80's Corner

A very controversial movie named Colors came out in the late 1980's. According to Wikipedia, Colors is a "police procedural crime film starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall and directed by Dennis Hopper. The story takes place in South Central Los Angeles, and is about Bob Hodges (Duvall), an experienced LAPD Police Officer III, and his rookie partner, Danny McGavin (Penn) who try to mitigate the gang violence between the Bloods and Crips. The film received praise from the critics as a realistic view of gangs in L.A. and in part, inspired other "hood" type films as the 80's closed. It relaunched Hopper as a director 18 years after Easy Rider and stirred some controversy over its depiction of gang life and gang violence."

The movie spawned riots at many movie theaters it was played in. I remembered being afraid to go see it ... and haven't seen it to this day.

Fast Food Corner

Burger King recently started promoting their BK Stuffed Steakhouse burger. According to their website, "When you take a flame-broiled patty, stuff it with jalapeños and cheddar cheese on the inside, top that with spicy poblano sauce, ripe tomato and crisp iceberg lettuce, and somehow fit it all on a toasted, corn-dusted bun ... well, you've got yourself a fire hazard."

Obviously, I had to try the thing ... for research purposes, of course. And, you know what? Yeah, it's got a kick to it ... and yeah, it's got a good taste ... and yeah, I'd definitely eat it again ... a VERY solid burger ... the heat is what Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich should be.

Unfortunately, when eating at Burger King, you still have to deal with their fries ... I know, I know ... I keep bringing this up, and it's sounding like a broken record ... but seriously, they need to address the fries!

What I learned this week about my baby

I learned that no matter how exhausted or tired I am, when my baby smiles at me, I feel like I could lift a building.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework assignment! This week, I chose the following prompt: a list of 10 things that are sure to put a smile on your face when you are not happy.

In no particular order ...

10. Bacon ... well, because bacon makes everything better!
9. The Three Stooges ... timeless.
8. The Rolling Stones - this is what music would sound like if angels in heaven were musicians.
7. The movie Dumb and Dumber - quite possibly the perfect comedy.
6. America's Funniest Home Videos - I love to see other people's screw ups!
5. My daughter Lydia.
4. The Onion (website).
3. Stand-up Comedy
2. My wife.
1. A beer (or 12)

Wacky News Stories

More and more snow in Philly ... snowmen think it's cold!

1. On A 15-year-old boy suing a local golf course for $3 million after he was hit in the eye by his own golf ball:
"The lady who sued McDonalds because the coffee was hot thinks this is a stupid lawsuit."
http://www.katu.com/news/local/114408039.html

2. On Italian scientists claiming to have demonstrated cold fusion:
"Didn't Mountain Dew already demonstrate this?"
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-italian-scientists-cold-fusion-video.html

3. On researchers studying monkeys when they're drunk and comparing them to drunk humans:
"This would've been a great science project in middle school!"
http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2088963&spid=

4. On a teacher being arrested for allowing his second graders to have sex in the classroom:
"Times tables are overrated!"
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/21/20110121oakland-second-graders-sex-acts-in-class.html

5. On Keith Olbermann signing off of MSNBC for the last time:
"Hopefully, this was an agreement with him and Rush Limbaugh to both sign off at the same time ..."
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41201964

Song of the Week

Hollerado is an indie rock band from Canada - forming in 2007. Their sound (at least the beat) seems to be a mix between the Cure and Franz Ferdinand ... only a little heavier. They've toured with some notable bands, like the Stills for instance.

Their song, Americanorma sounds like it lifted the beat from "Hellcats," but in a good way ... almost in a "vaudevillian" way, but heavier. A fun, sounding song, with good guitar riffs, nice harmonizing with vocals, and the mentioning of Philadelphia over and over again (can't complain about that, right?).

The video is kind of cool - it works well with the song. Creative, even with a Space Invaders scene ...

Dope or Nope

Remakes of past songs ... sometimes, they are awesome (see the Stones remakes of many R&B singers). Sometimes they're not so good (Didn't Pat Boone do a cd of Heavy Metal songs?).

Lately, it seems as if the rock/pop airwaves are being flooded by remakes of classic rock songs ... and, maybe I'm getting too old for the music scene, but man, do most (I mean, all) of them stink. I'd like these young emo-bands to just focus on the same crap their currently playing, and not drag classic rock songs into their playlists. Same goes for the pop singers - knock it off! Have some respect for classic music, and don't try to filth it up with your "style."

What do you think?

80's Corner

Back in the 1980's, a new disease became very, very relevant, very, very quickly. I remember hearing about Liberace dying, and the news reports being hazy about the type of disease he had. Then, Rock Hudson battled the same disease, dying not long after. In both cases, they contracted the disease because of their gay lifestyles. The disease was finally given a name AIDS.

Liberace being gay probably surprised nobody. But, Rock Hudson? The man was the star of many "manly" movies, and seemed like a bad-ass. It was shocking, depressing, and sad. The live-loose lifestyle of the late 70's and early 80's came into question rather quickly. Things changed.

Fast Food Corner

Wendy's has introduced the Asiago Chicken Ranch Club Sandwich for a limited time ... which means I had to try it. The cool part of this sandwich is you could choose it with the grilled chicken, fried chicken, or spicy chicken ... naturally, I chose the spicy chicken.

The chicken sandwiches at Wendy's are already pretty darn good, but the Asiago and ranch gave the chicken sandwich a tangy taste, which was welcomed. Certainly worth trying at the very least, and I'm assuming it will taste nearly as good on the grilled chicken sandwich.

The main complaint for me was the soda I received. The "fine people at Wendy's" must love sharing their big blocks of ice, as they decided to fill my cup to the top with the frozen stuff, adding just a touch of soda.

Thing I learned this Week ...

I never suspected this one ... I learned that I get very happy when my baby poops ... weird!

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I chose the following prompt:

10 Reasons Why I Could Never Be Friends With Jerry Jones
10 - I hate the Dallas Cowboys.
9 - He reminds me too much of a character in the Lord of the Rings.
8 - I have a difficult time communicating with people who can't display emotion anymore (botoxed to high heavens).
7 - He reminds me of a slimy used-car salesman.
6 - I hate owners of teams who feel it is their god-given right to go onto the football field next to their coach prior to the end of a game (even though it probably is, since they own their team).
5 - It just seems like he's overcompensating for a shortcoming ...
4 - Those ears are not human.
3 - He absolutely treated the legendary Tom Landry with a ton of disrespect (and folks, I couldn't stand Tom Landry).
2 - Those teeth ... Coyotes and werewolves are jealous of those things.
1 - OK ... I admit it ... I'm jealous/envious of his wealth!

Of course, if Jerry Jones wanted to buy my friendship, I'm all ears...

Wacky News Stories

Football kind of sucks when your team is no longer in the playoffs ... sigh.

1. On a report that moderate drinking of ale and lager can cut the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure and even help people lose weight:
"Well, then, I must be the healthiest man in the world!"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8258224/A-pint-of-beer-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away.html

2. On the First Premier MasterCard with an astonishing 79.99 percent A.P.R.:
"And to think I still can't figure out why credit cards have a bad name ..."
http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/111836/the-worst-and-best-credit-cards-of-2010

3. On a pay phone in the county courthouse in Mitchell being unplugged after officials discovered it cost the county $69 per call last year:
"Sounds like this pay phone is owned by First Premier Mastercard ..."\
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/south-dakota/article_2e232f62-20b1-11e0-82e6-001cc4c03286.html

4. On Johnson and Johnson discovering its Motrin caplets were defective, and hiring a contractor to go around the country buy up all the drugs in a "secret recall:"
"Wait, a drug company that isn't honest? Next thing you'll tell me is that Liberace was gay ..."
http://consumerist.com/2011/01/oregon-sues-jj-for-secretly-recalling-motrin.html

5. On A man who lost his right leg above the knee when a rotted tree fell on him last summer at Camp Warren Levis suing the Lewis and Clark Boy Scout Council and the Boy Scouts of America, claiming the organizations were negligent:
"Sounds to me like he couldn't 'foot' the medical bills ..."
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/gremli-49411-boy-tree.html

Song of the Week

Erasure is a British synth-pop duo that was extremely popular in the mid-to-late 1980's. An openly gay group, they've had some battles with homophobic groups over the years.

They were the epitome of synth/new wave movement in the 1980's and although they are still around, they certainly aren't as popular as they once were.

Their song "A Little Respect" features a powerful keyboard sound, with a manufactured dance-style drum-beat, and lyrics you just want to shout at the top of your lungs. Straight or gay, it doesn't matter, the song is fantastic, and very up-beat.

The video is a tad on the goofy side ... probably should've been more meaningful ...

Dope or Nope

Over the past few years, some of my friends have told me that they use baby wipes to wipe themselves after a BM. They say the experience is VERY refreshing. I've never done this, and I don't plan to for many reasons. First, it's the cost - those baby wipes are much more expensive than regular toilet paper. Second ... well, they're baby wipes ... they aren't for adult behinds. Third, they're damp ... I can't see how that would feel good on my bum.

What are your thoughts on this? Dope or nope?

80's Corner

The keyboard tie was a pretty big fad in the mid 1980's ... especially in the alternative/new wave circles. The fad didn't last very long, as I guess people began to realize just how idiotic it was to wear a keyboard tie ... now, one that actually was a keyboard ... that may have been kind of cool.

Fast Food Corner

It looks like California is banning happy meals ... unless the happy meals contain fruit and are under 600 calories. While I applaud the intention, I have a few questions.

First, will this really curb children wanting to go to Burger King or McDonalds or other fast food places? I can speak from my own experience as a youngster. I could've cared less about the crappy toys in the happy meals, I just wanted to go to Mickey D's.

Second, is it government's position to make these rules? In other words, where does parenting fit into this? Shouldn't parents be at least a little responsible for ensuring their children are eating healthy?

Third, I wonder why a place like Subway hasn't gotten involved in this "happy meal" thing ... they certainly could use the "healthy" angle, couldn't they?

What are your thoughts?

Tosh .0

I recently discovered the show "Tosh.0" on Comedy Central ... I know, I'm late coming on board with this one ... the show is absolutely hysterical! It's kind of like a mix between The Soup, Web Soup, and sketch comedy ... Daniel Tosh is brilliant!

Tosh has basically taken ridiculous internet videos, promoted them, and has the "victims" try and redeem themselves. He also has homework assignments for his rabid viewers in which he asks them to video themselves catching pop corn in their mouths, doing trust falls in interesting locations, and weird interpretive dances ... and the show works beautifully.

The wife and I have been addicted to it for the past week or so, laughing out loud throughout.

I highly recommend you take a gander at this show (Comedy Central, Tuesday nights, 10:00 PM).

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I chose the following prompt: Scarred. I'm guessing this prompt could go one of several ways ... I chose the following way...

I was a huge fan of Chris Farley ... even years after his death. I thought he had great comedic timing, and was a master at slapstick comedy. I remember watching some sort of biography on him, and was struck by the story of how he died - on some sort of 3 day binge with drugs and alcohol.

Unfortunately, I couldn't leave well enough alone, and I decided I'd do a search to see if there were any photos of him the night he died ... and even more unfortunately, there were ... and I saw them ... and I can never look the same way at Christ Farley again ... I'm scarred ... for life.

Wacky News Stories

It's like mother nature has a bad case of dandruff in Philly right now!

1. On a circus to feature a banned smoking act and a dwarf pulling hoover vacuum cleaner with his penis:
"Eat your heart out, Cirque-de Solei!"
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Banned-act-gets-clear/article-3077597-detail/article.html

2. On a girl miraculously alive in Argentina after her mother lowered her onto the tracks just as a train was coming into the station:
"We'll take it from here, Mrs. Hitler ..."
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110107/woman-lowers-daughter-onto-train-tracks-110107/

3. On a 36-year-old Lake Forest woman being arrested Friday on suspicion of having sex with a 13-year-old boy:
"Ya know, this stuff NEVER happened when I was 13 ... sadly." Or ... "Hey, sounds like they're trying to remake Big!"
http://www.ocregister.com/news/amormino-283281-hicks-boy.html

4. On a Virginia delegate who wants to bring back Confederate money:
"Texas thinks this is absurd ..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/07/virginia-delegate-wants-t_n_806089.html

5. On the YWCA dropping the word Christian from its historic name to call itself Platform 51:
"Sounds out of this world ... get it? Because Area 51 has stuff to do with aliens? Ok, I was reaching ... gimmee a break - I have a newborn, dammit!"
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344779/YWCA-drops-word-Christian-historic-Platform-51.html

Song of the Week

Since I mentioned Scandal earlier, I should probably do a Scandal song as the song of the week. The band itself was fronted by Patty Smyth, who also had some success in her solo career. Really, there were only two really good songs they did. I mentioned "The Warrior" in a blog post a few days ago.

The other song is called "Goodbye to You," and is a classic 80's sounding song, that is basically about a breakup. Patty's voice is very powerful in the song and it surprises me that the band didn't have more success in the 1980's. You have a common beat to the 80's song, along with some good guitar riffs, along with what seems to be a mandatory-for-the-80's keyboard throughout. The song itself is everything that defined pop music in the early-to-mid 1980's (before the likes of Janet Jackson sadly altered 80's pop).

The video is also VERY 80's and is hard to watch (look at that hair!). And that Molly Ringwald/Go-Go's dance ... yikes! I think I can even do that one!

Dope or Nope

Red Bull and Vodka drinks ... it seems like all the rage with the younger folk ... ya see, they'd like to party for days, apparently ... and yes, I've had it before ... and yes, for the very same reason. The drink basically nullifies the drowsy influences of alcohol and gives you a kick ... I'm pretty sure it's not good for your heart, but still.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on Red Bull and Vodka? Have you tried it? Do you like it? Or is it stupid? Dope or Nope?

80's corner

There was an orange soda that was semi-popular in the 1980's called Frank's Orange. I recently stumbled upon a commercial for it on You-tube (seriously, is every single video ever created on Youtube?).

Anyway, it was some 1980's rock theme that focused on the orange drink. And my guess is that the singer was supposed to resemble the lead singer of Scandal (I am the Warrior!).

I remember the commercial well for some reason ... I think it was played in a continuous loop after school on weekdays in the 1980's. And for some odd reason, I dig the commercial ... however, I'm unsure if I ever even tried Frank's orange drink, or if it's still around today ...

Fast Food Corner

I've blogged about Wawa before - it's a pretty cool convenience store in the Philadelphia and tri-state area - great made-to-order sandwiches, good coffee and other odds and ends you may need.

They recently ramped up their breakfast sandwiches to really try and compete with McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts (I guess). Well, their bacon, egg and cheese croissant is absolutely awesome. The croissant is flaky (better than Burger King's Croissanwich), generous amounts of bacon ... really the only thing that could probably be a little better is the egg ... very obvious that it is a powdered egg ... and though it tastes fine, a real scrambled egg would hit the spot ... still, very good!

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I chose the following prompt: Choose a word that encompasses 2010 and describe why. What word will you choose as your theme for 2011?

This was an easy one .. In fact, I was just pondering this on New Years Eve ... at approximately 11:15 PM ... as I struggled to stay awake and find a show amusing enough to entertain me. I pondered this as I looked over at my wife, who no longer fought the urge to sleep. I pondered this, as I stared at the bassinet with my daughter safely tucked away. I pondered this, as I drank a small glass of wine.

The word that was the theme for 2010 for me was .... CHANGE!

Things changed for me and my wife as we spent the first part of the year trying to get pregnant. By the grace of God, we were able to conceive, and time was spent reading up on the pregnancy and the baby-to-come ... time no longer spent at the bar right across the street. Time was spent eating right ... no longer eating wings and burgers (well, at least not as much!). Time was spent exercising and getting in better shape both physically and mentally.

And as I continued to ponder the change on New Years Eve, I came to the conclusion ... it was most certainly worth it!

Fast Food Corner

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I wanted to go to the Gino's restaurant that just opened in King of Prussia. Gino's has a big history here on the east coast - it was started by a couple of Baltimore Colts players in the 1950's, and eventually got licensing rights to sell KFC Chicken a their stores (amazing, actually). It was a fairly competitive fast food restaurant until Marriott took it over in the mid 1980's and changed them into Roy Rogers restaurants (sigh).

The new iteration of Gino's is "fast food," but not like McDonalds and Burger King ... more like Five Guys or Panera ... fancy fast food. The burgers, while tasty, are not quite as filling as Five Guys burgers ... the fries are pretty tasty ... but again, they don't give you as many as Five Guys. When you eat in, you order the food, they give you a number, and you put it on the table you are sitting at (similar to Pei Wei). They then deliver the food to your table (a nice touch).

They have quite a few kinds of burgers, and I'll most certainly be back to try more. I also want to try their chicken sandwiches in the near future. Not sure if they still serve the Gino's Giant (which apparently the Big Mac was based on).

A solid restaurant indeed.