2019 is going to be a great year for Star Wars…(which includes Chicago, too)

Coming in 2019:  Episode IX (in theaters December 20th), Celebration, a full-fledged Star Wars convention at McCormick Place (April 11th-15th), and last but not least — Galaxy’s Edge, an immersive attraction coming to both of the Disney parks (summer, to Disneyland and fall, to Walt Disney World).

Check out this newly released video giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the new world.  I’m already planning my trips….both local and otherwise.  — [eric]

[📷 : Star Wars Celebration/Press Kit]

‘Black Mirror’ returns

A full “Black Mirror” movie arrives on Netflix TOMORROW. Check out the trailer:

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Police break up dinosaur flash mob

On Sunday, more than 100 people in dinosaur costumes gathered in downtown Kansas City for the second annual March of the Dinosaurs. Unfortunately, police weren’t in the mood for a parade.

The estimated 100-120 people, many dressed in inflatable T-Rex costumes, marched for about 25 minutes before police broke it up, saying the parade was blocking traffic and causing a safety hazard.

The event’s organizer, Jacob Honnold, says he got a ticket and that police are reviewing the parade for possible criminal charges.

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Customs dog finds hitchhiking millipede from South Africa

Hope this good boy got a steak dinner for his keeping the nation safe from invading insects. A customs agent sniffed out a “hitchhiker” earlier this month who caught a ride in a passenger’s baggage.

While on duty at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Regal the beagle discovered a six-inch millipede that found its way on to a flight from South Africa.
According to the Customs and Border Protection agency, while the bug is prohibited from entering the United States, it will find itself residing in “a local insectarium,” says the Charlotte Observer.

Carey Davis, Atlanta CBP Area Port Director, figuratively patted Regal on the head, posting to the CBP website, “Our beagle sniffing out this millipede highlights how valuable our canine members are to protecting the U.S.”

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The keys to a longer life: booze, coffee and overeating

If you want to live into your 90s, eat, drink and be merry.

That’s the finding of a new study by the University of California, which reveals people who regularly drink moderate amounts of alcohol and coffee tend to outlive people who don’t. The study also reveals people who are overweight in their 70s have a better chance of living another 20 years than those who aren’t.

The study’s results, which were released today, were determined by surveying more than 14,000 nonagenarians about their lifestyles.

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Gaming builds grey matter, makes you wicked smart

Now you get to tell everyone that your gaming habit — is just making you smarter.  Two universities joined forces on a study that showed that between two groups of players — one made up of about 30 experts who played often vs. 30 who didn’t play so much — the group that logged more time “had enhanced functional connectivity and gray matter volume in insular subregions.”

Bigger and better.  Now, I’m not a scientist, but that certainly sounds smarter.  I’ll go log more hours on the console and come back to you when I can fully explain this.

In the meantime, check out Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco.  He played a Christmas-skinned Fortnite map the other day on Twitch. — [eric]  

Watch Xmas Vibes from brendonurie on www.twitch.tv

[📷: Pexels]

VIDEO: Green Day take on Nirvana’s “Drain You” in cover gig

The Coverups are basically Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, along with some of their tech crew and friends.  Guess what music they play?  Yup….cover tunes.

On December 19th, a YouTube user captured the group taking on Nirvana’s “Drain You” during a secret show in California.  Might we have the guest vocalist the next time Nirvana decides to do a reunion gig?  — [eric]

90’s Bulls Dynasty are getting a ESPN ’30 for 30′ series in 2020, Watch the trailer

We have been spoiled with sports in Chicago in last 30 years. The Sox, the Cubs, the Bears, and the Fire have all had strong seasons with some championship hardware to back it up, but the 90’s Bulls are still the greatest dynasty in Chicago sports history. Michael Jordan lead a team of all-time greats with performances that many believe make him the greatest NBA player ever. Those dominant Bulls team had a lot of drama off-the-court as well, which is teased in this trailer for an upcoming 10-part ’30 for 30′ series from ESPN which will debut in 2020. It will give you some big flashbacks for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

‘Us’ trailer looks HORRIFYING

How does Jordan Peele follow up “Get Out?” With a movie whose trailer looks absolutely creepy. Check out our first look at “Us”:

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‘Aquaman’ is like a wet version of ‘Thor’

Watching Aquaman’s headlining feature film debut over the holiday weekend, there was a sense of, “hey, where have we seen this before?”

And then it hit us like a bag of hammers: THOR. Consider the following:

LEAD ACTOR
Both are perfect physical specimens.

MYSTICAL WEAPON THAT GIVES TITLE CHARACTER POWER
Thor: Hammer. Aquaman: Trident.

LEAD CHARACTER TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
Thor: Asgard/Earth. Aquaman: Atlantis/Earth.

LEAD CHARACTER’S PARENT IS ROYALTY
Thor: Odin. Aquaman: Atlanna.

PRIMARY VILLAIN IS EVIL HALF-BROTHER
Thor: Loki. Aquaman: Ocean Master.

SECONDARY VILLAIN EQUIPPED WITH ARMOR FROM OTHER WORLD
Thor: Destroyer. Aquaman: Black Manta.

None of this is to say that Aquaman wasn’t fun to watch, mind you. In fact, the visuals are a senses-overloading freakout worth seeing.

For Asgard! For Atlantis!

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Sigh. Florida.

Here’s the headline: Florida Man Burns Down House To Avoid Vampires

And the story that could only happen in Florida:

Unless he threw some garlic into the blaze, I’m not quite sure how this was going to help. A Florida man who was worried about vampires burned his Daytona Beach home to the ground on Sunday. The 64-year-old started off the evening arguing with his wife, then escalated to smashing windows while shouting, “The vampires are going to defend themselves.” Melvin Weaver then threw ceiling insulation on the stove, grabbed a knife, and started banging on the neighbor’s doors.  It turns out that police were called earlier in the day by Weaver’s wife, but the cops found he was acting rationally at the time.

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Man arrested after cleaning cat’s litter box following a break-in

From WYNT in Massachusetts, a “confused” man entered home that was not his, took off his shoes, and cleaned the home owner’s litter box for the home’s cat. The  man who I assumed was drunk or something,  was arrested but really let the guy go, he did something I could not get a former roommate do for his cats. Yeah, twice the cat, twice the stink.

If we were all loaded we could get this $500 (yes, 5 hundo) automated littler box that self-cleans.

Will Ferrell thought ‘Elf’ would destroy his career

Earlier this week while promoting his latest comedy film ‘Holmes & Watson’ on the Late Late Show, Will Ferrell revealed he thought his now classic performance as ‘Buddy’ in the modern holiday gem ‘Elf’ would ruin his acting career. Thankfully that didn’t happen and we got many stand-out films from the SNL alum.

Just remember to never ‘sit on a throne of lies’.

 

Twenty One Pilots: Josh Dunn proposed to his girlfriend in a tree house

 

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I found a tree house in the woods in New Zealand and proposed to my girl. She my dude for life. I love you Debby

A post shared by jøsh dun (@joshuadun) on

Twenty-One Pilots drummer Josh Dunn proposed to his girlfriend Debby in a huge romantic way, in a huge tree house!

And yes, we are crying! Congratulations to the happy couple!

Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins cover the Stones during charity gig

Dave Grohl brought his BBQ skill (and new side passion project, Backbeat BBQ) to an event this weekend benefiting the Los Angeles Food Bank.

After selling out of ALL of his pork, brisket, and ribs…Dave joined Taylor Hawkins’ Chevy Metal project on stage.  But the most impressive musician of the day might be Taylor’s eleven year old son, Oliver Shane Hawkins.  Dave and Taylor rocked out to a Rolling Stone’s cover with Oliver on the kit, which you can see a clip of below (thanks, Consequence of Sound).

If this seems like a familiar refrain, it kinda is — there are so many talented kids of alternative musicians out there now.  There is Violet Grohl, with a great voice.  Not to be topped by, of course by Francis Bean Cobain, an up and coming musician in her own right.  Between the Foo Fighters and Nirvana, you could create one hell of an “offspring” band, right?  — [eric]

[📷 – Julia Simone Paul)

 

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The Hawk Jr.! #davegrohl @chevy_metal #chevymetal #taylorhawkins #eatdrinkandsupport @lafoodbank #wefeedla

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12.23.18 Alt_Backspace

Hour 1

  • Radiohead – Paranoid Android
  • The Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)
  • The Afghan Whigs – Debonair
  • Blink 182 – I Won’t Be Home For Christmas
  • Depeche Mode – People Are People
  • Rusted Root – Send Me On My Way
  • Local H – Eddie Vedder
  • The Smiths – William, It Was Really Nothing
  • Smashing Pumpkins – Zero
  • Save Ferris – Christmas Wrapping
  • Dinosaur Jr. – Feel The Pain
  • The Cure – Pictures Of You
  • Chumbawamba – Tuubthumping

Hour 2

  • Pearl Jam – State Of Love And Trust
  • Psychedelic Furs – Heartbreak Beat
  • The Eels – Christmas Is Going To The Dogs
  • Stone Temple Pilots – Vasoline
  • Roxy Music – More Than This
  • Meat Puppets – Backwater
  • Veruca Salt – Volcano Girls
  • The The – This Is The Day
  • Cracker – Teen Angst
  • No Doubt – Oi To The World
  • 311 – Don’t Stay Home
  • New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
  • U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Watch Jake Johnson play the ‘Chicago vs. the Wolrd’ game

Chicago bred actor Jake Johnson known for his standout role on ‘New Girl’ and recently playing ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ took on the game of ‘Chicago vs. the World’ with a battle of pizza, beer, and more. AV Club puts him in one heck of a hot seat here. What’s better a Chicago-style Hot Dog or a Philly Cheese Steak? Navy Pier or Santa Monica Pier?

Johnson is lover of Chicago, but he’s honest about his Windy City adventures like last year on ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’ when revealed how he butchered ‘Take Me Out to Ballgame’ at Wrigley Field.

Alkaline Trio Best Seat In The House Text Contest

WKQX-FM’s “Alkaline Trio Best Seat In The House Text” Contest
Official Rules

A complete copy of these rules can be obtained at the offices of radio station WKQX (“Station”), owned or operated by Cumulus Media Holdings Inc. or one of its subsidiary companies, 455 N. CityFront Plaza, Chicago, IL 60611, during normal business hours Monday through Friday or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address.

The Station will conduct the WKQX-FM “Alkaline Trio Best Seat In The House Text” Contest (the “Contest”) substantially as described in these rules, and by participating, each participant agrees as follows:

 

  1. No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chance of winning.   Void where prohibited.  All federal, state, and local regulations apply.
  2. This Contest is open only to legal U.S. residents, excluding Florida and New York residents, age eighteen (18) years or older at the time of entry with a valid Social Security number and who reside in the Station’s Designated Market Area (“DMA”) as defined by Nielsen Audio, who have not won a prize from the Station in the last 30 days or a prize valued at $500 or more in the last 60 days, and whose immediate family members or household members have not won a prize from the Station in the last 30 days or a prize valued at $500 or more in the last 60 days.  Void where prohibited by law.  Employees of Cumulus Media Holdings Inc., its parent company, affiliates, related entities and subsidiaries, promotional sponsors, prize providers, advertising agencies, other radio stations serving the Station’s DMA, and the immediate family members and household members of all such employees are not eligible to participate. The term “immediate family members” includes spouses, parents and step-parents, siblings and step-siblings, and children and stepchildren. The term “household members” refers to people who share the same residence at least three (3) months out of the year. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Station’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
  3. Contest Period. The Contest will begin at 12:00 pm CT on Friday, December 21, 2018 and will run through 11:59 am CT on Thursday, January 3, 2019 (the “Contest Period”).  The Station’s computer is the official time keeping device for this Contest.
  4. How to Enter. To enter:
  5. Text: Send a text message with the keyword WINTRUST to 312-101 during the Contest Period.  All entries must be received by 11:59 am CT on Friday, January 3, 2019 to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing.  Standard text messaging rates, as established by an individual’s wireless carrier, may apply, and Station assumes no responsibility for any fees or charges incurred for and associated with any text message sent to or from Station.  Any and all fees arising out of the transmission of a text message shall be the sole responsibility of the entrant.  Limit one (1) entry per person per phone number. Multiple participants are not permitted to share the same telephone number. Any attempt by any participant to submit more than one (1) entry by using multiple/different telephone phone numbers, identities, or any other methods will void that participant from further participation in the Sweepstakes.
  6. Online: Send an e-mail with the title Alkaline Trio Best Seat In The House during the Contest Period, to [email protected] containing your Legal Name, Phone Number, Date of Birth, and Address in the body of the e-mail.  All entries must be received by 11:59 am CT on Thursday, January 3, 2019 to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing. Limit one (1) entry per person per email address.  Multiple participants are not permitted to share the same email address. Any attempt by any participant to submit more than one (1) entry per day by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that entry and the participant may be disqualified.  Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. Station is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, inappropriate or misdirected registrations, all of which will be disqualified.  In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder of the email address used to register will be deemed to be the participant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned the telephone number by the wireless carrier or an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address.  Potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. All entries become the sole and exclusive property of Station and will not be returned.  Station reserves the right to contact entrants and all other individuals whose email address is submitted as part of this promotion.  No mail-in entries will be accepted.
  7. Winner Selection. At approximately 1:00 pm CT on Thursday, January 3, 2019, Station will select one (1) entry for the Grand Prize in a random drawing from among all valid entries received by Station during the Contest Period.  The winning entrant will be contacted using the email address and/or telephone number provided with the entry and may be awarded the prize (subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these rules). Station’s decisions as to the administration and operation of the Contest and the selection of the potential winner are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.  Failure to respond to the initial verification contact within three (3) days of notification will result in disqualification.
  8. Verification of Potential Winner. THE ELIGIBILITY OF ALL POTENTIAL CONTEST WINNERS IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY STATION WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST. The potential winner must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. The potential winner may be notified by email and/or telephone call after the date of random drawing and/or winner determination. The potential winner will be required to sign and return to Station, within three (3) days of the date notice is sent, an affidavit of eligibility and a liability/publicity release (except where prohibited) in order to claim his/her prize, if applicable.  A winner who returns the affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release will be deemed to have accepted the contest prize and thereafter will not be permitted to rescind their acceptance of the prize and/or return the prize. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the affidavit of eligibility and/or the liability/publicity release within the required time period (if applicable), or if the prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. In the event that the potential winner of a prize is disqualified for any reason, Station may award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries.    
  9. Grand Prize. One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded in this Contest.  Each Grand Prize is two (2) passes to see Alkaline Trio in The Lounge perform on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at the Station’s studios, 455 N. CityFront Plaza, Chicago, IL 60611. Winner is responsible for all taxes associated with prize receipt and/or use.  Odds of winning the Grand Prize depend on a number of factors including the number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period and listeners participating at any given time.

There is no substitution, transfer, or cash equivalent for prizes, except that the Station may, at its sole discretion and to the extent permitted by law, substitute prizes of comparable value or cash.  The prizes are expressly limited to the item(s) listed above and do not include taxes, gratuities or any other expenses.  Any tickets and/or gift certificates/cards awarded as part of a prize will be subject to the terms and conditions set forth by the issuer and are valid only on the date(s) printed on the tickets or gift certificates/cards.  Other restrictions may apply.

 

  1. Entry Conditions and Release. By entering, each participant agrees to: (a) comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Station, which are binding and final in all matters relating to this Contest; (b) release and hold harmless Station, Cumulus Media Inc., and its subsidiaries, related and affiliated companies, participating sponsors, the prize suppliers and any other organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Contest, and each of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to invasion of privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory), defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights, property damage, or death or personal injury arising out of or relating to a participant’s entry, creation of an entry or submission of an entry, participation in the Contest, acceptance or use or misuse of prize (including any travel or activity related thereto) and/or the broadcast, exploitation or use of entry; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to an entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or entrant’s acceptance, use, non-use or misuse of the prize.
  2. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the Contest constitutes winner’s consent to use by the Station and its agent of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or biographical information (including hometown and state) for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
  3. All state, local, federal and/or other taxes, duties, tariffs, title fees, licensing fees, or other fees for prizes awarded become the sole responsibility of the winner.  All those who win a prize or prizes valued $600 or more in any given year will be issued an IRS Form 1099 to report their winnings.
  4. General Conditions. Station reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Contest, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Station’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Contest, as determined by Station in its sole discretion. Station reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Station reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Station’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
  5. Limitations of Liability. The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Station, entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (2) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use, non-use or misuse of any prize. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In event that a production, technical, programming or other error causes more than stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be claimed, Station reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate, unawarded, eligible prize claims.
  6. Entrant agrees that: (i) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (ii) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved exclusively by the United States District Court or the appropriate state court located in the Station’s listening area; (iii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (iv) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Station in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state in which the Station is located, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the state in which the Station is located or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state in which the Station is located.
  7. Entrant’s Personal Information. Information collected from entrants is subject to Station’s Privacy Policy, which is available on the Station’s website under the “Privacy Policy” link. All entry blanks, forms, devices, and materials gathered during the course of entry, as well as all information contained therein, shall become the sole property of Station to be used, disposed of or destroyed in its sole discretion. Station is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information entered by website users, and assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to Station’s website.
  8. Contest Results. A winners list may be obtained within thirty (30) days after the Contest Period expires by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Station identified below.

 

 

CONTEST SPONSOR: Cumulus Media Holdings Inc., WKQX, 455 N. CityFront Plaza, Chicago, IL 60611

 

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