Rick Kaempfer

Tina Louise

2009-12-04T12:17:00.003-06:00

I don't even get this commercial, but I still like it...

Ok, back to research.

Kevin Gregg...

2009-12-03T07:08:00.000-06:00

...still sucks.

But now he's somebody else's problem.

That story dragged me out of research mode momentarily, but here are a few others I'm enjoying...

Beatles 3000

This is a funny video "documentary" about the Beatles told by Beatle-ologists a thousand years from now.

This is probably the best story I've seen about the Tiger Woods saga. It's not in a tabloid, it's Esquire.

And finally...

This guy has a funny way of fighting back against the anti-gay marriage people. I like the way his mind works.

OK, back to research.

Research Time

2009-11-30T08:03:00.000-06:00

I'll be stepping back from the blog over the next month or so just like I did last year. Chicago Radio Spotlight and Just One Bad Century will return in 2010.

The only regular posting will continue to be my weekly Father Knows Nothing column, which I'll re-post here as I always do.

Of course, you know me, I may just pop up on this blog a few times to share something funny, cool, or interesting. I just won't be posting the usual volume, and there will be days when I post nothing at all.

I'm in deep research mode. One novel is about 2/3 done, one book is essentially done and is being pitched as I write this, and the third book I'm working on still needs quite a bit of research. That's what I'm concentrating on this month.

I'm also researching for two new Just One Bad Century features that will debut the week of the Cubs Convention.

So, if you need me I'll be holed up in my basement bunker. I'm still checking e-mail, of course, and I'm still on Facebook, so it's not like I'm completely unreachable. Just unshaven. And probably wearing sweatpants.

Family Feud

2009-11-30T07:51:00.002-06:00

This is my latest contribution to NWI Parent. It's the back page "Family Room" essay in the current issue, and it's about my childhood battle with my sister Cindy.

Johnny B is out at the Loop

2009-11-30T07:08:00.002-06:00

Whoa. I knew his contract was running out soon and that he probably wouldn't be back at the Loop, but I didn't expect this.

Robert Feder reports that today is his last day.

Father Knows Nothing

2009-11-29T11:09:00.003-06:00

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This one is called "Incredibly Specific Shopping Lists."

You can read it here.

Best no-hitter ever

2009-11-28T11:08:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Steve Rhodes for pointing this one out to me...

Christmas Shopping Season

2009-11-27T11:02:00.002-06:00

Christmas shopping season is officially upon us, so once again we'd like to offer a few products for the Cubs fan on your Christmas list. We just went through our inventory, so please pay attention to the sizes and choices still available.

Allow about seven to ten days for delivery. If it's a rush order, e-mail me at rick@justonebadcentury.com, and I'll see what I can do.

This classic teardrop Cub shirt has been a big hit. It says so much without saying a word.

It's available in M, L, XL, and XXL.

Order yours here.

We're starting to see some of these at Cubs games now. It's one of those things that looks like the real thing, and leads to a double take. Ah, yes. I feel your pain too.

It's adjustable (fits everyone).

You can get yours here.

For the Cubs optimist, the Losing is Soooo Last Century t-shirt, is a popular choice. Look at how happy this young lady is wearing hers.

It's available in L and XL.

Order yours here.

And for the Cubs fan at the end of his rope, this one says it all.

It's available in M, L, and XL.

You can get yours here.

We also have a few old classic 1908 Cubs baseball cards available here.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T00:03:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all the readers of my blogs. I hope you have a wonderful day with your families, and thanks so much for reading my nonsensical ramblings this year.

Dennis Farina

2009-11-26T00:01:00.001-06:00

Former Chicago Cop.

Actor.

Cubs fan.

Celebrity Cub Fan List

2009-11-25T11:38:00.006-06:00

Tomorrow I will post the final "Celebrity Cub Fan" segment at Just One Bad Century. This feature won't be returning in 2010. It will be replaced by something I hope you'll find amusing. (It will be a visual feature).

But, the Celebrity Cub fan feature was popular, and it's not really archived on the site, so here is the list of the Celebrity Cub fans we featured this year (in alphabetical order). I think you'll agree, it's quite an eclectic list. Click on their names to read their stories of Cubs love...

Jonathon Alter
J. Ogden Armour
Bill Ayers
John & Jim Belushi
Rod Blagojevich
Tom Bosely
Joe E. Brown
Jimmy Buffett
Kurt Busch
Hillary Clinton
Billy Corgan
John Cusack
David Diaz
John Dillinger
Tom Dreesen
Dennis Farina
Dennis Franz
Jeff Garlin
Cardinal Francis George
Steve Goodman
Bryant Gumbel
George Halas
Ernest Hemingway
Bonnie Hunt
Walter Jacobson
Ray Kroc
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Joe Mantegna
The Marx Brothers
Bill Murray
Bob Newhart
William Petersen
Jeremy Piven
Ronald Reagan
Mike Royko
Jack Ruby
Donald Rumsfeld
Pat Sajak
Scott Simon
Gary Sinise
Justice John Paul Stevens
Scott Turow
Vince Vaughn
Eddie Vedder
Bill Veeck
George Will

There were several others we never got around to featuring including Tom Arnold, Dick Cheney, Dennis Hastert, George Ryan, Ray Meyer, Bugs Moran, Phil Donahue, Albert Lasker, Eddie Olczyk, Bill Zehme, and no I'm not kidding...Jerry Lewis. Knowing me, I'm sure their stories will turn up on one of my sites someday.

Unusual Toys for Tots drive

2009-11-25T11:04:00.001-06:00

Don't bother calling 411 unless you're in San Francisco. That's where this is...

The Muppets do Bohemian Rhapsody

2009-11-25T11:02:00.001-06:00

Adam Lambert outrage

2009-11-25T10:03:00.005-06:00

Apparently everyone is absolutely shocked by Adam Lambert's performance in the American Music Awards on Sunday night.

The show got tons of complaints (Imagine Dick Clark's office fielding those calls.) Good Morning America even canceled his appearance.

Where do I stand on this? I'm just as shocked as everyone else. People watched the American Music Awards?

I mean, there was a Bears game on at the same time, so the audience for the AMA had to be women, gay men, or men that haven't yet come to grips with their gayness. Methinks thou doth protest too much.

When stereotypes don't work

2009-11-25T09:56:00.003-06:00

According to this Tribune article, one of the world's biggest comic book geeks is...Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.

The Oscar Gamble/Johnny Calison trade

2009-11-25T09:47:00.003-06:00

This week's Tale from a Bad Century is the last one of the season. It's about the Oscar Gamble/Johnny Calison trade after the 1969 season.

As you might imagine, this one didn't work out so well.

It deprived the Cubs of what could have been the all-time greatest afro outfield (with Jose Cardenal).

Aim high

2009-11-24T08:46:00.001-06:00

Fox management: "fed up with mistakes"

2009-11-24T08:33:00.003-06:00

I find this hard to believe because of the nature of the mistakes made, but according to this, Fox News management is actually upset about the use of deceptive b-roll film to make it look like Republicans are more popular than they are.

A leaked memo warns that those involved in future "mistake chains" will receive "warning letters to personnel files, suspensions, and other possible actions up to and including termination."

The entire memo is here.

I'm not buying this is for real, but you can check it out if you want to believe it. Anyone who knows anything at all about putting together packages for newscasts knows that the kind of "mistakes" made had to be intentional. There's no other explanation. You can call it a mistake now, but media veterans know you're full of it..."leaked" memo or not.

President Dobbs?

2009-11-24T08:31:00.003-06:00

According to yesterday's Politico, Lou Dobbs is considering a run for President, and insists it "wouldn't be crazy."

Steam Engine in Boots

2009-11-24T03:03:00.000-06:00

One of the greatest nicknames of all-time is this year's final Great Nickname at Just One Bad Century this year.

They called him Steam Engine in Boots.

Don't worry, we've still got plenty of great nicknames for next year.

2009 in Review

2009-11-23T15:12:00.002-06:00

I wrote an article for the latest SHORE Magazine, and it's out now.

I think it came out pretty well.

It's called "2009 in Review."

Parenting Advice

2009-11-23T11:38:00.001-06:00

Contributed by "BP"...

The Post-Oprah TV world

2009-11-23T11:30:00.002-06:00

The New York Times has a piece today about who will "replace" Oprah after she leaves syndicated television.

The conclusion is that no-one will be able to completely fill her role, which I think is absolutely correct. It reminds me of when Howard Stern left radio. Radio still hasn't replaced him.

Al Gore on SNL

2009-11-23T07:03:00.000-06:00

Cubs through History

2009-11-23T06:03:00.001-06:00

As I mentioned below, this week's Cubs through History at JOBC was the final installment. Since the segment isn't really archived at JOBC, I thought I would put it together for you here.

If you'd like to read about Chicago history, and then find out what was going on with the Cubs at the same time, here they are broken down by decade...

1880s
The Haymarket Riot

1890s
The Columbian Exposition

1900s
The Everleigh Club
Essanay Studios

1910s
The 1912 Bull Moose Convention
World War I
The Influenza Pandemic
Prohibition begins

1920s
Warren G. Harding is nominated in Chicago
The Building of the Tribune Tower
Leopold & Loeb
Dion O'Banion, Hymie Weiss & the Holy Name Cathedral
The Dempsey-Tunney fight at Soldier Field
The Green Mill
Amos & Andy
The St. Valentines Day Massacre

1930s
Jake Lingle
The 1932 Democratic National Convention
Anton Cermak and FDR
The Pump Room
Chez Paree
Jesse Owens in Chicago
The Hindenberg Explodes

1940s
Orchard Field is renamed O'Hare Airport

1950s
The 1952 Republican and Democratic National Conventions
Weber Grills are invented in suburban Chicago
Emmitt Till and the Civil Rights movement
Wally Phillips arrives in Chicago
Elvis in Chicago

1960s
The Kennedy Expressway opens
The Playboy Mansion & Clubs
Beatlemania in Chicago
The Rolling Stones in Chicago
The John Hancock Center is built

1970s
The New York City Blackout
Jane Byrne elected Mayor
Pope John Paul II visits Chicago

1980s
Spider Dan climbs the Hancock and the Sears Tower
Risky Business is filmed in Chicago
Geraldo opens Al Capone's vault
Ferris Buehler's Day Off is filmed in Chicago

1990s
The Chicago Flood
The Fugitive is filmed in Chicago
The Heatwave of 1995
Princess Diana in Chicago