South Side Dumbass

Just when the whole city is feeling good about the Sox, some weak ass numb nuts has to go and screw it up. A Sox fan hit and pulled the hair of Craig Biggio's wife. Then the big man ran. Click here for story. He was caught by Biggio's brother in law. What doesn't make sense is why Biggio decided not to press charges? If someone did that to my wife, I'd not only press charges but I'd sue that bastard for everything he's got. Of course, I'm a lawyer.

But I do like Guillen's idea for punishment. Don't take him to jail, bring him to the clubhouse.

Jay, you should go to Suffolk to see the light.

Not that the lights are anything spectacular, they just cost a lot due to EU regulations. Click here for story. Before the EU regs, the church used a ladder to change the 6 lights, 40' up in its chapel. Total cost 150pounds. However, this last time they had to pay a three man crew to erect scaffolding and safety equipment. Total cost 1300 pounds.

When they took the mugshot, did they leave the big Elmo head on?

Things are bad for "freelance" costumed characters in Hollywood. These folks parade for tips from tourists when they get their picture taken with them. Recently Mr. Incredible and Elmo were busted for aggressive begging. Click here for story.

What kind of a world do we live in when a man dressed up as a children's television character cannot make a decent living begging from tourists?

Did Fraiser know a lot about math?

By most accounts, Fraiser was a wildly successful show. But Paramount is claiming that it actually lost over $200 Million on the show which ran for 11 years. Click here for story. Considering that the show ran just 264 episodes the series lost over three quarters of a million every episode.

Of course this is just studio math. A way to keep those with backend money deals from getting anything. There's no business like show business, except for the mafia.

Why Qwisp is not a big seller in Turkey

Because just spelling it may cost you up to $76. Apparently there is a law in Turkey that bans the use of letters not in the Turkish alphabet. Q and W don't legally exist in Turkey. click here for story.

While this may seem silly and pointless, in actuality it is Turkey's attempt to control its Kurdish minority. By mandating the exclusive use of the Turkish alphabet Turkey hopes to eliminate all Kurdish references in the market place.

A whole article on kickers?

The New York Times wrote a whole article on kickers. Click here for story. I'm just amazed that they have a whole articles worth of things to say about kickers.

Free Booze is rarely good booze

Apparently the election laws in India are more lax than here in the States. A political party was serving free alcohol in order to win votes. Sounds good right. Well the booze was laced with insecticides and other potent chemicals. About 20 people have died. Click here for story.

I know the trick is to buy votes on the cheap. But who would vote for a guy who makes you vomit and possibly die? Especially if the threat of vomiting and death is not from over indulging.

For Halloween, I could be a bum. Or that might hit a little close to home.

Well my last day at Berglund & Niew was last Friday. That's when I was fired. So this week I've been searching for a job. Not muck luck yet.

I've been toying with the idea of opening my own office. And I may have a client. So this weekend, I'll be formulating a business plan.

Sox in the Series

WOW!

It is best to be good and lucky

The White Sox won tonight's game. They were helped by a bad call made by the home plate umpire on a swinging third strike. The umpire said that the ball hit the ground and thus the Angel's catcher had to complete the play by either tagging Pierzinski or throwing to first before he got there. That's the lucky part.

The good part is that with two outs, they were able to advance the runner from first to second on a steal and second to home on a base hit. Mike Scioscia, the Angel's manager pointed out that his team should have played well enough to win despite getting a bad call.

It is another reason why I wish the Yankees were playing the Sox. It's just so easy to hate the Yankees. The Angels all seem to be good guys, managed by a good guy. Come on, they're the fourth favorite team in their own state. They have cool uniforms. What's not to like.

Venial Sin...Pretty Darn Good

This week the small beer (named Venial Sin) finished bottle carbonation. Tasty! Will bottle the Porter (Cardinal Sin) this weekend.

What happens when Han Solo drinks too much Coke?

My son is in full Star Wars mode. He wants to watch the movies several times a week. He is planning on being Anakin for Halloween. The Jango Fett costume did not have a helmet, and the ebay replacements were too expensive.

So today we were playing a variation on one of his favorite games, guess what Star Wars thing I'm thinking of. Twenty questions, all Star Wars. Well, tonight he was thinking of the claw which grabs Han Solo out of the carbon freeze. He even showed me a demonstration. And when I said the claw, Nick, of course, had to make sure that I was thinking about the correct claw. Apparently there are a number of them in the Star Wars universe. So Nick said, "Yeah, the claw. The one when Han gets carbonated."

It was really hard not to laugh.

Phil, you've got friends in Scotland

My brother Phil does not drink. I look at all things in the world wondering "Can I ferment that?" Now the good thing about Phil is he doesn't care that we drink. By we I mean basically the rest of the males in the family. He doesn't drink cause he doesn't like it. Totally personal choice.

Well there are some teatotallers in Scotland who feel besmurched socially because they don't drink. Click here for story. The study which revealed this, states that 64% of Scottish people interview believes that drinking is a major part in Scottish culture. The study also revealed that Scotland has ten times the number of deaths from liver failure.

Hey Hockey Fans.

DirecTv is giving a preview of NHL Center Ice this week. So we can see all the games for free. Cool!

Mighty comfy on the bandwagon

I admit I'm on a fair weather fan of the White Sox. If they weren't in the playoffs I wouldn't care about them. But as they are, I am hooked. I was listening to the bottom of the sixth inning while in my car coming home from work on Friday. When I left work, Marte had just loaded the bases with no outs. By the time I got home, El Duque had forced two pop outs and a strike out to keep the Sox in front. A thrilling ride home.

Nick's First Soccer Game

Well this evening was Nick's first game. In the cold mist of Berwyn in October.

His team the Comets played with as much valor as 9 5-8 year olds could muster. But alas, their side came up on the losing end of the score.

After speaking with Penny, she informed me that the type of play at this age is properly called lemming ball. They all basicly run to the ball. The ball gets kicked. They run after it.

Everyone had a good time. Second game tomorrow.

Me thinks this librarian is overly optimistic

In Waupaca, WI a group of librarians decided that they would pose for a risque calender to raise money. Click herer for story. Haven't we seen enough of this. I'm serious, this has even been made into a movie. "Oh we're old, but were naked! How naughty." Who cares.

Why leave a bear on your porch?

So this guy in New England has a stuffed bear on his porch. He goes on a two day work trip and when he comes back, the bear is gone. Clik here for story.

What was he expecting? Who in their right mind would simply leave a large stuffed bear on their porch and leave. You might as well have had a steal this bear sign on it.

Why there are so few bike riding scenes in movies

A British review of Hollywood's biggest movies of the last twenty years has concluded that they are chock full of irresponsible sex and drug use. Click here for story.

On the other hand, a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has warned that bicycle seats may make men impotent. Click here for story.

So don't see a Hollywood Movie, unless you ride you bike to the theatre.

Well, technically we are South Siders

Tonight, I had to take Nick to get some soccer equipment (practice starts tomorrow). So I went into Sports Authority and I succumbed to the Dark Side.

What will I cross the Loop for?

Today, while I was heading downtown to file some docs at Federal Court, I heard on the radio that some of the Blackhawks were downtown signing autographs. I deduced that they would be at HawkQuarters and so I walked the length of the Loop to see them.

I was very suprised at the total lack of people who were interested in meeting them. When I got there I walked right up to Kyle Calder and got his autograph, I then simply went down the line and got the autographs of two other players. Including a signed puck, which is what I really wanted. All totally free.

But the hard part was realizing that, I have no clue as to what the players look like. They all basicly look like big athletic white guys. And, of course, the jersey gives no hints. The name and number are on the back. And so I'm getting a autograph of a player and trying to figure out his name from the autograph. Luckly, they each put their number after their name. Cool.

Amelia's First Steps

Yesterday, Amelia took her first actual steps. And for those scoring at home, they were not to me. They were not to Sarah. They were not to Nick. So what enticed my little girl enough to make her take those first steps?

Mischief.

She took three steps without holding anything to get from where I was sitting on the floor to the edge of the couch. For there was the dog's tail. And she wanted to grab it. This left me in a classic, yes no situation. Way to go Amelia, now stop that.