I often get asked...

.."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....

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

Bow before the wrath of Tom FREAKIN' Skilling!

Never let it be said...

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

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

... 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...

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

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....

...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,

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

Oskee/Tikitten has the right idea.

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

Chicago in January

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....

...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...

...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?!

..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

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

.....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

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

My Early Xmas Present from Me to You

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

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

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....

I'm buying two.

Go Illini!!

Congrats to the Red Sox "Nation"

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.