Star Trek

45 years ago today Star Trek began its five year mission to explore new worlds and civilizations. I was a big fan of the show, though not quite at the go-to-conventions level. I saved the extreme geekitude for things like baseball cards and the Beatles.

This song was put together for the Howard Stern show a few years ago, in honor of Howard's frequent guest George Takei. Pretty funny.

$everance

Between now and September 28th, my publisher ENC Press is doing a contest giveaway with my novel "$everance" at the Good Reads website.

If you'd like a chance to win the book, click here.

(At the very least, click on the Good Reads site and give me a nice review. You know I'd do it for you.)

Embarrassing Confession Time

My weekly contribution to the City Mom blog at Chicago Now is posted. It's called "Embarrassing Confession Time."

You can read it here.

Dylan Gardner

I've known this young lad since he was born. He's the son of Landecker and the Legends guitarist Mark Gardner, and he was born around the same time as my oldest son Tommy.

We used to go to Mark's house every year for a Legends Christmas party, and little Dylan would be playing the drums in their basement (I seem to remember him doing this at a ridiculous age like 3 or 4). Dylan has also appeared on stage with Landecker & the Legends, most recently in 2009 when he performed the Doors song "Roadhouse Blues" at the age of 13.

The Gardners moved out to Arizona shortly after that show, but it's obvious that Dylan's musical career is just getting started. He plays guitar, bass, and piano on the song. I'm very impressed with the youngster.

Happy Labor Day!

Father Knows Nothing

My Father Knows Nothing column for this week has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "Emerging from Hibernation."

You can read it here.

This week in 1908, 1945

Every weekend JOBC goes back in time to the last year the Cubs won the World Series (1908) and the NL Pennant (1945).

This week in 1908, the Wright Brothers take the world`s first one hour flight, Frank Chance celebrates his 31st birthday, and the Cubs are still in third place behind the Pirates and the Giants.

This week in 1945, Gen. MacArthur accepts Japan's official surrender, the Palmer Castle is razed in Chicago, and Cubs third baseman Stan Hack gets his 2000th career hit.

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Cold

Temperatures could reach 100 degrees in Chicago today.

In my house they vary. Upstairs in the bedrooms, it will be about 175 degrees. The curtains should be melting by noon. On the ground floor by the thermostat, it will be about 75 degrees. And in the basement, where you'll find me, I'll be lucky if it gets up to 40 degrees.

Yesterday I had to warm my hands on the dog's belly to get the feeling back in my fingertips. She's not a big fan of that, by the way.

Every team leads the league in something

That's the thesis of this article in USA Today.

For instance, the White Sox lead the league in being hit by pitches. And the Reds lead the league in balks.

As for the Cubs? They lead the league in errors.

(Sigh)

A Reader's Question

I don't know the answer to this question, but I'm throwing it out there just in case anyone does know. It came in via my Just One Bad Century mailbox... 

"Hi Rick, I really love the website. I’ve been a Cubs fan for nearly 50 years. One of my earliest memories is of Ed Bailey hitting a home run at Wrigley in 1965! Still remember the roar of the crowd to this day. I have so many great memories over the years. My question is about the old Chicago Cubs flags that the Wrigley’s flew from the foul poles. Do you know what ever happened to them and why they have never been brought back? I have written the Cubs a couple of times about this but have never received a reply. To quote the 1968 press guide: “The Chicago Cubs flag-red and white on a blue background-displays 16 red stars representing the Club’s 16 National League Championships. The two blue stars represent the Club’s two World Championships.” I think it would be a nice touch to have them above the flags of the retired numbers, a remembrance of the glories of the past. Once again, thanks for the site and keep up the good work! Go Cubs! Mike Bowers"

It's funny that the flag would still work. Still have the same number of NL championships. Still have the same number of World Championships.

If you know the answer to Mike's question, drop me a line at rick@justonebadcentury.com

The Snotty Police

My weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow is posted and ready for your perusal. This week's is called "The Snotty Police".

You can read it here.

Best Marriage Proposal Ever

DO NOT try this at home, kids.

A female GM?

The sports business writer at Forbes Magazine has an interesting suggestion for the Cubs General Manager opening.

She just happens to be a woman.

I don't see why not.

Hurricane Irene Update

This comes via e-mail from my friend "BP" in Providence...

"Day two of power outage. State says they are restoring the 300,000 customers with power out based on public safety. I haven't showered since Saturday. If that isn't a public safety issue, I don't know what is."

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing at NWI Parent, and this week's is called "Brotherly Virtue."

You can read it here.

Theo Epstein

Could the Cubs really get Red Sox GM Theo Epstein?

They seem to be taking this possibility very seriously in Boston.

I'd be shocked if the Cubs actually pulled it off, but the fact that they're worried in Boston is a very good sign.

Graceland

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning...

"August 25, 1986…Paul Simon released the single "Graceland," with backup vocals by the Everly Brothers. As the title track of his album released two weeks earlier, the song revealed Simon's thoughts during a road trip after the failure of his marriage to actress Carrie Fisher."

It may be 25 years old today, but it really stands the test of time, especially the lyrics. In my boat, Paul Simon is one of the top five lyricists of all time (in the same category as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Bruce Springsteen).

Ode to a handshake

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. This week's is called "Ode to a Handshake"

You can read it here.

When Nature Calls

When nature calls, nature calls.

Just ask former Cubs outfielder (and current Mets outfielder) Angel Pagan. Nature called the other night while his team was batting, and he held up the game because he was indisposed when it was time to head back out to the field.

The gruesome (but funny) details are here.

I believe he was the #2 hitter that night.

The Hallelujah Chorus

All three boys have their first day of school today. This song has been in my mind all morning, in eight part harmony...