Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time yet again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I chose the prompt: Share with us something you made by hand.

To be truly honest, I haven't really made too many things with my hands, outside of snowballs, and maybe some food (if you can consider that something). However, there was a time ... way back when ... back when Duran Duran was cool ... the first time. Yep, early to mid 1980's.

In art class, there always came a time of year ... every year ... when we were instructed to make something out of clay. Although there were plenty of possibilities out there, I always seemed to create the same thing ... an ashtray. No, my parents didn't smoke, but that didn't prevent me from making ash trays year after year.

One year, I decided to make a Christmas tree ash tray ... I mean, what spelled Christmas better than smoking? But, I decided to think outside the box, and opted not to paint the tree in green and red Christmas-like colors, and instead painted it orange, purple and black. No idea why I chose these colors, and not sure what these colors symbolized.

My parents were so "proud" of my clay ash-tray that they hurridly placed it along-side of the other unused ash-trays I created.

80's Corner

We had some really weird fashions in the 1980's - acid-washed jeans, leg warmers, Esprit shirts ... I could go on and one ... for at least about 5 minutes. No, I chose a different fashion that came out in the late 1980's, and pretty much died shortly thereafter (thankfully).

The fashion item I'm talking about is .... drum roll ... Z-Cavaricci. Oh, these pants were something else ... they seemed to really accentuate mullets ... or in my case, the faux mullet that I sported (the back of my hair curled up, and did not go straight down like the cool mullet dudes).

You see, for some reason, the preppy look was the "in-thing" in the late 1980's, and the Z-Cavarcci's pants were the epitome of preppy fashion. But, with the high $50 price tag, I could only afford one ... and I wore it my entire senior year (or at least it seemed that way).

A nice wispy mustache was probably a good thing to have when wearing these pants (as is evidenced by the picture below).

Some issues with Facebook

I'm a Facebooker ... I'm not ashamed to admit it. I enjoy it. I've reconnected with quite a few friends that I lost touch with for one reason or another. I enjoy some of the trivia games, surveys, and I've even fooled around with Yo-Ville for a while. But, as much as I love Facebook, there is one thing I have issues with. Specifically, it's people who post about absolutely nothing. Look, I get it - the point of Facebook is to update people with what you're currently doing. But, some Facebookers take this to the extreme, unfortunately. Let me give you some examples of bad Facebook updates:

"NAME is enjoying the day." - Really? Do you feel the need to post up basic dreck like this? Seriously? You want to inform people that you are enjoying the day? This is what you want people to know? Do you think other Facebookers are sitting on pins and needles wondering how you feel about today? Do me a favor, and don't post this.

"Name just got home from work." - Oh man, I was hoping you got home from work. I would've spent the entire night laying in bed, pondering if you had indeed made it home from work, or if you just decided to screw it and spend the entire night at work. Now I can sleep peacefully.

"Name just had dinner." - Oh man, no I know your dinner routine - thank goodness. I probably won't call you anyway, but if I did, I know what time I shouldn't call you, because you'll probably be having dinner. Phew! Thank goodness you posted this.


Seriously, it sounds like some Facebookers need help ... and I'm here to give it to them. Really, there is only one rule - make it funny. That's it. Sweet, and simple.

For instance, try this on:

"Name just sunk your battleship." - Funny, short, and sweet. Probably has numerous meanings.

"Name smells of rich mahogany." - It's a movie quote. They work great. But, don't use any Steel Magnolia references.


This should help you get started.

Song of the Week

In the tradition of bands like the Bangles and the Go Go's, the Sounds are rapidly becoming a very popular women's rock band (ok, ok - maybe we can't call the Go Go's or the Bangles as "rock" bands, but I think you get the idea). The band has spent about 10 years trying to become an overnight sensation. A Swedish band that mixes punk and synth-pop masterfully, they're power and enthusiasm is exuded (yeah, I used exuded) through their music, and the result is music that's poppy, yet funky enough to enjoy thoroughly.

One Sounds song that I particularly love is called "Tony the Beat," but is probably better known as "This Song is Not for you Lovers," and by the title, you can probably guess it's not a ballad. No, no - this diddy focuses more on the rough stuff, as can be evidenced by they lyrics "ha, it's sweaty ... now, I'm ready ... just take it off ... cause cause you tease me."

For the most part, you'll hear punk influences (maybe Blondie, circa the early years), and some really catchy synth-hooks. The chorus is catchy, and the female v oices are loud and powerful.

Check out the video (didn't realize the band was this hot):

Fast Food Corner

So, a few weeks ago, I posted that I was planning on trying the new McAngus burger from McDonalds ... and folks, this past week, I seized the opportunity to try this new release. As you may remember, I was intrigued by this new "Angus" beef patty ... truthfully, I'm not really sure why. I've never been able to distinguish between Angus beef, and any other type of beef. A friend of mine explained to me that there are different types of cattle, and Angus is just one type (I think Heffers are another kind). Anyway, that's beside the point.

I tried the McAngus with bacon (I mean, seriously, if you have the choice, you should always add bacon ... I think that's a rule). It was a third-pound of Angust beef, with onions and bacon on a sesame seed roll ... but this roll actually stuck together a lot better than that whimpy roll they use for Big Macs ... one could compare it to a Quarter Pounder roll, but a little stronger.

Here are the pluses - I liked the bacon, thought the roll was really good, and enjoyed the "third-pounder" size. I'm a big fan of the quarter pounder at Mickey-D's, but sometimes it's not enough ... and the double quarter pounder is just obscenly too much beef. The third pounder, even though it sounds stupid, is the right amount of beer.

Here are the minuses - Really, I didn't notice any major difference in taste from this beef to that of the quarter pounder. Maybe my pallet isn't advanced or mature enough. Really, that's the only minus I can think of.

All in all, it is a good burger, and the price is comparable to that of the quarter pounder. If the price goes up in the future, it may not be worth it.

80's Corner

Ah, the Green Machine. You were the coolest of the big wheels. If you were a kid, and you were lucky enough to be the owner of the Green Machine, you instantly became the coolest kid on the block ... sort of like the Mayor the street.

The Green Machine was sleek, fast, and different. It was green for crying out loud! Plus, it didn't have a steering wheel, just two gears you would push and pull to steer. This made it easy to spin out the green-machine ... by far, the coolest trait of any big wheel.

Sadly, I didn't have a green machine. No, I had the traditional big wheel - you know, red, and yellow, with the blue seat ... yeah, the boring one. I was not the cool kid ... I was not the Mayor of the street. I was just a typical serf of the neighborhood, riding around in my normal big wheel, with my normal Buster Brown sneakers (no, I didn't even have Zips). Sigh.




Just look at this commercial! The voice is famous. The kids were show-boating. It was like they were selling you a new car! Man, I wanted it! I wanted to drive it with my grey corderouys ... I wanted to easily slide through an obstacle course of road cones. There's no way my red big wheel could do this.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! With summer moving rapidly by, I decided to choose this one: How will you enjoy your last days of freedom (aka summer)?

I can't believe it's almost August already! Where did the freakin' summer go? Didn't it seem like summer went by so much more slowly as a kid? Allright, I'm done complaining.

We've had a busy summer, and that's probably why it's gone by so quickly. Here are some upcoming "events" we have left:

* We have a horeshoe tournament/barbecue to go to this weekend at my friend Rich's house. He and his wife always have a good party, and adding a horsehoe tournament is always a good thing. Plus, another friend may be bringing some heavy-duty fireworks!

* August 22nd, we are going to a crab-fest at the Delaware Saengerbund - just wondering how the Germans cook their crabs ... at least we'll have good beer!

* I'm sure somebody will have a Labor Day party ... please?!?!?

* Maybe we'll take a trip to the shore before it's all said and done.

* Oh, and we are going on a cruise to Bermuda towards the end of September. I've never been on a cruise before, so I'm excited/nervous for it! Oh, and it's right in the center of Hurricane Season ... should be good times all around!

And then, before you know it, we'll be making plans for Christmas ... sigh.

Attention Radio Program Directors ...

Many of you know the annoyance I have for terrestrial radio ... sure, I listen to it - usually with Preston and Steve in the morning, and sports-talk radio at other times (when I'm NOT listening to my cds). You probably know some of my "typical" complaints - too much talking by the DJs, very small and redundant playlists, reluctance to play anything new, playing the same 3 songs by the same 3 groups (enough already with the Metallica, Ozzy, and Zeppelin!). I won't bore you with repeating these messages. I figured I'd talk about a couple of others:

* When you play Tainted Love by Soft Cell, you MUST play the "Baby-Baby" ending. This is how everybody remembers it. Yes, I know it's really another song, but so what. If they played "We Will Rock You" by Queen, you'd expect them to play "We Are the Champions" right after it, wouldn't you? This is the same thing. Just do it!

* While we're talking about the "2-song" thingy, I think you HAVE to play "Mediate" along with "Need You Tonight," by INXS. This is the way it was done on MTV, and this is the way it should be done on radio. Problem is, NOBODY does it. Why is this?

* There are a couple of radio stations in Philly (I'm looking at you, BEN), who cut songs short. They take out important guitar solos, or choruses, just so they can get the song in at the 3-minute mark. That's disgraceful, guys! You're better than that! Play the song like it was meant to be played. You annoy people when you don't!

* 610-WIP sports-talk hosts - this one goes out to you. The pitcher's name is Roy HALLADAY, not Roy HOLIDAY! Could you please get this right! And please, correct all the idiot callers who are calling him HOLIDAY! Oh, and it's Jaguars, not JAGWIRES.

There, I feel better.

Dope or Nope

I love hot dogs ... I mean, I LOVE HOT DOGS! And there really is no better time to eat them than in the summertime (in fact, I recently enjoyed dollar-dog-night at a Phillies game). I'm traditional in that I love hot dogs with mustard. I'll eat the sucker plain, but I'd prefer mustard. I'm ok with adding some onions, and maybe some hot peppers on it ... heck, even bacon wrapped dogs are good (you can never go wrong with bacon).

However, I'm not a big fan of hot dogs with ketchup. It just doesn't make sense to me. It's kind of like adding mayo to a pretzel (I know some people who swear by this, by the way). Ketchup to hot dogs is like oil and water. But, I wanted to get a sense of how others feel with this.

So ... ketchup on a hot dog ... dope or nope?

Song of the Week

George Thorogood is like Liverwurst ... you either love his music or you hate it. I fall in the first category - I'm a big fan of "Blues-style" music, and love his metallic-sounding guitar. Plus, his voice fits in well with the sound of his band. He's seen better days, that's for sure, but that doesn't mean the man can't put out good music anymore.

Case in point - his new effort, a song called Taildragger. Very traditional-Thorogood-sounding (think Madison Blues). It starts off with a guitar pick sound similar to a loud ticking-clock. This is followed by Thorogood's trademarked growl. Nothing new to this sound - strong and steady backbeat ... check; slide guitar ... check; many, many solos ... check. But, much like AC/DC, he doesn't have to stray. The music is good just the way it is.

Have a listen to a couple of his new songs here.

You can find out more about Lonesome George here.

Fast-Food Corner

They leveled the Burger King closest to my house a few weeks ago ... that's two fast-food places gone in the past few months ... WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD?!?!?! Truth be told, this Burger King, which is/was located on Mac Dade BLVD, in the mall parking lot, wasn't run very well ... plus probably needed some major updating, both cosmetically, as well as equipment-wise (I think they may be building a new Burger King there - they just figured it would be easier to start from scratch).

For example, one day a few years ago, I drove up to the drive-thru and ordered some sort of burger - I believe it may have been the bacon-cheeseburger or something like that. The lady taking the order informed me that they had run out of burgers ... it took me a second to digest (no pun intended) ... HOW THE HECK DOES THIS HAPPEN AT A BURGER JOINT? REALLY?!?!? YOU ARE CALLED BURGER KING ... YET YOU RAN OUT OF BURGERS?!?!? IF YOU ARE THE MANAGER, HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR JOB? I ended up ordering the original chicken sandwich instead ... a good backup to a burger at BK.

Anyway, here's to hoping that they DO indeed rebuild a better Burger King there, and lets hope the service is better ... oh, and that they don't ever run out of burgers again!

Wait ... you want to play on MY team?

My wife suggested I tell some stories about my experiences with the Philadelphia Eagles (when I interned in 1996). One of my favorite stories centers around Rodney Peete getting injured against the Cowboys on Monday night ... no, I wasn't happy that Peete got hurt - he was actually having a pretty good season at the time. However, after he got injured, the Eagles searched the free agent market for another qb. Their search produced a former Super Bowl winning quarterback - Mark Rypien.

As a PR intern, I was asked to keep him company prior to the press conference. As luck would have it, we were also collecting sports items for an auction, and we had a hockey stick signed by the Buffalo Sabres. Rypien started fooling around with this hockey stick, and I was searching for something to talk to him about, so I asked him, "Hey Mark, you like hockey?"

Mark responded that he did indeed love hockey, and that if he wasn't playing football, he'd be playing hockey. I'm not sure what prompted me to bring it up to him, but I told him that I played on a deck hockey team ... to which, Mark responded, "Really? Are there any spots open?" I almost fell out of my chair.

Mark Rypien just asked me if there were any spots open on my deck hockey team. Super Bowl champion Mark Rypien just asked me this. "Sure," I blurted out, having to wipe a bucket-load of saliva off of Mark's face. "I have to check with Coach Rhodes to see if it's ok first," he said excitedly.

I called my deck hockey captain, and asked if we had any spots open. "No, we're pretty packed," was the response. Then I mentioned that Mark Rypien wanted to play, to which my captain responded, "Yes, I believe we have a spot open." That's what I thought.

Two days later, Mark Rypien came up to me sadly with his head down. "Coach Rhodes said I can't play." He looked really upset by this ... however, he was getting paid about a million dollars from the Birds, and all we could offer him was maybe some free beer and wings after the game. Still, that would've been something if we showed up to a deck hockey game with 6-foot-6-inch, 245 pound Mark Rypien. That would've been quite awesome.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment. This week, I chose the prompt: They just don't make (fill in the blank) like they used to! So many to choose from, but I chose the Nestle Crunch Bar. At one time, this was my favorite candy-bar ever! A long thin tablet of chocolately goodness hiding fun rice crisps that somehow made eating it all the more fun.

It was wrapped in a silvery tinfoil-like ... ummm ... wrapper, and a Nestle Crunch name-plate wrapper (or whatever they call it). I notice about 15 years ago, the fine folks at Nestle did away with the tinfoil wrapper, which was ok with me as long as the quality and taste of said candy-bar deliciousness didn't change. Sadly, the lack of tinfoil wrapping did cause a change in taste. I'm not sure why. Maybe it has something to do with locking in flavor. Maybe unwrapping the tinfoil that revealed the chocolate from Heaven only made it seem to taste better (and quite frankly, made it seem ritzier).

Or maybe, Nestle decided to cut other corners along with the retiring of the tinfoil wrapping ... like skimping out on the recipe - replacing integral components with cheaper and inferior ingredients. I'm not sure what the deal is, but Nestle Crunch rapidly fell out of my top 5 ... and then the top 10 ... and the freefall continues.

1980's Corner

Not sure if this will be a recurring segment (I'll leave it to you to tell me whether this is "Dope or Nope."). Anyway, since I grew up in the 1980's, I figured I would impart some of my wisdom and experiences to the decade that brought us Acid Washed jeans, leg warmers, and A Flock of Seagulls.

This week, I focus on the Sit and Spin ... now, before I get any messages saying that this device was actually created in the 1970's, let me assure you that I don't care. To me, this was personified in the 1980's.

Basically, the Sit and Spin is a device/toy that allowed kids to experience getting drunk without having to drink. You sat down indian style (I know, I know ... this is no longer politically correct to say ... loosen your belt-buckle!) on the platform. Next, you put your hands on the wheel in the center, and then you spun around as fast as you could. Usually, if you did this for more than 30 seconds, you would get light-headed ... I think after a minute of this, you could puke ... 2 minutes, and you were a certified politician.

It was so simple, yet so much fun. I facebooked that I wish they made these for adults, and apparently somebody told me that they do. Sadly, I haven't found it.

Dope or Nope ...

Last week's "Dope or Nope" was so successful, I figured I'd give it another try ... who knows, maybe this thing will catch on. This week, my co-worker friend (who I give all the credit for coming up with Dope or Nope). We were discussing rock/pop bands and hearing their music on commercials. We got to the discussion of "selling out." Certainly many remember when the Stones allowed Microsoft to use "Start Me Up" in some of their ads in the mid 1990's. U2, the Beatles, Kiss, The Who ... they've all done it.

So, with that said ... Dope or Nope? Is it OK for bands to do this? Do you lose respect for them? Here's a twist, though.

A lot of "newer" bands are being "discovered" in commercials, especially with the new Apple-related commercials. It's a pretty good way to get discovered.

To me, it's really not a big deal to allow your music to be played in commercials (with the exception of any music played on Chevy commercials). Bands need to make money, and for the most part, it doesn't take away from the music (at least, not in my opinion). Now, this is coming from a person who is not a musician ... I'm sure serious musicians may have a different opinion than I do.

Song of the Week

Jet is a band that released an amazing debut album called "Get Born" in 2003, but then followed up with a not-so-amazing second album called "Shine On." Sadly, this sophomore release was heavily influenced by Oasis ... and don't get me wrong, I enjoy Oasis, but Jet's first album was quite hard-rocking, and this one was really very somber ... a major disappointment.

However, it looks as if the boys from Australia are back to their hard-rockin' ways with the first single off their upcoming album (interestingly titled Shaka Rock). The single, called "She's a Genius," has a catchy chorus, not to mention a a great (although overly repeated) guitar-riff. It certainly harkens back to the first the first album, but also seems to be more greatly influenced by mega-modern bands like Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, and The Bravery, while still having the AC/DC/Rolling Stones backbone.

This is certainly a song you'll be hearing a lot of this summer ... let's just hope it doesn't get overplayed (tired).
Here's the video (nothing like a wookie riding a bicycle):

Fast Food Corner

I've been to McDonalds for breakfast more than I care to admit. I enjoy many of their breakfast sandwiches ... especially the sausage mcMuffin with egg - probably my favorite sandwich on the menu (as most of you know, I can't stand ham or Canadian bacon, so the egg mcmuffin is out). Here's one question I have - why is there no bacon mcmuffin on the menu? Wouldn't this be logical? Isn't bacon the most popular of breakfast meats?

Sure, they have the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, but in my mind, that's not enough. Besides, the biscuit falls apart too easily, and is nowhere near as scrumptious as the McMuffin. And, I'm by no means interested in the McGriddle ... can't get used to the idea of having what essentially is 2 pancakes as the "sandwich bread."

Song of the Week

I have some weird tastes in music, as you've probably noticed with my Song of the Week posts. It's pretty darned diverse - from heavy metal, to classic rock, to funk, to alternative, to indie ... I basically love all kinds of music (notable exception is country music). So, hopefully, you won't mind this song of the week from me.

Anita Ward sang a pretty catchy disco song in the 1970's called Ring My Bell (which of course means sex, sex, and more sex). The song has your "traditional" four on the floor disco beat, with a decent bass backbone, along with some sort of cool "bing" sound that is peppered throughout the song. Ward's voice is a little to high-pitched, but for this song, it works. I just can't get enough of this diddy for some reason.

The ironic part (I think irony is the correct term here) is that bands like the Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and the Bravery use quite a bit of disco sounds in their songs. I'm actually a little bit shocked that none of these bands have tried to cover this song (instead, we get an awful cover of Careless Whisper by some emo band that I can't stand ... they all sound the same).

Anyway, you can find out more about this song here.

And if you have a strong-enough stomach, here's the video:

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I've chosen a prompt most (well, maybe some) of you might be interested in - What are 3 things we'd (you'd) love to know about you (me). You probably already know some of these, if you've been following my blog (and shame on you if you haven't!).

* First, I did a PR internship with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996. I met players like Rodney Peete (cool), and Ricky Waters (not cool). I also met stars like Michael and Mario Andretti, Michael Buffer, John Madden, and Boyz to Men. All in all, the job was pretty much grunt-work, and sucked.

* Second, when I worked at the Leukemia Society, I met and got to speak to Jim Craig, the goalie of the 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team. I made a fool out out of myself by telling him how that game was one of the most important moments of my life ... not really sure if it was, and I'm sure he heard that from millions of people, but still, it was cool to meet him.

* Third, I once called a grade-school teacher a homo ... it was fifth grade ... we were walking back from recess, and my teacher said he liked The Village People ... my other friend said, "Oh, you're one of those." Of course, I followed with, "Yeah, a homo!" Now, I didn't know what a homo was ... I just knew they liked the Village People. Man, did I get in trouble with that one ... almost got kicked out of Field Day - our big end of the school year celebration (I had to do some serious butt-kissing, and had to be a model student for the rest of the year) ... If I learned anything in my life, it was never to call a teacher a homo.

Dope or Nope...

A friend of mine at work and I have this "game" that we play called "Dope or Nope." Basically, we come up with a topic, and decide whether it's cool (dope) or not cool (nope). This past week, the topic was "getting engaged at a baseball game." Is this dope or nope? Now, most of you know that I absolutely love sports ... at times, the love is more of an unhealthy obsession.

However, I don't think I could ever, ever get engaged at a ball game. And, truthfully, I can't really think of any time or situation in which this is ok. Maybe, if you are a former ball player for that team, or possibly if you met the person at the ball park ... I guess an argument can be made for those people.

But, outside of that, I consider this a big "NOPE," much like I consider baseball jerseys with your last name on them a big "NOPE." What are your thoughts?

Fast Food Corner

Whilst ordering lunch last week at Burger King, I notice the Tendergrill Chicken sandwich on the menu. It got me to thinking - the Tendergrill Chicken sandwich ... isn't this what Burger King was calling the Chicken Whopper a few years ago? And isn't the Chicken Whopper what BK was calling the BK Broiler for years before this?

Nothing against the sandwich itself - it's a pretty darn good grilled sandwich (gets overshadowed by the Original Chicken sandwich). But, my point is this - who is making the naming decisions here, and has this person been fired? What was wrong with the name "BK Broiler" anyway? Did that fat-headed king have a problem with it?

I mean, I can understand the Chicken Whopper name not working. Whopper should only be used for the burger, not the chicken. And, I hate the current name - Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich is far too long of a name for a fast-food sandwich, isn't it? I'm considering putting together a campaign to bring back the name BK Broiler ... just wondering if it's worth my time.

What's the difference, anyway?

Some of you more mature (see older) bloggers may remember the Miller Lite commercials of the later 70's and early 80's. Most of these commercials took place in a bar with former athletes who would get into an argument about the beer being "less filling" or "tastes great." The commercials would usually end with John Madden tearing through a Miller Lite sign, babbling about something beer or football-related.

So, why am I bringing this up? Now, I'm not 100% sure, but I think Miller Lite originally was the light version of Miller High Life? I think it makes sense, right? So, that's why I'm questioning Miller pushing Miller High Life Light beer. What was the point of this (and yes, I know many of you probably question the point of light beer itself)? Was there really a market for people who loved Miller High Life, but just didn't like Miller Lite, AND wanted a light beer that tasted more like Miller High Life?

Is Miller mulling the idea of putting out a full-strength version of Miller Lite, and if so, what would they call it? It's just something I've been thinking about for some reason.

It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment! This week, I chose the prompt, "What am I paranoid about?" I'm not really paranoid about much, but here's the main thing I tend to worry about: I have a list of "to-do's" in my head - I never feel at ease until I've completed a good chunk of the to-do's in my head.

For instance, when a weekend approaches, I'll create a to-do list ... usually, it includes washing the car (not every weekend), vacuuming and cleaning the house (again, not every weekend), laundry, grocery shopping, cutting coupons, and ... yes, blogging. I need to get to all of these in order to feel comfortable or at ease. The sooner I get these accomplished, the better.

If I don't get to these, I have trouble sleeping. Sometimes, I'd rather stay up until I get these accomplished ... probably not the healthiest outlook. I tend to sometimes do this at work, as well ... If I don't accomplish what I set out to accomplish in the morning, I stress about those tasks after work ... again, probably not healthy.

Stoppage Time ...

* I learned this week that Jim Croce was a school teacher in Chester before he became a folk singer ... I'm usually the encyclopedia of music trivia ... it reminded me that I don't know everything ... but just about everything.

* I'm really concerned about the Billy Mays death ... who will they replace him with in those infomercials that I can't stop watching?

* A TV show called "The Superstars" is getting a lot of ink lately, mainly because of the team of Terrell "quarterback killer" Owens, and Joanna "Supermodel I've never heard of" Krupa, and their constant bickering. I've heard that many people actually feel sorry for T.O. after the verbal tongue-lashing that Krupa gave him. I'll never, ever feel sorry for T.O., and actually loved every second of this. Have a look!

* Sounds like NASCAR isn't growing very much anymore ... in fact, they're having some trouble right now, and are not able to fill up the stands anymore ... that's too bad ... I mean, really bad ... I mean, what a shame.

Another One?!?!?

We've had a lot of celebrity deaths in recent weeks ... as you may be aware of, thanks to every TV network overblowing the coverage. The latest is former pro-bowl quarterback Steve McNair. Just this past weekend, he was found in a condominium with multiple gunshot wounds, along with a 20-year-old woman with one gunshot wound ... most likely a murder-suicide.

It's a depressing story, but probably just as embarrassing to McNair's wife and kids ... This story just doesn't sound good, and may deal a severe blow to McNair's legacy. He was an outstanding college quarterback for a division 1AA team, and actually almost won the Heisman (would've been amazing). There were a lot of questions as to whether McNair could make it in the pros. And, he proved all of his critics wrong - taking the Titans to the Super Bowl, and making 3 pro bowls.

I'm sure much more will be coming out, and scandal will splatter all over the tabloids, much like vomit splatters in a toilet. Here's to hoping McNair had a good alibi.

Song of the Week

Since it's Independence Week (just made that up), I figured I'd do something a little different this week. As many of you know, I am NOT a fan of Nickleback ... in fact, I e-mailed them once and asked them to stop.

I figured I'd show you just how "non-talented" these mass-media-produced yogurt throwers are. Just a little background - somebody posted this on You-Tube. It's basically two Nickleback songs that are playing simultaneously. This is truly your typical formulaic rock group ... and the record-companies love this. Let's get a band to record crap, and then sell it quickly ... then, have them record more of the same crap ... kind of like Creed's formula back in the 1990's.

Money talks, I guess. Enjoy:

Fast Food Corner

This will eventually be a two-parter ... not sure when the second part of this will be done, however. I just found out that McDonalds is getting ready to introduce a new burger ... however, unlike the Big Mac and the Quarter-Pounder with cheese, this burger will be and Angus burger (no, not a burger made out of that guitarist from AC/DC, silly!).

McDonalds is trying to bring in more of a high-end burger consumer with this "edition." Here's just a little "taste" of what the burger is all about from an MSN article online: The new burgers feature a braided sesame seed bun, a thicker tomato slice and red onion, Dan Coudreaut, executive chef for McDonald's, told Bloomberg News. Hickory-smoked bacon is also available on the burgers.

This is not McDonald's first attempt at the "snobby burger eaters" or SBE's. In the early 1990's, McDonalds introduced the ill-fated McDLT - which had the "cold stuff" on one side of the box, and the "warm stuff" on the other side. Then, not too long ago, McDonalds tried introducing the Arch Deluxe, which, according to Wikipedia, was launched "with the intent of capturing the adult fast food consumer market, presented as a more sophisticated burger for an adult palate."

So, now McDonalds is introducing an Angus burger (by the way, BK tried this too) ... but with a price-tag of $4 per burger. That's a steep price for the fast-food market (take my word on it). Also, a work buddy of mine brought up a great point - he would rather eat a burger like this at a bar/restaurant with a pint of beer, and not in a McDonalds filled with lots of young, loud kids, and a disturbing-looking clown.

I'll be trying this when it comes out - and I'll report back my findings (it's the least I could do for my blogging public).

The 4th of July will always be different for me ...

The 4th of July in the United States commemorates an important moment in history for our country, the day we declared our independence from Great Britain. Many, many soldiers fought for this freedom, and continue to ensure it ... words cannot express (nor would they do justice) the gratitude I have for these sacrifices.

The 4th of July is supposed to be a happy day - a day spent with family and friends, barbecuing hot dogs, burgers, ribs, chicken, steak ... eating potato salad, corn on the cob ... watching fireworks light up the sky ... and of course, beer consumption.

For me, sadly there is another part of the 4th ... it's the day my older brother chose to end his life. Still, to this day, it is surreal to me. Sometimes, I still can't believe it happened. Maybe it's my brain trying to protect me and deny this ever happened ... I don't know.

I do know that it was a very traumatic period in my life. Unfortunately, when my brother chose to end things 16 years ago today, he didn't really take into account this "easy way" out of things, really wasn't "easy" for anybody else but himself.

I was so mad at him for doing what he did ... I can't even conjure the words to describe how mad I was ... and sometimes, the anger still lingers. I was probably more filled with anger than I was with misery and depression. How could my parents' first-born son do this to them? What the heck was he thinking? How could he be such a coward (a man who was built like a brick shit-house, by the way)?

My parents still suffer from this ... deep down inside, they think it's their fault, and they should've been able to do something to save and protect him. It breaks my heart. The year after he died, my mom came into my room, and asked me if I knew what today is. Of course I did. My mom broke down crying in my arms ... THAT is something that never should happen. Roles were reversed, and it sent shock-waves through my body. Part of me wanted to dig up his grave and beat the crap out of him.

It took me 5 whole years to visit his grave, by the way. The anger has subsided. I've learned to forgive him, thanks to many, many days, nights, weeks, and years of "counseling" from my very close friends ... I'm lucky to have them, and probably will never be able to thank them enough for helping me through.

But, sometimes through these difficult times, you need to look for the "rays of sunlight," or the bright spots. First and foremost, I have put more of a focus on staying close with my family - my younger brother and I are very close, and it means the world to me. Second, I found out how good my friends really are - I wish it was under different circumstance, but sometimes it's critical/crucial situations when the best in your friends comes out.

I don't take life for granted anymore, and I try not to hold grudges (a difficult thing for someone who is stubborn as an ox). The 4th will never be the same for me, but in some ways, hanging out with friends and families, things are better and more special.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment! It's fun - you should give it a try! Anyway, I chose the prompt: Write five "Incredibly Short Books." Basically, it needs to be a contradiction, kind of like "Top Jewish Sports Heroes," or "Words that rhyme with purple."

OK, so here is my top 5:

* Honest Politicians of the 21st Century ... It just seems everywhere you look, a politician is cheating on his/her spouse, involved in some sort of political scandal, or not interested in doing what's best for the country ("my party over my country" shirts would sell millions on D.C. ... of course they'd find a way to make sure the tax-payers received the bill ... hey-yo!).

* Enduring Songs by Groups like Creed and Nickleback ... folks, this music is just plain awful, repetitive, and most unfortunately, popular. I've e-mailed Nickleback before, and asked them to stop. Sadly, they didn't listen.

* Funny Things Elaine Boosler Said ... I just never found her funny ... in fact, I hardly every find female stand-up comedians (comediennes) hilarious. Why is that? Sure, Ellen is kind of funny at times ... but outside of that, what else is there?

* Successful Family Feud Hosts Not Named Richard Dawson ... It seems like a revolving door when it comes to Family Feud ... Ray Combs, Tim the Tool Man's sidekick, that guy from Seinfeld, Louie Anderson ... who's next?

* Smart Decisions Made After Drinking Lots of Alcohol ... This is probably self-explanatory ... Many of these "great" decisions start off with a "Hey, watch this!" comment ... and end up in a hospital room.

Ummm .... huh?

***ALERT - This is a sports-related blog posting ... read at your own risk! ***

The Philadelphia Flyers have been acting awfully awkward in the last few weeks. The team that took the Stanley Cup champions to 6 games in a very physical and competitive series decided they needed to change things up more than a little bit ...

First, the Flyers decided to clean house between the pipes, getting rid of nice guy (but woefully inconsistent) goalie Martin Biron, and chronic underachiever Antero Nittymaki, not to mention long-time goaltending coach Reggie Lemelin. When the dust cleared, the Flyers had replaced them with Ray Emery ... yes, the Ray Emery who has done the following:

* Routinely missed practice in Ottawa because he overslept ... because he was partying too hard the night before.
* Called out his entire Ottawa team, thus alienating himself, assisting in a rather large collapse of a promising playoff team.
* After getting cut by Ottawa, he went to Russia (his only real job offer), and ended up strangling his trainer.

So, why did the Flyers take a chance on Emery? He is a VERY good goaltender, and probably has the ability to be a top-tier goalie ... he also came on the cheap - the salary-cap troubled Flyers only had to pay up 1.5 million for him for 2009. I guess, in a sense, it's a small risk, based on the small salary. However, he's already ruined one team ... the leadership in Philly is still very young - I'd hate to see him contaminate this organization.

The Flyers also made waves in the draft, trading for veteran (applying for senior citizen status) defenseman Chris Pronger. Pronger, dangerously close to age 35, is practically guaranteed to make it to the hall of fame when he retires, and he certainly still has enough left in the tank to help the Flyers on the blue line. But, did the Flyers really have to give up so much for a 35-year-old defenseman with one-year left on his contract?

Joffrey Lupol (scored 26 goals last year), Lucas Sbisa (will be a top-tier defenseman in the near future), two first-round draft picks, and a third round draft pick ... folks, that's the mark of a desperate team ... it's risky, and the downside is huge. There's a lot of ifs on this Flyers teams ... and usually that many ifs is not a good thing.

Song of the Week

In "honor" of the passing of the king of pop, I figured the least I could do was to focus this week's song of the week to Michael Jackson. Now, I'm not a huge Michael Jackson fan, but I don't mind his music, either ... well, at least not his early music (I'd say until about 1991). None of his albums are on my top 10, 20, or 50 lists, but I would say that in the pantheon of rock/pop music, Jackson's Thriller ablum would have to fall into one of the greatest albums ever made.

His Thriller album produced what seemed to be endless hits - Billy Jean, P.Y.T., Thriller, Wanna Be Startin' Something, Human Nature ... I mean, my god! That's a career for most pop artists, isn't it?

I left one song out ... probably the best song on the album ... maybe the best song he's ever done. Think about it ... the song is absolutely catchy, employs many of Michael's memorable grunts, employs an underrated baseline, and was spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic (probably the greatest of the accolades).

Not only that, but Eddie Van Halen provides an uncredited guitar solo ... which probably helped the song achieve cross-over status from purely pop stations to rock stations.

Plus, Michael looked like a badass in this video, involved in a gang fight ... that sadly transformed into some ridiculous dance-off. Still, a great song, and a good video. Michael was at the top of his game.

Fast Food Corner

Sometimes you have to think outside of the box. It has become obvious (at least to me) that nobody will ever improve on the french fry that McDonalds created. Burger King tried to revamp their fries 10 years ago, and failed miserably. Wendy's has ok fries, but most of the time, they get too soggy.

Arby's decided to scrap their regular fries quite a few years ago, and focus on a different kind of fry - the curly fry. The fries resemble shoe-string fries very little, but that's ok.

These curly fries are like heaven in a grease-encrusted bag. Crispy, nicely seasoned ... and curly. It's amazing what curls will do for a french fry. I guess the only complaint I have is that the curly fries are so long, you really only get a handful of curly fries in the box. I need more, dammit!

By the way, I'm not sure how curly fries would go with regular burgers ... but they go oh so well with roast beef sandwiches!

I Wanna Rot With You ....

We've certainly taken a hit this week with the celebrity deaths. Philly's own Ed McMahon passed away (funny story - someone at work said she couldn't believe he died .... THE MAN WAS 87 ... REALLY? YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE IT?) Of course, poster-diva Farrah Fawcett passed away too after a lengthy battle with cancer (we'll keep it at that and try not to mention where the cancer was). And, of course, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson finally "Beat it." Thank you, thank you - I'll be here all week ... remember to tip your waitresses and bartenders!

I guess I'm not sure how I feel about his passing. I was a "recreational" Michael Jackson fan ... which means I liked some of his music, but really only shelled out money on his greatest hits cd when it was in a discount bin at a local record store. Certainly, he was a main influence to many of today's pop-stars through his amazing work in the 1980's, and he was able to accrue a large fan-base, both from his time in the Jackson 5 as well as through his solo work.

However, the past 18 years or so have been, how can we put this, absolutely tragic for Michael. I mean first of all, his transformation to a good looking (I'm straight, by the way) young man, to something that could easily pass for an alien in a Star Trek movie has been truly surreal. First, his nose started shrinking. Then his skin went from brown to translucent. Then, he became extremely frail and thin. His voice became lighter and lighter, as if he had turned into a grandmother.

That wouldn't be so bad, if that was all that happened. No, sadly, Michael started doing some crazy stuff ... like buying the bones of the elephant man, hanging out with a monkey, building an amusement park he lived in, and apparently using that park to attract young children to do stuff with (I won't go into that too much either, as we all already know what that "stuff" was). His reputation and image pretty much became irreparable ... at least while he was living. He was a walking punchline ... in fact, I think this was a prerequisite for all comedians - to have a Michael Jackson joke in his or her arsenal.

So now that he is dead, how will he be remembered? Will we remember him as the pop-legend from the 1980's - the guy who made multi-zippered red jackets, parachute pants, and the moon-walk cool? Or will we remember him as that nut-case who looked like he could turn to dust in the midst of a stiff breeze? So far, it seems like his image has benefitted from his death (as weird as THAT may seem). But, I'm not sure I can ever forget the past 18 years when it comes to Michael.

Things I learned in the Catskills

Just a few random things I learned in the Catskill Mountains ...

* German polka is really only good in small doses ... and when you're drunk.
* Make sure to wear bug spray whilst hiking ... ALWAYS!
* Tennis really tires you out.
* German beer is really good.
* I look drunk when I try to waltz even when I'm sober.
* Being without tv and computers for 3 days isn't all that bad.
* Germans love shuffleboard.
* Weird Al Yankovic is not related to Frank Yankovic, the king of polka.
* Noodles taste better than potatoes ... even in the Catskill Mountains.
* New Yorkers are annoying drivers.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment! This week, I chose to talk about a memorable job interview ... actually, this one is one I'd rather like to forget, but I did learn an important lesson (let's see if you can guess what the lesson was).

I was fresh out of college, and had sent out tons of resumes, and quite predictably received about just as many rejection letters. One day, I received a phone call from a copy-machine company in Marlton, New Jersey ... I was excited ... and no, I never remember actually sending them a resume (although I confess that at the time I really never even looked at the companies, just the job openings at the time). The representative invited me in for an interview, and I happily accepted.

I was brimming with confidence, and really figured they'd be so impressed that they'd hand me the job ... probably even beg me to take it. I traveled the 30 minutes or so to the company, found the place rather easily (a good sign, right?), and strolled into the building, carrying my briefcase (which was really filled with nothing but a second resume ... looks are everything, right?).

I felt I aced the interview immediately after I completed it. I got home, and my mom informed me that I had already gotten a call from the company. Bingo! They loved me ... I mean they had to love me, right? I called back eagerly, and the representative informed me that I HAD LEFT MY BRIEFCASE AT THE INTERVIEW! Yep, I'm an idiot. I knew right then and there that there was no way I was getting the job.

Plus, I remember one of the standard questions asked, and sadly, I remember the ridiculous response I gave. The question - "Where do you want to be in 5 years?" I answered honestly, "I'm not really sure." Obviously, this is not the response the guy was looking for - I probably should've said something along the line of "I'm looking to be an impact player in this company ... a go-to guy." Oh well, the briefcase sealed the deal.

Surprisingly fun!

Our trip to the Catskills was actually not nearly as bad as I thought it would be ... in reading the website, I wasn't that hopeful - seemed like we'd be bored pretty quickly, but surprisingly, that wasn't the case.

We arrived shortly after noon on Friday in Riedlbauers, and even though the skies were overcast, the rain for the most part stayed away. After unpacking the van, we took a short walk around the compound ... er, I mean resort, and walked up to the Summer fest location. Then, we hopped in the van and went downtown to lunch at a German coffee shop/diner. Folks, the Germans love their cake, and I suggest you always save room for dessert whilst dining in a German restaurant.

We spent some time swimming in the indoor pool ... heck, I even swam a little in the outdoor pool ... well, until the frostbite set in. I even played some tennis, and shuffleboard ... neither very well, though. I actually did quite a bit of hiking in the woods ... and I actually liked it, surprisingly.

The food at the resort was shockingly good - one night we had goulash, for lunch we had really good hot roast beef, and the breakfast was more than adequate.

Probably the only negative on the entire trip was the redundant German polka/volksmusik that was played the entire weekend at the resort ... it was kind of enjoyable on Friday, started getting on my nerves on Saturday, and almost prompted me to hurl myself off of the porch on Sunday.

But, the most important thing was that my parents enjoyed it ... after all, we booked and took the trip for them ... it brought back memories of my childhood - going on vacation with the parents every summer ... hopefully, it did the same for them!

In a word ... hysterical!

You've probably seen the previews for the movie, "The Hangover." And, if you're like me (and hopefully, you're not), the flick probably piqued your interest. I've been looking forward to this movie for a couple of months, and on Sunday, I finally found time to watch it. Folks, the movie is hysterical.

Just a little background - 4 friends go to Vegas for a bachelor party, and pure hyjinks ensues ... sure, there have been quite a few movies that have used this as a premise over the years. The Hangover adds just enough mystery to a screwball comedy, as well as great acting (and even Heather Graham's boob) to make it really an over-the-top hysterical comedy. The one-liners flow like a fine beer, and I predict it will be the quotable movie of the summer.

This was also my introduction to the brilliance of Zach Galifianakis. The man stole the movie ... most of the one-liners are attributed to him (not to mention some really disgusting butt shots). Rarely do movies live up to the potential of their trailers ... folks, this is one of them. Go out and watch it, darn it!

We're Going Where?!?!?!?

As some of you may remember, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past fall. As a present, my wife, brother, and his wife offered to go on a family trip with my parents ... and what better place to go than Riedlbauer's. For those of who unfamiliar with this "heavenly" place, here's the description on the opening page of their website: The minute you drive up the road, you will notice the gorgeous grounds with luscious flower beds wherever you look. After a day enjoying our beautiful grounds and many recreational activities, enjoy a delicious family style dinner in our 2 story air conditioned dining room, with adjoining bar where we have entertainment 7 nights a week.

Basically, Riedlbauer's is a German resort in the heart of the Catskill Mountains ... about 4 hours outside of Philly. Really, there's not much to do there except swim, play horse-shoes, and drink beer (actually, that doesn't sound too bad, does it?). Well, this is coming weekend is the weekend we picked to go. And, as luck (or planning) would have it, there is a German festival taking place, complete with oompah bands, as well as beer.

I promise to post pics and a review as soon as I get back (or as soon as I recover).

Things I've "predicted" whilst intoxicated ...

I tend to make bold, often ridiculous, predictions whilst being "medicated." I'll also start tearing up at sappy rock ballads, as my wife will attest to ... but that's a story for another day.

Here are just a few things I've "predicted" whilst drunk in recent months.

The NHL will have teams in Europe within 5 years.
There will be one world-wide currency.
The Rolling Stones have a box set of unreleased music they're planning on releasing.
Perot would've been a good president.
The greatest Philadelphia Phillie of all time is Chase Utley.
Our universe is really just a big soap bubble.
We should have more than just a 2-party political system.
George Thorogood would've made a pretty good Rolling Stones band member.

Song of the Week

What better song to bring in the summer than ... Will Smith's Summertime? It's an anthem to summer, specifically in Philly (what better place?). Sort of ironically, it samples Kool and the Gang's "Summer Madness." It has a really cool rhythmic beat to it, and just makes you feel like opening up one of those fire hydrants, and having an informal splash party.

It's hard to believe this song is already 18 years old ... back at this time, Smith was a rapper who was just cutting his teeth with television (Fresh Prince of Bel Air).

It's a song you want to hear when you are at an outdoor bar sipping on a beverage of your choice. It makes you groove, and if you know the song, but only some of the lyrics, you are free to belt out the lyrics you know in between long sips.

You can find out more about this song here:

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment. The prompt I chose this week is as follows: Tell us about your blogline...how long have you been blogging, when did you start, what were/are your goals for your blog, etc.

I have an old website that I used to update on a semi-regular basis - on this website, I have funny stories, observations, funny comments, and a bunch of other stuff. I enjoyed this site, but I really liked writing observations. When I heard about this blogging phenomenon in early 2005, I thought to myself, "Hey, this is exactly what I want to do."

Ya see, I never really liked writing when I was growing up. I wish I would've been more motivated to do so in grade school, high school, right through college. At some point, I got the itch ... and no, it wasn't a rash or anything like that. I got an itch to write. Maybe it was college, or grad school, where I was forced to write a ton. Or maybe it was all these stories I had in my head that I wanted to share - I'm not really sure to tell you the truth.

So, I started a blog ... and then another ... and then another. It got to be too much for me, so I focused just on one blog - one in which I could write about anything, and everything. Sometimes I'd write about funny stories I remember happening to me. Sometimes, I'd write about my opinions on news stories or hot topics.

As you can see, I really don't have a focus when it comes to my blog. And really, for my purposes, that's fine. I know with this lack of focus, and with the lack of enough time to spend managing my blog, I'm never going to have a huge following. Again, I'm fine with that. Really, blogging is just an opportunity for me to put my thoughts to paper (or screen), and to escape and read what others are thinking. That's all I really want to do. As long as I'm remotely entertaining ... or not.

Fast Food Corner

I figured I'd focus a little on pizza this week - specifically, I'll look at Pizza Hut's famed personal pan pizza. I hated pizza as a little kid ... I have no idea why - I'm kind of weird that way. I know that I had gotten sick once after eating pizza, and I usually blame the food when I get sick (truthfully, there was a flu virus going through my class, and that was most likely the culprit, but still).

Anyway, the first pizza I was able to eat again was Pizza Hut's personal pan pizza. The crust is flaky, butter, and yes, even a little greasy. And the crust is sufficiently thick. I know some people love thin crust pizza... I'm not one of those. I need a thick crust - I like to hear a crispy sound when I bite into a pizza. Pizza Hut does this, and does this well with their personal pans.

The sauce itself has a certain sweet overtone to it, and the cheese is abundant. To top it off (at least for me), I like adding the pepperoni topping ... the kind that is crispy, almost burnt ... again, Pizza Hut comes up huge with this. A nice side for this is Pizza Hut's unbelievably tasty bread sticks ... yep, my mouth is watering now!

Election Scandal ??? Really?

So, Iran is awash with protests after incumbent Knucklehead Mahmoud Ahmadinejadxqzwt was surprisingly re-elected president of Iran ... first of all, I'm shocked that Iran even have elections ... isn't Iran run in a dictatorship or totalitarian nature?

Second, it's Iran, folks ... nobody plays fair in Iran ... heck, Saddam Hussein thinks Iran cheats. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out that Mahmoud (it's easier to spell his first name) fiddled with the ballot boxes ... in fact I'd be surprised if he didn't. Those ballot boxes probably had shredders in them anyway, don't you think.

But, at the very least, there is a protest, which means there are a number of Iranians who are tiring of Mahmoud's antics and lunacy. It's a start, and the momentum created by Mahmoud during this election could actually spell his demise in the long-term.

Beer of the Week

I'm really enjoying Hoegaarden right now - great summertime wheat beer ... one which you can (should) top off with an orange wedge ... helps to bring out a little more of the sweetness in the beer - a great, great beer to enjoy whilst sitting on the deck on a nice, warm summer evening. Don't let the "wheat" scare you - the beer is very, very refreshing. Sure, it's a bit on the expensive side, but it's well worth it.

However, if the price is still a little too ... well ... pricey for you, a nice substitute is Blue Moon.

Stoppage Time ...

Just a few random thoughts from a random mind ...

* I can't watch college baseball because of the sound of those annoying aluminum bats. That's not the sound of baseball.

* I'm really looking forward to seeing The Hangover later today ... I'm craving a funny movie.

* GM and Chrysler are in trouble ... big trouble. Way to go, unions!

* Why do Dominicans falsify their ages when it comes to baseball ... and why can't we figure this out easier?

* Summertime barbecues ... ribs, chicken, steak, shrimp, crabs, burgers, dogs ... does it get much better?

* I couldn't stand either of the NHL teams in the Stanley Cup finals ... however, I was sort of happy to see the Pens win, mainly because the Red Wings have become the Yankees of hockey. Also, I think the NHL needed the cup to be won by a superstar.

This and That ...

I've got a whole bunch of mini-thoughts creeping and crawling in my mind ... figured I'd share them with you:

* I accidentally put the top part of two buns on a hamburger on Saturday ... it actually tasted really good ... which got me to thinking ... why hasn't any company tried to market this yet?

* Can we please stop using the term "Tiger is lurking" when talking about Tiger Woods?

* I saw Star Trek the movie the other week ... it was pretty good, but I didn't really come out of the theater thinking I just saw an awesome movie ... maybe it's because I'm not a Trekkie, or maybe it was the high expectations I went in with.

* Have you guys tried sweet tea vodka? That stuff is so good, it's dangerous.

* Kate Hudson's going out with A-Rod ... I always thought she was kind of smart ... so much for that mystique ... or mistake.

There, I feel better....

I've Found Another One ...

As many of you know, I hate reality shows, as if they were all a big old hunk of ham (as many of you know, I hate ham as if ham was a conglomeration of reality tv shows) ... I do watch Top Chef, and actually enjoy it ... even if I'd never eat any of the food they cook ... but I digress.

I found another reality show that I can actually stomach ... it's a show about some athletes who, for one reason or other, didn't make it to the NFL - they have the opportunity to compete against each other for a roster spot on the Dallas Cowboys ... plus, Michael Irvin is the main host of the show ... I know, I know ... it sounds awful ... and it probably is .... but it is so awful, it's good ... if that makes any sense whatsoever.

The first episode introduced all of the contenders - basically cornerbacks and wide receivers. After gaining insight on each of their backgrounds, they jumped right into drills. Irving and his coaches ran these guys into the ground ... so much so that each of these wannabes decided to deposit their gatorade all over the field ... one funny moment was one of the players puking while Irvin yelled at him to get up and keep running (by the way, Irvin was dressed all in black with a leather jacket ... kind of looked like a cross between Johnny Cash and Wesley Snipes).

Then, during another episode, Irving called out one of the players, and asked him if he was smoking marijuana ... my initial guess was that Irvin was trying to find another "hook-up," but Irivn basically asked him this, because the athlete, in his mind, was acting lazy. This, coming from a guy who has been involved with cocaine about as much as Doc Gooden and Keith Richards.

Another fantastic part of this show is the special Dallas Cowboys alumni who show up - most of the time, they are legitimate stars, like when Jay Novacek and Drew Pearson showed up to encourage (beat down) the players. There is one guest who shows up on a continual basis ... and it kind of ties into the whole "marijuana" reference ... that's right ladies and gentlemen, Nate Newton plays the "security guard" of the show ... the same Nate Newton who was pulled over with an entire trunk full of wacky tabacky.

If only Dexter Manley played for the Cowboys ... sigh.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment. This week, I chose the following prompt: Name your current addiction...we can get through this together. On a side note - make sure Mama Kat's family is in your prayers, her little daughter isn't feeling well, and Mama Kat is concerned.

This current addiction has actually been an addiction for ... well ... forever. I'm a potato chip guy, and I can't get enough of them. When I eat a sandwich for lunch (or dinner), I need potato chips ... sandwiches just don't seem to taste right without potato chips, and I don't know why. It's kind of like if the sandwich didn't have bread ... that's what I equate potato chips to.

And believe me, I like most kinds and flavors of potato chips - whether plain, barbecue, sour cream and onion, salt and vinegar, ketchup flavored. However, I really can't get into the baked potato chips, though. I wish I could - they are much healthier than the greasy fried goodness that I like. They just don't seem like real potato chips to me ... more like crackers.

I've tried to substitute other stuff for potato chips - like pretzels, which are really good, but just don't go with sandwiches. I've tried pop corn, which isn't bad, but still not the same. I even tried celery and carrots - I like both of these, believe it or not, but still not like potato chips.

Hopefully, they'll figure something out, kind of like what they tried to do with the Olestra chips, but hopefully this time, they'll find a solution that won't make you crap yourself.

I'll Just Never Understand ....

Anyone else more than a little confused about the whole David Carradine "situation?" In case you don't know, Carradine was an actor probably most remembered for his "Kung Fu" television series of the 1970's ... over the past few years, he's experienced some sort of revival with his notable Yellowbook commercials, as well as his performance in the Kill Bill movies.

However, he's semi-fame will probably now only be a large punchline to many a tasteless late-night joke (not that there's anything wrong with that ...). As you've probably heard, he died of autoerotic asphyxiation ... translation - he died whilst hanging himself and ... ummmmm ... masturbating. If this sounds familiar - you're right - another relatively famous person died doing the same thing quite a few years ago - Michael Hudgins, the lead singer of INXS.

Now, I have done some crazy things in my life, and will probably continue to do more ... however, I've never, ever, ever, ever had the urge to hang myself whilst I played with myself ... I mean, I'd probably rather whack myself on the big toe repeatedly with a mallet.

I mean, is this something like the South Beach diet - are all of these Hollywood celebrities doing this, and if so, why? Will I ever be able to watch a movie with David Carradine and look at him the same way again? I didn't really have much of a problem with INXS - after all, rock stars are just plain nuts to begin with (although, if you were a rock star, you'd probably rather choke to death on your own vomit, than having somebody find you dead with a rope around your neck and your junk ... I'm just saying).

Maybe it was the characters he portrayed in Kung Fu, Kill Bill, and even the Yellowbook commercials ... he just seemed a lot smarter than that, didn't he? Plus, wasn't he like 75 years old? I'm surprised his equipment still worked ... maybe we'll find out sometime down the road that Carradine's family may sue Viagra for causing this.

Fast Food Corner

I've been noticing a new marketing strategy by Popeye's Chicken over the past few months ... more of a Louisiana-style approach ... I hadn't been to a Popeye's since they actually used Popeye's face as a logo (translation - it's been a while). A couple of days ago, my wife and I decided to give Popeye's a whirl - heck, anything for a blog post, right?

The verdict is in - we were VERY impressed with Popeye's! The ambiance was actually pretty upscale ... at least for a fast-food restaurant ... unlike KFC, which sadly looks like a grade-school cafeteria.

But more importantly, the chicken itself is very good - I chose the spicy chicken nuggets with some sort of zesty sauce (can't remember the name for some reason). I also ordered a side of Cajun fries. Although the "spicy" chicken wasn't really that spicy (probably less spicy than the Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich), it had a good taste. The nuggets were a little smallish (translation - should've gone with the chicken fingers), but again, had a good taste.

The sides that we tried were excellent - the Cajun fries might have me rethinking my top 5 french fries. Schue's mashed potatoes were very comparable to KFC's. I'll have to go back and actually buy a bucket of chicken sometime soon - maybe I'll buy a bucket from KFC and Popeyes and have a true comparison. Stay tuned!

DBT 2K9 ... Freakin' Awesome!

The Delco Bar Tour, better known as the Dive Bar Tour, celebrated it's 5th anniversary last weekend. The tour, conjured up by my brother and his brother-in-law, started modestly in 2005, and completely relied on public transportation - i.e. Septa buses going up and down Mac Dade Blvd. (so, in a sense, we have been practicing not only safe drinking, but also environmentally friendly activities). We originally had about 8 or so people who went to the first crawl. Honestly, at the time, we didn't think it would last.

Fast forward 5 years - we're up to about 15, and I think we're capping it there. I think if we had gone any higher, we would've lost some of the "intamacy" of the event. We started the day off at 11:30 AM at Pogue Mahones - some ordered food to "layer" their stomachs (I was one of those "smart" ones). This bar is actually the original "Maximilians," the bar where Vince Papale (from Invincible fame) bartended ... and no, it's not located in South Philly, but in Prospect Park.

From there, we took the bus to Bud's, which provided pool tables, dart boards, and local "patrons" who were curious about seemingly educated people entering their domain. They ended up liking us (I think). Other stops included the Toll House (a local favorite), Terry's Two (new to the tour), the Red Lantern (Great barbecue food), Uncle Snazzi's (probably the truest of dive bars - but a place we usually love), Marty McGee's (non-descript), Dino's (not actually on the shirt, but we decided to go there anyway), and finally, Della Pollas (conveniently located within stumbling distance to my house).

Too many great highlights to mention - hopefully my videos will post here. Can't wait for 2010!

I Felt Lost ...

On Sunday morning, my dad picked me up 15 minutes early to take me to the train station. I was on my way to a conference in DC for the ASTD (look it up), and I was of course rushed, thanks to pops. In hindsight, I should've known that he'd be showing up early - that's what he does - I should've told him to pick me up at 7:30 instead of 7:15 (which means, he got to my house at 7).

Normally, this wouldn't be such a big deal - I'm usually ready (for whatever) 15 minutes early ... I wonder where I get that trait? However, the day/night before, I partook in an annual bar crawl (I'll be posting about this shortly), and I was pretty hungover ... translation, I was still a little drunk. I had most of my stuff packed, so, I hurridly grabbed my stuff, and ran out the door.

About 15 minutes into the drive to the train station, I realized I had forgotten something ... my cell phone! At first, I didn't think it was a big deal - after all, I spent most of my life without ever needing one, right? I soon realized how much I relied on my LG.

First, when I got to the station, I met up with a couple of co-workers who were going to the conference. They immediately asked for my cell number - you know, just in case we got lost, or so that we could figure out where to meet up after the different sessions, etc. Yep - that is when I first realized this could be a problem.

For most of the conference, I had to wait in "strategic" areas so that I could meet up with said coworkers. I also had to rely on the hotel phone to get updates on where everyone was going.

On another note, I couldn't text funny anecdotes to my friends, and my wife ... that was truly a withdrawal for me. I began feeling my thumbs getting restless, not to mention a sense of feeling naked without the cell phone. This feeling only increased as the week went on.

But, a bigger issue was trying to communicate with my wife about when my train would be arriving, so that she could pick me up at the station. I ended up taking the Septa to a local train station, and decided to walk home. I figured it would take no longer than 20 minutes. Boy, was I mistaken! It took more like 45 minutes ... and to top it off, it was not only humid, but the heavens were threatening to dump an ass-load of water on top of me. Luckily, all it did was drizzle.

I learned my lesson - I'll probably end up sleeping and showering with my cell phone, just to make sure I never forget it again.

Fast Food Corner

This past weekend, I was driving down Mac Dade Blvd, on my way to drop off my "dry-cleaning" at my parents' house when I noticed the local Arby's restaurant had closed. No, this wasn't the best Arby's - service was extremely slow, which brought about many questions regarding the use of the term "fast food" in relation to this restaurant.

Part of the reason was that this was one of the "original" Arby's restaurants in the entire Philadelphia area, and one of the first fast food locations in Delaware County. Arby's did little to upgrade the restaurant over the years, but in a way, this gave it character. It had that original Arby's sign ... you know, the big one that was in the shape of a ten-gallon hat, and said, "Arby's Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches Are Delicious." Plus, the restaurant itself was small and shaped liked a half circle - like all Arby's used to look like.

The food itself was pretty good, but really, no better than any other Arby's in the area. This was mainly due to the old equipment that they continued to use (they really didn't have the real-estate to add the newer, bigger stoves and ovens). You actually saw the "chef" cutting the roast beef after you ordered it. In a way, I guess that was reassuring.

I went there despite the longer-than-usual time to get the "fast-food." This was, in my opinion, a landmark in Delco, and I was truly upset by the demise of this location. The sign was taken down, and the store was stripped of any symbol of Arby's. It was always there when I was growing up, and now that memory is gone. Screw progress!

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment. This week, she gave a dark but interesting prompt - mainly to write your own obituary. I've never really thought about this before, but what the heck. So, here goes nothing:

Losrulz died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 106 (why not). He was known for his wit, humor, but most of all, his huge heart. In his time on Earth, he raised money for the Leukemia Society, was a PR intern for the Philadelphia Eagles, designed innovative and cutting edge training programs for a military defense company as well as a leading financial company.

He finally went on to start a successful comedic writing career, a world-renowned brewery and restaurant, and numerous inventions that benefited mankind as well as his own bank account.

He is survived by his beautiful wife and two brilliant children, and numerous grand-children, who continue his legacy with the brewery, restaurant, and the many, many entrepreneurial initiatives that he successfully started.

Funeral services will be held at Lincoln Financial Field - the only place that could hold all of the mourners that are expected.

Whoops!

Hey guys and gals - I forgo to mention that I will not be blogging most of this week - I'm at an ASTD conference in DC! I've got some great stories to blog about - just to give you a little "taste" of what's coming up:

* Fast Food Corner - the demise of a local landmark!
* DBT 2009 - Oh ... my ... god!
* Forgetting to bring your cell phone to DC ... and going through withdrawal!

Stay tuned!

Fast Food Corner

There just aren't enough Sonic's near my house ... in fact, the closest one is more than an hour away ... and that's just not fair. I mean, we see many, many Sonic commercials ... commercials that tease us ... sure, they're not really that funny, but the food looks fantastic. Plus, Sonic harkens back to the days of drive-in diners - you can pull your car up, place an order, and eat the food right in your car ... I think some Sonic waitresses even have roller skates.

But, getting back to the commercials - I remember seeing a Sonic commercial that featured "happy-hours" in which their fountain sodas, drinks and slushies are all 50% off ... before I went to Sonic, I didn't understand what all the hub-bub was. After trying one of these fountain drinks, I fully appreciate the "happy hour" concept. No, there is no alcohol in the drinks ... but they are SO GOOD. The happy hours run from 2-4 pm, which isn't really optimal "bar" happy hour time, BUT, maybe you can stop there and get a fountain drink before you head to the bar ... just a suggestion.

My favorite fountain drinks include - Lemon, Watermelon, and Pineapple ... I also like the slushes (of course, who doesn't!). The real fruit slushes are my favorite, although I'll drink any of these.

Check out the site here for more information (and for the love of God, Sonic - you need to overtake the Philadelphia area!).

Worlds Colliding!

A recent Sports Illustrated article almost made me throw up in my mouth repeatedly. Apparently Notre Dame is interested in playing a college football game in Yankee Stadium ... So many thoughts went through my mind. Here are just a few of them:

* First, for those who don't know, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish college football team is one of those teams people either love or hate ... pretty much the same as the New York Yankees. Both are high profile, get an obscene amount of press coverage, and have been very successful through the years.

* With the above said, the perfect team to play Notre Dame would be the Dallas Cowboys ... these two teams have to be the most hated teams in football. It would be fitting to have these teams play in Yankee Stadium. Just for giggles, the Boston Celtics and Detroit Red Wings should play some sort of paintball tournament prior to the game.

* Notre Dame suggested playing Army for this game ... really? Is the reason you want to play Army because this is the only team you are reasonably confident that you could beat at this point? Grow some balls, Irish - play a real college football team. Why not play USC there? Or maybe Penn State?

* My hope is that Notre Dame gets blown out so badly on such a public stage that the school will have to realize that they are no longer the "legends" they thought they once were. Maybe all of those fake Notre Dame fans who have no direct attachment to the school will finally pick a different team to follow.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's weekly homework assignment! Mama Kat actually has 6 prompts this week ... I'm so glad she added the last one - sharing a sleepwalking story. I used to sleepwalk a lot back in my younger years ... not sure why. I don't think I've sleep-walked in years, though. I figure I'd share a handful of sleepwalking stories that I remember (in no particular order):

1. One night, I went into my older brother's room, and asked if he'd like to throw the football around with me ... normally not a big deal ... however, this was at around 3:00 in the morning. My brother cursed me out and told me to go back to sleep.

2. Another time, I walked into my brother's room and asked if he could help me move the bed so I could play baseball ... again, he cursed me out and told me to go back to sleep.

3. I went into my mom's room one night, screaming that the storm-troopers were chasing me. She calmed me down and got me back into the comforts of my bed, and assured me the storm-troopers were not hiding out in my room. The next morning, she asked me if I remembered any of the "nightmare" I was having ... of course, I remembered none of it (This, apparently happened numerous times ... not the stormtrooper dream, but nightmares I had that I couldn't remember the next morning).

4. One time, I walked down the steps, walked outside, and started yelling for mom ... apparently, I had a dream that she ran away, or something like that ... mom once again, assured me that she had not run away and that I should go back to sleep.

5. Once, I got out of my bed, walked downstairs past my parents in the living room, and walked into the closet, and closed the door behind me. My parents were perplexed, and after I didn't come out after a few minutes, my mom opened the door to find me sleep-standing. She shepherded me back to my bed (like she did so many times).

Stoppage Time ...

Just a few odds and ends ... a kind of recap of the awesome Memorial Day weekend!

* Did some awesome fishing both on Friday and Monday ... probably the best freshwater fishing of my life. First, on Friday, I caught about a 25 inch Rainbow Trout at the bottom of Swarthmore Falls (couldn't believe a giant like that would be living in such a small hole). On Sunday, I pulled in two 4-lb large-mouth bass (never caught a bass that big). I did so well, I didn't even mind the sunburn that I got.

* I finally got to taste the cream ale that my brother and I brewed .... let me tell you, it turned out PHENOMENAL! It was nicely carbonated, and had a real smooth taste. We'll be starting our next brew in a couple of weeks!

* Lots of barbecuing, which means lots of burgers and hot dogs. I had burgers on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ... and let me tell ya, I didn't mind!

* My friend Slant and I decided to play tennis on Monday ... it was probably a good thing for me to work off a bunch of that beer and food from the weekend ... although I'm suffering now.

* It was great to see the Phillies take two of three from those hated Yankees this weekend.

*Great, now back to the grind ... sigh.

Song of the Week

There was a time when most people thought that Guns and Roses would easily punch it's ticket to the rock and roll hall of fame, and would eventually become one of the top 5 greatest American rock and roll bands ... how couldn't they? Appetite for Destruction - their first effort - was an awesome album, filled with great rockin' guitar riffs, brain-damaging guitar solos, and the ridiculous sound of Axl's shrieks (somehow, it worked). They followed that up with a more "acoustic" album "GNR Lies," and so on, and so on.

Axl unfortunately became a nut-case, threw out just about every original member of the band, took about a dozen years trying to put together a new GNR album, all the while continuing to shuffle the band members as if they were a deck of cards. Sadly, all of this instability (not to mention Rose's complete mental breakdown) has evaporated any chance of a Hall of Fame nomination.

Still, that first album ... man, did it rock! Not a bad song on the entire thing in my opinion. I was thinking of choosing a deeper cut to blog about on this album, but how could I? Welcome to the Jungle - what an opening cut! You get that cool guitar intro, followed by the howls of Axl Rose, and then the build up to the actual song. The words are fun, yet a bit uncomfortable ... yet, I still want to scream them at the top of my lungs (of course, I'll never sound like Axl).

The song catapulted Guns and Roses into the mainstream, and probably provided the band with more money than they'll ever know what to do with ... unfortunately, the band never realized their potential.

Take a walk down memory lane and watch the video one more time:

Fast Food Corner

If you're hungry for a burger, you have lots of options ... sure, you can go to McDonalds, Burger King, Hardees, Wendy's ... choices are endless. However, if you have some time, and you enjoy actually eating the food AT the restaurant, may I suggest Red Robin? Sure, they're not nearly as abundant as the other "fast-food" restaurants, but if you have one within 1/2 hour of your home, you HAVE to go ... trust me, you'll thank me later.

The fries are steak fries ... which are not really my favorite. But, they are bottomless, so if you really like steak fries, you'll love Red Robin.

But, the burger choices are fantastic - from the Banzai Burger (marinated in Teriyaki and pineapple slices as a topping), to 5 Alarm burger with many different types of peppers, you'll never get tired of the burgers. My personal favorite is the Royal Red Robin Burger - "This is the aristocrat of all burgers because we crown it with a fresh fried egg. In addition, topped with three strips of hickory-smoked bacon, American cheese, crisp lettuce, tomatoes and mayo." I took that directly from the menu.

Also, they have a tower of onion rings ... which is a nice appetizer if you have a group of people. The only annoying thing is the actual Red Robin mascot ... we ate there about a year ago, and this mascot was there as some sort of "promotion." Apparently, the Robin took a liking to our table and would not leave us alone ... but, the food more than made up for it.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I chose the prompt of "Memorial Day Weekend Plans?? Do share!

I gotta busy weekend planned ... probably won't even feel like a "vacation" weekend ... but what better way to celebrate the unofficial start of summer than to hang out with friends?

Friday night is the big tasting of the beer we brewed ... if you haven't been following, my brother and I, along with a couple of friends, decided to try our hand at brewing beer. About 5 years ago, I won a beer-brewing kit and it had been sitting in my attic collecting dust. About 2 months ago, we went to the Dogfishhead brewery for a bar tour, and immediately got the itch to give beer-brewing a shot. We chose to do a cream ale - a relatively easy first attempt. Well, after more than 4 weeks, the beer is ready to be tasted, and what better night to try it than Friday night?

On Saturday, I'll probably wash the car in the morniing (yeah, majorly exciting). In the evening, we head up to the Avon Grove area to hang out with my friend Ray-Ray and his wife, and do a modified bar tour (thank goodness for friends who don't drink!).

On Sunday, my friends Rich and Mark and I are going to do some freshwater fishing in the morning, and then barbecue in the afternoon ... sounds like the perfect day to me ... I'm guessing we'll be spending evening and night there as well.

On Monday, it's probably more or less a recovery day ... unless somebody else has plans for us. Here's to hoping the weather cooperates!!!!

Song of the Week

AC-DC is kind of like Liverwurst ... either you love them or you hate them. Most of their songs employ a shrieking/screaming lead singer voice, a traditional four-on-the-floor beat, with a heavy dosage of guitar riffs. People who criticize AC-DC say all of their songs sound the same ... and to an extent, that's probably true.

But, this group rocks ... great guitar riffs, songs filled with references to drinking, and sex ... choruses you want to scream at the top of your lungs ... just true party music.

I love a lot of AC-DC songs, but my favorite one has to be TNT - how can you go wrong with a song that starts off with a chorus of "Oi ... oi ... oi ...." which is supported by a very cool guitar riff? The answer is that you can't. This song would probably be the song I'd use as an entrance theme if I was a professional wrestler (yes, I've put some thought into that in the past).

It also includes a very memorable line - "Lock up your daughter, lock up your wife, lock up the back door, run for your life ..." Probably a little on the "tasteless" side, but a true rock line if there ever was one.

In case you're interested, here's a "live" video of the song:

The Unforgettable Guppy Trout

Growing up, my parents subjected me to a variety of sports on TV - whether it was tennis, golf, Soccer Made in Germany, or even ABC's Wide World of Sports, I was watching it ... loving it. I couldn't get enough of Karl Heinze Ruminiga, or pool tournaments featuring Minnesota Fats and Willie Mosconie ... or classic McEnroe vs. Borg matches ... if there was some kind of "sporting" competition, I would start to salivate.

And yes, this even included the Professional Bowlers Tour on Saturday afternoons. I would watch bowling legends like Earl Anthony, Marshall Hollman, and Mark Roth ... My parents would cheer the "traditional" bowlers (also known as bowlers who had no charisma), and would boo the bowlers who wore funny clothes, or showed too much emotion. I would cheer and boo with my parents, but I secretly liked the over-the-top bowlers.

One specific bowler I absolutely couldn't get enough of was a bowler by the name of Guppy Trout ... let me repeat that - Guppy Trout. The guy had a red-afro, would wear sun-glasses, and always wore plaid pants, and a plaid shirt that was a different color and had different patterns than the pants. It was fantastic, he was like the clown-prince of the PBA ... he seemed to make the cut about once a month, but would never win any tournaments ... obviously, he was more concerned with his Krustacular appearance as opposed to bettering his skills and ability.

Here's the depressing thing .... in the age of the internet, wikipedia, and You-tube, there is not an image or video of this guy around ... how does this happen? I didn't think this was even possible. I was so hoping to be able to show you this guy .... now, you'll just have to take my word on him.