Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Happy 65th Birthday, Al Bundy!!!
Ed O'Neill was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 but was cut in training camp. Later, on Married... with Children, O'Neill played a former high-school football star who had failed to make it big and constantly reminisced about his "glory days" at Polk High ("I once scored four touchdowns in a single game"). As part of this theme, former Pittsburgh Steelers great and hall of fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw also made two guest appearances on the show. O'Neill was also a social studies teacher at Ursuline High School, before becoming an actor.
Happy 234th Birthday!!!!
Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852), was a 19th-century American planter, statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, where he served as Speaker. He also served as Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829. Henry Clay Elementary School in the Hegewisch neighborhood in Chicago. Ashland Ave. in Chicago, Illinois, in honor of his estate. Henry Clay is credited with introducing the mint julep drink to Washington, D.C., at the Willard Hotel during his residence as a senator in the city. He was a dominant figure in both the First and Second Party systems. As a leading war hawk, he favored war with Britain and played a significant role in leading the nation to war in 1812. He was the foremost proponent of the American System, fighting for an increase in tariffs to foster industry in the United States, the use of federal funding to build and maintain infrastructure, and a strong national bank. He opposed the annexation of Texas, fearing it would inject the slavery issue into politics. Clay also opposed the Mexican-American War and the "Manifest Destiny" policy of Democrats, which cost him votes in the close 1844 election. Dubbed the "Great Compromiser," he brokered important compromises during the Nullification Crisis and on the slavery issue, especially in 1820 and 1850, during which he was part of the "Great Triumvirate" or "Immortal Trio," along with his colleagues Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun. He was viewed as the primary representative of Western interests in this group, and was given the names "Henry of the West" and "The Western Star." In 1957, a Senate Committee selected Clay as one of the five greatest U.S. Senators, along with Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, Robert La Follette, and Robert Taft. Abraham Lincoln, Whig leader in Illinois, was a great admirer of Clay, saying he was "my ideal of a great man." Lincoln wholeheartedly supported Clay's economic programs. Clay continued to serve both the Union he loved and his home state of Kentucky until June 29, 1852, when he died of tuberculosis in Washington, D.C., at the age of 75. Clay was the first person to lie in state in the United States Capitol. He was buried in Lexington Cemetery, and the eulogy was provided by Theodore Frelinghuysen, who ran as Clay's vice-presidential candidate in the election of 1844. Clay's headstone reads simply: "I know no North — no South — no East — no West." The 1852 pro-slavery novel Life at the South; or, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" As It Is by W.L.G. Smith is dedicated to Clay's memory. Ashland, named for the many ash trees on the property, was his plantation and mansion for many years. He held as many as 60 slaves at the peak of the plantation operations. It was there he introduced the Hereford livestock breed to the United States. By the time of his death, his only surviving sons were James Brown Clay and John Morrison Clay, and they inherited the estate. For several years (1866–1878), the mansion was used as a residence for the regent of Kentucky University, forerunner of the University of Kentucky and present-day Transylvania University. John Clay designated his portion as Ashland Stud. Later the mansion and estate were rebuilt and remodeled by other heirs. Maintained and operated as a museum, Ashland includes 17 acres (6.9 ha) of the original estate grounds and is located on Richmond Road (US 25) in Lexington. It is open to the public (admission charged).
Monday, April 11, 2011
Happy 67th Birthday!!!! Director of RED DAWN!!
John Frederick Milius (born April 11, 1944) is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of motion pictures. The character Walter Sobchak in the film The Big Lebowski, made by his friends the Coen Brothers, was based on Milius.
Milius coined the famous "Charlie don't surf" and "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" lines from Apocalypse Now. He was also involved in creating the famous USS Indianapolis monologue in the movie Jaws and the famous Dirty Harry one-liners delivered by Clint Eastwood, including "Go ahead, make my day" and "Do I feel lucky?" monologue.
Graduated from USC School of Cinema-Television (1967). Is an avid gun collector. Wrote the line, "Go ahead, make my day," for Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" character in Sudden Impact (1983). Wrote "U.S.S. Indianapolis" scene in Jaws (1975). Member of the NRA Board of Directors from 1995-2001. He currently serves on the Public Affairs and Shotgun Committees. Is a personal friend of the Coen brothers and was the inspiration for the character of Walter in the The Big Lebowski (1998). Milius, an avid gun collector, insisted that part of his payment for writing Jeremiah Johnson (1972) be in antique weapons.
Through his work, on Rough Riders (1997) (TV), he was instrumental in causing President Theodore Roosevelt to be posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of conspicuous gallantry on San Juan Hill. Is one of the original founders of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Was Sergio Leone's first choice to write Once Upon a Time in America (1984). But due to scheduling problems, and Leone's struggle to acquire the rights of Harry Grey's book The Hoods, Milius passed on the project. Considers himself as a "zen anarchist". Despite his political beliefs, he is an avid fan of director Spike Lee. His favourites films are Howard Hawks' Red River (1948), Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers (1966) (aka Battle of Algiers), Raoul Walsh's They Died with Their Boots On (1941), John Ford's The Searchers (1956) and They Were Expendable (1945), Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969), Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954) (aka Seven Samurai), Billy Wilder's Sunset Blvd. (1950), Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960), John Huston's The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Orson Welles' Citizen Kane (1941). Is a close friend of MMA legends Rorion Gracie and Rickson Gracie and Jennifer Salt. Was the inspiration for drag-racer John Milner (played by Paul Le Mat) in American Graffiti (1973). Made an honorary member of the Sioux Nation, after his filming of The Rough Riders. Turned down the role of Jack Lipnick in Barton Fink (1991). Cigar smoker. Despite making two films about Theodore Roosevelt, The Wind and the Lion (1975) and Rough Riders (1997) (TV), he considers himself too enamored with Roosevelt to ever make an actual biographical film about his life.
Happy 42nd Birthday!!!
Goldust aka Dustin Rhodes
Dustin's father is "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. His real life half-brother is "Dashing" Cody Rhodes, who also wrestles for WWE on its Smackdown. He also has a sister, Kristin Ditto, who is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.
Wrestling in Hegewisch!!!
Found out that Jake new a new word on Saturday,"You Suck @$$Hole!!!!"
That's Catholic school for you.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Stephanie Izard one of Food & Wine's best new chefs
Stephanie Izard was named one of the best new chefs in the country by Food & Wine magazine Tuesday. The annual list, comprising chefs who have run their restaurants for less than five years, tabbed the former "Top Chef'"winner along with a slew of other up-and-comers from throughout the country.
Flipping through F&W's list of past winners is like a roll call of some of the biggest and best chefs in the America. The former winners from Chicago alone puts Izard in exclusive company: Grant Achatz, Koren Grieveson, Paul Kahan, (fellow BOKA chef) Giuseppe Tentori, Paul Virant, Rick Bayless, Graham Elliot, Bruce Sherman, Michael Carlson, Takashi Yagihashi, Jean Joho and Gale Gand.
It has been a whirlwind year for Izard. Since Girl & the Goat opened in July, it has been lauded with great reviews and become a near impossible reservation to snag. And things like Bravo buying out the restaurant last Wednesday for the "Top Chef'" finale aren't making it any easier to get a table.
Just two weeks ago, Girl & the Goat was named as a finalist for a James Beard award in the "best new restaurant" category.
Others named to the "Best New Chef" list include:
- Bowman Brown and Viet Pham of Forage, Salt Lake City
- Jason Franey of Canlis, Seattle
- James Lewis of Bettola, Birmingham
- George Mendes of Aldea, New York
- Carlo Mirarchi of Aldea, Brooklyn
- Joshua Skenes of Saison, San Francisco
- Kevin Willmann of Farmhaus, St. Louis
- Ricardo Zarate of Mo-Chica, Los Angeles
- Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine and Odd Duck Farm to Trailer, Austin
Sox slugger Dunn out after appendectomy
Adam Dunn will be out of the Chicago White Sox lineup for at least five days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy after Tuesday night's game against the Royals.Dunn will travel home with the team Wednesday night after undergoing the laproscopic procedure.Dunn is the second slugger this season to be sidelined by an appendectomy. Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals underwent the same surgery last week. Dunn, 31, was 0 for 4 with a walk and was hit by a pitch in the leg Tuesday night in the Sox's 7-6 loss at Kansas City in 12 innings. He was lifted for a pinch runner in the top of the 12th inning. Dunn has played in at least 152 games each season since 2004. The only time he was placed on the 15 day disabled list occurred in 2003, when he suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb and missed the final seven weeks of the season. Dunn was batting .286 with one double, one home run and five RBIs in the Sox's first four games. His injury will give more playing time to Lastings Milledge, Brent Lillibridge and perhaps left-handed hitter Mark Teahen. The Sox will face left handers Jeff Francis of Kansas City and Tampa Bay's David Price in their next two games Monday, April 4, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
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