Here's What Should Be Outside The Bears' Hammond Stadium (If A Move Happens)

It looks like the Chicago Bears could be on their way up the road and set to play home games at a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana.

Well, that's what's being said. 

The Bears are indeed looking for a new home. I'm under the impression that Illinois is still hopeful to keep the team in its US State. However, Indiana reps have given the thumbs up for a potential Bears move to Hammond, which is relatively close to Illinois.

It's headed for a Mexican standoff. 

Until then, here's how I would like the designs of a Hammond stadium to look.

'Why the leg lamp from A Christmas Story?' I suspect some of you might be wondering. Others could be pondering 'why a leg lamp!?' Well - here's why.

Hammond, Indiana is where Jean Shepherd grew up as a child. Therefore, some of the events in his books and the films that spun off from Shepherd's writing, are set in Hammond.

It would only be fitting for the Hammond stadium to honour the legendary raconteur.

But, that's IF such a move were to happen.

I sense this is a game of chicken between the Bears and Illinois. Time will tell on that one. 

In the meantime, remind the designers the leg lamp is Italian because it has FRAGILE written on its container.

Santa's Secret Flavour Pringles Revealed

Do you remember late last year when Pringles brought out a secret flavour for Christmas? I do. It was the worst Pringles flavour I have ever tasted. Trust me on that, I'm a Pringle connoisseur. 

I wrote about the can shortly after I tasted one of the potato snacks. The post was titled Worst. Pringles. Flavour. Ever' because, in my humble opinion, it was the worst Pringles flavour ever.

Yes - I cannot stop hammering home how much I disliked the taste. It was the worst.

My taste buds sensed a bit of mushroom, so I immediately stopped eating from the tube and handed it to my nephew and other members of my family. I was done. Never to return.

In the post, I speculated that it was 'something mushroomy'.

I can now reveal, because Pringles announced it weeks ago and I'm late to the news, that the flavour was...

Truffle and Butter!

 

I consider 'something mushroomy' to be a very close guess on my part.

Looking up what Santa's Secret Flavour turned out to be was prompted by an email I received from Pringles recently. In the communication, the company behind the potato snack brand  informed me that there's a new promotion in which customers have to guess the flavour. The winner will receive a trip to California.

Once I find a can, I'll pop one open and have a guess. 

I hope it isn't omething mushroomy.

WWE Set To Clash In Italy

World Wrestling Entertainment will host a Clash in Italy show later this year.

The event, scheduled to take place from the Inalpi Arena in Turin on May 31st, is part of a five-country European tour that will see episodes of Raw and Smackdown filmed across Europe.

It will be the fourth WWE Premium Live Event to use the 'Clash' title on the continent.

In 2022, the company held its first Clash at the Castle event in Cardiff's Principality Stadium. That was followed by a second Clash at the Castle in 2024. That one emanated from the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

WWE Clash in Paris occurred last August from France's capital city.

Here are the dates announced for the European tour:

29th May - Barcelona, Spain (WWE Smackdown taping)

31st May - Turin, Italy (WWE Clash in Italy)

1st June - Turin, Italy (WWE Raw taping)

2nd June - Strasbourg, France

3rd June - Lisbon, Portugal

4th June - Madrid, Spain

5th June - Bologna, Italy (WWE Smackdown taping)

6th June - Rome, Italy

7th June - Florence, Italy

8th June - Paris, France (WWE Raw taping)

22nd June - London, England (WWE Raw taping)

Jeopardy UK Has Been Cancelled (Again!)

I have just read that ITV has cancelled Jeopardy UK.

The quiz show, hosted by Stephen Fry, was reintroduced in January 2024 following a handful of other incarnations since the early 1980s. The latest version lasted for two seasons.

I've always enjoyed watching the programme, so I'm somewhat gutted to see it canned once more. 

The news was exclusively revealed by TV Zone on its website and via its social media platforms.

I felt the productions was top notch for the Fry edition. It made it feel more like the American version.

I don't hold out much hope on the series coming back any time soon. The previous edition - ahead of the 2024 relaunch - ended in 1996.

If past history is anything to go by, and my tongue is firmly in my cheek as I write this, we should see the next Jeopardy UK relaunch in 2053.

Fourth Time Unlucky

I've been sat at this screen trying to think of something to write. 

I have began THREE different topics only to stop after a paragraph, say 'nah' and then delete the words to start something new.

As you can see, the fourth attempt is to tell you there were three previous attempts. I might end up writing posts about the earlier three, so I won't spoil anything with teases.

I'll return tomorrow. Hopefully with something better.

A Festive Blast From The Past (Yes, In February)

I had one of the most welcome blasts from the past experiences I could ever have this morning.

As usual, I was browsing through the YouTube app while having my breakfast. One of the videos recommended to me stood out.

The thumbnail was of something I hadn't seen since my childhood. I had to do a double take to ensure I wasn't seeing things.

There, in the photograph, was a badge of Father Christmas inside a chimney. 

I owned one of those badges. So did my sister. I can vividly recall the day we were given them as well. 

Our aunt used to look after us on weekends when my parents were at work and she would take us for a walk to the shops around the area she lived. She would always treat us with toys from one of the stores there. 

On one of those visits, we came across these Father Christmas badges that had a red string underneath the chimney. You had to pull the string to make the character pop up. Santa Claus would then fall back under the chimney once the string was let go.

This is a Christmas novelty item I have thought about on various occasions through my lifetime, but I had never gone out of my way to find them again. The reason is simple: I wouldn't want to tarnish any memories I have of my aunt by buying one. I'm very happy with having had one when I did.

Imagine it, though. A little badge with a string that would entertain me for quite some time. I am currently sat here laughing at my young innocence.

The video is from a channel on YouTube I thoroughly enjoy. It's called Grand Illusions and is presented by a man named Tim. He has collected some fascinating gadgets and has shared this collection on his videos for many years. I recommend checking him out!

Doing A Kriss Kross 22

I couldn't believe it. 

I was quite bored a couple of days ago, so thought to myself 'it has been quite some time since I've done a kiss kross puzzle'. I pulled out a book I've had stored away and had a go.

The book I opened was Puzzler Kriss Kross 7. I don't recall how long I've had it, but it was beside the NFL sticker album I wrote about a week ago. I might have bought it around the same time, which means it has been here since at least last May (or thereabouts).

Anyway, I timed myself for the first kiss kross in, as I've stated, 'quite some time'. 

It took me ten minutes and twelve seconds to complete. I don't even know if that's good or bad. That's how long out of the kriss kross game I've been.

I opened this post exclaiming 'I couldn't believe it''. I was referring to the last time I had published a kriss kross themed post. The previous one, Doing a Kriss Kross 21, went live on February 27 2022. 

Four years. Quite some time indeed.

Find Puzzler Kriss Kross Titles on Amazon UK