"Slip Slidin' Away..."

Despite heading for a high in the fifties tomorrow, today’s inclement weather has led to a whole slew of school and other closings… Here’s a partial list: 

Bars

- The “Airport Landing Strip and Sip” is open….although runway dancers are delayed due to icing. 

- “Eat, Drink & Meet Mary” is closed. (Apparently Mary slid into a ditch on her way in to work).

- Centerline’s “Chug ‘n Hurl” is closed. The driveway isn’t plowed…but the guy who runs the snowblower is. 

- Tony’s “Bottom’s Up Beer and Bowl” is open…but the two left lanes are closed. 

- Pedro’s Mexican Cantina is open…but all Margarhetta Salt has been diverted to the parking lot. 

- “The Booby Trap” is open, but dancers are dancing on main poles only. 

Other Closings/Delays

- The “We’re Always Open Mini-Mart” is closed because the staff is stuck in traffic - but the manager wants to remind you that when he does arrive, he will not have a key to the safe. 

- “St. Agnostic’s High” is closed - unless you choose to believe otherwise. 

- The “Conquer Your Fear Of Driving In The Snow & Ice” self-help group has been cancelled until Spring. 

- All Michigan Secretary of States Offices are open and running with their usual three hour delay. 

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here (with temps in the 50’s!) Tuesday!

-Dick 

Purtan Podcast #71: "On Radio...No One Can See You Pout & Other Stories"

Welcome to a cold and snowy weekend! But fear not…Jackie, former “Purtan’s Person”, Joe Noune and I are here to warm your cockles (unless of course you’ve had them removed) with Podcast #71. 

Right out of the box - or in this case, the carton - we ponder why it is that when Jackie lived in NYC, Chinese food was always delivered by a Japanese guy and Japanese food by a Mexican guy, etc… etc… 

Jackie knows a lot about the Big Apple… Before joining my show here in Detroit in 2002, she worked with a male morning radio show team in New York City. She explains how she not only served as “sidekick” but psychiatrist to one of the guys - who got mad and decided not only to pout, but not talk on-the-air. For weeks. (That doesn’t really work on the radio!)

There’s also the story about her radio staion’s building’s doorman, a Wall Street Journal Paper Boy and a dark lobby. (Yup…there are some things that “can only happen in New York”).

On a musical note, I tell you which artist (in my humble opinion) had the greatest hit songs from the 70’s up to the current day. (It wasn’t Minnie Ripperton… “Looooovvvvvvvviiiiiiinngggg Yooouuuu” Just shoot me now!). 

We also give our opinions on who should play Lance Armstrong in an upcoming movie about him and his doping scandal. (I’ve heard the Eagles are doing the musical theme of the movie: “You Can’t Hide Those Lying Thighs”). And somehow cycling leads up to Joe’s head-over-heels stint as a not-so-great newspaper delivery boy. 

And speaking of things that delivered…I’ll tell you about a vintage one-hour special starring John Candy and Eugene Levy of the fabulously funny SCTV that makes SNL seem like a high school talent show. Then we wrap it all up with some personal stories about my late-great writer/producer Gene Taylor. 

So thaw out your hands enough to click on the link, and warm up with Podcast #71! 

Have a great weekend!

-Dick 

Purtan Podcast #71  (31:05)

Good Grief Charlie Brown!!!

Peter Robbins, who as a child actor was the voice of Charlie Brown in clasic specials including “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, was arrested on five felony charges, including stalking and making a death threat. 

- He’ll have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, but will have to wait until “The Doctor Is In”. 

- I guess Lucy moved that football just one too many times. 

- In his adult years, Robbins tried his luck as a rapper going under the name “Snoopy Dogg” 

***** 

The new expose of Scientology, “Going Clear,” is #4 on Amazon’s best-seller list, but a Scientology spokeswoman insists that all the stories ex-members tell in the book are lies.

- Tom Cruise is said to be so mad at the former members that he’s jumping up and down on his own couch.

- The spokeswoman insisted that Scientology is a real religion and added, “Manti Te’o’s girlfriend is real!”

*****

Southwest Airlines is introducing a $40 “Early Boarding Fee”. 

- They’re not going to make any money since the plane is never there on time, so there’s no way you can board early. 

- Next up: “The Uncle Ed Fee” where passengers have to kick in 5 bucks to pay for the plane’s oil change every 5000 miles. 

***** 

Japan’s 72-year-old prime minister Tara Aso has caused quite a stir during a panel to discuss Social Security. He called the elderly who can’t feed themselves “tube people”. Aso added that old people should be allowed to “hurry up and die” so the government doesn’t have to pay their medical expenses. 

- So basically Tara Aso is…well…an Aso. 

- He added that many of the elderly want to die, or so his Great Grand Tube Person told him when he was a child.

***** 

President Obama’s mother-in-law will continue to live in the White House during his second term.

- The Prez is starting to think the whole “hurry up and die” concept might work well here too.

***** 

Aretha Franklin defended Beyonce for lip-syncing the Inaugural National Anthem, saying that next time, she’d probably do that herself. 

- Aretha may lip-sync like Beyonce, but there’s not a chance in Hell Beyonce’s going to wear an inaugural hat like Aretha Franklin. 

*****

The White House is valued at $294.9 million. 

- How much you wanna bet if the White House was put on the market, Bill Clinton’s bedroom would be listed as “Previously Enjoyed”? 

***** 

On this day in 1848 the California Gold Rush began when gold ws discovered on land owned by John Sutter. 

- I thought gold was discovered by William Devane.

*****

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here Friday with an all new Podcast (#71). 

-Dick

"Much Ado About A Doo!"

President Obama told supporters at an inaugural event that he loves his wife Michelle’s new hairdo - including the bangs. 

- When I hear “President” and “Bangs” in the same sentence, I usually think of Bill Clinton. 

***** 

Beyonce’s stirring rendition of the National Anthem at Monday’s Inauguration was hailed as the best in a generation - until the London Times reported that she’d recorded it in advance and lip-synched the performance. 

- If only Joe Biden would pre-record and lip-sync his speeches. 

- People didn’t think it was that great until Kanye West jumped up on the platform and announced that “Beyonce has the greatest version of the National Anthem of all time!” 

***** 

Speaker of the House John Boehner says he has no idea what he said that prompted First Lady Michelle Obama to very publicly roll her eyes during the inauguration. 

- Sometimes being honest and saying, “Yes…that dress makes your butt look big” doesn’t go over very well. 

***** 

Manti Te’o will be interviewed by Katie Couric about his imaginary dead girlfriend. 

- I guess talking about an imaginary dead person can help revive both of their careers. 

- Manti’s imaginary alive current girlfriend is said to be furious that he keeps dwelling on his fake past relationships instead of the fake one he has with her. 

*****

Justin Bieber photographed himself mooning the camera and posted the photo of his bare butt on Instagram. 

- The girls were all excited until they noticed the diaper rash. 

***** 

In Wisconsin, two strippers were arrested for fighting over a dollar bill. They tussled on the floor, punching, slapping and pulling each other’s hair. 

- Everyone was in agreement: The cops called it “A circus” and the men in the crowd called it “The Greatest Show on Earth”. 

***** 

On this day in 1942 Earl Tupper bought his first manufacturing plant to introduce his invention, “Tupperware”. 

- Before that, the only thing burping in most homes were babies and husbands.  

*****

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

-Dick 

How Cold Is It?

It’s so cold that…

…Frosty the Snowman hopped a plane to Bermuda. 

…The hookers on Eight Mile are wearing fishnet snowpants. 

…If you write LMAO on facebook, it might actually happen. 

*****

It is believed that President Obama’s inaugural speech was the first in Presidential history to include a reference to a gay bar. 

- Unless you include Abraham Lincoln’s little known “Getty’s Burger & Beefcake Address” back in the 1800’s. 

- Actually, Obama was just giving a shout out to Bernie Frank’s favorite hang out. 

*****

During coverage of the Inauguration, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos mistakenly identified legendary NBA star Bill Russell as actor Morgan Freeman. 

- He immediately called Morgan Freeman and asked for a Shawshank Redemption. 

- George is usually the one who gets mistaken for someone else…one of the Seven Dwarfs. 

- Hey…at least he knew who the President was, unlike Joe Biden. 

*****

The Transportation Security Administration announced that they’re pulling the plug on nude airport scanners that produce a full-body image of travelers. 

- Apparently Chris Christie has taken one too many flights. 

- TSA agents say they’d way rather do invasive body pat downs than look at some naked photos! 

*****

A Harvard geneticist says he’s close to developing technology that could clone a Neanderthal. 

- Joey Buttafucco has been asked to make a donation at the local sperm bank. 

*****

A private funeral service was held for advice columnist “Dear Abby” who died last week at the age of 94. 

- Ironically her last piece of advice was, “You can skip the meds Doctor…I’m feeling fine.”

***** 

On this day in 1901 Queen Victoria died at the age of 82. She ruled England for 64 years. 

- And launched a highly successful line of lingerie stores. 

*****

Have a great day…stay warm…and I’ll see you back here Wednesday! 

-Dick 

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my latest Podcast (#70) with former “Purtan’s Person” Joe Noune! He shares some dating stories that make Manti Te’o’s lovelife seem normal! (You can find it on the homepage.)

Today is Martin Luther King Day and Inauguration Day...

…Or as most kids call it, “A day off school!”

While today President Obama will be sworn in as President with the usual public ceremony, Sunday, because it was the 20th, he took the oath of office at a private swearing-in ceremony. 

- Although, to be honest, it was the Republicans who did most of the swearing.  

At the Iowa State Inaugural Ball, Joe Biden began his speech by declaring, “I’m proud to be President of the United States,” then corrected himself and said, “Vice President.” 

- Biden’s put his foot in his mouth so many times he’s got athlete’s tongue. 

Since San Fransico and Baltimore each won their NFL conference championships, and are coached by brothers John and Jim Harbaugh, this year we’re going to have the world’s first ever Sibling Rivalry Superbowl! 

A study found that wanting things provides people with a bigger “high” than actually having things. 

- Unless the “thing” you have, happens to be a giant bong.  

- Which is why all of us are so much happier than Bill Gates! 

Subway is in hot water because their “Foot Long” subs are actually less than twelve inches long. 

- Which came as a surprise to exactly none of the women in America. 

Vatican officials told the news media that the Pope said the Lance Armstrong scandal is “very sad”. 

- They said His Holiness had more to say, but appparently he didn’t feel like Pontifficating. 

In Missouri, the mother of a 13-year-old girl with big breasts is protesting after a school official allegedly said the girl should have a breast reduction to prevent sexual harrassment. 

- And then all she’d have to do is get implants after college so she could get a decent job. 

On this day in 1994 Lorena Bobbitt was found not guilty. 

- Experts were amazed she went to trial…they thought she’d cut a deal. 

Have a great day, check out Podcast #70 (it’s on the homepage!) and I’ll see you right back here Tuesday!

-Dick 

Purtan Podcast #70: "Imagine That!"

Welcome to another weekend and another new Podcast - (#70!). Today Jackie and I are joined by not-so-frequent-but-always-amusing former “Purtan’s Person” Joe Noune. Joe was the man behind many of the character voices on my radio show from Ronald Reagan to Japanese Comic “Socki Too-Me”. 

The three of us “tackle” a lot of important issues including Notre Dame football star, Manti Te’o’s mysterious, non-existant girlfriend, who apparently died although she was never actually alive. Plus, Joe offers a list of reasons that prove Manti might be just a bit gullible. For example, he wants to win a Superbowl with the Detroit Lions. 

We also explain the hot new trend called “Te’oing” - where people take and post pictures of themselves with their imaginary girlfriends.  

And speaking of “dating”, Joe shares his true-story about a Russian women he met on the Web who wanted him to send her $690 - and not a penny more! And then he tells us about a REAL woman that he met on the Internet, set up an “in person” date with…and let’s just say there isn’t enough beer in the world to have drunk that woman pretty.

For the female perspective, Jackie tells her own social media story about creating a fake on-line dating site profile in order to find out what her then-husband was up to. And Dick, based on his acting in “Beverly Hills Cop III” has some advice for “Lincoln” star Daniel Day Lewis about the upcoming Oscars. 

So grab your imaginary significant other and tune in to Podcast #70!

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here with our daily blog on Monday! 

-Dick 

Purtan Podcast #70 (34:15)

The Big "O"???

Oprah Winfrey said that after her Lance Armstrong interview they were both “exhausted and satisfied”.

- Did she interview him or is she sleeping with him???

*****

There’s a lot of buzz on the Internet over who should play Lance Armstrong in a move about his steroid scandal. 

- If they can just get Charlie Sheen sobered up enough to ride a bike…

*****

- The government wants to put stricter laws in place to prevent the mentally ill from getting guns. 

- So at least we’ll know that anyone in Hollywood who’s crazy enough to hire Lindsay Lohan won’t be packin’. 

***** 

Bill Clinton says Hillary is so healthy, she calls him her “first husband” because she knows she’ll outlive him. 

- We’ll yeah…that’s because she’ll be the one to kill him if she catches him cheating again. 

- I have a feeling that no matter how long Bill Clinton lives, he’s gonna die with a smile on his face. 

***** 

On the anniversary of the Costa Concordia cruise ship capsizing off the coast of Italy, the Captain told NBC that he has “no regrets” about his actions. Remember, he was giving his “date” a tour of the ship and accidentally “fell” into a lifeboat during the incident. 

- Somebody doesn’t have both oars in the water if you know what I mean. 

- He shouldn’t have been sailing in the Mediteranean…he should have been sailing in De-Nile. 

***** 

Facebook is adding a new search engine to match up people like a dating site does. 

- Changes to the existing facebook will include nothing. 

- Maybe this is how Oprah got the Lance Armstrong interview. 

- Guys…if you date one your “fake” female facebook friends, chances are she’ll carry the “faking” thing a bit too far. 

*****

According to a Men’s Health survey, the top female occupations that inspire the most fantasies for men are nurse and teacher. 

- Which means if you’re a school nurse, there are thousands of men fantasizing about you right now. 

- The least fantasy-inspiring profession was “Lorena Bobbitt Impersonator”. 

*****

On this day in 1998 Paula Jones accused President Bill Clinton of sexual harassment. 

- He denied it saying he was way to busy having an affair with Gennifer Flowers to harrass anyone!

*****

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here Friday with an all-new Podcast! (#70!)

-Dick

Obama Calls For A "Home Improvement Date"...

President Obama signed legislation that gives him and future presidents lifetime secret service protection. 

- He got the idea from another former President…Mr. Belvedere. 

- Call me crazy…but I thought all Former Presidents already had Service Service lifetime protection!

Oh Mama! Elton John's A Daddy Again!

65-year-old Elton John and his 50-year-old Partner David Furnish have announced the birth of their second son by a surrogate. Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John was born by a surrogate as was his two-yeara-old sibling, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John. 

- So now Zach can say, “Daniel’s my brother…He is YOUNGER than me!” 

- There are plans for the family to appear on the reality show Toddlers & Tiaras”… Zach will be the Toddler and Elton will wear the Tiara. 

Oprah Deals Dope During Interview With Lance Armstrong...

Lance Armstrong reportedly confessed to Oprah Winfrey during a taped interview that he has in fact used performance-enhancing drugs. 

- And Oprah admitted to Lance that Stedman does the same thing everytime she gets frisky. 

Makers Of Ambien Wake Up To New FDA Regs...

The FDA is requiring makers of Ambien and other sleep aids to reduce recommended dosages because of the number of drowsy morning drivers. 

- It’s about time the pharmaceutical companies woke up and smelled the coffee! 

There's Something Fishy Going On At Walgreens!

Some Walgreens drugstores are selling sushi. 

- Nothing says “yummy” like sushi in the same aisle as a cure for toenail fungus. 

Mob Boss: You Want Hoffa? Dig This!

A mob underboss says he knows exactly where the body of Jimmy Hoffa is buried and it’s right here in the Metro-Detroit area. 

- The FBI says this is the biggest lead they’ve gotten on Hoffa’s whereabouts since…last Thursday. 

"Flu Blue Americans"!

The flu epidemic has reached 48 states and is spreading.  

- Al Gore is blaming it on “Global Vomiting”. 

Today's Almanac

On this day in 1868 William Davis, a fish dealer here in Detroit was granted a patent for a refrigerator car. It was called “an icebox on wheels”. 

- Which is exactly what thousands of metro-Detroiters called their cars when they got in them this morning! 

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

-Dick

Jodie Foster's Shocking Announcement That Shocks No One!!!

The gay rights groups GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign praised Jodie Foster for coming out publicly during her Golden Globes speech Sunday night. 

- I didn’t realize admiting that your “single” and “lonely” meant you were gay.  

- She spent hours in her closet picking out just the right dress to come out in. 

Country Singer Actually Gives A Horse's Patoot!

Country singer Luke Bryan rescued a drowning horse from a river. 

- You can hear the full story in his new single, “I Saved A Drowning Horse From A River”. 

Lindsay Lohan Says "Bottoms Up" To Charlie Sheen...

Lindsay Lohan says she looks up to Charlie Sheen. 

- If she looks up to Charlie Sheen I think we can officially say she’s hit bottom - literally and figuratively. 

Meanwhile, while making her new movie The Canyons, Lilo was reportedly late to the set, fought with co-stars and drank. 

- In her defense, it was Monday. 

"In Space...No One Can Hear You Shovel!"

The Weather Channel has a new show called “Deadliest Space Weather” where they investigate wild weather systems throughout our solar system. 

- Reporters say the pay is good but the commute is a bitch!