Chicago Radio Spotlight

I just posted my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week it's with WGN Radio's Steve Cochran.

You can read it here.

Jon Gosselin goes back in time

Not a bad effort at self parody...

Jon Gosselin Goes Back in Time from Jon Gosselin

Sammy's new look

He and his agent (sort of) discuss why he looks so white these days.

Veteran's Day

It didn't become known as Veteran's Day until 1954. Before that, it was Armistice Day, a day honoring the end of World War I.

Novemember 11, 1918 was one of the most joyous days in American history, tempered by the fact that we were in the midst of a flu pandemic that would wipe out more people than the war did. This film shows how San Francisco celebrated...



Chicago had a parade too. There were rules about what to do at a parade...because a large gathering of people was sure to spread the flu virus further.

Here are a few more details about that.

The Berlin Wall

It was 20 years ago this week...



This day meant a lot to me. I had been to the wall many times during my years in Germany. I had gone through Checkpoint Charlie several times. I had been on the other side of the wall...and it was the most terrifying place I had ever been.

I didn't believe this day would ever come.

On the day it actually happened I was working for Steve & Garry's show. They made me call my relatives in Europe. My sister lived in Switzerland at the time, but S&G didn't like her because she didn't have a German accent. They wanted someone that could speak English, but someone with a thick authentic German accent.

So, I called my grandmother. She came on the air with them, and after the first Nazi joke, told them off and hung up on them.

I miss Oma. She died the next year. But at least she lived to see the wall come down. Her entire family lived on the other side of it.

Rock Trivia

The Beachwood Reporter collects these little tidbits of rock trivia. I enjoy checking out the list occasionally. Among the 575 items...

Cat Stevens went to Catholic school.

Ray Charles' favorite dessert was sweet potato pie.

Neil Young's early band, the Mynah Birds, featured future super freak Rick James.

Carly Simon's father co-founded Simon & Schuster.

The Who's Keith Moon died in the same apartment that Mama Cass died in four years earlier.

The Osmonds earned more Gold records in a single year than any other group in history.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at NWI Parent. This week it's called "Misunderstood Lyrics," and it features a priceless contribution from my middle son Johnny.

You can read it here.

Sammy is that really you?

He looks more like Ricky Ricardo in this picture, but it's actually Sammy Sosa at an event in Las Vegas.

Do steroids bleach your skin too?

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Bill Gamble

I just posted my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week I talk with long time Chicago program director Bill Gamble. He talks about the two radio stations he is programming now (US99 and Fresh FM) along with some of his previous stops on the Chicago radio dial.

Read it here.

Don't buy this car

This is a Honda Odyssey. Same color and model as mine.

The transmission just went out. The bill is $5000.

You read that right: $5000.

Did some research on it after we got the most outrageous bill I've ever gotten in my life, and found out that the transmission is an issue with Honda Odysseys from 2002 and 2003 (we have a 2003), but that Honda has refused to issue a recall. Someone is trying to put together a class action lawsuit.

Just warning you.

Weezer Snuggie

It's getting a little more difficult to market a new record. Got to hand it to the boys in Weezer for getting creative...

Christopher Walken does Poker Face

Tom Snyder/Ace Frehley

This is classic...

5 years ago

5 years ago this week, John "Swany" Swanson and I were featured in Bill Zwecker's "5 Questions With" segment about our brand new book (still available, kids), The Radio Producer's Handbook.

You can read Zwecker's piece here.

Ellen scares Taylor Swift

November Birthdays

23 great stories about November birthday boys, courtesy of Just One Bad Century...

Larry French (Nov 1)

Johnny Vander Meer (Nov 2)

Cub Fan Warren G. Harding (Nov 2)

Great Mustache Dwight Smith (Nov 8)

Cubs curser--Martin Luther (Nov 10)

Great Mustache Mike Vail (Nov 10)

Cub Fan J. Ogden Armour (Nov 11)

Rabbit Maranville (Nov 11)

Sammy Sosa (Nov 12)

Cub Fan Joe Mantegna (Nov 13)

Great Mustache Willie Hernandez (Nov 14)

Bunions Zeider (Nov 16)

Gene Mauch (Nov 18)

Dickie Noles (Nov 19)

Billy Sunday (Nov 19)

Rick Monday (Nov 20)

Cub Fan Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis (Nov 20)

Dick Bartell (Nov 22)

Cub Killers Joe DiMaggio (Nov 25) and Stan Musial (Nov 21)

The Gravedigger; Richie Hebner (Nov 26)

Johnny "Bear Tracks" Schmitz (Nov 27)

Howard HoJo Johnson (Nov 29)

Not that there's anything wrong with that

Laura Ricketts, one of the new owners of the Chicago Cubs, is an "out" lesbian. This quote was in the Windy City Times this weekend...

"I came out to my family I would say early to mid 30's. I think for a long time I wasn't really out to myself growing up in Omaha, Neb., to a Catholic conservative family. It took me a while to come out to myself and not long after that I came out to them. I think that it really couldn't of been a better experience. They were all immediately supportive. ... I have been really really fortunate in that regard."

They're Catholic and conservative, yet they're also tolerant.

My love affair with the Ricketts family continues.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. It's called "In the blink of an eye" and it's about a terrifying moment from this past week.

You can read it here.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Artie Kennedy

This week I interview my old pal (and former Loop and ESPN producer/production man) Artie Kennedy. He's got some great stories.

You can read the interview here.

Happy Halloween

Remember, kids.



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