In the Rear View Mirror

Thanks to my least favorite morning drive guy, I've had the most depressing ear worm ever... all damned day:



Even more depressing?  I was around for this one back in the day when it first came out, and it hasn't improved over time.

Quick Stops

Karma kicks in:

A convicted felon chose the wrong victim when he tried to rob an MMA fighter Friday night on the Southwest Side and ended up with two black eyes and a gunshot wound to the ankle.

I laughed and laughed!
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On the other hand, this news is a big old bummer:

Longtime WGN-720 AM Radio overnight co-hosts Steve King and Johnnie Putman are ending their 26-year run.

Their final show will air Friday.

Now where am I going to find cool new music? Steve and Johnnie have been a constant source of good stuff (and have been big cheerleaders of my friend Lisa McClowrey's for a long, long time)!
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If I wasn't so darned happy with the way she's running Cook County, I'd be advocating for Toni Preckwinkle for President:

She’s publicly criticized Gov. Pat Quinn, battled with the sheriff over budget cuts and even taken a jab at President Barack Obama’s signature health-care plan.

Her critics, and even some of her fans, say the 64-year-old Toni Preckwinkle, president of Cook County Board, can be abrupt, even “autocratic” — a throwback to the iron-fist rule of the so-called machine Democrats that ruled the county for decades.

But feather-ruffling aside, Preckwinkle has managed to shepherd through two balanced budgets, advance a socially liberal agenda and even make a few power grabs — all with the support of the county board.

And she’s done it all in a year’s time, after taking office last Dec. 6 on a platform of reform and transparency following the ouster of past president Todd Stroger.

See what I mean?

Sunday Schedule

This is an old clip from the Spike O'Dell show on WGN Radio of Gavin Coyle singing "Danny Boy."

I heard Gavin do this for the first time this morning on Dean Richards' Sunday Morning show, and just had to share it with you. Gorgeous!

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Whoohoo! They finally opened the Merchandise Mart to the general public! Get all the details on how to get in and how to get around here.

I'll be wandering that place over and over and over again, as there are a gazillion showrooms there.

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Go read this to understand why I'm so disappointed a trip to Ireland is not in my budget again this year.

Our crock of gold may have turned out to be a crock of s--t, but the very essence of our country — the beauty of our landscape, the richness of our history, the friendliness of our people — will never disappear. That landscape can’t be sold, our traditions and our history are eternal, our hospitality is an unwavering fact.

The land is magical and its people the warmest and most welcoming of anywhere I've ever been.

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Quote of the Day:

Did you notice the graceful winning?

Once again, Ms. Althouse nails it.

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If this is true, then I'll live a very long time and retain my marbles!

$20,000 Question

Why in the world did WGN Radio rejigger the weekend schedule to take the Sunday night slot away from Nick Digilio and give it to Milt Rosenberg if Milt is only going to do it live one week out of four? Seriously -- the first couple of weeks they replayed past shows, and tonight, instead of Milt, Andrea Darlas will be filling that slot. (No offense meant to Ms. Darlas.)

Rather than serving up retreads and substitutes to its loyal listenership, WGN should bounce the "WGN Weekend" slot, move Legally Speaking and the Sunday Night Radio Special to an hour earlier, then give Nick back a two hour slot.

Why?

First, Nick has a huge following who are used to tuning in to listen to and converse with him. Nick was the first at WGN to embrace Facebook, then Twitter, and turn his show into a true interactive experience. A large number of his listeners have formed friendships through and because of his skillful use of social media, Brew & View events, Snuggie Pub crawls and other themed events.

Second, I can't remember one single time that Nick served up a rerun. That would be an insult to his listeners and he just wouldn't do it. Guest hosts, yes. Retreads, NO.

Third, Nick has been the station's go-to guy every single time there's been a hole in the line up, whether fueled by weather, illness or vacations, often working double and triple shifts with little sleep, and not once has he ever complained about it. In fact, he's been enthusiastic about anything and everything the station has asked him to do. It's a huge slap in his face, and the collective faces of the people who tune in just for him.

Finally, while I enjoy Dr. Rosenberg's programs during the week, I resent having the entertainer who is very committed to his fan base and whom I enjoy so much on Sunday nights being bounced for someone who clearly has no such loyalty. If he was committed to us, he'd have his ass in the chair with a new guest every Sunday night.

I just sent a very unhappy email to the management at WGN. If you miss Nick, I suggest you do the same.

Saturday Ramblings

Once again, I'm on the radio. (Thanks, Nick and Andy!)

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Hey, wait a minute!!! Andy's leaving the Nick Digilio show??? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Last Saturday is his last night. Anybody want to meet me in front of the showcase studio to make faces at Andy for that last show?

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Perfect Popcorn every time? How cool is that? (And easy-peasey-lemon-squeezy.)

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You know I love a good love story, especially an unusual one. Behold:

His wife told him, ‘‘You’re staying here. You’re not coming back until you learn to defend the guillotine.’’’

What guy wouldn't love a gal like that?

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P.S. -- I've been on a biography/autobiography buying spree lately. You'd think biting off the Mark Twain autobiography would have sated that appetite for a while, but NOOOOOOOOO. I have thirteen more teed up on my Kindle, in addition to a few morsels of fiction. See what happens when I get Amazon gift cards? I actually use them.

Bus Fumes

You know, I've never had any respect for Jesse Jackson, but his fame-whoring antics at Ron Santo's funeral have shown him at his most appalling.

Although he was not speaking, is not a member of his family, was never a teammate and never worked with him at WGN Radio, good ol' Jesse-The-Fame-Whore managed to get himself the prime front row and center seat that should have gone to someone -- anyone -- other than him.

Worse, as the video goes on, you can watch Ol' Fame Whore check out the camera angles and make sure he gets to glad-hand the notables.

Fortunately, the commentators and others seem to have gone out of their way not to give him the attention he so obviously desires.

What a complete and utter putz.

In Memorium

It's a sad, sad day in Chicago for Cub fans. Why? Ron Santo passed away last night.

There may have been players better than him, but not many and none who loved the game more.

There may have been retired players who also turned color commentators, but none funnier... or more insightful... or more passionate.

And there is nor was a bigger fan of the Cubbies than Ron Santo.

I'll be listening to WGN Radio today, where I listened to him so many times. I learned to love baseball by listening to Pat and Ron.

Now I hope that someone in the Baseball Hall of Fame is paying attention. He should have been inducted long ago.

God speed, Ronnie. You'll be missed, and I'll think of you every time I hear the Cubs on the radio.

In the meantime, I dropped a donation over at JDRF, and I'll do it again on Opening Day in your memory.

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Update: This is one weekend when I wish I had a television here at home, instead of just the radio. I'm a loyal WGN listener, and it's been all Santo all the time. WGN is a talk radio station, and one of the beautiful and heartbreaking things they've done this weekend is allow Santo's friends and fans to call and in talk about their memories of the man. Grown men and women have openly wept when talking about how he touched each of their lives. Seriously, the man was and is loved in this town.

Drive-Bys

For Andy...

... who's rocking a Movember mustache. Go donate, if you can.
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I suspect this guy...


... is related to my little buddy Grabby Hayes, so named because now he won't take the almonds dropped on the ground -- he'll ignore them and insists on being close enough to grab them from my hand. (Video to follow soon.)

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Vito and the Salutations may just have managed to kill my undying love for doo-wop music with this mangling of a thing of beauty.

(Gee, thanks, Ken.)

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Giggle of the Day:

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Spit-Take of the Day:

Seventeen year old son opines the swords and knives are just a front. The real reason for Ren-Faire is boobies.

Heh!

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"Four pounds of cheese fries in an edible [tortilla shell] bowl -- you can't beat that."

-- Nick Digilio, talking with Ted Brunson, host of Chicago's Best TV, about Susie's Drive-In on Montrose, between Elston and Keeler. Yum!

They also reverentially mentioned "The Slinger" at the Diner Grill as fine late night (i.e., after bar) dining. What's a Slinger?

The Slinger is, in its own greasy way, a masterpiece and it comes on a large oval platter. The foundation is a massive portion of hash brown potatoes covered with grilled onions. On top of that is 2 side-by-side cheeseburgers, topped with a couple of fried eggs, sunny-side up. The whole thing is covered with several ladles of chili. Two pieces of toast come on the side.

Sweet Baby Jeebus!
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I don't generally visit the bars on Division Street -- too touristy or waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too young -- but I might just have to make an exception and spend some time at The Lodge:

The Lodge, 21 W. Division, brought back its clunky Flash Bowling (or Puck Bowling) machine after a 15-year absence.

Whoohoo! Let the youngsters play their video games -- flash bowling and pinball are the games of my youth, and I'll take them over their contemporary counterparts every single time.
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The Presidency hasn't grown -- the government has grown, and if it's too big for one president to handle, then it's time to shrink the government back to manageable proportions.

Drive-Bys

I don't know what I find scarier -- that this might for even a second be true...

White House leaks about the ineffectiveness of Obama's presidency are expandng [sic] beyond the revelations attributed to a former high-level Obama administration insider and which have been reported by a blogger named "Ulsterman." Some White House staffers have described a "reign of terror" in the White House over continued leaks and a troika of leadership that is making decisions without any input from the president. The troika reportedly consists of First Lady Michelle Obama, presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett, and the president's mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, who resides in the White House.

Not to be deterred, some White House staffers have sought out journalists and have arranged to meet them at nearby Starbuck's cafes to discretely convey to them inside information about the current disarray within the Obama administration. Some staffers have personally born the brunt of Obama's temper and witnessed his extreme narcissistic behavior. WMR has also learned from White House sources that Obama is taking presciption [sic] anxiety medication.

... or that Biden is second in line.

I trust that this is wishful thinking, but then there's that faint whiff of truth. *Sigh* If it's not one thing, it's another.

(A tip of the cap to Desert Cat.)

Update: It's in stories like this that I find that faint whiff.
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Governor Giveaway just doesn't get it...

"Well, (legislators) voted for it, seniors ride free, a couple years ago. I think when you have a program, you want to see how it works. I think the seniors are pretty happy with it. (Curtailing free rides) is really not going to save the state money. I think we should do as much as we can for public transit."

Asked if a means test should determine which seniors ride free, Quinn said: "Well, you don't have means tests for Social Security. The genius of that program that was founded by President Franklin Roosevelt was, when you have a universal program, you have everyone participating and everyone supporting. I do believe in that principle of universality on important programs. I have supported seniors ride free, and I don't think that's our top priority right now; our top priority is to fund our schools."

...but at least one newsman does:

The free-rides program for seniors that Blagojevich jammed through the legislature costs the three transit agencies at least $38 million a year. Given their finances, the transit agencies cannot afford these free rides. Quinn should be apologizing for another governor's financial recklessness, not declaring that he'll block any attempt to rein in the freebies. [Emphasis mine]

Remember, these transit systems survive only because governments create them and riders pay to use them. We were troubled to read a comment in Wednesday's Tribune from Beryl Clemens, former president of Metro Seniors in Action, an advocacy group: "The whole bus is empty. It's not costing (the transit agencies) anything." Yes, it is. Those who use these systems ought to share the costs. All of us could, in a moment of selfishness, point to an empty seat and say, "I'll just plop my fanny right here and nobody's out a dime." Doing that would steal revenue from the kitty that keeps public transit in business for everyone.

We hope legislative leaders deliver to Quinn a more sensible means for handling senior riders. If Quinn issues a veto, we hope legislators override him and bring this notion of free rides to an end.

Too right.
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With all the controversy over the new airport body scanners and pat downs (which are, from very recent personal experience, really rough gropings, not fondling), $1 Greyhound fares on brand spanking new motor coaches sounds pretty good, as does Megabus or Amtrak. Since I'm not an Islamic woman I can and did have more than the area from the neck up manhandled.

So, I got to have at least one complete stranger see me nearly naked, and then I got the privilege of being mauled by another complete stranger in a way that I wouldn't have put up with on a date with someone I actually knew and liked... and I wasn't the only one.

Be prepared -- TSA is not using these scanners when they think there might be a problem -- they're using them for everyone.

Quite frankly, until and unless Big Sis volunteers for both, we ought to all say an emphatic "NO" and find alternate transportation.
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Hah! I love it when Karma works it's mojo:

For the first time in almost two years Thursday, WGN-AM 720 made a major personnel move that didn't upset at least some of its longtime listeners: It said so long to Kevin Metheny, its polarizing program director for the last 23 months.

I didn't like what he did back then, and I still don't like it. I'm not sorry to see him go.
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Sunday Schedule

Ooo! One of my favorite authors is on the Sunday Night Radio Special tonight.

Brad Thor is on, talking about The Apostle (which I just ordered for my Kindle), Foreign Influence (which I'll buy when it comes out in paperback and the Kindle price drops commensurately), how he got started writing and other cool stuff. Check back later in the week for the podcast if you're a Brad Thor fan.

Drive-Bys

I've thought much but said little about all the coverage of accusations of racism in the news lately until now.

Here's the deal: If you lob the "racism" label at me, be prepared to give a specific example of what you think I did to earn it. Then I get to weigh whether or not what you say is true and/or valid.

If you are correct, I will apologize and take steps to correct my behavior, attitude and thinking.

If you are not correct, however...

... Pppppppppffffffffffffffffffffttttttttttttt! That's the sound of the air wheezing right out of your meaningless little word, rendering it shriveled, puny, worthless and of no consequence whatsoever to me.
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Giggle of the Day:


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

(Inspired by me and my new toy.)
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Inspired by Jay G, Calvin's Mom let's us in on her guilty pleasure.

In no particular order, here are some of mine:

• Dip made of two heaping spoonfuls of French Onion dip and two heaping tablespoons of Pace Picante sauce (hot), mixed well, with Tostitos Hint of Lime tortilla chips right before bed
• VandeWalle's vanilla caramels
  
• Nick Digilio
• Country music -- the old sappy stuff
• Musicals -- movies, television and stage
• Fonseca 1977
• Karaoke
• Cowboy hats and boots
  

Yours?
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Jihad Gene says, "It's Friday! Let's Dance Like Mexicans!"

I say, "Oh, Mexico!"



Billy Sweetfeets Gingersnap Norton is grooving to Pina Colada Boy.

Doug from Sligo, on the other hand, is in a Newport (Ymerodraeth) State of Mind.

How about you?

Update:

Joanie wants to know If You Know Love?

Drive-Bys

The Ricketts family is a class act:

Just because the Chicago Cubs haven't played in a World Series in 65 years doesn't mean they don't know what to do around championship games.

And, in this case, the right thing is to step graciously aside.

So the Cubs agreed to allow WGN-AM 720 to air all of the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup finals series with the Philadelphia Flyers, including three games in the best-of-seven playoff that conflict with scheduled ballgames.

Rather than push the Hawks down the dial to the weaker signal of WIND-AM 560 as they make their first trip to the finals in 18 years in a bid to win their first Stanley Cup title since 1961, the baseball team is temporarily waiving its power-play status on the 50,000-watt flagship station they share.

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Go read this whole amazing story about the young men of Urban Prep:

Urban Prep is big on ritual.

Every time one of the high school's seniors gained college acceptance, he swapped out his red tie for a striped red-and-gold one — until an electrifying day in March, when all 107 seniors of Englewood's Urban Prep Academy for Young Men donned striped ties.

On Tuesday, they established another tradition.

The students, in their trademark uniform blazers and ties, publically (sic) announced where they would attend college. For the first graduating class of Chicago's only public all-male, all-African-American charter high, the declaration was monumental. Many of the students at the school, which is in one the city's roughest neighborhoods, are the first in their family to go to college. Only 4 percent of them read at grade level when they started four years ago, school officials said.

A tip of the cap to every one of the class of 2010, and to the teachers and administrators who got them there. Well done. Well done, indeed.

(More here on why this is such an enormous accomplishment.)
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Quote of the Day:

"There's more cleavage in this film than at a pro wrestler's wedding.

"And crotches, have we got crotches for you." -- Roger Ebert

And you thought he didn't like SATC2...
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Giggle of the Day:



Charlie Delta's garbage bin?
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Ear Worm of the Day:

Illegal Parking

On weekend nights I park myself on the couch and listen to Nick Digilio on WGN Radio.

Why? (Aside from the fact that I still haven't brought the television home, that is...)

Well, for example, give a listen here. I just about fell off the couch laughing as the tears rolled down my face listening to Nick enjoy the hell out of his own humor.

Also, Nick always goes down the Yahoo Buzz list on Fridays, and usually doesn't have a clue why celebrities have made the list that week so he asks for his listeners to call in, tweet or post answers to Facebook.

(I answer a question raised on that particular episode on his Facebook page here. And I still can't believe I knew answer to that question, much less publicly admitted and published it.)

Yeah, maybe it's a bit eccentric... but I get Nick, his producer Andy Hermann (Hi, Andy!), news anchor/rock guru Paula Cooper, traffic reporter Ted Novak, the people who call in, including that old sweetheart Larry from Aurora... and then there's the Facebook crowd and the Twitter community...

Who needs a date? This crew is infinitely more entertaining. (It's a little bit like naked midget wrestling -- you know it's politically incorrect, but you just can't help but watch... or laugh yourself silly.)

On the Radio...

Yes, I was, actually.

Go here to listen in.

(Thanks, Nick and Andy!)