Monday, March 28, 2016

Serbian War Criminal Sentenced


One of the main characters of Brent Petersen's excellent Eckhartz Press novel "Truffle Hunt" is an on-the-lam Serbian war criminal. Brent writes on his blog today about a real life story that mirrors the story told in Truffle Hunt.

You can read it here.
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Smashing Pumpkins Reunion

16 years ago Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan got into a tiff with guitarist James Iha, which led to Iha's departure from the band.

Last night they played together for the first time in 16 years.

Story and videos at this link.
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12 Year Old Soccer Player

As a father of a soccer player the same age, all I can say is WOW.

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Obama "optics" versus Reagan "optics"

The latest Obama "outrage" is that he didn't cut his official trip to Cuba and Argentina short when Belgium was bombed. If you listen to the outraged talking heads, you'd think it was unprecedented behavior from a president.

One intrepid reporter took that premise and looked at similar events during the presidency of Ronald Reagan; a saint to all of those screaming for Obama's head. Turns out there are photos that co-incide with significant dates in his presidency as well.

Check them out here.

Make your own conclusions.
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Trump Vs. Matthews

MSNBC's Chris Matthews is known for his tough questioning...when he allows the interviewee to actually answer the question. He calls his show "Hardball".

Donald Trump has agreed to appear in a townhall hosted by Matthews. It will air on March 30th.

I had vowed to stop watching Trump's appearances, but this one might be worth watching.
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The Larry Sanders Show

In the wake of his death, HBO has decided to re-run Garry Shandling's "The Larry Sanders Show".

The Hollywood Reporter has the details.

I'll watch every episode again.
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Bees Swarm Cubs

Yesterday's Cubs game had to be stopped temporarily because the field was swarmed with bees...



Jason Heyward of the Cubs was stung ten times...



He wasn't seriously impacted by it, however. He later hit a homer.
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Friday, March 25, 2016

(Wilbur) Good Friday

On Good Friday we tell you about former Cub Wilbur Good…


~Wilbur Good 1885 (Cubs 1911-1915)
Wilbur came to the Cubs in the trade that sent popular catcher Johnny Kling to Boston. His nickname was “Lefty” and he played for the Cubs in the years after their dynasty (1906-1910) and before their move to Wrigley Field (1916). Good was a backup outfielder his first few years in Chicago (he hit the first pinch hit HR in Cubs history in 1913), before being given the fulltime rightfield job in 1914. Wilbur responded by stealing more than 30 bases and hitting .272. Those numbers went down the following year, and when the Cubs moved across town to Wrigley Field (then known as Weeghman Park), Wilbur was not invited to join them. He was sold to the Phillies. Good holds the distinction of being the very last player to hit a homer at West Side Grounds. It came on September 29, 1915 in a 5-4 victory over the Braves. (Photo: 1909 Tobacco Card)
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An Offended Massachusetts Writer

I love this. I made this same point when Donald Trump ripped the Cubs owners, but I'm biased. I'm a Cubs fan. The writer of this piece is in Massachusetts...

He has attacked the Chicago Cubs. He has threatened to take out ads telling everyone what a "rotten job'' the team's owners are doing with a club that regularly packs beloved Wrigley Field with adoring fans, rebuilt a struggling team with loads of young talent and a Yoda-like manager, and in 2015 had the third-best record of 30 teams in baseball, not counting a playoff series victory over the mighty St. Louis Cardinals - 101 victories in all.

Some places, you just don't go. Come on, now, who among us could not forgive Trump for ridiculing John McCain, a man beaten to a pulp by the North Vietnamese for five years in service to America while Trump was investing daddy's millions?

Shoot, that's just a guy telling it like it is, right, you Trumpies? But not this.

That's because with the Cubs, Trump is telling it like it isn't. This is worse than being repugnant, it's being ill-informed to the point of being clueless and stupid, which for a President would not seem like a good thing.

Say it, brother. Say it.
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RIP Garry Shandling

Sad, shocking news yesterday. Garry Shandling, dead at 66. Variety has a good write up about his life.

I was a fan of Garry's since the first time I saw him--guest hosting the Tonight Show for Johnny Carson. Over the years he created a lot of high quality entertainment, including "It's Garry Shandling Show" on Fox (which I watched religiously). But his masterpiece was The Larry Sanders Show--one of the top five comedies of all-time. That really was a show about something. Garry explains it in this first clip...





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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe is 67 years old today. Happy birthday Nick! This is my personal favorite Nick Lowe song...

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Keeping it Classy

Is there anything classier than a politician saying "My wife is better looking than yours?" That's what Trump just did to Ted Cruz...

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Andrea Darlas

From this morning's Radio Online...

WGN-AM/Chicago Radio anchor and reporter Andrea Darlas will receive the Diogenes Award for Excellence in Media from the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) at the organization's 90th Anniversary Dinner Meeting on Thursday, March 24. Darlas is currently the morning news anchor on WGN Radio, a reporter on WGN-TV and CLTV as well as a contributor to the nationally-syndicated TV show "House Smarts."

"The Diogenes Award is presented to a media person who exemplifies the goals and principles of the Better Business Bureau to support and foster an ethical marketplace benefiting both consumers and businesses," said BBB President/CEO Steve J. Bernas.

"Andrea was born to chase compelling stories," added WGN VP/Programming & Content Todd Manley. "She's a passionate journalist and a trusted voice in Chicago. We're so proud of her work and this great honor."

Congrats to Andrea, a fellow University of Illinois alum.
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RIP Ken Howard

He was the President of my union (SAG-AFTRA), but he will always be The White Shadow to me. Ken Howard was just a few days shy of his 72nd birthday when he passed away.



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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

RIP Joe Garagiola

Sad news from Arizona, Joe Garagiola has passed away. Here is his entry from our "Every Cub Ever" feature at Just One Bad Century...


~Joe Garagiola 1926 (Cubs 1953-1954)
He was a backup catcher for most of his nine-year big league career, and that’s the role he served in Chicago. His big claim to fame with the Cubs was catching all nine innings of a game in what was at the time, the hottest day in Chicago history, June 20, 1953. Despite the 104 degree heat, 17,000+ fans came out to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs lose to the Dodgers 5-3. Of course, Joe became much more famous after his playing career as a sportscaster and television personality.
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Sarah Palin on Court TV?

The Hollywood Reporter has a story today claiming that Sarah Palin is being eyed for a daytime show on Court TV. The producer of Judge Judy and Judge Roy Brown is attached to the project.

At her introductory press conference, I hope nobody in the lamestream media asks her an unfair 'Gotcha' question like "What's a plaintiff?"
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Bill Murray's Son

Shocking revelation at the end of this father/son interview...

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Woman Arrested For Smoking Pot in Police Parking Lot



Brazen or stupid? You decide.

There's a WBBM News radio audio report of the incident at this link.
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Wiener Circle

I was in the neighborhood yesterday and snapped this photo. I had heard about the promotion already, but it still cracked me up to see it on the sign...

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When You Just Don't Care Anymore

What does Dave look like these days?

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