Hey guys! Hil-Dawg here!

By far, my favorite experiences this summer have been when people from the community invite the Party Patrol to, well, patrol their parties! Two times this summer, I have been there when fans of Charlie FM have requested that the Party Patrol stop by their backyard parties to hang out, play games, and eat! Ok, I get that they are also motivated by the promise of free prizes and schwag, but every single time, fun has been had by both party patrons and Party Patrol members alike.

Once this summer, Coach Mike and I got the chance to go to a family reunion held at a backyard in Sun Prairie. This reunion, however, wasn’t just your standard cookout where the only entertainment is waiting for your crazy uncle to get drunk and pass out in his lawn chair. This was one epic family reunion. There were lawn games, a pool, a trampoline, T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase “I’m Moms favorite,” and plenty of food to go around. To top it all off, they had the Party Patrol to spice things up that much more. After daring a brave young man to jump in the pool with his clothes on, we gave the winning team of lawn toss an awesome prize, and I even got to show off my ex-poms girl moves in the trampoline. After we left the event that day, I remember thinking, “Jeez! These people know how to throw a party!”

Just recently, another family in Stoughton requested the Party Patrol to come to their apartment complex cookout. Expecting to see a grill and a few families hanging out, no one was more surprised than me when over 30 little kids bombarded me and the Charlie Horse the second that we arrived. Between the Bouncy Castle, the magician, and the homemade cotton candy, I’m pretty sure this was the backyard party of every 6 year olds dream. Not only that, but the families were awesome and made sure that 2 hungry Party Patrol girls (and 1 very hungry horse) didn’t leave without a full stomach. I couldn’t imagine a more fun apartment complex to live in – especially if you’re a kid!

When I look back on both of these events, its clear to see why these were the highlight of my summer. These groups of people didn’t just invite the Party Patrol for free goodies – they made us a part of their families for the hour or two we were lucky enough to be there. Getting to know the awesome people in the community is why I love being on the Party Patrol…….and ok, getting paid to jump on a trampoline doesn’t hurt either.

- Hil-Dawg

Cornfields, Hawkeyes, rednecks, corn and gambling in Dubuque.  I’m pretty sure that summarizes all that Iowa has to offer the country.

Oh wait, their higher education can also be dumb too.  I guess this is funny to the cornfed.

Iowa State University students have been campaigning on Facebook for Professor Tin-Shi Tam to play Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” on the carillon (bell tower). On Friday, Gaga’s desire for leather studded kisses in the sand rang out across campus.

I hear ya.  I used to work with a guy that would sleep naked on the radio station couch overnight.  Man that made for some weird mornings.

In any case, the producer of American Idol (Nigel Lythgoe) is now pointing a strict finger at Simon Cowell, saying he is the reason why Ellen DeGeneres bailed out.  He says there is a place for Ellen, but that her and Simon just didn’t get along.

Lythgoe let Ellen out of her contract one year ahead of time, which is pretty cool.  But that begs the question.  Would you ever quit your job just because of a co-worker that’s a major jerk?  Do you rat them out if they’re being rude or just handle it yourself?

Rated PG-13 – 1h27

I didn’t hear the tubular bells, but I did get a little spooked with The Last Exorcism.

Knowing that this was the sixth installment of The Exorcist franchise, I brought pea soup and holy water with me to the theater. Not to prevent the demons, but rather to throw at the screen upon my disappointment. Nothing was hurled though, and I was pleasantly surprised with this scary flick.

The last exorcism is not necessarily a title that designates it will be the last in the series, but rater the last for our hero, “Father” Cotton Marcus. “Father” is in quotes because Cotton admits that he is a evangelical trickster. He knows there are people willing to pay for the service of exorcising demons. He doesn’t believe in demons, but does believe that if his sideshow gives them some relief, he has done something good for the possessed and their family. A twisted form of psychotherapy I suppose.

Deciding to allow a documentary film crew to shoot his last exorcism, before leaving the job behind, Cotton and his faith are put to the test when the spirit cleansing turns a little too real. It’s interesting how likable Cotton Marcus is. We know he’s a grifter. He knows he’s a grifter, but you feel as if he is doing some kind of good in the world. I can’t say giving small shocks to the people he is exorcising is ethical, but it does seem to achieve the goal.

The Last Exorcism doesn’t exactly compare to the original, but I don’t think it’s trying to. There are some eerie moments that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. There is a possessed teenage girl who makes some disgustingly creepy faces.

This is more of a modern take on how an exorcism may happen today. The frights are real, it’s original and it was fun.

They always say the way to make a million dollars these days is to come up with that one brilliant idea, or make a nice improvement on an existing product.

Here’s my contribution for the day.  I think several movies would be significantly improved with just a slight name change.

Take for instance:

Finding Nemo Delicious

Rear Against Window

Exploding Bridges of Madison County

When Dirty Harry Met Sally

Dude, Where’s My Car Seat?

The Fairy Godfather

Dr. No S#!t

Men in Black Tu-Tus

Inception Explained

I’d go see any of these.

Yeah, I thought I watched a lot too, then I got a hold of the Emmy Nomination List, I should probably settle down on the Toddlers & Tiaras and Locked Up Abroad and start watching more grown up/ high brow stuff.

I also know what you’re going to be doing next Wednesday at 4pm.  I shall gaze into my magic crystal ball and guess…you’re going shopping online.

How can I tell the future you may ask? It’s pretty lame.  A new survey that says online shopping is done most often at 4pm on Wednesday afternoons.

Research shows it peaks at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and is a full 75 percent higher compared to other times of the week, like Monday mornings.

I get it…it’s half way through the work week and we need to blow off a little steam. Come on…you’re guilty too!

There were plenty of things that sucked about both decades, but there were also some pretty sweet things that happened then too.  In celebration of The Majestic Theater’s 80’s vs 90’s party on Saturday night, we’re looking at some of the best things that were born at the tail end of the 1900’s.

Top Things About The 1980’s
1.  MTV was still playing music.
2. Michael Jackson wasn’t crazy (also was alive)
3. Some insane downtown Madison Halloween parties happened, before they were shut down.
4. Bugs Bunny was still part of Saturday morning cartoons.
5. You could walk like and Egyptian and not be a complete tool.  (wait, that was never true)

Top Things about the 1990’s
1.  Pink Floyd, U2 Genesis and The Rolling Stones all played Camp Randall.
2.  The internets were born.
3.  AOL was actually cool.
4.  Lakes Mendota and Monona were still swimmable.
5. You could go to the Farmer’s Market on the Square and it wasn’t a mob scene.

Give this one a minute.  Listen for the horse names:

I’m trying to do a report here…and POW!

The 19 year old who hit a bridge abutment in Ohio this week. YOW!

That shocking video of a woman putting a cat in a garbage bin.  May she received 1,000 cat scratches.

Just when you thought Band Geeks were lame.

Eggs creeped me out way before this ginormous recall.  Here’s why: