By Steve Rhodes

“The fast-moving squall of severe thunderstorms that ripped through the Chicago area Monday is called a derecho,” Tom Skilling writes this morning.
“The high speed, bow-shaped line of storms left an astounding 1,400-mile trail of damage across sections of 17 states in 30 hours.
“Long-lived, especially fast-moving, squall lines have been dubbed ‘derechoes’ since the term was first proposed in 188[8] in the American Meteorological Journal by Gustavas Hinrich[s], a Danish born University of Iowa scientist.”

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Posted on July 12, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

“Here’s a question about the All-Star break,” Scot Gregor writes for the Daily Herald. “Who needs it more, the White Sox or Sox fans?”
Indeed.
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As a Twins fan, all I can say is, don’t stop now boys!

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Posted on July 11, 2011

By The Weekend Desk B Team

Natasha Julius is getting some well-deserved rest today after being thoroughly exhausted by Chicago’s professional baseball teams. Here are the stories the Weekend Desk is watching.
New White Sox Drinking Game Announced
Take a gulp every time someone says the Minnesota Twins are “in their heads.”
See also: Nick Blackburn Got Blown Up, The Twins Win Anyway Because It’s The White Sox

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Posted on July 9, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

“Jenna Jameson, one of the world’s most famous porn stars, is being held accountable by a court in suburban Chicago for something decidedly un-sexy: breach of contract,” Huffington Post notes.
“The actress, who’s called by her legal name Jenna Marie Massoli in the case, was contracted to come to two theaters in the suburbs, for a book signing of her latest title, How to Make Love Like a Porn Star and a screening of her 2008 movie, Zombie Strippers!,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
“Shortly before the appearance, she allegedly sent a note to theater owner Ted E.C. Bulthaup III saying that she had some vague kind of ‘medical emergency’ and wouldn’t be able to make the gigs on March 24th through 26th of this year.
“Trouble for Jenna: it only takes a cursory Googling to see where she was that weekend. And it isn’t in the hospital . . . ”
Click through to find out where.

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Posted on July 8, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

“I hate to kick an old man when he’s down, or look as if I’m dancing on the grave of his recently deceased wife,” Phil Luciano writes for the Peoria Journal Star.
“But literally, upon reading the latest disgusting episode from pathetic George Ryan, my eyes widened and nostrils flared with disgust. Wednesday, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gave yet another legal thumbs-down to jailbird Ryan’s more recent ridiculous attempt at freedom.

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Posted on July 7, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

I have to go to the doctor this morning. I just haven’t been able to get caught up this year, it’s just one thing after another. Now, apparently, it’s another.
Please enjoy, however, today’s Music post: Beatles Hair-Dos Banned.

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Posted on July 6, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

Here’s an idea: A giant turkey leg stand. Or a food truck that hawked giant turkey legs. Or just a little storefront called Giant Turkey Legs.
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True? (If you look real hard between the ad garbage, you’ll find an answer to the question “Where do giant turkey legs come from?”
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Like this, but year-round.

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Posted on July 5, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

I’ll be serving up some holiday brew tonight at the venerable Beachwood Inn. Come on over and declare your independence Beachwood-style. 5p – 2a.
Bring your leftover barbecue conversation stoppers if you must.
Now, let’s think about democracy.

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Posted on July 4, 2011

By Natasha Julius

Special Conversation Stopper Edition
It’s a long summer holiday weekend, and that means the return of awkward barbecue conversations. With the turbulent economy, the Governator getting dumped and, of course, the weather, there will be no shortage of conversation starters. But how to end that rambling small talk with your least-favorite relative, friend, or random guy hoarding the chips and salsa?
For your convenience, we present the Weekend Desk’s Patent-Pending Fourth of July Conversation Stopper, 2011 Edition.

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Posted on July 2, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

Posting will be sporadic through the holiday weekend as we try to clear some things off our desk. Drinking and depression will also be sporadic as we try to clear some things off our desk. Finally, we hope to destroy the desk.
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Preckwinkle Kills Project Shield.
“The system was . . . ill-conceived, poorly designed and badly executed,” said Mike Masters, Cook County director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

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Posted on July 1, 2011