Snortable Chocolate Has Arrived in America

I’m pretty sure no long-term good can come from SNORTING anything, but here we are. SNORTABLE CHOCOLATE has been around in Europe for a while, but it just made its way over here.  The product is called Coco Loko, and it’s a processed cacao powder that you snort, just like cocaine. You don’t really taste the chocolate when you snort it, but the people who make it say that it gives you the health benefits of dark chocolate without any calories.

Is it safe?  The answer is . . . maybe.  It’s not approved by the FDA, and it doesn’t have to be because of a loophole . . . they can only approve food you eat, not snort. And experts say there’s a chance it could cause sinus problems . . . but odds are you’ll be fine if you want to try it. They aren’t sure about the claims on the health benefits, but I’m guessing you wouldn’t be doing it for those anyway . . . you’d be doing it for the gimmick.

A container with 10 servings is on sale right now on Amazon for $25. READ MORE

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Queens of the Stone Age fail a lie detector test, hilarity ensues

Queens of the Stone Age have a good sense of humor which was one display this week as they started the hype train for their upcoming new album ‘Villains’ by posting a sketch with cult comedy champ Liam Lynch. The sketch involves the band enduring a very bad lie detector test where band leader Josh Homme fails hard when he faces the truth. It’s possibly funniest thing I have seen a band to do in a video.

Here is the new QOTSA track ‘The Way You Used to Do’ that we debuted on air this past Friday. I got to play it first, and Lauren was very jealous… she still is

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger went after female comics, gets hell for it

Iliza Shlesinger is a very successful comedian with several TV specials, big theater tours under her belt, and now a new show on Freeform but she kicked a hornet’s nest this week during an interview with Deadline where she talked down every other female comedian working today. Here is the main quote that caused the stir here.

As a comedian, I have a set of morals. I have a specific point of view. I think a lot of what I see out there, out in comedy clubs, watching contests, watching TV, watching movies—gathering data from these different matrixes…

When you’re a woman in comedy and you get a break, people get so excited about it, but while we have to work hard to get that attention, I do think many women think, “Oh if I just act like a guy, if I go for that low hanging fruit…” Everything’s about sex, or how weird I am. It all just kind of runs together.

I could walk into The Improv, close my eyes, and I can’t tell one girl’s act apart from another. That’s not saying that 30-something white guys don’t all sound the same sometimes, but I’m banging my head against the wall because women want to be treated as equals, and we want feminism to be a thing, but it’s really difficult when every woman makes the same point about her vagina, over and over. I think I’m the only woman out there that has a joke about World War II in my set.

I think shock value works well for women, but beyond that, there’s no substance. I want to see what else there is with such complex, smart creatures.

That’s why women like Tina Fey do well. It’s smart, and men can laugh at it, too. I consider myself one of those comics, and quite frankly, I’m appalled by what is expected of women, and what women offer in response in that.

As someone who does comedy and works with many great smart female comics, this feels just out-of-touch. I would not call it an insult but just lacking a connection to what’s really going on. For example, Emily Galati whose been featured on ‘Conan’ has an outstanding World War II joke. So Shlesinger just appears to be over zealous while also being esoteric and dismissive to other  female comics who share her same challenges both on stage and off. That’t just my objective take. For the record, Iliza Shlesinger is very funny and entertaining from my seat in the crowd but this is a bummer to read.

To no one’s surprise the Twitter community of other working comedians (both female and male) responded with straight fire on the misguided take on women in comedy. In a Tweet, I can’t re-post here Liza Treyger (who got her start in Chicago) gunned this off: “I’m a better stand up comedian than you will ever be. Save your money cause you a hack.”

Comedy blog Splisider covered the entire controversy in great detail and featured Shlesinger ‘s response to the backlash, you can read that here. 

 

Death From Above’s new video features MUSCLES & THE APOCALYPSE

Death From Above (Yes, they dropped the ‘1979’ more on that here) released a visually stunning video this week for their brand new song ‘Freeze Me’. The song has some muscle to it, but this video features maybe more with body builders flexing in defiance against the world ending outside their mansion. That world specifically is getting destroyed by the way. Yeah when everything is going to hell in hand basket, just throw up your biceps, bro!

 

An Oral History to Celebrate ‘OK Computer’

OK Computer turned 20 years old this year.  And earlier today, Rolling Stone put out a brief oral history, to give you a bit of history and context of how that album fits into the landscape of alternative.  It’s a great reminder — or introduction, depending on your own personal perspective.

Read more about it here, or just watch the video below.  And do me a favor — pull out the album this weekend, won’t you?  I know I will be.  — [eric] 

Amazon buys Whole Foods for BILLIONS

The king of online retail Amazon announced today they will buy the high end grocery chain Whole Foods with the widely reported price tag being $13.7 billion dollars. The ramifications are pretty big for the grocery store industry while also greatly influencing the future of how millions of people buy everyday items and food online. There is no plans currently to shutdown the brick and mortar stores of Whole Foods. Meanwhile Amazon last year opened up stores (including one in Wrigleyville) where you can use your online account with them to purchase items in the store, with no cash registers.

There are a lot of people in the grocery store industry are not happy about it. The Street breaks down all the financial maneuvers at play here and how Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is going for something even bigger.

7% Of Americans Believe Chocolate Milk Comes From…

7% of Americans believe chocolate milk…comes from brown cows, according to an online survey commissioned by the Innovation Center of U.S. Dairy.

That’s an estimated 16.4 million people who believe this.

But there’s a bigger story behind the headline, as covered by the Washington Post.  People are more and more just lacking a grasp on where their food comes from — the article describes the phenomenon as being “agriculturally illiterate.”  Some elementary school kids didn’t know that pickles were cucumbers….or that onions and lettuce were plants.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Come out to the far reaches of the suburbs —- I’ll show you farming.  It will be an enlightening experience.  A smelly, enlightening experience.  — [eric]

Lorde reveals secret Instagram Onion Ring love affair

New Zealand’s musical delight Lorde revealed on ‘The Tonight Show’ that she is the one behind the popular Instagram account ‘Onion Rings Worldwide’. She may sing about love lost and gained with relationship partners, but her one true love may be breaded fried onions and I can’t blame her, they are delish. The popular IG account anonymously saw Lorde documenting the different onion rings the world has to offer as she toured, performing off the success of her debut album. Some internet detectives did some digging and speculated that Lorde is the greasy fingers behind ‘Onion Rings Worldwide’. Her reasoning in this interview for why she kept her onion-tinged internet alter-ego a secret, is pretty entertaining as well.

In this same interview segment with the “dirty beard” Jimmy Fallon how she moved back to her home country, eating at diners, and her new album ‘Melodrama’ which is out now. While on ‘Tonight Show’ she also performed her new single ‘Perfect Places’.

 

Eat Travel Rock 06.16.17

It’s Father’s Day weekend AND it’s finally summertime!!!  Dad’s were really smart when choosing middle of June for their special day.  Anyway… here are some great ways to have a blast AND treat Dad this weekend! READ MORE

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Brian & Lou 06.16.17

What Ya Missed, Portugal The Man, Lou and Father’s Day, Eat Travel Rock, and W. Kamau Bell

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81% of Dads Say Mother’s Day Outshines Father’s Day . . . and Their Families Basically Agree

Father’s Day is Sunday.  And you REALLY should do something to celebrate it, because no, your dad is NOT cool with you blowing it off. According to a new survey, 81% of dads say they think Mother’s Day outshines Father’s Day.  And . . . they’re not wrong. 70% of women and kids admit that dads will get less of an acknowledgement on Sunday than moms did last month.  And 49% say Father’s Day, quote, “is not a big deal” in their family. The survey also found people who ARE getting their dad something plan on spending an average of $38 less than they spent on their mom. And the most common gift they’re planning to get is . . . a card. READ MORE

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WKQX Lorde Web Contest

WKQX-FM’s “Lorde Web” Contest
Official Rules

A complete copy of these rules can be obtained at the offices of radio station WKQX-FM (“Station”), owned and 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 “Lorde Web” 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.

Eligibility.  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.

  1. Contest Period. The Contest will begin at 10:10 am CT on Saturday, June 16, 2017 and will run through 11:59 am CT on Sunday, March 25, 2018 (the “Contest Period”).  The Station’s computer is the official time keeping device for this Contest.
  2. How to Enter. To enter:

(i)  Online: Visit the Station’s website www.101wkqx.com during the Contest Period, click on the “Contest” link, click on the “Lorde” Contest link, and complete an entry form.  All entries must be received by 11:59 am CT on Sunday, March 25, 2018 to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing.  Limit one (1) entry per person per day 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.

  1. Winner Selection. On or about 11:59 am CT on Sunday, March 25, 2018, 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.
  2. 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.    
  3. Grand Prize. One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded in this Contest.  The Grand Prize is two (2) tickets to Lorde on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at Allstate Arena. ARV [Seventy Nine Dollars] ($79.00).  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, 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, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
  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;

AEG Presents, 231 S. Bemiston Avenue, Suite 715, Saint Louis, MO 63105

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FREE ICE CREAM!!

(from chicagotribune.com)

Chicago weather is a fickle beast. We spend six months of the year praying for heat, then when it comes, will it away. To help you get through the sweltering hot and humid days, Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya (1482 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is offering free Japanese matcha green tea soft serve ice cream on any day that hits above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Available through August 1, the free treat will be available with any purchase.

(MORE HERE)

You Can Buy Dried Pieces Of Last Year’s Wrigley Field Ivy For $200 A Pop

(from chicagoist.com)

If you’re still hoping to score a memento from the Cubs’ once-in-a-century World Series win, the team has a new merchandise option for you: Ivy leaves that were hanging from Wrigley Field’s outfield walls last season are now for sale, according to an email sent to season-ticket holders on Tuesday.

The leaves cost $200 a piece, plus $15 shopping, and include a decorative hologram, according to ESPN. Think of it as something a little more substantial than those times the Blackhawks sold containers of home rink ice for $99 a pop after their 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup wins. (MORE HERE)

Lou is definitely getting some of these!!

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