Brad's Bully Pulpit

Something I've taken a fancy to...

2008-08-02T13:48:00.007-05:00

Here's a song I've heard while I've been on holiday in England ("5 Years Time" by Noah and the Whale) and I am absolutely in love with it.

Oh,

1. Yes, I am alive.

2 Yes, I am in England.

...more to follow.

I often get asked...

2008-03-24T00:17:00.002-05:00

.."Brad, how do you get by living alone and make it look so easy?" Well aside from the companionship of my loyal feline companion (whose loyalty is often in question), I follow the teachings of Dr. Steve Brule.

So watch and learn...

Of Particular Interest to Chicagoans....

2008-02-28T17:05:00.002-06:00

...and Chicagoans that have been sent to England.

Bow before the wrath of Tom FREAKIN' Skilling!

Never let it be said...

2008-02-11T11:07:00.000-06:00

...that opposing viewpoints don't get their fair share of time on the Pulpit.

Valentine's Day is lurking just around the corner...

2008-02-10T23:20:00.001-06:00

... and if you're ragingly bitter like me, I be doing you a disservice if I didn't remind you about my favorite site for this most dreadful of holidays .

Be My Anti-Valentine

...and if you are anything like me, hey, buck up camper! I'm SURE things will be different by this time next year! *Implied eyeroll goes here to stress sarcasm* What you really need to do is make the best of your singledom, my friend! What I'm personally doing to make the best of my situation is I'm using the money that I'm saving by being single on this special day (flowers, gift, dinner) to buy 3 or 4 thirty packs of High Life. As I say, if life hands you lemons, sell those damn lemons and use the profits to buy as much domestically brewed swill as you can afford.

On the other hand, if you are happy, content and/or lovestruck on this day of days, I suggest leaving this site as soon as possible before you get a can of High Life chucked at your head.

DUCK!!!!!!!

Thanks to my internet radio friend Bobo Chimpy Pie...

2008-02-09T16:58:00.000-06:00

I get to combine my crush on Kristen Chenoweth with my love for They Might Be Giants....all right here on my blog!

My only regret is that I didn't get to hear her sing, "countless screaming Argonauts". Oh, well, you gotta be happy with what you get.....gift horses...mouths...and all that nonsense.

Your dose of common sense....post Super Bowl edition

2008-02-05T12:43:00.000-06:00

Courtesy of the High Life. I was wondering about their lack of commercials during the game.

Just in case my first emotional plea didn't work....

2008-02-04T21:30:00.000-06:00

...I dare you to watch this and then not participate in our democracy.

Hey, now go out there and be a real American.

To All My Super Tuesday Brethren,

2008-02-02T23:02:00.000-06:00

Get out there and vote.

Now I won't tell you who to vote for, but I know with utmost certainty who I am. I volunteered to serve my country 15 years ago because I unquestionably believed that the United States was a force for good in this world. I believed that this country looked out for the hopeless and downtrodden in its borders and around the world. I without hesitation and doubt pledged to, if necessary, give my life for that belief.

I want to feel that way again....I don't want to think that those ideas were pipe dream of an idealistic 21 year old...

Recently, I, for the first time in my life, donated money to a presidential campaign. I believe we, as a nation, can be better.

...and I believe that it is time to not have somebody named "Clinton" or "Bush" in the White House. One or the other have been in the top 2 of our government since 1980. Why do we wonder why things in Washington never seem to change? Change will not come from electing the same two families into power again, and again , and again......

...but in the end, regardless of the candidate, get out there and make your voice heard.

Lazy Chicago Winter Saturday afternoons

2008-02-02T12:53:00.001-06:00

Oskee/Tikitten has the right idea.

In contrast, I am more than ready for the arrival of Spring.

Chicago in January

2008-01-19T17:02:00.000-06:00

When it is three degrees outside, there is nothing on TV and I've had a shit week like this past one, this is how my weekend ends up....

Now what do I do on Saturday night? Hmmmmmm......

I truly am livin' the High Life.

Just in case you've never met....

2008-01-19T14:23:00.000-06:00

...I want to introduce you to a band called The Weakerthans.

The Weakerthans....meet the three people who read my blog.

Their music is such good stuff.

My favorite song of theirs is probably "Plea From A Cat Named Virtue", but all the videos of that song on YouTube were off of someone's cell phone at a live show. They were giving me "Blair Witch" levels of motion sickness.

So give 'em a little listen. Maybe you like.

So I went to California...

2008-01-15T21:31:00.000-06:00

...and I saw a bunch of LA...

...and I ate some good food...

...and I watched a parade....

...and there was a football game...

..and how 'bout we just leave it at that, huh?

Finis.

Why?!

2008-01-15T21:26:00.000-06:00

..because it's my blog dammit and I love this farging song!!!!

Oh, and I've had several High Lifes.....that too.

Somebody save Boston fans from themselves

2008-01-12T19:50:00.000-06:00

See! This is what happens when you win too often.

Jacksonville, San Diego, Indy, anyone? Somebody beat the Pats to save their own asshat fans from themselves.

Full story here.

My favorite part of the article has to be...

Thompson isn't shy about the fact that he got the idea to turn his head into a helmet while serving time in prison where he watched all of their games in past seasons.

Wicked smart indeed.

Carl's Bowl Pics

2007-12-28T18:17:00.000-06:00

.....not looking too good for the Buckeyes.

I think I blacked out from laughter for awhile during that prediction.

This Is My Favorite New Ornament

2007-12-21T19:46:00.000-06:00

It really gets you in the Christmas spirit, doesn't it?

My Early Xmas Present from Me to You

2007-12-20T23:43:00.000-06:00

This is an excellent video for a simply excellent song. Enjoy.

Things That Never Fail To Make Brad Smile: Volume #5

2007-12-13T18:57:00.001-06:00

I loved this commercial so much as a kid that I almost became a Mormon.....okay that didn't reallyhappen but I loved it none the less.

Whatever J Leman is selling....

2007-11-21T18:46:00.000-06:00

I'm buying two.

Go Illini!!

Congrats to the Red Sox "Nation"

2007-10-30T16:33:00.000-05:00

As a tortured Cubs fan I rooted for them back in 2004. Yeah I found the whole "We haven't won it all in 86 years...we're cursed!" thing to be kind of sad considering A) at the time there were not one but TWO teams that had gone longer than the Red Sox without winning it all and B) all I had to do to shut Red Sox fans up when they started whining about it was ask "Oh by the way, who exactly did the Red Sox beat in 1918 to win their last World Series?" Yeah, you guessed it. They were so very cursed.

Now after a two year drought, they've gone and done it again. Congrats. The Red Sox are now the new Yankees, including players that are oh so easy to hate (see above).

Unfortunately, the main difference I see is that Yankees fans know they are hated and they actually embrace it. Red Sox fans for some reason still think they are America's sweethearts which results in them so much more irritating. By the way, to the delusional lady in the video, you are so not the GOOD empire and if I hear you all referred to as the Red Sox Nation one more time,I'm going to plotz. Oh and to Shaggy, there are many, many people who are not Yankees fans who hate you all, and with every trophy and Sports Guy column it gets just a little bit easier.

Things That Never Fail To Make Brad Smile: Special Halloween Edition

2007-10-16T14:31:00.001-05:00

You're looking at a happy man.

2007-10-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

So Friday night I was at a saloon in Wrigleyville watching the Cubs win and the Brewers lose. After many high fives (and a dude who accidentally punched me in the gut), I went out to the intersection of Addison and Clark to join in the celebration and got this beautiful picture.

Then I got out of bed after not many hours of sleep and drove down to Champaign-Urbana to go to the Illini game. The Illini ended up beating #21 Penn State for their first win over a ranked team since 2001. The football team saw that the students were being blocked from rushing the field....so the team rushed the stands.

It was like watching a university breathe a sigh of relief after five years of frustration. It was quite awesome.

This was easily one of my best sports weekends ever.

Things That Never Fail to Make Brad Smile: Volume #4

2007-09-27T15:08:00.000-05:00

I love all things Simpsons. Of all 18 seasons, this is probably one minute and ninteen seconds of some of my favorite stuff...and I really have no idea why. It just know it makes me happy.

I gotta believe!!

2007-09-25T19:13:00.000-05:00

Well, my sports world is in a tizzy. The Illini are 3-1 and actually won a Big 10 game on the road. Sure it was Indiana, but after the past few years even beating a basketball school is reason to celebrate. Now this Saturday we play Penn State down in Champaign. I'm heading down to witness all the fun. We'll see how that goes.

Second of all, the Cubs magic number is four. Yes...four. All of Chicago (well at least all of Chicago that roots for the Cubs) can taste the playoffs. They are so tantalizingly close. Trust me though, I won't celebrate until the Cubs pop champagne in the clubhouse.

Now my 30-odds years of sports fandom has taught me to be wary...to be cautious...not to put my emotions on the line. Instead I've decided to throw all caution to the wind and just enjoy it. I haven't had a fall like this where I can enjoy both college football and baseball this late in the year...well.. ever. I may be eventually emotionally devastated in some cruel and inhumane way by one or both of these teams, but until then, I'm just going to enjoy the ride. I'm going to lash myself to mast and dare the gods of sport to do their darndest. *Gulp*.

...and let's just not talk about he Bears. All that would do is kill my buzz.

Happy First Birthday, Oskee!

2007-09-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

No longer a kitten, now a full fledged cat.

Normally I'd post a really good picture of him, but since all his pictures are on the hard drive of the computer he just drowned, I only have this from my camera phone. I guess it will have to do.

This has me sooo pumped for a new seaon of 30 Rock

2007-09-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

I'd say Tracy Morgan is a funny actor, but after seeing this interview, I'm not so sure any acting is involved on his part.

Hi-larious.

What I did on my "Vacation"

2007-09-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I just took vacation from last Wednesday until this Monday. Where? Nowhere. I stayed at home in Chicago, saved some cash and decided to try to enjoy my own city. Since I have an attention span only slightly longer than that of Oskee, I'll quickly hit the high points of my vacation.

1. Got free tickets to see the Chicago premiere of this movie Last Wednesday:
The high points were lots of boobs and a smidgen of full frontal. The bad parts...well...the movie is called "Feast of Love". You can pretty much figure it out. Movies like this make me hate love.

2. I'm pretty sure that Tuesday night after some delicious sushi and more than a few cans of Point, I got a hold of some bad late night Mexican food. Anyways, for most of Wednesday and Thursday I couldn't be more than 50 feet from the nearest toilet. Thursday was the worst. I slept until 5PM and could only stomach a bowl of split pea soup all day.

3. Luckily by Friday I felt better and spent the day in downtown Chicago. It started with a bang. Unfortunately, that bang was a woman being hit by a car on Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue. I looked up in time to see her roll off the window. It was surreal. Good thing was an ambulance was there in less than two minutes.

From there I went to here for my first solid food in two days:

For those of you not in the know, Billy Goat is the restaurant this SNL skit was based on. I had a cheeseburger and chips. It was manna from heaven.

I then went to the Art Institute of Chicago where I saw paintings like this:

I think that if museums had a point, that point would be art is pretty and makes your thinker really work.

4. Then I met some friends at happy hour. I drank more Point which that bar calls their "Bad Beer". All I knew was that it was $2.00 a can and that sounds good to me.

Evidently at some point this girl walked in. I didn't know who she was, but all the ladies did. I guess she Jen from "The Bachelor". *shrug* All I know is she travels with her own vapid entourage of douche-bags and she looked arrogant as all get out. Needless to say nobody in her group was drinking Point....or heck even High Life.

I guess they forgot that they have their own bars on the Gold Coast of Chicago that cater almost exclusively vapid douche-bags.

5. The Illini won on Saturday...by alot...against a 1-A team...on the road!!! At least for this week, it's good to be an Illini.

6. A friend of mine had a voucher for a free brunch at a local bar. I'm not one to pass up free steak n'eggs and a free Ketel One Bloody Mary. So Sunday afternoon we go and who's there...Steve FREAKIN' Sanders, Mr.Ian Ziering. Now unlike Miss Reality Star, he actually looked pretty down to earth, just having lunch, hanging with a few friends and watching football on a Sunday morning. He looked like somebody you could approach and ask for an autograph and he's be like "No Prob". I didn't. Dude was watching football. He deserved his space. So I'll guess I'll just go to the grave never knowing what Brian Austin Green is really like. Oh well.

7. Monday morning I learned an important lesson. See I like to drink water, especially when I'm thirsty. I'll pour myself a big cold glass from the fridge...boy it sure is good. Well Monday morning, I woke up parched and I did just that. So I got a big old cup and sat down to do some work.

Oskee also likes water. He finds it fascinating. Running from the tap...sitting in his bowl...filling up my cup...it just never gets old for him and he just cant get enough. Unfortunately, God or evolution (you take your pick) has cursed my poor little buddy with the lack of opposable thumbs...so it's very hard for him to pick up my glass and drink from it. Through trial and error he has found the easiest way to drink from my cups is to knock the sucker over and revel in everything that comes flowing out. Quite clever really.

I had a work laptop. It was an inanimate object without feelings. I think that if it did have feelings, it would probably detest water. It's like kryptonite to computers.

Well long story a little less long, I got up to get a cup of coffee, make a call and take a shower. When I came back to my living room Oskee was no longer thirsty and Mr. Puter was slightly drenched. So, I will be 'puterless until the IT department can take care of that. I'm hoping they don't mind the iTunes I had installed or the several pictures of Kristin Chenoweth in a bikini that I have on my hard drive. I want to be mad at Oskee...but I know it's my own damn fault.

...and I thought that a vacation at home wouldn't be exciting.

I Like To Tailgate With My Internet Friends!

2007-09-11T18:08:00.001-05:00

..even if it is in the rain!

Tailgated at the Illini game this weekend...

2007-09-10T18:03:00.000-05:00

It was a bit rainy.

...but the Illini ended up beating Western Illinois 21-0, so it was all worth it.

Well another Illinois football season has started...

2007-09-03T12:31:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to stay positive, but this could be another long, long autumn.

Embracing my inner cat owner.

2007-08-30T16:35:00.000-05:00

This is the best picture of Oskee yet! Unfortunately we had to go to the vet in order to get it. It seems he had a sore in his mouth that was getting him down and making his breath smell even worse than normal. It was downright brutal....

A vet visit and two weeks of antibiotics later, he's good as new! I was relieved. Now I won't have to trade him in for this years' model like I was planning on doing if he turned out to be a lemon.

I'm going to go out on a limb here....

2007-08-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

...and declare that this is the best rock song ever about Australia's involvement in World War One.

Freakin' Sweet!

2007-08-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

Lightning kick ass!

Lightning hitting a REALLY tall building kicks even more ass!

From our recent storm:

Oh, so THAT'S what God's wrath looks like.

2007-08-24T13:03:00.000-05:00

As you may or may not know, Chicago was hit with a wicked bad storm last night right around rush hour. They say winds in my neighborhood topped 70mph. It ended up taking me over three hours to drive the 18 miles home (that's an average of 6 mph to me and you Russ!).

When I did get home, this is the scene on my block that welcomed me...

This is about four houses down..

These are the roots of that same tree.

Different tree, another car....

View from the end of my block...

Needless to say, I parked a block over.

I ask you...

2007-08-23T12:07:00.000-05:00

How in the world could I not own this movie?

Pearls Before Swine is on a roll!

2007-08-03T10:34:00.000-05:00

The last two days have been quality...

Properly Shorn

2007-08-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

Recently, I won an all purpose gift certificate from a drawing at work. I can use it at any number of a myriad of stores. What I finally decided to do to help me make up my mind on what to buy was just browse Amazon.com for awhile. I figured that eventually I'd stumble upon something worth purchasing or what the heck, maybe I'd finally purchase that copy of Young Lady Chatterly that I've had in my "Save for Later" queue since December of 2004.

Well after about 45 minutes of browsing I came upon this bad boy:

Ain't she a beaut? What you have there is the Philips/Norelco Bodygroom. It's expressly made for "manscaping". As any listener of Radiotiki knows, I have a smidge of the body hair. Well my body thinks it needs to protect me from this cold, harsh world by continuing to sprout it in areas I just don't need or want hair to sprout. Until now the options to solve this problem have seemed fairly limited. With this wonderful product, all my prayers may finally be answered! Okay not all of them, but a couple of them....and I'm really due!

I felt the need to do some research on any product that will eventually be spinning sharp blades at a high rate of speed mear millimeters from very delicate body areas. Doing this I stumbled upon the Bodygroom's website. It has to be one of the funniest product related websites I've seen. I even showed it to a couple people who replied, "Is this real?" Remember, Philips is a Dutch company and you know how wacky those klompen-wearing buggers are.

Well as soon as I can hit the local Coinstar to exchange some loose pocket change for more Amazon play money, I'll have to place the order. Hell, I may even have enough that I can throw the latest Harry Potter (unintentional pun)book in my cart as well. Then I can spend a night curled up with good book, a warm cup of tea and a freshly shorn {insert body part here}.

Oh, I'm really hoping someone at work asks, "So what did you spend your gift certificate on?"

"Hey, let me show you."

UPDATE: It was purchased this weekend and is due to be delivered by tomorrow! Woo Hoo!

I'll keep you in the finely trimmed loop on how it ends up working.

*zipper noise*

Class Personified

2007-07-31T20:29:00.000-05:00

Looks like I picked a damn good week to renounce my love for Lindsay. What a classy, classy lady.

The photos are courtesy of What Would Tyler Durden Do (Areas NSFW). Enjoy!

Why does this scare me so much?

2007-07-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

I almost want to close my eyes and wake up in November.

How can something that makes me so incredibly excited and happy also simultaneously make me so nervous?

I could use a Box O' Funn

2007-07-29T22:45:00.000-05:00

I've been in quite a funk lately, but this put a big old smile on my face...

Please oh, please let me be found karmatically deserving!!

2007-07-25T15:36:00.001-05:00

When I first heard this news, I think I nearly wet myself in excitement. I at the very least started to giggle like a teenage fangirl.

Here's the website for those of you that are unfamilar with the venue. It's just a TAD more cozy than the United Center where I saw them last. The show should be freakin' mindblowing.

I'll be saying my prayers tonight and calling in each and every one of my favors tomorrow so that that somehow, just somehow I get through for tickets when they go on sale tomorrow afternoon.

Wish me luck.

MAJOR UPDATE: It's funny how quickly things can go from an awesome opprotunity to a cruel, cruel joke. I never had a chance.

What a shit day.

Damn you, EA Sports, damn you to heck!!!

2007-07-24T10:34:00.000-05:00

Well, last week I purchased EA Sports NCAA Football 08. The thing is I already own the 2003 version and the 2006 version.

So has college football changed that much in the past 5 years? No, not really.

Yet every year I am drawn to purchase this game that isn't probably all that different from versions I already own. Maybe the game play is a bit different. Maybe the uniforms are more up to date. The team rosters are more realistic to what is currently playing out there...but no matter what I want it. I have to play it.

See, I'm not a huge gamer. Most of the time my PlayStation2 is just gathering dust. Even if some kick butt game comes out that really tickles my fancy (see God of War, Ghost Recon, Star Wars Battlefront) most of the time I end up waiting until the game hits the $20 rack before I purchase it.

Yet once NCAA football comes out, it's a whole different story. I just have to have it. The draw is so strong that before I owned a PlayStation2, I once rented a whole game system from a Blockbuster just so I could play this game.

If I do purchase the game like I did this year, for the first few weeks I think about it constantly. I can't wait to get home and play. Why? I have no idea. All I know is I get some kind of odd high from it. For example, yesterday I played Illinois versus the Ragin' Cajuns of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. One ten point victory later and I'm walking tall all day. Why does beating some pushover school make me feel so tough? Not a clue, but it sure is fun.

This is where it starts to get hazardous for Brad. I've seen screenshots of NCAA08 on the PlayStation3 and the Xbox 360, and it looks glorious, simply glorious. If the game is this good on the old box, how awesome must it be on one of the new consoles? *drool*

I tell you, it's a sickness.

I know I've already done a Flight of the Conchords post...

2007-07-18T11:10:00.000-05:00

....and at the risk of becoming a fansite....this is just too damn funny not to include on my blog.

Rubbin's racin', Cole!

2007-07-17T16:41:00.000-05:00

So, I think that I have finally recovered enough to post about the events of my past weekend.

The boys of NASCAR came to the stately Chicagoland Speedway in lovely Joilet, Illinois over this past weekend. The racetrack is a hop, skip and jump from my parents home out in there in heartland. Well, bright and early on Sunday morning (This was after a night out at the Joilet Jackhammers game. While I was there I was fortunate enough to get a quality picture with their mascot Jammer. The pictures are hopefully to follow.) I was roused from sleep in my parents house, herded sleepily into a van and before you knew it I was sipping the High Life before 9:30AM. Good times......damn good times.

My father, all three of my brothers and my brother-in-law all were able to make it in for the race. It was full fledged family male bonding. My brother Bruce was master of the grill, stirring up a yummy brunch and tasty dinner for us. Meanwhile my little brother Brian and I went head to head at bags/cornhole/whatever you want to call it. I was trounced soundly over and over and over, but I think I out drank him pretty handily, so really in the end I think we can call it a wash.

The weather was awesome, the race was loud and in the end Tony Stewart won fairly handily which made a majority of my family (including yours truly) pretty damn happy.

Yesterday I had absolutely no voice, was more than a tad hangy-overy but all and all pretty damn happy. I definitely have to go again next year.....and this time I'll have to bring a damn camera. A picture of the stand at the local gas station that was selling a wide variety of different confederate flags would have been a priceless addition to this post. I personally was a huge fan of the one with "Git-R-Done!" in huge letters the middle. Hey, I never claimed NASCAR was the Sport of Kings!

Oh, did I mention that the Cubs swept the Astros this weekend as well? With a sports weekend that great, I'm definitely due for some sort of wicked karmatic sports backlash in the very near future.

Blog Leavings

2007-07-12T14:55:00.000-05:00

I got thoughts bouncing around in my head like one of those machines they draw the lottery number ping-pong balls from, yet none of them are quite big enough to warrant their own individual post. In order to expunge my thinker of some of these random thoughts, I present you this entry of a few odds and ends.

Topic #1: With David Beckham coming to the LA Galaxy, the Spice Girls reuniting, and with her getting her own TV special, America is getting a full frontal Victoria Beckham assault. I'm sorry. She's just not for me. Maybe after she eats several sandwiches....

On the other hand, I think Baby Spice (Emma Bunton) has developed quite nicely, thank you.

MERCY!

Topic #2: It's the All-Star break and my Cubs are right back in it. After a downright lousy spring, the Cubs were tied for the second best record in the majors in the month of June. They are now a game over .500 and only 4.5 games out of first in the National League Central and 4.0 games out of the wild card.

Did you hear that? That is hope you hear in my typing. Unfortunately, my spirits have risen. I'm dreadfully getting excited and hopeful. This happens even though I know with certainty that I will eventually be let down in some terribly painful, soul-crushing manner. Such is the curse of the Cubs fan. You know it's coming like it has so often in the past (1969, 1984, 2003)....yet you are utterly powerless to stop being excited about it. It's like knowing a girl is going to eventually break up with you in some humiliating way in front of all your friends, but yet still being excited about the relationship.

My real fear is that I will one day pass on this sickness to my children....well that and my receding hairline.

Topic #3: The fateful day has come that I must let a loved one go. We had a lot of good times together but there comes a time when you realize that a relationship just isn't healthy anymore. Admittedly I had seen this coming for awhile now, but when the feelings are strong and you've invested so much time in a relationship, you stick around through the bad times hoping things will get better. Finally the time has come to just admit that the woman has gone batshit insane and I have to get the hell outta there.

Lindsay Lohan, the crush is over.

I stuck with you through the skinny phase, the really bad pop career, the showing your naughty bits to the world, even the "glug, glug...vroom, vroom...snore, snore...crash, crash"...but all together its just been to much. You had so much potential (By the way, this is where I'd probably put in the musical montage of pictures from the good old days probably to the strains of Skid Row's "I Remember You") and once upon a time I had such high hopes. Now I have to move on and retire you to the Britney Spears Wing of my pantheon of crushes.

...but hey, we'll always have "Mean Girls". *tear*

I have a feeling Oskee is a Whig.

2007-07-11T16:03:00.000-05:00

I don't know why, and I sure haven't read it, but just the cover of this book amuses me immensely.

Well, it must be pretty darn good if they sell it in an auto and truck repair shop.

Things That Never Fail to Make Brad Smile: Volume #3

2007-07-11T14:51:00.000-05:00

I have loved the Flight of the Choncords since I saw their HBO comedy special about two years ago. It was on the Comcast "On Demand" at the time and my roommate and I kept watching it over and over again....and the more beers we had, the funnier it got. It was good, good stuff.

Well now they have their own HBO series. Unfortunately now I no longer have HBO, so I've had to use various methods just to catch glimpses of it here and there. What I have seen has been good and I still heartily approve!

I guess I'll just have to wait for the Season 1 DVD.

With all apologies to my friend Tom....

2007-07-09T15:07:00.000-05:00

Last Friday night I got to see the Police at Wrigley Field and it was pretty freaking awesome. I'd seen Sting in concert a few times in the past, but nothing quite compared to this. It was one of my favorite bands of all time playing in my favorite place in the world. Thanks to my pal Cheeks for offering me his spare ticket. I'd definitely have kicked myself if I had missed this concert.

The woman in front of me gave me mad, fly props for knowing the words to most of the songs. I wanted to tell her if someone spent $98 bucks on tickets and didn't know the words to "Message in a Bottle", they pretty much wasted a good $98.

Oh and by the way, if this is my beloved friend Tom reading this, I'm lying. You didn't miss a thing. They sucked ass.

Rumors of My Demise are Greatly Exaggerated

2007-06-27T17:07:00.000-05:00

So I know that I've been pretty scarce lately. I'm so sorry about that. What can I say, summer hits and things get busy in these parts. So what exciting things have I been so busy with that I'd completely ignore you? Well, let me tell you...

1. I went to my nephew's wedding Outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky the first week on June. Yes, I have nephews getting married before me, a fact not lost on my father who teased me at the first opportunity. It was a great time. It's very rare that we can get our whole family together with all my brothers and their families and my sister and her family. I took the opportunity to pass along some of my years of accumulated knowledge on to my nephews and nieces. I taught my one teenage niece how to yell out "Freebird!!!!" anytime a song was requested and as you can see I just about have the littlest of the flock doing picture perfect finger guns. This little one has potential. With a little help from her Uncle Brad, there's no telling how far she'll go!

2. I got old...well at least I got older. Thirty-fucking-six. Wow. Just wow. I don't think I ever really expected to get this old. Hell, if I did get this old I at least expected to have my shit together. My shit is soooooo still not together. All things considered though, I still have my health, I have a uber-great family and I've made a ton of good friends in that 36 years (even if some are in Colorado and London). No real complaints in the end. Now if I could just learn to be the age behaviorly I actually am chronologically.

It just so happened that my friend Chris (see pic above) was throwing a small AYCD shindig for his brother that night to celebrate his bother's soon to be marriagedom. Upon finding out that the party fell on birthday as well, Chris decided to make it a combined Super-Mega-Bachelor Party/Birthday Party Extravaganza!!! at Schoolyard Tavern. Many beers were drank. Many shots were shot. It was a great time and I thank my good buddy Chris for including me in his party. I really appreciated it. Chris is quality people. If you don't already have a Chris in your life I highly recommend getting one.

3. The radio show is really up and running again.
Yipee!

Unfortunately, I haven't been part of it.
Booo!

I have the headset, I have the buddies doing the radioshow but currently the only computer I have to use to broadcast is not really mine, and therefore has some sort of anti-Skype programming on it. It has so far foiled all my attempts to reestablish my status as an Internet radio sensation. Poop. I am not happy. I'm starting to think I need to start a charity to get me back on the air, one whose sole purpose is to help get me a cheap-ass desktop and a monitor so I can spread my message of love, beer and poop (and store all my porn).

Speaking of poop, I promise to be more regular with my blogging in the future.

Really!

Why are you laughing?

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

2007-05-30T11:38:00.000-05:00

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?

2007-05-29T13:07:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, just sometimes...

2007-05-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

....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.

2007-05-20T23:19:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-17T18:28:00.000-05:00

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!!!!!

2007-05-16T13:38:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-05-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-05-15T08:15:00.000-05:00

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

Embracing my inner NASCAR fan.

2007-05-12T12:16:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-05-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

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

New Team Website

2007-05-09T17:01:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-08T12:04:00.000-05:00

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....

2007-05-07T12:34:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-02T17:28:00.001-05:00

The 2000 Worlb Series Champs!!!

Dumbass.

The Cubs have started the year 4-7...

2007-04-15T17:41:00.000-05:00

...so this seems oddly appropriate.

Looks like it's going to be another long summer. Well, on the bright side, at least we'll have Sweet Lou to keep us entertained.

I think I'll go for a run now.

Oskee likes his new friend Ernie.

2007-04-11T18:10:00.000-05:00

Of course 30 seconds later, Oskee attempted to rip Ernie's face off which resulted in major surgery to sew Ernie back up.

The scars on my arms serve as testament to Oskee's rough brand of love.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!!

2007-04-05T23:46:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm four days overdue but you must excuse me, deciding on a new school to root for can not be rushed. It takes time and deep thought and several Miller High Lifes.

After much thought, many sleepless nights (there were in fact no sleepless nights) and pizza for both lunch and dinner today, the winner was finally clear.

So congrats to listener/reader Twench....

Why Maryland?

First of all there are all the reasons Twench gave...

1. No one has a turtle, let alone a terrapin!

2. Unless PETA gets involved, I think we're safe with the nickname

3. 2002 Men's NCAA Basketball Champ, 2006 Women's NCAA Basketball Champ, 2001 ACC Football Champ, 2005-06 Field Hockey Champ, 2005-06 Men's Soccer Champ

4. Red and white are the primary, with black and gold as the secondary colors.

5. 32000 students, 1500 acre campus.

6. Not even in the same conference as the college which shall not be named.

7. Duke and Virginia specifically. MD-Duke basketball match ups are now legendary.

..and there are my personal x-factors that put the Terps over the top...

1. They hate Duke...Duke hates them. That makes them swell in my book.

2. They have a sense of humor.

3. ...and this is the biggie. My mom was born in Cumberland, Maryland. Though I've never met them, I still have family there. Yes, my peeps are from Maryland. That's blood, people. Nothing trumps blood.

So thank you all for playing. Sorry to all of those I didn't pick....I'm sure your school is still very good at their respective sports that they are known for being good at...or in my buddy ATL's case, they are obviously still good at ALL sports.

So Go Illini, Go Terps and I'm off to buy yet another hat.

...and now that I followed through....Doy, you can update your blog. ;)

*Brad puts on his helmet, hunkers down and prepares for the forthcoming retaliatory comments*

Rejoice!! The TV gods have truly smiled upon us today!

2007-04-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

30 Rock is easily my favorite new show and one of the best comedies on TV. If you aren't watching it you are horribly horribly wrong.

Well, the powers that be over at NBC have renewed it for next season, which will hopefully keep my favorite lineup on TV intact (My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock). Hey, those of us that can't stomach Grey's Anatomy have to have something to watch on Thursday nights, goshdarnit!!!

30 Rock Renewed for 2007-2008

So today, I am happy! Now, free Chipotle for lunch!!! I'm the luckiest boy in the world.

Hey Cubbie fans (and haters)...

2007-03-30T12:06:00.000-05:00

This is probably the funniest thing I've read since Kyle Farnsworth got his ass kicked by an electric fan.

THe Chicago Cubs Spring Training Chatroom

Though I have no tickets, I have taken the day of the Cubs home opener off to go hang around the field and maybe find my way in. I have a line on rooftop tix, but we'll see how that pans out. I'm hoping for particularly blog-worthy events. I will keep you posted.

Speaking of that, I really need to get a digital camera soon so I can remember what happened the next day.

Brad Seal of Approval: I found the new love of my life....

2007-03-27T12:47:00.000-05:00

....and she is Miller High Life. The commercials do not lie. It is a damn good beer at a tasty price. It is now the "Official Beer of Brad". If you are in the mood for classic American swill, get an ice cold bottle of this golden gem. So tasty!

I love this picture

2007-03-21T00:45:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Amber's camera phone. I don't know if she meant to be artsy or the camera phone is just a piece of poop, but either way I think it sums up this past, lost drunken weekend perfectly.

'nuff said.

In the spirit of the season...

2007-03-14T17:15:00.000-05:00

Part of the fun of sports is rooting on our favorite teams to win.

Well, we all know that.

The dark, seedy, yet just as fun side of sports is rooting for your most hated teams to lose. Sometimes an Iowa loss is just as thrilling as an Illini win (see last years first round of the tourney for example).

Now in pro-sports it's easy to find a team to hate. There's only so many teams to pick from. For example, let's say you develop a dislike for....I don't know...lets just say...purely as an example.....the St.Louis Cardinals. That's one of only 30 teams. Chances are you'll find away to demonstrate your intense hatred for them in many ways on many occasions.

Now in Division I basketball there are so many teams to pick from! I want to say hundreds, but I'm not sure and I'm too lazy to count. If anyone wants to do it for me, please go right ahead. You have to agree though, there are lots of the buggers. So how do you pick who to root against and even then,why? Yeah, you have your traditional teams that you detest, but why limit your hate to just them? If you're anything like me you probably have spare oodles of hate just looking for a constructive outlet! Maybe in the 64 teams left vying for the title in the NCAA tourney you don't know if you should be rooting against the Niagara Purple Eagles or the Albany Great Danes....hmmmm....what's a fan to do?

Well, the folks at Slate has come to your aid. They have picked out 13 Teams For You To Root Against.

Enjoy!

*Brad hangs up the "Gone Drinkin'" sign on the Pulpit*

The Running Man.

2007-03-12T15:35:00.000-05:00

This weekend, for a brief moment, winter loosened it's grip on my fair city. It actually got up to the *gasp* 50's!!

After running in near-zero windchills for the past two months, it was finally the day I'd been waiting through the cold and darkness for. I pulled on my shorts, tied up my shoes and headed out. I ran toward Lake Michigan where we have one of the best running paths anywhere. If you ever visit Chicago and you are a runner you must log some miles on it. It's a glorious way to see the Second City and it's inhabitants. (Map here.) Oh, as you can see they let bikers and rollerbladers on it too, but please don't run me over.

I felt so good I planned on running six, but once all was said and done, I finshed seven miles in just slightly under an hour. I took it nice and easy, enjoying the scenery and all that was going on. It was quite crowded down there but awesome none the less. It was like the city was waking from a great slumber. It was my best run of the year so far and I just keep feeling better and better. Training for the Soldier Field 10 mile starts next Monday, then once that is run it will be time to focus on the Chicago Marathon in October. Barring injury, I'm feeling quite positive about doing well in both.

Oh, and I've currently run 116 miles since January 1st.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2007-03-12T14:53:00.000-05:00

Well, this is the week I look forward to all year. To me it's like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween all wrapped up into one and covered in a layer of rich milk chocolate. These are the first two days I request off each and every year. I've been excited since the middle of last week. I've felt like a kid staring at his Christmas presents under the tree, and feeling like time had stopped, that Christmas would never come....like the second hand on the clock was moving backwards.

What's so special about this week?

March Madness and St.Patrick's Day. Joy!

This Thursday through Sunday I will be rooted in front of many televisions at some Chicago drinking establishment or at one of my friends' houses gorging myself on beer and basketball. I have taken Thursday and Friday off just for that expressed purpose. It's pure gluttony of all things manly. I really somehow just need to get it established as a religious holiday....the high holy days of Bradism.

As if there weren't already enough reasons to whoop it up, my friend Sean will be in town from Arizona where he moved six or so months ago as well. ( For a moving photo essay on Sean, I can't recommend visiting my friend Amber's blog enough. Yes, he's one of those guys. ) It's going to be good to see him...and to drink many beers with him again.

So if you have a hard time getting a hold of me this weekend you know why. I also want to apologize in advance for any incoherent voice mails or text messages you may receive from me. I've developed a bad habit of doing that lately. It has kind of been my new method of showing affection to family and friends. If you are a recipient, please be flattered, and you might want to save it for future celebrity roasts, birthday parties or blackmail purposes, if I ever decide to run for office.

So to all, enjoy this week. You know I will.

Things That Never Fail to Make Brad Smile: Volume #2

2007-03-06T16:29:00.001-06:00

Oh Arrested Development, how I miss you. You were taken from us much too soon....

Score Some Digital Heroin

2007-03-06T14:13:00.001-06:00

Just to share my new addiction with the world.

Kill You Some Zombies

Now I have to get back to the game. Get you some!!

R.I.P. Tikitten's Boys.

2007-03-05T12:52:00.000-06:00

Well, Oskee came home yesterday a little lighter...testicular-ly.

So if you get a chance, pour a little out for my little guy's little boys. Cryin' shame he never got to use 'em....

First Race of '07.

2007-03-05T09:58:00.000-06:00

Sorry for being scarce...but frankly not much has been going down around here lately.

For those that don't know, after a hiatus of a year or so, I've been running pretty seriously since last December. I've already logged over 100 miles this year, most of it in pretty crappy conditions and pretty frigid temperatures. I'm already signed up to run at least five races this year (Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Race to Wrigley 5K, Soldier Field 10, and the Chicago Marathon). Yesterday, I ran the first race of the year with my friends Tracy and Chris. It was the Wacky Snacky 5K. It was not all that wacky, but it was fairly snacky considering there was a snack food buffet after the race. It still was not quite snacky enough for Chris' tastes. He likes snacks.

As you can see from the picture, it was pretty chilly at the start (25 degrees or so). I did not know quite what to expect for my performance since I hadn't run a 5K since last year. We lined up in the cold and tried to stay warm by hopping around. When the gun went off, Chris took off at a furious pace. I just tried to keep up with him. When we hit the first mile I saw a time of about 7:30, and that wasn't adjusted for the 20-25 seconds it took me to get to the start line! Keep in mind my training runs have all been at about a 8:30/9 minute mile pace. I slowed down a little and overall I felt pretty good the whole time. I eventually finished with a time of 23:40 which works out to a pace of 7:38. That's better than I could ever of hoped for. Chris and Tracy did really well too. I was able to double back after I finished and watch the finishers enter the chute. I saw Chris coming in and started yelling, "C'mon Chris. You're almost to the snacks!!!!" I don't think it helped, but he finished his first race in good time and managed to avoid getting puked on by the girl behind him. Mad fly props to Chris!

I want to say now that during the next race I run (Shamrock Shuffle) I'm going to take it easy and just enjoy it, but I say that every time. Then I line up at the start, and I can't help but run balls out. My only savior is that the Shuffle is so crowded it should help to throttle me down some....and the scenery running through downtown Chicago is awesome.

All in all, it was a great start to the running season.

The Bully Pulpit's first contest!

2007-02-22T16:18:00.000-06:00

So I recently became a free agent. At about 8:56 Champaign-time last night, as Chief Illiniwek left the court in Assembly Hall, my enthusiasm for Illini sports left with him.

Will I still root for them? Sure.

Will I still go to games? Yep.

Will I ever be as fanatical as I was when I went to New Orleans to see the Sugar Bowl in 2001 or when I went fetal while watching the waning moments of the National Championship game in 2005? Unfortunately I highly doubt it.

So that leaves me with untapped fanaticism without an outlet. Your mission: Find me a new school to root for! Convince me that your Alma mater or just your favorite college is the one for me.

Things I will consider when picking a winner:

1. Originality of the mascot. The Bulldogs, Wildcats, Tigers and Eagles of the world aren't disqualified, but they are definitely behind the eight-ball. You'll have to explain why your Tigers are so much better than the other Tigers in your conference (Yes, LSU I'm talking to you).

2. Though I really like native American nicknames, there must be an active tribe receiving payouts from the university as to assure they won't get Illini-ed like my true Alma mater just did. I really can't take that again. I call this the Florida State Factor. Coversely your school cannot have gotten rid of a Native American mascot in the recent past. I'm talking to the Stanfords, the Miami of Ohios, the SE Missouri States of the world.

3. Recent athletic success. I have enough losers in my personal stable (IE. the Cubs)so if I'm going to pick a new team, they should be a winner. Football success trumps basketball success. Recent success in both would be awesome! Hear me, Florida?

4. School colors. I don't want to own another f'ing orange shirt...and I'm not all that crazy about purple. Nobody looks good in purple.

5. Though small schools are not disqualified, it would be nice to have a school that I can watch a game on TV now and then. Bigger schools have the inside track.

6. The college cannot have "Notre" or "Dame" in their name.

7. Heated rivalries are a plus. Then I not only get a new school to root for, I get a new school to hate! Heated rivalries with cool names are even better (Red River Shootout, The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party).

8. Unique traditions.

9. Cool logos that look good on hats.

10. Any other factors that my fickle ass decides on (I have a problem with their basketball uniforms, Vanilla Ice once wore a shirt from that school in a video, etc).

So take a stab at it! Post your reasons here on my blog and I will pick a winner. Deadline for entries is Midnight CST, March 19th...and I'll announce a winner by April 1st.

Once a winner is anounced, I'll buy some gear from my new school, take a picture and post it on this site.

What's in it for you? Well the first time I attend a game at my new school, I'll buy you a beer and you can have your pick from my extensive collection of orange t-shirts.

Good luck and GO(insert your school here)!!!!

So I'm thinking of getting shirts made...

2007-02-22T16:02:00.000-06:00

...'cause I seriously have no idea what an Illini is anymore.

On the bright side of things, I never have to wear orange shirts again. I REALLY hated wearing orange shirts.

I may have spoken too soon.

2007-02-21T18:44:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I said my life was complete. I was a smidge premature.

Lookie! My first banning from a internet chat board! Not exactly sure what I did, but I'm sure it was quite, quite heinous...and probably had something to do with Chief Illiniwek. Now it can never be said that I've never made a sacrifice for my beliefs. My mother would be proud.....if she had the slightest idea what an internet chatboard was....which she most certainly does not.

Well,I guess I now know what I'm giving up for Lent.

NOW, my life is complete....plus now I have kind of that "bad boy" vibe that chicks dig so much!

The Chief speaks...and speaks well.

2007-02-21T11:25:00.000-06:00

Well, tonights game versus Michigan is the final dance of Chief Illiniwek. In this article from SI on Campus, the current Chief, Dan Maloney, states his feelings on the matter.

The Chief.

He also sums up my feelings much better than I ever could of. From this day on my relationship with the University changes, and it has yet to be seen how. I can not imagine it will be for the better. It was probably time for me to move on anyways.

My life is complete...

2007-02-20T12:05:00.000-06:00

A Michigan grad who has little knowledge of the Chief situaton and NO emotional stake in it (but has a more bully pulpit than mine) called me "Sad" and "Small". It doesn't get much better than this!

I actually disagree with you on point #4.
If I gave money to a charity, and that charity suddenly made moves that no longer reflected my values or beliefs, I would not continue blindly donating money to that charity.
The University no longer reflects my values and I do not support that. There are plenty of other outlets that can better use my money.
Trust me, being a huge research university, me taking the University license plates off my car and not returning the yearly request for donations isn't going to cause the Illini Union to come crashing to the ground. It will be an impotent gesture, but I will feel better and my money will go to better causes.
And as a Michigan grad, you have no first hand knowledge the emotions that run here. Because this was handled so poorly by the university, we will be hearing about it for years to come. Trust me.

ZORN REPLY -- Oh, come on. Your value system is so tied up in this sports ritual that you are now rejecting the University for making this decision after many years of wrestling with it? You think this makes up a fraction of a percent of what this University means, what it stands for, what it does, why it's important? That's so sad and so small.

Eric Zorn of The Chicago Tribune

Things That Never Fail to Make Brad Smile: Volume #1

2007-02-19T17:33:00.001-06:00

It's an oldie but a goodie. Enjoy the stove solo.

Brad's Rainy Day Happy Fun Club!!!

2007-02-16T19:56:00.000-06:00

Today's activity is a Law&Order coloring book courtesy of http://www.brandonbird.com/lno_color.html.

Be sure to color Det. Lenny Briscoe as jaded and cynical as you possibly can!!!

Honor. Loyalty. Tradition.

2007-02-16T10:17:00.000-06:00

1926-2007

Only the Chicago Cubs could disappoint me BEFORE the season starts

2007-02-15T13:43:00.000-06:00

Well about this time last year, we Cub fans got this thrown at us. Many of us were not pleased.

Not to be outdone for 2007, the Cubs let loose the news that we can expect something along the lines of this for the upcoming season:

(Artist Conception)

I'd be upset, but obviously the Cubs are using the money they are making from selling Wrigley Field piece by piece to advertisers in order to field a high quality product. (You should now be detecting a subtle hint of sarcasm)

By the way, single game tickets go on sale next Friday, February 23rd. Don't even get me started on the fact that bleacher tickets for Prime Dates have gone up to $42 a pop.....by the way over HALF of this year's home games have been deemed "Prime Dates" (46 0f 81).

Next year is here!!!

On this most special of days....

2007-02-14T10:13:00.000-06:00

For this and other less mushy statements of love, visit http://www.meish.org/vd.

I could really use a beer.

I enjoy Natalie Dee.

2007-02-13T13:37:00.000-06:00

Maybe you will, too.

Natalie Dee

Give it a try.

Brad's signs of the apocalypse for February 12, 2007

2007-02-12T11:02:00.000-06:00

Sign #1: The Black Eyed Peas won a Grammy for Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for their lyrical friggin' masterpiece "My Humps".

Now I have nothing against the Peas. I own some of their music (mind you I didn't pay good American currency for it). I find it catchy and entertaining. Overall, I kind of like 'em....even when they pee themselves.

But these are Grammy winning lyrics?

"What you gon? do with all that junk? All that junk inside that trunk? I?ma get, get, get, get, you drunk, Get you love drunk off my hump. What u gon? do with all that ass? All that ass inside them jeans? I?m a make, make, make, make you scream Make u scream, make you scream. Cos of my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump. My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely lady lumps."

....and that's just the chorus!!!

Wow. I would understand the People's Choice awards or even the American Music Awards, but I actually thought that the Grammys were...I don't know....respectable? I stand corrected.

Sign #2: The Eddie Murphy movie "Norbit" was #1 at the box office and made $33.7 million.

Remember when Eddie Murphy was cutting edge, provocative and funny? I bet you that if he was given a chance, that Eddie Murphy would kick this Eddie Murphy's ass.

Hopefully he won't be nominated for an Oscar for this role as well.

Life at 5 mph.

2007-02-09T20:56:00.000-06:00

So it took me over an hour and a half to get home tonight.

Traffic is teh suck....and it's teh double suck on Friday night.

Thing is I love living in the city.

Unfortunately, I love my job..... that just as unfortunately happens to be out in the 'burbs.

Something may have to give.

I'm going to go out and have a few beers now. I think I've earned them.

Heck you have one, too. You deserve it.

For all my Chicago peeps..

2007-02-09T15:27:00.001-06:00

Barrack Obama is speaking at a rally at UIC on Sunday afternoon at 3:30. Details and ticket locations are here (http://www.barackobama.com/tour/illinois/chicago/index.php) .

My new winter coat....

2007-02-09T15:05:00.000-06:00

Okay...so I've already complained about the cold once this week....and normally I'd let it go by now....but this is re-goddamn-diculous! It hasn't been above 20 degrees since last Thursday. I'm actually getting kind of used to just always being cold. I think what is really bothering me is the fact since it has been so cold, I have not strapped on my running shoes since last Thursday night. Running has been keeping me sane for the past few months now and I was just really getting into the sickness when this cold snap hit. Heck, it's gotten to the point where I've been saying to myself that "It's 18 out but that's pretty close to 20 (my cut off point)!". Now that's sick.

I'm to the point where I may break down soon and hit a treadmill...as much as I detest them. Bah.

By popular demand: Tiki the Tank's lost frat weekend recap

2007-02-06T15:11:00.001-06:00

Well my nephew invited me downstate for Father-Son Weekend at his fraternity. The following is a high level recap of the festivities. Names have been changed to protect the innocent:

Start off with beer at frat house.

Watch nephews roommate fill a glass 3/4 full of jager and then top it off with a splash of red bull. I'm a little afraid now.

Beer, wings and cheese fries at bar. Lite Drafts = $1.75

Kegs of Beer at house across from frat house called "The Hive".

B-ball game.

Back to "The Hive". More beer. Much more beer.

Convinced a dude named "Diesel", who THINKS he rammed his head into a wall the night before causing the large marks on his face , that he should run for President one day.

Nephew starts introducing me to every girl he can find with big boobs.

Diesel start campaigning by shaking the hand of everyone walking into the party, "Vote for me for president, but not now....when I'm 35." I'm proud I can inspire the nations youth.

Tell a kid how much I love his Kyle Orton jersey and offer to buy it. I call him Neckbeard the rest of the night.

*big boobied blonde* "Your Uncle Brad is cute and so funny! How old is he?"
*Nephew* Age doesn't matter.
That's my boy!

Kegs run out.

Sober pledge drives me, my brother-in-law and nephew to bar in d'town Blormal. Nearly plotz that I order three Lite drafts and get over $6 in change on a $10.

More beer, jager bombs, soco and lime

Girl starts making dirty faces at me. So I start making Brad faces at her. She comes over and explains that she's really making them at a guy standing behind me wearing Cardinals hat and compliments me on my Bears hat. We talk. She goes back to her killjoy roommate at the table who is pouting. She comes back in 15 minutes and hands me a beer and apologizes that she has to leave because of her roommate being too cold.

More Beer. More shots. Bar closes, sober pledge drives us back to frat.

"UNCLE BRAD!"

Jager guy puking in nephews room. Join party playing asshole in other room. Drink much more beer with group of people I don't know.

*blurry girl* "You're so funny, when are you coming back down?"

Brother-in-law falls asleep at urinal standing up. Boys tried to wake him up. "Mr. So-and-so, Mr. So-and-so, wake up!...... Aw fuck it, go get a camera!" Unfortunately he woke up and shook it off before we got the camera.

I head down to kitchen and talk to girls with my younger nephew. Watch my older nephew drop a whole pizza on the floor. He still ate the crust.

Crawl into unoccupied bed up in common sleeping area at 4ish. Was one of last few standing. I was proud of me.

Wake up at 11 the next morning.. Come down stairs.

*group* "UNCLE BRAD, YOU CASANOVA!"

"Uncle Brad, I hear you were hitting on my girl!"
"Could you be more specific? I remember talking to a lot of girls."

I open a can of Keystone Light.

You'll freeze to death before you reach the first marker!

2007-02-06T10:44:00.000-06:00

So it's cold in Chicago.........I know "water is wet, the sky is blue" but c'mon this is just silly. It is 1 degree Fahrenheit right now. (BTW, I'm all about going to the metric system for the mere fact that I have never been able to spell Fahrenheit. Celsius is SOOOO much easier to spell.)

Did I mention that it is 1?

...and it's snowing like crazy. It is not supposed to snow when it is 1. Those are the rules. No snowing when it is 1. Obviously, those rules no longer apply. Dagnabit.

I haven't even been running since last Thursday because it's just too damn cold. When I ran Thursday night it was a balmy 20 degrees out. Now I can only hope for it to get that warm again. Yes, I'm hoping that it will get above 20. That's pretty pathetisad. Hell, I'll prolly be sweating my butt off when I run when we hit the 30's.

Yesterday was so cold, I just didn't leave the apartment at all let alone go for a run. Tikitten and I slept a lot and it was glorious.

All in all, I feel the blame lies with my friends and family. If they didn't all live up here, I'd still be living in Savannah, where it is a balmy 50 degrees right now. When I come down with the hypothermia and lose three toes to frostbite, they are all gonna feel SOOOOOO guilty, and rightfully so.

I kind of feel bad for them a little...but then I start to lose the feeling in my extremities....

So the Bears lost in the Super Bowl.

2007-02-05T18:38:00.000-06:00

On the bright side of things, the Cubs home opener is April 9th.

....and I'm sure they won't disappoint me.

So I have a crush on Kristin Chenoweth....

2007-02-02T20:22:00.001-06:00

...and I don't care who knows it!!! *Brad spins and throws hat in the air*

It's alive.

2007-02-02T14:05:00.000-06:00

So after listeners of Radiotiki (http://www.newbreedsystems.com/tikipedia/index.php/Brad) noticed my initial blog had a short and uneventful life, I have decided to give it another go. Since Radiotiki (www.radiotiki.com) is going on hiatus soon until Tommy gets settled in England, I may need a new creative outlet....and heck I'm sure the listeners would like to keep tabs on what B-List Brad has been doing with his spare time ("Really, he went out drinking beer again? NO WAY!")

So heck, let's give it another try. Please let me do enough interesting things in my life to make this worthwhile....

As a gift for being so patient with me, my gift for you is a picture of Oskee the Tikitten.

He's awesometastic!

...and yes, I still love gormet sub day and working from home. Some things never change.

I like working from home.

2006-03-03T21:46:00.000-06:00

Today I worked from home. It made realize how much I hate my commute. I so wish I didn't like my job so much.

Doing the radio show tonite. Please let it be funny.

Today is gormet sub day in the cafeteria

2006-03-02T11:52:00.000-06:00

It don't get much better than that.

I'll be having the Italian (Ham, Salami, Provolone, Italian Dressing) with the whole garden AND giardenara. Add to that chips, a pickle and a Diet Mountain Dew, and I'm a happy, happy man.

Oh, I brought hummus for food day.....angry, bitter, red pepper hummus.

Later today I'm going to sneak off for a haircut. I hope the 72 hour rumors regarding such is true.