Peacock decided against a third season of Poker Face, the Columbo-like procedural from Rian Johnson. Natasha Lyonne starred as Charlie, an accidental sleuth who has the uncanny ability to tell when anyone is lying to her. An attempt to keep the show going at another streamer, with Peter Dinklage taking over the lead role, but, more than six months later, that thankfully does not seem to be happening.
Author / admin
iTunes Top 200 Artists: #9
Music. It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions. It is the universal language that speaks to the soul. It forms the soundtrack of our lives.
It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library, featuring the songs I have listened to the most since 2007. It is time to do so again, seeing which performers still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray. So, without further ado, here are my most listened to artists, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2026.
Formed in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, this band released their first album in 1975 and have been rocking the world ever since, selling more than 200 million records worldwide. At #9, we have the powerhouse group known as AC/DC.
#9: AC/DC
iTunes stats: 748 plays
Previous ranking: #10
The Australian hard rockers move up one slot from their previous ranking thanks to 20 songs, from seven different albums, which increased by 34%. The most popular song, Thunderstruck, has a tremendous amount of plays due to the White Sox use of it when running out on to the field and its inclusion on my various victory playlists. Another entry, Back In Black, has also made an appearance or two over the years, most recently thanks to former catcher James McCann’s use as his walkup song.
In 2015, I saw the band in concert in Toronto, at Downsview Park. I’d be lying if I said that seeing AC/DC was at the top of my to-do list musically speaking. In fact, they were playing Wrigley Field the following week, and I had passed on the chance to get tickets. But, as a wise man once said, you only live once, and, seeing as this is potentially their last go-around, I guess you can say that I’m glad to have seen them. After missing the opening act thanks to traffic, we got to the show just as AC/DC were starting. The show itself was both good and bad. The songs are what you expect, but there was no real flow, probably due to the band’s conditioning, or lack thereof. After each song, the lights went down and there was a brief break before the next song would begin. The net result of this was a disjointed experience, where each song stood on its own without there being any coherence in the set. This ended up being their last tour with Brian Johnson before the unfortunate Axl Rose experiment, so I guess I’m glad I saw them when I did.
150 Years Of Cubs Baseball – Outfielders Part 3
Originally founded in 1869, the Chicago Cubs became a charter member of the National League in 1876. Over the next 150 seasons, the Cubs have played more than 22,000 games, scored over 103,000 runs and recorded more than 200,000 hits, more than any other team in baseball history. Nearly 2,300 players have worn a Cubs uniform, earning eight division titles, 17 NL pennants, and three World Series championships.
Fans have witnessed generations of unforgettable players, from historical heroes like Joe Tinker, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Banks, and Billy Williams to more recent stars like Ryne Sandberg, Derrek Lee, Kerry Wood, and Anthony Rizzo. The team has called Wrigley Field home for 110 of those 150 seasons.
To celebrate this milestone, the Cubs are holding a fan vote to select the franchise’s anniversary team. Each week, we will go through the provided options for each position and declare who should, and, if different, who will, win the fan vote. We continue today with the final eight selections for outfielder.
Frank Schulte debuted for the Cubs in September of 1904. He was part of four pennant-winning teams, including the back-to-back championships in 1907 and 1908. He led the NL in home runs in 1910 and 1911, when he became the first player in MLB history to have 20 or more doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases in a single season. That feat earned him the NL MVP award, then known as the Chalmers Award. He remained with the Cubs through July of 1916.
Jimmy Sheckard spent seven seasons with the Cubs near the turn of the 20th Century, helping the team to four NL pennants and World Series Championships in 1907 and 1908. One of the most versatile outfielders of his time, Sheckard still holds the record for most double plays as a left fielder, with twelve in 1911. His best offensive season also came in 1911, leading the NL in runs and walks, and his 147 walks remains a team record.
Jimmy Slagle manned center field for seven seasons, helping the Cubs win back-to-back-to-back NL championships from 1906-1908, the latter two ending with World Series titles. He is the first player to accomplish a straight steal of home plate in a World Series in 1907. A classic leadoff man for his era, Slagle was known for his speed, contact hitting, and exceptional defense.
Book 28 (of 52) – Anatomy Of An Alibi
Ashley Elston – Anatomy of an Alibi
When two women switch identities for a day, they think they are giving each other cover as they try to learn what role the one’s husband played in the death of the other’s parents. But when the husband turns up dead the following morning, their original plan is thrown for the loop. With the help of a friendly lawyer and a criminal enforcer, both women try to protect their own interests while staying a step ahead of the police, who may know more than they are letting on.
Anatomy of an Alibi is the second adult novel from Ashley Elston. While I did enjoy this, I did find myself a little confused when the twist came up at the end as I didn’t remember which character’s name showed up as the ultimate antagonist. Hopefully we will see more from Elston going forward.
Setting More Records
With his seventh inning home run last night against the Twins, Munetaka Murakami became the first rookie in MLB history to reach the 20-home run plateau before the start of June. The previous rookie mark of 19 was held by Pete Alonso and Mark McGwire. He joins Frank Thomas and Jim Thome as the only White Sox players overall to reach the mark.
The White Sox have four more games scheduled through the remainder of May.
Post Mortem – Based On A True Story
The Peacock series Based on a True Story, starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina as a married couple who start a podcast with a serial killer, was cancelled last year following its second season. The show certainly had its moments and brought in interesting guest stars, so I was a little surprised to see it wrapped up so early. But, that is the nature of streaming and I’m sure Cuoco will pop up in something new sooner rather than later.
Fitbit 12 – Week 18
Yet another great week as I pushed my 30,000-step week streak to fifteen and my streak of 4000+ step days reached 90, a full three months. The week got off to a good start on Sunday thanks to a trip to Rate Field for the final installment of the first Crosstown series of the year, finishing 35 steps shy of 5600. Monday saw a small decrease, dropping down to 4500 steps. A lunchtime walk while I changed kept things rolling on Tuesday, ending 27 steps away from 6900. Wednesday was the best day of the week, thanks to a season holder event at Wrigley Field in the afternoon followed by the Cubs game that night, wrapping up with 8400 steps. Thursday used a walk to Walgreens to pick up a prescription to finish with 6100 steps. A slow-ish Friday got the holiday weekend off to a decent start with 4400 steps. The week wrapped up on a high note on Saturday with 6600 steps.
Total steps: 42,577
Daily average: 6082.4
iTunes Top 200 Artists: #10
Music. It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions. It is the universal language that speaks to the soul. It forms the soundtrack of our lives.
It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library, featuring the songs I have listened to the most since 2007. It is time to do so again, seeing which performers still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray. So, without further ado, here are my most listened to artists, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2026.
Today, we break into the top ten and slow down the pace a bit, taking one act at a time. Hailing from Sheffield, England, this group pushed through devastating personal injury and untimely death to become the breakout stars of the new wave of British heavy metal of the early 1980s. At #10, we have the band known as Def Leppard.
#10: Def Leppard
iTunes stats: 722 plays
Previous ranking: #11
One of only five rock bands to have two studio albums sell more than 10 million copies in the US, Def Leppard moves up one spot to crack the top ten. With 43 separate tracks that have listens coming from eight different albums, legit or otherwise, the band added 196 new plays over the past five years, rising 37%. Surprisingly, Let’s Get Rocked is my most listened to song, while a couple of bootleg live tracks check in with a single listen.
I was able to see them in concert back in the summer of 1993 at the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park. Given that this was 30-some odd years ago now, my main memory of the show is lead singer Joe Elliot trying to curry favor with the crowd by wearing a Chicago Bulls t-shirt. Judging by the setlist posted on the Interwebs, it was a pretty solid show, with all of their big hits being covered, including their then-latest from the Last Action Hero soundtrack. Given my fandom for the band at the time, I’m glad I got the chance to see them live at the time.
150 Years Of Cubs Baseball – Outfielders Part 2
Originally founded in 1869, the Chicago Cubs became a charter member of the National League in 1876. Over the next 150 seasons, the Cubs have played more than 22,000 games, scored over 103,000 runs and recorded more than 200,000 hits, more than any other team in baseball history. Nearly 2,300 players have worn a Cubs uniform, earning eight division titles, 17 NL pennants, and three World Series championships.
Fans have witnessed generations of unforgettable players, from historical heroes like Joe Tinker, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Banks, and Billy Williams to more recent stars like Ryne Sandberg, Derrek Lee, Kerry Wood, and Anthony Rizzo. The team has called Wrigley Field home for 110 of those 150 seasons.
To celebrate this milestone, the Cubs are holding a fan vote to select the franchise’s anniversary team. Each week, we will go through the provided options for each position and declare who should, and, if different, who will, win the fan vote. We continue today with the second eight selections for outfielder.
Jason Heyward signed an 8-year, $184 million contract with the Cubs in December of 2015. His place in Cubs lore was set when he was credited with leading an inspiring, players-only meeting during the 17-minute rain delay towards the end of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, after which the Cubs stormed out and took the lead in the 10th inning, leading to their first championship in 108 years. While he never quite produced enough to justify his lofty contract and the team failed to duplicate their 2016 success, he became as much of a scapegoat as anyone else on the roster, eventually seeing his playing time reduced. In addition to his World Series ring, Heyward won Gold Glove awards in both 2016 and 2017.
King Kelly emerged as one of 19th‑century baseball’s first true superstars as a member of the White Stockings. He led the NL in runs scored for three consecutive seasons, from 1884 through 1889 and also won the NL batting title in both 1884 and 1886. During his seven years with the franchise, they won five NL pennants. In 1945, he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
Bill Lange spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Colts/Orphans, becoming a full-time center fielder in 1894. He retired at age 28 to marry a woman whose father had forbid her from marrying a ballplayer, finishing his career with a .330 batting average. In 1897, he led the NL in stolen bases. He is a member of the Cubs Hall of Fame.
Book 27 (of 52) – The Case of the Careless Kitten
The Case of the Careless Kitten – Erle Stanley Gardner
When a mysterious phone call leads Helen Kendal to believe her long-missing uncle is ready to make his return, Perry Mason finds himself caught up in multiple mysteries, including what happened to the missing uncle, who shot Helen’s boyfriend, who poisoned Helen’s aunt and cat, and how does the whole thing tie together. When Hamilton Burger assumes Mason has stashed the missing uncle out of sight and charges Della with obstruction, it forces Perry to put the puzzle together to prove Della’s innocence.
Originally published in 1942, The Case of the Careless Kitten is 21st entry in Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason series. This case, though heavily modified, was featured as the 24th episode of season eight in the Raymond Burr version of the show in 1965. Since this is a little further along in the series, the characters align more closely with those we are familiar with from television compared to the earlier entries. This was the final book I managed to snag during a New Year’s sale in the Kindle store, so it may be some time before I am able to return to Gardner’s oeuvre.