A near stampede in NYC due to that video game everyone is playing

Call it overkill, but a mobile game has taken over lives of millions in just over a week. Pokemon Go apparently caused a near stampede yesterday in New York City when a rare character in the game was sighted in Central Park. The video above posted on Facebook by a tour company that offers city tours for PkGo players (yes, that’s a real business now) shot the video and even they found the humor in all these people trying to ‘catch ’em all’. Players in the famous park heard someone call out ‘VAPOREAN!’ and it started a panic.

This is just another example of how big PkGO has become in such a short time, as it’s currently most popular mobile game across multiple platforms.

So if your not playing and just annoyed by all this, at least it makes for good people watching right?

@kevkellam

 

AND THE WINNER IS… #FRESHCONTENT

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(from youtube.com/marconibologna)

I’ve been making daily videos on my own YouTube channel for 3 years but I’ve never had so much fun creating #FreshContent with my co-workers as I am now.

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Prepare to make a mixtape with Netflix

Netflix today added a feature this week to their life-consuming VOD service that you may think was already available but is not, until now. Sold simply as “Like a Mixtape for Netflix” , Flixtape is a new feature that allows you to title and assemble specific lists of shows to share with friends.

You could do a whole group of Holiday themed episodes of sitcoms or just the episodes of ‘Family Guy’ where Stewie and Brian go on an adventure. The possibilities are huge for Netfix fans to make a fun way to keep a certain mood or tone over a specific session of TV watching. A service that is already flexible to it’s user, is now able to modified even more by users.

There is several big changes coming to Netflix as well. As we reported in June, the company is flirting with the idea of letting users download their shows in some way in the future. And they scored a win recently that will upset a lot of ex-boyfriends or roommates you don’t live with anymore, when it was ruled in federal court that sharing your password was a ‘federal crime’.  So hang in there, the video on-demand world is a ‘changing.

And of course, Netflix will never stops it’s content shuffle of adding and dropping movies and TV shows. Fun news for comedy fans recently was the announcement that legendary writer and actor Albert Brooks will have his films on the Net very soon. This announcement video is worth the watch, especially if you enjoy dark humor.

CREEPY: Who is the Masked Bride?!

MASKED BRIDE

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In Toronto a city famous for great comedy and being the site of Wrestlemania VI, now has another claim to fame. A mysterious ‘Maksed Bride’ is sitting in public spaces and leaving cryptic notes in public spaces. People have posted about seeing her all over the city, sitting with no interaction to anyone around her, and leaving crumbled notes at her feet. The notes are pretty out there with odd references to alt rock great Nick Cave and partial phrases in French. So hopefully she is not late for her wedding or maybe she missed her wedding…or is she running away from a wedding so she’s wearing a mask?! So many questions left unanswered.

Theories locally are running rampant. Some think it’s an elaborate performance art piece or a gorilla marketing campaign of some kind. Whatever it is, it’s weird and intriguing  for sure,

TV and Radio student Robert Wharry caught video of the Masked Bride when working on a project in the street. He has stated he is connected to the Bride in anyway, but felt compelled to film when he saw her randomly writing notes in downtown Toronto.

Our hearts are with the people of Nice

Our hearts go out to the victims of today’s attacks in Nice, France who suffered an apparent terror attack today which killed 80 people when a truck rammed into a crowd during the late hours of a Bastille Day celebration where many had gathered to watch fireworks. CNN reported the occupants of the truck then exchanged gunfire with police. Information about the situation is still coming out.

In these times we can collectively feel the need to reach out and help. You can donate to efforts with the French Red Cross here.  If you know someone who may be effected by this attack and need information, the U.S. State Department has a online resource here

In Paris tonight a large explosion near the Eiffel Tower occurred, yet is not terror-related according to local offiicials. That incident is being attributed to a malfunction with fireworks meant for Bastille Day celebrations. This attack in Nice occurred 8 months after an attack on a rock club in Paris where alternative band Eagles of Death Metal were performing.

Bastille Day is the French equivalent of our 4th of July. It is a celebration of the French people and their history as democratic country.

Cubs combine two great things: Chicago Hot Dogs + Deep Dish Pizza?!

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As a Southside White Sox, it is an odd omission to tip the flex fit cap to the Cubs but boy, you got to do it in this scenario. ESPN’s Darren Rovell revealed on Twitter today that the Cubs will offer a GIORDANO’S DEEP DISH PIZZA made with VIENNA BEEF HOT DOGS.

This is a reality.

This is a an accomplishment that all of humanity needs to marvel and show reverence for.

The Deep Dog Dish Pizza will be available for a limited time at Wrigley Field from July 15th to the 20th. If you taste it and are able to understand life after it, tweet or send us a review on Facebook. Is this too much of good thing? Whatever. Let’s do this!

TotalProSports goes on a “gastronomical adventure” with a countdown of the top 30 most ridiculous ballpark food items.

@kevkellam

 

 

Judge orders Double Door to vacate Wicker Park location

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Judge Orville Hambright Jr ordered today in Cook County court that the acclaimed rock club Double Door must vacate it’s space at the ‘six corners’ of Wicker Park which it has occupied for more than 20 years. Hambright emphasized that the ruling was made because the management failed to notify the building’s landlord last year that they intended to extend it’s lease. Double Door management and the landlord will be back in court on August 4th to figure out when the club must leave the space which is located directly next to the Damen CTA Blue Line train station.

Lawyers representing the Double Door stated the club and the landlord Brian Strauss were under an understanding that the club would continue in the space after spending $83,000 on renovations. Double Door faced similar eviction issues in 2005, but came to an agreement to avoid leaving.

Hambright also stated he hopes both sides can meet privately and saying he “prefer(s) you all negotiate your own situation,” Now if that means there is a last ditch opportunity for the Door’s survival is yet to be seen but it does not look good for this great music venue.

Meanwhile, Double Door is still promoting shows into February of 2017.

@kevkellam

Pokemon Go now is a pop song

the-stiffys-pokemon-654x372This was inevitable, wasn’t it?  The Stiffys, a band from Melbourne Australia, have wasted no time in crafting a pop song about Pokemon Go!  If you suddenly find this song as addicting as the game, I am truly sorry. -wALT

 

 

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Is your favorite show up for an Emmy Award? Find out here

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TV has never been better with networks pumping out great dramatic and comedy series that raising the bar. So here are the Emmys nomination released earlier today. Is your favorite show or actor nominated? The Emmys air on ABC on September 18th.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Game of Thrones
Mr. Robot
House of Cards
Downton Abbey
Better Call Saul
The Americans
Homeland

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Veep
Transparent
Modern Family
black-ish
Silicon Valley
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Master of None

OUTSTANDING DRAMA ACTOR

Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)
Kyle Chandler (Bloodline)
Matthew Rhys (The Americans)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA ACTRESS

Robin Wright (House of Cards)
Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder)
Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black)
Claire Danes (Homeland)
Taraji P. Henson (Empire)
Keri Russell (The Americans)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY ACTOR

Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent)
Anthony Anderson (black-ish)
Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth)
Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley)
Aziz Ansari (Master of None)
William H. Macy (Shameless)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY ACTRESS

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer)
Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)
Laurie Metcalf (Getting On)
Tracee Ellis-Ross (black-ish)
Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES

The People v. O.J. Simpson
Fargo
American Crime
Roots
The Night Manager

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION

The Voice
The Amazing Race
Top Chef
Project Runway
Dancing with the Stars
American Ninja Warrior

OUTSTANDING TV MOVIE

All the Way
Confirmation
Luther
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
A Very Murray Christmas

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY

Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Matt Walsh (Veep)
Louie Anderson (Baskets)
Keegen-Michael Key (Key & Peele)
Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY

Niecy Nash (Getting On)
Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live)
Gaby Hoffman (Transparent)
Allison Janney (Mom)
Judith Light (Transparent)
Anna Chlumsky (Veep)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA

Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul)
Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Michael Kelly (House of Cards)
Jon Voight (Ray Donovan)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA

Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)
Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones)
Maura Tierney (The Affair)
Constance Zimmer (UnREAL)

Blink-182 Remix Roundup

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(from billboard.com)

verything old is new again. Grown-ass people are playing Pokémon Go and listening to new music from Blink-182. People are so jazzed on the pop-punk band’s reunion, listeners bumped Drake from the top spot of the Billboard chart. They may be coming at us sans Tom DeLonge, but fans don’t seem to mind. This country’s got a fever of 182, and the only thing that’ll cure it is more Blink beats. (MORE HERE)

Rock bands can’t churn out music as fast as dance music producers, but producers can upload Blink stems to their laptops and make studio magic. If you find yourself suffering from a Blink deficiency, we suggest pressing play on these remixes. Hey, it’s something.

Ryan Hemsworth – Feelin’ This (Hemsworth Sees Aliens Too Version)

DeLonge left Blink-182 to go catch UFOs, or something like that. Ryan Hemsworth is feelin’ that, so he went in on the 2003 hit. It’s a dope cut from the producers remix collection Ryanpack Vol. 2.

Steve Aoki – Bored to Death

Before Dim Mak signed cutting edge dance artists, it was a label well respected for its indie rock cuts. Aoki proves he can still walk the genre line on his rework of Blink’s latest megahit. This isn’t even officially out yet. Enjoy. (MORE HERE)

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BEERS MAY OFFER NUTRITION INFO ALONGSIDE INGREDIENT DETAILS

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(from abc7chicago.com)

Beer drinkers who can often find out details about the grain and hops that went into their beverage may get more information from major brewers – about calories, carbohydrates, protein and more. A trade group that represents a few major beer companies said Tuesday it’s pushing members to voluntarily reveal by the end of 2020 more details on labels, packaging and websites about what’s in their beer. The Beer Institute is also encouraging brewers to show when a beer was brewed, to list ingredients, and to point to a website or include a code that can be scanned with a smartphone for more information.

(MORE HERE)

NUTRITION FACT: “THIS BEER IS DELICIOUS!!” Is really the only thing I need on a beer label. – Marconi

 

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Rivers Cuomo of Weezer in Studio

Rivers Site

Very cool of Rivers Cuomo to stick around Chicago for a few days after playing Tinley Park. He hopped a Divvy to come over and hang with us for a little while this morning. Interesting to learn that he used Tinder to help create the White album. And not in a creepy way either.

Pokemon Go Hacks

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Really wanted to hate Pokemon Go, but it’s become a full blown addiction. If it’s consuming your life as well and you need a little help Buzzfeed has a rundown of 13 hacks to move you along HERE. Everything from saving your battery to adding a curve to your pokeball.

@TheLouLombardo

Sharing your Netflix password is now a federal crime

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(from wgntv.com)

An opinion issued by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Court found that sharing passwords is a crime prosecutable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). As Fortune puts it, this makes millions of people who share passwords for services like Netflix and HBOGo into “unwitting federal criminals.”  (MORE HERE)

I hope none of my ex’s report me!! – Marconi

 

CHVRCHES & Hayley Williams have super-powers in ‘Bury It’ video

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CHVRCHES uploaded their latest music video today and boy is it fun to watch. The moving track which features a cameo from Paramore singer Hayley Williams shows the band and Williams in a animated adventure with super powers taking over a lot of junk from an apartment and concludes all of them zipping around a city like it was a Marvel movie. It’s actually really need and in some scenes reminds you of the the ‘Toonami’ classic Dragonball Z. Visually, it has to be one of the more beautitfully to come across my screen this year, it doesn’t hurt the song is great too.

CHVRCHES is on the road in Europe right now, meanwhile Heyley and the Paramore guys are currently working on a new album due out sometime later this year or early next year.

@Kevkellam