STEVE'S AFTERNOON BLOG

The best things in life...

2008-07-09T18:11:00.002-04:00

are free. That's what we're told. Here's a list of them. (Check out #8!) Yeah, I know I haven't posted in a while. I thought my heckler needed a break. http://www.jamesshuggins.com/h/mot1/best_things_in_life.htm

Oh, are we on the air?

2008-05-13T18:45:00.002-04:00

For a little dose of comedy this afternoon, here's reporters having meltdowns with the cameras rolling. http://gawker.com/390156/ten-angry-on+camera-meltdowns Warning: some of them are potty-mouths!

Do your good deed

2008-05-06T18:14:00.002-04:00

Thanks to my cousin Dave for this link. It's a website where you try to define words (relax, it's multiple choice.) Some of the words are uncommon, but for each one you get right, they donate some rice. http://freerice.com/index.php

And another website where you can help animals just by clicking your mouse. http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Danger, Danger

2008-05-05T18:59:00.002-04:00

Chicago managers exploding! Just last week I mentioned the anniversary of the Lee Elia rant and now we get both Chicago managers going off after frustrating losses. OK, not calling the fans bums, but Lou asked a reporter if he thought he was stupid after the reporter had asked if he thought about taking Soriano out for defense. "Damn right I thought about it," he said. The next question should have been why didn't you do it, but the reporter perhaps didn't want a black eye! Then Ozzie Guillen, who's always good for a cuss word or two after a tough loss, said his team is the "bitch" of Chicago and that no matter what they do, the Cubs will be more popular. He also questioned the second guessers (sounds like he and Piniella have a lot in common.) I can't wait til the Cubs and Sox meet up this season, I just hope the Cubs have their act a little more together then.

To really send a message

2008-05-01T17:48:00.003-04:00

I found this picture among the many websites calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics. There are a lot of reasons people give for wanting a boycott, and many reasons protestors have been disrupting the torch ceremonies. Human rights violations and China's policy toward Tibet are two of the biggest. It seems to me a boycott, while it might be considered a moral victory for some, would ultimately not have much effect. Look at all the products that say Made in China next time you're shopping. Perhaps not buying these products would make a bigger impact. Just a thought.

Leave It To Beaver

2008-04-29T13:44:00.002-04:00

I recently got to meet Jerry Mathers, of Leave It To Beaver fame. He was in town promoting an organization that helps get prescription drug coverage to those who need it. Read more here...www.pparx.org

And print it!

2008-04-28T14:04:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of Lee Elia's infamous 1983 rant in which he labeled Cubs fans bums. Those were the days when it was easy to get a ticket to Wrigley. The team was horrible and they'd be lucky to get 10,000 fans. They'd close off some sections so they didn't have to clean them later. Oh, there were no lights either, but it wasn't bums who hung out watching daytime baseball. It was the true-blue fans who were there, taking a half day off or playing hooky. The fans who supported the team even when they were hopelessly out of the race even by the All Star break. I know he was sticking up for his players but as Harry Carey might have said it at the time "Holy Cow, they stunk."

Welcome!

2008-04-26T09:49:00.003-04:00

First let me say congratulations to Elizabeth Wooley on the birth of her daughter! And welcome to Marianne Manko who takes over the 10pm anchor chair with Jerry Lambert at Channel 20. Let's see, you just missed an earthquake, but tornado season is upon us. And coming from Texas, our winters will take some getting used to as well. Then there's the government goofiness (that's probably the same everywhere.) So if I haven't scared you off yet, congratulations and welcome to Springfield!

Bad Example

2008-04-24T18:07:00.002-04:00

I found this interesting. You may have already known that for years, advertising cigarettes on TV or radio has been banned, but did you know in the early 60s the Flintstones actually endorsed Winstons? See the video here...http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4ed37fe846 What else don't I know about my beloved cartoon characters? Did Shaggy ever calm his nerves after a ghostly encounter with a shot of Jack Daniels? Did Yogi Bear steal cases of camper's beer along with their pic-a-nic baskets? Was it spinach or steroids that made Popeye so strong?

Gesundheit!

2008-04-17T14:38:00.002-04:00

Well, here I am thinking deep thoughts again. Like, why do people say "Bless You" when you sneeze? A sneeze isn't a life threatening situation and often means nothing more than the environment you're in may be dusty or something has tickled your nose. Now, a cough which could be the sign of a cold, bronchitis or something worse, seems like a better time to bless someone. Why not a "bless you" if you bump your head, stub your toe or even get a painful paper cut? Perhaps the sneeze is simply more of an interruption, some being quite loud. Maybe the "bless you" is a way of saying, "your loud sneeze has interrupted my thoughts, but it's ok."

Tax Time!

2008-04-14T17:39:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow's April 15 so if you haven't done so, get those tax forms in the mail. You may have heard there's a simplified form this year, only 2 lines. 1. How much money did you make last year? 2. Send it in.

Driving 101

2008-04-05T07:20:00.003-04:00

Ok, time for a quick refresher. When you see this sign (such as in the construction area on I-72) it means you should merge to the left as soon as possible. It does not mean keep going in the right lane til the last possible minute, then put your blinker on and hope someone lets you in. This causes a bottleneck. Or maybe you think the sign is kidding...ha, ha, I'm sure the lane's open...what are all those orange cones for? Construction season's here again, let's drive safely and smartly!

Go Cubs Go

2008-03-28T14:16:00.001-04:00

Besides giving you a lovely view of my stove, I thought I'd show off my colors! The season starts Monday. Anyone remember these 1970's jerseys?

Happy Easter

2008-03-18T18:43:00.002-04:00

So you and the kids are decorating eggs this weekend? Here's some inspiration for you! Actually it's an emu egg. Read about this amazing artist here...http://theeggshellsculptor.com/EmuEggs.html

Staind

2008-03-05T17:12:00.003-05:00

Wow, two blogs in one day. Making up for lost time. This entry is not about the band Staind despite the title. It's about me as a stain. What? Did you see the commercial during the Super Bowl with the talking stain? My friend Candy (with the help of the Tide website) has created a talking Steve stain. Check it out http://www.mytalkingstain.com/?mid=26204238

Job change

2008-03-05T17:03:00.003-05:00

After watching several of the speeches given by the presidential candidates following primary wins, I think I am ready for a new career. Goodbye commercial writing, hello speech writing. They seem to follow a formula and be pretty easy to write. For example, "Wow, it's great to be here in (fill in the blank.) (pause for applause.) Today you sent a clear message at the polls (pause for applause.) I want to be your president because (fill in hot topic of the moment and pause for applause.) I have the experience necessary to lead this great country in the years ahead (pause...well you know.) (Now go into personal story of someone you met while in this state and how their life will be better with you as president...pausing often of course for applause.) Again, thank you and remember to vote for me in November! (applause)

Spring's almost here

2008-02-22T18:07:00.002-05:00

OK, you can't tell by looking out the window today, but spring is coming. I know. Spring training is about a week away and Cubs regular season tickets went on sale today too. Of course, after being in the virtual waiting room for an ungodly amount of time, I attempted to order, only to be told the volume was too high and I should try again later. See, us Cubs fans aren't only used to disappointment at the end of the season, but before it starts too!

Congratulations, you're the winner

2008-02-08T18:11:00.000-05:00

I remember the first thing I ever won. It was a small AM/FM radio (no cool boombox or anything like that) in some kind of contest at my grade school. Since then, I've won...well, not much. I've entered here and there and occassionally play the Lottery. I once won $50 or something like that on a pick 4 game. Other than that, I can't say I'm very lucky. And don't get me started on my lack of luck at casinos. But here's a guy who's won so much over the years, his house is overflowing. What's his secret? You can read about it here...http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid55869.aspx Envy him all you want, but imagine all the junk mail lists he's on from signing up for this stuff!

A Matter of Trust

2008-01-31T16:37:00.001-05:00

Did you ever play that game as a kid where you stand with your arms at your sides and someone stands behind you and you are supposed to fall backward, and they catch you? It was meant to build trust. That trust comes in handy now. I was traveling behind a truck loaded with what looked like telephone poles yesterday (the truck pictured here seems tame by comparison.) I wondered to myself as we both sped down the Interstate, "how do I know he has these secured properly?" "Will he hit a bump and send one of the poles flying?" "Would he even see what had happened if one of them came smashing through my windshield?" It made me realize that there are a lot of times where we simply must trust others. In a restaurant, "is this food cooked properly?" "Did the person picking these mushrooms know good ones from poison ones?" Walking down the street, "did the person with that big, mean dog secure the gate or am I about to be mauled?" You get the idea. So remember as you go about your day, it's all a big game of trust.

Miserable

2008-01-30T16:20:00.000-05:00

"What does he mean, miserable?" you ask yourself. The word is a perfect description for the weather outside or the feeling Simon gets as yet another American Idol contestant warbles a song completely off-key. However, today the word describes a study Forbes magazine has done. You've seen the lists of the most expensive cities, the best places to live, the fittest cities. Now, the most miserable places to live, as determined by crime rate, unemployment and even the amount of Superfund dollars going to clean up toxic messes in the city. Detroit comes in at number one, followed by Stockton California and Flint Michigan. New York and Los Angeles also show up in the top ten. http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/01/29/detroit-stockton-flint-biz-cz_kb_0130miserable.html Interestingly, the pictures don't look miserable at all, a Stockton bookstore is featured for theirs! You think they could have taken a picture of a Superfund site or abandoned buildings or something more miserable.

This temper tantrum brought to you by...

2008-01-29T19:12:00.000-05:00

This story comes from a little community radio station in Austin. The "star" of this story is a 24 year old volunteer for the station. He hosts an overnight internet broadcast. Jazz is his favorite music. One night, he arrives at work to discover someone has changed his music list. He is angry, very angry. In fact, he sets fire to the place and causes $300,000 in damage. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/5493674.html While you're reading the story, note the name of his show, "Mellow Down Easy!"

Music to their ears

2008-01-28T15:27:00.000-05:00

It's always interested me, especially since I work in radio, the effect music can have on people. Studies have been done that suggest music can improve people's moods, help babies sleep, even benefit autistic children. A recent study has concluded that animals can also benefit from the calming influence of music. Now before you start playing Aerosmith for Fido, you should read this article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22539914/ It seems harp music is the way to go. There's even a cd available. If it's so relaxing, could it be dangerous for people to listen to in the car? Perhaps before bedtime is a better time to try it.

The Brady Bunch never had this problem

2008-01-23T10:01:00.000-05:00

But they didn't have 14 children! A Sacramento, CA, family may want to do a head count next time they drive off somewhere. Six-year-old Thomas was found wandering around a rest stop by himself. His family was on a road trip, made a stop and left without him. No one noticed he was missing. After all, his 13 siblings were in the van! The parents didn't realize anyone was missing until they were tucking the kids in bed. Police say it was an honest mistake and no charges will be filed.

12 for the price of 1

2008-01-21T17:42:00.000-05:00

Well, what music lover wouldn't be excited about that offer? I recently came across an ad for the Columbia House DVD club. They've branched out, you see. But when I was young, it was the 8 track or cassette club. Then the cd club. It was great. In fact it's still around, even in this day of digital downloads and file sharing. You get like 10 or 12 cds for the price of 1 (although you have to pay shipping on all.) I remember joining the club, buying the one or two discs you had to buy to fullfill your contract, then quitting. Sure enough, in just a few months you'd get an offer in the mail of so many free cds if you joined again. So the process started all over again. Of course, with all the free cds, I sometimes ordered something I would not have bought ordinarily. Maybe a cd with only one hit on it. Or something that seemed like a good idea at the time, then it arrived and I'd be like "what was I thinking?" I think Kenny Roger's Greatest Hits falls into this category. What cds are in your collection that you pretty much use as beverage coasters now?

Farewell Mr. Knerr

2008-01-17T09:19:00.000-05:00

A man who had a hand in providing fun when we were kids has passed away. And we never knew him. Richard Knerr was one of the founders of Wham-o, the company that gave us the original frisbee, Slip N Slide, Superball and other cool toys. Knerr and his friend started the business in 1948 selling slingshots (the company wouldn't have lasted long nowadays.) Ten years later, they took an Australian product and introduced it to the states, the Hula Hoop. I never did get the hang of that one, but I still enjoy a game of frisbee with friends now and then.

For those who hate warm weather

2008-01-15T09:40:00.000-05:00

Can you believe there are two US cities vying for the title of "Nation's Icebox?" They both claim they are the coldest. Has the tourism bureau in each city lost it's mind? International Falls Minnesota is right on the Canadian border. It's gotta be pretty darn cold in the winter, but Fraser Colorado officials say they're colder, even in the summer. The two have sued each other. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22649329/ Hey guys, I believe both of you. I will cross both off my list of places to travel. They would probably be ok in July or August though.

Cool idea

2008-01-11T18:25:00.000-05:00

OK, here's some modern technology that's really cool. The transparent toaster is based on heated glass so you can watch as your bread toasts and make sure it doesn't burn. Currently, this is in the research stage according to http://inventables.com/Product/ConceptStudio.asp?i=11&t=8. Evidently it doesn't get hot enough to toast bread yet. But when they get it perfected, I'm first in line. Doesn't look wide enough for a bagel though....

Reality Show

2008-01-08T09:28:00.001-05:00

From the looks of it, most people are not tiring of reality shows. It seems there are more of them than ever. We can now look in on the lives of Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, wrestler Hulk Hogan or other "stars." We can watch people try to "outwit and outlast" each other or try to dance or sing their way to fame. I have gotten somewhat weary of the format. But I caught part of a new reality series yesterday that I will have to admit has hooked me. Avalanche Dogs on Animal Planet shows real rescue dogs training and then doing what they are trained to do. These fine animals use their keen senses to find people in life and death situations when seconds count. They won't win money or fame, but they're heros in my book. http://animal.discovery.com

The strike continues...

2008-01-07T18:01:00.000-05:00

While the Writer's Guild continues its strike, late night tv is back. And Letterman and Conan O' Brien evidently didn't shave while they were away from work. Conan looks good with the facial hair I think, but I'm not sure about Dave. I think he looks older with the beard. If he lets it grow longer, he'd make a great Santa next year though.

BTW, although I could claim solidarity with the writers in my long absence from the blog, you'd see right through that. Yup, I'm being lazy again (and keeping pretty busy at work too.)

ho ho ho

2007-12-18T11:31:00.000-05:00

Christmas is just a week away. Tell Santa what you want. Here's an interactive website where Santa comes pretty close to getting you just what you want. http://xmas.glueserv.com/ Give it a try.

Cubs Win!

2007-12-12T16:58:00.000-05:00

OK, you normally don't hear that in December, but the Cubs did get Fukudome from Japan. Let's hope he lives up to expectations. I say bat him leadoff and put Soriano second. Lou Piniella seems happy with the move, saying the Japanese players he's managed in the past are very disciplined. Just as a tribute to Harry, Fukudome spelled backwards is Emodukuf!

Two unpleasant stories

2007-12-11T14:56:00.000-05:00

Yes, those Christmas lights look nice, but they could be the latest product containing unsafe amounts of lead. I guess just looking at them won't hurt.

Just for fun, check out this story (from Fox news of all places) about a guy whose flatulance has gotten him in trouble at his favorite watering hole... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316005,00.html Evidently you can't smoke or pass gas inside now.

A different tree

2007-11-30T18:36:00.000-05:00

Look closely....turns out someone drank a little too much Mountain Dew. Not being able to sleep, they created a Christmas tree with the cans. You can see the whole process here...http://www.baraskit.se/random/archive/12/xmas_tree.html

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T19:06:00.000-05:00

Don't eat too much. Incidentally, it seems that the turkey itself isn't the only reason we get tired. It's the carbs, alcohol and other stuff we consume in massive quantities.

Help for the holidays

2007-11-17T12:13:00.000-05:00

I know, it's again been a while since I posted. I've been busy and to top it off, now blogger is not letting me upload pictures. Who knows what's wrong? Anyway, I wanted to remind you that we have our Stuff a Truck food drive to benefit Kumler Ministries again through today at 3 at WalMart on Dirksen. If you can, please help out. If you miss out on this drive, consider doing something this holiday season to help others. If everyone did a little something, think of the difference we could make. It could be helping an elderly neighbor with shopping, volunteering at a soup kitchen or making a donation to a local charity. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Minus 6000

2007-10-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

That's my score on today's online Jeopardy. Good thing real money wasn't on the line! You can play here...http://www.wandtv.com/global/Category.asp?C=114341

Go Bears!

2007-10-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

Had to share this one from my cousin Sue....

Lake Forest police reported that some individual attempted to "egg" Lovie Smith's house last night. The report stated: An empty egg carton was recovered at the scene. Two eggs hit Mr. Smith's house, 3 eggs went over his house and hit his neighbor's back door, 2eggs hit the houses of each of his next-door neighbors, and the remaining 3 eggs were found broken on the ground near the carton from where the individual threw them. Looking at what was hit; police officials say they are considering Rex Grossman as the primary suspect.

Steal a base...

2007-10-26T19:04:00.000-04:00

If you've been watching the World Series, you know a few things. One, the Rockies are in trouble. Two, since a player stole a base, Taco Bell's promotion kicks in and everyone gets a free taco from 2 to 5 Tuesday. What I found odd was the "conversation" the Fox mics just happened to pick up in the dugout. The Red Sox claim it was not staged. Coco Crisp basically said to Royce Clayton "hey, if you steal a base, everyone is going to get a taco from Taco Bell." Of course, being cynical I was assuming the conversation was staged. And I was thinking where this type of thing could lead next. For example, "Hey Royce, man my feet itch. Darn athlete's foot." "Coco, man, you gotta try tough actin' Tinactin." Or "Hey Coco, after the game what do you say we have a Budweiser or two? You know it's the King of Beers?" "That's right Royce, it's got that clean, crisp taste I love." Well, you get the idea.

Can you "Believe" it?

2007-10-15T16:45:00.000-04:00

I was flipping through the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly today when I noticed a smell emanating from the pages. I soon found the source, an ad for Britney Spears new fragrance, Believe. Now I don't want to get on the Britney bashing bandwagon, but this seems very strange to me. First, there was the breakdown where she shaved her head. Either it has grown back quickly, or that's a wig. Next was the less than stellar performance on MTV. Then her kids were taken away from her as she was declared an unfit mother. Is this the best time to release a new product? I guess it's appropriately named, someone must believe that her fortunes are ready to turn around. I however have no such faith.

Chicago!

2007-10-12T19:01:00.000-04:00

Chicago...it's got a great skyline, occassionally good sports teams, lots of great neighborhoods. And it has a language all it's own. Having grown up in the Windy City I can tell you we speak English, but there are some variations that you may need help translating. The Sun Times has made this easier with the Chicagopedia. http://www.suntimes.com/chicago/chicagopedia/index.html

Let me demonstrate..."Hey it's Pulaski Day. I'm gonna grab a couple two tree beers and head into the front room. Later on we'll watch da Bears."

Have a great weekend!

Celebrities Gone Wild

2007-10-10T09:28:00.000-04:00

Well, Kiefer Sutherland has had another alcohol related incident. His latest is not as funny as tackling a Christmas tree. This time it's a DUI conviction. The prosecutor is seeking a little over a month in jail, however the judge could tack on more, or presumably less, time. Remember Nicole Richie's hour long stay in the slammer? Wonder if something like that will be offered? I hope Kiefer gets the help he needs if he has a drinking problem, but I also hope that the judge doesn't send a message that this type of behavior is somehow ok if you're a celebrity. There should be consequences when someone displays bad judgement and endangers others.

Gotta root for somebody

2007-10-09T12:32:00.000-04:00

Well, I guess I'll pull for the Cleveland Indians this year. Them or the Rockies. The poor showing of the Cubs still fresh in my mind, I can't support Arizona. Boston got their championship a few years back and Colorado, well I like them too. Especially since they prove you don't have to spend a lot to field a competitive team. But the Indians remind me of the Cubs somewhat. They haven't won a World Series in 50 years (OK, for the Cubs it's been 99.) Like the Cubs, they tease their fans now and then. Notably, in 1997, the team was two outs away from a World Series win, but blew it and the Florida Marlins took the title. Sound familiar? At least they went to the series though. In fact, from 1995 to 1999 the Indians made the post season every year but failed to win the big game.

By the way, for those who thought Chief Illiniwik was a stereotype, get a load of Chief Wahoo. Yes, that's what they call him. I am surprised that this mascot is still around.

October

2007-10-05T16:27:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite time of the year, even though it means the days are getting shorter, Winter is coming and my allergies are usually acting up. October is a time for walking through crunchy leaves, sipping warm apple cider (make it cold cider this weekend, it's supposed to be like 88,) and of course, Halloween. There are always good haunted houses to check out and renting a scary movie is another great way to celebrate. If you're planning a party at your house and want to set the mood, Midnight Syndicate is a group you may want to seek out at your local music store. I found out about them when a local haunted house used their music. I can't imagine anyone listens to this on a regular basis (you'd probably get nightmares) but for Halloween, it's perfect. Eerie instrumental music with sound effects and all. Get some other creepy ideas at http://www.hauntedillinois.com

Yes!

2007-09-29T14:00:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dQPiCi38po

Go Cubs Go!!

Anonymous

2007-09-15T14:09:00.000-04:00

What would the news world be without those "unnamed sources?" Everyone from Deep Throat in the Watergate scandal to the employees of celebrities who can make a few bucks perhaps selling stories about their behavior to tabloids. I find Newsweek's use of anonymous sources often funny. Because it seems they need to explain to us why the person doesn't want to be named. Read an article and you'll see. "The official who didn't want to be named giving out sensitive data," or "the man who didn't want his name used because he'd be fired" or whatnot. The funniest came in a story about Fred Thompson, the actor who may be considering a presidential campaign. An official "who did not want to be named sticking a knife in the back of a fellow Republican." I guess I wouldn't want to be named doing that either!

Remembering the victims

2007-09-11T14:52:00.001-04:00

Take a moment to remember the office workers, fire, police and Port Authority officers who lost their lives 6 years ago today. I know many people feel this should be a national holiday. I disagree. It will then be another day where we cook out, get drunk or have big sales at the stores. Remembering the victims in your heart seems to me a fitting tribute.

Go Cubs Go

2007-09-09T10:17:00.001-04:00

The Cubs are in a tie for first! Less than a month to go, it's getting interesting. I thought this quote sums up life as a Cubs fan, it's from www.bleedcubbieblue.com, an excellent blog. "The optimist thinks the glass is half full.The pessimist thinks it's half empty.The Cubs fan looks at the glass and wonders when it's going to tip over and spill."

Not light reading

2007-09-01T13:40:00.000-04:00

The book that was coming out, then wasn't, then was but the proceeds would go to the Goldmans is due out this month. Barnes and Nobel has decided to sell OJ Simpson's supposedly fictional account of the murders of his wife and Ron Goldman after initially saying it would only be sold online. Pre-sale is going well they say. The question is why? If you believe in OJ's innocence, then why read a hypothetical account of how he could have carried out the killings? If you believe he did it, well then it really seems gruesome to want to read his words. I guess Americans are intrigued by celebrities and crime, so put the two together and you've got a potential best seller. I hope decency prevails and it is a flop. There are plenty of other great books to read.

State Fair

2007-08-14T18:10:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again. You can tell by the heat, by the one way streets around the fairgrounds, by the full hotels and by the smell of fried foods wafting through the air. The State Fair is back and there are more artery clogging choices than ever. You can choose fried cheese curds, dill pickles, green tomatoes, twinkies, oreos, cheesecake...even fried Coca Cola. The Coke's in the batter, you see. What started the fried fair food fascination? Maybe the corn dog? Whatever the case, I will attempt to avoid much of it, although some Cullers fries sound good right about now.

Cubs Win!

2007-07-26T09:41:00.000-04:00

2 games behind...here we go!

Harry Potter

2007-07-25T16:41:00.001-04:00

No, I don't have a review of the new book. I haven't read it. I don't think it's evil or anything, any more than "Glenda the Good Witch" from Wizard of Oz. I'm just not a fan. But I thought having something about Harry Potter might drive more traffic to the site. Wish me luck!

You got your peanut butter on my banana!

2007-07-19T16:43:00.000-04:00

Reeses has come out with a limited edition candy and I must admit it's pretty tasty. In honor of Elvis and his peanut butter and banana sandwiches, it's peanut butter cups with banana creme. Good things come at a price. The king sized cups feature 21 grams of fat per serving. Before eating too many, take a look at an Elvis picture from later in his career. Yup, you may want to go easy on those! I'm trying to remember other candy based on famous people. The Reggie bar which came out during Jackson's heyday with the Yankees comes to mind. Any others?

I'm not bitter or anything

2007-07-14T11:15:00.000-04:00

OK, Vermont won the Simpsons premiere fair and square. If it was otherwise, it can't be proven. But I had to ask Homer, Vermont? Really? He wasn't much help, staring straight ahead as if in a trance. In fact, the whole Simpson family seemed less than forthcoming with any answers. (Thanks Sue for the pic.) The only semi-cohesive thought I got was from Bart, who told me "don't have a cow, man." Perhaps there is some trickery here. Was something put in the Simpsons donuts that made them so stone-faced? I think they know something about the contest that they're not telling. Look at their eyes. Perhaps a memory-erasing drug was used. Upon hearing my allegation, Homer was heard hungrily mumbling, "mmmmmm, memory-erasing drug!"

Avett Bros

2007-07-13T18:19:00.000-04:00

Saw a good show this week. The Avett Brothers were here in Springfield at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, where Men At Work's Colin Hay will be appearing later this month. It's music that's almost impossible to describe. One brother plays a guitar and high hat, the other plays banjo and a kick drum. There's also a standup bass player and a guy who plays a cello (I think that's what it's called.) With that accoustic arrangement, they manage to play loud and get the whole crowd into it. Go see them if they are appearing near you. Oh, the pic is of Chitlin who opened the show along with local favs, Big Fur. Chitlin has a very sweet voice and as you can see, a mohawk. Have a great weekend!

Oh Crap!

2007-07-10T18:22:00.000-04:00

There were 3 possible stories to put on here today. One is that Springfield Illinois lost out to Vermont in the Simpsons Premiere contest. Vermont, home of teddy bears and Ben and Jerrys, just doesn't strike me as the Simpsons home. Anyway, the other story was of a wrecking ball that got detached from a crane and went crashing down a street, ultimately smashing into the back of a guy's car.

But by far the one story that I can't get out of my head is of the heroic rescue of a motorist by some sanitation workers. Seems a pickup had wrecked and caught fire. The driver was dead, his passenger trapped and the flames were out of control. How did the sanitation guys put out the fire with their truck full of raw sewerage near by? You guessed it. "Hey, thanks guys for saving my life!" "Uh, no problem...we'll shake your hand later." http://www.wjbf.com/midatlantic/jbf/news_index.apx.-content-articles-JBF-2007-07-09-0007.html

Uniforms

2007-07-07T12:03:00.000-04:00

Baseball is the topic today, and one of my favorite topics at that. It's a game I loved as a kid and still do today. I remember the goofy, colorful uniforms of the 80s. I'm not advocating a return of the Cubs light blue pinstripes or the Astros every-color-in-the-rainbow shirts. But some teams do need to take another look at their wardrobe choices. Take a look at the Pirates red or orange-red shirts. They just don't look right. Bring back the black and yellow! And Washington's uniform while adequate, looks similar to Arizona's new duds. Everybody seems to love red these days. We need something different. Just a thought.

Unwanted mail

2007-07-05T14:55:00.000-04:00

OK, the spammers got me today. Usually the subject line promising discount home mortgages, free dinner or naked pictures of some celebrity do not fool me and I delete the e-mail without even reading it. But this one had a person's name and the subject "question." Could it be a listener or a blog reader with a question about something? Perhaps a life or death question (like I would know the answer anyway!) So I clicked on it, only to be greeted with the question of whether I wanted a discount on a certain purple pill. Now there's not much we can do about it, even a spam blocker lets some of it through. But if you're tired of the regular junk mail, you can get on a list just like the do not call list. https://www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/?ref=G Hey, you might save a tree or two. I signed up. Will it work? I'll let you know.

Doh!

2007-07-03T11:42:00.000-04:00

Don't forget to vote for your favorite Springfield to host the premiere of the Simpsons movie. You need broadband and the latest version of Java evidently. And supposedly you can vote once a day, but I voted yesterday and it's not letting me today. Oh well, it's fun to see all the videos. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/simpsons-contest.htm

Hype

2007-06-28T16:48:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'm sure you've heard something about the new phone that's coming out. (not pictured) The I-phone allows you to listen to music, watch videos, check e-mail, I think it even has a function to drive your car when you get tired. Oh, and you can make and receive calls I presume. If you're not one of the fanatics already waiting in line, here's a countdown of when the thing will be released....http://iphonecountdown.com/

Indy, why does the floor move?

2007-06-22T18:36:00.001-04:00

The answer to the question if you remember the movie, is snakes. However, Harrison Ford isn't moving in this photo released as work on the latest installment of the franchise gets underway. Is he still an action star? We'll see. If Rocky (Stallone) and Die Hard (Willis) can do it, why not? Have a great weekend!

Son of a gun!

2007-06-16T13:01:00.000-04:00

OK, so it's been forever since I updated this site. I'll try to be better about it. Just keeping busy with my new position at the station. As a rule of thumb, a blog should be updated frequently. I got to thinking one day, what the heck does rule of thumb mean? How about "mind your p's and q's" or "beat around the bush?" Of course, I turned to the internet for help. http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/sayings.htm This site has a lot of common expressions and their meanings, although in some cases there seems to be some disagreement on the actual origin of the expressions. Check it out. And pay special attention to this one: next time someone tells me I'm getting the "short end of the stick" I'll really feel bad about it now!

Hannibal Sinking

2007-05-30T09:56:00.000-04:00

All I can say after watching Hannibal Rising is I'm glad I didn't spend $7 at the movies for this. The movie is supposed to show us the origin of the monster Hannibal Lecter. But instead we see a somewhat sympathetic young man hunting down Nazis who did horrible things to his family. Without giving too much away, he dispatches victim number one with a samurai sword! The story, although written by Thomas Harris, pales in comparison to the others in the series. One good thing, I believe this will be the end of the franchise. Unless of course, they choose to show Lecter as an octogenarian, "I don't eat census takers anymore, my dentures can't take it!"

Cars

2007-05-25T19:12:00.000-04:00

Transportation is the theme today with Memorial Day weekend kicking off and a lot of people traveling here and there. First, hope you have a great, safe weekend. Those gas prices are enough to make you stay home all weekend, or walk everywhere. New York City has a good idea. They're going to have their taxi services use hybrids. It helps reduce smog, lessens our dependence on foreign oil and they get way better gas mileage. I think it will be great when there are more hybrids on the road, and when the prices come down. I know hydrogen cars are another technology that is being developed but may be a few years away yet.

My other transportation related issue: I was traveling to work yesterday and saw a guy driving a pickup on the Interstate with 2 dogs in the bed of the truck, running back and forth. Now, I don't like seeing animals or kids in the bed of a truck under any circumstances, but at 65 miles per hour (he was actually going faster) it's downright absurd.

I've got something for you!

2007-05-15T14:50:00.000-04:00

In my new post as Production Director, I write and produce many of the commercials you hear on our Midwest Family stations. So I have an appreciation for commercials that stand out, that get attention and get talked about. I think some of the tv commercials on this site: http://www.thephatphree.com/features.asp?StoryID=3599&SectionID=16 are being talked about alright, or more likely, being laughed at. If you have some free time, check it out. I especially recommend the #7 "Eagleman." I know my friends in Chicago recognize this one. Would you buy insurance from a guy in an eagle costume who poops out an egg on your car? Then there's the insurance guy who sings about holidays (poorly) or the furniture guy who turns into the Hulk. You're buying a sofa, next thing you know, he turns green and kicks your butt!

The Office

2007-05-11T11:29:00.000-04:00

"The 'women’s appreciation' meeting was a bad idea that was poorly executed." That's a line taken from an interesting and often hilarious website judging how much money could be lost in if lawsuits were to result from the outrageous actions of our favorite paper company employees. http://www.hrheroblogs.com/?cat=2 Check out "That's What She Said" to get a legal perspective on the show. With the season finale coming up next Thursday, I have to say this is one of my favorite comedies. It's an Americanized version of a British sitcom which I haven't seen, but between the absolute buffoonery of the boss, the conniving of Dwight and the prissiness of Angela, there's always something bizzarre happening. And then there's the Jim/Pam romance that never quite works out which provides some serious moments to the show.

Two things

2007-05-09T14:38:00.000-04:00

Alright, alright. I know I've been bad about updating again. I've just been busy and you know, inspiration doesn't always stike. But then I find two things that are weird in the same day! First, there's Paris Hilton. Yup, the girl who's famous for being famous. The party girl star? of Simple Life, who was recently sentenced to 45 days in jail for driving on a suspended license. She is now asking her fans to sign a petition to send to Governor Schwarzenneger asking that he pardon her. Hey wait a minute, people get pardoned if they were wrongly convicted. Or if they made a stupid mistake in their youth and have atoned for it. Besides wouldn't "Simple Life Behind Bars" make a great reality show?

Oh, the other weird and completely unrelated item for today. Listen up baseball fans, yesterday was Free Prostate Exam Day at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Last time I went to a ballgame, all I got was a lousy sunvisor!

MLB mourns

2007-04-30T17:25:00.000-04:00

Tony's right

2007-04-28T14:01:00.000-04:00

It is hard for me as a lifelong Cubs fan to post a picture of Cardinal's manager Tony LaRussa (although at least there's Wrigley ivy in the background!) But he has earned some respect in my book for his comment to a St Louis reporter after the Post-Dispatch ran a story with the headline "No Chance," referencing the fact that the Cubs haven't won a championship in years due to the curse that seems to be on them. Do they have a chance this year? Hard to say, but Tony was upset at the "cheap shot" against his opponents and refused to answer a question from one of the newspaper's reporters. Of course, the Cubs probably posted the article in their clubhouse as an incentive to try even harder to beat the Redbirds. The Cubs and Jason Marquis won the first game, could a sweep be coming?

The Doctor is sick

2007-04-24T10:01:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't blogged in awhile. I've just been waiting for inspiration to strike. Boy did it strike today. You know when you go to the doctor, there's always that small talk, "Hey how about those Cubs" or "the weather's finally getting better,"or "hey I heard about your arrest with the burrito, Captain America!" A Florida doctor it seems, was out at a pub crawl with other doctors. Many were wearing costumes as part of the festivities. This particular Captain America had a burrito in his pants and got into trouble for harrassing ladies with it. No word on whether it was a 7 layer burrito or if he preferred hot or mild sauce (shoddy reporting if you ask me.) The 54 year old doctor further distinguished himself when at the police station, he tried to flush a joint down the toilet. Sounds like someone better get a check up from the neck up!

Friday the 13th

2007-04-12T14:53:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow it's here again. Friday the 13th. In addition to the sometimes scary movies of the same name (the one set in outer space was truly horrible) there are some real superstitions people believe in. For instance, having an itchy nose means you will have an argument with someone or perhaps it's allergies. It's good luck to carry an acorn? If you find a penny face up, pick it up. If you find a $20 bill, pick it up whether it's face up or down! When playing cards, it's unlucky to have your back to the fireplace, presumably worse luck if you're wearing a flammable shirt! Don't believe some of these? Check out oldsuperstitions.com. And of course, don't walk under a ladder...a hammer or bucket of paint falling on your head would be bad luck!

Another recall

2007-04-05T18:06:00.000-04:00

People are still watching their pets to make sure they're not sick after the massive pet food recall from Menu Foods. Now, another recall. This one of Groovy Grabber children's bracelets. The paint on the bands contains lead, which is really harmful if ingested. (Kids are always sticking stuff in their mouths.) And Dollar General has recalled some imported keychains, again lead is the culpret. You can read the story here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17929293/ It seems to me we need more stringent regulation on imported items. How can lead be found in these items? The US has banned lead in paint for years. How is it that the wheat gluten in the pet food was contaminated? Who knows, it was imported from China and there's probably no one checking to see what's going into these items.

Baseball's here!

2007-04-04T14:26:00.000-04:00

Yay! Baseball season's back. The fearsome Cubs offense, led by Alfonso Soriano did, well, not much on opening day. But, hey it's a long season, right? One thing's for sure. Although Wood and Prior are not on the Opening Day roster, the Cubs will not be hiring the mayor of Cincinnatti to shore up the pitching rotation. Did you see his "first pitch?" http://youtube.com/watch?v=rx6zsub-neU

Congratulations

2007-03-29T11:37:00.000-04:00

Although I don't put family stuff up here too much, I had to take the opportunity to congratulate my cousin Bruce who received a Shining Star Award at the LSN Convention at Navy Pier for his volunteer work at Bethesda Home in Chicago. Bruce has been volunteering there for years, showing up no matter what the weather to help provide the seniors with fun activities. I know it brightens their day and having someone give their time and energy to such a great cause should inspire us all to do more in our own communities. Happy 100th Anniversary to Bethesda Home and Congratulations Bruce!

We interrupt for an important announcement

2007-03-24T08:07:00.000-04:00

Starting Monday, you won't hear me on the air as much. Oh, I'll still be on the Family Pharmacy, Henson Robinson and other commercials. And I'll be doing weekend and fill-in work, but I have accepted a promotion in the building and I start training Monday! I know I'll enjoy the work, since I did a similar job in Rockford. To all my listeners and co-workers past and present, thanks for your support and friendship. Wish me luck! We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging...

Peeps

2007-03-22T10:28:00.000-04:00

Easter is coming and Peeps are everywhere. You know, the marshmallowy, sugary treats. I'd rather have robin's eggs (actually colored malted milk balls) or jelly beans but if you like Peeps, there's a lot of choices for you. What's your favorite color? Bunnies or chiks? Do you heat them in the microwave? NO...they don't do well in a microwave! You may want to even try making your own. Sounds like a lot of trouble, but the recipe is here ...http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Recipes/story?id=2966706 By the way, if you do a google image search for peeps, you wind up with Peeps in various settings, like the motocross peeps shown here.

Pet food recall

2007-03-19T17:34:00.000-04:00

If you have a dog or cat, check this website. http://www.menufoods.com/recall/ You may not recognize Menu Foods, but they supply a lot of the name brand and even off brand pet food on the market today. The problem is that there is some kind of contamination that has sickened pets and in some cases even killed them. It's wet food in pouches and cans. Check the website. It might save your dog or cat's life.

Homer's coming

2007-03-15T13:29:00.000-04:00

While the real location of the Simpson's Springfield remains in doubt, the stakes have been raised. One Springfield will get to host the Simpsons Movie premiere this summer. Of course the clues that Springfield Illinois is the true home of Bart's family are easy to see. The power plant, Mel-O-Creme Donuts, our proximity to Shelbyville which has been mentioned on the show all seem to favor us as the Springfield. And everyone knows someone who resembles someone on the show. I've personally met a few Barney the drunks and even Flanders types.

And now Homer and Marge are paying a visit to our fair town. They will serve as Grand Marshalls of the St Patricks Day Parade on Saturday. So if you see Homer, buy him a beer and a horseshoe (or just about any kind of food will do) and let's celebrate the Simpsons and St Pats this weekend!

One Year Later

2007-03-12T13:36:00.000-04:00

The Lauterbach Man's head has been reattached and most of the damage has been cleaned up from the tornadoes of one year ago today in Springfield. Some people without insurance still have damage. I was at work that night, having been warned of the impending bad weather. But I wasn't ready for calls saying roofs had been blown off around Parkway Point and reporting gas leaks on MacArthur, plus damage all over the place. Jerome was hit hard and a curfew was in place for days afterward. The first tornado hit about 8:20 p.m., with a second forming about 10 minutes later. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. I'm hoping for a much calmer spring this year, but you can be sure when the sky starts getting dark and there are storms in the area, everyone will be taking the warnings seriously.

Saturday Morning

2007-03-07T14:21:00.000-05:00

One of my fondest childhood memories is getting up early Saturday morning to watch cartoons. Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo were my favorites. Then there were Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Tennessee Tuxedo, the Flintstones (I think that was in the afternoon actually) and some local Chicago stuff, like Gigglesnort Hotel where a man interacted with puppets and a blob made out of clay. Good show, but hard to explain! One I don't remember from the early 70s appears to be a Scooby Doo knock-off called Goober and the Ghost Chasers. It featured Goober, a talking dog (sound familiar?) who would occassionally become invisible. He and his friends were ghost investigators. The Partridge Family apparently made some cameo appearances. There's an episode of Goober plus some other cartoons on the Hanna Barbara website.

Commercial star may get tv series

2007-03-05T11:38:00.000-05:00

Yes, ABC has ordered a pilot for a comedy starring the Geico caveman! The show would feature 3 cavemen who must live with prejudices of modern society. Last we heard, the Geico caveman was in therapy and unavailable for comment. This could lead to a whole new crop of shows based on commercials. How about the two Snickers mechanics? That would draw a big audience just because of it's controversial nature. And Tony the Tiger won't think "It's great!" when he mistakenly thinks his wife is cheating in the hilarious new comedy Tiger Tales. The Aflak duck meets a tragic end in the drama Tastes Like Chicken. The Hamburger Helper Hand and Arby's Oven Mitt team up for a buddy show called One Hand Washes the Other. And in the granddaddy of all commercial tie-ins, CSI-Elfland features the Energizer Bunny as a cop who keeps going and going to try and solve the murder of a Keebler Elf. The culprit turns out to be The Pillsbury Doughboy who went crazy after getting poked in the stomach all the time!

Why guys do what they do

2007-03-01T12:04:00.000-05:00

I have to admit sometimes us guys can do some pretty strange things. They must seem especially strange to women (hey, you do things that we find strange, like having eighty-five pairs of shoes!) Redbook complied a list of strange things men do and their explanations. 1. Why do we like the Discovery Channel so much? Turn on the Discovery Channel at any given moment and you'll see people blowing things up, animals eating each other or men with ridiculous mustaches riding around on motorcycles. What's not to like? 2. Why don't we throw out those old t-shirts? Two reasons: sentimentality, and laziness. Plus we don't want to go shopping. 3. Why do we call friends rude nicknames? Giving friends nicknames shows an emotional connection, but the filthy humor prevents it from being too emotional. 4. Why the fascination with power tools? It gives men the illusion of competence. Ever watch Home Improvement? 5. Why don't we want to talk about our day when we get home? We're tired! Hope that clears everything up.

Funny Money

2007-02-27T13:48:00.000-05:00

It's all about the Benjamins, baby. Or the Berkshares as the case may be. A city in Massachusetts has it's own currency. It's a cool idea to stimulate the local economy and encourage people to shop locally. You go to a local bank with $90 cash and get $100 in Berkshares. (You see the benefit here.) The Berkshares are accepted at over 200 business in Southern Berkshire. Get clothes, groceries, books with your Berkshares. They've printed something like $800,000 worth. Of course, when you travel out of town and try to spend your local money, you may get some odd looks!

I (hic) told you (hic) no!

2007-02-20T19:08:00.000-05:00

Poor Jennifer Mee. The 15 year old Florida girl is getting hounded by tv shows that want her. No, she's not an American Idol contestant, a Hollywood party girl or even the latest Presidential candidate. Hell, there's so many, what's one more? Oh, yeah, she's too young. Ms. Mee's claim to fame is she has been hiccupping for about a month now. This must make it difficult to sleep. It hurts. Worst of all, she's tried every home remedy she could find, (sugar on the tongue, holding her breath, drinking pickle juice, having someone scare her) nothing has worked. And now everyone wants to talk to her. The day before she was scheduled for the Today Show, Good Morning America called her 57 times to try to get her to their network. She and her mom decided to stay with Today. Ellen, Inside Edition and others are interested in her story as well. Whether she can use her new-found fame to her advantage has yet to be seen. She has to stop hiccupping first.

Baseball season's almost here!

2007-02-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

After the recent snowstorm, I am really ready for spring. A sure sign that season is just around the corner, baseball's spring training is beginning in Florida and Arizona. As I've mentioned on past blogs, I am not real confident of the Cub's chances this year. But in spite of news this morning about Kerry Wood injuring himself getting out of a hottub (?)

and news that the Wrigley outfield wall will feature not only ivy, but advertising this year (sacrelige!) I'm excited about baseball. Primarily because a little north of Springfield, Ryne Sandberg will be wearing a uniform again. He's been named the manager of the Peoria Chiefs, a team managed by Jody Davis last year. Sure, making "Ryno" the manager will help fill the seats, but I think it's also a good move for the team. Sandberg played the game without a lot of fanfare or ego and he had a Hall of Fame career. If he can instill some of his wisdom and attitude into the young players, the future of baseball will be in good hands.

Yes, it's snowing out here!

2007-02-14T17:19:00.000-05:00

We had a blizzard in Springfield yesterday. No, literally, the blizzard warning lasted all day and we got snow and high winds and schools and even some businesses shut down. Watching the tv news last night, two things struck me. One, putting up a graphic "If your power is out, call this number" is probably pointless. If thier power is out, they're not watching! Two, does it make sense to tell everyone to stay inside and then send a reporter or reporters outside? Sure it's snowing and it's nasty out, we know that. I found a hilarious example of this folly here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijLIqhnEp0o. Watch your step! And Happy Valentine's Day.

Land of Lincoln

2007-02-07T14:53:00.000-05:00

Well, Barack Obama is coming to Springfield, Land of Lincoln, to announce his Presidential intentions Saturday. Although I'm sure he's on a tight schedule, I have some ideas. I'm sure he's flying into Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport, perhaps a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum would be in order. Too bad he doesn't have time to stay, or he could get a room at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center. Of course, in warmer weather, a stroll through Lincoln Memorial Gardens would be nice or maybe a stop at Lincoln Park. If he needs a lift, there's Abe Lincoln Limo Service or Lincoln Cab. Maybe he'd prefer to purchase his own coach at Mr. Lincoln's RV Center. Perhaps he'd enjoy a stop at Mr. Lincoln's Souveniers or Lincoln's Great Western Depot. I know he's busy in Washington, but it couldn't hurt to look at a few properties with Abe Lincoln Realty, or maybe Lincoln Tower Apartments. So welcome to Springfield, Mr. Obama. Hope your visit is Abe-tastic.

Go Bears!

2007-02-02T17:34:00.000-05:00

Got this in my e-mail and thought I'd share it: This morning a Gary, Indiana kindergarten teacher explains to her class that she is an Indianapolis Colts fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Colts fans, too. Not really knowing what a Colts fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands flew into the air.
There is, however, one exception. Susie has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not a Colts fan" she reports.
"Then," asks the teacher, "what are you?"
"I'm a Chicago Bears fan," boasts the little girl."
The teacher asks Susie why she is a Bears fan. "Well, my Dad and Mom are
Bears fans, so I'm a Bears fan, too" she responds.
"That's no reason," the teacher says. "What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?"
Susie smiles and says, "Then I'd be a Colts fan."

Here's how not to do it

2007-01-29T14:01:00.000-05:00

I thought we could all use a laugh on this Monday afternoon. And here it is...a Milwaukee television station sent a crew out to cover a story and the station van, driving on a lake, broke through the ice. No injuries, but I bet they'll have trouble with the insurance company when they explain what happened to the van. Oh, the story they were covering...that the ice is thinner than usual!

Premonition

2007-01-26T14:46:00.000-05:00

It's not Halloween is it? No, in fact Valentine's Day is coming. But there are some good creepy movies coming out. At least they look good. You can never tell based on the trailer or what you read on the internet. First there's "The Messengers" about a family with two kids who see frightening apparitions that no one else can see. Then there's Hannibal Rising, about the serial killer's formative years. This could be a great movie or just another excuse to keep the franchise going. Sandra Bullock stars in one called
Premonition. If nothing else, this one has a cool poster!

Go Bears!

2007-01-23T19:26:00.000-05:00

Thankfully there's no song to go along with this year's SuperBowl-bound Bears. (Although it seemed cool at the time.) Great comeback win by the Colts Sunday but I don't think they'd be able to do that against the Bears defense. My prediction, Da Bears by 10.

2007-01-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

Finally, a Keifer action figure

2007-01-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

Are you a 24 addict? I am. The first 4 hours of the new season have me hooked (as I knew they would.) Mc Farlane Toys is coming out with a Jack Bauer action figure later this year. One may wonder, what took them so long? It's season 6 for cryin' out loud! Well, it turns out Keifer is the reason for the delay. Apparently the prototype of the figure was ready a few seasons ago and the Mc Farlane people gave it to him to get his approval. He had it with him on a bender apparently and thought it would be cool to set it on fire. I can only imagine the half-melted piece of plastic that was left. I want to meet this guy, between this and tackling the Christmas tree he seems like a hoot. Keifer, if you're ever in Springfield, let's go grab a beer.

Gee your tires smell terrific

2007-01-16T17:50:00.000-05:00

As humans, we seem obsessed with smells. We put on deodorant and cologne. We have candles, plug-ins and bathroom spray cans of fragrance. Then there's the car air fresheners. The pine tree is the old standby, but there are many better choices out there too. But I think one company is taking it too far. Kumho tire company has developed scented tires. That's right, tires that have scented oils infused into the rubber! The Aroma Tire comes in jasmine, lavender and orange. Why? Who knows. When I'm buying tires I look at price and performance. Perhaps some people have been unhappy with the rubber smell and were hoping for this development. At $120 per tire, I think I'll pass, but they probably smell great when you're doing burn-outs. They'd be good for transporting that skunk too!

The Hitcher

2007-01-15T17:44:00.000-05:00

The Hitcher is a new movie (actually a re-make) coming out this week. It's about some hitchhiker who ends up being a killer. Scary stuff. Almost as scary is a story about a skunk who needs a lift from Canada to California. It seems the animal stowed away in a transport truck and made the 2000 mile journey with no one discovering him until the truck arrived at its destination. Understandably, no one is willing to take him back and I guess it's against some regulation to transport wildlife into another country so he can't stay there. Wonder how much they're willing to pay? I mean I could drive fast with the windows down. Actually, I know someone who has no sense of smell. This is the perfect job for him!

Presidential Hopeful Appears Topless!

2007-01-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

The new issue of People magazine (with Oprah on the cover) has a section called "Beach Babes." You will find Penelope Cruz, Jessica Alba, Catherine Zeta-Jones (shouldn't that be Zeta-Jones-Douglas?) Also appearing in swimwear...Barack Obama. Obama says he is embarrassed by the picture and not sure what beach it was taken at. Personally, I'll wait for the SI swimsuit issue, but this one's on the newsstands now if you're interested. By the way, in looking at the headline again, are you relieved it wasn't Hillary?

World Trade Center

2007-01-04T14:24:00.000-05:00

I wasn't sure I wanted to see this movie. Wasn't sure I was ready to see it with the images of September 11, 2001 still in my mind. But my cousin Mark and several other people had recommended it, so I rented it. Wow, it packs an emotional wallup. But far from the depressing movie I was expecting, it is actually pretty uplifting. Director Oliver Stone says this is the love story he has been wanting to do. The story focuses on two Port Authority Policemen who are trapped in the rubble of the fallen towers. You get to know them, their families whose love keeps them going and the brave rescuers who put their lives on the line in an attempt to get them out. After you watch it, go back and watch it again with the commentary from the people who were there. You get a real perspective on what those hellish days were like. They sum it up best when they say September 11 showed us the worst human beings can do to each other, but also showed us the best we can be.

Snow for sale...

2007-01-02T18:47:00.000-05:00

...And there's plenty more where that came from. The blizzards that dumped unbelievable amounts of snow on Colorado and the Plains have spawned some new E bay listings. You can buy bags of snow from various places in Colorado. Yes, authentic blizzard snow. Why would you want it? What would you do with it? Well, you could add syrup and make tasty snowcones, roll it into a small snowman (larger if you buy more bags,) or throw a blizzard ball at your neighbor's window. Just remember, if your genuine blizzard snow arrives and it's yellow, get your money back!

Happy New Year

2006-12-28T13:54:00.000-05:00

Decisions, decisions. What to do on New Year's Eve? You can ring in the year at home, a bar, First Night or watching the Bears. Yup, the NFL realizes with the Bears success this season, the Chicago/Green Bay rivalry and the fact that Farve may be playing his last game, this will be a good matchup. So it's gone to prime time. Well, when the Bears win, it will be one more reason to raise a toast! BTW, if you're watching the game with a beer in your hand after halftime, you're not watching in person. Soldier Field is cutting off beer sales after the first half.

Christmas is almost here!

2006-12-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

I've been busy and away from the blog. Everyone's busy this time of year it seems. Time to relax and laugh, and yes, as has been a tradition for 10 years, WTBS will be airing a 24 hour "A Christmas Story" marathon starting Sunday night. You know the story, the kid wants a Red Rider BB gun and everyone, including Santa, tells him "you'll shoot your eye out!" There's the leg lamp, the tongue frozen to a metal pole and the bunny suit too. It's a classic. A cell phone company is even spoofing the movie on their commercials. Some may prefer the sappy sweetness of "It's a Wonderful Life" or the "yes there is a Santa Claus" of "Miracle on 34th Street," but I'll take the real-life craziness of Ralphie and his family anyday. BTW, you can even buy a "leg lamp" at amazon. Merry Christmas!

You blockhead!

2006-12-08T13:13:00.000-05:00

Forget the old natural vs artificial tree debate. Buy this tree and you won't have to spend hours stringing lights, hanging ornaments and trying to get that darn star to stay on top. This is the Charlie Brown Pathetic tree. It comes complete with one ornament and bendable branches, so you can have it drooping over if you prefer. Not a whole lot of room for presents underneath, but as Linus would remind us, that's not the real meaning of Christmas anyway. If you want to find out more,
click here.