They stab it with their steely knives...but they just can't kill the beast

For you Radiotiki listeners, the boys are trying to resurrect the beast. Yeah my best friend Tommy moved to London, but through the magic of Skype I think the guys have found a way to keep the show alive. There is a test show up on the website, just click on the date next to "Now playing on RadioTiki". I was at work so I couldn't participate (but shockingly RobotBrad does), but the guys sounded pretty darn good for an initial effort after a four month hiatus. There is some techy talk you have to muddle through, but worth a listen to hear Tommy's initial observations about living in England and the theatre scene in London. Plenty of singing and a Shalamar reference. Give it a listen...IF YOU DARE!!!!

Have I mentioned my love for Pearls Before Swine?

Sometimes, just sometimes...

....I inexplicably enjoy the antics of a parrot on a bike.



I'm thinking about starting a campaign to make this the new Illinois halftime show now that the Chief is dead. I figure it really expresses the honor and dignity that such a fine institution of higher learning deserves.

Pepe riding across the field to the strains of the "Three-in-One" will be enough to bring a tear to any eye.....

Warning: Try not to drool on your keyboard.

I just discovered this site on the internets. It's a photographic homage to all the edible reasons why I love Chicago.

Oh, and the Italian beef I had at Portillo's today was out-freaking-standing. Thanks for asking. Much better than even the very best Taylor ham.

Take that, Jersey!!!

A Radio Recommendation to RadioTiki's loyal flock

Flipping through channels on my XM radio recently, I joyfully rediscovered the radio comedy of Ron & Fez.

Though they are currently based out of New York City, back in the mid-90's they were syndicated and based out of Florida. They were part of what was then called the Ron & Ron (areas NSFW) show. Yes, now they are short a Ron, but luckily they lost the kinda unfunny one.

When I lived in Savannah, GA, they were the morning radio show I listened to religiously. I used to enjoy them as much as any radio show I've ever listened to and I'm happy to announce that they are still pretty hella funny.

I lost track of them for for about ten years, but recently I discovered they are back on the air out of New York on WFNY: Free FM! Lucky for us non-New Yorkers though, they are also podcasted on iTunes and if you do the XM thang like Tommy and I do, they are also on the XM on Channel 202: The ViRUS.

After all the laughs they gave me back in the day, the least I could do it give them a little promotion here on the Bully Pulpit. Just give 'em a listen if you can....and I really hope you like. If you don't like, then hey that's just more Ron & Fez for me.

Prepare to be motivated!!!!!

Because Listener Orangelamb enjoyed yesterday's so much, I want to share what is probably my favoritest Pearls Before Swine ever.

Greetings from the Garden State!

Well work has sent me to New Jersey for the week. I flew into Newark Sunday and I'm currently staying in lovely Secaucus for this next week.

It's everything I ever dreamed and more!

First of all the roads...I could see my hotel from NJ Route 3, I just couldn't get to it. Everything in this area seems to be off of service roads. Then when you miss your service road or go the wrong way, no U-turns. In Jersey they have jug handles. You realize this as you speed past one in the left hand lane when you needed to be in the right. See the example of the jug handle signage on wikipedia for a little slice of the driving heaven I got to experience Sunday night.

After about 45 minutes of not being able to get to my hotel even though I could plainly see it, I was just about ready to take my rental Malibu Maxx off roadin' and driving across lawns. I was just driving around for almost an hour, laughing manically like Chevy Chase from European Vacation. "Look kids, the Secaucus Hilton Garden Inn. I CAN'T GET LEFT!!!!!!!!!!".

Then, it just so happens that the Cubs are playing the Mets this week. Last night after my run, I slipped out to a bar to grab dinner and a beer. I had been watching the game back at the hotel and it was tied up 4-4 (the Cubs blowing a early 4 run lead) going into the late innings. Well, wearing my Cubs hat, I ended up walking into one of those Fado-esque, faux-Irish pubs that seem to be popping up everywhere. I was just in time for the bottom of the ninth with the game still locked up, place stocked with Met fans. Long story short, bottom of the 9th, two outs, bases loaded with Mets, Carlos Delgado at the plate, Michael Wuertz on the mound.

I looked at the waitress, who had just alerted others at the bar of my allegiance, and said, "Don't worry, he'll walk the winning run in."
Ten pitches and many foul balls later my prophesy came to fruition.

(By the way, I'm sooo back to hating this team and I think Sweet Lou is too.)

The waitress handled it well. All she said was, "I'll get another Guinness started for you" as I hung my head. She got a hefty tip for that.

Well three more days of restaurant bars and hotel rooms 'til I get back. I'm considering going to Uno's Chicago Grill just to be a snobby Chicagoan to a New Jerseyite trying to serve me "Chicago-style" food ("You call THIS pizza!"). I have been informed by my class full of native New Jerseyians that I can't leave state without trying Taylor Ham one day for breakfast, which they make sound like the next coming in pork roll form. That should be interesting. Wish me luck.

Oh, and despite what they all say here, I do not have an accent.....THEY are the ones who have the accent!

Pearls Before Swine is my favoritest comic strip.

I am Angry Bob...er...I mean Brad.

Embracing my inner NASCAR fan.

Hello, my name is Brad and I'm a closet NASCAR fan. You see, I come from a NASCAR family. We have favorite drivers. We treat the Daytona 500 like the rest of the country treats the Super Bowl. I've been to a race and honestly hope this year I get to go again (you have to be chosen, we only have so many tickets). The men have a NASCAR fantasy league....which I dominated last year. We bitch about the drivers we don't like....you hear that 24!!! Oh, yeah....and I know many drivers just by their number...8, 20, 24, 48...hell I even know who the 1, 2, 5, 11, 17 and 31 are. I own a Tony Stewart hat....but in my defense I own like forty other hats so that's not all that incriminating.

Why do I tell you this...I don't know. Maybe I just wanted to come out of the closet...and I also wanted to show you this commercial which I think is funny regardless of whether or not you like racin'.



Well, thanks for listening...and always remember....rubbin', son, is racin'.

As my dad calls me,
The Only NASCAR fan in Lakeview.

Just a picture I really like....

...shamelessly ripped from one of my favorite new sites, Gapers Block.

New Team Website

My softball team has a new website that I have accepted the repsonsibility of being in charge of.

Scared Hitless

Enjoy....be gentle....and it's a work in progress....

Softball season starts with a bang

My softball team, Scared Hitless, started the season off well last night beating the Brew Crew 17-1. The Brew Crew are new to the league and I'm afraid we weren't very welcoming to them in their first game in the hyper-competitive Bartlett Softball A-league.

Unfortunately, I will be missing the next game due versus The Stirrups to my week long visit to the lovely Garden State.

Now accepting charter members....

So the Cubs have finally made it to a game above .500. Woo hoo! That's the joy of Cubs fandom. If you're a Yankees fan you have to win a World Series to glean the slightest bit of happiness. Us Cubs fan get perverse joy over being a game above .500 and second place in one of the crappiest divisions in baseball.

I went to the game on Saturday with my friend Chris and got to see the Cubs win the second game of what ended up being a sweep of the hapless Washington Nationals. The seats were great, the game was fun, the Old Style was cold and I didn't even have to use my AK. I'd have to say it was a good day.

So after a key hit in the 9th inning of yesterday's extra inning victory, I have decided to start the West Lakeview chapter of the Ryan Theriot
Man-crush Club.



He's a solid player with probably the most awesome name in baseball.

I PREDICT THE-RIOT!

I am now accepting any and all applications. Though it is a man-crush club, for the sake of fairness and so this doesn't become a huge sausage fest, I am accepting applications from the ladies as well. Now I need to go print up membership cards...



On the running front, I've now logged over 230 miles for this year already. All and all, I'm feeling pretty damn good about it. It's about the only thing that has kept me even remotely sane this year with the temporary demise of the radio show and all. My next scheduled race is the Soldier Field 10 on Memorial Day weekend. I'm really hoping to make it. See, I'm only 2 for 4 on showing up for races this year. I admit that I'm not really good at getting up early on weekends. Heck I'm not really good at getting up before eleven on weekends. I have a lot of friends running this one, so I'll make sure they give me a call that morning. That should help.....I hope.

In other Brad news, the first softball game of the season is today. It's the first game since our debacle in the semifinals last year that resulted in me walking off the field in anger. I'll give an update on how that all goes tomorrow. The HGH I've been taking all winter better pay some dividends with my hitting. I heard chicks dig the long ball

Things That Make Brad Smile

The 2000 Worlb Series Champs!!!

Dumbass.