Blog archives
2008: Our blog archives for the year 2008
Auld Lang Syne lyrics: Burns poem, Dougie MacLean song
December 31, 2008
Auld Lang Syne is an old song. Its Scottish lyrics are taken from a 1788 Robert Burns poem, and customarily sung on New Year’s Eve.
Time Warner Cable to drop Viacom, including Comedy Central?
December 31, 2008
Our cable provider is Time Warner Wisconsin, and we might lose all of our Viacom channels tonight, as the New Year is rung in .
NPR: 'Bread in the Water,' where ducks walk on fishes
December 30, 2008
I heard a truly original piece on NPR today, about an obscure Pennsylvania tourist attraction “Where the Ducks Walk on the Fish.”
Darren Stephens arrested in Chicago (not Darrin Stephens or the other Darren Stephens)
December 30, 2008
Someone was arrested in Chicago, but he may not be who you think he is or what he said he was.
Wisconsin's million-dollar Web designers depict Minneapolis skyline
December 30, 2008
Why is there a picture of the Minneapolis skyline on the Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System website?
Barack Obama: Jerk or Jedi?
December 29, 2008
Does the media really have to fan every flame and cover every sandwich?
Traditional New Years foods for good luck
December 28, 2008
A look at a few of the events and the foods that have become New Year’s traditions.
Rick Sanchez and baby talk news
December 24, 2008
Rick Sanchez and the new, superficial, Twitter-it-yourself news. Is it Quality?
When is the first day of winter? December 1.
December 21, 2008
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: Winter begins on December 1.
Buzz magnets
December 20, 2008
A quick look at a few of the subjects that were generating interest on Google Trends and Twitter this particular Saturday morning.
Yes, we got some snow here
December 19, 2008
Documenting the foot of snow that fell here in Racine, Wisconsin overnight and into the day.
Steve Dahl Show items at Chicago Tribune
December 19, 2008
Links to LaNell’s letter on the anniversary of Terry Armour’s passing, and what Steve Dahl has been up to since his radio show was canceled.
'The Digg Reel'
December 18, 2008
You should watch ‘The Digg Reel’. It showcases popular Internet videos, and Andrew Bancroft is a funny host.
Body parts in the news
December 18, 2008
Drew Peterson engaged to 23-year-old woman? Maybe not (updated)
December 17, 2008
Drew Peterson’s publicist confirms his client has become engaged to a 23-year-old woman. Drew wonders how this got out.
Could free TV make a comeback?
December 17, 2008
Our neighbor gets plenty of digital channels — for free — on the same old TVs she has owned for years.
Next big movie buzz: 'Black Dynamite'
December 14, 2008
The buzz is building for ‘Black Dynamite,’ an upcoming spoof of ’60s and ’70s blaxploitation movies.
Reporter throws shoes at George W. Bush
December 14, 2008
FishbowlDC posts NBC video and three entries about one Iraqi reporter’s farewell today to President George W. Bush.
Attention, Richard Roeper: The new media flows two ways
December 12, 2008
Richard Roeper sends these tweets to 1,142 followers, but he follows not a single one of them in return. Where Ebert is vigorously interactive, Roeper is one-way.
George W. Bush Library pays $35K for Web domain name
December 12, 2008
A company bought GeorgeWBushLibabry.com for $10, then sold it back to the Bush library for $35,000.
Buzz Kilman show tonight at Bill's Blues in Evanston
December 12, 2008
Buzz Kilman and the Blues Rocket Scientists are doing two sets — one at 8:30, and another at midnight.
'Good Eats' on YouTube
December 9, 2008
The Good Eats Fan Page now includes YouTube links to several recent seasons of ‘Good Eats’ episode.
And now Kevin Matthews has MS
December 8, 2008
I just opened a Google alert to read ‘Kevin Matthews returns to the airwaves after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis’ via Kyle Koster’s Sun-Times .
Bill Murray crashing parties, says New York Post
December 8, 2008
The New York Post reports that Bill Murray has been showing up unexpectedly at area parties, and engaging in random conversation before leaving.
Steeling a fabulous new kitchen look
December 8, 2008
Apply Thomas’ Liquid Stainless Steel to your outdated appliances to make them look brand new.
Oh, crap -- Mischke too (updated)
December 7, 2008
My two biggest radio heroes have both been taken off the air on the same day — first Steve Dahl, and now T.D. Mischke.
Winter storm coming late Monday through Tuesday
December 7, 2008
Obama Plays It Cool: SNL's Fred Armisen
December 7, 2008
Fred Armisen’s Barack Obama impression on ‘Saturday Night Live’ is getting better and better.
Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP is getting panned
December 6, 2008
If Gwyneth Paltrow wants to be the Thin White Next Oprah, she may need to kick her GOOP down a notch.
Bring back Indian summer
December 6, 2008
Here in southeastern Wisconsin, December has started off with snow, and more snow is coming.
If it makes you happy
December 6, 2008
A new study reveals how friend make each other happy — especially if they are nearby.
Total Oprah
December 5, 2008
Robyn Okrant has been living, breathing, and eating Oprah for nearly a year.
Oprah's snow globe
December 5, 2008
Oprah Winfrey’s incredibly self-aggrandizing snow globe has been photographed and described by the Chicago Tribune.
She loves me, she loves me not
December 5, 2008
If we play a role in creating the world and our own future in it, then the part where we toss our crystal ball back and forth between the one hand and the other hand is crucial.
The news is in my house
December 4, 2008
Steve Dahl called me to say that CBS Radio is canceling his show, so I am losing my job.
Y2K fake protection packing
November 20, 2008
Y2K fake protection packing. You just feel so much safer knowing that people somewhere are doing their best to ensure— something or other.
Live blogging Election Day 2008
November 4, 2008
Election Day 2008, as experienced in our living room.
Early voting in Racine
October 22, 2008
Barack Obama and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. both said early voting was the way to go this time, and so that’s what we did.
The 1:10 a.m. call
October 13, 2008
The Racine Police Department woke us and much of the city with a 1:10 a.m. automatic call about a missing child.
Racine's minute in ABC's 'World News' spotlight
October 11, 2008
The Dow drops 679 points and throng of Obama supporters gathers in downtown Racine. ABC World News, here in our city to cover the election, shows none of this.
Apple orchard near Burlington, Wisconsin: Brightonwoods Orchard
September 26, 2008
Brightonwoods Orchard near Burlington, Wisconsin offers a wide variety of unusual heirloom or heritage apples.
Economic crisis, 2008
September 21, 2008
A tightening knot and a plummeting bird: The bottom has just fallen out of America’s economy.
David Byrne and Brian Eno: 'Everything That Happens Will Happen Today'
September 15, 2008
Who cares if I’m listening to the latest David Byrne / Brian Eno album? Well, ByrneEno, for one.
Four weeks wandering Web 2.0
September 11, 2008
My four weeks playing with Twitter, Rejaw, Ping.fm, Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, MySpace, Facebook, Google Reader, FriendFeed and etc.
Warning in America: Andrew J. Bacevich on 'Bill Moyers Journal'
August 18, 2008
Andrew J. Bacevich tells Bill Moyers that America’s profligacy and its imperial presidency are leading the nation into big trouble.
Saddleback forum followup
August 18, 2008
John McCain will give us hope and inspiration, Rick Warren’s “Cone of Silence” was apparently a joke.
It's God time in Campaign '08
August 15, 2008
The presidential campaign enters a religious leg with a new story on John McCain’s fervor as a POW and a forum moderated by Rev. Rick Warren.
Recipe: Potatoes Roasted with Mustard and Rosemary
August 10, 2008
A simple, rustic roasted potato recipe that Amy threw together a year or two ago.
Racine-area festivals, 2008
August 3, 2008
Summer 2008 festival roundup: Great Midwest Dragon Boat Festival, Superweek, Racine County Fair, etc.
Summerfest: Lucinda Williams, Drive-By Truckers, Alejandro Esovedo
July 6, 2008
A full day of music, including Drive-By Truckers, Romantica, Alejandro Escovedo, and Lucinda Williams on Milwaukee’s lakefront.
Enablex commercial: Class reunion of urine-filled balloons?
July 2, 2008
Recognize the voice in the Enablex bladder-balloon commercial? It’s SCTV’s Andrea Martin.
'Pan's Labyrinth' (Guillermo del Toro movie, 2006)
June 30, 2008
Guillermo del Toro’s companion piece to ‘The Devil’s Backbone’ is not quite as brilliant as that film, but it’s still very worthwhile.
Out with House Sparrows, in with American Goldfinches
May 9, 2008
We had way too many noisy sparrows, so we stopped feeding them and now focus on more desirable birds like the American Goldfinch.
'Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie'
May 6, 2008
If you like food, Gourmet’s ‘Diary of a Foodie’ is an outstanding show — and you can download it to iTunes.
Warren Zevon: 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' by Crystal Zevon
April 1, 2008
Warren Zevon’s former wife has put together a joyous and heartbreaking account of his life — including, as he requested, the bad parts.
'Shine a Light': Martin Scorsese's new Rolling Stones movie
March 30, 2008
Yes — another Stones movie, this time on the big, big screen. It turns out to be a very enjoyable show.
Jacob Weisberg: 'The Bush Tragedy' (book review)
March 24, 2008
An insightful and detailed sketch of the man and his motivations. Can you believe Bush read 87 books in 2006?
'Top Chef' Chicago
March 11, 2008
Season 4 of the Bravo TV competition — hosted by Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio — takes place in the Windy City.
José Andrés: 'Made in Spain'
March 7, 2008
This very unique PBS foodie series is both fun and fascinating.
'Volver' (Penelope Cruz movie, 2006 )
March 5, 2008
Penélope Cruz is stunning in this well-crafted Spanish story from Pedro Almodóvar.
Tapas restaurant in Racine, Wisconsin: 'Olde Madrid'
February 17, 2008
Tapas and paella have come to historic 6th Street at a busy little restaurant serving lunch and dinner.
Political robo calls: Mosquitoes of campaign season
February 14, 2008
Political calls are annoying in the extreme, and it’s time to ban them.
Back Door Slam: British youngsters have got the blues
January 29, 2008
This band from the Isle of Man and its 20-year-old guitarist Davy Knowles have some impressive blues chops.
Gregory Berg's Kenosha tornado photos
January 23, 2008
My former colleague was at Carthage College during the January 7, 2008 tornado, and took a few photos of it.
Gael García Bernal, 'The Motorcycle Diaries' (film, 2004)
January 22, 2008
An atmospheric buddy picture about a South American road trip taken by Alberto Granado and Che Guevara.
National Civil Rights Museum at Lorraine Motel in Memphis
January 21, 2008
The former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed now houses the long and moving story of the civil rights movement in the United States.
Fleece jacket by Patagonia is lightweight, warm in winter
January 18, 2008
Review: Men’s fleece jacket from Patagonia is lightweight, warm, available as a women’s fleece jacket, too.
Vimeo: Streaming high-definition video on the Web
January 7, 2008
We heard an NPR story about the HD video served up on this site.
