Monthly Archives: February 2015

Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

28 Saturday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

The Less Desirables Movie of the Week was Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me.  I saw this documentary on Netflix.

BigStar

“Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me”

I’ll admit I really didn’t, and still don’t, know much about Big Star or Alex Chilton. The first time, outside of the Replacements song, which I thought was just a song about some historical figure, that I ever heard of him was St. Patty’s Day, 2010.  That’s the day he died.  Doug Davis, who I’ve mentioned many times before was playing at Finnigan’s Wake Irish Pub and Kitchen for their celebration and got an alert on his phone about the passing.  He informed me that it was one of his all time favorite performers from a favorite band.

This documentary highlights the high praise from critics, but relative shunning from the public that Big Star enjoyed/endured.  They were quite talented and the songs were really good.  I am not quite sure why they weren’t more popular than they are.  Anywhat! People like Chris Stamey and Mitch Easter (one of my faves), who are both Winston-Salem natives are in the film talking about their friendships with Alex and the gang.  At one point Christ Stamey (who I’m not really familiar with) was talking about listening to WTOB (a local radio station) while driving on Silas Creek Parkway.  I was like, “WAIT! That’s…” and he said, “… Winston-Salem.”  Boom! I get giddy when things familiar to me gets highlighted in films and such.  I can imagine if I lived in NYC or another place like that, then I’d get desensitized to that, but here in Small Town ‘Merica, I still get excited.

I really can’t comment on the film per se, as it really is more of a retrospective on the band’s career and that you’d get more out of the review if you just watched it yourself, but I know that I enjoyed it and highly recommend it to everyone who loves music.  Again you can find it on Netflix and I rate it 4.5 Stars.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I never travel far without a little Big Star.” – Replacements

Taking the Easy Way Out or: Quanto Basta For the Win

27 Friday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

Ok, I’m going to admit something. Today’s post is a complete rip off and would definitely be called plagiarism. There I said it.  You know why I’m not fretting over it, though?  Because who I ripped off? It’s me. I wrote the piece for my other blog, The Man Who Ate the Town. It’s written about The BCPF‘s and my visit with Chef Tim Grandinetti and the gala for the opening of his newest restaurant, Quanto Basta on March 5.  To read more about that (and the article), just follow this link.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…

Scorp out!

—

“I believe foods are important, meaningful; & for myself – the dining experience has the ability to conjure fantastic memories.”– Chef Timothy Grandinetti

In a Pickle: The Happening or: Crowned at Last

26 Thursday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

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Miss Jenny and BoFulton

If you’ve listened to The Less Desirables, then you know about my co-host, Eugene and me and how we are constantly at each other like we’re an old married couple.  We have been together almost 20 years.  You’ve undoubtedly heard me state on more than 100 occasions that I don’t drink beer that is a waste of my time, specifically, anything that says “Bud” on it (at least here in ‘Merica).  And, also undoubtedly, you’ve heard Eugene talk incessantly about vegetation, specifically pickles, and how he loathes them; world peace would be possible if it weren’t for pickles kind of thing.

Well, last night’s guest on TLD was Jenny Fulton, also known as “Miss Jenny,” of Miss Jenny’s Pickles.  She, by the way, is a nut and a fantastic guest.  Interviewers love that kind of guest, the only questions you need to ask is starter questions.  She takes it from there.  Probably one of the best interviews we’ve ever had, and we’ve had some great ones.  Anywhat! Along with her husband, named “BoFulton” (yes I typed it as one word), she brought with her her “award winning” Habanero Bread & Butter pickles.  The purpose was to settle a bet between Eug and me.  I told him if he’d eat pickles I’d drink something Bud, his choice.  He had mentioned Budweiser Black Crown about a year and a half ago and I said, um… no.  Then this challenge was laid.

Last night, Eugene ate, reluctantly, yet courageously, a handful of these delicious morsels of awesome.  He did this one at a time but he did it.  Then it was my turn and, yes, I drank a Budweiser Black Crown.  As I said on the video/show, it didn’t downright suck, but also, it’s not something I’ll drink again if I can help it.  But, the point is, we both stepped over our “hang-ups” and were very adult about it.  Eugene even took the leftovers home to “Chigger” although, I can see him standing at the bar in his kitchen eating one or two.  He even ate one after Jenny left.

The event was captured not only on the podcast recording but I did capture it on video as well.  I posted it to YouTube.

But, you should also listen because the interview was fabulous and Jenny was a magnificent guest.  It’s funny, it’s cool, it’s righteous!!  Find it on iTunes, Stitcher, Blubrry, and the TLD website, just to name a few.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“A ‘naughty pickle’ is how I’d best describe myself. I think fun and laughter is the whole point of life” – Celia Imrie

In a Tight Pickle or: Weather be a Lady Tonight

25 Wednesday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

It seems like the only thing I talk about anymore is a rant against snow.  There’s no getting out of this one.  It’s coming. It’s supposed to start tonight, probably around 8-9pm (from what I understand from WFMY‘s Tim Buckley) and getting bad around midnight tonight/tomorrow.

I’ve said it before. I don’t mind snow. If it’s snow.  Rarely is it just snow here. It’s crap.  Blah blah blah. I know that’s what you’re saying, Dear Reader.  It is old hat by now and that hat is in tatters.  The problem is that it is just disruptive.  Some people get to stay home and if it comes when it’s supposed to, well, I’ll be fine as i can do most things I need to from home.  But it’s when the uncertainty comes through that it messes with me now.

MJP v BBC

Miss Jenny’s Pickles vs. Budweiser Black Crown

Tonight on The Less Desirables, we have a big guest, well a big show; a first, really.  Eugene is going to eat pickles (yes, I said pickles, plural, as in pickle chips) and I’m going to drink something that says “Bud” on it.  Neither of us are looking forward to it, but we’re both looking to end a long-standing gripe.  We have, after all, been together for almost 20 years and we’ve always been on to each other about the other’s hangups.  Miss Jenny’s Pickles will bring some Habanero Bread & Butter Pickles for him to try and I’m going to drink a Budweiser Black Crown.  As I said, neither of us are looking forward to our ordeal, but we are looking forward to Miss Jenny’s being in the studio. Eug and I have never seen the other consume either of these things, either.  So it’s going to be good. If we have it!!!

So, I know Eugene has a rear-wheel drive truck and he worries about the weather and is wanting to call it off.  I think he’s trying to get out of eating the pickles.  I kind of kid about that, but I had to ask Mr. Buckley about the time frame and I am now trying to convince him that it won’t be too bad for him to just do the danged show.   We’ll see what happens.  But, that is the problem I have with the weather.  It’s just in the way of my plans and what I must get done.  I’m not giving in or up!!

Be safe out there, if you’re going out and, until tomorrow… same blog channel.
Scorp out!

—
“He looks as though he’s been weaned on a pickle.” – Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Not Long Before It Happens or: Soon in Solitude

24 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

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What PPV?

My son, 3B and I watch WWE PPVs.  Yep, I said it, I’ll admit, I’m a huge WWE fan.  I’m thinking he’s moved on from liking it as much.  The whole time we watched the latest, WWE’s Fastlane, he stayed on his phone the whole time, using my phone charger.

He asked why I took a picture and I said so I could use it on my blog.  He said, “but we’re watching a PPV and you’re writing a blog.”  Yes, of course, he’s right.  But, this blog post is part of my job. So (insert raspberrry sound here).

That being said, I think it’s inevitable that I’ll be watching these by myself before long.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I believe that professional wrestling is clean and everything else in the world is fixed.” – Frank Deford

Monday Blues? or: Careful What You Wish For

23 Monday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

I was telling The BCPF and a couple of my friends that I couldn’t wait until last week was over. All that ice and snow threw everything off.  I was at a loss.  I couldn’t get anything done and had no motivation.

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Yep…

So, when Monday (that’s today) came around, I was glad.  Got up and took my shower, made 3B some breakfast and proceeded to go to the car to take him to school.  He asked why my car was parked the way it was (usually I back into my parking space and it was just pulled in directly this morning).  I told him because The BCPF drove home on Friday.  He then said, well they didn’t close the door all the way.  As soon as he said that I looked at the dome light and noticed there was a barely lit orange glow where a full on light should be.  I turned the key and nothing happened.  Dang it!!

So, then, we walked to ma mère’s house and borrowed her truck.  I hate this truck. It’s a 1997 model Cheverolet Silverado that only has about 35000 miles on it.  That’s the good part, the bad part is ma père had custom seats put in it when they bought it. Thick, high (my mom’s short) sitting seats that enables me to only see through the old blue sun tint in the windshield.  So I have to bend over to see.  I’m 6’1″-2″-ish and almost 300lbs.  The thick seats, even when I wasn’t so big, meant that I was bellying up to the steering wheel and can’t lean it back (it’s not an extended cab).  It’s heck to drive.

Well, we get it and I take him to school and then return home to hook a battery charger to Monte.  I’m leaving it that way throughout the day and possibly overnight.  Hopefully, it gets charged.  What I’m saying is, be careful for what you wish for.  I have never minded Mondays but I think I just Mondayed in my pants.  I’m huffing and rolling my eyes, now.  Pfft.

Until tomorrow (and I hope it’s better), same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“This morning my car wouldn’t start. I guess that’s better than if my car wouldn’t stop.” – Jarod Kintz

Silent Sunday or: Killing Time the Fun & Easy Way

22 Sunday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

So when The BCPF and I got up yesterday (well before we got up), we decided that we weren’t going anywhere, we had no plans, we would just enjoy us for a day.  So I made breakfast on the new electric griddle that ma mère got us for Christmas.  And while we ate we watched the last four episodes of the Newhart disc (1 of 3) that we’ve been watching working towards getting the second season done.  We finished those.

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A fun day of entertaining viewing.

We then watched 4 movies – The Sandlot, The Ladies Man, I ♥ Huckabees and Casablanca.  Between the last two we had dinner: mahi-mahi in a wine butter sauce with dill along with broccoli and cumin rice.

After all that was done, we watched another EIGHT episodes of Newhart: Season Two (disc 2 of 3 down).

So that, Dear Reader, is the way to pleasantly kill a Saturday and enjoy every minute of it with the one you love.

Drop me a line and tell me what you do to kill a day.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”
― Bill Watterson

Casino Royale or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

21 Saturday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

The Less Desirables Movie of the Week was Casino Royale.  Not the 1967 clunker that was MGM’s stab at spoofing.  Not that that wasn’t a cool ride back then, but it really had nothing to do with James Bond. This is the 2006 version of awesomeness.

I’m a huge 007 fan and I was excited that Eon Productions was doing a “relaunch” of the James Bond series.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed everything that came before it (with the exception of Never Say Never Again, which was a blasé offshoot of Thunderball) and I loved every guy playing Bond: Connery, Moore, Brosnan; I even liked Lazenby (who should have been in more than one) and, yes, I even liked Dalton.  But, with this film, especially being based on one of the last books that Fleming actually wrote, and even more especially since it was the very first one, it was an opportunity to go back to the beginning, tone down the gimmickiness (I loved the gimmicks, but c’mon) of it, start anew; fresh.

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Casino Royale (2006)

And we got a new Bond.  This Bond is the way I read Bond in the Fleming novels.  Daniel Craig plays him a little more rugged, rough around the edges and even more anti-establishment than his predecessors.  To me, Daniel Craig is James Bond.  So, from the beginning, Bond isn’t yet a 00. He has to earn that distinction with two kills, which he does get, obviously.  But, it shows Bond thwarting a terrorist attack at an airport and then having to take down a known terror financier, Le Chiffre, played by NBC’s Hannibal‘s Mads Mikkelsen, by beating him in a high-stakes game of Texas Hold ‘Em.

This film is fast-paced and more closely filmed than others in the past.  The violence is a little more realistic than cartoonish, the way that some of the past Bond films have seemed; not that it detracts from those films, at all.  Most everything is on point with this one.  The ending does drag on a bit, but overall the film was spectacular.  And Eva Green as Vesper Lynd? Great choice.

Perhaps one aspect of the book that was toned down in the film was the genital torture scene.  I believe in the book it was much more violent and longer.  However, I believe that scene, in the book, helped define the overall toughness that was characteristic of future Bond stories and films.  It’s portrayed well in the film but I think the realistic thing was to tone it down from the book.  I don’t think anyone could have survived it like in the book.

Dame Judi Dench (2 weeks in a row) is here as “M” and spares not the rod when it comes to her cracking down on Bond.  She doesn’t believe him worthy of the position, at least she says.  I believe she is proud of the young(er) man and is pushing him to his abilities.  The film was directed by Martin Campbell, who directed GoldenEye and The Mask of Zorro.  His Achilles Heel was Green Lantern, I think.  A bold, yet uninspired stab at one of my favorite superheroes, but I digress.

I highly recommend this film as I feel it is certainly THE way James Bond is supposed to be.  I watched it on Netflix and I rate it 5 Stars.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m sorry. That last hand… nearly killed me.” – James Bond (Daniel Craig), Casino Royale (2006)

Whether I Like Weather or: Snowstopping

20 Friday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

Has the recent weather stuffs had an adverse affect on your life?  I know a lot of people are complaining about this and that and I have some of the same beefs. I’m not saying it’s all bad, just it happens. And, I’m not going to go into much of that, just an observation.

The weather creates a downward spiral of baloney for everyone.  The snow makes the South shut down.  I get annoyed with the North always laughing when we freak out over 3/4″ of snow that turns to ice.  According to this article, Boston has almost 100inches of snow.  That’s a shload of snow.  I’m originally from WV and people there know how to deal with snow, too.  Granted, they get snow.  Real snow.  We get ice. Hard to maneuver on ice, I get that.

But, school being out.  3B’s mom has been sick and she lives in place where getting out when it snows is treacherous so he’s been staying with me and mother all this week.  I’m not complaining about that, although I’ve not seen much of him.  The Nephews are over there as well and they’ve been out playing… a lot.  He’s been with me both Wednesday and Thursday night (Thursdays are my regular night).  I like having him here but I worry about the school aspect.  It’s more a cold thing that snow and ice thing now, I know, but school needs to get back in.  That’s just dragging out how long they’ll have to go in June.

And, hello! This winter isn’t anywhere near being over, Dear Reader.  There’s potential for much more of this.  I hope not, but the potential is there.  The podcasts are all screwed up.  We didn’t have a guest on The Less Desirables but that was the only one we recorded this week, as a “Round Table.”  The Beer Dads had a webisode come out but it was recorded prior to this week (a peek behind the curtain, there).  There will also not be an “Appetizer” from Tart & Tangy Triad, either.  Again, school schedule takes precedence there.  I could get him up, showered, and get him downtown and all that, but, why?  It would be later before I get down there and it would just be me, anyway.

I’m certainly hoping that Mother Nature gets herself calmed down next week.  That or she needs a Midol.  So, here’s hoping.  You know what else? You have time on your hands, while you’re trying to find a way to kill some of it, give a listen to some of the archived webisodes of your favorite The Less Desirables Network shows!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Don’t knock the weather. If it didn’t change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn’t start a conversation.” – Phil Armstrong

Checking in the Brews or: Untappd into Beer

19 Thursday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

Do you follow me on Untappd?  Untappd is a “check in” social media app/site that allows you to keep up with, rate, review and share beer with friends.  You earn “badges” that are rewards for all the different styles, brands and varieties that make up the awesomeness called beer.

untappd

Untappd

I was finishing up the Honeymoon Chronicles and went on a mad dash for all the beers I had in Belgium.  I think there were even a few that I didn’t remember.  That gave me quite a few badges, mostly things that had to do with Belgium.  See how that works?  You can share it with your Twitter followers and Facebook friends, too! You can connect to Foursquare or Swarm or whatever they’re calling it now if you want to.  I only check in my places on there, I don’t do Foursquare or Swarm any more.

Anywhat! It’s fun.  All the cool kids are doing it and I think you should, too!! You can download it from the Google Play Store, the iTunes store or go to the website.  Create an account and start checking in to the beers.  Send me a friend request, my username is BassManTNC.  Then we can share in the beer awesomeness together! Cheers!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…

Scorp out!

—
“Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger