day. There’s no room for writer’s block in that situation. Necessity is the mother of invention. It forced me to find great stories, and they are all around if you pay attention.
Now that life has slowed down a bit from that frenetic pace, there are a few things I do that help. I’ve found that when I am super busy, I must allow myself some thinking time. I sit on the deck in the summer with my dog and enjoy the summer air. I come up with some of my best ideas doing that. If I’m on the other end of the spectrum and spending too much time thinking about a project, I keep myself busy doing something else for a while. Just going to the grocery store can unlock ideas that my myopic mind hasn’t allowed me to think about.
Q: Do you have a routine in place daily, or is it always random how you write?
A: Yes, I definitely have a routine. I write first thing in the morning before I do anything else. The thoughts have been gestating overnight and need to come out of my brain before I do anything else. Once they are on paper (or in a computer file), I can leave them behind for a while. I own a publishing company (Eckhartz Press), host a couple of podcasts (Minutia Men, and Free Kicks), and I’m on four board of directors for not-for-profits, so when my writing is done, it’s time to do my actual day jobs.
Q: What, in your opinion, establishes someone as a “writer”?
A: If you write, you are a writer. I don’t differentiate between people who write for print (newspapers, magazines, etc) and those who write for other media like I did. I guess I’m not a purist in that sense.
Q: What literary workshops or opportunities do you think have made you a stronger writer?
A: The only conferences I’ve ever attended are the ones we’ve done for the CWA. I found those incredibly inspiring. There’s something about hanging out with other writers. I have found that collaborating is a great experience. Four of my books are co-written, and they wouldn’t have been nearly as good if I had written them by myself.
Q: What is your role within the Chicago Writers Association?What special projects have you worked on?
A: My job on the CWA board is publishing our yearly writers journal. I’m the only publisher on the board, so I suppose it was an easy choice to have me handle that. I’m also very connected to the Chicago media after being a part of it for so many years, so I help make connections when we need speakers or publicity.
Q: What’s your favorite quote?
A: It’s not from a book, it’s from a song. I’ve been saying it to my kids their whole lives. At first I said it pompously on purpose, as if I was going to dispense important wisdom, which instinctively caused them to roll their eyes. I live for their rolling eyes. That’s my fuel. But now I’ve said it so often, I’ve grown to actually consider it profound. It’s this: “Life…is a highway, and I’m going to ride it all night long,” (Tom Cochran). Sounds ridiculous I know, but think about it. Life is all about the journey. You never actually reach your destination. But if you ride it all night long, you’re going to see some incredible things. Like kids rolling their eyes.
Q: Any advice you would give to any new aspiring writer? What do you want them to know that you wish you had known when you began your journey?
A: Write as often as you can to improve your craft. It almost doesn’t matter what you are writing. I wrote commercial copy for years and it helped me learn to economize my words.
As for ‘what,’ I didn’t know. I had no idea how difficult it was to get published. I consider it a blessing in retrospect. It allowed me to keep on writing without always thinking, “How can I sell this?” or “I’ll never sell this.”. I know myself well enough to realize I never would have finished a few of those early projects if I knew what awaited me when it came to selling them. Finishing those never sold projects taught me so much. Because of that, when opportunities arrived later in life, I was ready to pounce on them
Wendella
Monday, September 09, 2019
Love Reign O'er Me
It was a great show, highlighted by this great song. When the piano solo finished, the rain actually began to fall on us. Incredible moment. Gave me chills.
Kid Catches *Two* Foul Balls in One At-Bat
This kid caught two (2) foul balls during one (1) at bat. pic.twitter.com/lZdzdyvkU4
— Subscribe to Cut4 on YouTube!!!! (@Cut4) September 8, 2019
Minutia Men--Brexit, Beatles, Bacon, and Ballplayers
In this week's episode, former Sox slugger Eric Soderholm tells us the funniest Jimmy Piersall story ever.
Listen to it here.
Oktoberfest
Blue Village Vinyl


Friday, September 06, 2019
Bobby Skafish in Westmont
The box of new Bobby Skafish books arrived for Saturday’s signing at Blue Village Vinyl in Westmont (2-3pm).
Your copy of the book is awaiting your purchase Saturday. Bobby will happily sign it for you.
Free Kicks--When Worlds Collide
Listen to it here.
Thursday, September 05, 2019
Chicago Radio Ratings
1. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 5.7 (5.2)
2. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 5.4 (5.4)
3. WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 5.0 (4.9)
4. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 4.8 (4.8)
5. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.5 (4.3)
6. WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 4.1 (3.8)
7. (tie) WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 3.8 (3.3); WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 3.8 (4.0)
9. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.5 (3.8)
10. WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 3.4 (3.0)
11. (tie) WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 3.1 (3.3); WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 3.1 (2.8)
13. WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.0 (3.1)
14. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.9 (3.0); WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.9 (3.1)
16. (tie) WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 2.8 (2.7); WGN 720-AM news talk, 2.8 (3.0);
18. WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.6 (2.8)
19. WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary, 2.5 (2.8)
20. WLS 890-AM news talk, 2.1 (2.2)
21. WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.0 (1.9)
22. WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 1.9 (1.9)
23. WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.6 (1.6)
24. WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.5 (1.4)
25. WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.4 (1.5)
26. WERV 95.9-FM classic hits, 1.1 (1.3)
27. WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.0 (1.5)
28. WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 0.9 (0.8)
29. WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 0.8 (0.8)
30. WSSR 96.7-FM adult contemporary, 0.6 (0.3)
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
Let the Hype Begin
Never looked better, @artonthemart.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 5, 2019
🐻💯 | #Bears100 pic.twitter.com/Cl8dphN1H9
Rick at Wrigley
Wrigley sunset pic.twitter.com/5JaMTTKu4c
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) September 4, 2019
Listeners of my podcast Free Kicks will recognize what a thrill it was for me to meet my favorite Premier League announcer Arlo White at my favorite ballpark Wrigley Field. pic.twitter.com/8jF5Ne09AP
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) September 4, 2019
Tuesday, September 03, 2019
New statues
Legends live on.#Bears100 pic.twitter.com/Ax7slCftiR
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 3, 2019
Tim Virgin
You can read it here.
Staged Photo
I had no idea.
Family Wedding
Friday, August 30, 2019
This is unbelievable
This exchange between Stuart Varney and Joe Walsh is oddly reminiscent of the torture scenes from "1984."
— Eric Kleefeld (@EricKleefeld) August 30, 2019
Varney challenges Walsh: Name an example ofTrump lying.
Walsh names one. Varney denies it.
Walsh: "Do you believe he's ever told the American people a lie?"
Varney: "No." pic.twitter.com/XkDTJEk1dA
When Worlds Collide
This is my version of spring training.
— Arlo White (@arlowhite) August 30, 2019
Preparing for the most important (only) pitch of my life.
Please PLEASE don’t make it bounce in front of the plate 🙏😆#Cubs #EverybodyIn #WrigleyField pic.twitter.com/l68ZZpsDFE
What happens when Trump takes on Fox News?
Check out Neil's latest Common Sense pic.twitter.com/Iwg9ZrxDeH
— Neil Cavuto (@TeamCavuto) August 29, 2019
Of course Hannity later re-inserted Trump's private parts, but for a few minutes there, it was coitus interuptus.





































