GLUED

Episodes and Shameless

2011-01-16T23:09:00.007-06:00

The second episode of Episodes was the kicker tonight. Matt LeBlanc was top-notch and seems to really be having a good time goofing on himself. His 'character' of Matt LeBlanc can turn on a dime from being smart and sensitive to an absolute clod. Tonight he was talking about a documentary he had recently seen on children with Tourette's Syndrome. 'Matt LeBlanc' thought it was hysterical. Damn if I didn't think him talking about it was hysterical, too. This is easily one of the funniest sitcoms of the year.

Tonight's episode of Shameless had much less of patriarch Frank (William H. Macy) passed out on the floor and was all the better for it. A drunken Frank got punched out at his other residence the local watering hole The Alibi and when he stumbled home he took it out on Ian, bloodying his son's nose. Fiona's new hook-up Thiefy McHottie (also known as Steve) was incensed and thinking he was doing the family a favor he dumped a passport-less Frank in Toronto when he was doing a run to Detroit and took a detour. (The timing of this seemed a bit off as Chicago to Toronto is easily an 18 hour round-trip and Steve was back the next day fresh as a daisy but I don't write the show so they don't have my expertise to rely on, but I'll forgive them because they get the other Chicago details like Oberweis right.) Frank wakes up on a park bench and is soon arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police and once in custody loudly protests that he is a US citizen. But with no passport to prove it his protests fall on deaf ears and an outraged Frank goes off on a very funny and topical rant about the snowless Vancouver Olympics and further insult when the Canadians could not get the Olympic torch to light properly at the opening ceremonies. Steve eventually gets Frank back but still incurs Fiona's wrath. We also learn in this episode that the family of seven spends just $120 a week on groceries and also covers utilities while Frank spends over $700 a month at The Alibi. TV critic Ken Tucker said he hates this show but I find it very funny and wry and irreverent and above all, well-acted. We'll see where we are at renewal time.

And once again...

2011-01-16T23:03:00.003-06:00

the people of Townsville are saved...

Powerpuff Girls are now on Boomerang!

Worst Cooks in America 2 Episode 3

2011-01-16T20:08:00.004-06:00

This week the recruits are being schooled on flavor combinations. At least one problem with these worst cooks, is that on top of having no skills they tend to not be adventurous eaters and even recognizing the ingredients is difficult for them.

The challenge is to create three sauces with no instructions. The recruits have to taste and recreate on their own. The sauces are salsa cruda, romesco and pesto. Ty has never seen or eaten any of the sauces. I see trouble on the horizon.

The pesto teams do not realize that the food processor is for processing food just until done and process the poor basil leaves beyond recognition. Chef Anne's red team prevails.

The romesco teams are stumped on how the sauce is thickened but all agree it's not bread. (It really is.) Chef Robert's blue team makes a tastier sauce and wins the second round.

The contest comes down to the salsa cruda. One team has done inconsistent cuts and taken themselves out of the running. Chef Anne's red team wins the day!

For the second round Chef Anne demonstrates how to make a halibut dish with the salsa cruda, and Chef Robert demonstrates a shrimp dish with romesco. Erica says she doesn't like fish and none of the contestants on the blue team has ever seen a raw shrimp. Blue team has a lot of trouble with peeling and deveining the shrimp and their side of the kitchen soon resembles a slasher flick.

The dishes made by Chef Anne's team have varying degrees of success. Carlos does well, but Priscilla doesn't season her fish. Kelsey doesn't budget her time correctly and undercooks the bacon. Nurse Jen misses the vinegar in the salsa and underseasons her fish. Joshie tastes his salsa then returns the spoon to the fish, which upsets Chef Anne. And it's a shame because he cut the cruda really well. Erika overcooks her fish and her knife cuts are disappointing.

For the blue team, Kelly the vegetarian cooks her shrimp very well. She is also rather excited that she got the poo out of the shrimp. Georg cooks the shrimp well and her sauce is almost perfect and she is more surprised than anyone. Anna cooks her grits well. Kat uses far too many red pepper flakes and seems surprised when Chef Robert's mouth is burned. Matt has killed his shrimp. Ty worked so slowly he didn't finish the dish at all. Chef Irvine tastes the parts that didn't make it to Ty's plate and both the romesco and the shrimp were well-cooked so he dawdled his way to not having a winning dish.

The final challenge of the day is designed to show the recruits that they can make fresh food really easily so they no longer have to rely on frozen meals. Chef Anne demonstrates a dry-rubbed, pan-seared ribeye with mushroom sauce, smashed red bliss potatoes and glazed baby carrots. The recruits are excited but pretty sure they won't be able to multitask properly.

Chef Robert demonstrates an herbed turkey breast with English creamed peas, potatoes and a cranberry compote.

The contestants have 60 minutes to replicate the dishes. Kat is on her way to destroying her turkey when Chef Robert has to tell her to add the chicken stock to the pan so as not to dry out her turkey. She insists she's 'got it' but it's clear she seldom does. Anna is doing really well and Kelly decides she is the blue team stepchild.

Over on Chef Anne's team, Jen is on her way to destroying her steak but decides not to panic. Joshie is in love with his carrots and their glaziness. Priscilla decides her problem is her fear. I'd say it was adding what looked like a cup of cayenne to her dry rub. That's gonna hurt later. Erika plays with her hair while cooking and loses time because she has to run over to wash her hands every time. The wasted time kills her carrots. Ty decides that he is worried about overcooking his food and his solution is to pull the pans off the burners and he decides to cut and plate his turkey really early. As in pink early. Georg cannot work the burners on her stove. Matt burns his potatoes and decides that making new ones even wider will improve his second attempt. For a scientist he is not too bright. Once again, Kelsey chars her food and the steak is her first victim, followed by her blackened carrots next. Everyone is plating or resting their steaks and Priscilla hasn't started cooking hers yet - her only hope is that Chef Anne is part werewolf and likes it bloody. Kelly forgets to slice her turkey but comes in under the wire.

Joshie redeems himself on the steak round. Carlos undercooks his steak. Erika overcooks everything but her steak still tastes good, it just doesn't look good. Jen cooks her steak well! Priscilla puts a slab of steamed steak on her dish and her potatoes are not caramelized. And the cayenne comes home to burn Chef Anne! Kelsey's dish is an all-around disaster.

Over on Chef Robert's blue team Kat is up first and fails on the cranberry compote. Anna does well. Kelly's cranberries popped! Matt has several problems. Overcooked chicken, the peas are wrong and then the PAN cooked the potatoes wrong. Matt's metric was off. I swear that's what he said. Georg undercooked her peas, the turkey is bland. Ty is sure he hit the dish out of the park and his peas are OK and his potatoes are OK but his turkey is pink and inedible and Chef Robert can't try it.

In the stew room all the recruits are sure their number is up. Ty thinks his only hope is that someone was worse than him.

Blue team winner: Anna! Anna thinks Chef Robert is hot and oh yeah, she won a challenge!

Red team winner: Joshie, believe it or not! Then he's cocky and I don't like him anymore.

The other recruits moving on are Kelly, Georg and Kat. Ty and Matt are in the bottom on the blue team. Red team members moving on are Jen, Carlos and Erika. Kelsey and Priscilla are in the bottom.

Matt must go back to his labs, slide rules and Texas Instruments calculators and leave boot camp. For the red team, Priscilla will go back home and her husband will still be doing all the cooking.

Next week: grilling!

Gilmore Girls

2011-01-16T12:36:00.002-06:00

The Gilmore Girls is still shown on Soapnet. And I still hate Jess.

That is all.

Blogging Miss America

2011-01-15T22:03:00.004-06:00

Introduction of the States:
Miss Georgia is apparently concerned about the width of her nose as the ‘slimming’ makeup is quite apparent. Maybe one of the other girls helped her with her makeup?
Did they write their state blurbs by themselves?
Miss Oregon did crack me up by telling me in her state it’s not permitted to harass Sasquatch. Gotta like a well-placed pop cultural reference.
I wish I had remembered to buy marshmallows so I can throw them at Miss Texas and Miss California.
Miss Utah: ‘Tonight, 53 women share a dream. Not a husband.’ Snark!
Miss Washington seems to think making a reference to the vampires in ‘Twilight’ will endear her to the judges.
The pageant has returned to ABC and is hosted by Chris Harrison and Brooke Burke. I find myself feeling very very glad Samantha Harris quit as the co-host of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ so that Burke could act as co-host tonight. It should be enough that the contestants might stumble over their responses; no one needs Harris doing it, too.
53, culled to 11. Semi-finalists: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, Arizona, Hawaii, Virginia, Arkansas, California. America’s semi-finalists are New York and Delaware who has alopecia and is wearing a wig. I think it’d be cool if she came out with a completely different color of hair later. The rest of the contestants also voted in the final two semi-finalists: Kentucky and Miss Sasquatch, er, Miss Oregon.
It’s 2011. Swimsuits. Seriously? Well, I guess it’s still an easier way to get money for school than strapping on thirty pounds of football gear and risking concussion week after week.
Ok, now it’s down to 12: Texas (marshmallow), Arkansas, Delaware No-Hair, Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, Kentucky, California (marshmallow), Oklahoma, Virginia, New York, and Nebraska.
Evening wear: Texas wears a champagne-colored beaded gown; Arkansas wears a basic black column gown with some kind of weird strap; Delaware No-Hair wears a white gown with multi-colored beads and a funky train; Arizona’s gown is the color of a beaded desert with a sheer lower skirt; Hawaii wears a white gown with a sunburst around the middle; Washington wears a gray silk gown with embroidered rosettes only to mid-thigh; Kentucky wears a champagne beaded one shoulder gown but wishes she was rocking a Lady Gaga get-up; California wears fire engine red with a weird one-shoulder strap; Oklahoma wears a navy Herve Leger-type banded gown with a tiered and ruffled lower skirt; Virginia wears a white beaded gown; New York wears an Art Deco style black velvet gown with a pave design at the waist; Nebraska wears a white one-shoulder gown with lots of beading at the top.
This show must have the shortest commercial breaks ever; we come back from break and two of the contestants are putting on and tying their toe shoes.
Only ten of the contestants will go on to perform in the talent competition.
Nebraska is playing a ‘Chopsticks Concerto’ on the piano. I am SO not making that up.
Washington sings ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone.’ I am not making that up, either.
Arizona sings opera. It’s weird to see really skinny women sing opera. She’s at least as good as that Brit a couple years ago on Youtube.
California sings ‘I Who Have Nothing.’ Another white girl who thinks she has soul.
Oklahoma dances a ballet number en pointe. Girl has got muscles!
Hawaii sings Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ with ukulele accompaniment to start it off.
Delaware No-Hair dances a contemporary ballet to Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel.’ Oklahoma has her smoked on the dancing talent, but at least her hair stayed on.
Virginia is a ceilidh dancer and channels Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance.
Arkansas is a ventriloquist/singer. Again, I’m not making that up. And she yodels. OMG
Kentucky sings Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change is Gonna Come.’ Her grandparents wrote the song for Sam Cooke.

Again, there are very short breaks. Miss Kentucky comes out onto the stage putting her earring on and then hikes her strapless dress up.

Interview questions.
Miss Hawaii is asked if considers herself a Hawaiian, an American or a citizen of the world and repeats the word ‘world’ about seven times.
Miss Washington takes on a political question about civility in political discourse and endorses non-partisanship in a very civil manner.
Nebraska handles a Wikileaks question and endorses security first, right-to-know second. And was not assaulted by Julian Assange.
Oklahoma gets a question about privacy on the internet and endorses thinking before you act, but, curiously, not thinking before you post.
Arkansas is asked about whether or not Americans should be required to buy health insurance and does not answer the question. She’s got a future in politics!

Then the pageant had 43 former Miss America’s on the stage. Starting with Miss America 1943!

Fourth runner-up whose name I will forget tomorrow: Miss Oklahoma, Emoly West.
Third runner-up, another name I will forget tomorrow: Miss Washington, Jackie Brown.
Second runner-up, one more name I will forget tomorrow: Miss Hawaii, Jaelee Fuselier.
First runner-up who will have to do the work if the title winner can’t perform her official duties: Miss Arkansas, whose name I’ve already forgotten.

And Miss America is Miss Nebraska, Teresa Scanlan, who is the youngest contest at just 17 and the youngest Miss America ever. Or almost jail bait. I guess 'Chopsticks' really impressed the judges.

Top Chef: All-Stars - Marcel is STILL a tool

2011-01-12T21:00:00.004-06:00

Yes, Marcel is still MARCEL. Tonight's episode starts with Marcel bitching because he didn't win the last challenge. Dale Talde, who did win, showed a remarkable amount of restraint in not taking Marcel out behind the woodshed and thrashing him. A new Dale?!

The cheftestants go out to Montauk and must catch as many fish as they can in a five hour period and then serve 200 people in a team challenge. No one wants Marcel on their team. Dale seems to be a fish whisperer and has a catch within a few minutes. Team Blais/Fabio/Marcel have nothing after three hours but things turn around and the teams have time to make endearingly inappropriate comments about 'rods.'

Then off to a beautiful farmer's market. Blais and Fabio have bonded over fishing and have started a bromance. The cheftestants muse that Jamie is the weakest link. Well, duh. Weakest link AND biggest bitcher.

Inexplicably, Blais and Fabio have let Marcel talk them into making a single dish. Little by little the bromance fades and Blais starts to browbeat Fabio.

Jamie is convinced her dish rocks, but judges were not too thrilled. I'm crossing my fingers it's time for her to go.

And the winner of a trip to Amsterdam is Carla! HOOTY!

Marcel is his usual ungracious self when Carla comes back to the stew room and is excited about her win. Go figure, Blais, Fabio and Marcel catch hell for making only one dish. All the components didn't quite come together. Antonia got hosed out of a win because Tiffani and Jamie made very weak dishes. Jamie decided to flavor her dish with watered down cucumbers. I wish I were making that up. Marcel, in a shocking twist, added FOAM to his dish. The judges are not happy.

And the two chefs who must pack their knives are Tiffani and Jamie. I'm sorry about Tiffani but I'm glad to see Jamie go home - she was easily three weeks past her expiration date on this show.

Next week: RESTAURANT WARS!

Showtime launches two new series

2011-01-09T23:27:00.002-06:00

Showtime aired two new series tonight, 'Episodes,' starring Matt LeBlanc playing himself (sort of) and 'Shameless' starring William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum. HBO used to be the home of edgy must-see water-cooler series but has been shown up by the upstart Showtime.

'Episodes' is a half hour comedy about two British comedy writers who created an award-winning show for British TV. They are wooed by a slimy American executive and come to Los Angeles to recreate their series for an American audience. The main character in the British series is played by a distinguished and very portly actor (he played Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter movies) who must audition for the American network execs. He's quickly deemed too British and not right for the role he originated. Little by little the Brits learn that the American network head hasn't actually seen their show, though his sycophantic support staff has. The Brits are told they are in luck because a hysterically funny actor is available and ready to return to television: Matt LeBlanc.

The series really sends up Hollywood in a wink-and-nod 'Entourage' manner but has the added element of the incredulous Brits.

The real winner for the evening was 'Shameless' the hour dramedy about a struggling Chicago family and their shiftless drunk of a father. The mother is long-gone and oldest daughter Fiona moves heaven and earth to keep her five younger siblings clothed, fed and cared for while also working at any kind of job to keep a roof over their heads. Oldest brother Lip (short for Philip) is a science whiz with big plans for himself, brother Ian wants a career in the military but has a secret involving his married male Muslim boss, younger brother Carl is a budding criminal, youngest sister Debbie has a good heart and will care for her dad when he's passed out on the floor and the family is rounded out by baby Liam who looks nothing like the rest of the clan.

Responsible Fiona likes to blow off steam and catches the eye of wealthy well-bred Steve (played by a smoking hot Jason Chatwin) when she's out dancing with her neighbor Veronica. When a purse-snatcher steals Fiona's purse, Steve pursues him but the thief gets away. When the bouncer refuses to let them back in Steve punches him and gets in a skirmish then goes home with Fiona and Veronica (who was accepted to nursing school but never got to attend) who tend to a cut on his head. Sparks fly between Steve and Fiona but they are interrupted by the police dropping off a drunk and passed out Frank. Fiona is sure Steve was slumming and she'll never hear from him again but is surprised when he shows up. He seems too good to be true and tries to kill Fiona with kindness but she's still pretty sure he'll get bored or fed up with the chaos that reigns in the Gallagher household and refuses to put all her eggs in his basket, as it were. But like so many other things on this show, not everything is at it appears and Steve's got a secret, too. The show has a gritty realism and no aspect of life for the Gallaghers is sugar-coated. The show is based on a British TV series set in hardscrabble Manchester, England and is helmed by John Wells who was the show-runner for 'ER' and 'The West Wing.' The show carries Wells' trademark a-lot-of-things-happening-at-once style and has smart writing.

'Episodes' airs Sunday night at 8:30 central; 'Shameless' follows at 9 central.

Worst Cooks in America 2 Episode 2

2011-01-09T23:02:00.003-06:00

The Worst Cooks in America keep showing why they deserve that dubious honor. Adult Attention Deficit Disorder is legion among these people.

Chef Anne and Chef Robert walked them through making an omelet. Trixie will admit that while I consider myself to be a pretty proficient cook, omelets are not my specialty. They aren't a complete disaster but let's just say they while they taste pretty good they aren't that pretty when completed and I'm glad I'm just cooking for myself. But these people have two professional chefs walking them through and showing them the whole process and the techniques. Chef Anne emphasizes they should use only two tablespoons of oil and recruit Jeff uses what looked like two cups, instead. Pat, the stay-at-home mom has severe egg issues and refused to try the omelet dish until forced. Matt is so nervous and his hands shake so badly when he's cutting or dicing I'm surprised he hasn't lost a digit yet, though he did seem to get it together on the later challenge. Needless to say, my omelet would have beaten any of theirs.

For the second challenge Chef Robert and Anne each demonstrated a simple pork dish and emphasized to the teams the challenge was about observing and learning. Priscilla the teacher kept referring to 'scallions' as 'scallops' then later revealed to confessional camera that she didn't know what a scallop was. So apparently along with never learning to cook she has never been to a grocery store or a restaurant. Jeff decided that free-styling his pork dish would get him points with Chef Robert then he severely overcooked the pork. Kelly the determined vegetarian has taken to heart the neatness counts admonition but cut only one pork chop for the two chop dish and threw out the rest; wrapping it up and refrigerating the remainder never entered her mind. One recruit is an operating room nurse and the another is a mechanical engineer but the orderly thinking required to do their day jobs gets thrown out the window when it comes time to cook. Alas, Anthony the mechanical engineer had his days numbered and was eliminated. Jeff's free-styling got him booted, too.

Detroit 1-8-7 coins my favorite new term of 2011

2011-01-05T18:35:00.004-06:00

This police procedural set and shot in the city of Detroit has really grown on me and become one of my new favorites from the fall of 2010. Of course, I’m trying to play it coy and not get too attached as ABC is famous for pulling the plug on great shows before they are able to build any kind of traction. My heart has been broken before (RIP ‘Cupid,’ the original drama from the late 90’s with Jeremy Piven back in the days before he became an insufferable jerk).

Last night’s episode continued dancing around the potential love triangle of Fitch-Sanchez-Stone. Fitch is having a problem with his car and asks Sanchez to take a look (apparently she is also a part-time grease monkey) and she seems eager to do so and spend the time with him but he has to cancel when he gets a surprise call from his son who wants to come visit. Imperioli is so good in these scenes and really makes the viewers want to know what happened in New York?!

In the ‘Ice Man’ part of the episode Longford and Mahajan are trying to track down information about a man found frozen to death in a block of ice and speak to a guy who knew the victim from ‘urban exploring.’ In the best scene of the show the guy says the victim had had problems with a French photographer who was in town to take photos of Detroit’s many crumbling architectural gems. He expresses his disdain that the French photographer would exploit ‘ruin porn’ and bemoans that ‘Detroit is coming back but no one wants to report THAT.’ It’s this kind of smart writing and thinly-veiled commentary that has endeared this show to me and many other viewers. I’d really like to see Detroit 1-8-7 get a second season – let’s hope that ABC sees the potential and sticks with it.

Needless to say, my favorite new term of this very young year is 'ruin porn.' But it is true - the abandoned buildings of Detroit do still have a beauty to them. See for yourself - Michigan Central Station.

Worst Cooks in America 2 Debut

2011-01-02T21:48:00.003-06:00

Works Cooks in America Season 2 debuted tonight on Food Network and Chef Burrell and Chef Irvine really have their hands full. But I was digging on Chef Anne's red patent leather clogs. I need a pair to add to my black patent ones.

We have contestants who decided that using fingers to cut a raw chicken was preferable to using a knife, who don't know to wash their hands after handling raw chicken and one contestant started a fire. There is also a vegetarian who seemed physically ill watching Chef Irvine cut up a chicken but she ended up doing surprisingly well.

Most annoying: JOSHIE This one has severe Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Even Chef Anne said she thought she might kill him on the first day.

Most clueless: Priscilla This lady was a teacher for 17 years. A teacher who never learned how to read or follow directions.

Season Princess: Baloney and spray cheese quesadilla girl, Erika, from Chicagoland.

First out: Bye bye Asian girl and dude who thought learning to cook would save his bar.

Worst Cooks in America

2011-01-01T20:42:00.003-06:00

We here at Glued are excited about season 2 of Food Network's 'Worst Cooks in America' which airs tomorrow night. Chef Anne Burrell returns as a team instructor. New to the program is Chef Robert Irvine, who has a controversial past with Food Network, but who seems to have gotten back into good graces and back on the air. Irvine replaces Beau MacMillan who had his own bit of controversy when he failed to appear at a hearing over a speeding ticket in early 2010. We hope Irvine is a good counterpoint for Chef Burrell.

To prepare for the new season Food Network has been re-airing the first season today. On a second viewing we're reminded of our overall opinion that many of the first season contestants had trouble in the kitchen due to severe Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. We hope to see where a few of the first season contestants are now. Has Jen V. gotten over her creepy love affair with Chef Beau? Can Rachel make a dish that is tasty AND good-looking? Is Jenny still a Bettie Page look-alike and did she pursue her goal of getting into culinary school or is she still waiting tables?

Tune in Sunday night 9 EST/8 CST.

After a long hiatus...

2011-01-01T20:24:00.002-06:00

Naperville City Desk has been re-branded and re-launched. Welcome to GLUED, a media blog. We'll be commenting on TV, books, movies, music, websites, podcasts, iPhone apps - you name it. You'll learn about our favorites and you'll hear when one misses. And why.

Thanks for reading!

Friday night Fun - No Doubt

2009-12-18T19:51:00.001-06:00

Super-cool Night. Super-cool songs, super-cool front-women. It's Super-Cool!

Friday night Fun - Elastica

2009-12-18T19:48:00.001-06:00

Super-cool night continues with Elastica 'Connection.'

Friday night Fun - The Breeders

2009-12-18T19:45:00.000-06:00

Cannonball!

Santa, you better stock up on coal...

2009-12-12T09:18:00.002-06:00

So a couple steps outside their apartment building in Elgin and finds a housecat in a cage with food and litter and a note saying the original owner can no longer take care of the cat. The apartment dwellers cannot keep the cat but being good citizens they tried to find a place for it, only to find out Kane County Animal Control, based in Geneva, had told them it didn't have a contract to pick up animals within the city, and Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin had said it already had too many cats.

So they do the next best thing and take it to the Elgin police department. Only they ran into Officer Scrooge, who first threatened to arrest them for abandoning an animal, then suggested they take it and abandon it in a rural area. When the couple refused the asshat officer decided to just open the cage and let the frightened kitteh run. The cat has since been found in good condition but what a lesson this couple has learned about trying to do the right thing. The dumbass Elgin police officer will face discipline and I hope Santa skips his house in a couple weeks.

Friday night Fun - BRITISH INVASION - English Beat

2009-12-11T20:50:00.002-06:00

We were sitting at work this afternoon thinking, 'what are we gonna play tonight for Friday night Fun?' Then my iPod gave me the answer - BRITISH INVASION! We're kicking things off tonight with ska legends English Beat. This is a great live performance - Whine & Grine (with a very cool arrangement) and Stand Down Margaret. The sax player is no Saxa but he still sounds pretty damn good!

Friday night Fun - BRITISH INVASION - XTC

2009-12-11T20:48:00.002-06:00

Fun continues with XTC and 'Dear God.'

Friday night Fun - BRITISH INVASION - The Housemartins

2009-12-11T20:43:00.002-06:00

We're finishing it out tonight with The Housemartins doing 'Happy Hour.' We wanted 'Drop Down Dead' but couldn't find one. I remember the first time I heard Barenaked Ladies - I thought it was the Housemartins. Influence much?

Congratulations, D Mac!

2009-12-08T22:25:00.002-06:00

Darren McCarty, former Detroit Red Wing right wing, announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday. D Mac, you gave us fans many many reasons to cheer over 13 seasons and your heart and drive will surely be missed. Best known for decisively evening the score with Fraud LePew, he is also known for scoring the game-winning goal in the 1997 Stanley Cup Final that broke Detroit's 42-year drought and ushered in the beginning of Hockey Inc and Hockeytown supremacy. Mac had his demons, certainly, but his talents on the Grind Line with Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper and willingness to flash the badge will endear him to Red Wings fans forever.

It's so cool to watch this clip and realize you recognize the players from their faces, not just from seeing the number.

Here is Mac's 1997 Stanley Cup-winning goal. Mac was never known for his finesse skating but who knew he had a move like that in him?

Friday night Fun - The Boss & Mike Ness!

2009-12-04T19:37:00.003-06:00

We were away last week and unable to post Friday night Fun so we're making up for it tonight. We thought we'd kick it off in a big way and went to look for something by Social Distortion leader Mike Ness and came across this gem. Apparently The Boss is a big fan of Mike's and had Mike join him on stage in LA last spring and they did the Social Distortion song 'Bad Luck.' Damn it sounds good and props to the boss for digging SD. (Bruce, your gaffe in Michigan and when you said "Hello OHIO" has now been forgiven.)

Trixie wants to take a moment to ask Johnny if he remembers when we were standing this close to Mike Ness that night in Pontiac... Good times.

And here's a bonus vid: Mommy's Little Monster!!

Fright night Fun - 3-fer with Ricky Bobby & his kids

2009-12-04T19:26:00.002-06:00

Talladega Nights is just a damn funny movie. Here's three from the flick:

Spider Monkey:

Dirty Pee Pants:

Shake & Bake! (THAT JUST HAPPENED)

Friday night Fun - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

2009-12-04T19:13:00.002-06:00

We're finishing it up tonight with Tom Petty - everyone knows I love Tom Petty! This is getting played because it sounds good and because YouTube recommended it to me.
Here's 'Breakdown.'

Let the poisoning begin...

2009-12-01T19:49:00.003-06:00

In an attempt to prevent big, icky, voracious Asian carps from making it into Lake Michigan the Illinois Natural Resources Department is releasing a fish toxin into a stretch of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

God speed, poison!

The fish kill is expected to cost as much as $2 million and kill thousands of fish. It is designed to give the Army Corps of Engineers an Asian carp-free window of time to perform regular maintenance on the electric barrier the corps installed to stop the Asian carp from traveling toward the lake.

Asian carp -- which can weigh as much as 100 pounds, grow to 4 feet long and have been known to jump onto water-skiers and into boats --are expected to return to the barrier after the mass poisoning.

The voracious eaters feed on the low end of the food chain -- such as plankton. They wind up squeezing out fish that bigger fish feed on, potentially devastating sport and commercial fishing.

"You don't use rotenone unless you have no other options," said Marc Gaden, spokesman for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. "Our backs are clearly against the wall here. ... This is pretty much the last chance, and this is a significant step we are taking."

Fish experts from around the Great Lakes region, including Canada, will coordinate pouring the liquid toxin into the water Wednesday afternoon. Hours later, the carcasses of thousands of fish including goldfish, gizzard shad and common carp will join the Asian carp in rising to the surface before being hauled to a landfill.

The shipping canal will be closed to boat traffic starting Wednesday and lasting through the weekend.

Rotenone naturally detoxifies, though the neutralizing agent potassium permanganate will be added to the water after the poison does its work. The fish toxin will be poured in the water roughly from the electric barrier down to the Lockport Lock and Dam.

"Is there a possibility there may be some small residual fish kill beyond the Lockport lock? Yes," said Chris McCloud, Illinois Natural Resources Department spokesman. "But we are prepared to deal with that and keep it in as tight an area as possible."

The routine electric barrier maintenance needs to be performed twice a year, and it's not known if another expansive fish kill will be needed six months from now, McCloud said.

"It's not something we hope to do," McCloud said, adding, "We need to focus on this particular operation."

Despite the efforts to keep the Asian carp out of Lake Michigan, Asian carp DNA has been found upstream of the electric barrier, suggesting that a few fish got past the electric barrier and are headed toward Lake Michigan.

Gaden said the fish kill is an absolute necessity to keep the Asian carp in check.

"Not doing it is throwing in the towel and inviting a species that is going to be very destructive into the Great Lakes," he said. "The economic costs of these fish to the ecosystem would be tremendous -- unquantifiable and irreversible."

Friday night Fun - Chester on Exercise

2009-11-20T22:01:00.002-06:00

Sifl & Olly ask Chester about exercising.

Friday night Fun - Chester loves bubbles

2009-11-20T21:55:00.001-06:00

Sifl & Olly put the fun in Friday night Fun here at Naperville City Desk. Sifl & Olly talk to Chester to see how he reacts to bubbles...

Yes. Yes it is. Seriously.

2009-11-19T19:06:00.003-06:00

Web debate intensifies over whether Oak Park logo is phallic

Naperville red light cameras continue to bring the ching

2009-11-14T09:09:00.004-06:00

A worker installs a red light camera at the corner of Ogden and Aurora avenues in Naperville in late September. City officials say red light cameras are generating about $100,000 a month per intersection. The city has installed the devices at three intersections. (Sun-Times Media File)

Three red-light cameras in Naperville are piling up money for the city. The cameras, installed at the intersections of 59 and North Aurora Road, Ogden and Aurora, and 59 and Diehl Road, are raking in $100K per month, per intersection. Each citation is $100 a pop, but there is evidence that drivers are learning. The cameras at 59 and North Aurora Road have been in place the longest (since January) with nearly 8,000 red-light warnings and citations issued. The daily average of violations per day has dropped from the low 30s in the first six months to the high 20s in the last three months and the number of crashes has also reduced.

Friday night Fun - Cake

2009-11-13T20:30:00.002-06:00

We're kicking things off tonight with the band Cake. Long known for bending genres, they pretty much hit it out of the park with a cover of Buck Owens' 'Excuse Me, I Think I've Got a Heartache.'

Friday night Fun - Buck Owens

2009-11-13T20:18:00.003-06:00

Most people just associate Buck Owens with Hee-Haw but not as many know Buck had a string of 21 number one hits on the Billboard country music charts. Here he is with the Buckaroos doing 'Love's Gonna Live Here.'

Friday night Fun - Blanche

2009-11-13T20:14:00.001-06:00

NCD is proud to present Detroit's own way-cool Blanche with 'Do You Trust Me.'

Lesson one: When you visit the big city, make sure you keep a little cab fare on you

2009-11-11T18:40:00.003-06:00

Jorge Murillo was visiting the big city of Chicago from Benton Harbor, Mich., when he found himself drunk in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday and needing a ride home, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Rather than spare some pocket change to ride the el or take a taxi, Murillo came up with an ingenious idea for a FREE ride home. Though you'd think he'd have been too addled to hit upon a plan like this, Murillo swiftly put it in motion. Grabbing his cell phone, Murillo called 911 at 2:30 am to report that he'd been robbed and kidnapped.

Officers responding to the call found an inebriated Murillo and began to doubt his story quickly. Quickly relinquishing the ruse, the drunk admitted he had not been robbed or kidnapped, and simply needed a ride home.

He was arrested by 2:40 am.

Murillo got to sleep it off in police custody. It is unclear if he wanted a ride back to his hotel or friend's home or all the way to Benton Harbor.

Friday night Fun - Texas Tornados - Mendocino

2009-11-06T21:05:00.003-06:00

Trixie's cranking up the way-back machine with the Texas Tornados doing the classic 'Mendocino.' I was looking for the Bottle Rockets version but couldn't find it. Hey this one is even cooler!

Friday night Fun - Supersuckers - Creepy Jackalope Eye

2009-11-06T20:57:00.001-06:00

Super fun with the Supersuckers... Creepy Jackalope Eye

Friday night Fun - Whiskeytown

2009-11-06T20:53:00.001-06:00

Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart

Friday night Fun - Flying Burrito Brothers - Six Days on the Road

2009-10-30T21:04:00.003-05:00

It's Flying Burrito Brothers night here at Naperville City Desk and boy are we excited. Gram Parsons is a big favorite and his work with the FBB is fantastic. Oddly, my first exposure to this song was not from FBB or Steve Earle who covered it. No, the first place I remember hearing it was the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. On Fridays they had a country cover band of assorted Ann Arbor locals and they'd play happy hour from 5 to 8 pm or so. I went with my friend Mimi just about every Friday for about three years, until the Blind Pig decided they didn't want them anymore and they moved over to the Cavern Club, a perfectly awful venue. Goofy stage, bad visibility and a microscopic dance floor. The country nights ended pretty soon after that but I still have fond memories of Pistol Pete covering Conway Twitty's 'Make Believe' and this song.

Friday night Fun - Flying Burrito Brothers - Sin City

2009-10-30T20:56:00.002-05:00

Video #2 is 'Sin City' by the Flying Burrito Brothers. Gram Parsons is the father of the country-rock movement, a description he despised, preferring to call it 'cosmic American music.'

Friday night Fun - Flying Burrito Horses - Wild Horses

2009-10-30T20:29:00.005-05:00

It's a defining classic - Wild Horses, made famous by the Rolling Stones, but Gram Parsons played pedal steel on the track and maintained (albeit in a drug-induced haze) that he actually wrote it. Small matter - it's such a beautiful haunting song I'm just glad it is out there for us lucky listeners to consume. Gram died way too young but his influence lives on... Here's Gram singing lead with the Flying Burrito Brothers. It's a toss-up as to whose version is better - I think I've gotta give the edge to Gram.

If you're going to shoplift, make sure your loot is incapacitated

2009-10-24T09:48:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since we've done this but we have a Chicks Committing Crimes report for our loyal reader (he knows who he is).

TINLEY PARK- Police say the turtle in her pocket gave her away.

A Plainfield teenager was arrested Oct. 10 for stealing a turtle from the North American Reptile Show at the Tinley Park Convention Center, police said.

Authorities said a worker at the show saw Michelle Gutierrez, 18, swipe a $49 turtle. The worker followed and confronted her. Gutierrez denied it, police said.

But then the turtle started wriggling in her pocket -- and the police were brought in, police said.

Gutierrez was charged with retail theft.

Friday night Fun - The Sweet - Ballroom Blitz

2009-10-23T21:11:00.002-05:00

Yep, she thinks she's the passionate one...

Glam rock - dig that eyeshadow!!

Friday night Fun - The Romantics

2009-10-23T21:05:00.002-05:00

Detroit's own... Dig those leather suits and skinny ties. I saw The Romantics a couple of years ago at the Open Space at the Traverse City Cherry Festival and they still sound GREAT - everyone was dancing!

Forgive our technical difficulties

2009-10-22T19:42:00.003-05:00

We've been having problems with our laptop for the last couple weeks here at the NCD - an antivirus program designed to protect our computer decided accessing the internet was too dangerous and shut us out. Um, Hal? We uninstalled the program and everything is back to normal, although we're trying to figure out what to do for antivirus going forward.

Our mentor Johnny Action Space Punk would tell us to get a Mac. Next time, Johnny. Next time.

NCD Retro Post

2009-10-12T23:07:00.001-05:00

I used to love this...

Friday night Fun - The Bangles - All Over the Place

2009-10-09T20:16:00.003-05:00

Naperville City Desk is excited to declare tonight 'Bangles Night!' This all-girl group formed in Los Angeles took up the mantle from the Go-Go's in the early 80's and helped prove to everyone that chicks sell records and that the Go-Go's were not just a fluke. They had a monster hit in the mid-80's with 'Walk Like an Egyptian' and everyone knows that song but I want to take you all back to where it started for me.

Back in the day, before the internet I was reading a magazine and came across this article about this girl-band who wanted to be the next Beatles. Pretty bold, I thought, but I was interested enough to seek out their album 'All Over the Place.' I was blown away by it - while they were not the Beatles (no on is or will be) they had catchy tunes, great hooks, smart lyrics and interesting harmonies with everyone taking turns singing lead.

Here they are with 'Going Down to Liverpool.'

I am not the only Bangles fan out there - Lorelai Gilmore of 'Gilmore Girls' fame was a big fan and dragged Rory and Paris and friends from school along when the Bangles played in NYC. Of course, the friends ditched and Lorelai was distracted by something having to do with Luke but the band sounded great and if you watch to the end you'll see that at least one of the youngsters came around and became a new fan.

Friday night Fun - The Bangles - Hero Takes a Fall

2009-10-09T20:13:00.001-05:00

We continue with Bangles night - the girls appeared live on late night TV in 1984. And sound really good! This is 'Hero Takes a Fall.'

Friday night Fun - Bangles night!

2009-10-09T20:11:00.002-05:00

More from The Bangles...

This is 'James.'

Oh James
Letting me down again
James

Sunday funny

2009-10-04T10:33:00.002-05:00

My mom sent me this joke:

What is the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu?

For bird flu you need tweetment and for swine flu you need oinkment!

Admit it, you groan and laugh at the same time!

Friday night Fun - B-52's Dirty Back Road

2009-10-02T23:15:00.001-05:00

Kicking it off tonight with the B-52's from the early 80's with 'Dirty Back Road.'

Friday night Fun - B-52's Hot Lava

2009-10-02T23:12:00.001-05:00

Really cool early video of the band from 1978.

Friday night Fun - Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac

2009-10-02T22:59:00.003-05:00

Silver Springs - what a song. Sounds awesome every time I hear it. Now that Stevie has matured there is a richness to her voice that was missing when she originally recorded it.

"Lake. BIG lake..."

2009-10-01T19:34:00.003-05:00

Or a pond in this case.

A motorist dropped a lit cigarette in his car and rather than do the smart thing and pull over to look for it he decided to try to fish around for it while driving. You know what they say about taking your eyes off the ball - motorist veered off the road. In what can only be considered a harmonic convergence, he veered off the road into a pond. The motorist managed to exit the car and stood on his trunk to keep his head out of the water. The submerged car and lights were spotted by a passerby who dialed 911 and reported it. The caller then tried to play Good Samaritan and jumped in to help the driver but then both men became stuck in the pond bottom which was very muddy. Two Wheaton police officers arrived on the scene and were able to remove the men from the water. Afterward they were checked out by paramedics and both refused transport to the hospital.

As a tribute to the driver who probably shouldn't be allowed to smoke and drive, we offer the following classic video:

Saturday morning Fun - Mambo Italiano with puppets

2009-09-26T10:41:00.004-05:00

We were having technical difficulties last night, of the kind that make me wish I'd bought a Mac. After waiting an interminable time just to get the darn thing to boot up I'd launch the web and within a few minutes the mouse would quit responding and my laptop would go to the Arctic Circle (freeze). After about a dozen attempts to remedy the situation I gave up and went to bed early. I'm happy to report so far this morning it's been fine.

So Friday night Fun has been transformed into Saturday morning fun! I decided to go Old School and plum the fertile depths of the American songbook. We are kicking it off this morning with a funny little video I found of some older but still sexy dude singing 'Mambo Italiano' with puppets. Don't know what it's from but it beat out posting vids by Rosemary Clooney and Dean Martin. I dig the puppets!

Saturday morning Fun - Moon River - Breakfast at Tiffany's

2009-09-26T10:34:00.002-05:00

SMF continues with a number from one of Trixie's all-time favorite movies, Breakfast at Tiffany's. This is one of those movies that means so much to me I NEVER want to hear the word 'remake.' Would never be the same without Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. Music is by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

Saturday morning Fun - Ella Fitzgerald - Too Darn Hot

2009-09-26T10:26:00.002-05:00

We're finishing it off this morning with Ella Fitzgerald singing the Cole Porter classic 'Too Darn Hot.'

The TV season thus far

2009-09-24T19:26:00.003-05:00

My two favorites so far:

'Glee' - Fox. This is a great show! A glee club at a high school in Ohio wants to show everyone they have what it takes to win competitions. And they do have what it takes: a great but hen-pecked teacher and mentor, an ultra-driven member, a high school athlete-turned-glee club singer, a closeted gay kid, a diva, a disabled student and a kinda goth chick. But there are always roadblocks, in this case Jane Lynch playing a maniacal cheerleading coach hell-bent on taking down the glee club by any means necessary so her girls can get all the glory and all the budget. She takes aggression to a whole new level and is easily the funniest person on TV today. The show has incredibly snappy dialogue and you have to listen closely to make sure you don't miss any of it. Not to mention musical production numbers!

'The Good Wife' - CBS. The show premiered Tuesday night to great reviews and is getting a rave from Naperville City Desk, too. The show stars Julianna Margulies, playing the wife of a philandering Chicago state's attorney who has possibly been caught with his hand in the cookie jar and is sitting in jail and who has definitely been caught diddling hookers on the side. The show may seem a little ripped-from-the-headlines but really focuses less on the scandal and more on the wife trying to pick up the pieces of her life while facing betrayal and a mountain of legal debt. She returns to the work force after a 13-year absence and gets work in a law firm as a junior associate. Her first trip back into the court room is a fiasco as she struggles to feel her way and find one line of questioning that won't prompt a barrage of objections. On the homefront she has to mind her two kids who watch her husband suck the toes of a hooker on Youtube. Margulies plays the character with class and humor and isn't afraid to show the failures as well as the triumphs. I am looking forward to some juicy plotlines to come.

Friday night Fun - Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

2009-09-18T21:28:00.002-05:00

We're changing it up a little bit tonight and featuring my favorite number from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Bernadette, Mitzi and Felicia perform 'Finally' and don some amazing costumes and makeup.

Friday night Fun - Jewel & Steve Poltz

2009-09-18T20:51:00.001-05:00

Jewel & Steve Poltz singing 'Silver Lining.'

New music night

2009-09-12T23:49:00.003-05:00

NPR introduced me to a great new song from Brendan Benson, best known for his work with one of the Jack White side projects, The Raconteurs. Benson steps out on his own with a delicious pop confection called 'Don't Wanna Talk.' Love the 'la la la' that sounds suspiciously like 'lie lie lie...'

Friday night Fun - Patty Griffin with surprise guest - Mary

2009-09-11T18:31:00.003-05:00

Johnny really started something over on Jersey City Desk - he played one of our favorite Patty Griffin songs so we're following suit here. Here's a treasure I found: Patty singing 'Mary' with surprise guest Natalie Maines. Natalie sounds just as amazing singing harmony as she does singing lead with the Dixie Chicks and this is a particularly lovely version of the song. Anyone who knows the Chicks knows they've been a fan of Patty's from the git-go, covering her songs on three of their studio albums. Convinced me that the Chicks were no flash-in-the-pan chick act - there was substance to them and you could tell that just from song selection.

Friday night Fun - Patty Griffin - Long Ride Home

2009-09-11T18:24:00.002-05:00

Johnny played a great Patty Griffin song on Jersey City Desk today so, yes, we're copying. This is Patty live and even without Emmylou, it sounds great.

Admirable effort to drive sales

2009-09-07T16:45:00.003-05:00

A pizza place in a shopping center with declining sales due to ongoing road construction keeping diners away decided to promote sales by taking advantage of those motorists stuck in the delays. RoSal's, a pizzeria and hot dog restaurant in Plainfield just south of 135th Street, has seen sales slip since road construction began. The state's resurfacing project started about a week and a half ago. The construction crew still has about a week's worth of patching to finish, followed by another four or five days of work to put down the finished surface, according to village public works staff.

Rather than take the sales decline lying down the staff at RoSal's passed out free pizza samples and coupons to motorists sitting in the delays last Thursday and hopes to see a boost in business after the construction is completed. It's this kind of ingenuity and smart-thinking that this country needs and Naperville City Desk applauds RoSal's for leading the self-promotion charge. Next time the NCD staff takes a field trip we are definitely stopping by.

For all of you hanging around here over the long weekend

2009-09-02T20:53:00.004-05:00

You'll be able to get where you're going a bit faster because the Illinois Tollway is suspending all lane closures from noon Friday through 9 am Tuesday September 8. You'll also be happy to know Trixie will not be around taking up lane space as I'm bugging out to northern Michigan and may be posting on location. Everyone remember that even though there won't be lane closures the speed limit through work zones is still 45 mph, even on a holiday.

This is also a very interesting traffic tidbit: Work systemwide will be completed by the end of the year as part of the Tollway's $6.3 billion Congestion-Relief Program.

No more backups from Yackley to Midwest Road eastbound in the am! Woo hoo!!!!

This is why you keep a flashlight in your glove compartment

2009-08-29T09:16:00.004-05:00

What NOT to do when you get to a gas station:

Drive up to said gas station with a gas can on your passenger seat. Check

Decide to check to see how much gas is in the can by using a lighter. Check

Fail to understand gas is extremely flammable. Check

Yet this is exactly what a 27-year-old Joliet woman did on Tuesday, suffering 2nd-degree burns. Naperville City Desk sincerely hopes the young woman heals quickly and learns a valuable lesson from this mental lapse. If anyone cares to provide the woman's address we're happy to cut into the office fudgesicle fund to send her a flashlight and some batteries to keep in her car for any future lighting needs.

Friday night Fun - Elvis Costello & Emmylou Harris 'Heart-shaped Bruise'

2009-08-28T22:34:00.002-05:00

So for lack of a better theme tonight we're featuring cool/fun songs I heard on my iPod this week. Here's a fave from Elvis Costello's album 'Delivery Man' - he's singing 'Heart-shaped Bruise' LIVE with Emmylou Harris.

Friday night Fun - B-52's 'Keep this Party Going On'

2009-08-28T22:26:00.001-05:00

Continuing with tonight's theme of cool/fun stuff I heard on my iPod this week: the B-52's live with 'Keep this Party Going On.'

Friday night Fun - Smash Mouth

2009-08-28T22:20:00.001-05:00

With their smash hit from 1997 'Walkin' on the Sun.'

Rough Day

2009-08-27T20:19:00.001-05:00

Any time you have a work day where 9 people lose their jobs, it's a rough day. Those of us who keep our jobs have survivor's guilt.

It sucks.

Friday night Fun - Human League w bonus 80's fashion parade

2009-08-21T21:08:00.002-05:00

Don't You Want Me and don't you want these 80's fashions?

Friday night Fun - Human League

2009-08-21T21:03:00.002-05:00

It's 80's night here at the Naperville City Desk and tonight we're into 'Fascination.'

Lady, you were just RUDE

2009-08-19T19:26:00.005-05:00

So I went to SuperTarget tonight after work to stock up on popsicles, Pop-Tarts and popcorn for the Naperville City Desk office snack bar and got into a checkout line behind a woman buying six cases of beer. I unloaded my snack bar items onto the conveyor then realized the line was no longer moving because the beer-buying lady showed an out-of-state ID and those purchases require manager approval. (Don't ask me, I don't make the rules at Target.) But that wasn't the annoying part, this was: what became increasingly annoying is beer-buying lady yakking on her cell phone the whole time, with no consideration for the cashier (or anyone else) in line.

Cell phones are a great invention. But just because you have one doesn't mean you need to be on it ALL THE TIME. Since she was on the phone in a public place I thought maybe I should comment on her conversation since she clearly wanted everyone within earshot to hear but then I remembered my mama taught me good manners. And was the conversation about anything pressing? Of course not!

This kind of rudeness in unforgivable. And I'm glad beer-buying lady had to wait. Though I do wish she'd have shut up.

Remember when we didn't have phones with us all the time and we had to wait until we got home to check our answering machines? Incredible that the world continued to spin given today's cell phone-addicted morons running around.

HANG UP.

Mixed review follow up

2009-08-18T19:09:00.005-05:00

NCD is delighted to report there has been a turnabout in the saga of the stolen FM transmitter. You may recall we posted here a couple weeks ago that we were dismayed to find out an item had been stolen from our car when it was in for collision service in late July. We were very pleased with the work that was done but upset that someone had sticky fingers. Gerber has a service that follows up with customers to rate the work that was done and we were contacted about that on Monday. We said we wouldn't return for any future work and explained why.

Today NCD got a call from the manager at Gerber. He wanted to know what had happened and assured us he would make it right and replace the stolen item. That is fantastic customer service and we here at Naperville City Desk are very impressed at both the gesture and the promise of replacement. Customer relations are of utmost importance in this challenged economy and it's good to know some businesses still respect that. Of course, we sincerely hope we won't have need of collision service again but if we do, we'll take our business back to Gerber in Downers Grove. I just hope that maybe they can root out the bad egg(s).

Kane is sorry

2009-08-17T19:41:00.005-05:00

Yeah, more like sorry he got caught. Patrick Kane finally addressed the public after being arrested for assaulting a cabdriver in Buffalo in early August. I understand the legal case is still pending but saying he was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' doesn't sound very penitent for the 'future of the NHL.'

Someone needs to take Kane to the woodshed for a talking to. And Stan Bowman, you ask yourself 'what would Scotty do?'

Call 555-4444, we'll talk, it's no big whoop...

2009-08-15T21:49:00.002-05:00

Roseanne is the weakest link here. Too bad she didn't have shpilkus (sp??)...

Bad Blackhawk!

2009-08-10T20:12:00.005-05:00

Blackhawk star winger Patrick Kane got himself in trouble over the weekend at home in Buffalo when he and his cousin took a cab ride and took issue when the cabbie did not have $0.20 in change. That's twenty cents, not twenty dollars. The cousins hailed a cab at about 4 am Sunday morning when they were leaving a nightlife area of Kane's native Buffalo. The fare came to $13.80 and the cousins handed over $15.00. When the cabbie could only produce $1.00 for change that's when it's alleged the cousins decided to administer Wild West justice and pummelled the cabbie for the two dimes. The cabbie ended up with cuts and bruises and broken glasses. Patrick Kane earns $875,000 per year as a Blackhawk and shouldn't have expected change at all. I make nowhere near that much scratch and I know you're supposed to tip a cabbie.

The Blackhawks organization said they stand by their star player but I hope privately someone gives him a real earful for being a butthead.

Good service, sticky fingers

2009-08-09T10:00:00.003-05:00

We really don't like to do this but we have to post a mixed review of a local collision shop.

Trixie Junior Space Punk has had collision work done at Gerber Collision in Downers Grove twice - once last year when I had a fender-bender and had my front end replaced and again just a week ago or so when I was rear-ended by a hippie and had to have my rear bumper replaced (yes, the hippie part is true). I appreciate that Gerber has car rentals available right on site so that I don't have to inconvenience any friends asking them to follow me to the shop. I also appreciate that the work is very good - in both instances my car looks as good as new.

HOWEVER, this last visit has left a very sour taste in my mouth when I went to look for the Griffin iTrip transmitter I use to listen to my iPod through my car radio (very important on my long trips to northern Michigan) and what do you know - it wasn't there. Seems someone at Gerber has sticky fingers and helped himself to my FM transmitter. I guess I should be grateful the klepto doesn't have a Samsung cell phone because he left my car phone charger.

The hope is that I won't need to have my car serviced again but if I do I will seriously think twice before taking it to Gerber in Downers Grove.

Convenience: A
Quality of Work: A
Honesty by all workers: F-

Friday night Fun - 30-Second Bunnies - Sixteen Candles

2009-08-07T20:09:00.003-05:00

So I was out last night listening to one of my favorite artists, Slaid Cleaves (I've blogged at length about him) and was away from my laptop and unable to pay tribute to John Hughes who passed away yesterday at the young age of 59. John Hughes truly captured the essence of what is was to be a teenager in the 80s and will have a lasting influence, especially for people around my age.

Here's a 30-Second Bunnies rendering of the Hughes' CLASSIC: Sixteen Candles.

Something is in the water at the Shedd

2009-08-04T19:13:00.003-05:00

Literally. Yup. Two knocked-up beluga whales. Pretty cool!

Boy, we're busy tonight...

2009-08-03T20:47:00.003-05:00

We're deep in the Naperville City Desk Test Kitchens testing another super-secret recipe. After I got my interns Stosh and Penny cleaned up from their flour fight, things went pretty well. We're not at liberty to reveal what we're cooking up, but let's just say it's chocolaty and wunderbahr. And the folks at work are gonna dig it tomorrow.

Friday night Fun - The Pretenders

2009-07-31T20:38:00.004-05:00

This Friday has been declared Music That Kicks Ass Night. We're kicking it off with one of the most kick-ass songs of all time. The Pretenders with 'Middle of the Road.' I've seen The Pretenders a long time ago at the State Theater in Detroit and this song grabs you by the front of your shirt, yanks you out of your seat and makes you wanna ROCK SO HARD.

When you own a big chunk
of the bloody Third World
the babies just come with the scenery
C'mon now

Friday night Fun - Elvis Costello

2009-07-31T20:35:00.002-05:00

No Music That Kicks Ass Night would be complete without a dose of early Elvis Costello. PUMP IT UP!

Hell-bent or heaven-sent?

Friday night Fun - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

2009-07-31T20:29:00.005-05:00

Music That Kicks Ass Night concludes with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (and one of Trixie's all-time favorites) 'American Girl.' We were appalled tonight to discover that Taylor Swift has covered the song but we're going to put that aside and let Tom P. present it with his usual and never duplicated kick-assery...

Take it easy baby
Make it last all night
She was
an American Girl

CCC: Napervillain motorist goes cuckoo

2009-07-29T20:19:00.006-05:00

Chicks Committing Crimes: Here's a scenario motorists encounter nearly every day. You're driving along, minding your own business and up ahead you see a couple of bicyclists also sharing the road. The street may be a little tight, but a good motorist understands that you need to maneuver around them to give them room or if that's not immediately possible you need to slow down and hang back until you can safely do so. It might be a pain in the tuckus but a good motorist understands no matter how much of a pain the cyclist may be or how late you are running, your car can be a deadly weapon so you have to be courteous.

Well, Naperville resident Mary Ann Rehm must have missed the courtesy train because she decided to take matters into her own hands. Or rather, a bicycle into the grill of her car, according to the Naperville Sun.

Rehm was traveling northbound of Jefferson Street on Monday when she encountered two cyclists in the road. This charm school dropout allegedly grew impatient then freaked and instead of giving way she accelerated. The 17-year-old cyclist, Jereme Peterson, describes it this way: he recounted how he suddenly found "a car behind me, and it started beeping (its horn) and stuff. Then the lady floored it — intentionally floored it — and I jumped off the bike, and she hit it," Peterson told The Sun near the crash scene.

It was initially believed the bike became entangled with and dragged beneath the car, although a Sun reader claimed Tuesday to have been sitting on his or her front porch and seeing the driver "flying past from Fifth Avenue onto Ellsworth (Street) with the bicycle firmly attached to the front of her car."

Rehm faces Class 3 felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery in a public place, court records indicated. Bond was set Tuesday at $100,000. She was released after posting $10,000 bail, and is scheduled to appear Aug. 24 for a preliminary hearing in DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton.

Let's Go Crazy

2009-07-28T19:25:00.002-05:00

No, seriously, it's the song "Let's Go Crazy" but it is not by who you might think.

I challenge you not to get up and dance your ass off!

It's just like it sounds

2009-07-23T19:05:00.004-05:00

Stick damages car:

Vehicle damage: About 11:44 p.m., large stick thrown and dented passenger-side rear quarter panel of vehicle at 621 S. Wright St.

Hey, we're not New Jersey where apparently everyone in public office is crooked as a, well, New Jersey politician.

Makes Illinois look saintly by comparison.

Chihuahuas are WACK!

2009-07-22T20:25:00.000-05:00

Potter Puppet Pals - Harry is too cool for school

2009-07-22T20:03:00.002-05:00

Super Happy Fun Day continues with more Potter Puppet Pals

2009-07-22T19:59:00.001-05:00

Harry & Ron & Hermione steal Severus Snape's diary and read it.

Johnny has the best ideas!

2009-07-22T19:43:00.002-05:00

Johnny Action Space Punk, our mentor and best pal, declared 'Super Happy Fun Day' at our sister blog, the Jersey City Desk, today, and rather than be shy we're gonna give him credit and run with it.

Here's something I just discovered recently and find totally hilarious. Enjoy!

In other words: CHA-CHING

2009-07-20T23:17:00.001-05:00

Up for consideration at tonight's city council meeting:

From Staff Reports

A look at tonight's Naperville City Council meeting.

Up for discussion

The issue: After tabling the item at its June 16 meeting, the City Council will once again consider approval of a contract with Redflex Traffic Systems for an amount not to exceed $688,880 over a three-year period to expand the red-light photo enforcement program.

What it means: After data from the cameras at Route 59 and North Aurora Road indicated a reduction of the number of crashes at the intersection since the cameras were installed, staff is recommending the installation of cameras at two additional intersections — Route 59 at Diehl Road and Route 34/Ogden Avenue at Aurora Avenue. The council tabled the matter last month in order to gather more information and determine if its possible to eliminate right on red cameras for these two locations.

State can't pass a budget but we've got time for nonsense

2009-07-18T11:12:00.004-05:00

Seems Monique Davis, state representative and atheist hater, slipped a Michael Jackson tribute into a package of nine resolutions without really telling anyone. Rep. Davis sponsored the resolution saying "We didn't make a big thing about it. I didn't ask to have a moment of silence. I just wanted it passed. What we're saying is he's honored for the work and contributions he made for this country. His work was iconic," she said.

Davis' legislation described Jackson as a child prodigy centerpiece of the Jackson 5, a humanitarian and a "musical icon." But it steered clear of allegations of his improper contact with children, drug use, or any other controversial aspects of Jackson's life.

"He was as innocent as a baby," Davis said of Jackson, who died June 25.

Innocent as a baby? Really? Would YOU leave your child with him? I bet you'd think twice.

Other legislators were surprised to learn the tribute had been included in the package of resolutions and expressed dismay that they unknowingly passed it.

Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) said members should have been alerted about the Jackson resolution because of its controversial nature.

"I don't think we should have done it, period," said Bost, who indicated he would have voted either "no" or "present" on the resolution had he known of its content. "You'd like to say everything that goes through on a voice vote, someone has looked it over and said OK. This one was big enough, I wish I'd have known."

Franks agreed.

"There's never been an exoneration. He was certainly a great entertainer. He was revolutionary for the industry. But is he someone we should be honoring? That's open to debate, and there should have been a debate."

But Davis insisted that wasn't necessary.

"I think all of Illinois should be proud of Michael Jackson," she said. "It passed unanimously, really, because it was an agreed-upon resolution. We don't have to debate it. This kid, in my opinion ... gave his entire life to entertaining us."

A copy of Davis' resolution will be sent to the Jackson family.

News flash: Jackson was talented and sang some great songs. He was also deeply troubled and had virtually no grasp of appropriate behavior for adults. Most importantly he did not walk on water. Rep. Davis, if you're such a fan, put up a poster in your office. In the meantime, can we get back to working on legislation that actually does something, like provide the state with a working budget?

Trivia night

2009-07-16T19:38:00.002-05:00

Name this song and the artists: (no binging!)

I'm heavenly-blessed
and worldy-wise
I'm a peeping tom techie
with x-ray eyes

Answer here.

Wingdardium leviosa!

2009-07-15T19:06:00.003-05:00

Today is the best day! It's finally July 15 and the official release date of the 6th movie in the Hogwarts franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The movie was originally supposed to be released late last year but the studio opted to hold it when they realized the writer's strike had limited the movies that could get into production and the stable of summer blockbusters was not what they'd usually hope for. Way to call on a boy-wizard to bail their Muggle butts out! I am attending a showing this evening and CANNOT WAIT. I have decided I WILL fight a kid for a seat if it comes to that.

Here's an article from the Naperville Sun featuring some fans who don't have full-time jobs that require them to be somewhere in the morning (grumble) and who stayed up late to see the show when it opened at midnight. (I hope no wizard robes were stained with popcorn butter.)

Dedicated to Johnny

2009-07-14T19:50:00.001-05:00

My most faithful reader...

Friday night Fun - REM - Me in Honey

2009-07-10T20:43:00.003-05:00

My favorite local radio station, WXRT, played this a couple weeks ago when I was on my way to work and it was so cool I had to look for it for NCD. R.E.M. live from 1995 doing 'Me In Honey.' Mike Mills is doing a pretty good job substituting for Kate Pierson... Stipe is working the bald head and the blue makeup.

Friday night Fun - REM & Homer Simpson

2009-07-10T20:41:00.002-05:00

Here's a very brief clip of Homer Simpson winging his own lyrics to 'It's the End of the World as We Know It' with R.E.M.

Friday night Fun - R.E.M. and MONSTERS

2009-07-10T20:37:00.001-05:00

It's a three-fer tonight and a bit of fluffy fun... 'Furry Happy Monsters' - you'll recognize it!

Well, at least the kid was paying attention

2009-07-07T19:28:00.003-05:00

Naperville City Desk is going to take this opportunity to provide a public service announcement to all women shoppers - don't leave your purse out and up for grabs in the front of your shopping cart! Trixie sees this all the time and doesn't understand it. I keep my purse on me or put it underneath - I figure if someone wants it bad enough to make a dive for it then they will have my foot to deal with as I kick them in the ass or head, whichever is closest.

The reason I bring this up is because a woman was shopping recently at a local grocery store and another woman attempted to steal the makeup bag out of the purse that I'm sure was on tempting display in the small basket. The victim's child was in the cart and yelled at the thief who put the case back and exited the store. Like I said, mom was busy comparing prices on organic kumquats and it only takes a second for your purse or the contents to disappear. Good thing kiddo was paying attention!

LADIES! Put your toddler in the small basket, NOT YOUR PURSE!

NCD presents Gentleman Jesse

2009-07-06T21:45:00.002-05:00

This song is super-fun. 'All I Need Tonight (Is You)'

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-02T00:03:00.002-05:00

We here at the Naperville City Desk wish you all a safe and relaxing holiday weekend. We're on our way to beautiful northern Michigan for family, friends and Polish food.

And remember, friends don't let friends drink 42 beers then play with fireworks.

Let the girls play!

2009-06-30T19:08:00.003-05:00

Poor Emma Royko. She's an athletic little girl with two older brothers and lots of experience playing on teams with boys. But the Naperville Sun reports some coaches or team volunteers have told her she can't play, that she can only play on teams with girls.

League officials say there is no policy preventing girls from trying out for and playing on boys' teams. Let's hope this message comes across loud and clear to everyone involved with youth sports. Emma is so frustrated at being told she can't play on her team of choice that she's said she just doesn't want to play. What good can possibly come of that?

Stay with it, Emma! You GO girl...