Surfin' the Net - Famous in 31 Days
Rating - 3 stars
www.famousin31days.com
| Home | WGN News | WGN Weather | WGN Programming | WGN Sports | Employment | Contact WGN |
|
« August 2007 | Main | October 2007 »
Rating - 3 stars
www.famousin31days.com
At this risk of sounding like an old man, in my day, rap music meant something. I have to admit, I have shut it out for a long time. Every rap music video seems to be about cash, cars, guns and 'hoes'. Apologists argued it was just a reflection of their reality; critics complained the message offered no solution.
But I'm old school. Perhaps RUN DMC and Grand Master Flash would seem as innocent as listening to Hall&Oates or Englebert Humperdink, but at least those rap pioneers had a message.
RUN DMC:
One thing I know is that life is short
So listen up homeboy, give this a thought
The next time someone's teaching
why don't you get taught?
It's like that; and that's the way it is
GRAND MASTER FLASH:
Pay your toll, sell your soul
Pound for pound costs more than gold
The longer you stay, the more you pay
My white lines go a long way
Either up your nose or through your vein
With nothin to gain except killing your brain
John Clarke is a student of hip hop, and he has a message. When I say student, I don't mean that casually. He received his B.A. in Sociology and Music from Columbia University. Then he earned his Medical Degree from The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He's combined his two passions by producing hip-hop music about health.
"My passion, first, was music. It was 1979 -- Kurtis Blow and the Sugar Hill Gang -- I was 8 and I was writing rap songs," Clarke told me. "As I got older I continued to write but my passion developed into medicine in high school. I pursued a career in medicine because it is more rewarding and more stable. It's a good 'day job' to have."
His songs are about asthma, allergies, HIV, and more.
The Rules:
A diabetic that regretted the truth,
That he really wasn't careful in the days of his youth.
Diagnosed at 18 he thought he was straight,
didn't care about he weight or the junk that he ate.
Was in denial for awhile; thought he felt great.
Got up at night five, six times to urinate.
The rap isn't just shtick. Dr. Clarke is serious about educating people about health. He notes that studies have shown the average teen listens to 40 hours of music per week and 10,500 hours of music between the 7th and 12th grade. This is slightly less than the cumulative hours spent in the classroom from kindergarten through the 12th grade.
Rhythm and rhymes, key components in rap, help evoke memory. But he knows he can't get too cutesy. He needs to be authentic, or he'll lose credibility.
["The songs have a] story format and are based on real experiences with my patients," he told me. "If they perceive you are trying to preach to them, it turns them off."
It's more than just rhyming. Dr. Clarke has studied the best ways to reach people. For example, when it comes to smoking, teens care more about superficial issues like bad breath, while adults can grasp the concept of lung cancer.
Bad Breath-Brown Teeth
They can't stop the habit, reaching in their pocket, cash up in smoke, quicker than they got it.
Now I'm on the topic, how do they enjoy it?
Teeth look cheesey, breath smelling like a toilet.
30 years later, waiting for the answer, Doctors took tests, now he says it's cancer!
"I'm a physician who raps -- not a rapper who happens to be a physician," Clarke said. "They'll see athletes , rap artists as what society promotes as what you want to do. But I present myself as a doctor. I want to be a role model."
I showed the video to rap star, and Chicago native, Common for his reaction.
"I don't think he can make it on the Common album," he said with a laugh. "Man, anybody can rap nowadays!"
Are you kidding? Dr. Clarke's got skills. I'm no poet, but it's a lot easier to rhyme with "hoe" than with sinusitis.
He may never make the cover of VIBE, but Dr. Clarke is saving lives, and that's more than we can say for anyone on top of the Hip-Hop charts.
*note: Dr.Clarke makes his Chicago TV debut Thursday on WGN Morning News
(in no particular order)
Steve & Garry "Reunite"...
On television, that is. 6 minutes of their quick wit and classic chemistry. Whether they ever really get back together, who knows? I do know that they are still funny as hell together...and separately, of course.
The Return of Wizzo !
After many, many years and many, many requests - Marshall Brodien agreed to come on the show as Wizzo and dooty dooty on us and pulled out Robin's bra out of nowhere as a trick. I'm sure she still has a hot flash thinking about it.
Batman Returns
We built an entire show around the original caped crusader - complete with him scaling down the wall with Larry for his big entrance. Comedians Mike Toomey and Matt Kissane did a surprise walk on as Batman and Robin. Mike does a dead on Adam West and gave him a certificate from Gotham City to congratulate him on doing such a nice job.
Spelling Bee
Legendary Broadcaster Bill Kurtis hosts a spelling bee with our team vs. Roseanne Tellez - CBS 2, Art Norman - NBC 5, James Ward - Retired ABC 7 Restaurant Critic, Corey McPherrin - Fox Chicago, Linda MacLennan - former CBS 2 anchor. Gathering all of those folks from the competing stations and getting them to be here to potentially look like idiots for not knowing how to spell took a lot of balls on their part. (hey, it's a blog. I can say balls here. I think. Oh, Linda MacLennan does not have balls.)
Billy Corgan & Dennis DeYoung
Smashing Pumpkins frontman and former Styx frontman singing "We Three Kings" for no other reason other than I asked them if they would as a gift to Chicago, their fans, and our viewers for the holidays. Amazingly, they agreed to do it. They didn't rehearse until just before they performed it live. What started as an idea to spoof Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing the "Little Drummer Boy" became a traditional segment on our show at Christmastime. This year I am hoping to get another Chicago born rocker, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon and ??? If you have a suggestion, send it to me, jahoover@tribune.com
Val is always busy around the studio, so I guess it is with reluctance that I say she is entitled to a day off......WHEN SHE IS IN LABOR!
Yep, baby Max should be making an appearance any time now.
Best wishes to our buddy, and we'll let you know on the morning show when the baby arrives!
Rating - 3 stars
redeye.chicagotribune.com
This time next week, I hope to be in labor, or better yet, done with the whole thing and holding my son, Max!
Yes, the pregnancy that seems to have lasted 100 weeks, is finally almost over.
I am so glad... (I'm sure my husband and co-workers are too)
Some would say (like that crazy Robin Baumgarten) that I have turned into a real you know what....rhymes with witch :-)
She would know!!! She's just nuts!!!!!!!!
But, I will say if I have one more person say to me "Oh, that went by quick!" or "Man, you're big...are you sure there's just one baby in there?” I am going to scream!!!!!!!!!!
I am done!!!!!!!!!!
All you moms out there know exactly what I mean, when you are this close.
I'm not going to whine anymore about it....
I just want to say thanks to everyone for all their well wishes and ideas on Max's middle name.
We are close to a decision and as soon as I deliver, I will post the name on my blog.
So, stay tuned!!!!
Submit your questions for WCKG 105.9FM "The Package" radio legends Steve Dahl & Garry Meier when they reunite for the first time on television, Thursday on WGN Morning News, to promote their appearance at a Gilda's Club Chicago charity event.
We debuted some new technology on the show this morning. Naturally, the move was met with resistance (anything beyond a typewriter just baffles Val), but our foray into instant-feedback text messaging went surprisingly well. Hopefully you're all OK with our $5-a-text messaging fee (somebody has to pay for Larry's suspenders).
We asked you: Who should be the Bears' starting quarterback? The results of our poll were not surprising.
Brian Griese 59%
Kyle Orton 23 %
Rex Grossman 17%
The most popular guy in Chicago is almost always the backup quarterback. He was 2 years ago when Rex Grossman sat behind Kyle Orton, and so he is now with Brian Griese backing up Grossman.
I have been the staunchest advocate for not making a switch. It would have been a terrible mistake to bench Grossman last season, especially after 7 - 8 stellar games in basically his second full season. All that was needed was another off-season of work, and Rex would fix his mechanics and learn to better utilize his tremendous talents. Benching him would have stunted that growth.
But this is different now.
Rex hasn't shown any improvement. He's making the same mistakes, minus any of the spectacular throws from last season, and there's no reason to believe it will get any better. It didn't a year ago.
There's a reason Lovie Smith has resisted making a switch. It's not because he's personally vested in Grossman. It's because Rex is so overwhelmingly more talented than Griese or Orton. It's like a high school basketball coach having a clumsy 7-footer on his roster- if his next tallest guy is 6'2", he's gonna try and ride out the big man.
But the Bears don't have that luxury now, and guys have won Super Bowls working with far less than what Grossman has (Trent Dilfer anyone?). Could Brian Griese or Kyle Orton get the Bears back to the Super Bowl?
I'm not sure they can.
Griese is a 10-year veteran who lost the starting job on his previous 3 teams because he never led them to the playoffs. Yet, some out there are fanatical about him starting. Be careful what you wish for.
It's at a point now where a change might have to be made just for the sake of change. But one thing is certain- the Bears are stuck with the guys they have.
There's no phenom rookie waiting for his chance, a la JaMarcus Russel in Oakland or Brady Quinn in Cleveland. This is it. That small window a team usually gets to win a Super Bowl is closing, not opening.
And if the Bears win a Super Bowl, it's gonna have to be with one of these guys.
Rating - 3 stars
http://www.tvdays.com
It seems a contradiction in terms to say that "psychics" could have their own "reality" shows, but this is the new niche that TV will explore in two shows coming out in October.
NBC’s "Phenomenon" looks for "the next great mentalist." You also can watch alleged psychics compete in Lifetime’s "America’s Psychic Challenge."
I can see it now. Psychic contestant No. 1 turns to the audience and says, "Is there a John here? There is? A-ha!"
It makes sense. Reality TV is inexpensive to produce, and there is no shortage of people trying to make a fortune reading your fortune.
You might think that with the cameras rolling, we’d finally find out once and for all whether this legendary power exists. But don’t be fooled.
I contacted paranormal investigator Jim Underdown of the Center for Inquiry West in Hollywood, who said all the lights, cameras and action of a TV production could interfere with making any psychic test fair and honest.
"A TV production is a bad testing environment. Unlike a science lab, TV sets have too many people to keep an eye on and too much activity to control. Who is making sure the psychic isn’t getting a hint from the makeup girl or audience member? Also, producers have to edit, and an editor can make a psychic look better."
Underdown knows this first-hand. His team of investigators did an expose of James Van Praagh’s and John Edward’s syndicated TV shows a few years ago.
"We recorded everything in studio and compared it to what aired. They were substantially different in the accuracy. They’re getting rid of the wrong guesses," Underdown said. "Once you pull back the curtain and see how it’s done, it’s not impressive at all."
While some psychics are clearly frauds, there are many others who believe they have some power—though they never have been tested under controlled conditions.
If self-proclaimed psychics have any real ability, they should contact Underdown. His organization will award $50,000 to anyone who can demonstrate psychic ability under scientific testing.
One person tried just that. John Douglas of Australia flew to Chicago last year to do his thing under scientific scrutiny. Douglas claimed he could detect gold, plastic, metals and other materials without looking or touching them; he boasted of a 90 percent accuracy rate. Underdown agreed to do the test, and a crew at a cable TV station in Evanston was going to record everything. On the way to the testing, Douglas called Underdown to cancel.
"He practiced the night before in his hotel room and got terrible scores," Underdown said. "He said he lost his power and maybe it had something to do with jet lag. But it was three days after he flew in." Underdown hasn’t heard from him since.
Psychics don’t seem to rely on their "powers" to detect their own cancer--they go to the doctor, like the rest of us. They don’t predict when the train will arrive--they look at the train schedule. And even psychics (along with everyone else) can guess correctly now and then. But under scientific scrutiny, and incorporating statistical probability, no psychic has met the test.
When producers see that psychics aren’t making the grade, I fear they may lower the bar in their testing methods or simply elevate the psychics’ performance through creative editing.
In the end, the psychic phenomenon you see on TV will only be an illusion, much like it is in real life.
Rating - 2 stars
www.chicagotribune.com/sports
Today Tom Negovan has said that he is going to blog about whatever.
Therefore, I am keeping this short.
Today's dirty word of the day is cunctator.
Konrad
Rating - 2 stars
www.extremeironing.com
Seven days and counting---that’s how long John Gerard has until his mission ends: to become famous in 31 days. How? He doesn’t sing with monkeys or juggle hand-grenades. Gerard is trying to become famous in 31 days by simply trying to become famous in 31 days.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a noble goal, but it’s a self-serving goal Why do I want to be famous? Let me see if I can say this succinctly and concisely: because anonymity sucks! Are we all in agreement? Anonymity sucks. I think that pretty much sums it up,” Gerard told me.
Becoming famous should not be that hard. In the You-Tube age, people have become insta-celebreties for synchronized wedding dances, and songs about chocolate rain. But those people are really just a temporary curiosity. To become famouse you need real talent. I am not sure if Gerard has any. You can judge for yourself at www.famousin31days.com where you can see Gerard effort chronicled in an ongoing "documentary." He is essentially travelling across the country, in hopes that people will interview him.
I bought it. It is an incredibly uninteresting idea on the surface. But the former TV producer from New York is chasing a dream and taking big chances and when you put a deadline on it, there is some suspense to see if he’ll make it.
“I had a job. I quit my job…and I’m using the down payment on a house I purchased to finance this trip. So everything is on the line.”
How many of us can say we took big chances in life on a dream, instead of a safe job in a cubicle, for which you are now regretting, as you drop more change in the office vending machine for another package of ding-dongs to get you through the dull afternoon.
Typically, people who have lasting fame, have something to offer society—they’ve won a revolution (George Washington) or made great movies (Denzell Washington.) And yes, perhaps George and Denzell would get better tables at Spago then you. But,
then what? What is the bonus? It is certainly not the only measure of success. Just look at famous people in the news this week:
Britney Spears failed to live up to expectations, or on second thought, maybe she lived up to them, in her performance at the MTV awards. She was a punchline for the next 24 hours.
Kanye West whined like a bratty toddler about not getting his MTV awards because he’s black.
Kid Rock and Tommy Lee got into a shoving match.
Bengal receiver Chad Johnson made a fool of himself, by self-proclaiming his destiny with a yellow self-made Hall of Fame jacket on the sidelines during Monday Night Football.
Hey—these people are famous. Would you want to be them?
Gerard’s goal is to be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Day 31. If he fails the consequences are…well….probably nothing. He’ll go back to his non-famous life of normalcy--- back to his old profession as a tv producer, slumming with the people “behind the scenes.” The odd thing is, as he runs around the country with a camera to his face, and begging for face-time, what he is essentially doing is producing TV, the very thing he was trying to escape. Perhaps it’s not producing he hates, but what he was producing. Maybe Gerard inadvertently found his calling: the “John Gerard Show, starring John Gerard.” The question is---would anyone watch it?
Gerard’s gamble for passion over a paycheck is admirable. However, for those people like Gerard who measure success by their notoriety, returning to the secure 9-5 job would be a life-sentence of mediocrity….but it is a self-imposed punishment.
I want to thank you all for supporting my unsuccesful bid to sing the 7th Inning Stretch. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to sign my online petition. In the end, 962 of you joined the fight- that's 962 people spurned by the Cubs.
I'd like to see them sell out games now, after Frank Sanbeans and Brock Lee cancel their season tickets!
I'm sure many of you are angry about this decision, and I only wish I shared in your disappointment.
But I don't.
You see, normally I would fight a decision like this (I certainly don't feel it's the right one). However, the Cubs figured out how to quash whatever fight was left in me. It's the same way you silence any malcontent . . .
You buy them.
My price was not high. I didn't want cash, or airline tickets, or jewelry. I merely wanted what everyone in sports wants . . .
To be immortalized!
Wow.
I must say I am more than surprised by the number of responses from my blog entitled "Is anyone reading this trash?"
I had no idea.
I literally thought maybe 3 or 4 people were looking at these things.
So, that being said, thanks for the generous feedback.
Now...2 more things.
The dirty word of the day is Cockalorum.
Also, because Robin has posted a picture of her two lovely daughters, I thought you would enjoy seeing my boy Klaus on his first day of school.
He's growing up fast and is looking more like his mother every day.
Thanks again,
Konrad
Rating - 4 stars
www.Iwannavideo.com
How will I ever convince the Cubs I should sing when I can only convince 344 viewers?
I couldn't even run for student council with that many signatures!
What hurts is that it's not even viewers who've kept my dream alive. I've had to rely on dead celebrities (thank you Jimi Hendrix and Mama Cass), my television competition (I LOVED your promo CBS2) and friends of the show (you got a raw deal Danny Devito!).
I'm keeping the petition up until Thursday, at which time I will ask the Cubs for a decision by Friday. I feel that 1,000 signatures might get their attention. This is our 11th hour people!
Please don't let me embarass myself.
Rating - 3 stars
www.trektrak.com
“3:10 TO YUMA”
It took an Aussie and a brit to make a great American western. It’s one of the best of the year!
50 years ago, a dime cowboy novel was made into a black and white western, "3:10 to Yuma" starring Glenn ford and van Heflin. Now, the story has been expanded, the starring roles have been brilliantly illuminated by Russell Crowe and Christian Bale...and "the western" has been re-energized.
In it, Oscar winner Crowe is great as a notorious outlaw whose finally been captured, and now is being escorted to a nearby town to be put on the 3:10 train to the Yuma Arizona prison...that's if his former gang doesn't spring him en route.
Bale is intense as a rancher who takes the escort job...and strikes up an odd bond with his prisoner.
These two actors are at their best as are the amazing supporting cast of Peter Fonda and Ben Foster as Crowe’s crazed second in command.
There’s plenty of shoot 'em up action but at its core, "3:10 to Yuma" is a story of honor.
Mosey on down to your local Cineplex for this powerful, dean's list "A.”
“SHOOT ‘EM UP”
"Shoot ‘Em Up" may be the most appropriately titled film of 2007. That’s pretty much all that happens in the movie.
Clive Owen plays a mysterious stranger in the wrong place at the wrong time that saves a pregnant woman and her baby from a group of hired killers headed up by a crazed, Paul Giamotti.... who then, also wants Owen dead.
Endless rounds of explosions and tiring chase scenes connect attempts at "Kill Bill-like", over-the-top dialogue and a contrived plot line of why this pregnant woman and her baby were targets...and whether the mystery man can stop the killers.
At the end of the 2 hours...there wasn't enough story to support all of the violence.
It’s an all style and no substance, Dean's List "C."
“THE BROTHERS SOLOMON”
The "movie to miss" this week is Will Forte and Will Arnett’s "The Brothers Solomon." They are two brothers who decide that the only way to wake their father up from a coma is by giving him the grandchild he's always wanted...only both of them are social nit wits not wise in the ways of the ladies.
You can tell that the story here came from Forte, a former SNL writer. It’s reeks of a 3-minute sketch that should never have been made into a 90-minute movie.
It could have been worse though. Rob Schneider could have been in it. A Dean's List "D minus."
Rating - 4 stars
www.whatifsports.com
We received some feedback about Thursday's interview with Danny DeVito and his unfamous co-star. They were pitching a DVD release of DeVito's "ITS ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA."
The interview was awkward, to say the least.
Behind the scenes, we were promised Danny DeVito but when it was showtime, DeVito told his peeps that he would not do the interview unless his co-star was involved in the interview.
We reluctantly agreed, but intended to focus on Devito.
Right out of the box, the unfamous co-star starts babbling and won't stop talking, while he and DeVito wave their DVD's in the air and read endorsements about how great it is. I think most people in our line of work resent when guests turn our show into the celebreties own personal home shopping network.
So Dean, Robin and I sat there staring, and wondering when they'd stop telling people to buy their DVD, and instead, explain why this production, which few people have heard of, is worthy of our $29.95.
You think DeVito would've pulled that stunt on The Today Show? I doubt it. Unlike other shows, we don't mind calling the stars out on their own red carpet.
"So if it's so great then why haven't we heard about it?" I asked. "I took an internal poll here in the studio and no one has heard of it."
I don't think Danny liked that question and implied maybe we're not that cool in Chicago. Through WGN, you invited Danny into your living room, and he came stomping through with the grace of Louie DePalma. Thanks Danny---thanks for nothin'.
For centuries, men have gathered in public places to ponder the great questions in life. At Le Procope coffeehouse in 18th century Paris, Voltaire asked the nature of God, and Benjamin Franklin pondered the issues of fair government. All well and good but, of course, that was before more exciting things---like football. At taverns in 21st century America, people debate whether the ’85 Bears could beat the 2004 Patriots, or whether Brian Urlacher is better than Dick Butkus.
As a philosopher might point out, those are unfair questions. But hold on---Diderot never had a laptop. A website called www.whatifsports.com gets to the bottom of such “what if” questions. By using lots of zeroes and ones in ways that most of us will never understand, you can now generate answers to some of the biggest questions in sports history: Is Bonds better than Ruth? Would the ‘96 Bulls beat the ‘86 Celtics?
Corey Lamb of Lake Forest, asked if the 1978 Steelers would beat the ’85 Bears. He simulated the match-up on www.whatifsports.com hundreds of times.
“It always comes out pretty close. You can match different years and eras on the computer that you can’t do in the corner bar,” Lamb said. “It allows you to have a printed piece of paper to say ‘this is what happened.’”
Why? Our passion for our team has been with us longer than even many of our closest friends.
“In our formative years we attach to them and we create heroes and we want them to be our heroes forever,” Lamb told me.
“So much of sports is the debate and camaraderie and attaching yourself to a team and community and group of other people,” said Paul Bessier of www.whatifsports.com. “It’s not just the team but the time period or the guy you appreciated more than others, the more you can associate with what you believe in, the better we feel about that.”
Bessier says the site has had 450,000 registered users in it’s simulated leagues since the site debuted in 2000.
Just for fun, I ran through each game of the Bears season to see how they would do. The simulation is based on 2006 stats but I figured it was close enough.
I matched the season projection from the folks of What-If and Sports Illustrated, with the Bears ending at 11-5.
The bad news: Rex Grossman’s projected ’07 stats were about what they were last year. They include 9 interceptions in the two Green Bay games.
The good news: While SI projected the Bears to lose in the playoffs, I had them in a thrilling come-from-behind victory in Superbowl XLII. The Bears suffer six sacks, but the defense holds Tomlinson to 75 yards and 0 touchdowns. The offense comes from a 16-0 half-point deficit with 16 fourth quarter points to win in overtime thanks to a Robbie Gould field goal from 48 yards out! Final score Bears 19 Chargers 16. Bears are Superbowl champs!
But that’s not really doing www.whatifsports.com justice. The experts are already doing their 2007 projections and they run each game 61 times to find an average.
So while I have the Bears beating San Diego Sunday 38-30 on my one simulation, What-If has San Diego winning by an average of 25-15. The Chargers won 53% of the simulated games. This means the Bears still have an even chance of winning, but if they win, it won’t be by much, which is important for people engaged in gambling (for fun.)
How can they pick for ’07 with so many unknowns---new coaches, rookies etc.?
They look at stats from college, and compare performances from players who have come out of similar college programs to see how they did in the NFL their rookie year.
Bessier says over the last two seasons, his staff has accurately projected the winner of NFL games 69% of the time straight up and 58% of the time against the spread.
But as the site attempts to end great sports debates of legend, its simulations also stimulate more debate. For those passionate fans who don’t like the results of 61 simulated games, they can always play dozens more, until their favorite team is finally a winner for the ages.
2007 SIMULATIONS
BEARS 38 @ CHARGERS 30
Grossman 17-24 216 3TD 2INT
CHIEFS 24 @ BEARS 23
Grossman 20-34 288 1TD
@BEARS 20 COWBOYS 6
Grossman 19-29 274 1TD
BEARS 33 @ LIONS 13
Grossman 20-27 277 3TD
BEARS 12 @ GREEN BAY 9
Grossman 17-42 200 0TD 4 INT
VIKINGS 20 @ BEARS 17
Grossman 11-30 161 1TD 2 INT
@EAGLES 27 BEARS 23
Grossman 16-31 213 2TD 2INT
@BEARS 24 LIONS 17
Grossman 18-29 258 3TD
BEARS 30 @ OAKLAND 7
Grossman 16-29 206 1TD 1INT
@SEAHAWKS 27 BEARS 17 OT
Grossman 16-35 205 1TD 2INT
@BEARS 17 BRONCOES 10
Grossman 12-24 148 1TD 2INT
@BEARS 46 GIANTS 13
Grossman 21-32 258 5 TD
BEARS 29 @VIKINGS 6
Grossman 13-32 160 1TD
PACKERS 32 @ BEARS 21
Grossman 13-30 183 1TD 5INT
@BEARS 27 SAINTS 19
Grossman 17-31 156 1 TD 1INT
REX GROSSMAN
2006 STATS 262-480 (54.6%) 3,193 21TD 20INT
2007 PROJECTION: 233-459 (50.7%) 2,987 25TD 21INT
11-5
PLAYOFFS
@BEARS 23 COWBOYS 20
Grossman 18-34 226 2TD 1INT
@BEARS 31 EAGLES 13
Grossman 11-26 118 1TD 1INT
@SAINTS 24 BEARS 27
Grossman 14-32 219 1TD 1 INT
SUPERBOWL XLII
BEARS 19 CHARGERS 16
Grossman 21-35 178 1TD 1INT
Well, I'm moderately happy with the amount of people who've signed the petition. So far, 175 people have joined my crusade — a good number in such a small amount of time, but not up to my standards. It only takes a second, and once you view the petition, you'll see that if luminaries like Brad Pitt, Mayor Daley and Brett Favre have time to sign, so should you!
But celebrities aren't going to fuel this effort. If we're to succeed, we need more people like Joey Baggadonuts, Haywood Jagetlost and Chuck Waggon- ordinary people spurring a grassroots campaign.
175 and counting . . . .
On September 22, one lucky Cubs fan will get to follow in the footsteps of Harry Caray (as well as figure skating champion Nancy Kerrigan), and sing during the 7th Inning Stretch. It's part of the Cubs' Ultimate 7th Inning Stretch Competition (click here to see the 10 finalists).
I think it's great that the Cubs are giving away this opportunity. It will be a special experience which the winner will never forget. And I would know- I've been told that by people who've ACTUALLY SUNG. I'm still waiting for my shot. Larry, Robin, Paul, Kathy and Judy. They've all performed. Me? Still waiting, but hopefully not for long.
As I showed you all on Thursday morning, I was able to score a late audition for the contest. Thus far, I have not heard back. That's why I've started an online petition to get what's coming to me. After all, what would a 7th Inning Stretch competition be without WGN's best Eddie Vedder impersonator in the mix! Click on the link below to sign our online petition requesting YOURS TRULY as a guest conductor. Remember, sign as often as you can, using as many aliases as you can think of!
Rating - 3 stars
www.billboard.com
I am being told that everyone is getting their information off of the internet.
Frankly, I don't believe it.
If you happen to be reading this right now...will you please hit the "comment" button and either add a comment or just type in anything. I'm curious about who is reading this stuff.
I don't think anyone is.
In the meantime, from here on out I am going to add a dirty word to my blog until there is such an uproar that I am asked to quit. We'll see how many people are really reading this.
Today's dirty word is:
ass kisser
Thanks,
Konrad
So we were coming home after the Cubs game on Saturday, which by the way, was a great day at the ballpark since they won, and we hailed a cab on Addison. First clue this cab ride would be like no other: the driver had his wife or lady friend with him. But I really wanted to get home so my husband and I just got in. We tell THEM where we are going and right when the taxi driver says he was on his way home but...my husband and I see the bird. A real bird, a parakeet to be exact. And not a small bird, I would say medium size, not in a cage, sitting free as a bird (no pun intended) on the steering wheel.
I quickly offered to get out, taking advantage of the fact that the cab driver wanted to go home, but his wife said they had a half hour of work left. That led me to believe this was his wife because a girlfriend would have rather have him go home with her to snuggle, where as wives we work them until the end. But I digress.
So my husband and I are stuck in a hot and smelly (yes, smelly) cab with a couple and a wild bird. The woman spent half the ride urging the animal to "Say hello" to us and went as far as putting the bird on the partisian so we could see it better. I actually think she wanted us to put our finger out and let it come to us. No way Jose, I might have been born on an island, but I like my wild life in the wild, far away from me.
When the bird would not respond to her commands, she started playing with it and kissing it and passing it over to the driver. He would put it on the steering wheel and coo at it as if it were a child. All this while he navigated 4PM traffic on LSD, as if we were on a boat on the lake. When she was holding the green and yellow parakeet, he would sing to it in his native language, interrupting only to curse at the other drivers as only a cab driver knows how to.
Our wild and feathery trip was prolonged by traffic. We had to take the Inner Drive and my husband kept suggesting streets where we could get off and walk home. But my feet are holding a lot more weight than they are used to these day, what with being eight and half months pregnant and all, I had already taken the train to the game, walked up and down the stairs at Wrigley and went to a bar afterwards where I couldn't drink, all for my lovely husband, so needless to say I wanted at the door drop off.
We made it home unscathed but emotionally scarred. I've taken my fair share of cab rides in Chicago and they are always challenging. I've even been asked to get out of the cab because the driver didn't want to take me to a certain neighborhood since he wouldn't score a ride back. I've almost driven the car myself when I get those cab drivers that don't know where they are going. But to share my cab with a wild bird, now that was a first.
Just thought I shared.