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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

“Get Me To The Abbey On Time!”

Prince William and his fiancé Kate Middleton have set a date!  The two will wed on Friday, April 29th , 2011 at Westminster Abbey… the 1000 year old church where current Queen Elizabeth married her husband Prince Phillip.

- One thousand years ago - or so it seems! 

Amazingly, the family of the bride will pick up the tab for the wedding (just like I did more times than I care to remember) which could cost in the millions – with the exception of security.  The Royal Family will handle that at an estimated cost of $20 million plus.

- Kate hasn’t decided on a dress yet, but rumor has it that her future mother-on-law Camilla has picked out an elegeant, but understated saddle.

Flying The REALLY Friendly Skies…

People are coming up with bright ideas to help passengers too embarrassed to undergo an airline body scan.  One scientist suggests using software that distorts the image like a funhouse mirror.  The TSA could still see any hidden weapons, but the nude body would be so grotesquely distorted that nobody could recognize whose body it was.

- So basically everybody’s scan would come out looking like a cross between Kirstie Alley and Calista Flockhart. 

- Speaking of carnival-type stuff… the TSA should hire carnies as screeners.  It wouldn’t feel nearly as invasive to be groped by a guy with really small hands.

But Wait… There’s More!

Another idea comes from Las Vegas entrepreneur Jeff Buske, who’s invented a line of underwear with a fig leaf design over the crotch.  The fig leaf is lined with powdered metal to be flexible and thin enough not to set off metal detectors, but would prevent scanners from seeing your private parts.

- The idea actually came from Adam and Eve who donned fig leaves before hopping a flight from the Garden of Eden to Las Vegas. 

Gloria All-Red!!!

In a recent, feminist attorney Gloria Allred defended the TSA’s body scans and intimate patdowns.  When asked if they’d touched her body parts, and Allred replied, “Yeah, they did, and it was the first time anybody touched them in a long time, and frankly, I liked it.”

- No wonder she’s so angry all the time!

- Gloria ended up having to go through security two times because after the first time she had to go outside the airport to have a cigarette.

OMG! A VW!

To mark her final season in syndication, Oprah Winfrey expanded her “Oprah’s Favorite Things” show to two days.  Delirious audience members received a boggling array of gifts including a custom tin of cheese and caramel popcorn, $500 gift cards for Nordstrom’s lingerie, $1900 designer earrings, and a free 2011 VW Beetle as soon as they roll off the line.  But Oprah said, “It’s not about the stuff… it’s about hope, and knowing that something magical and joyful can happen to you when you least expect it.

- No Oprah, it’s about the stuff!!!

- For Gloria Allred, that “magical and joyful” moment came at the airport.

Taking The Gobble Out of the Hob Nobble!

There’s a new list out of 10 ways to cut your Thanksgiving dinner by up to 3500 calories, or enough to keep you from gaining one pound.  They include:  fill up on clear veggie soup before the meal… don’t eat the turkey skin or the pie crust… replace the mashed potatos and sweet potato casserole with a plain baked potato sans butter or sour cream… use fat free gravy… use a tablespoon to serve instead of a ladle… and instead of a nap after the meal, take a 30-minute walk.

- Excuse me, but isn’t  “Fat Free Gravy” an oxymoron?

- Who ever came up with this idea is a real turkey.

- Or you can do what I do and serve Salmon… although I’ll admit they’re not easy to stuff - particularly through the back end!  

A Little Off Kilt-Er

A long-standing question has finally been answered:  The Scottish Tartans Authority, a group dedicated to upholding Scottish traditions, has ruled that Scotsmen should wear underwear under their kilts.  They say that to “go commando” in a kilt is childish, unhygienic and flies in the face of decency and common sense.

- So now, “The Wind May Always Be At Your Back”… but with underpants on, you won’t notice it as much.

- You mean to tell me that Prince Charles hasn’t been wearing underwear when he’s visiting Scotland?  Yuck!

 

Have a great day!  Since I want to be a WARM co-Grand Marshall of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, I’m headed out to buy my foot and hand warmers! See ya tomorrow!

-Dick 

 

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We Hobbed! We Nobbed! We Gobbled!

The whole family gets ready to Hob Nob & Gobble!

From Left to Right: Neil & Jennifer, Brad & Julie, JoAnne, Eric & their kids Lauren and Adam, Me and Gail, Matthew, Julia and their mom Jill, Jackie & her son Charlie, and finally, Chris & Jessica with their two sons Jack and Preston.


Julia and Matthew, Jill’s kids with “Balloon Boy”.


One of these guys is co-Grand Marshall of Thursdays Parade.  The other one is a clown. 

 

 

A thorn between two roses!  Me, between my daughter Jill & my wife Gail.

 

Watch out ladies… The Boys are in town! 

(Jack, Charlie & Adam) 

Six of the seven grandkids pose with the evening’s headliner and rising star Shontelle!


Jackie and her “date” for the evening, Charlie, pause for a picture before heading off to ride “Ocean Motion”.

Way better than a Cruise Ship! 

“Charlie, are you sure you want to do this… AGAIN?!”

Matthew tries not to be embarrassed posing with his Grandmother and two Aunts!


BCF’s!  (Best Cousins Forever!)

Jessica & her oldest, 9 year old Preston lookin’ good!

Jack, Adam & Lauren ready to ride!!!

Preston & Charlie refuel before heading off to experience “Zero Gravity”.

Adam & Jack: One bite away from being members of “The Clean Plate Club”! 

 

Elephant Ears… a food, not a comment, on Jackie & Charlie!

Sorry about the glitch… but I think there’s enough to recognize me and Tony Michaels, CEO/President of The Parade Company.  We’re not sure who the guy with the red and white hat is… (Photo courtesy of David L. Malhalab)

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The Hob Nob Gobble!

Well it’s almost Thanksgiving and this will be a big weekend for me and my family.  Saturday night all 20 plus of us (Gail and I, plus six daughters, husbands and seven grandchildren!) will be attending the “Hob Nobble Gobble” which I’ve been told is “the party of the year”.  The event this year will take place on the field at Ford Field and will be attended by almost 2000 people!  

The gala is a benefit for The Parade Company, a non-profit organization that runs the Freedom Festival Fireworks and the annual Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade.  

This year I have the honor to be the co-Grand Marshall of the Parade - the 84th annual - along with Tony Earley, retired Chairman and CEO of DTE, both long time supporters of the Parade.  

Getting back to the Hob Nob Gobble… It’s a black tie affair not just for adults, but for the kids as well!  And while my two grand daughters Julia and Lauren were beyond thrilled to go shopping for the PERFECT dress… things went a little differently with the boys.  

As Jackie’s 9 year old Charlie told his mom, “Trying on clothes is more boring than going to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa.” (Guess who’s outta the will!!!)

So you can imagine the fun my daughters had standing at the “Men’s Warehouse”, watching their young sons try on miniature rental tuxes with all the enthusiasm of a guy walking to the electric chair.

The one exception was Jessica’s son Jack.  At just seven years old, Jack is already quite the ladies man (if you can consider girls in 2nd grade to be “ladies”).  From what I’ve been told, he strutted out of the dressing room with all of the confidence and panache of James Bond.  “I look great!”, he announced not only to his mom but to everyone else in the store.

And so, it appears, were ready for the big night.  And when I say big, I mean BIG.  The Hob Nob Gobble features an amazing array of entertainment from singers and clowns to nearly 20 full-size carnival rides for the kids.  (And, hopefully, me! I didn’t make it to Cedar Point this summer and could use a spin on something more exciting than my recumbent bike). 

It’s going to be a great evening and we’ll take plenty of pictures which we’ll post here on Monday!  

Then Sunday, it’s “Put Up The Christmas Tree Day” at our house.  (We like to have it up and ready for Thanksgiving).  And being the handyman that I am, you can rest assured that I will be right there supervising as Gail untangles the never-ending strings of lights and puts the little silver and gold hanger-things on the ornaments.  (Just so you don’t think I’m totally incompetent, I do a mean job with the tinsel)

So that’s what I’ve got on tap this weekend… I’ve gotta sign off now… I’m going to check out the long-range forecast for next Thursday morning, Parade Day, since Gail and I will be riding on the boot of an open convertible down Woodward Avenue!  I’ve got my hat, coat, scarf, gloves, fur-lined socks and electric underwear laid out already!  Let’s hope there’s no rain or snow… it would be pretty embarrassing if my shorts shorted-out during the Parade!

I hope you have a good one and I’ll see you back here Monday!  

- Dick

P.S. Big Al will not be attending the Hob Nob Gobble as he has other plans… He’s going to the airport to see if he can get himself a nude scan and an “extreme pat down”! 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

Sneak-a Peek-a-Boo… I See You!

The backlash is growing against the TSA’s making air travelers choose between a nude body scan or a groping of their privates.  But some support the security measures.  Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said, “I’m wildly excited that I can walk through a machine instead of getting my dose of ‘love pats’”.  TSA chief John Pistole said he got an “enhanced pat down” and admitted it was “more invasive” than he was used to.  But he stuck to the policy, even offering to bring security officers to the Capitol to demonstrate the pat downs on Senators.

- Senators are used to “invasive pat downs”!  They’ve been giving them to pages and hookers for years!

- Former Senator Larry Craig had an interesting “stance” on the issue… When he flies, he insists on both the pat-down and the nude body scan.

- Bill Clinton has volunteered to be the guinea pig and said, “I don’t care how many times it takes, let do it until we get it right!”

The Good, The Bad, and the REALLY Ugly 

Politico editor Jim VandeHei says that after 16 years of reporting on Congress, he’s realized it’s “Temptation Island”, especially for new, unattractive members.  He said some newly elected Congressmen are away from their families and haven’t had women show them any attention since college. But since “power is an aphrodisiac”, he said the behavior you see at night from ugly new congressmen “is the behavior you often saw from our friends in college”.

- This gives a whole new meaning to the expression “bumping uglies”.

- Their wives must be thrilled to hear the news.  Not only is their husband ugly, but he’s probably cheating too.

- These guys just got elected and they’re already messing with the “stimulus package”.

At Least It’s All “In” The Family!

Robert B. Spriggs of Pennsylvania is being held in jail on suspicion of stealing jewelry from his elderly mother and swallowing it.  Jailers have been waiting for the evidence to emerge the natural way and so far it’s paid off.  They’ve recovered three diamond rings so far.  But a police spokesman said two tennis bracelets are still missing so “we are in a holding pattern,” waiting to see “what else turns up”.

- One bowl of Fiber One and they could have this case solved by tomorrow morning! 

- Spriggs mother said, “He’s got a he a heart of gold”… and apparently a colon full of diamonds.

- His lawyer claims Spriggs was just trying to get more vegetables in his diet by eating a lot of Carats.

Animals In The News

Eric Easley of Mobile, Alabama, is charged with animal cruelty for allegedly having sex with a miniature horse.  Easley denied it and hired attorney “Cowboy Bob” Clark who told the press, “You can get a ham sandwich and indict it, but that don’t mean the sandwich was guilty of anything, except being a bad ham sandwich”. 

- After that statement, the pigs all demanded cans of mace and new locks on the pig pen.  

- Word around the stable is that Easley isn’t much of a lover… earning him the nickname “The Pony Express”.

- To his credit, he did take the miniature horse out for a nice dinner of carrots and oats before hand.

Look What It Did For Their First Winner, Mel Gibson!

People Magazine has chosen Ryan Reynolds, star of “The Proposal” and the upcoming “Green Lantern”, as 2010’s “Sexiest Man Alive”.  By coincidence, Reynold’s wife, Scarlett Johansson was just named “Babe of the Year” by GQ magazine.

- Well whoop-de-do!  I’m the co-Grand Marshall of next weeks Thanksgiving Day Parade and my wife just got a “World’s Greatest Grandma” coffee cup from Jackie’s son Charlie!

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1966, the Pope announced that Roman Catholics in the U.S. no longer had to avoid eating meat on Fridays.

- And thousands of housewives rejoiced that they no longer had to make hamburger patties in the shape of fish! 

- On the down side, sales of “Mackerel Helper” plummeted.

 

Just a reminder… Thanksgiving is a week from today!  A new study showed the average Turkey Day meal contains 4500 calories.  So that’s it… No more gravy on my pumpkin pie!

Have a great day and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!

- Dick 

 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

An “Un-Friendly” Reminder…

Jimmy Kimmel has declared today - National UnFriend Day, saying “NUD is the international day when all Facebook users shall protect the sacred nature of friendship by cutting out any ‘friend fat’ on their pages occupied by people who are not truly their friends.”  He added that “according to Facebook, there is no difference between your best friend – the person who cares so much about you he or she would give you a kidney to save your life – and the ex-girlfriend of a former roommate who constantly updates to make sure you know what color her aura is.”

- So far Jimmy’s received 2 million “likes” on this idea.

- This idea isn’t exactly new among late night talk show hosts… Conan O’Brian “unfriended” Jay Leno months ago. 

- Fake Facebook friends are better than real friends! They never ask you to come over and help move furniture. 

Are You Ready To Rhumba?

In a shocking turn of events last night, the higher scoring Brandy was kicked off Dancing With the Stars while the lower scoring Bristol Palin advanced to the finals.  Some fans are grumbling that conservatives on the Internet are conspiring to vote for Bristol, as revenge for how ABC News treated her mom, Sarah Palin, during the 2008 election.

- MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann was outraged calling Bristol, “The Worst Dancer…IN THE WORLD!!!”

- During the finals Bristol will perform the Russian Cossack Dance.  She learned it by looking out a window at her Mom’s house.

Speaking of Bristol… 

Janice Cowen of Wisconsin told police that her husband Steven had been under a lot of stress due to finances and a mental health problem and was drinking while watching DWTS Tuesday night.  When it was announced that Bristol was moving on to the finals, he went berserk - jumping up and down, swearing and demanded that she bring him his pistols.  She fled in terror when he pointed a shotgun at her.  He eventually surrendered to police and was charged with reckless endangerment. 

- Doctors describe his condition as “Post Traumatic Stress Because Bristol Is Still On Dancing With The Stars Syndrome”… or “PTSBBISODWTSS” for short. 

- Ironically, last season I jumped up and down, swore and demanded that my wife Gail bring me a pistol everytime I watched Kate Gosselin dance! 

- Next time you go to a political rally, avoid standing next to this guy. 

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1968, NBC made the dumbest TV decision ever, when they cut away from the last minute of a major Jets-Raiders football game to show the kiddie movie “Heidi,” and the Raiders scored twice in nine seconds to come back and win. 

- The second dumbest TV decision ever occurred last night when Brandy was voted off DWTS!

It’s Got A Familiar Ring To It…

England’s Prince William made worldwide headlines when he not only announced his engagement to longtime girl friend Kate Middleton – but gave her the engagement ring that his father Charles had given to his mom, Princess Diana.

-  He was going to give her one like the one Charles gave Camilla, but apparently Kate doesn’t like nose rings.

- Boy if anything should ensure a long happy marriage for Prince William and Kate, it’s him giving her the engagement ring that Charles gave Diana!

- They knew Kate wasn’t all that thrilled with the ring when she yelled, “He didn’t go to Jared!”

- I haven’t been this excited since Larry’s King’s last three or four weddings!  

“Just Say No To Escargot” 

Chadwick St. O’Harra and Steve Righetti  are suing the Seafood Peddler restaurant in California over “exploding escargot”.  They say Righetti’s birthday celebration was ruined when they stuck their forks into some cooked snails and a spray of hot garlic butter shot out.  They claim it got on their polo shirts, squirted Righetti’s nose and got into O’Harra’s tear duct causing temporary blindness.  They say they were humiliated but wouldn’t have sued if the restaurant staff had shown remorse. 

- The waitress said, “Enjoy!” … what more do they want? 

- This is exactly why I always celebrate my at Leo’s Coney Island!

- Millions of men have suffered temporary blindness after thumbing through Playboy magazine, but you don’t see them filing a lawsuit.

“A Gay In the (After) Life” 

Mike Konigsfeld and Tom Brandl of Cologne, Germany, are designers and longtime gay partners who’ve created a new product:  coffins for gay people.  They say their coffins combine tastefully plush designer interiors with homoerotic artwork on the outside featuring muscular young men in classical poses.  They say it’s the perfect way to send off a gay loved one.

- Liza Minnelli has already ordered a bunch for all of her ex-husbands!

- And for those gay men who want to stay in shape for the afterlife, the casket is covered in drawings of Richard Simmons. 

- A lot of gay guys are choosing the “George Michael Model” because they say it doesn’t make their loved one look dead… it just makes him look like he fell asleep.

- For Lesbians, they have an Ellen DeGeneres look alike who will actually go to the funeral and dance on your loved ones grave!

 

Enjoy the sunny weather and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!

- Dick 

 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

Kate’s Finally Getting The Family Jewels!

Prince William has finally popped the Royal question!  Buckingham Palace has announced that the second-in-line to the throne (Behind his father Prince Charles) is engaged to his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton.  The two have dated on and off for eight years and are planning a wedding in the summer of 2011.  Royal insiders say it may be even more lavish than the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana back in 1981.

- Queen Elizabeth was so excited when she heard the news she almost fell off the throne… and hit her head on the plunger. 

- Kate is said to be madly in love with William and that he has her eating out of his hand… which, ironically is exactly how his dad Charles feeds his wife Camilla.

- William’s brother Harry will serve as best man so look for a Nazi- themed bachelor party held in a bunker with a an Eva Braun look-a-like jumping out of the cake. 

You’ve Gotta Be “F”-ing Kidding Me!

It is now impossible to get at “F” at West Potomac High School in Washington, D.C. unless you never hand in a single assignment.  Under a new plan, if a student doesn’t hand-in an assignment they’ll just get an “I” for incomplete.   They can hand it in months after the due date and it will not be marked down for being late.   And if they get every question on a test wrong, they can take it over until they pass.  If they get an “A” on the 10th try, it counts the same as an “A” on the first try. The guy who came up with this idea pointed out that not everyone passes their driver’s test on the first try.

- Teachers say this will lead to fewer papers to grade, thus giving them much more time to have sex with their students! 

- So they’re basically replacing the “No Child Left Behind” program with the new and improved “This Guy Has His Head Up His Behind” program.

Chewing the Fat! 

A new study by an Oklahoma University researcher found that compassionate conversation about your problems can relieve stress, but “too much of a good thing is a bad thing.”  Women who spend a lot of time talking about each others problems show a spike in the stress hormone cortisol – which can lead to chronic stress, high blood pressure, lower immune response and increased abdominal fat. 

- And the Grande Half-Caf-Mocha Latte with whipped cream they drink while talking about those problems doesn’t help with the abdominal fat either.

- Men don’t talk about their feelings with their wives or girlfriends because they’re afraid they might slip and say, “Yes!  Those pants do make your butt look big!”

- Women are going to be talking about this study for years to come!

Cookies With Nuts?  

Some parents in England were stunned to learn that politically correct officials had changed lunchroom menus in 400 schools to turn gingerbread men into “gingerbread persons”.  The parents called it “ridiculous” and raised such a ruckus that embarrassed school officials reversed their decision and will soon be offering Gingerbread Men again. 

- There’s only one sure-fire way to know if your gingerbread cookie is male or female… run it through one of those full body scanners at the airport!

- Next thing you know they’ll be claiming that “Lorna Doone” is a lesbian.

She’ll Find Out If “It’s A Small World” After All! 

56-year-old George Reiger of Pennsylvania is known as the “Disney Tattoo Guy” because he has 2,200 Disney-themed tattoos.  He got the tatoos because he was lonely and they attracted attention to him.  But now, he say’s he’s “totally in love” with a woman he met on a Disney Cruise and he wants to have the tattoos removed so he can start a fresh life with her.

- The woman, identified only  as a “Ms. S. White” is said to be “head over tea-cups”.  

- The Seven Dwarves couldn’t be reached for comment since they were trapped in a replica of a Chilean Mine in Epcot Center.  

- George and his new girlfriend plan to double-date with the Mouses’, Mickey and Minnie.

- His girlfriend said she can’t help it… she just likes Goofy Guys.  

- George promised her their wedding night is going to be like, “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!”

 

Have a great day and I’ll see you right back here tomorrow!

- Dick

 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

Security Guards A Little Too Frisk-y?

A man from Oceanside, California is against the TSA’s full body scans and invasive patdowns at airports – and has posted a video on YouTube to show why.  He used his cell phone at the San Diego Airport to record security people giving him a patdown, then telling him he had to submit to a secondary “groin check”.  Tyner replied, “You touch my junk and I’m going to have you arrested.”  Security took that as a threat and threw him out of the airport.  He could face a $10,000 fine and a civil suit.

- It’s kind of like those old photo booths that you and your boyfriend or girlfriend would squeeze into to take funny pictures of your faces… only the one’s at the airport take pictures of your private parts!  Aside from that small detail, it’s about the same thing.  

- Apparently he didn’t want anyone “touching his junk” until he actually got on the plane and tried to join the mile high club!

- This gives a whole new meaning to, “Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

- Maybe instead of full body scans and invasive patdowns, how about everybody gets a parachute and a bag of pretzels?  

Well I’ll Be Damned!

Over the weekend in Baltimore, the Roman Catholic Church held a two-day seminar to train new exorcists.  They say there are only a few people who know the ritual, and too many requesting it.  So more than 50 bishops and 60 priests signed up for the crash course in casting out demons.  A Cardinal said learning how to do an exorcism isn’t hard, the problem is the discernment an exorcist requires to know whether or not it’s needed. 

- When I heard about this story, it made my head spin. 

- Upon completion of the course, each priest got a certificate and an autographed picture of Linda Blair.

- When asked the key to living a good life, one priest responded, “Diet and Exorcise”.

- The technical name for a person who appears to be possessed by the devil is “Teenager”. 

- It’s a good thing they had the exorcism seminar after Halloween… that way I didn’t have to buy a vampire costume.

The King of Socks & Bonds 

Saturday in New York, thousands of items seized from convicted stock swindler Bernie Madoff were auctioned with proceeds going to his victims.  His wife’s 10.5 carat diamond ring brought $550,000 and his vintage Rolex sold for $67,500.  But bidders also paid big bucks for the most everyday items like Madoff’s old shoes and worn socks.  And believe it or not, a selection of his boxer shorts valued at $380 sold for $650.

- I hear Bernie still wears boxers in the slammer… briefly!   

- If they’d held this auction at the prison, they could have called it a “Yard Sale”.

- In a related story, Bernie has been cast in the Prison’s Spring Musical, “Happy Days”.  He’ll be playing “Ponzi”.

Luckily He Couldn’t Ketch-up With Her!

Last Thursday at the Burger Stop in LA, Francisco Hernandez proposed to his girlfriend.  She said no! Police say he then went back to his car and tried to run her over.  He had “Stacy Will You Marry Me?” written on his back windshield.  He fled on foot and was eventually arrested after being spotted walking around with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.  

- Can he help it if he’s a hopeless romantic?  

- At least he gave her a running start!

- He wanted it his way and apparently she didn’t want to “hold the pickle”.  

“No TV Until Yaboo Finishes Your Homework!” 

An Australian newspaper reports that a new type of work is being outsourced to India:  Homework! Sweatshops are providing students with everything from math problem answers at $2 each to complete essays for as little as $2 per 100 words.  Educators say they’ve worked out ways to spot cheaters who cut and paste from Internet sites like Wikipedia, but when homework is custom-written by Indian subcontractors, it’s much harder to spot.

- So Indian kids are doing our kids homework, and we call their parents to help fix our computers when we can’t open the essay we just bought from their son. 

- The Indian kids don’t always get the papers done on time.  Their #1 excuse?  “Sari.  My sacred cow ate it”.

- American teachers are going to have to start giving students’ papers the “curry smell test”! 

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus noted the use of tobacco by American Indians in his journal.  It’s the first recorded reference to tobacco.

- So smoke signals weren’t messages, they were just a bunch of Native Americans having a cigarette break.

 

Have a great day and I’ll see your right back here tomorrow!

- Dick

 

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"How I Was Mistaken For A Hero"

Last weekend Gail and I were in Buffalo, actually Kenmore, our hometown and a suburb.  Whenever we’re there, we always visit our parents graves and this time as we were leaving the gravesites of Gail’s parents, Charlie and Betty, some people nearby were getting out of their cars.  As we said our goodbyes, the group began walking up the cemetery hill in our direction.  As they neared us, one of the people, a man about 45, said to me, “Thanks for your service to our country”.  Somewhat surprised, I replied, “Thank you!” When we got to our car I said to Gail, “How did that guy know I was in the military?” And then I realized that I was wearing a baseball cap emblazoned with the American Flag and the words “USS George Washington” on it.  

It was the cap sent to me by Dave Lausman, the Commanding Officer of the US Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier “George Washington”. 

I came to know Dave and his wife Carol when they called me on the air one morning from Japan where Dave was stationed - about to take command of the “George Washington”.  It turns out that they listened to my radio show every evening (there is a 13 hour time difference between here and there) on the internet, and eventually came into our radio studio when they were back home in Detroit on leave.  During those visits, they would bring gifts for the morning crew including my cap, which I wear proudly and often!  

There are 23 million men and women alive today who have served in the United States Armed Forces and yes, I am one of them.  Only I was in the Army not the Navy.  Which brings me to a few of the highlights of my military experience… I warn you this will not be the most exciting reading! 

After four years in the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) at Syracuse University, I was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the US Army upon graduation. I was stationed at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey for six months where all the action for me took place… Well actually the action really took place at nearby Ft. Dix where I had a couple days of basic infantry training. (I had many weeks of prior infantry training at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina while I was in the ROTC) Now comes the exciting part.  

We were on the hand grenade range and the guy next to me, due to an apparent lack of throwing ability (he definetely wouldn’t have been the quarterback on his high school football team) threw his “live” hand grenade - but not very far. It landed about seven or eight feet from the place where I was standing. The Sgt. yelled, “Hit the deck!” and I did. The ground shook a lot, but luckily no one was injured.  

The other memorable experience took place later that night when my platoon was crawling on our bellies through barbed wire while 50 caliber bullets were being fired right over our heads.  Every 5th bullet was a tracer, and while it was a bit scary it was also oddly beautiful against the black sky.

That experience gave me an incredible appreciation for our soldiers when those 50 caliber bullets are being fired at them - not over their heads in a training exercise.    

Well that was it and… oh, I forget one thing.  As I was crawling through the barbed wire my rifle slipped and one of the razor-sharp barbs struck me and I suffered a scratch on my right cheek.  When I got back to Ft. Monmouth later that night, Gail noticed the scratch.  I recalled to her the harrowing details of how I had been wounded.  Instead of receiving the Purple Heart, I got a spritz of Bactine and a band-aid.  So much for the returning hero!

And that was pretty much it; the rest of my military experience was spent serving in the Army Reserves for the next seven and a half years.  I left the army a Captain and on this Veterans Day Weekend I give thanks that I was one of the lucky ones who never had to go to war.  

I am even more thankful for the brave men and women who have, and continue to, put their lives on the line to ensure that the rest of us remain safe and free.  

- Dick

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It's Veteran's Day!

 

To All The Brave Men and Women Who Have Answered The Call To Serve So That We Can Live In Freedom… Thank You!

*****

Wednesday, the bi-partisan co-chairs of President Obama’s deficit reduction committee released their suggestions for cutting the national debt by nearly $4 Trillion.  Effected would be Medicare, Social Security, the Military, Government worker pensions and more.  Also, the retirement age would rise from 65 to 69… by the year 2075!

- I’m okay with some of the cuts, but raising the retirement age to 69 by 2075?  No way.  I’ll be worn out by then!   

Amazon.dumb

Amazon.com has stopped selling one it’s Kindle e-books after thousands of outraged customers called for a boycott of the on-line seller.  The book in question?  “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure”.  Amazon said early Wednesday that they don’t endorse the ideas in all the books they sell, but they won’t censor them.  But with the holiday shopping season just around the corner, they apparently changed their mind.  They are, however still accepting pre-orders for another controversial book:  “I Am the Market:  How to Smuggle Cocaine by the Ton in Five Easy Lessons”. 

- Lindsay Lohan ordered 10 copies saying, “They make great stocking stuffers!”

- Sounds like the people at Amazon are smoking what they’re selling.

- What next?  “Meth-Making for Dummies”?

How Cheeky of Her!

In an interview on Australian radio, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dissed the Kardashian sisters.  She complained that people outside the US get a false image of Americans from watching reality TV shows.  Hillary said, “Kardashians are exactly” what’s not to like about American culture, adding, “If you look at American TV… you would think we all went around wrestling and wearing bikinis” all day.

- Bill Clinton added, “And if we all work hard enough… one day that dream will become a reality!”

- I’m pretty sure watching the Kardashians just makes people think that all Americans have enormous butts.

Oldies Are Goodies!

A new survey of over 1000 people proved that old friends really are the best friends. One in four respondents said they were still in contact with their closest friend from elementary school – with women slightly more likely than men to remain in contact with their best friend from childhood. By contrast, the average person considered only five current acquaintances to be “close friends”.

- OMG! This means BFF’s really are BFF’s!

- It’s no wonder we like our old friends better… Try getting someone you just met to play “Kick the Can” with you.

- How can we still be friends?  When I see my old buddies from elementary school, I don’t recognize them and they don’t recognize me!

You Just Can’t Put It Down!  Or Pick It Up!

An Indonesian author has set a new record for the world’s thickest book by creating a 5,472 page book on the life of Barack Obama.  It includes every conceivable record, fact or document on Obama, right down to Indonesian schoolchildren’s letters to him. 

- And much like Congress with the Health Care Bill, nobody is gonna take time to read it!

- This thing makes “War and Peace” look like a pamphlet.  

- It makes a great coffee table book… until it breaks the coffee table.  

- It’s one page shorter than Charlie Sheen’s “Little Black Book”.  

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1968, John Lennon released the “Two Virgins” album, with a nude photo of him and Yoko Ono on the Cover.  Police in Newark, New Jersey seized 30,000 copies, claiming it violated pornography laws.

- Actually it was the Pro-Porn industry that complained saying it gave nudity a bad name.

- It was the first time the public had ever seen John’s Ob-La-Di and Yoko’s Ob-La-Da. 

Blowing Out the Candles…

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest comics of all time, Jonathan Winters who’s 85.  In a survey of 40 nationally known comedians taken some years ago, 30 of them picked Jonathan as the funniest!

And congratulations to Mrs. Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart.  For her 46th birthday he’s taking her out for her favorite meal… two rice cakes and a baby carrot.  

 

Happy Veteran’s Day!  We’ll see you back here tomorrow for the Friday blog!

- Dick

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

“Dishes Accomplished!”

Tuesday, former President George W. Bush promoted his memoir by appearing on “Oprah”.  In addition to serious issues, Bush revealed that on his first day out of office, his wife Laura made him do the dishes.  He said, “so, I’m lying on the couch and I say ‘free at last,’ and she says, ‘You’re free to do the dishes.’ So I say, ‘You’re talking to the former President, baby,’ and she said, ‘Consider (this) your new domestic policy agenda’”.

- World leaders immediately condemned him for “waterboarding” the dishes. 

- His first foreign policy move was putting French’s mustard on his bologna sandwich.

- In honor of George W. Bush’s visit to the show, Oprah gave everyone in the audience a picture of Barrack Obama!

Buy Hooker Buy Crook?  

The hooker who ended up locked in a hotel bathroom while Charlie Sheen trashed their room has decided she will press charges afterall. Capri Anderson has changed her tune and now claims that Sheen held her against her will and that she was in fear for her life.  But some skeptics think she’s just looking for cash saying she could just have easily left the hotel room.

- So basically we’ve got a hooker looking for money from her client.  Isn’t that why she’s called a hooker in the first place?

- It looks like once again Charlie’s gonna have to hire himself “Two and a Half Lawyers”.

At Least The Passengers Won’t Gain Weight On This Cruise!  

4500 passengers and crew on the Carnival cruise ship Splendor were stranded off the coast of Mexico Monday after an engine fire shut off the power.  They were adrift without a/c or hot water until tugboats arrived and they should make it to San Diego by tomorrow.  As for food, U.S. Navy Helicopters dropped them 70,000 pounds of supplies including canned crab meat, Pop Tarts and Spam.

- What do you wear for formal night on a tugboat?

- Luckily someone found a spare generator so Kareoke Night went on as planned!

- The people who signed up for “late seating” dinner got screwed.  By the time they ate, all the crab meat and Pop Tarts were gone.

- I would love to see all the waiters parading around the dining room on formal night with flaming trays of Spam!

- James Cameron has already secured the rights to make a movie about it called, “Spamtanic”.

Here’s Some More Spam For Your Computer… 

Researchers at McGill University say they’ve discovered that just the sight of meat is enough to make men less aggressive.  Psychologists expected that it would bring out ancient hunter bloodlust, but the opposite was true.  Men who were shown meat calmed down – possibly because of a genetic disposition to associate it with comfort and gatherings of people who share your DNA.

- The only exception to the results were men on a Carnival Cruise Ship who became enraged after looking at Spam.

- So Maury Povich should give up on the whole “DNA Testing” thing!   Just show ‘em a strip steak along with the infant in question, and if he stays calm… we’ll know the kid is his!

But What About Nancy and Sluggo?

20th Century fox has bought the movie rights to Bil Keane’s 50-year-old, single-panel comic strip, “Family Circus”.  Despite countless jokes about its mind-numbing blandness, “Family Circus” is the most widely-syndicated comic strip in the world, and Fox plans to turn it into a series of movies.

- If I want to see a mind-numbingly bland movie,  I’ll just order “The English Patient” from Netflix.

- To be honest, I never got the humor behind “Family Circus”.  Now I’ll be able to not get it for two straight hours!

She Knows All About “Big Bangs”

Monday, scientists at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva created the first mini-“Bing Bang” in the lab.  It briefly created a record temperature a million times hotter than the center of the sun. 

- When asked for a comment, Paris Hilton replied “That’s hot!”

Todays Almanac

On this day in 1886, the first dinner jacket was worn by its creator at a ball at the Tuxedo Park country Club in New York.

- Thank god the ball wasn’t held at a hamburger joint or today you’d hear people saying, “He looks so sharp in that Fuddrucker!”

And on this day in 1969,  “Sesame Street” made it’s television debut.

- And just to tell you how times have changed… back then, they made Bert and Ernie sleep in separate beds! 

 

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here tomorrow!

- Dick

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

Money “Talks”

Newsweek has released its annual Power List, ranking the highest-paid public figures with political influence in radio:  Rush Limbaugh - $59 million, Glenn Beck - $33 million,  Sean Hannity - $22 million, and Bill O’Reilly - $20 million. That’s a total of $134 million.

- Of course those are “conservative” estimates…

- So now we know why nobody else in radio has gotten a raise in the last few years.   

It Depends What Your Definition of “No” Is   

Hillary Clinton insisted over the weekend that she has no intention of running for President in 2012 or 2016.  But at the time, she hadn’t heard the results of a poll taken the day after last week’s elections by Newsmax and Survey USA.  It found that if there were an election today and she and Barack Obama were the only names on the ballot, she would trounce him by 20 points.

- Apparently the country has decided that “it takes a village” to come up with “change you can believe in”.

- So she’s not gonna run in 2012 or 2016, huh?  I notice she didn’t say anything about 2020! Then again there’s always Chelsea…

- Bill really wants her to become President.  But that’s just so he can “entertain” France’s First Lady Carla Bruni while Hillary is busy meeting with the French President, Nicholas Sarcozy. 

A Bad Call!

British health officials are trying to develop a cell phone app that will let people “relieve themselves” on their phones to find out if they have an STD.  The UK Clinical Research Collaboration has invested $6 million (US) into creating a smartphone app that would let users put urine or saliva on a computer chip, plug it into their phone, and get a diagnosis within minutes. 

- Their slogan is, “Got the Clap?  There’s an App for That!” 

- You can also use it on your iPod… but then it becomes known as an iPeed.

- So now you can use the device you use to “Reach Out and Touch Someone” to find out if you caught anything from the person you reached out and touched.

“Casual Friday” Starts After You Get The Job!

OfficeTeam.com surveyed HR pro’s to ask what was the most inappropriate clothing they’d ever seen job applicants wear to an interview.  Among the findings were tube tops, low cut blouses, low-rise pants, Goth wear, and Bermuda Shorts with a Hawaiian Shirt and flip-flops.  One of the most memorable applicants came to the interview wearing a leather vest with no shirt.

- And he got the job… as the construction worker in “The Village People”.

- Everyone knows you shouldn’t wear a low cut blouse to a job interview. You save that for the day you ask for a raise!

- To be fair, most of the people who showed up in low rise pants were applying for jobs in the plumbing industry.

- NOTE:  If you ever apply for a job in radio, don’t pull out your microphone during the interview.

The Pilgrims Would Not Have Considered This Progress 

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, humorist Charles Phoenix has invented a new holiday dessert.  It’s called the “Cherpumple Pie Cake”.  It consists of a cherry pie, apple pie, and pumpkin pie each baked inside a separate layer of a frosted three-layer cake.  He made a YouTube video showing how to make it, which he says, “intrigues and horrifies people”. 

- Nothing says “Thanksgiving” like something that “intrigues and horrifies people”.

- Growing up, the only thing about Thanksgiving that “intrigued and horrified” me was when my relatives came over for dinner. 

- And I thought putting gravy on my mashed potatoes was livin’ on the edge…

Red Hot Poker!

Canadian poker professional Jonathan Duhamel won the World Series of Poker main event title and $8.94 million Monday night after defeating a man from Florida.  He was extremely excited and said, “It’s like the most beautiful day of my life”. 

- Ironically, under the Canadian Health Care System the man is now worth almost 9 million dollars and he’s still gonna have to wait six months to see a doctor about the heart palpatations he’s been experiencing ever since he won!  

But Does His Tie Match His Pumps?  

22 year old Kyle James Eckman of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was arrested for allegedly shoplifting a pair of $70 shoes from a Kohl’s department stores.  Police say he put them on in the men’s dressing room and wore them out of the store after hiding his own shoes in his shopping bag.  They were easy to spot, though, since they were women’s high heels. 

- I can’t believe George Michael shops at Kohls!

- If his mom sends him a cake with a file in it while he’s in prison, he’ll probably just use it on his nails. 

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1965, the Great Blackout occurred, when several Northeastern States and parts of Canada were plunged into darkness for 13 ½ hours due to power outages.

- Nine months later, “The Great Post-Partum Depression” began.  

And on this date in 1966, John Lennon met Yoko Ono at an exhibit of her artwork in London.

- If it had only been at a launch party for one of her records instead, the Beatles would never have broken up!

 

Have a great day and we’ll see you right back here tomorrow!

- Dick 

 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

Campaign Don’t-na-tions 

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann will be back on the air Tuesday night after being suspended by the cable network Friday for violating corporate policy; Olbermann donated $2400 to three democratic candidates in the fall without disclosing it.  MSNBC president Phil Griffin said that after several days of deliberation, he’d decided keeping Keith off the air was punishment enough.

- For who? 

- You mean to tell me Keith Olbermann is a Democrat?  But his reporting is so unbiased!

- I guess for a few days at least, Keith Olbermann was… “The Worst Person in the World!”

- The President of MSNBC said it was hard to find someone tough and manly enough to fill Olbermann’s shoes… especially because Rachel Maddow was busy doing her own show.

He Didn’t Curry Any Favor With The Audience… 

President Obama gave a 20-minute speech to India’s Parliament today, but some locals were surprised to learn that he’d be the first dignitary ever to use a teleprompter in their chamber.  One anonymous official said, “We thought Obama is a trained orator and skilled in the art of mass address with his continuous eye contact.”

- On a bright note, when the computer running the teleprompter went down, everyone – including the Prime Minister – jumped up and ran over to fix it.

- Why not use a teleprompter?  it was probably made in India anyway!

Dying to Have Sex? 

A new study of 4 thousand men by the University of Florence in Italy, found that men who have frequent sex have a lower risk of depression and prostate problems.  An added bonus?  The testosterone produced during sex can help prevent osteoporosis, diabetes, and reduce the risk of heart disease.  But there’s a catch… Only men who were faithful to their wives enjoyed these life-extending benefits.

- Which means Charlie Sheen, Tiger Woods and Bill Clinton are living on borrowed time.

- The men who cheated on their wives died much earlier… because they were shot by their wives or irate husbands. 

- The men who cheated didn’t always die young – but some of them developed a condition known as the “Bobbitt Syndrome”.   

A Tisket, A Casket, A Thong That’ll Blow Your Gasket!

Polish Coffin maker Linder is using its calendars to bring some sexiness back to death.  For the second year in a row, they’ve photographed hot models in lingerie posing next to their coffins.  The Catholic Church says it’s not sexy, its tasteless, shocking, and disturbing.  But Linder says they expect this year’s calendar sales to exceed the 3000 sold last year.  The 2011 version includes scenes inspired by movies like “The Godfather” and the James Bond films.  One pic shows a model in a lacy thong forcing a man into a coffin at gunpoint. 

- And thus the expression, “He died with a smile on his face!”

- The models they use for their Cremation calendar are REALLY hot!!!

- Of course this rules out the “closed casket” option…

- Who knew a push-up bra could make the idea of pushin’ up daisies so much fun!

- We considered doing this for one of our Children’s Hospital calendars, but we couldn’t find a casket big enough for Big Al. 

“You May Now Kiss Yourself!” 

Sunday, at a hotel in Taiwan, Chen Wei-yi married herself.  The 30-year-old office worker became an internet sensation after announcing plans to marry herself because they’re were no decent men available.  The ceremony and reception was attended by 30 friends and relatives.  Chen said,  “We must love ourselves before we can love others.  I must marry myself before marrying the special someone”. 

- I hope she made herself sign a pre-nup!

- Her wedding song?  “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman”.

- “Marrying myself”… I think Geoffrey Feiger started that trend years ago.

- She registered for a set of “Hers & Hers” towels…

- Ironically, she loves her parents but can’t stand her in-laws.

“You Have Zero Friends in Common-ers”

Queen Elizabeth II has joined Facebook, launching a series of official pages offering daily updates on her royal engagements.  The 84-year-old monarch will be featured in videos, photos and news items starting today, along with her grandson’s William and Harry.  But because it’s a corporate – not personal account, you won’t be able to become friends with Her Majesty.  The Royal Family is already on Twitter, YouTube & the photo sharing Web site, Flickr.

- Except for Camilla, whose pictures are actually on “Flicker” the Horse.

- This is wonderful!  Now we’ll know exactly what the Queen is doing when she’s on the Throne.

- Prince Charles has launched his own Facebook page called “Make My Mother Retire”.

- The Queen lists her “Interests” as, “Waving” and watching the British reality show, “Pimp My Carriage”.

 

Have a great day and I’ll see you right back here tomorrow!

- Dick

 

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"What a Friend I Got" ... by Tom DeLisle

I thought you might be interested in reading a piece written by a friend of mine, Tom DeLisle, who used to work with Sparky Anderson on a variety of TV projects.  I think it’s a great read, and a great tribute to a great man!  

-Dick 

*****

I always called him Captain, something I shouldn’t have done, because I was never quite sure how he took to the term.  After all, one of the nicknames he had picked up in his forays through the baseball world was “Captain Hook,” a semi-critical title based on his habit of pulling starting pitchers early during hotly contested games when he managed at Cincinnati.

But that had nothing to do with my reason for using the title.  Sparky Anderson was a captain; of a ship, of a team.  In life.  It was so natural, and seemed so right.  His inate sense of leadership and command seemed to ooze from him.  So “Captain” he was to me.  And I always wondered if he minded my usage of it.  He never said either way, so I’ll never know.

For a few years in the 1980s I was Sparky’s television producer and sometimes writer — both for specials and commercials — at Channel 4. And a better gig I never had in broadcasting.  He was delightful, every time, all the time.  I used to tell the brass at Channel 4 and Post Newsweek that if they wanted to field a wildly successful daily cable series — which they did — that it could be a show called “SparkyVision.” We would employ a couple of sound cameras to follow Sparky around each day, as he traveled through his colorful personal life and exciting Tigers existence.  We would broadcast all of his bizarre sayings and baseball manueverings for 18 “live” hours.  Then, for the six hours Sparky slept, we’d show edited highlights from that day.

And — what the hell, I said — when he went to the bathroom we’d just quietly wait outside the door.

I wrote scripts for him at times, but they often were discarded in light of his own ad libs.  We did an annual series of TV commercials called “Tiger Moments,” featuring the Sparkster and Al Kaline and George Kell.  One 30-second spot called for George and Al to ask a trivia question about Sparky’s total losses as Tiger manager. The spots always concluded with some kind of gag line, and this one was to end with Sparky moaning the old bromide:  “With friends like this, who needs enemies?”

When it came time to tape, Al and George performed their lines on cue, and when Sparky was to  perform that last line, he instead looked into the camera and blurted “What friends I got !!!”

That broke everyone up, especially Sparky, and after he promised to do his line properly on a re-take, I borrowed from his own syntax and said “No way, Captain….I can’t write ‘em as good as you say ‘em.  We’ll leave it like that.”

My favorite Sparky line?  Maybe it was the time he was talking with J.P. McCarthy on WJR radio, and when J.P. made reference to Baltimore pitcher and underwear model Jim Palmer being “handsome” … Sparky shot back “Aw, J.P….Palmer ain’t handsome … he only looks handsome.” Pure Sparky.

One year we were shooting promotional commercials for NBC and the upcoming Winter Olympics with Sparky and Isiah Thomas — an odd mixture to be sure.  It was near the end of that year’s baseball season.  The Tigers hadn’t qualified for the playoffs, and Sparky was speaking wistfully of returning home to “T.O” (Thousand  Oaks, California, his home) to play golf over the winter.  “I’m tellin’ ya, I’m goin’ to that clubhouse every morning … and I’m gonna play golf EVERY day this winter.  Every single day.”

“Captain,” I asked.  “What are you gonna do on days when it’s raining?”

He thought for a second and said “I’m gonna go sit in the clubhouse, and wait till it stops.”

I visited him once in his office before a crucial Tigers game, and to my surprise he was shaking like a leaf. When he noticed I noticed, he said “It’s good to be nervous, ya know Tommy?  It shows you’re alive.”  He was alive like few others sharing his planet.

I could list a hundred funny stories here, I could talk about the tremendous things he did for people, the phenomenal way he treated my Mom and Dad.  I could cite places I went with him — even to New York, and the office of President Richard Nixon for a special primetime TV special we shot — but space limits us, and I’ll get back to those tales some other time.

Instead I’ll finish by recalling the best taping I ever did with Sparky, and there was no need for any writing or directing from me that day.  We followed him on one of his tours of the floors of Children’s Hospital.  It was just Sparky, and boxes of hot pizza he was delivering to the kids, going room to room.  You never saw anyone operate, communicate, love youngsters like he did that day.  He was a marvel, a magician, a saint.  What he did for those kids, the way he spoke to them, the way they looked at him … it was beyond the reach of most mortals.  He was that special.

When I heard he was sick, I too felt sick.  And when I heard he died today … I felt like I’d lost my own grandfather.  

Not only do they not make ‘em like that anymore … to borrow a wording he might employ … in Sparky’s case, they never did.

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He Brought a Spark to Baseball, to Detroit, and to Life!

It’s hard to believe that shortly after we lose Ernie Harwell, we lose George “Sparky” Anderson.  Both legends and great men in baseball and in life.  As Sparky himself tearfully said last May upon hearing that Ernie had died, “Why do we have to lose people like this?” … and now we ask the same question about Sparky.  

Sparky managed the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati to two World Series Championships (1975 & ‘76) before he came to Detroit in 1979.  I still remember driving to lunch with Tom Ryan the day it was announced on the radio.  I was absolutely thrilled when I heard the news because Sparky had such a great reputation and I thought, “Hey, we’ve got a real major league manager now!” And that proved to be the case for the next 17 years!  

17 years managing one team is a lifetime in the career of a baseball manager.  When he retired from the Tigers in 1995 I actually felt depressed, because win or lose, (and of course Sparky did bring home a World Championship in 1984!) I believed the Tigers and all of us fans were losing the best manager in baseball.  Much like Ernie, Sparky transcended the game. They were both bigger than life.  For all those years we were blessed with the best manager and the best announcer in baseball… and now they’re both gone! 

I have been involved in Sparky’s CATCH charity for kids for many years and I still remember receiving a CATCH award from Sparky himself at a dinner years ago.  As he handed me the award and flashed me that big infectious smile of his, he reached out and shook my hand.  It was a moment I’ve never forgotten.  

It was always a thrill to talk with Sparky on the air, although to be honest with you, with all of his malaprops, sometimes it was tough for me to figure out exactly what he was talking about!  

But now he’s gone and I can picture him taking a walk, side-by-side, with Ernie around Heaven…  just as the two of them did so many mornings when the Tigers were playing on the road. 

- Dick 

P.S. Below is a video of an outtake and a couple commercials I did with Sparky and the late great Piston’s Coach Chuck Daly for the Ford Dealers back in the late ‘80’s!  Thanks to Rick Bartus for finding them and sending them along.  If you have trouble trying to figure out who’s who, I’m the one with the ridiculously big black mustache! 

 

 

 

Dick, Sparky and Chuck Daly

 

 

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"And The Winners Are..."

Thanks to all of you (and there were a lot!) who entered our first-ever contest giveaway here on dickpurtan.com!  From all the entries we received we have randomly selected five lucky people who, along with a guest,  will be enjoying “Dinner and a Show” this Friday night at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren.  The show, “Johnny Trudell & His Orchestra Salutes the Decades” will be hosted by yours truly!  So without further ado… here we go!

Chuck Barnes

Jeff Ziegler

Mary Connell

Sal Cantanese

Sandra Pisching

You can pick-up your tickets at the Andiamo Box Office which opens at 6pm Friday night! (Photo ID required)

I look forward to seeing you there and also to our next contest!  Due to the overwhelming response look for your next chance to win great prizes and other fun stuff right here!!!!!

And now… on with the news!

“Memoir Accomplished”

What was the worst moment of former George W. Bush’s presidency?  According to his new memoir it was when Kanye West said he “didn’t care about black people” after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.  Bush says criticizing how he did his job is one thing, but that it was “disgusting” to call him a racist.  Asked for comment, a contrite Kanye said he now understands how Bush felt on a humanitarian level, because he was also accused of lacking compassion after he interrupted Taylor Swift’s MTV Video Awards Speech. 

- Kanye went on to remind President Bush that Beyonce had one of the greatest videos of all time.

Can’t We Just Disagree to Disagree?  

The day after Tuesday’s Democratic wipeout, President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scoffed at suggestions that Americans had rejected their policies like Obamacare, and said it means Republicans now need to compromise with them.  Top GOPer’s responded that no, it means Democrats need to change their policies and compromise with them. 

- Meanwhile Kanye West reminded both sides that Beyonce had one of the greatest videos of all time.

- I haven’t seen this much spinning since I saw the Chinese Plate-Balancing Act on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Did She Vote?  I Dunno… Alaska! 

Bristol Palin, daughter of former VP candidate Sarah Palin admitted that she didn’t vote in Tuesday’s election because she was too busy rehearsing for Dancing With The Stars.

- And just like a lot of Democrats were, she’s gonna be voted out any day now.

So Politicians Really ARE Full of Hot Air! 

At the 8th Sex culture Festival in China, an unidentified novelty company unveiled its new Barrack Obama inflatable sex doll.  The doll comes in a dark blue suit and red tie with Obama’s face silkscreened onto the head. 

- For an added fee, you can get an inflatable teleprompter so you can pretend the President is whispering sweet nothings in your ear.

- Next week, Oprah is giving the dolls away to everyone in her audience!

- It’s already sold more than the “Kim Jong Ill”  and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inflatable sex dolls combined!

- And to think I was happy with my Margaret Thatcher bobblehead!

This Outta Put ‘Em In The Mooooood!

The Ralph Martin family of Elmira Ontario are dairy farmers and they believe happier cows give more milk.  They’ve just spent $1 million on a luxury barn that includes mattresses for each of their 90 cows, automated curtains to regulate the light, and automated backscratchers that turn on when a cow leans against them.

- I put the chances of this extra milk thing working out at 2%. 

- If they install those coin-operated things on the mattresses the cows will produce cottage cheese! 

- Am I the only one who finds this udderly ridiculous?

- They got the idea for the “cow on a mattress thing” when they spotted Big Al at a Select Comfort store looking for a new bed.

- Before they got the mattresses, the cows went to sleep the old fashioned way… they counted sheep.  Literally!

I Love Paris In The Fall… 

Monday in Paris, France a couple allegedly left their four-year-old and 15-month-old daughters alone on their apartment balcony.  The toddler slipped off and fell seven stories.  But a man who happened to be walking by saw her falling and ran towards her.  The girl bounced off a café awning and landed safely in the man’s arms.

- When the doctor told the couple they had a “bouncing baby girl” he really meant it! 

- Hey, the Lions could use this guy!

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1922, King Tut’s tomb was discovered.

- Why did it take so long to find?  Archeologists usually find these bodies in pyramids, but in this case, Mr. Tut lived in a Condo Made-a Stone-a! 

 

Have a great day and we’ll see you right back here tomorrow!

- Dick 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

I stayed up late (hey, I always do now!) to watch all the election results.  Of course the results are important to all of us, but I realized I’d gone a little overboard when I jumped up off the couch and fist-bumped my wife Gail when they announced that Zeke Grabinski had just won the 4th Congressional District in North Dakota.  (I’d never heard of Zeke before last night… but I wish him well!) 

Kids in San Francisco are McMad!

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted 8 to 3 Tuesday, in a veto-proof majority to effectively ban Happy Meals.  The new law requires restaurant kid meals to meet strict nutritional guidelines if they want to include a toy.  Some say its an encroachment on freedom while others say it will help fight childhood obesity.  All in all it might not make a difference since Mickey D’s can still sell the Happy Meals without the toys, which were recently rated as “sucky” in a poll of San Fran kids. 

Ironically, San Francisco resident and soon-to-be ex Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, described the overall National Election results as “Sucky”.

-  In a related story in-Bun-bent Mayor McCheese easily defeated his opponent known only as “Wendy”.   

McDonald’s Gets McScrewed Again… 

A Brazilian court last week ordered McDonald’s to pay a former manager $17,000 because he got fat while working there.  He said he felt forced by McDonald’s quality standards to sample the food every day to make sure it tasted good enough, plus the company offered free lunches to employees.  He gained 65 pounds over the 12 years that he worked there, but McDonald’s may appeal noting that they offer low-cal options like salads.

- Who hasn’t gained 65 pounds in 12 years?

- His attorney said his client now has a serious medical condition and needs to see a urologist from eating too many McNuggets.

Speaking of Super-Sizing…      

America isn’t the only country with an obesity problem:  A British clothing company has begun selling the nation’s largest off-the-rack suit.  It’s Size XXXXL.  The pants have a 60-inch waist and the jacket has a 64-inch chest – that’s 22 inches wider than average.  Two average size men could comfortable fit in the suit.

- Or one guy who used to work at a McDonald’s in Brazil.

- Or one guy who used to work on my radio show…

- Despite Sunday’s victory, XXXXL is the Superbowl the Lions will most likely appear in.

But There’s Nothing “Natural” About Her! 

Pam Anderson posed for Playboy’s January Cover for $25,000 so she could donate the money to help Indonesian disaster victims.  But a local Islamic group condemned her, saying that taking the money would be against the law of God because it was obtained through “immoral acts”.  The Islamic Defenders Front said, “If she wants to be photographed naked, then she is challenging a bigger disaster to happen in Indonesia.”

- Even though she’s not topless, being on the cover of Playboy is considered immoral.  But apparently killing people over religion… that’s okay!  

- If Pam causes a natural disaster here in the States it will most likely be in the Silicone Valley.

Quick Notes…

Charlie Sheen has filed for divorce from his wife Brooke Mueller.

I don’t blame him a bit.  I wouldn’t put up with all her antics either!

I’m sure he’ll find solace in at least one of his 5000 Hooker friends. 

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1952, frozen bread was sold for the first time. 

- Before that, people had to actually freeze their own bread before thawing it out!

On A Serious Note…

I, along with all of Purtan’s People, wish only the best for Sparky Anderson! The baseball legend, who is 76, has been placed in the care of hospice for complications from dementia at his California home.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Sparky and his family!  

- Dick

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"If Your Election Last More Than Four Hours..."

Vote Early and Vote Often!

While most polls show Republicans are set to make huge gains, the first big battle will be for TV ratings.  The networks have taken a huge hit from cable and the Web, but they’re fighting back with plans for wall-to-wall coverage, using the latest FX technology and tie-ins to their Internet content.  NBC will incorporate iPads, touch screens and virtual reality.  And on cable, CNN, which introduced holograms two years ago will expand on that with a quadruple-sized “data wall” and 3D graphics to display exit poll data.

- So this year we’ll get to see all the inaccurate exit poll data in 3D!

- I’m still having a hard time looking at Wolf Blitzer in hi-def.

- CNN may be using 3D graphics, but Fox is sticking with the 36D blond anchors.

- NOTE:  It turns out that the “tingle” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said he felt when he saw President Obama speak was actually just his Restless Leg Syndrome acting up. 

Speaking of the President…

Barack Obama has decided to give just one interview on this historic Election Day.  Who scored the sit-down?  Ryan Seacrest!!!

- They’re going to discuss the really important issues of the day like Charlie Sheen’s divorce and who should get kicked off DWTS. 

- My bet is Obama wants to see Bristol Palin get the boot.

- Barbara Walters was so upset that she didn’t get the Election Day interview, she un-friended the President on Facebook. 

Pot-Pourri

Meanwhile, the referendum to legalize marijuana in California that once enjoyed a healthy lead in the polls is now down by 7 points among likely voters. 

- Still, you’ll be able to tell who voted for legalization by the orange Cheetos smudges on the ballot.

- Cheech Marin said, “Whoa, man.  What do you have to do to get a cool law passed in this joint?”

Big Shoes, Tiny Cars.

Turns out voters aren’t the only ones fed up with the government.  Keith Nelson performs as “Kinko the Clown” with a family circus in New York and he’s tired of being insulted by hearing politicians called clowns.  Nelson says, “You’ll find that circuses are one of the most efficient and well-run industries in America.  Before you call anyone in Washington a clown, consider that clowns make people happy.”

- We should really call politicians “mimes” since they stand around pretending they’re doing something productive but all they do is end up annoying people.  

- As a parent, I wouldn’t be too thrilled to have my kid hanging around a clown named “Kinko”!

- What does Kinko do in his spare time?  He makes copies! 

He’s Still #1 With The Ladies…

Tiger Woods is no longer the best golfer in the world. His record five years at #1 in the Official World Golf Rankings is over.  He’s dropped to #2 behind Lee Westwood, who seven years ago was only 266th

- Apparently he spent too little time working on his drives and too much time working with his putter. 

Lady Gag-Gag Me With A Spoon! 

The University of South Carolina is now offering a course on Lady Gaga called “Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame”.  It’s being taught by sociology Prof. Mathieu DeFlem who has actually met the singer numerous times and said, “We’re going to look at Lady Gaga as a social event. Other people say that Gag’s the new Madonna.  I see it more like there’s people who have this very individual thing.  Frank Zappa had it.  Prince had it. Jimi Hendrix had it.  And Lady Gaga has it. 

- Yup, Madonna’s got it… and she’s given it to a lot of guys!

- Justin Bieber has it but he’s too young to understand what it is.

- This class is turning out to be a lot more popular than the one on “People Who Don’t Have It” which focuses on Larry King. 

 

Have a great day and don’t forget to vote!  Polls are open from 7a.m. to 8p.m.  Let’s hope you don’t have any problems with a hanging chad!

- Dick

 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

Hope your Halloween was a good one… and now on to November!

A Sign Of The Times 

Saturday, a big crowd gathered in Washington for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert’s “Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear”. There were a lot of funny signs promoting non-partisan moderation like, “Death to Extremists”, “I Feel Strongly Both Ways” and “I Have A Sign”. 

- Turns out the “I Feel Strongly Both Ways” sign wasn’t about bi-partisanship… it was held up by a bi-sexual guy from Royal Oak.

The only real controversy came from the appearance by Yusef Islam, formerly singer Cat Stevens.  Critics said he was a poor representation of non-partisan moderation considering he backed the Islamic death fatwa against Salman Rushdie for writing “The Satanic Verses”. 

- Salmon Rushdie did not attend the rally as he is still in hiding.  Apparently he’s still afraid he’s being followed by a “moonshadow,  moonshadow,  moonshadow”.

“Reach Out And Overhear Someone” 

The news reporters at a TV station in Anchorage, Alaska are under fire because their editor, Nick McDermott apparently doesn’t know how to hang up an iPhone.  McDermott left a voicemail for a rep for Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller and unknowingly left his phone connected while his staff held a meeting.  Miller’s rep got a recording of reporters talking about creating negative stories by trying to find any sex offender in the crowd at a Miller rally and hoping there was some kind of chaos so they could say the Republican had been punched out.  It prompted Sarah Palin to call the station’s reporters “corrupt bastards”. 

- Which is the same thing she said about the judges on DWTS when they gave Bristol a low score for her Rumba.

- So let me get this straight… some media outlets are biased?????

- The editor’s lack of ability to hang up the phone has led to a new term:  An iDiot.

Book ‘em Dano! 

Ontario recently passed laws banning the use of cell phones and other gadgets while driving, but they forgot more traditional distractions.  Last week, police near Toronto got a call at 2:39a.m. reporting a car weaving down the center strip of Highway 401.  It turned out to be a man driving with his interior lights on while reading a book.

- To be fair, he thought “Books-on-Tape” meant you were supposed to tape a book to your dashboard.

- If he had both hands on the wheel, the cops are wondering what he used to turn the pages.

- Maybe he was just up early studying for his driver’s test scheduled for 7a.m. at the Department of Motor Vehicles.   

If He’d Just Switch to Pepsi!

Charlie Sheen’s manager has dismissed a tabloid claim that Sheen is on a coke and hooker bender that could kill him within a week.  He said he went to Sheen’s house and found him sitting on the couch eating a turkey sandwich, looking “as normal as he’s looked in a long time.” Sheen told him he was fine, but had to go out soon to buy candy because so many trick-or-treaters come to his house.

- I’m sure a lot of tricks show up… I’m not so sure about the treats.

- Charlie gives full-size candy bars to hookers who show up dressed as cheerleaders.

Is Bill Maher’s Show Going To Pot?  

Friday on Bill Maher’s show, “Real Time,” comic Zach Galifianakis shocked the other guests by lighting up a real joint on the air to show his support for Prop 19 that would legalize pot in California.

- That’s one way to get “higher” ratings. 

- Bill Maher was said to be shocked.  He only smokes pot in his dressing room before the show. 

- Charlie Sheen said he was “disgusted by the display” and turned the show off!   

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1896, National Geographic magazine ran it’s first photo of a bare-breasted native woman. 

- The very next day, Bill Clinton’s great, great grandfather locked himself in the outhouse for 7 hours. 

Then on the same day in 1982, the Playboy Channel was launched. 

- The very next day, Bill Clinton had a TV installed in his bathroom.     

 

Have a great day and don’t forget to register for your chance to win tickets to dinner and “Johnny Trudell & his Orchestra Salute the Decades” this Friday at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren. Just go to: dickpurtan.com/contest for all the info!  Winners will be announced Thursday!  

See you right back here tomorrow - Election Day!

-Dick 

 

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Dick Purtan & Purtan's Pumpkins!

So here it is… the big Halloween Weekend!  I know today’s a big day for parents and grandparents as they head to school to watch the little ones parade around in their costumes, then of course comes the big event - Trick or Treating on Sunday night.  In keeping with tradition, once again this year I’ll be handing out soup.  It’s been so successful in the past… the kids really seem to like it.  And as an added surprise this year I’m switching from Chicken Noodle to Chunky Beef.  (It gives the kids more protein).         

We’ve got quite a mix in our family this year - Jackie’s son Charlie is going as a magician, Jessica’s sons Preston and Jack are going as Mario and Luigi from the Super Mario Brothers Video Game, JoAnne’s kids Lauren and Adam are going as a piece of pizza and Iron Man respectively.  And in keeping with the food theme, Jill’s daughter Julia will be a Hot Dog and her brother Matt will provide dessert by going as an Ice Cream Bar.  

As for me, I’m still undecided.  I’m either going to go as Frankenstein or Monica Conyers.  Actually, I think I’ll go with Frankenstein.  After all, I don’t want to scare the kids!

AND NOW, THE DRUM ROLL PLEASE… 

I’m excited to announce what we hope will be the first of many ways to win fun stuff here on dickpurtan.com!

Starting right now, you have a chance to win one of five “Dinner and a Show” packages to “Johnny Trudell and His Orchestra Salute the Decades” at Andiamo’s Celebrity Showroom in Warren.  The event, which will be emceed by yours truly is next Friday, November 5 and includes not only dinner and the show, but tax, gratuity and adult beverages!  How do you win?  Just go to www.dickpurtan.com/contest.  It’s just that easy!  Questions?  Just read the rules and regulations (something I tried to avoid during my entire radio career)!  And don’t worry… we won’t share any of your personal info with anyone!  I pinky swear!  

Have a great Halloween and don’t forget to enter for your chance to win!

See you right back here on Monday!

- Dick 

 

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"If It's In The News... It's News To Us!"

Note:  Coming tomorrow… Find out how you can win Dinner For Two and Tix To a Great Live Show! (It’s the first of many contests to come!) 

At a campaign rally for Democrats in Chicago, former President Bill Clinton begged the crowd to just, “give us two more years”…

The same line Bill used on Hillary after she found out about Monica.

Don’t politicians usually beg for FOUR more years?  I guess EVERYBODY’s downsizing. 

Not Tonight Honey, My Head Is Wired Wrong 

It’s possible that some women with low sex drives are physiologically different from women with healthy libidos.  Wayne State University researchers did MRIs on women with low sex drives as they watched a TV that alternated between a blank screen, regular programs and erotic videos.  Parts of the brain that light up when most women are aroused didn’t in women with low libidos.  So it’s possible that for some women, a lack of interest in sex isn’t psychological; it’s that their brains are actually wired differently than other women’s.

Women’s brains lit up the brightest when they watched a video of a man vacuuming. 

In a study of MEN, the only time their brains DIDN’T light up was when they were shown a clip of the women on “The View”.

Man, She’s Good Looking!

Police in Ohio say that 16-year-old Rufus Bowman thought he had an easy robbery victim when he lured a prostitute into an alley to conduct business, then pulled a gun.  But the hooker fought back.  Even after being hit in the arm, the “lady of the evening” grabbed the gun, grabbed him by the hair and, “beat the (BLEEP) out of him. Turns out Bowman’s hooker was transvestite prostitute Joshua Bumpus, who is 6-foot-1, 290 pounds and was wearing a pink halter top and pumps.  Bowman has been sentenced to 3 years in the slammer.

I’d love to see who he picks as his date for the prison dance!

In his defense, Bowman said he’s a basketball fan… and that the hooker reminded him of Dennis Rodman. 

You’re Twisting My Words!

The Collins English Dictionary has accepted a new set of words.  They include “funemployment”; which means an enjoyable period of freedom while jobless…

—  “funemployment” is quickly replaced by “recession-depression” when you realize you can’t afford your house payment.

 “Intexticated” also made the list.  It’s defined as “getting distracted while trying to text”.

— You know… silly distractions like driving seventy miles per hour down the freeway while you’re trying to send your girlfriend a message.

— In Detroit, we call it “Kwamefication”.

After reading the list, we came up with a new word of our own:  “Crosstitute” – That’s the name for a transvestite hooker like the one that beat the crap out of the guy in the last story. 

He’s Gonna Win Hands Down! 

Conan O’Brian may be going to court to fight NBC over who owns the rights to his regular character, “The Masturbating Bear”.

— Rumor has it that Conan has hired attorney Gloria Allred to represent the bear. 

— She plans on calling Pee Wee Herman as a character witness. 

Today’s Almanac

On this day in 1885, British pottery maker Thomas Twyford built the first porcelain toilet for famous London plumber, Thomas Crapper.

— In those days people would say, “Excuse me, but I have to go to the Twyford.”  

 

Have a great day and look for our first-ever contest announcement right here tomorrow!

- Dick 

 


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