THE NEWS OF THE senseless slaughter of our soldiers and the wounding of so many others allegedly at the hands of a Muslim soldier at Fort Hood last week is too horrible to comprehend. Yet, in this land of the free, more and more folks are going nuts and killing and maiming innocent people who happened to be in the line of fire.

'SONS OF ANARCHY" star Ron Perlman, who also gained fame from starring in one of my favorite TV series "Beauty and the Beast"(now in syndication) and the "Hellboy" films, dined and watched a World Series game at Harry Caray's Steakhouse downtown with radio personality Erich "Mancow" Muller. Perlman also dined at LaScarola.

PRESIDENT OBAMA is in the news for being a little too skinny. Over the weekend, the president was seen coming out of a gym and appearing "thin as a rail." And an insider said, "He's working non-stop for the country and yes, he does occasionally skip meals."

GIVING BACK: Kudos to the legendary rock group Chicago and the band's longtime manager, Peter Schivarelli, for making it possible for four women with various disabilities to live in a brand new home in South Bend, Ind.

THE SCOOP: CONGRATULATIONS to legendary deejay V-103 radio's Herb Kent aka "The Cool Gent" on being entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for "having the longest career by a deejay in radio History." The 8l-years-young and dapper Herb, who has been in the radio biz for 65 years spinning dusties, will celebrate this monumental career achievement and officially receive his award Dec. 5 at the South Shore Cultural Center. The evening will benefit the Real Men Cook Charities, and a Guinness representative will fly in to present the award to Kent.