Entertainment: July 2008 Archives

The Chicago Cubs begin a four-game road trip to Milwaukee tonight to play the Brewers. Cubs fans should be aware. Aware of what, you ask. The Hound will tell you. Read on.

Most Illinoisans use their weapons to hunt deer, small game and fellow humans. Milwaukee residents use their weapons to shoot their lawn mowers. Yes, the story of Keith Walendowski, 56, moved over the weekend from The Associated Press, which noted he allegedly shot his Lawn Boy after it wouldn't start.

When police arrived, Walendowski was charged with felony possession of a short-barreled shotgun (i.e., a sawed-off shotgun) and misdemeanor disorderly conducts while armed. If convicted, this Brewer fan could be sentenced to six years in prison and fined $11,000.

As to why he shot his mower, he told police: "...it's my lawn mower and my yard so I can shoot it if I want."

Also from the AP, it appears correctional officers from a boot camp for alcoholics and drug addicts took their charges to a bar where alcohol was served to other patrons to hear a motivational speaker. Sitting in a bar surrounded by booze sure sounds motivational for addicts to The Hound, and Brewers' fans.

A warning for Cubs fans going to the game. Behave. Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies are notorious for loving to throw Chicago fans in the slammer. Go Cubs!

From this past weekend, what with Scoopin' Genesee (that is so lame) to just checking out the traffic around the county, certainly $4.25 per gallon for gasoline is not the tipping point. If we reach $5 by Labor Day, will that make us curtail our motoring passion?

Who knows, but The Hound doesn't see any letup of folks just cruzin' around in their vehicles, passing the time and continuing to do what Americans do best: Wasting precious resources. Ah, but let's not get too down at our fellow motoring enthusiasts. At least they're out and about and not at home playing video games or tampering with their new iPhone.

Yet, The Hound is all a twitter today what with the beginning of a new season of "Top Gear" the absolutely fabulous car nut programme offered by the BBC-America channel on the cable box. How come we don't have a great car program like this made in this country, especially with our stubborn love affair with the gasoline-powered engine? We're stuck with the fuddy-duddy "Motor Week" on public broadcasting, Speed Channel and NASCAR on Fox.

These "Top Gear" guys --- Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May --- are car lovers who don't take themselves too seriously, nor the products they pound around race tracks. When's the last time Cadillac let somebody redline a STS in a test drive?

The Hound is unsure when "Top Gear" is on. That's what Tivo is for. It just records it. Similar to the way "The Stig" drives. Fast.

Tune in. If you're a gearhead, you won't be disappointed. The Hound guarantees it.