Pre-Order "The Living Wills"

"The Living Wills" is now available for pre-order at Eckhartz Press.

Be among the first to receive a copy; it ships on December 1st.

And thanks in advance for your support!

Countdown to The Living Wills

In the days leading up to the December 1st release of "The Living Wills", we'll be giving you little hints and previews of what you will find in the pages of this exciting new novel by Eckhartz Press authors Brendan Sullivan and Rick Kaempfer.

The Living Wills will be the first novel in history that features all three of the following as major plot points...

Port-A-Potties

Videotape






and this song...

Arrested Development is back

I was never officially a member of the "Arrested Development" cult, but I did enjoy the program, so I'll join in with the cult today expressing excitement that "Arrested Development" is officially coming back.

Netflix is producing brand new episodes.

Romenesko Explains

I know this is really an "inside the media" story, but I've been closely following the story of Jim Romenesko. He is/was a media critic that aggregated stories about the media biz, and I was a regular reader of his site at Poynter. He recently resigned that post, and has now started his own website called JimRomenesko.com.

Today he explains everything that happened at Poynter. How it happened, when it happened, and why it happened.

If you've been following this story too, it's a must read.

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert sees the American press finally beginning to take an interest in his British phone hacking scandal. What has roused the interest of the American press? What else? Show biz. This week there will be a star-studded lineup of hacking victims testifying under oath; a list that includes such luminaries as Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller, and the most famous author in the world, J.K. Rowling.

Even the Hollywood Reporter is covering the story now.

Rick Kogan

Robert Feder reviews Rick Kogan's show "Chicago Live". He went to the show not expecting much, and was blown away by Kogan's performance.

I agree with Mr. Feder; Rick Kogan really is a Chicago treasure. I've known him for many years. We spent several nights back in the 90s hanging out at Tim Weigel's house and having a few adult beverages out on Tim's veranda. I've since been on his show as a guest (when "$everance" came out) and interviewed him for Chicago Radio Spotlight.

Brendan and I were also very excited that he gave us such a nice blurb for our book "The Living Wills".

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This one is about a few things that have been "Falling through the Cracks" at my house.

You can read it here.

Find Hidden Cat Optical Illusion

This Illusion is One of my favorite. Because I Love Cats.
Try to find a hidden cat in the below picture somewhere.

Tags: Cat, Hidden Illusion, Spot, Cat Illusion

Chair or Skull Optical Illusion

Like my last illusion of Couple, Moon and Skull Illusion. this illlusion is quite similar to them. its both chair and skull. a skull lover should buy this chair for sure.

Video - Jimmy Fallon Does Jim Morrison – NAILS IT!

NBC's Jimmy Fallon Does Jim Morrison

Any fan of Jimmy Fallon knows he has does a number of impersonations that are spot on.

Fallon has nailed Charlie Sheen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Meat Loaf, and even Justin Bieber.

But last week Fallon nailed the big one with his impersonation of the Doors front man Jim Morrison - even Jay Leno commented about how good it was.

Fallon did a superb job as Morrison singing the theme song to, of all things - “The Reading Rainbow”.



And yes, that was a SOCK stuffed down his pants to make him look more like…. well, um… you get the picture.

This is why we love late night TV.

Here are some other great Fallon impersonations:

Jimmy Fallon and Justin Bieber
Jimmy Fallon as Bob Dylan
Jimmy Fallon as Neil Young
Jimmy Fallon as Meat Loaf
Jimmy Fallon as Charlie Sheen

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter

Natalie Wood Death Investigation Reopened – Robert Wagner Prime Suspect

Captain Dennis Davern says Robert Wagner Killed Natalie Wood

Sometimes in Hollywood people come out of the woodwork to try and capitalize on a celebrity’s fame, fortune, and demise.

Just ask Justin Bieber about his paternity lawsuit.

And in an attempt to reopen thirty year old wounds, the boat captain who piloted the vessel that actress Natalie Wood fell off of and died has brought to light some new allegations.

Wagner and Wood

Los Angeles police are talking to Captain Dennis Davern after he claims he lied to police 30 years ago when interviewed - but now wants to come clean about what happened that night on his boat.

Because he wants “Justice” – NOT money. Yea right.

Davern wrote a book called “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour”, and the 30 year anniversary of that fateful night is November 29th.

And one of the people on the boat that night, actor Dennis Hopper, has passed away and can no longer answer any questions.

That only leaves Wood’s husband Robert Wagner, actor Christopher Walken, and Captain Dennis Davern who really know what happened off the coast of Catalina in 1981.

Police say Natalie Wood fell overboard and died and investigators ruled the death accidental, but Davern now writes in his book that it was all a lie and there is more to the story.

He claims everybody was drunk and Wagner and Woods had a huge fight and he now “remembers” that Robert Wagner pushed her overboard and caused her death.

So after writing his book, somebody (not Davern) contacted the cops and media outlets to say the Captain had some "new recollections" that would blow the case wide open.

Wagner quickly responded saying,

“I trust they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid, and that it comes from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30-year anniversary of her tragic death.”

Indeed.

Davern took to the “Today” show Friday to blow the case wide open, but instead came across looking like some kind of baseball cap wearing money hungry slob who hadn’t shaved in weeks who ultimately didn’t have much to say after all.


Yea, that looks and sounds like a guy who would lie to his own mother.

If you’re going to go on national television to call somebody a murderer you should have spent just a little more time getting prepared – and cleaned up.

Epic Fail.

Police say they are taking the new information seriously and will look at all the new information.

InfoStar’s Take?

Davern will be exposed for what he is and the investigation will be closed and we can all get back to what we were doing.

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter

Countdown to The Living Wills

In the days leading up to the December 1st release of "The Living Wills", we'll be giving you little hints and previews of what you will find in the pages of this exciting new novel by Eckhartz Press authors Brendan Sullivan and Rick Kaempfer.

Actor William Petersen (CSI) noted in his recommendation of "The Living Wills" that it was a true Chicago novel.

Here are a few of the Chicago locations, and the chapters you'll find them...

Beverly

Chapters 9, 20, 23, 31, 35, and 52

Jefferson Park

Chapters 10, 33, and 58

Roscoe Village

Chapters 15, 27, 53





And, of course, there are many more Chicagoland locations in this authentically Chicago novel. Available very soon from Eckhartz Press.

Sveum reaction

From my e-mail box and Facebook page...

AA writes: "Isn't Sveum the new drug from Pfizer? I thought I saw an ad for it. Featured two guys sitting in side by side bathtubs looking out at Wrigley Field. But maybe that was something else."

RS writes: "No truth to the rumor that the Cubs are replacing their W flag with a V."

BP writes: "When Dale Sveum was third base coach for the Red Sox a lot of fans were unhappy with him for sending too many runners who were ultimately thrown out at the plate. One joke circulating during the time when the Iraq War was in full operation mode was “Put Dale Sveum in charge of the Iraq War. He sends everyone home.”

Occupy Wall Street reporting

I think I've proven in the past that I'm sympathetic to reporters and I honestly respect and admire the incredibly necessary work they do.

However, reading about the nationwide Occupy Wall Street protests this morning, I find myself irritated. Why? There are just as many reports like this (about the way police have been treating reporters) as there are reports about the protests themselves.

Hey, fellas, no offense, but really--It's not about you.

Sveum!

Sounds like something my German mother would say, but no, it's the name of the new Cubs manager Dale Sveum. His press conference will be later today. (Phil Rogers has some great quotes from other Cubs managers when they took over the job.)

I personally think he'll make a svell manager. Hopefully the Cubs will sving the bats for him this season.

Kevin Matthews

My old buddy (and former colleague) Kevin Matthews did his last show on WLAV in Grand Rapids yesterday. Robert Feder reports...

"It's over and out for Chicago radio veteran Kevin Matthews after five years as morning personality at WLAV-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His last day at the Cumulus Media station was Thursday. (As alter ego Jim Shorts might say: "That's bad!") In a message to fans on his Facebook page, he wrote: "I love you Kevheads so very much, thanks for the love back. What a wonderful group of human beings you are. We sure have had some laughs." In 2008 Matthews disclosed his battle with multiple sclerosis."

I interviewed Kevin for Chicago Radio Spotlight shortly after he announced his MS diagnosis. Years ago I also interviewed his alter-ego Jim Shorts. That was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. I just looked at that interview again...when I say years ago, I mean it. (It was 18 years ago.) The new morning guy at WLAV, by the way, is another former colleague of mine, Tony Gates.

Supercommittee Progress

Here's the headline from this morning's Washington Post: Supercommittee appears unlikely to reach agreement.

Raise your hand if you're shocked.

Teknik Bercinta Kamasutra

Teknik Bercinta Kamasutra - Gaya Seks Kamasutra - berbicara mengenai kamasutra tentunya anda sedikit banyak mengetahuinya, apalagi sejak kemunculan buku panduan kamasutra memberikan banyak pengajaran dalam bercinta. Dengan adanya kamasutra banyak orang yang akhirnya mengetahui beberapa macam gaya bercinta dan itu semua dapat memberikan variasi seks dalam bercinta.

Hingga saat ini banyak orang yang mencari artikel mengenai kamasutra ini, bahkan tak heran jika permintaan tentang buku kamasutra atau video kamasutra ini sangat banyak. Hal ini dapat dilihat dalam beberapa forum internet untuk membedah secara langsung tentang teknik bercinta kamasutra ini

Nah diatas tadi adalah salah satu gaya seks kamasutra yang dapat anda praktekan dan untuk gambar kamasutra yang lainnya dapat anda cari melalui search engine google. Dapatkan juga berita terbaru yang bisa anda update di blog ini

Flaming Dagger Tattoo Design | Flaming Blade Tattoo

the flames and the skin-piercing parts look rather pathetic. What I can say for sure is that this guy is a gamer, since every gamer knows that blades on fire are better than the regular ones.

Countdown to The Living Wills

In the days leading up to the December 1st release of "The Living Wills", we'll be giving you little hints and previews of what you will find in the pages of this exciting new novel by Eckhartz Press authors Brendan Sullivan and Rick Kaempfer.

Today we'll answer a question we've gotten quite a bit: Two authors on one novel? How in the world can that work?

Co-author Brendan Sullivan (photo) explains it in the book's author notes...

"This novel was conceived, developed and written in what we’ve come to learn is a fairly unusual way. “The Living Wills” was written through improvisation, brainstorming mind mapping and other ideation techniques, as an experiment in pure collaborative creativity. Rick and I had no pre-conceived ideas about the content of this novel, absolutely none. All we had was our own creativity, Rick’s wisdom and experience as a writer and a set of mutually agreed-upon rules, based upon my years as a professional improvisational actor and my extensive experience in applying these rules with corporate clients to improve their ideation, problem solving, team development and leadership skills.

These rules include true mutual respect, trust in yourself and your team, active listening, playfulness, being ‘in the moment,’ taking risks, supporting someone else taking a risk, accepting one another’s ideas, finding the positive and building on that, saying ‘yes…and’ first and creating a safe and healthy environment for all of this to take place.

I happen to have an awesome partner in creating this novel. Rick’s talent, experience and wisdom made this work. And there’s no replacement for that. The rules stated above are not a substitute for education, knowledge, experience and talent. But the rules tremendously increase the odds that the collaboration will be successful."

Astros Moving to American League?

According to the Tribune, the sale of the Astros is being held up by the Commissioner unless the new owner agrees to move the Astros to the American League. It looks like the new owner is willing to make that move.

You know what this means, don't you?

It means the White Sox still haven't won a World Series against a National League team since 1917.

Beware the Toilet

From this morning's RAMP newsletter, an interesting statistic...

"It turns out that despite the many water hazards out there, the biggest liquid-based menace to mobile phones is the toilet. A British cell phone comparison site surveyed almost 2,000 cell phone owners, and they found that the No. 1 way people damage their mobile phones is by accidentally dropping them in the toilet, with a full 47% of respondents' cell phones meeting their demise in the giant, swirling maw of their commode."

I've never done that, but one of my sons did lose an iPod that way.

Vanity Fair Scandal Issue

Vanity Fair magazine is coming out with an issue, apparently a one-time only issue, about Hollywood scandals, sex and obsession.

Details are here.

It's sort of a Scandal's Greatest Hits album, including chart toppers like Natalie Wood, OJ, and Liz Taylor.

What would you pay for all those hits in this one exciting package? $49.99? $29.99? Would you believe you can get every one of those scandals together at last on this great album for only $10.99? Believe it. Order it now at your local newsstand.

Ricky Gervais is hosting the Golden Globes again

I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!

Last year celebrities pilloried Ricky Gervais because he was too mean during the Golden Globes. He was criticized all across the land.

Then the ratings came out. They were huge. As soon as I saw that I knew he would be back.

The ratings will be even bigger this year with Ricky back in the saddle.

Foto Memek Perawan | Gambar Memek

Foto Memek Perawan - Koleksi Gambar Memek Perawan - ide untuk menuliskan artikel mengenai memek perawan ini sebenarnya terjadi saat ada beberapa komentar yang masuk menanyakan gambar memek perawan yang memang membuat banyak orang saat ini penasaran dengan memek perawan tersebut. Tak heran jika foto memek perawan yang asli dicari oleh banyak orang di beberapa sumber termasuk internet

Nah tentunya kontroversi mengenai foto memek perawan ini menjadi bahan pembicaraan yang sangat seru, karena alat vital perempuan ini memang banyak versi dalam mengatakan sebuah memek itu masih dalam keadaan perawan atau tidak. Tentunya hal ini banyak membingungkan kita dan agar anda tidak bingung, maka kami berikan beberapa foto memek perawan yang dapat anda lihat dibawah ini

Foto Memek Perawan



Diatas tadi adalah beberapa gambar memek perawan yang dapat anda jadikan referensi saat anda ingin mengetahui bentuk memek perawan tersebut. Semoga artikel mengenai foto memek perawan ini dapat berguna untuk anda semuanya

20 Things I Know About My Wife

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad column to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. Because today is my 20th anniversary, this week's column relates 20 things I know about my wife.

You can read it here.

Happy anniversary, Bridget.

Justin Bieber’s Baby Drama is OVER – Mariah Yeater Drops Her Lawsuit and Goes into Hiding

Justin Bieber and his Accuser Mariah Yeater

The Justin Bieber pregnancy baby momma drama appears to be over!

Yesterday, Bieber’s legal team headed by famous lawyer Howard Weitzman said they were notified that Mariah Yeater has dropped her lawsuit against the singer.

In addition, Yeater’s lawyers have withdrawn from the case and say they will no longer represent the accusing baby momma.

Awkward.

As we reported last week, Bieber was planning to return to the United States this week and take a DNA test that he said would prove his innocence.

Bieber’s team was then planning to bring a wrongful and malicious lawsuit against Yeater to set an example for others that may wish to extort Justin with a bogus claim in the future.

We suspect that since the suit has been dropped that Bieber will NOT proceed with any kind of legal action against Yeater and will just let the story fade into the past.

Last week Yeater told The Insider all the dirty sexy details of meeting the singer after a concert and having sex with him in a bathroom at the Staples Center in L.A.

Related: Mariah Yeater talks publicly about sex with Justin Bieber - Video

Justin went public the next day on the TODAY show and told Matt Lauer that he had NEVER met Yeater and the story was just a way to try and get some of his money.

InfoStar’s Take:

Case closed. Let’s move on – there is nothing to see here.

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter

Countdown to The Living Wills

In the days leading up to the December 1st release of "The Living Wills", we'll be giving you little hints and previews of what you will find in the pages of this exciting new novel by Eckhartz Press authors Brendan Sullivan and Rick Kaempfer.


"The Living Wills" is about ripple effects...

A decision made in two seconds can change, damage, save or even end a life. Henry Stankiewicz made such a decision, and he is still dealing with the ripple effects over thirty years later. Can he and the people he affected now maneuver their way through a world of baristas and Army veterans, cartoon pirates and exploding port-a-potties, Canadian cowboys and bowling teams, office politics and young love, to find the strength to heal before it's too late?

Wonderful Christmastime

Bob Dearborn wows me again this morning at his The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac by telling another Beatles story I have never heard. I really thought I had heard them all, but this is new to me...

"November 16, 1979…Paul McCartney released the holiday single "Wonderful Christmastime." Because he wrote, published, and played all the instruments on this recording, McCartney's royalties add up. Including royalties from cover versions, it is estimated that Paul McCartney makes $400,000 per year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings in excess of $15 million."

As the Rupert Turns

On this morning's episode, Rupert reads Variety magazine and discovers that a movie called "Tabloid" is in the works. It's about a tabloid newspaper in England that hacks into people's phones.

The man behind the film is Mick Jagger.

This is what happens when you take on celebrities, Rupert (by say, hacking into their phones). Turns out, they have a venue for getting back at you.

Occupy Wall Street Tweets

The New York Times has a pretty interesting Twitter exchange this morning between a celebrity that spotted the cops on their way to break up Occupy Wall Street, and the people at OWS themselves.

You can read it here.

By the way, even if you don't agree with the message of these OWS guys, you must admit the optics of the police tactics are not helpful. They didn't just evict these kids, they forcibly removed them with policeman in riot gear, and tore up their personal affects along the way.

There's a reason why police tried to keep the press away, and it wasn't to protect them. It was to keep the images away from the public. In this new social media world, even if you control one of the biggest news gathering operations in the world (Bloomberg), that's no longer possible.

Kid K

He's not a kid anymore, he's 34, but it sounds like Kerry Wood will be coming back to the Cubs for at least one more season.

The new guys like him.

Playing Right Into Howard's Hands

From this morning's Radio Online, the Parents Television Council is playing right into Howard Stern's hands, giving him further street cred as a bad boy, and setting him up for even more publicity...

"The Parents Television Council (PTC) president, Tim Winter, says "If the rumors are true that NBC is considering the addition of radio shock-jock Howard Stern to the "America's Got Talent" judges table, the result will be the alienation of tens of millions of advertising dollars. Any short-term buzz from Stern's shock value will result in a longer-term decline as families abandon the show for more suitable programming." He continued, "We hope the programming executives at NBC realize it before Stern has an opportunity to sucker-punch families who tune in for a talent show."

I'm more convinced than ever that Howard has no intention of doing this, and furthermore that the show probably doesn't have an interest in hiring him. Listen to what Howard said on the air yesterday...

"I am not the next judge. I have no deal with "America's Got Talent." I'm not going to comment if I'm in negotiations... I don't comment on negotiations."

By the way, that last comment is pretty funny. He made all sorts of headlines during his past negotiation with Sirius.

Homeless DJ Update

From Tom Taylor's column this morning...

"Ted Williams – the Ted Williams who blew a few comeback opportunities after being discovered as a homeless radio jock in Columbus – now has a steady gig at NECN, the New England Cable News operation. The Boston Herald’s Jessica Heslam says Williams is doing the voiceover work from his place in Dublin, Ohio. NECN manager Stacey Marks Bronner wanted Williams because of his “a one-of-a-kind voice.” Williams claims that after going through rehab, he’s stayed sober since May 4. A nice touch for his recent visit to NECN in Massachusetts – the staffers gave him a #9 Red Sox jersey, of the baseball legend who shares his name."

If the name Stacey Marks Bronner sounds familiar to Chicagoans, it should. She ran Fox32 in Chicago for many years.

DVD Tattoo Design

Cool DVD Logo Tattoo on the Arm for DVD Player Fan :P

Tags: Tattoo Designs, DVD

Countdown to The Living Wills

In the days leading up to the December 1st release of "The Living Wills", we'll be giving you little hints and previews of what you will find in the pages of this exciting new novel by Eckhartz Press authors Brendan Sullivan and Rick Kaempfer.

"The Living Wills" may not set sales records, but if it's officially recognized as a new category, "The Living Wills" will set a Guinness World Record.


Are you ready to have your mind blown? OK, here goes.

"The Living Wills" mentions the name of this Canadian-born Cowboy-actor more often than any novel ever written.

Buy history. Buy "The Living Wills".

Available December 1st.

Thanksgiving Control Freak

Do you think you have control freaks in your family?

Not compared to this family.

I'm trying to imagine how I would react to these requests/demands. I'm sure I would do something of the trouble-making/pain-in-the-ass variety, but I suppose it depends on which demand was made of me.

Somebody to Love

45 years ago today, the Jefferson Airplane went into a recording studio in California and recorded their best song: "Somebody to Love". It came out on their best album "Surrealistic Pillow".

A few years after the song came out, they played it at Woodstock...

Costas Interviews Sandusky

Bob Costas is known as a sportscaster, but he has always been a great interviewer because he's not afraid to ask the tough questions.

Last night he had the exclusive first interview with the former Penn State coach accused of those heinous crimes against children, Jerry Sandusky.

It's cringe-worthy because of Sandusky's responses, but Costas is to be commended for not leaving any stone unturned. I suspect Sandusky's lawyer isn't too happy that he did the interview at all.

ABC probably isn't too happy with it either. It aired opposite their exclusive Gabrielle Giffords interview.

Occupy Wall Street evicted

The protesters at Occupy Wall Street were evicted overnight. People were arrested. They were told that they were welcome to come back, but there is one huge caveat to that...

"Police said protesters would be allowed to return once the park was cleaned, but would have to abide by rules banning items like tents, tarps and the storage of belongings."

Or in other words, you can come back, but you can't stay. If police removals in other cities are any indication of what we can expect, buckle up for a bumpy ride. And if the rumors of the Super Committee are true, and the Democrats really have agreed to deep cuts in spending with zero new taxes on the 1%, look for it to come back stronger than ever.

They may be a bunch of dirty hippies, but they aren't wrong.


LATE UPDATE: Court Order Allows Occupy Wall Street Protesters Back

Hasta mañana Aramis

He says he is done with the Cubs ("that door is closed") and his agent is mad at Bob Brenley (for comments he made about Aramis on the Waddle and Silvy show on ESPN AM 1000)

Details are here.

Aramis does have a few more good years left in him, but the Cubs should be able to spend that money more wisely (namely on younger players...hopefully pitching). I think we may have some people in place now that may actually do that.

I think in the long run, Aramis will be remembered fondly in Chicago. He did have some pretty darn good years here. Let's not forget that he was the best 3B we've had since Ron Santo. But on a rebuilding team, there's really no spot for a 33-year-old third baseman asking for close to $20 million a season.