Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.

Friday, April 29, 2011

JSS: Rainiest April-- Heading for Springfield-- Green Grass, Yellow Daffs

JSS-- Just Some Stuff


1. RAINIEST APRIL-- Read in the Tribune yesterday that this was the rainiest April ever in the Chicagoland area. I sure believe it. Last spring was very rainy also and all the crabapple trees in the area came down with some sort of a fungus and couldn't keep their leaves. They are all budding again and hope we don't have a repeat.

The Chain of Lakes is now no wake. But our boat is still out in the barn in Hebron.


2. HEADING FOR SPRINGFIELD-- In about an hour, we head out for Springfield for a Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting. Of course, we'll be taking Route 66 there and back for much of our drive.


3. GREEN GRASS, YELLOW DAFFS-- With all the rain and cool temperatures, the grass is going crazy. My daffodils are really blooming right now along with the hyacinths. Tulips are starting to open. Could Spring be here?

The Drive's A to Z Playing Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue" at 7:48. --RoadDog


FINAL STUPID QUESTION: Did you ever notice that if you blow into a dog's face, it gets mad. Yet, when you take him for a ride in a car, he immediately sticks his head right out the window. Must be something about human bad breath.

The Drive's A to Z: Spring 2011-- Part 3

Been listening to a lot of the Drive, WDRV 97.1 FM lately because of their A to Z, 2000+ songs arranged alphabetically by title which they will be playing for a week.


"DREAM" SONGS

DREAM ON-- Aerosmith
DREAM POLICE-- Cheap Trick
DREAM WEAVER-- Gary Wright
DREAMBOAT ANNIE-- Heart
DREAMER-- Supertramp
DREAMS-- Fleetwood Mac
DREAMS-- Van Halen
DREAMS I'LL NEVER SEE-- Molly Hatchett


Since I got to the 'puter this morning:

DRIVER'S SEAT-- Sniff 'N Tears
DUDE (LOOKS LIKE A LADY)-- Aerosmith
DUST IN THE WIND-- Kansas
D'YER MAKER-- Led Zeppelin

EBONY EYES-- Bob Welch
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN-- Stevie Nicks
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK-- Beatles
EIGHT MILES HIGH-- Byrds

867-5309 JENNY-- Tommy Tutone
ELDERBERRY WINE-- Elton John
Eleanor Rigby-- Beatles

How Does the Music Get Better Than This? --RoadDog

STUPID QUESTION: Why do you call it an asteroid when it is outside the hemisphere, yet call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your ass?

Thursday, April 28, 2011

It's Them, Not Me: Exxon's Big Profit

Listening to Chicago's WBBM CBS Channel 2 tonight, I heard that Exxon's first quarter profits for 2011 came in at $11 billion.

They say they have no control over the price of oil and, even better, they don't make much money from oil.

How do you know when Big Oil is lying? Their mouths move.

Honestly, how could anyone figure they'd make any money when I spent $4.10 for a gallon of gas today.

Some Things Are Just Too Hard to Figure Out. --RoadDog


Still not funny.

Nazis Help Evil Axis Raise Oil Prices

From the April 27th Scotsman.

No doubt Big Oil and their Evil Axis are relishing the fact that a 13-foot-long Nazi World War II mine has been found within a few feet of a key pipeline to more than 30 British installations in the North Sea. These supply 40 percent of the country's daily North Sea oil output.

The question now is whether to leave it or remove it.

Officials report that there is no immediate threat and operations are continuing as normal.

However, this will give Big Oil the reason to further raise the price of oil to increase their profits.

Just Love Those Guys. --DaCoot

Gas Prices on the Rise

Drove into Round Lake Beach, Illinois, today and saw that prices had risen to $4.20 in town. Gas at the BP in Fox Lake was at $4.10 and later bought gas for $4.10 in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.

So, Big Oil and their Axis are pushing up the price again. Here's hoping it gets to the ridiculous price of $6 to $10 a gallon, and hopefully closer to the latter. It is going to take something that ridiculous to get the United States and other countries to unite and end the free market economy at least on that commodity. A set price, say $30 or $40 a barrel, needs to be put in place.

However, I fear that the Evil Axis will just raise it a little, then let is drop back to $3.50, still a lot more than they were getting last year this time. Again, though, these are extremely GRBs and I think the thought of all that money might cause them to overlook a sensible gas gouge and go for the really big money.

And remember, it should soon be time for the Big Oil companies to release their quarterly profits. Even with the creative accounting that is sure to take place, these profits are going to be huge. Liar's proof.

Really looking forward to those profits.

Come On Greed, Go to the Max!! --RoadDog


NOTHING at ALL funny about this gas gouge!!!

The Drive's A to Z: Spring 2011-- Part 2

Since I've been downstairs doing the blogs, I've been listening to the Drive. Sorry, no Beach Music (like usual) when A to Z is on.

Right now, at 8:52, "Boulevard" by Jackson Browne is playing.

Since I got down here, these songs have played:

BLOWING IN THE WIND-- Peter, Paul & Mary
BLUE COLLAR MAN-- Styx
BLUE JAY WAY-- Beatles
BLUE JEAN-- David Bowie
BLUE MONDAY-- Van Morrison

BLUE MORNING, BLUE DAY-- Foreigner
BLUE SKIES-- Allman Brothers
BLUE WIND-- Jeff Beck
BLUE BIRD-- Buffalo Springfield
BLUE BIRD-- Paul McCartney & Wings

BLUES POWER-- Eric Clapton
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY-- Queen
BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN-- Stevie Wonder
BOOGIE WITH STU-- Led Zeppelin
BOOM BOOM-- John lee Hooker

BOOM BOOM OUT WENT THE LIGHT-- Pat Travers Band
BORN IN THE USA-- Bruce Springsteen
BORN ON THE BAYOU-- CCR
BORN TO BE WILD-- Steppenwolf
BORN TO RUN-- Bruce Springsteen

BORN TO WANDER-- Rare Earth
BORROWED TIME-- Styx
BOULEVARD-- Jackson Browne
BOUREE-- Jethro Tull
THE BOXER-- Simon & Garfunkel

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN-- Thin Lizzie
BOYS OF SUMMER-- Don Henley
BRAIN DAMAGE-- Pink Floyd playing at this very moment. 9:18 am.

Good Stuff, Maynard. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Why is it that when somebody tells you there are billions of stars in the universe, you believe them. But someone tell you the paint is wet, you have to touch it.

The New Car and the Attack of the Old People

Yesterday, I went to the Fox lake Theatre with the intention of seeing the movie "Water for Elephants."

I took the new 2011 Malibu for my first time since we bought it. (I had driven it for a test-drive, but Liz drove it home) Still raining a little. Why is it every time we buy a new car, it has to get rained on right away? That even happened with our last two new boats. Of course, in boats, it is even less enjoyable.

I was testing out the radio presets. We have three months of free XM radio and I'm going to use it (but hopefully won't feel it necessary to buy it). I got the first group of presets set up, but couldn't figure out how to do the second one. I have the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s preset and am now on the Radio Margaritaville station.

I definitely won't have Howard Stern set on it though. What a waste.


ATTACK OF THE OLD PEOPLE

There were lots of cars already in the theatre parking lot and at least five others that appeared to be driverless as I was looking for a place to park. I saw that they were driven by little old ladies.

The line to enter was out the door and wrapping around the ice cream place. I've never seen that many people. A bus pulled up and more white hairs got off. It was a senior citizen feeding frenzy!!

I found out later "Water for Elephants" was about a guy in a rest home reminiscing about his life in a traveling circus back in the 30s and 40s. This would be a draw for old folks and I imagine that is why they were there.

I figured I'd just see another movie, but when I walked up to the theatre, all five registers had at least ten people in line. No way I'm going to wait in a line like that.

Went Home. --RoadDog

Wait a minute, in less than a month, I'll be sixty. reckon that kind of makes me an old person as well.


STUPID QUESTION: If a man is walking in a forest and no woman is there to hear him, is he still wrong?

The Drive's A to Z, Spring 2011

I thought it started today, but it started yesterday at 2 pm. For a week, the Drive plays 0ver 2,000 songs from A to Z. They have added a lot of new ones this time.



I'm listening to them right now at 8:23 am and they're playing my all-time favorite group, Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Born on the Bayou."

First song yesterday was Genesis' "Abacab."


AIN'T SONGS

AIN'T EVEN DONE WITH THE NIGHT-- John Mellancamp
AIN'T NO SUNSHINE-- Bill Withers
AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE-- Van Halen
AIN'T THAT A SHAME-- Cheap Trick
AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG-- Rolling Stones
AIN'T WASTIN' TIME NO MORE-- Allman Brothers


HERE ARE SOME GROUPS WHO SANG SONGS BEGINNING WITH THE WORD "ALL." See if you can guess the title. Answers below.

Jimi Hendrix
Cars
Led Zeppelin
Beatles
Joe Walsh
Free




All Along the Watchtower
All Mixed Up
All My Love
All My Loving
All Night Long
All Right Now

Listening and Loving It. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: If corn is oil made from corn and vegetable oil is oil made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

It's Official, We're Now a 4 Vehicle Family

This past Monday, we bought a 2011 Chevy Malibu. This now brings us to four vehicles and a boat.

We've been at the three number since I sold the '67 Firebird about seven years ago.

Right now, along with the 2011 Malibu, we have a 2003 Malibu, 2005 Dodge Dakota and a 1985 Firebird. We came close to trading the truck in for the new car, but the dealership, Ray Chevrolet in Fox Lake, Illinois, wouldn't give me the deal I wanted.

We've very thankful for the GM Card which saved us considerably. I recommend it.

In these days of $4+ gas, having five things that use gas (along with the '94 John Deere lawn tractor), we'll probably go broke.

At least this new car gets 25 mph around town and 33 mph on the road.

I may still sell the truck later this summer after I use it to tow the boat.

Hope I can Afford to Drive 'Em. RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: If quizzes are quizzical, then, what are tests?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

It's Them, Not Me: Where to Now with Gas Prices?-- Part 2

Gas remained the same at stations yesterday. I even saw that gas in Spring Grove, at the Hugo Chavez was down from $4.20 to $4.13!! Everywhere else, it stayed the same.

You have to wonder why prices haven't gone up for a week? Is this as far as it will go? Is this the calm before the storm?

My thought is that we've just about seen the highest. It might go up a little more, but not much and then will start dropping to around $3.50 for the summer.

I know I've seen "oil experts" on TV saying it could go as high as $6 a gallon, but I don't believe them. As far as I'm concerned, they're involved with this outrage every bit as much as the Axis.

Then again, it might really shoot up. My first prediction applies if the Axis is smart. What they certainly don't want a repeat of is the free-fall oil prices took back in 2008 when the last tried this.

Public resentment is high, but start backing off on the price and it will let up for most. But not me!! I was mad last time and am still mad.

However, we are dealing with some mighty greedy folk and I think the huge profits they've already made will just whet their appetites and they will go back to speculating prices up.

However, this should be a good thing. If gas gets to $6 or more a gallon, it might just get our government and other world countries to limit the free market when it comes to oil.

It Will be Interesting to See If I'm Right or Not. --RoadDog


Still not funny.

On a Musical Note: Beatles on Roots-- John Fogerty-- The Drive's A to Z's Back

1. BEATLES ON ROOTS-- This past Sunday, Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots Show was on the six Beatles albums (the Beatles are my second-favorite group) they released in 1964. The lads were definitely busy with: Meet the Beatles, Introducing the Beatles, Second Album, A Hard day's Night, Something New and Beatles '65.

Stroud played one side of each as well as songs on the charts back then, including three written by Lennon-McCartney for Peter and Gordon: ""A World Without Love, "I Don't Want to see You Again" and "Nobody I Know."


2 JOHN FOGERTY-- My all-time favorite band is Creedence Clearwater Revival, and, of course, John Fogerty. I enjoyed seeing him this past Friday on ACM's Girls Night Out" show where they honored about eight female performers.

John hosted the part with Naomi and Wynona Judd and did a great job on their "Rockin' with the Rhythm of the Rain" and was joined by Wynona on his "Proud Mary." Wynonah sure brought back memories of the great job Tina Turner did on it back in the early 70s.


3. THE DRIVE'S A TO Z'S BACK-- Starting Thursday, the Drive, 97.1 FM in Chicago will once again unleash their A to Z upon us. That means over 2,000 songs played alphabetically according to title straight through, 24-hours-a-day until they run out of them sometime Sunday.

So long Beach Music, Hello A to Z. However, much of the time, we'll be out of the listening area and not by a 'puter.

I'll be listening Until Out of Range. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Why is a person who handles money called a broker?

Monday, April 25, 2011

It's Them, Not Me: Where to Now at the Gas Pumps?-- Part 1

Gas here in northern Illinois has been holding at between $4.10 and $4.20 for the most part. The BP station in Fox Lake has it for $4.06 and Thursday, in Twin lakes, Wisconsin, just over the border, it was $4.

It's been that for the last week. Now, we have to figure out what happens next.

My own belief is that there is absolutely no reason for the cost of gas to be over $2.50. What is happening is that somebody wants to get very rich. They have been planning this for a long time.

Even before the problems in the Middle East and North Africa with the revolutions, plans were in the works for $4+ gas. That is why the prices were kept at $2.80 and $2.90 last fall and early winter when the price should have been dropping.

Who is responsible? I don't know for sure, but am sure it is one of the group I dub Axis of Evil (thanks George). They are Big Oil, speculators and the Middle East (and very likely terrorists). It is most likely a combination of the three with Big Oil and the Middle East having their own speculators. Then, of course, we have our own American speculators and investors.

If you're a terrorist, you by now know that if you knock down our buildings, we will rebuild. What better way to hurt the USA than to destroy our economy by gas? However, they should know that if we go down, everybody goes down.

More to Come. --RoadDog


Nothing Funny About This.

JSS: New Car?-- New SCV Camp?-- First Grass Cutting-- Other Vehicles

JSS-- Just Some Stuff.


1. NEW CAR?-- Today, we go out to look at new Chevy cars. I just couldn't bring myself to buy a foreign car. We're interested in the new Cruze, Malibus and Impalas. I also want to look at the Camaro, but Liz is totally against one of those. Says it's too hard to get into and out of.

We have a 2003 Malibu right now with 103,000 miles and figure its time to get another one. We want to keep it and sell or trade the truck.


2. NEW SCV CAMP?-- Met with SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) Division Commander John Jeffers last week about starting a new camp here in Lake and McHenry counties in Illinois. We have the number of men needed, but no name as of yet until we have a general meeting. I have agreed to be interim camp commander.


3. FIRST GRASS CUTTING-- Saturday, after coming back from watching the Bulls lose to Indiana at Tommy's (down by 18 points, they were within 2 in the last seconds before losing), I found the grass dry enough to cut for the first time this year. Hope I will be able to afford the gas to continue cutting it.


4. OTHER VEHICLES-- Besides the Malibu, we have a 2005 Dodge Dakota truck with 36,000 miles. I like it, but it only gets 13 miles around town and 18 on the road, something I can't handle with $4+ gas.

The other vehicle is a 1985 Pontiac Firebird with 94,000 miles on it. It runs, but needs engine, body and interior work. I haven't decided what to do about it.


Wonder If We'll Be getting a New Car? --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: If Wiley E. Coyote has enough money to buy all that Acme stuff, why doesn't he just buy dinner?

JSIS: Of Kings and Queens-- Arcade Fire at Wrigley-- Divide those perennials

JSIS-- Just Some Interesting Stuff


1. OF KINGS AND QUEENS-- Big wedding this Friday, I won't be watching as I'll be on Route 66. Plus, it's a bit too ET and Red Carpet for regular folk like me. But, yesterday's parade Magazine had some stuff I didn't know about the British Royals.

Queen Elizabeth's husband Philip, 89, is not called king because the husband of a hereditary queen can't be king. He's a consort. The wife of a king, however, can take the title queen.

Royal succession: Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, then Charles' brother Prince Andrew, 51, then his two daughters, then his brother Prince Edward, 47.


2. ARCADE FIRE AT WRIGLEY'S 7TH INNING STRETCH-- Since Harry Caray's death in 1998, the Chicago Cubs have had different celebrities singing "Take me Out to the Ball Game." Saturday, it was Arcade Fire, a band out of Canada. I first heard of them at the Grammys and was so impressed, I went out and bought the CD 'Suburbs." Real good stuff.


3. DIVIDE THOSE PERENNIALS-- Yesterday's Chicago Tribune had an article about dividing your perennials to get more for your garden buck. No kidding, I do that all the time and am swamped with perennials now. Anyone want several thousand mums?


Flowers All Over the Place. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Can blind people see their dreams? and do they dream?

Sunday, April 24, 2011

That Wascally Wabbit: Top Ten Famous Wabbits

I don't usually post on Sundays, but this was good and I don't want to have to wait until next year to post this little ode to the Easter Bunny.

From the April 22nd List Universe.

10. The Energizer Bunny-- my favorite
9. Harvey
8. Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog-- from "Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail" "Runaway! Runaway!!"

7. Rabbit-- Winnie the Pooh's neurotic friend
6. Peter Rabbit
5. Roger Rabbit-- from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"

4. the Trix Rabbit "Silly Rabbit, Trix is for ____."
3. White Rabbit-- from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"

2. Bugs Bunny
1. Easter Bunny--

I'd like to nominate Grace Slick's "White Rabbit." You know, "One pill makes you larger...."

Go to the listverse site for pictures and more information.

Rich Henry Would Sure Like This at His Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois. --RoadDog


STUPID QUEATION: What do you call a male ballerina? (Perhaps ballerino?)

Friday, April 22, 2011

"The Big Hurt" by the Numbers-- Part 4

He's Number 1!!

Numbers from Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune.

These are some of the all-time White Sox categories Frank Thomas leads in:

Home Runs-- 448
Doubles-- 447
RBIs-- 1,465
Runs Scored-- 1,327
Extra-Base Hits-- 906
Walks-- 1,466
Total Bases-- 3,949
Slugging Percentage-- .568
On-Base Percentage-- .427

OVERALL CAREER STATS:

Batting Average-- .301
Home Runs-- 521
Doubles-- 495
Runs-- 1494
RBIs-- 1704
Walks-- 1667 (168 intentional)
Strike Outs-- 1397

Should Be Hall of Fame. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Why does Goofy stand on two legs when Pluto remains on four. They're both dogs.

"The Big Hurt" By the Numbers-- Part 3

Last Friday, I continued the impressive statistics that White Sox slugger Frank Thomas put up during his career, mostly with the Sox.

I continue:

4------ Number of times Thomas led the American League in on-base percentage. He also finished second and third once and fourth twice.


12----- Number of offensive categories in which Thomas is the all-time White Sox leader.

32----- Career stolen bases (he was caught 23 times). His career high was 7 in 1998. Ok, he wasn't a speed demon on the bases.


2------ Players who drove in at least 100 runs in each of their first eight full major league seasons. The other is Al Simmons from 1924-1934.

3------ Passes caught as a freshman at Auburn University where he attended on a football scholarship while playing tight end in 1986.

15----- The uniform number Thomas wore briefly before taking #35 for good.

970---- Number of games played at Comiskey Park (including as an opponent). Hit 263 homers, 746 RBIs, a .313 batting average and .433 on-base percentage.

1------ The number of autographs my nephew Andy got on Thomas' rookie card.

These Are Definitely Hall of Fame Worthy Stats. And, I Am Not Finished Yet. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS: If the professor on "Gilligan's Island" can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix the hole in the Minnow?

JSS: Large Time Beach Music-- When Will I Learn?-- Garden of Weedin-- What Happened to Spring?-- Friday Night Lights

JSS-- Just Some Stuff


1. LARGE TIME BEACH MUSIC-- Just sitting here enjoying Pat Patterson's Beach Music show on John FM, out of Savannah, Georgia. I'm, of course, listening to it over the internet. All that good Beach Music sure takes the chill off my bones as it is overcast, rainy and blustery out right now.


2. WHEN WILL I LEARN?-- With the crummy weather, I decided to go to the movies in Fox Lake. As soon as I saw all the cars in the parking lot, I remembered school is out for Good Friday. I have to learn when school is out and stay away from the theater because of all the crowds. Parents sure want to get their younguns out of the house.


3. GARDEN OF WEEDIN---- Nice play on words. I came across this sign in a McHenry County Living magazine for a local McHenry business. I wouldn't mind having it as it is VERY appropriate. Between trimming and cutting, I sure do a lot of weeding in my Garden of Eden.

Yesterday, I think one of those weeds must have made off with my safety glasses as they disappeared and I couldn't find them anywhere while I was, of course...weeding.


4. WHAT HAPPENED TO SPRING?-- We had close to a week of great weather, but since last Thursday, miserable with the exception of yesterday. I was planning to cut the grass for the first time today, but got rained out. And, it is never a good idea to let the grass get too far ahead of you in the spring.


5. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS-- is back on NBC!! One of my favorites. The first episode slipped by me last Friday, but the network was nice enough to let me watch it on their website. Sure sorry this is its last season.

Just Some Stuff. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS: What do people in China call their good plates?

Thursday, April 21, 2011

"Rogue" Turkey That's Been Terrorizing Downtown Spring Grove Caught, Sentenced

For the last two weeks, downtown Spring Grove, Illinois, has been terrorized by a rogue tom turkey who has popped up in unexpected places, frightened old ladies and children, snarled traffic along the busy thoroughfare and prompted a massive turkey hunt by Spring Grove's finest.

The wandering bird was finally apprehended this past Friday for birdwalking across Blivin Street near US-12 near Tommy's Sports Pub. Police believe the bird had been inside hassling young ladies and had had more than a beakfull of libations and beer nuggets.

Even so, the police had a high-speed chase with a lot of darting, dodging and gobbling. Traffic on US Highway 12 was blocked for an hour, causing a several mile back-up.

The securely-tied bird, after suggestions of dinner, was turned over to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for sentencing. Since no humans had been harmed, it was decided to let the terrorizing bird go in an undisclosed DNR area.

Meanwhile, the search for a suitable name for the bird continues from the Carriage House Pottery and Art Gallery with names such as Fred, General Gobble, Fearless and most offered, Tom, flooding in.

No IDNR spokesman was available for comment on the turkey's new home, but employees were seen patting their bellies, looking satisfied and picking their teeth.

Hey, Pass the Dressing. --RoadDog

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

It's Them, Not Me: $4.07 to $4.20 Gas, What Next?

Gas here in the Fox Lake, Illinois, area is anywhere from a low of $4.07 to a high of $4.20. That's not too far off the record high back in 2008.

After a steady weekly rise, it has remained steady at these ridiculous rates. Which gives rise to the question, what happens next?

Unfortunately, I don't know who, or what combination of the Evil Axis is responsible for the price hike. And that would be Big Oil, speculators or the oil producing countries.

It is possible that they have taken it as high as they dare. At these levels, the government gets involved (and they haven't yet). I'm sure they don't want the free-fall they had the last time.

Then again, this might just be the calm before the storm. Give people a chance to get used to the $4+ prices before the "summer-driving season" kicks in and they can use that as the reason to raise prices.

If the latter is the case, I'm hoping their greed gets the better of them and the price of a gallon of gas goes to $6+. Hopefully, this would focus world attention on the Axis and major steps taken to control them.

Perhaps, oil trading will be stopped. Perhaps the price of a barrel of oil will be set at something like $30 or $40.

Anyway, This Is Frightening. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Nothing at all funny about this travesty.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

A Weekend Well-Spent

APRIL 15th, FRIDAY

Went to The Tank on Lake Shore Drive in Ingleside where we had $1 bottles and met Sue and Paul. We used to go here a lot when we lived in Round Lake Beach and it was called Up the Street. I used to deejay there a lot, plus I had my 40th birthday party there.

Afterwards, stopped by the Legion in Fox Lake and talked with friends.

Watched another futile Black Hawk effort at Margaritaville.


APRIL 16TH, SATURDAY

Watched the Bulls game at Tommy's in Spring Grove with Sue and Paul. That was some game!!! Kind of a bore until the last three minutes, then, WOW!!! The place was crowded with fans and quite boisterous at the end. Enjoyed the beer nuggets and 25 cent wings. We even had a heavy snow flurry for an hour, but nothing stuck.

Then went to the Dill Pickle and had a 14-inch pizza with 5 toppings for $9 and watched the most boring fans in the world at the Miami Heat game. They are either asleep or sitting on their hands.


APRIL 17TH, SUNDAY

A great brunch at Fire Wood in McHenry, then on to A.J.'s Horsin' Around Round Lake Park where we met Kevin and Kelly and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon show by Terry Spizzeri, the Irish Guy with an Italian Name, one talented and funny guy.

Then, there was the "Miraculous Bottle of Jamison" and many, many pitchers and the Squaw Creek Pub Crawl Bus and a whole bunch of crazies including the guy with the "Need Help" sign on his back.

Another sad Black Hawk effort in Margaritaville.

Learning to Live with It. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here and drink what comes out? Inquiring minds want to know.

Movie Scratches: Rango-- Paul-- Wimpy-- Hop

A quick look at movies I have recently seen.


21. RANGO-- 3-16-- FOX LAKE $4-- A different kind of Western. Old Capt. Jack Sparrow is now a Barney Fife lizard sheriff.


22. PAUL-- 4-4-- FOX LAKE FREE-- Definitely not your typical alien.


23. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 2-- 4-6-- FOX LAKE $4-- It's Kevin Arnold vs. brother Wayne all over again in Wonder Years.


24. HOP-- 4-6-- FOX LAKE $4-- Just in time for Easter. Watch out for the big mean old Easter Biddy.

Why Is That Seat Covered in Plastic? --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS: Why do toasters always have a setting on them which burns your toast to a horrible crisp no one would eat?

It's Them, Not Me: Miami Heat Fans-- Sarah Opens Mouth-- Ticket Ripoffster

1. MIAMI HEAT FANS?-- What's with them? Due to how close their playoff games have been played to the Bulls', we have seen more Heat time than we care. Granted the games have been real bores, but do the fans really need to be asleep during the game? Probably the quietest playoff games around.

Then there's that flashy white motif all over the stands. Last night there looked to be a lot of empty seats. In a play-off game?


2. SARAH OPENS MOUTH-- Saw Sarah Palin being offensive Saturday in Madison. As if we didn't know where she stands. I'd sure hate to see her running against Obama for president. Then, who'd we vote for? There has got to be an alternative.


3. TICKET RIPOFFSTER-- The folks who routinely rip folks off majorly in excess ticket gouge are at it again. Now they will allow teams and artists to base ticket price on supply and demand. That means more money charged and, of course, more money for these GRBs.

Let's See, $39 for Ticket, $25 for TicketMaster. --RoadDog

Monday, April 18, 2011

Our Big-White "Surprise" This Morning

Last week I was sitting out on the deck in the chaise-lounge catching some rays. This morning, we had three inches of S-N-O-W out there. And, I was going to cut the grass today. Man, I can't even find it.

We'd heard that the Wisconsin-Illinois line (that's us) might get snow last night and that it could be 2+ inches.

Beautiful stuff though. I call it nature's painting when it attaches to tree limbs, bushes and the pines. Of course, the deciduous trees don't have leaves yet. And, the stuff stayed off the driveway and sidewalks so I didn't have to fire up the snowblower. (It's still recovering from the Groundhog Day Blizzard.)

I don't remember getting this much snow this late before, although we did have the April Fool's Blizzard of 1975 where I got stranded where I was working at the Holiday Inn in Wheeling, Illinois. Well, if you've got to get stranded, that's a good place to do it.

A whole lot of it has melted already.

I Didn't Want to Cut the Grass Anyway. Can't Afford the Gas ($4.10 here in Spring Grove). --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS: Why does water that has trickled down from the mountains for centuries have a "use by" date?

Where Were You April 3, 1976? --Part 2

These songs were playing on our Chicago radio back 35 years ago.


EVIL WOMAN-- ELO--
ACTION-- SWEET-- Sounding a whole lot like Queen on this one.

DREAM WEAVER-- GARY WRIGHT--
SHOW ME THE WAY-- PETER FRAMPTON-- One of the biggest live albums of that year or any year. (It was hard to go anywhere in '76 and not hear this album. It always reminds me of Liz's cousins out in Kansas City. Plus, how did he get those weird guitar sounds from his throat?)

SLOW RIDE-- FOGHAT--
DREAM ON-- AEROSMITH-- Three years old at this time. (This one reminds me of Carolina Beach, North Carolina and the good old Silver Dollar Bar.)

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT-- KISS-- From Kiss Alive (The first I'd heard of this band. I always wondered what would have happened with our parents back when the Beatles came out in 1964. They almost had a fit. What would they have done had Kiss come out in '64?)
LOVE HURTS-- NAZARETH-- A new version. We originally got it in the early 60s by the Everly Brothers.

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY-- QUEEN-- It was not very often that you got a song to hit #1 that was six minutes long. (We're not worthy!!)

It's Pre-Disco. You Wouldn't Understand. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS: Why is there a light in the fridge, but not in the freezer?

JSIS: Delayed Tax Day-- Listen My Children-- Doolittle's Raiders

JSIS-- Just Some Inetresting Stuff. A bit of history.


1. DELAYED TAX DAY-- The reason we didn't have to pay taxes April 15th, dates from the Civil War, when slaves in Washington, DC, were freed April 15, 1862 (a year after the war began), and ever since has been a district holiday.

Just in case you were wondering.


2. LISTEN MY CHILDREN-- Today marks the 236th anniversary of Mr. Revere's midnight to warn that the gas prices were rising!! Er, British were coming. Of course, the next day was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" at Lexington.

"And you shall hear of the midnight ride of...."


3. DOOLITTLE'S RAIDERS-- Today is the 69th anniversary of one of the bravest efforts during World War II, when 80 men in 16 B-25 bombers took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and dropped bombs on Japan, just five months after Pearl Harbor.

The five survivors met in Nebraska last weekend for their annual reunion.

Brave Men, All. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS: Why are they called stairs inside but steps outside?

Friday, April 15, 2011

94.9 the Surf is Back!!! Great News in the Beach Land

Great news. I wasn't happy a few months ago to find out that 94.9 the Surf had gone off the air. Even though they said they were coming back, I doubted it.

However, one good thing was that Ted Bell started broadcasting his show from WNMB-AM, so I didn't miss the Surf as much.

Now, today, I was listening to Ted Bell and heard him say that 94.9 the Surf is back on the air, but not going out over the internet until next week. Right now, the Surf is simulcasting over the WNMB stream. Once the Surf gets its own stream, then WNMB will go back to its all oldies format and I will keep it on my favorites list.

I think Ted Bell will be going back to the Surf. Now, if they could pick up "Fessa Hook.

Great news, especially with SOS going on right now. That would be Shagging On the Strand, the Spring Safari where all things Beach descend on the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area.

Now, That is Great News in Beach Land. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: If you mated a Bulldog with a Shitsu, would you get a Bullshit?

Where Were You April 3, 1976?-- Part 1

Bob Stroud jumped ahead ten years to 1976 and played songs on Chicago radio from April 3, 1976. he sure didn't give much in the way of information on the songs.

LOVE IS THE DRUG-- ROXY MUSIC-- (My buddy Cliff's all-time favorite group.)
GOLDEN YEARS-- DAVID BOWIE--

50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER-- PAUL SIMON-- (You've got to love a song with that many rhymes, "Here comes "Rhymin' Simon!" "Get off the bus, Gus.")
GROW SOME FUNK OF YOUR OWN-- ELTON JOHN-- From his "Rock of the Westies."

SQUEEZE BOX-- WHO-- From "Who By the Numbers." (Were they really talking about an accordion or something else?)
TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT-- EAGLES-- (Mighty fine country rock.)

RHIANNON-- FLEETWOOD MAC-- debuting new single from their self-titled album. (It was definitely a new sound opposed to what I was used to. How did they get that girl sound? Oh, yes, they got some girls in the group.)
LORELEI-- STYX-- All that old stuff of their was great, right Mr. Roboto?)

"Mama's Got a What Where and Daddy Can't Get No What?" --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Why is it called Alcoholics Anonymous when the first thing you do is stand up and say, "Hi, my name's Bob. I'm an alcoholic."?

JSS: Cold's Back-- Horror in Sox Bullpen-- Taxes-- GAS GOUGE

JSS-- Just Some Stuff


1. COLD'S BACK-- We sure got spoiled with the weather from Saturday until Wednesday. Temps 60 degrees+ and sun. Reality came back yesterday with cold and wind and appears to be back for a week. Sure nice while it lasted.


2. HORROR IN SOX BULLPEN-- The A's should be paying the Sox bullpen after all the kindness they've given three of the four games when leads in the ninth were blown. Of course, there was that debacle last Friday in the 9th when a 7-4 Sox lead became a 9-7 loss. In the BP's defense, there were two big errors in the field as well.


3. CIVIL WAR INUNDATION-- I have many sources for Civil War news, but lately, because of the sesquicentennial (150 years) of the firing on Fort Sumter and beginning of the Civil War, it has come as a flood. Reckon I'll have to just get used to it. Twist my arm!!


4. TAXES-- Yesterday, mailed off $1238 to the federal government and had a smile on my face. Usually I have to pay $5,000 to $6,000. I guess the scholarship at NIU, gift to Our Lady of Grace in Chicago and miniscule CD interest paid off.


5. GAS GOUGE-- a little less hurtful as gas in Fox Lake dropped a whole ten cents to $4 at one station. It took that long for Friday's $7 drop in oil to go in effect, six days. Had it gone up $7, we would have seen the increase at the pumps in an hour and not just a 10 cent increase.

You Really Just Got to Love Those GRBs at the Axis. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: Why can't women put their mascara on with their mouths closed?

The Big Hurt By the Numbers-- Part 2

Some more Frank Thomas stats.


8-2-90--- Thomas' debut with the Sox versus the Brewers. Had his first hit the next night and had hits in 45 of his first 60 games.


10------- Seasons with at least 100 walks, 4th all-time behund Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.


0-------- Other players who have hit .300 with at least 20 homers, 100 RBIs, 100 walks and 100 runs in seven consecutive seasons.


138------ Number of games (of 153 played) in 1993 that Thomas reached base at least once.


9.9------- In millions of dollars, Thomas' top salary with the Sox (in 2001-2002). In his final season in 2008, with the Blue Jays, he made $12.5 mullion. ($80,000 for my top.)


97-------- Average number of strikeouts a season.


116------- Average number of walks a season.

A Great One, Belongs in HoF. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS: If a person owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way down to the center of the earth?

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Where Were You April 3, 1966?-- Part 4

TRY TOO HARD-- DAVE CLARK FIVE-- From the British Invasion. (It was about time they made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)
TILL THE END OF THE DAY-- KINKS-- Current hit. (I liked them back then, but even better now.)

EVOL-NOT LOVE-- FIVE AMERICANS-- Hit Bound. (Loved that "Zip Code." Notice what love is spelled backward.)
KICKS-- PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS-- In the Top ten. (Loved those Revolutionary War uniforms.)

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'-- MAMAS AND PAPAS-- Their first hit had been #1 the week before, bur dropped to #2. The next week their new hit "Monday, Monday" debuted.

GLORIA-- SHADOWS OF KNIGHT-- #1 in Chicago from a group of local guys. (Oh, yeas, the Cellar in Arlington Heights.)

Going to 1976 Next. --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTIONS:

Why does your gynecologist leave the room when you undress?

The Big Hurt By the Numbers-- Part 1

A look back at the career of Frank Thomas, one of the best-ever to play for the Chicago White Soxand my second all-time favorite Sox players.

From the August 29, 2010 Chicago Tribune.

The reason why the Tribune ran the article was that the Sox were retiring Frank Thomas' #35 that day. He is one of the all-time great MLB players. Hopefully, he will make it into baseball's Hall of Fame.

He is now the tenth Sox player to have his number retired.


FRANK THOMAS BY THE NUMBERS:

7-- Seventh player taken in the June draft. The Cardinals chose Paul Coleman, Phillie Jeff Jackson and Cubs Earl Cunningham before Thomas. None of them made the majors.

11-- The number of games Thomas played in triple A, all on rehab in 2005. He played one season at Double-A Birmingham in 1990 before promotion to the Big Leagues.

2-- Number of MVP awards won, 1993-1994 and was second and third in voting in 2000 and 1997.

To be Continued. --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: Big surprise...even my blood type's negative.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Where Were You April 3, 1966?-- Part 3

These songs were playing on Chicago radio stations WCFL and WLS 45 years ago.


634-5789-- WILSON PICKETT-- We got Wilson's number. (The Wicked Pickett as they called him. One of the three greats along with Sam and Dave and Otis Redding.)
WOMAN-- PETER AND GORDON-- Written by Paul McCartney but not performed by the Beatles. Writer's mane Bernard Webb, a Paul McCartney psudonym. Written by Paul who wanted to see if he could get a hit record without his name on it. he could. (Or, was it Chad and Jeremy who sang it?)

I CAN'T LET GO-- HOLLIES-- (A lesser-known Holies hit.)

NOWHERE MAN-- BEATLES-- "A" Side
WHAT GOES ON-- BEATLES-- "B" side (Just another two-sided Beatles 45.)

DAYDREAM-- LOVIN' SPOONFUL-- from Greenwich Village. (Digging on John's granny glasses.)

One More Trip Back to 66 to Go. --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: My idea of Super Bowl is a toilet that cleans itself.

GAS GOUGE: $4.10 and $4.16!!!

As the current Gas Gouge switches into hyper-drive, I'll be keeping an eye on the prices in my area, which is along the Wisconsin-Illinois border near Lake Michigan.

I round up the 9/10 of a cent to the next penny. Thus, $3.999.9 is $4.

Monday, the price in Spring Grove, at the Citgo, the only station in town, was $4.

Yesterday, gas in Johnsburg was $4.10.

Gas at the Shell station at Chapel Hill and Il-120 (always the most expensive in the area) was $4.16.

Hope somebody is making a buck. I sure am not. Especially on my CDs and I'm not talking about the music kind.

I need a Break!! --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: Even doctors make mistakes. Mine asked me to undress.

Chicago's 100 Greatest Classic Rock Albums of All Time-- Part 4

If the album is self-titled, only the album name appears.


61 THE YES ALBUM--'71
60 TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION-- ELTON JOHN '70
59 DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED-- MOODY BLUES '67
58 IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR-- LED ZEPPELIN
57 EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY-- TOD STEWART '71

56 NIGHT MOVES-- BOB SEGER '76
55 CRIME OF THE CENTURY-- SUPERTRAMP '74
54 ABRAXAS-- SANTANA '70
53 GRAND ILLUSION-- STYX '77
52 MACHINE HEAD-- DEEP PURPLE '72

51 DAMN THE TORPEDOES-- TOM PETTY '79
50 VAN HALEN '78
49 PET SOUNDS-- BEACH BOYS '66
48 BORN IN THE USA-- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN '84
47 FRAGILE-- YES '72

46 HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED-- BOB DYLAN '65
45 BAND ON THE RUN-- PAUL McCARTNEY ''73
44 COSMO'S FACTORY-- CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL '70
43 STICKY FINGERS-- TOLLING STONES '71
42 PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-NERD-- LYNYRD SKYNYRD '73
41 DEJA-VU-- CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG

Hard to believe that Cosmo's Factory was the ONLY CCR entry on the Top 100. I would have had all of their albums but the last one in it.

Top 40 to Come. --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: If you need a shoulder to cry on, pull off to the side of the road.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Impact of Fort Sumter On My Life

Today marks the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. One hundred and fifty years ago, Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter, the official start of four bloody years of warfare.

In 1961, I was here for the Centennial Commemoration and had, at the time, been interested in the war since my dad took me to Fort Fisher in North Carolina when I was seven and told me about the war.

Living in both North Carolina and North America, I naturally figured we were for the north. Dad had some real 'splaining to do. After that, I read anything about the war I could get my hands on.

That soon grew to an appreciation and interest in all things historical. I majored in history in college and even got a masters degree in it. I taught social studies for 33 years. All that is called impact.

I was almost ten at the Centennial and now, here I am almost 60 at the Sesquicentennial.

Where Does the Time Go? --RoadDog

Where Were You April 3, 1966?-- Part 2

Bob Stroud went back to April 3, 1966, on his Rock and Roll Roots Time Warp April 3rd.

LITTLE LATIN LUPE LU-- MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS-- From Detroit, Michigan, covering a song by the Righteous Brothers a few years earlier. (A great example of Frat Rock.)
I'LL GO CRAZY-- BUCKINGHAMS-- Very first local hit by Chicago's own Buckinghams, a cover of a James Brown tune on the USA label. (I thought it was a cover of a Beatles tune.)

TIME WON'T LET ME-- OUTSIDERS-- Band from Cleveland charting with their first of four hits. (Another example of Frat Rock.)
SHAPES OF THINGS-- YARDBIRDS-- The British Invasion was still in full swing. recorded here in Chicago and in the Top Ten. (My favorite Yardbirds tune.)

INSIDE LOOKING OUT-- ANIMALS-- Grand Funk railroad had a cover on their second albums in 1970. (There are not too many 1966 songs that I don't know. This is one of them.)
SECRET AGENT MAN-- JOHNNY RIVERS-- The Whiskey-A-Go-Go Sound. Also written by the great P.F. Sloan. (A classic.)

ELUSIVE BUTTERFLY-- BOB LIND-- Here's one I've had a soft spot for ever since the first day I heard it. A one Hit Wonder. (OK, Bob. I kinda' like it too.)
19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN-- ROLLING STONES--

More to Come. --RoadDog


THE VERY LAST WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What is a turbine?
A. Something an Arab or Shreik wears on his head.

Chicago's 100 Greatest Classic Rock Albums of All Time-- Part 3

LUCKY DOG!!! Congratulations to Scott Marciniec of Crown Point, Indiana, who won the complete set of all 100 of the Drive's Greatest Classic Rock albums on VINYL. In addition, he got a new turntable and sound system (like in the old days before lousy downloading).

Continuing with the list.

81 SWEET BABY JAMES-- James Taylor '70
80 RUNNING ON EMPTY-- Jackson Browne '77
79 FULL MOON FEVER-- Tom Petty '89
78 PERMANENT WAVES-- Rush '80
77 AFTER THE GOLD RUSH-- Neil Young '70

76 A NEW WORLD RECORD-- ELO '76
75 THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS-- David Bowie
74 FLEETWOOD MAC-- '75
73 A TRICK OF THE TAIL-- Genesis '76
72 LEFTOVERTURE-- Kansa '76

71 LIVE BULLET-- Bob Seger '76
70 HARVEST-- Neil Young '72
69 FOREIGNER-- '77
68 ANIMALS-- Pink Floyd '77
67 DISRAELI GEARS-- Cream '67

66 ALL THINGS MUST PASS-- George Harrison '70
65 SOME GIRLS-- Rolling Stones '78
64 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA-- Queen '75
63 AMERICAN BEAUTY-- Grateful Dead '70
62 ELECTRIC LADYLAND-- Jimi Hendrix '68

Sure Enjoyed Listening to This Last Week. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What does the word "benign" mean?
A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight.

Monday, April 11, 2011

JSS: Goodbye Mar's-- Yardwork-- Ultimate Bloody Mary-- What a Weekend-- Gas Woes

JSS-- Just Some Stuff.


1. GOODBYE MAR'S-- Saturday, we spent most of the afternoon at Mar's Trading Post in Wilmot, Wisconsin. They're closing because of Mar's husband Dave's sickness. But we sure had a good time for the 14 years they were open.

Hoping the new folks keep it going like it is now.


2. YARDWORK-- Took advantage of the last three days' great weather to get to work on the yard. Definitely not as easy as it once was. Reckon it has something to do with me being about a month away from the big 6-0.


3. ULTIMATE BLOODY MARY-- Watched the Black Hawks lose their last game of the season against the Red Wings at Main Street Bar in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Fortunately Dallas lost also so Hawks back in the playoffs, but I doubt they go any farther.

Enjoyed those Ultimate Bloody Marys: 16 ounces, a shrimp, veggies and other items. A meal in itself, and for just $3.50.


4. WHAT A WEEKEND-- Saturday and Sunday we had somebody else's weather. It was way too good for us. Saturday was 70 degrees and I got out on the deck and also sat outside at Mar's. Sunday was in the mid-80s and sunny!! Everyone has a big case of Spring Fever.


5. GAS WOES-- Like I said, gas around here is $4. ($3.99.9) Stations appear fearful to raise it that one-tenth of a cent, well, one cent to hit the big $4.00.9. I guess folks will get too angry when they see that 4.

Gas in Twin Lakes, about ten miles from home, was $3.89.9. A whole savings of a dime a gallon. What a deal.

We need to find out who those speculators are.

Can't Drive No More! --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. Use the word "judicious" in a sentence to show you understand its meaning.
A. Hands that judicious can be as soft as your face.

Movie Scratches: Adjustment-- Battle-- Pass-- Beastly

A Quick look at some of the movies I have seen on the big screen.


17. THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU-- 3-9-- FOX LAKE $4-- Something about Mad Men. I'll take what's behind door #2.


18. BATTLE: LOS ANGELES-- 3-11-- FOX LAKE $5.50-- Good old Marines save the day. Ooh-Rah!!!


19. HALL PASS-- 3-15-- FOX LAKE-- $5.50-- Two guys get pass not to be married for a week and flop.


20. BEASTLY-- 3-16-- FOX LAKE-- $4-- Take-off on "Groundhog Day." Spoiled, beautiful people high schooler turns ugly until he sees the light.


What Kind of Salt Do You Want on Your Popcorn?


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THEY DO:

Q. Give an example of a fungus. What is a characteristic feature?
A. Mushrooms. They always grow in damp places and they look like umbrellas.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Well, They Finally Did It!! $4 Gas

Those sorry GRBs finally got their wish. When I drove over to McHenry, Illinois, both stations I passed had $4 GAS!!! Well, $3.99.9, but that doesn't fool me. I KNOW THAT IS REALLY $4.

Those cowards are too afraid to go ahead and bump it that one-tenth of a cent, well, actually one penny.

Somebody, or everybody in that Axis of Evil (Big Oil, speculators and Middle East) has been working for this. How much farther will it go. Who knows? It could be $5, but I doubt it. Outcry is going to be huge now and will get worse as they continue to manipulate price upward.

Just wait until Big Oil has to reveal their quarterly profits. It will be interesting to see how they explain it.

Here's hoping Obama does some of his "Change" on the oil futures game so that they don't manipulate another price spike based on fears. This probably would be something the world has to do. Oil price should be set at $60 a gallon. The Middle East countries will still make lots of money. The speculators won't make any and regular folk won't get hurt.

Come On President, Time for a Change!!

Man, $4. I was Hoping I Wouldn't Have to Deal With It Again. --RoadDog

Chicago's 100 Greatest Classic Rock Albums of All Time-- Part 2

Right now I'm listening to #51, "Damn the Torpedoes" by Tom Petty. Sure great listening to the album sides played on vinyl.

They expect to be in the Top 25 by tomorrow (and last) morning.

Sunday, Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots will be "For the Love of Money," his annual salute to Tax Day. His Rock and Roll Roots Show goes from 7 to 10 am Central.

Again, the Drive streams live at www.wdrv.com.

#96 PARADISE THEATRE-- Styx, '81
#95 LET IT BE-- Beatles, '70
#94 SYNCHRONICITY-- Police, '83
#93 MOONDANCE-- Van Morrison, '70
#92 ESCAPE-- Journey, '81

#91 SLOWHAND-- Eric Clapton, '77
#90 LED ZEPPELIN 3-- 1970
#89 BLONDE ON BLONDE-- Bob Dylan, '66
#88 FLY LIKE AN EAGLE-- Steve Miller Band, '76
#87 EAT A PEACH-- Allman Brothers, '72

#86 HYSTERIA-- Def Leppard, '87
#85 AT BUDOKAN-- Cheap Trick, '79
#84 ENDLESS SUMMER-- Beach Boys, '74
#83 DARKNESS AT THE EDGE OF TOWN-- Bruce Springsteen, '78
#82 BAT OUT OF HELL-- Meatloaf, '77

Mighty Good Stuff, Maynard!! --RoadDog

WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What is a seizure?
A. A Roman Emperor.

Voting for Save-A-Pet

A new contest has begun on the Animal Rescue Site and Liz and I have been voting every day.

You can vote for your favorite animal shelter. Ours is Save-A-Pet in nearby Grayslake, Illinois. Weekly winners get $1000 and the grand champion $5,000. Our shelter is about to close for lack of money, so we are making the effort to keep it open.

State winners also get $1,000. We won last contest, but in order to spread it around, the second place Animal House Shelter in Huntley got the money.

Overall winner was Villabos Rescue Center in Santa Barbara, California.

You can vote at http://theanimalrescuesite.com. At the top of the page, you can also give meals to rescue sites by clicking a button.

Definitely a Good Cause.

Right now, Save a Pet is #1 again in Illinois and have climbed to #9 nationwide. Vote for us or one of your local ones.

So, Do Some Voting and Clicking. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What is a terminal illness?
A. When you are sick at an airport.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Chicago's 100 Greatest Classic Rock Albums of All Time-- Part 1

The Drive is doing it again. They are into one of their long shows. This time they are playing the first side of the top hundred rock albums every day until Sunday from 7 am to midnight.

Steve Downes is playing them right now. AND, THEY ARE PLAYING THE LPS!!! Straight through the whole side with all the crackles and pops even though I cleared out the box in the cereal bowl this morning, even getting the snaps.

Music like it should be.

If you go to the website, at www.wdrv.com. you can see the albums, give your own review, read the reviews, buy the CD and read about the artists.

So far:

#100 SCARECROW-- JOHN MELLANCAMP 1985 (Have)
#99 THE CAPTAIN AND ME-- DOOBIE BROTHERS 1973
#98 TATTOO YOU-- ROLLING STONES 1981 (The last of eight straight #1s) (Have)
#97 THE STRANGER-- BILLY JOEL

Definitely Worth a Listen. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. Give the meaning of the term "Caesarian Section."
A. The caesarian section is a district in Rome.

Where Were You April 3, 1966?-- Part 1

This past Sunday, Bob Stroud did a Time Warp back to April 3, 1966, then jumped ahead ten years for the last half of his Rock and Roll Roots Show on WDRV in Chicago.

April 3, 1966, I was a a freshman going to Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois, where my family lived. Freshman and sophomores went to Fremd. Juniors and seniors to Palatine High School at the time (now both are 4-year schools).

I was a big Cub fan, but even bigger Sox fan with Tommy Agee as my favorite player on the Sox and Ron Santo on the Cubs. Every day after school, my buddies and I would go out to the field at St. Thomas School across the street from my house and play baseball until time to go home to eat.

These were the songs playing on WLS and WCFL (both AM) this date. Sroud's comments follow the name. If I have any, they are in parentheses.


YOU BABY-- TURTLES-- Top Ten and written by the great P.F. Sloan. (Could you get better pop harmonies? Good old Flo and Eddie.)
THIS OLD HEART OF MINE-- ISLEY BROTHERS-- (The single cover featured a white girl. Guess they were afraid a black group would scare white buyers away.)

SOUL & INSPIRATION-- RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS-- Big powerful ballad after leaving Phil Spector. (No kidding big and powerful.)
SLOOP JOHN B.-- BEACH BOYS-- debuting from the upcoming Pet Sounds album. (And one of my favorite BB songs. Oh, "Hoist up the John B's sail...")

Going Down Memory Lane. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT: Q. What is the most common form of birth control?
A. Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

JSS: Smell of Spring-- 100 Greatest Albums-- My Last Ugly-- Gas Gouge

JSS-- Just Some Stuff


1. SMELL OF SPRING-- Sure been enjoying stopping by the case in the kitchen and smelling the daffodil I picked yesterday. Smells like, you know, SPRING!! First ones of the year.


2. 100 GREATEST ALBUMS-- Tomorrow at 7 am, Chicago's WDRV starts playing the Top 100 albums of all time and it goes to Sunday morning. I think I heard them say they were playing them on LP. I wouldn't be surprised if they played the whole album. Give it a listen if you're a record buff at www.wdrv.com.


3. MY LAST UGLY-- I was rationing my three Apple Uglies that I bought in Goldsboro. Each one was cut in half for extra enjoyment. One half the first morning, the other the next. I wish someone around here would sell them.


4. GAS GOUGE-- Gas in these parts, northeast Illinois, range from $3.82 to $3.94. Hope the GRBs choke on their obscene profits.


Just Some Stuff. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What does "Varicose" mean?
A. Nearby.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Every Bloomin' Thing: Early April 2011

I almost forgot to mention that today, when I went out to feed the little birdies, that I found a clump of daffodils blooming. SPRING IS HERE!! This clump is by the furnace exhaust so stays a little bit warmer along with a southern exposure.

Daffodills, the true smell of spring!!

This is an even I look forward to every spring, the first flowers. There are a lot of other daffodils getting ready to bloom as well. Tulips and hyacinths are also pushing through.

The February 13th Chicago Tribune Sunday section had an article about growing native plants in shade gardens. They said the won't bloom as profusely as full sun ones, but you will get some. They suggested native plants like New England aster, shooting star, purple coneflower, wild geranium, foxglove beard, black-eyed susan, blue-stemmed goldenrod and common spiderwort.

I have a lot of black-eyed susans and purple coneflowers growing in my arboretum and they do well back there, even though they only get sun in the morning and late afternoon.

Welcome Back, Flowers!! --RoadDog

WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What is the fibula?
A. A small lie.

It's Them, Not Me: Time for the Chicago Tribune to Wise Up

And, it's my favorite paper, but when it comes to education, they are clueless.

They recently had an editorial lauding the efforts of the Florida Republican-dominated legislature for its education reform act.

Now teacher pay will be based on student performance. Layoffs will be based on teacher performance rather than seniority. "Good newer teachers are fired instead of less effective (teachers) protected by seniority."

To start with, we have to stop this Republican belief that the only good teachers are the new ones. Any teacher with tenure therefore is "bad." That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. New teachers are rookies. Sure, they are full of new ideas and willing to take chances. But, do they ever make the mistakes.

I'll take a building full of veteran teachers over rookies any day.

Now, why would a school district prefer new teachers over older ones? Could it have anything to do with the salaries of the two groups? Let's see, district having financial problems. Teacher A is first year earning $30,000. Teacher B has been there ten years and earning $60,000. Guess who is the "bad" teacher.

Plus, teacher pay in Florida is ridiculously low. Now, there is an embarrassment if there ever was one.

Plus, basing pay on student performance. What about teachers working in inner cities and districts in which most of the kids are low income? These kids do not perform well on those tests. Then take your teachers in upper class communities. Those kids do well.

If I am a Florida teacher, I would make sure I got into the rich schools to protect my salary.

These Guys in Florida and the Tribune are Clueless. --RoadDog

It's Them, Not Me: Gas Gouge Switching to High Gear!! $3.86!!!

Those GRB speculators and Middle East and Big Oil pals are having a field day right now and making huge profits as they continue to buy oil and run up the barrel price. We're paying for their new riches at the pump.

Yesterday in Fox Lake, Illinois, gas was $3.86!!! And, sadly, next week this price will look cheap.

If these speculators are Americans, don't they understand that their greed is hurting their country and their countrymen?

I already have several vacations approaching the "hold" status a result. That is money those towns don't get.

It would be nice if the governments of the world would get together and enforce some sort of guidelines to keep the GRBs in check.

Of course, this gouge has been in the plans since last fall. That is why they kept the prices up even though they were supposed to go down.

Needing a Serious Break. --RoadDog

NCAA Tournament Chanpionship

Congratulations to UConn!! I was pulling for Butler as I pull for the underdogs and little guys in the tournament.

Watched the first half at the Fox Lake American Legion after the SAL meeting. Neither team was playing well, but at least it was close and Butler was even winning thanks to a last second 3-pointer.

Saw the second half at Margaritaville, my basement bar. UConn was a different team when they came out, especially with that Lamb kid. Butler just couldn't get anything going. It wasn't much fun watching them.

Waiting Until Next Year. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What does the abdominal cavity in a body contain?
A. It contains the five bowels: A, E, I, O and U.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Chicago's First Blues Brothers

Most have heard of the John Belushi-Dan Ackroyd Blues Brothers from Chicago, but actually, there was a real pair of brothers singing the blues, often bawdy, back on the 30s, 40s and 50s.

They influenced artists such as Louis Prima, Chuck Berry and Led Zeppelin.

Their names were Joe and Charlie McCoy who made their mark, made money, but died penniless. Even their grave is unmarked.

I thought I'd mention it in this blog because of its music connection. I'll be writing about them in my history blog at http://cootershistorything.blogspot.com.

But, were They Soul Men? --RoadDog

Somebody Picked the Final Four!!! I Sure Didn't

From the March 29th USA Today.

Hard to believe, but of the 5.9 million NCAA College basketball tournament brackets filled out at ESPN Bracket Challenge, two people had ALL FOUR TEAMS CORRECT!!!

One of them was Joe Pearlman of East Brunswick, NJ. The article didn't mention the other one.

He said he is a Southern California football fan and when VCU beat USC in the First Four, he went with the bubble team. He liked UConn coming out of the Big East (and I thought all those teams would be better than they were) He said he liked Butler being in the championship last year. Nothing was said about his Kentucky pick.

hey, I at least knew VCU stood for Virginia Commonwealth, but didn't know where in Virginia it was.

Unfortunately for Joe, he had VCU beating Kentucky for the National Championship. Welcome to the club, Joe. Only, I was out after the Sweet Sixteen.

Of course, depending how the other person did, Joe still might win the $10,000 prize for best picks.

Go, Joe!! --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. How can you keep milk from going sour.
A. Keep it in the cow.

How Do You Get Better Than That?

Tonight we have the end of what I have to regard as one of the best-ever NCAA Tournaments. It was just one great game after another and lots and lots of upsets.

The regional championships were great as were the first two Final Four games.

Looking forward to tonight's UConn-Butler game. It's the Little Giy vs. the Big Guy again.

I know where I'll be at 8. Sure glad I'm not in the Eastern Time Zone, however.

The NCAA Tournament, Best Sporting Event, Period!!

Hoping for Another Close Game. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK THAT WAY:

Q. What is artificial insemination?
A. When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Number One Songs This Date, April 2nd-- Part 2

1961 BLUE MOON-- Marcels-- Blllluuuuuuueeeee Mooooooon.
1960 THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE"-- Percy Faith

1959 VENUS-- Frankie Avalon-- What you call early heavy metal rock n' roll.
1958 TEQUILA-- Champs-- Before you-know-who acquired it as his dance.
1957 ROUND AND ROUND-- Perry Como-- More early rock n' roll.

1956 POOR PEOPLE OF PARIS-- Les Baxter-- What can I say.
1955 THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT-- Bill Hayes-- Davy, my boyhood hero. Thanks, Walt.
1954 MAKE LOVE TO ME-- Jo Stafford-- And they say today's music is suggestive.

1953 MY DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW-- Patti Page-- Could she be asking how much that doggie in the window is?
1952 WHEEL OF FORTUNE-- Kay Starr-- So, that's where Pat and that letter-turner got the name.

1951 IF-- Perry Como
1950 MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!-- Theresa Brewer

1941 AMAPOLA (PRETTY LITTLE POPPY)-- Jimmy Dorsey-- And the hippies think they came up with drug music.
1831 MINNIE THE MOOCHER-- Cab Callaway-- One of the best songs ever!! A little bit dirty. Loved it on the movie "Blues Brothers."
1921 MARGIE

1911 PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, HONEY-- Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan
1901 GOOD-BYE, DOLLY GRAY-- Big Four Quartet

Give Me My "Music! Music! Music!"-- RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes?
A. Premature Death. (I'm not sure, but this just might be true.)

Eric Clapton's Semi-Finals

Down to the Final Four!!

9 Wonderful Tonight (EC)

------------------------FOR YOUR LOVE #4

4 For Your Love (Yardbirds)



#3 Sunshine of Your Love (Cream)

------------------------SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE #3

7. Layla (Derek & the Dominoes)

Looks like a "Love" showdown two days from now. Just like the NCAA, no #1 or #2 seeds.

So, It Will Be "For Your Love" Versus "Sunshine of Your Love" for the Eric Clapton Championship Monday.


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Number One Songs This Date, April 2nd-- Part 1

Going back through the years taking a look at the songs that were #1 this date. To find the #1 songs of all years for any date back to 1890, go to www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneinHistory/SelectMonth.htm. where I got my information. He bases it on the one true music rating service, BillBoard.

2011 BORN THIS WAY-- Lady Gaga (the Madonna want-to-be)
2001 BUTTERFLY-- Crazy Town
1991 COMING OUT OF THE DARK-- Gloria Estefan
1981 RAPTURE-- Blondie (early rap?)
1980 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL-- Pink Floyd-- "Hey teacher! Leave those kids alone!" No problem Pinkies!

1979 TRAGEDY-- BeeGees-- Wonder why these guys were so hot back then?
1978 NIGHT FEVER-- BeeGees
1977 RICH GIRL-- Hall & Oates-- Did she have GRB parents?

1976 DISCO LADY-- Johnnie Taylor-- The real early days of that great music.
1975 LOVIN' YOU-- Minnie Ripperton-- Hitting all those octaves before it was popular.
1974 HOOKED ON A FEELING-- Blue Suede-- I always have to play the intro about a hundred times. Oooga-Chacka!!! Oooga Chacka!!!

1973 THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA-- Vickie Lawrence-- Where's Carol and Harvey? Watch out for the big-bellied sheriff.
1972 A HORSE WITH NO NAME-- America-- Having fun riding that "horse" through the desert?

1971 JUST MY IMAGINATION-- Temptations-- You Know, the Temptin' Temptations.
1970 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER-- Simon & Garfunkel-- Takes my back to the Tune Room at NIU.

Going Back to 1901. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What happens to your body as you age?
A. When you get old, so do your bowels, and you get intercontinental.

Friday, April 1, 2011

It's Baseball Time Again

At least it gets the mind off this crummy weather. And, it was even crummy in North Carolina earlier this week.

Yesterday, I saw the Brewers blow a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the 9th and lose on a walk-off homer in Cincinnati. That's a hard way to start the season.

I'm a Brewers fan and have been since the late 70s and especially like the '82 one that played in the World series.

Today, at Donovan's in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, I watched the Cubs jump off to a 2-0 lead before losing 6-3. We had the game on the main TV behind the bar and the Sox game on one farther away. Those of us Sox fans had to catch glimpses of it, even when the Sox jumped off to a 14-0 lead and they needed most of it when the Indians scored ten runs themselves.

We kept complaining about having to watch te Cubs, but were outvoted.

I am a Sox fan first, Cubs fan second and Brewer fan third.

Long season to Go. --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. What are steroids?
A. Things for keeping carpets still on stairs.

Eric Clapton's Brackets: Quarter Finals

From yesterday.

1. I Shot the Sheriff

----------------------WONDERFUL TONIGHT

9. Wonderful Tonight


5. White Room

----------------------FOR YOUR LOVE (A Real hard Choice.)

4. For Your Love


6. Promises

----------------------SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE

3. Sunshine of Your Love


7. Layla

-----------------------LAYLA

15. Crossroads

Wonder What Song Will Win? --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS LOOK LIKE THAT:

Q. In a democratic society, how important are elections.
A. Very important. Sex can only happen when the male gets an election.