Think You've Got It Cold? Try Yakutsk, Siberia

From the Jan. 27, 2014, Yahoo! News. That's Yakutsk, Russia, as in 3,100 miles east of Moscow. Temperatures recently have been a brisk -49 degrees and today it was predicted at a "balmy" -42. And, that is not the coldest temperature ever recorded there. It once got to -83; real eyeball freezing weather!! They also get something called freezing fog.

It is located on the Lena River, 280 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

Not to worry though. Summers are short, hot and mosquito-filled.

Wasn'r Yakutsk In The Risk Game? --RoadDog

Fun Times Here on the Frozen Tundra- Part 3: Complaining-- Chirping-- Garage Door

JSS-- Just Some Stuff. //// Just Some Stuff About This Really Crummy Winter We're Having. 1. EVEN SNOWMOBILERS AND SKIERS COMPLAINING-- Many of our friends are big-time snowmobilers and skiers and even THEY are beginning to complain. Join the club. //// 2. WEATHER BUG CHIRPING-- Just try to turn on the old 'pute and not be driven nuts by the Weather Bug's chirping away for weather warnings and alerts. Take care of them, and they're back really soon. 3. GARAGE DOOR-- This is a new one for me, but just about anytime I lower the garage door, it comes back up because of snow and ice under it. I finally learned not to take off my shoes/boots until I knew it was really down. Otherwise, I just end up putting my boots back on. //// JSS and Not So Wonderful. --RoadDog

Gone in 2013, But Not Forgotten-- Part 3: Wild Thing

Continued from January 18th. //// REG PRESLEY-- Lead singer of Troggs died in February. Of course, that all-time Frat Rock/Garage Song "Wild Thing" but I also liked "I Can't Control Myself," "With a Girl Like You" and "Love Is All Around." //// ANDY JOHNS-- engineer //// JEWEL AKENS-- "The Birds and the Bees" "Let me tell you about...."//// JOE KELLY-- bassist of Chicago's Shadows of Knight and noted bluesman. //// DICK DODD-- Drummer and vocalist of the "Dirty Water" Standells. Former Mouseketeer. //// BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND-- Blues legend "Turn On Your Lovelight" //// PETER HANCOCK-- Lead vocalist of Climax Blues Band //// BOBBY SMITH-- lead vocalist of the Spinners //// KEN HODGES-- Bassist and vocalist of Spanky & Our Gang //// LOU REED-- Taking a "Walk On the Wild Side"//// ALVIN LEE-- Ten Years After leader. Woodstock highlight "I'm Going Home" //// These folks made some music very important to me. //// One Hell of a Heavenly Band. --RoadDog

No Eagles (Well Maybe), But Two Deer

15.1 degrees here. A HEAT WAVE!!! //// We just got back from drives around the McHenry Dam and Morraine Hills state parks south of the City of McHenry, Illinois. We were looking for bald eagles, which we have heard are along the Fox River. We figured the dam would be a good place to start. We did see a dark object off in the distance on the other side of the river that may or may not have been an eagle. It was too far away. //// We then drove to nearby Morraine Hills State Park (formed by glaciers) and didn't see any eagles there, but we did see a pair of deer who also espied us, so we had a stareoff. They won. //// --RoadDog

Fun Times Here On the Frozen Tundra-- Part 3: Take That, South!

I saw last night that temperature in Nome, Alaska, way up north, hit the 50s yesterday. OK, what is wrong with this scenario? Right now, I'm listening to 94.9 FM, the Surf, out of North Myrtle Beach, SC, and they are talking a lot about the winter storm on its way. //// Yesterday, I was listening to John Radio out of some place between Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., and the winter storm heading their way was a big topic and people were having a run on stores for survival items. My sister lives in Savannah and told my mom the same thing. //// Also yesterday, I was listening to my classic country station, WBRF in Galax, Virginia, and they were talking about how cold it was goingto get today. //// Mom said it was 60 degrees in Goldsboro, NC, yesterday, but will be below freezing today. //// Before a couple weeks ago, I'd never heard of an Arctic Vortex, but I am really getting tired of the "V" word right now. Those Canadians can keep it. But Southerners, including Mom, are blaming us in the North for sending it their way. //// I Believe Everyone Should Get a Little Taste. --RoadDog

Fun Times Here on the Frozen Tundra-- Part 2: Eyeball Freezin' Weather

Thawing out now after just taking the garbage out to the end of the driveway. And the birds had finished off the feeder, so had to refill that as well. That involved a trip through three-foot snow drifts on the east side of the house. Hope they appreciate it, but I did hear some fuss tweeting complaining that I hadn't filled it in a timely manner and fashion. //// While in the back of the house filling the feeder, my neighbor Steve came running out his backdoor holding his dog Allie in the air. He said that Allie would not go out on her own in this cold and was just about to go in the house when he grabbed her. Unfortunately for him, he was wearing his shorts, so there he stood waiting for the dog to go in short pants. Now, he had to be quite cold. //// Hey, I was wearing two pairs of gloves and several layers of clothes and an exrtra heavy coat. And, I was still cold. //// Temperature outside this morning when I logged on was a crisp -14.5 degees in nearby McHenry. And, I still have to do the driveway again which got drifted over in places because of yesterday's high winds. //// And, It's Not Any better "Down South." --RoadDog

Here's an Idea for Future "Cars" Movies

I know Disney might be a bit put-off by how poorly the second "Cars" movie did (and I thought it was ok, but just not the same as the first one which I really liked). But, I have ideas for new ones. //// The gang should take a road trip on Route 66 and encounter obstacles and interesting characters on the way. That keeps closer to the original soul of the movie. //// Maybe even a trip on the Lincoln Highway to celebrate its 100th anniversary. They could go back in time and help the 1919 Army convoy. //// Just a Thought. --RoadDog

Another List of 2013 Movies That I Mostly Saw

From the Jan. 5, 2014, Chicago Tribune "Disney's dizzying year" by Jonathan Berlin and Chad Yoder. //// Disney had a good year in 2013 leading to $1.7 billion domestic and $4.7 billion worldwide. //// They released nine major films. In order of domestic earnings in millions(* means I saw it): 1. *Iron Man 3, $409 //// 2. Monters University $268.5 //// 3. *Frozen, 263.1 //// 4. *Oz the Great and Powerful $234.9 //// 5. *Thor: The Dark World 202.5 //// 6. Planes, 90.3 //// 7. *The Lone Ranger, $89.3 //// 8. *Saving Mr. Banks $44.1 //// 9. Delivery Man, 29.7. //// And, I would have liked to have seen "Monsters University" and "Planes." I have gotten to be a huge fan of animated movies. "Saving Mr. Banks" is still at the theaters, so it will go up, but I doubt that it will be too high (even though it is my favorite of all of them). //// I liked all of the movies I saw from Disney. "The Lone Ranger" was the big "flop" and was described in the article as the "John Carter" of 2013. I thoroughly enjoyed it (and, I really like "John Carter" as well). //// My top three favorites in order: 1. Saving Mr. Banks, 2. Oz the Great and Powerful, 3. The Lone Ranger. //// I will have Disney's highest grossing films by year from 2000 in my Cooter's History Thing blog today. //// Pass the Popcorn. --RoadDog

Chilly and Chili Here in the Midwest

Still coping with all this cold and snow. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24TH: Temp in the 20s, but stayed in all day because of the high winds and wind chill. //// SATURDAY, JANUARY 25TH: Had to do some shoveling because of the drifting snow. Went to Stormy Monday on the frozen Fox Lake for their 3rd annual Chili Cookoff. Love my chili. They had seven different chilis and I sampled all of them. Then went to the Legion on frozen Nippersing Lake and went to the Round Lake/Fox Lake Rotary Club Chili Cookoff. Sampled another 14 chilis. I decided that sampling all that many chilis is not a good thing and won't do it again in a single day. One chili cookoff is enough. Had to remain upwind of myself. //// SUNDAY, JANUARY 25TH: Bob Stroud played every track in the Beatles first United States album, "Meet the Beatles" on his Rock and Roll Roots Show. Also recorded Breakfast With the Beatles to listen to this week. Had to clear another 3 inches of snow off the driveway and sidewalk, along with drifting snow. My neighbor Dan cleared the "Bad Snow" off at the foot of the driveway, home of village snow plow-deposited snow. We then cleared off a neighbor's driveway. //// We had three chili cookoffs to choose from on this non-football Sunday (the Pro Bowl doesn't count as a football game). Went to the new Dirty Rooster in Antioch for a Bloody Mary and then met up with Missy, Sue, Paul and J.C. at the Squaw Bar for their Chili Cookoff. //// Saw two bald eagles outside the place. Five chilis, all good. Like I say about bbq, I never met one I didn't like unless its way too hot (a little's ok). Paul took his voting seriously. I just pick my favorite, he was taking all sorts of notes. //// Then went to Stormy Monday for a friend's birthday party. //// Came home in the snow falling and blowing snow. Watched Fox's Animation Domination and the Grammys. //// Coping With It, Though. --RoadDog

Fun Times Here On the Frozen Tundra-- Part 1

Not saying its cold.... BUT!!! The highs the next two days here in northeast Illinois will not break 0 degrees and with wind chills of -35 to -45. Most, if not all, schools in the area have been called off for the next two days. They were also closed for two days a couple weeks ago because of the cold. //// Earlier today, while looking at Weather Bug, I saw the temp drop from -3.9 degrees to 4.0 degrees. Highs and lows the next three days: MONDAY-- -5, -21, // TUESDAY-- -!, -10 WEDNESDAY-- 17, 12. Wednesday will be a heatwave, getting my shorts and tee shirt ready. //// --RoadDog

The Beatles Are Coming-- Part 8: Taking Britain First

From Dave McAleer's "The Book of Hit Singles." //// U.K. JANUARY-MARCH 1963-- The Beatles' second single "Please Please Me" topped the charts and put the Merseybeat Sound on the musical map. In America, it was rush-released, but failed to click. //// In Australia, The Bee Gees, origianlly from Manchester, England, signed with Festival Rceords and started making a name for themselves Down Under. (I remember when I first heard them I thought they were really the Beatles assuming a fake name. Sure sounded like them.) //// U.K. APRIL-JUNE 1963: The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein also managed Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas who eventually had two successibe #1s. Another of his groups, Gerry & the Pacemakers had three #1s. //// U.K. JULY-SEPTEMBER 1963: The Beatles' debut LP, Please Please Me, topped the chart for 30 weeks and the single "She Loves You" had a record for advance orders, sold over a million copies in the U,K. and cemented them as Britain's top group. //// U.K. OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1963: As the year ended, the Beatles had five records in the Top 20 singles (including two EPs and an album). The LP With the Beatles entered the chart at #1 as did the single "I Want to Hold Your Hand," which smashed all U.K. sales records, selling a million copies in just three days. A big U.S, launch was planned for early 1964. //// Gaining Momentum. --RoadDog

The Beatles Are Coming-- Part 7: Taking Britain First.

Of course, the Beatles took Britain first, starting a full year before they reached tehse shores. Speaking of which, I sure enjoyed watching Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the two Beatles still with us last night on the Grammys. They also had Yoko Ono (John's wife) and Olivia Harrison (George's wife) as well as Sean Lennon. //// Back to the British charts for 1963, Beatle songs ranking in the monthly Top Twenty. SEPTEMBER: "She Loves You" #1 and "Twist & Shout EP" #17. OCTOBER: "She Loves Yo" #3 and "Twist & Shout EP" #12. NOVEMBER "She Loves You" back to #1. DECEMBER: This month the Beatles had "I Want to Hold Your Hand" #1 and "She Loves You" #3. The "With the Beatles LP" was #14 and "Beatle Hits EP" #20. //// Really Taking Off There, But Not in the U.S. Yet. --RoadDog

The Beatles and Me-- Part 2: And What About These Other Songs?

I tuned into WLS and it didn't take long for me to hear "I Want to Hold Your Hand." But what about all these other songs I'm hearing by other groups? I liked them too. Thanks a lot Beatles, now I'm hooked on pop music. Gotta get me a radio. I really need a radio. //// After I got one, I really started listening a lot. I had a lot of catching up to do. I found out this rock and roll music went back to 1955 so had a lot of listening to do. //// Looking back at the WLS Top 40 from January 17, 1964, there are still quite a few groups and singers that I never heard of before, mostly KO'd by Beatlemania and the British Invasion. Here are those: Ginny Arnell (I did a lot of research and will write about her later), Jim and Monica, Dale Ward, Murry Kellum, Reflections, Ideals, Drewvells, Nick Noble, Kevin and Greg and the Cookies. And there were 14 songs that I was not familiar with as well. And, this is considering all the listening and research I've been doing in the last fifty years. I didn't listen to pop music at all before the Beatles. //// Like I Said, I Had a Lot of Listening to Do. --RoadDog

The Beatles and Me-- Part 1

There I was, a happy-go-lucky seventh grader at Winston Park Junior High School in Palatine, Illinois, minding my own business and getting good grades and completely unconcerned with pop music. I didn't listen to it at all. Could care less //// But, then all the kids started talking about these guys from England called the Beetles (well, I knew how to spell it, anyway). Then, I started hearing about them on the TV and the girls were just beyond themselves. Says I to myself, "Well, I just am going to have to hear these guys so tuned into WLS on my parents' radio (hey, you don't need a radio if you don't listen to music). Of course, that was when my parents were gone because they were way too much into Big Band and Swing Music not to get on my case. //// WOW!!! ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY!!! --RoadDog

The Beatles Are Coming!-- Part 6: Jan. 24, 1964, Trashmen Beat Out Beatles

Fifty years ago, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" rose to #8 on the WLS 890 AM Silver Dollar Survey. The seven songs ahead of them: #1. YOU DON'T OWN ME-- Lesley Gore // #2. THERE I'VE SAID IT AGAIN-- Bobby Vinton // #3. CALIFORNIA SUN--Rivieras // #4. POPSICLES & ICICLES-- Murmaids // #5. WHAT'S EASY FOR TWO-- Mary Wells // #6. HEY LITTLE COBRA-- Ripchords // #7. SURFIN' BIRD-- Trashmen //// #8. I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND-- Beat Out By the Trashmen. //// It Was On. --RoadDog

The Beatles Are Coming-- Part 5: Taking Britain First

From The Book of Hot Singles: Top 20 Charts by Dave McAleer. A list of Top 20 songs by month on British and U.S. charts. These charts are taken in 1963 from the New Musical Express and in 1964 from Record Retailer. //// The Beatles took Britain starting a year before the United States. //// The first time the Beatles appeared on the British charts was #4 "Please Please Me" in FEBRUARY 1963. It went to #2 for MARCH. In APRIL "From Me to You" charted at #11. //// MAY: "From Me to You" #1. //// In JUNE, "From Me to You" was at #3, beaten out for #2 by Beatle-written "Do You Want to Know a Secret" by Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas. //// In July, it was "From Me to You" at ##14 and "Twist and Shout EP" at #16. Of interest, a group called Brian Poole & the Tremeloes had #11 with "Twist and Shout." AUGUST: "Twist & Shout EP" #3 and "She Loves You" #18. --RoadDog

The Beatles Are Coming!! -- Part 4: January 17, 1964

31. GIRLS GROW UP FASTER THAN BOYS-- Cookies // 32. LITTLE BOY-- Tony Bennett // 33. TRUE LOVE GOES ON AND ON-- Burl Ives // 34. SOMEWHERE-- Tymes // 35. A FOOL NEVER LEARNS -- Andy Williams //// 36. TODAY'S TEARDROPS--Rick Nelson // BOY YOU OUGHT TO SEE HER NOW-- Kevin & Greg // SEE THE FUNNY LITTLE CLOWN-- Bobby Goldsboro // UM UM UM-- Major Lance // I WNAT TO HOLD YOUR HAND-- You Know Who. //// Many of these artists were essentially through for their careers, others were able to brave the Invasion and Continue. //// And, the Rest, As They Say, Is History. --RoadDog

The Beatles Are Coming!: The WLS Chicago Silver Dollar Survey Jan. 17, 1864-- Part 3

Continuing with songs on the WLS , 890 AM, Silver Dollar Survey the week that the Beatles launched their invasion in Chicago, placing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at #40. //// 21. TELL HIM-- Drewvells // 22. I HAVE A BOYFRIEND-- Chiffons // 23. WHEN THE LOVELIGHT STARTS SHINING-- Supremes // 24. FOR YOU-- Rick Nelson // 25. STAY WITH ME-- Nick Noble //// 26. I CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT YOU-- Steve and Eydie // 27. ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART-- Dionne Warwick // 28. BLESS 'EM ALL-- Jane Morgan // 29. AS USUAL-- Brenda Lee // 30. WOW WOW WEE-- Angels. //// Woo Wolly Woo. --RoadDog