Passing of a Chicago Icon

A big part of my life growing up died yesterday.

From the WGN website-

Legendary WGN Host Wally Phillips Dies
Longtime Morning Man Loses Battle With Alzheimer's

(WGN-AM) - Wally Phillips, considered by many in the radio industry for helping to pioneer the modern day talk radio format, has died. He was 82.

The WGN mainstay hosted the morning show from 1965 through 1986. During that time, he ruled the roost in morning drive, at times attracting half of the market's listening audience.

Phillips arrived at WGN Radio in 1956, retiring from a weekend show in 1998. His lasting legacy at the station is the "Neediest Kids' Fund," a children's charity. Phillips had been battling Alzheimer's disease for the past five years.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

And from the Trib-
Longtime WGN radio host Wally Phillips dead at 82

Wally Phillips was the voice I heard on the radio every morning for as far back as I can remember. I remember many a Thanksgiving drive to Nana's house where Wally played Alice's Restaurant. I may not have understood the song much back then, but it became a family tradition of sorts for us.

I also remember that it was Wally Phillips who introduced me to the terms 'hog futures' and 'pork bellies', when he would have Orion Samuelson (pronounced Or-ee-an) on each day to read the farm report and kibitz a while.

Of the three WGN Radio personalities I grew up with, Wally Phillips, Roy Leonard, and 'Uncle' Bobby Collins, on Roy is still with us.

Wally was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993, and you can read more about his career here, at Wally Phillips on WGN Gold

Like they said at the bottom of the WGN Gold page, If you are from Chicago, chances are you have said more than once, "I grew up with Wally Phillips." So did radio.

Very true.

Rest in Peace Wally



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Finger-licking good art!

Otherwise known as Reneck Fingerpaints!





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Found this today while wandering around Web

"Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal"


Nothing annoys a liberal more than when one of their celebrated intelligentsia defects toward the Right.

This week, yet another Leftist icon, David Mamet, announced he is coming to his senses.


Nice to see that some one whose work I like is coming around to the 'Light Side', even if it does mean that his colleagues are turning on him like rabid dogs.

Predictably, some of Mamet's former colleagues and devotees among the ever-tolerant and inclusive ranks of mindless tin men, were quick to condemn Mamet for his changing views: "How sad that an intelligent person like David would write such a simplistic, downright infantile article filled with stereotypes and lacking any substantive insight whatsoever." "Does this mean that you've given up on democracy and thrown in with the authoritarians?" "I had no idea Mamet could be so shallow." "Mr. Mamet is now simply brain dead." "I'm saddened to learn David is either a liar or a fool or both." "Mamet is a political ignoramus who hides his frustration by lashing out at an imagined ‘liberalism'."

Notably, many of his Lefty critics mentioned Mamet's faith: "Our old friend Mamet is perhaps too rich and too Jewish." And more to the point: "It's been apparent for quite some time that Mamet is a Zionist. This screed is just additional evidence."


Yep, there's that oh so tolerant Left we keep hearing about.

All I have to say is, "Welcome Home, Mr. Mamet, welcome home".


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Ah! I get it now! ;)

Dustin has a 'Cruise Wife'

This article is basic psychology, and something I really didn't take time to understand while Aaryk has been gone. But I'm sure Aaryk had his 'deployment wife' just like I have my DVD collection (okay, and a few pairs of shoes, but they're all high heels and Aaryk TOLD me to buy them!).

I guess it's good to remember that my spending sprees weren't JUST a weakness in character (I was supposed to be being frugal after all), but a coping mechanism for being alone.

Interesting article.

Oh, and this is a cool little video, has NOTHING to do with anything, but I just wanted to share!




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