This book contains columns dealing with personal stories, memorable events, key issues, and defining moments in KC sports filtered through Jason's eyes. There is celebration, criticism, predictions, challenges, and humor. Any serious discussion of the last ten years in Kansas City sports would have to include Jason Whitlock, and this book is the perfect place to begin that discussion.

The first major league baseball game to take place at what is now called Wrigley Field occurred on April 23, 1914, on 4,000 yards of soil and four acres of bluegrass. Though the area may have shrunk, Chicago’s love for the iconic Wrigley Field has only grown in the past century. In honor of the legendary ballpark's 100th birthday, the Chicago Tribune staff has compiled a breathtaking tribute to Wrigley Field, including historical photos, archival articles, and new content from the newspaper's award-winning journalists. Beyond the Ivy: 100 Years of Wrigley Field is a beautifully illustrated collection that captures the timeless charm of the "Friendly Confines." With contributions from beloved Chicago Tribune writers like Mike Royko, Christopher Borrelli, Paul Sullivan, Phil Vettel, and more, this book is a dazzling celebration of a national landmark and the gem of Chicago's north side. Stories of homers and blunders, heroes and villains, and triumph and tragedy are spread throughout this book, allowing readers to relive all their favorite memories right in the palm of their hands. From the time the plot of land bound by the streets Clark, Addison, Sheffield, and Waveland was the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary, to the construction of Weeghman Park and its renaming as Wrigley Field, this stadium has not only hosted baseball, football, and hockey, but also a century's worth of ever-changing trends in music, food, and fashion. Readers can finally join in on Wrigley's centennial celebration with this entertaining and fascinating book detailing what may very well be Chicago’s greatest contribution to baseball. Beyond the Ivy, in tracing the roots of Major League Baseball's second oldest ballpark, has created a testament that—much like the cherished construction it profiles—will surely stand the test of time.

This book is a collection of quotes from letters that was selected from the books I personally read, and republished on my blog from July 2017 to March 2021.

This lighthearted and eye-opening book explores the role of comedy in cultural and political critiques of American society from the past century. This unprecedented look at the history of satire in America showcases the means by which our society is informed by humor—from the way we examine the news, to how we communicate with each other, to what we seek out for entertainment. From biographical information to critical reception of material and personalities, the book features humorists from both literary and popular culture settings spanning the past 100 years. Through its 180 entries, this comprehensive volume covers a range of artists—individuals such as Joan Rivers, Hunter S. Thompson, and Chris Rock—and topics, including vaudeville, cartoons, and live performances. The content is organized by media and genre to showcase connections between writers and performers. Chapters include an alphabetical listing of humorists grouped by television and film stars, stand-up and performance comics, literary humorists, and humorists in popular print.

The 47 full papers and 24 short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 245 submissions. These articles cater to the most contemporary and happening topics in the fields of AI that range from Intelligent Recommendation Systems, Game Theory, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, Social Networks, and Generative AI to Conversational and Large Language Models. They are organized into four areas of research: Theoretical contributions, Cognitive Computing models, Computational Intelligence based algorithms, and AI Applications.

A history of letters draws on the author's personal correspondence experiences while celebrating what is special about hand-written letters, exploring the traditions of ancient and historical cultures, the practices of famous notables and her thoughts about modern-world communication habits.

Chicago newspaperman Rick Kogan plunks down at a barstool at the Billy Goat Tavern and tells the tales of the city landmark, which became a haven for newspaper reporters, policemen, politicians, and anyone else drawn to the hospitality and showmanship of hardworking William “Billy Goat” Sianis and his often antic, uniquely comforting establishment. The story begins in the summer of 1934, when a baby goat fell off a truck and limped into a tavern owned by Greek immigrant William Sianis, and a Chicago icon was born. Later, when he and one of his goats were barred from entering Wrigley Field during the 1945 World Series, the Cubs’ eventual loss to Detroit fueled a legend as enduring as their fans’ “Wait ’til next year” mantra. Kogan writes about some of the regulars, visitors, employees, and luminaries found at the tavern, including columnist Mike Royko and the young stars who immortalized the tavern in the Saturday Night Live "Olympia Diner" skit—John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Don Novello—and discusses Sam Sianis, Billy's nephew and the current owner. Let the Goat In! In the summer of 1934, a baby goat fell off a truck, limped into a tavern owned by Greek immigrant William Sianis, and a Chicago icon was born. The Billy Goat Inn became a haven for newspaper reporters, policemen, politicians, and anyone else drawn to the hospitality and showmanship of hardworking "Billy Goat" Sianis and his often antic, uniquely comforting establishment. But did Billy jinx the Cubs? When he and one of his goats were barred from entering Wrigley Field during the 1945 World Series, the Cubs' eventual loss to Detroit fueled a legend as enduring as their fans' "Wait 'til next year" mantra. Today there are seven Billy Goat Taverns, including one in Washington, D.C., and Billy's nephew, Sam Sianis--a celebrity in his own right--oversees what Illinois Senator Dick Durbin called "a national institution." Rick Kogan's affectionate tale plunks you down at a barstool next to some of the Billy Goat's regulars, visitors, employees, and such luminaries as columnist Mike Royko, and those young stars--John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Don Novello--who immortalized Sam and the tavern in the Saturday Night Live Olympia Diner ("Cheezborger, Cheezborger! No fries . . . chips!") skits. "I remember . . . I miss . . .," someone will say, and names and faces begin to float through the tavern air. . . In these echoes Kogan lets you see and hear why taverns remain essential social focal points and lets you understand what makes a Chicago original.