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Useless Things Need Love Too

Useless Things Need Love Too

Monthly Archives: May 2016

Dale M Pollock or: The Less Desirables, May 25, 2016

31 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Podcasting

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a/perture Cinema, City Beverage, Fan Interference, Finnigan's Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen, King's Crab Shack & Oyster Bar, Netflix, The Garage, The Less Desirables, Washington Perk & Provision Company, WSNC

Salutations™!!

It was a really good The Less Desirables this past week. We had a special guest co-host by way of the Piedmont Wind Symphony: Director/conductor, Matthew Troy was sitting in with us to while we had all-around movie guru, Dale M. Pollock on the show. Dale and Matt helped us talk a lot about films and some history of the industry and Dale’s history in the industry, from producing to his work at UNCSA. He’s a pretty righteous dude.17ae1e40-1876-48ef-924e-bea5f3a7f53f

Speaking of movies, a/perture cinema presented the week in movies with us talking about the very few new items coming to Netflix Movies Streaming for the week and Dale, along with some commentary from me, reviewed Patton which I posted a full review on this blog this past Saturday. You can read that HERE.

Then we presented our “almost true-to-life soap opera that practically writes itself,” As Ardmore Turns. This week a wayward resident lost his way home due to someone eating his sweet trail and then someone went on about how they hear the now-all-too-familiar sounds of booms around the neighborhood, only to find out it wasn’t where we thought it was.

Fan Interference Podcast’s very own Ty Collins gives the latest in sports headline as well as rumors and such. Still the meat of the NBA playoffs and now, we’ve moved into the finals. Check out our sister show HERE.

Our Winston-Salem Jaycees connection (and their president) Caitlin sends out the call for volunteers at the two wine festivals, one this past weekend and one this coming weekend. If you didn’t know about it, you missed this past one, but there’s still time for the one this weekend.

The Garage presents the week in music featuring what’s coming in new releases and a tune from our old friends, Drat the Luck. Mr. Troy talked about the show that the Piedmont Wind Symphony has coming up this Thursday, June 2, called Gerswhin: A Life in Rhapsody, which will feature the original arrangement of “Rhapsody in Blue” from Gershwin. You can get tix HERE.

City Beverage presented the beer of the week, Eliot Ness Amber Lager from Great Lakes Brewing Company. I’d say we dug it. It was/is good stuff.

We’d like to also thank our sponsors: Finnigan’s Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen, King’s Crab Shack & Oyster Bar and Washington Perk and Provision Company.

We do this crazy podcast once a week, recording it on Wednesday and having it available, usually by 10:30pm or so. You can listen for FREE on the website, iTunes or Stitcher (or anywhere else you listen to podcasts). But, I’ll do you one better… I’ll leave it here for you to listen to. How about that?

http://thelessdesirables.com/podcasts/052516.mp3

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Did Ryan ever find his way home?!? The World May Never Know…” – Announcer, As Ardmore Turns

For the Love of… or: Memorial

30 Monday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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Memorial Day, WSNC

Salutations™!!

I think the term “ultimate sacrifice” has been way overused and I try not to use it. I don’t really have an alternative for it and I really wish we didn’t have to think about it at all. But, we certainly do. There have been approximately 1,196,541 military deaths in all the wars we’ve been in up to and including the “Global War on Terror” (stats from Infoplease). That’s awful, but it is a sacrifice.US-Flag-Half-Mast

I personally have not lost any family members (that I have known) or close friends while serving. So, I don’t know what that’s like but I can’t stand the thought of losing those close to me. Therefore, it makes me hurt to think of others losing their loved ones, no matter how it happens.

Today, we celebrate those who have paid that price to protect and preserve the rights that we all enjoy and live by. To speak our minds in blogs or podcasts, like I do. To openly criticize and speak belligerently about the head of state, no matter what that is where in any other country you’d be arrested and sometimes killed for such a thing. To make your own decisions and follow any religion that you wish, or not to, as is my choice. There’s so much that they’ve died to preserve for us.

This is not about veterans, although we should honor them all every day (instead of just giving them a day in November), it’s about remembering the ones that have died for their country and fellow citizens. And, because I can’t think of a better term right off hand, I’ll have to use the term “ultimate sacrifice.” Because, that’s really what they did. If you’ve a friend or family member that has paid that price, I’m thinking of them. To all of you, I’m thinking of you. I thank you.

I’ve posted this an hour earlier than normal because according to the Memorial Day protocol, the flag is only to be flown at half mast until noon today.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” – Nathan Hale

Silent Sunday or: Wined Up Wined Down

29 Sunday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Food, Silent Sunday, Travel

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Atelier on Trade, Finnigan's Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen, Laurel Gray Vineyards, OSO Eats, Piccione Vineyards, Raffaldini Vineyards, The BCPF, The Beer Dads, thebeer

Salutations™!!

Yesterday, The BCPF and I accompanied PJ3 of The Beer Dads and his “Pilot” to the Swan Creek area of the NC woods to visit three wineries, Raffaldini, Piccione and Laurel Gray. We spent some time at Raffaldini, actually enjoying a tasting then grabbing some soppressata, gouda, and chevre with fig chutney to eat with Triscuit crackers. We also had some pasta salad and chicken salad. We had a nice bottle of red wine that we all shared and enjoyed, together. We purchased a couple of bottles to bring home.

At Piccione we just did a tasting, purchased a bottle and headed to Laurel Gray at the recommendation of a friend. We loved those wines and sat, after a tasting and purchasing of a few bottles, with a glass outside in the shade, under a covered porch, relaxing and taking in the day. We then went back to WSNC to grab “17” (PJ3’s boy) and went to eat at OSO Eats over off Jonestown. Good food there. I want to go back and try Oso’s when I’ve not had  a full day of drinking wine as I think I’d enjoy it more. I was tired. It was a fantastic day with my girl and great friends. Fantastic day, indeed.

Then today, it was brunch at Finnigan’s Wake and then some goodness from Pablo at Atelier on Trade. I have loved this long weekend.

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Yiota from OSO Eats

 

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.” – Charles R. Swindoll

Patton or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

28 Saturday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Movie Review, Uncategorized

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a/perture Cinema, Academy Awards, AFI, Battle of El Guettar, Battle of Kasserine Pass, Francis Ford Coppola, George C. Scott, Hannibal, IMDb, Karl Malden, Netflix, Omar Bradley, Oscars, Patton, Rotten Tomatoes, The Godfather, The Less Desirables, WWII, Zama

Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, Patton (1970) starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young.

Per IMDb: “The World War II phase of the career of the controversial American general, George S. Patton.”

Francis Ford Coppola’s screenplay had gotten him fired because it was too “ahead of its time.” They thought the opening speech by George C. Scott’s Patton was unusual and they didn’t get it. Turns out it’s quite famous. Coppola won an Academy Award for Best 51LqvckTZ8L._SY355_Screenplay. That kept him employed on The Godfather. That opening speech, though, is an amalgamation of words spoken from several speeches that George Patton had delivered over a few years. It’s easily one of the most recognizable and most quoted scenes in cinematic history.

In 1943 North Africa, Patton takes over command of the ransacked American II Corps after the dismal outcome of the Battle of Kasserine Pass. He has his lackeys put on a three star pin, which General Omar N. Bradley (Malden) questions, saying that the Senate hasn’t approved his promotion, yet. He said, it’s all a matter of time. This scene, I think is important to show how seriously he takes his job and how hard-nosed he is. He lays down his laws about always being properly attired, with leggings, boots, ties and so forth. He tears down posters of women in the barracks stating that they are barracks, not a bordello. He enters the infirmary and tells the doctor to get any patients with self-inflicted wounds out of the infirmary as the “yellowbellies” have no business being in the same room, under the same care as the brave soldiers who got their injuries in battle.

Turns out that Patton was well read and understood a lot about history and believed that he had lived in another time (or times), talking about Roman battles and the defeat of Carthaginian commander, Hannibal in Zama, 202 BC. The film showed much struggle between his devout Christianity and his belief in reincarnation.

He leads the newly rejuvenated (and more disciplined) regimen to victory against the Axis in the Battle of El Guettar, this upon reading German General Rommel’s book on tank warfare. He’s disappointed that he didn’t defeat Rommel personally, but Rommel, also known as the Desert Fox, was in Berlin with a sinus infection. Patton is seen by many in the Allied ranks as being a loose cannon, some of which is echoed by American officers and officials as well. They abandon Patton’s plans for Sicily in favor of his British counterpart, Bernard Law Montgomery’s plan to have Patton flank him. Instead, Patton moves and takes Palermo, to the chagrin of Montgomery. When he receives a message from British General Sir Harold Alexander to not take Palermo, he asks if they want to give it back?

His iron fist and hard-nosed philosophies continue to make the troops uneasy.He even humiliates and slaps around a soldier who is suffering from shell-shock. For that he’s personally reprimanded by General Eisenhour; commanding him to apologize to the soldier and the medical staff who witnessed the act.

His insistence on beating Montgomery to Messina mounts to even more tension. As he does actually beat him there, Montgomery marches through the streets to find Patton there waiting on him, they exchange forced pleasantries. Montgomery marches with bagpipes playing “God Save the King!” and Patton soon has the band crank up “Stars and Stripes Forever” from the brass band to drown out the bagpipes.

His rogue attitude gets him relieved of his command but it is told that he is in England that he is there to prepare the troops for battle in Europe. He’s being used as a decoy; left out of the actual D-Day invasion. He’s not happy about it. In France, he meets with Montgomery and the Brit brags that he’s going to face Rommel. Patton is nonplussed. But, he’s been given back a command, and he’s given some leeway to move how he sees fit. There’s stops and starts but he helps take control of several key locales and marches toward Germany. The Allies win and Patton is relieved of his duties once again after comparing the Democrats and Republicans to Nazis. The film ends with Patton walking his bull terrier named Willie through a field and a voice over from George C. Scott.

This film was released the year I was born, 1970, and I had never seen it, but knew it was a big deal. George C. Scott does a fantastic job portraying Patton, at least in the film version. I know very little about the man overall and can’t say if it’s an accurate portrayal or not. War films have never interested me as far as the war aspects go, it’s usually the human element within that I’m more interested in. Lately, though, I’ve noticed that many of the most famous or classic films have been war films. Many are masked by the stories within but this one, while about the man Patton, it was very much about war and its bloody and deadly toll and one man’s determination to win at all costs.

The film was ranked #89 on the 1996 version of the AFI Top 100 Films of All Time but failed to make the updated list in 2007, the list in which I’ve seen all 100. It was, still, of course, left on the 400 nominees for that 2007 list. I have completed the 1996 list and 17 left on the 400 nominees for the 2007 list. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 95% Fresh with an Audience Score of 94%. IMDb has it at 8.0 stars out of 10. Both are phenomenal ratings.

This film won George C. Scott the Academy Award for Best Actor, which he famously refused to accept, citing he wasn’t a fan of the voting system or the idea of an acting competition. The film won six additional Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Art Direction and the aforementioned Best Original Screenplay for Coppola. It was nominated for three more: Best Music – Original Score, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.

This is available on Netflix, but it is only available via DVD. If you’re a subscriber with the disc service, then you can get it there. I have it on Blu Ray and watched it that way. I thought it was a really good film and I’m going to rate it 4.5 stars. George C. Scott is what makes this film. Have you seen it? What do you think?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Men, all this stuff you’ve heard about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, big league ball players, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost, and will never lose a war… because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.” – George Patton (as portrayed by George C. Scott)

Start the Long Weekend or: He’s Had Enough

27 Friday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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3B, Memorial Day, WSNC

Salutations™!!

I’m not taking up everyone’s time today, but just wanted to say that I hope you have a great holiday weekend. If you’re traveling, please be careful. I like my readers being here with me. If you’re coming downtown tomorrow, also be careful as almost the whole downtown will be closed off for this bike thingy-mahickey. It will be an inconvenience to many of you (and me included) but we take that to ensure it’s a vibrant downtown, right? What good is it if there’s nothing to do? So, shut up and go watch some biking.

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3B has had enough of me for the day (he’s asleep on a bar stool). He’s had to sit here and listen to me work in the studio. He’s ready to have his long weekend, too.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.” – Jeff Miller

Mojique Smells the Wind or: I Want to Take You Higher (RS Part 38)

26 Thursday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Music Review

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Bob Marley & The Wailers, Janis Joplin, Moby Grape, Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums, Run-DMC, Sly & the Family Stone, Talking Heads, television, The Byrds, The Stooges

Salutations™!!

The last segment was pretty righteous on the countdown of the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time. Everything was mostly liked and even the two comps that I didn’t listen to (for the list, anyway) are albums that I have and really liked to begin with. But, let’s stop yakking and get on with it already!

#130 – Marquee Moon by Television. Okay,  big surprise here… I’ve never heard of Television. Never. It is supposed to be old school punk, I know, but I really just heard straight ahead rock and roll. The way Tom Verlaine sings these tunes and the way they’re presented and packaged, I would have thought I was listening to a 1970s Rolling Stones album that somehow I missed along the way. There’s enough whine and tremble in his voice that it could pass for a poor man’s Mick Jagger. I find it to be good music. From the beginning of “See No Evil” all the way to “Tom Curtain,” the music is good. Some of the songs go on a bit long but nothing I didn’t enjoy. The title track is almost 11 minutes in TalkingHeadsRemaininLightlength. That’s okay and all, just wow. Yeah, I don’t know that I’d have gone out looking for this, but I’m glad I listened. Dug.

#129 – Remain in Light by Talking Heads. This was released in 1980 but it certainly sounds more like it’s from 1987, to me. Tina Weymouth is a fantastic bassist; a freak really. Just listen to anything she’s doing on here and it’s evident. Wow. I love “Crosseyed and Painless.” I love the funky rhythm and the soulful, ethereal vocals. I like the Afro-Latin style of drumming. Of course, there’s my favorite Heads song, “Once in a Lifetime.” I asked for that in the upcoming Vagabond Saints Society Talking Heads Summer Spectacular but I’ve not heard word, as of yet, to what I’ll get. Back to my original statement, from what I’ve read (so take it for what it’s worth), this really was ahead of its time and while no one knew what to think of it at first, they really took to it. Letting it “happen” and accepting it. I like it. “Listening Wind” is kind of mysterious and dark. I love that kind of groove in a song. Then, “The Overload” is even more dark and mysterious. It reminds me of David Bowie and how could that be wrong? The feeling, the lyrics, the vocals, the atmosphere. Dark. Dangerous. Delightful. Some of that, I’m sure came from Brian Eno, who produced the album. Really, top to bottom, this is a fantastic listen and I am glad it was on the list. DUUUGGG!!!!

#128 – Raw Power by The Stooges. Holy crap! I think my face is bruised from just listening to the opening bit of the first track, “Search and Destroy.” It’s hostile and it’s abusive. It’s also mastered hot. Everything is almost distorted it’s so hot. I’m sure that’s partly what they were looking for. I’m not positive, though. It was so hot that you can really hear the hiss of the highs. Again, not a bad thing, just very noticeable. “Gimme Danger” has a more laid back sound but when the band kicks in, it’s noticeable there, too. Iggy Pop is up to his normal wackiness and that’s just in his vocals. I can picture him in the studio lurching around and bouncing, either off the walls or flopping in the floor. He has that kind of energy in his voice. One of the best titles to a song, ever, has to be: “Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell.” So far, my favorite song on the album is “Penetration.” Or should I say “Pen-ay-tray-SHAWN!” instead? It’s righteous. “I Need Somebody” is almost scary and I really like that one, too. It’s very reminiscent of some of the sixties stuff like Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs or Animals. I’m sure there was some influence. That’s great stuff. So, when this album was done. I had a headache. My throat hurt, even though I wasn’t the 61nuMAJZXwLone screaming through most of the songs. I don’t know how Iggy has any voice left. It was a decent album with some really good stuff on it, but I wouldn’t say it was great. I will, however, say that I dug it.

#127 – Younger than Yesterday by The Byrds. One of my recent favorite songs of yore is “My Back Pages.” I like the version on this album, not much on the Dylan version, but I’m getting more and more into Dylan. Again, I never heard that tune until a few years ago. I just didn’t have access to that kind of music, which surprises me because it should be stuff that Ma Mère listened to, but she wasn’t one to own a lot of records. Anywhat! It’s guitar-forward power pop (was that even a thing back then?). I like that kind of thing. The weird stop in “C.T.A.-102” threw me off. That had hints of things later in pop music but it was odd, but interesting. “Have You Seen Her Face” is a rock song, pure and simple. You hear shades of what would eventually become a sonic staple of Crosby Stills & Nash with the vocal harmonies, especially “Renaissance Man,” which are prevalent through out the album. “Everybody’s Been Burned” is a haunting tune with a darker sonic atmosphere, yet it seems like it’s trying to crawl out of that the entire song. Following that is the bright arpeggio stylings of “Thoughts and Words.” A somewhat beautifully twangy ditty that has an actual rock bridge/chorus. The backwards solo is a nice touch, too. I always like “nice touches.” I believe the absolute weirdest tune on the album (almost psychedelic) is “Mind Gardens” which sounds like it would be psychedelic, right? Lots of backwards stuff on this tune with an acoustic guitar in the background. Lyrics that sound like David Crosby is tripping as he sings the tune. I don’t know that I like it, but I don’t know that I don’t. Still, after the whole album, certainly “My Back Pages” is still the best song on here and I love it more the more I listen to it. The album is great and I dig it.

#126 –  Catch a Fire by Bob Marley & the Wailers. The opening track, “Concrete Jungle,” is kind of laid back, musically but it is kind of powerful as far as lyrics go. “No sun and a yellow tint around town; no chains around his feet, yet he’s not free” (I am just paraphrasing and not quoting). I think he can’t break loose of the poverty that surrounds the entire island of Jamaica. It seems there’s a lot of heaviness around there for Bob. But, it seems not all is lost on the island nation. There’s a bit of love song relief in the mix, too. Probably the biggest tune on the album, “Stir It Up,” is a happy love tune. And, “Kinky Reggae,” no matter what others may say, is definitely a song about sex. I mean the lyrics talk of: “She had brown sugar all over her booga-wooga,” and “He had a candy tar all over his chocolate bar.” It’s sex. Candied sex. I liked it. I’ve gotten to where I can dig some Janis_Joplin-Pearl_(album_cover)reggae as of late. Really, though, if I’m going to listen, it has to be Marley. The other stuff doesn’t have the same effect for me. But, I’ll definitely go with dug!!

#125 – Pearl by Janis Joplin. Janis Joplin is one of the members of the dreaded “27 Club,” the unfortunate group of musicians/music industry people that passed at the age of 27, mostly from drugs, murder or suicide. The merits of this album were bolstered by the fact that while it is her most popular release, she died while recording it. She started studio sessions for the album at the beginning of September, 1970. She wrote the opening track, “Move Over,” herself. This was the only recordings she made with the Full Tilt Boogie Band, which was also the band she toured with. I do like “Half Moon” a good bit; it’s some serious early-’70s jam. Along the same lines, there’s “Buried Alive in the Blues.” Serious jam. The difference is that there are no vocals. It was left as an instrumental piece because Joplin was scheduled to go in and do vocal tracks but, she was scheduled to do so on a day that was the week after she passed away. So, as homage to her, they left it instrumental to demonstrate the void, I suppose. I have to say this: I have had plenty of people in my life talk about Joplin’s “amazing voice.” Whilst I do find it soulful, I also find it to be one of the most grating and annoying voices I’ve ever heard. It’s like she’s screaming at me the entire time. It’s nails on the chalkboard, constantly. That’s mostly evident to me on the Kris Kristofferson-penned “Me and Bobby McGee.” I’ve never been a fan of that song and listening to it, today, uninterrupted, that didn’t change. However, with that, I struggle with it because, I kind of like it, too. Like I said, a struggle. To me, the most chilling part is knowing that her a cappella send-off (if you will), “Mercedez Benz,” was recorded only 3 days before she died. It was her last recording. Again, I’ll give the soulfulness of her voice is almost unmatched but the grating tone and timbre is hard to sit through, for me. That being said, I actually did like the album, but I don’t care to listen to it again. Dug.

#124 – Moby Grape by Moby Grape. I have never heard of this band before. I had to piece together the songs as, while there are pieces of the album on Rhapsody, there are only pieces. There’s like one song from the album and then bonus tracks from a later reissue. I’m digging what I’ve heard so far. The opening track, “Hey Grandma” was rocking and roaring. I loved the harmonies in there, too. “8:05” is sad song, really. It is about someone’s love leaving (assuming by bus or train) and they’re not going with them. “Come in the Morning” is certainly a ’60s ‘Frisco sounding tune. It reminds me, definitely of the contemporaries of the era. I wasn’t born until 1970 and whilst I do now know a bit of that music, I’m not still not as versed as I’d like to be. “Omaha” was kind of punkish, really. It was in your face and punching you, the way I picture punk being. And it’s funny that it’s immediately followed by the short acoustic number, “Naked if I Want to.” “Ain’t No Use” puts me in mind of Buck Owen’s (or The Beatles) “Act Naturally.” It’s that same kind of country/western rock ‘n’ roll. This band had great harmonies. There’s also some of that ethereal psychedelia that you’d expect out of San Francisco. I picture a lot of mushrooms or something being ingested here. “Sitting by the Window” is such psychedelia and I like it. All in all, I’d have rather seen this band make it big then some of the stuff that did get popular out of SFO, I’m not naming names. I hear it was shoddy marketing that made the general public miss the mark on the band, and that’s 5102vTIYCSLdisappointing. Anyway, I dug this album. It was righteous. My only complaint was that I had to work so hard to find it. I could have listened to it in around 30 minutes, but because it wasn’t readily available on anything (and with some of them album being removed), it took me almost an hour to piece it together. Boo!

#123 – Raising Hell by Run-DMC. Early hip-hop gold here. It came out while I still lived in WV. I heard “My Adidas” right before I moved and then their (better, in my opinion) version of “Walk this Way” came out 2 weeks after I moved to WSNC and MTV ran it in the ground. That’s cool, though. My favorite single they released, on this album and any other by them, is “It’s Tricky.” I know The Knack sued them because they and producer Rick Rubin sampled “My Sharona.” I don’t know that it actually went to court, though. Other highlights are “Raising Hell” and “You Be Illin’.” I like the album and see where its significance in the genre is, but listening now, it sounds like a lot of other stuff. Yes, I realize that it’s a forerunner and trailblazer; I got it. I’m not downplaying it, really. It just seems like it is awfully repetitive. I’d still rather hear this than just about any other rap (Chronic  or Lethal from UTFO excluded) album. So, I’m good with that. Also, some early scratch work by the late Jam Master Jay. I dug it.

#122 – The Harder They Come (Soundtrack) by Various Artists. This is actually a compilation album with only one Jimmy Cliff song being specifically for the film of the same name. I’m sure it’s nice but I’m not writing about it.

#121 – Stand! by Sly and the Family Stone. Yesssssss! A lot of funk and rock. A lot of soul and rhythm. Three mega-hits on this album, too: the title track, “I Want to Take You sly-family-stone-805-lHigher” and “Everyday People.” Larry Graham, you, sir, are a beast of a bass player. I love funk bass and wish I were more versed in it. Lots of grit and dirt on this album and I love it! It’s funny to hear a laid-back “Somebody’s Watching You” right after the flash of “I Want to Take You Higher.” The virtuosity on this album is astounding, to me. Variety and style, too. And, really, I’d never paid attention to the lyrics of “Everyday People,” but holy smokes that’s an awesome song. I’ve always liked the song but when you read the lyrics, especially along with the song, it’s a fantabulous ditty. I’d say it’s coming into my top 1000 or so of songs as we speak. Honestly, I don’t know that I could name 1000 songs off the top of my head. That would be a feat, huh? Sly shows his bass chops on the last song of the album, “You Can Make It if You Try.” Good job, but I prefer Larry Graham. The only thing I could say is wrong with this album is the nearly-14 minute “Sex Machine.” But, really, that moves along pretty easily. This is an album that I’d love to find on vinyl. I know I say that about most funk albums, but this one is heavy and I want it. DUG!!

This segment has been chock-full of bass players that I really enjoy or am newly enjoying. Great stuff. The only snag was the soundtrack. I did research on it and had it been all original stuff for the album, I’d have reviewed it. Again, this  was a great segment and hope the next stretch is as good. Enjoy your week, Dear Reader, and look for the next segment, coming soon.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“There is a yellow one that won’t accept the black one, that won’t accept the red one, that won’t accept the white one. And, different strokes for different folks and so on and so on and scooby dooby doo. I am everyday people.” – “Everyday People” (Stewart)

Eliot Ness Amber Lager or: The Less Desirables Beer of the Week

25 Wednesday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Beer

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Tags

BeerAdvocate, City Beverage, Great Lakes Brewing, The Less Desirables, Untappd

Salutations™!!

City Beverage, the Official Beer Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents Eliot Ness Amber Lager from Great Lakes Brewing Company, The Less Desirables Beer of the Week.

Great Lakes does some amazing brews and I like Amber Lagers. I’m surprised I haven’t logged anything on Untappd about this before. I do believe I’ve had it and I do believe it was fantastic. At least, from what I remember. I was looking on Untappd about my 22cd3b0d-3cc6-4f7a-aeb5-b51d553cf12erating (again, it was not there) and see that it’s rated 3.56 caps out of 5. That’s surprising to me because BeerAdvocate has it at 91 (Outstanding) with a 100 (World Class) from the Bros. There’s more people on Untappd, I believe. The Law of Averages and all that.

Great Lakes started out in Cleveland (the only reason I could think of going to Cleveland) in 1986 and grew their little-brewery-that-could into a major craft beer operation. My personal fave from them is the Edmund Fitzgerald, but I’m partial to the dark side. I like the Sith of beers, I guess. They have other great brews, too, like: Conway’s Irish Ale, their Christmas Ale and the Alberta Clipper Porter. Yum!

Have you tried this beer? If so how was it? If not or if you just want more of it, head to City Beverage and grab your sixer. Tell ’em it’s the beer of the week and get 5% off your order!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“WE CELEBRATE THE ABUNDANCE OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION
IN EVERY BEER, DISH, AND STORY WE SHARE.”
– Great Lakes Brewing Company’s website (caps and all).

Middle of the Root or: The Less Desirables May 18, 2016

24 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Podcasting

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

a/perture Cinema, Aquatic Ceremony, As Ardmore Turns, City Beverage, Finnigan's Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen, Forsyth County, King's Crab Shack & Oyster Bar, Middle of the Root, Netflix, SweetWater Brewing, The Garage, The Less Desirables, Washington Perk & Provision Company, Winston-Salem Jaycees, WSNC

Salutations™!!

Here’s the recap of last week’s episode of The Less Desirables. This is only a recap and listening to the full version of the show will enlighten and enrich your life, it’s like a scientific fact or something. I read it on Clickbait Central on Facebook, I think. Anywhat! Here’s your rundown.

Ashley Jobe and Nancey Cost came in to talk about Middle of the Root. Middle of the Root is a program that aims to provide farm-fresh and locally grown food to the area, especially Forsyth County. They are particularly focused on the food-insecure areas and hope to impact those areas, according to their website, by: “creating access to healthy, farm-fresh food and providing both education and empowerment for healthier eating. By partly 2016-05-18 22.10.58funding our programs through the sale of meal kits with fresh, local ingredients, we also support agriculture in our area, expanding the market for local farmers by connecting them with people who want and need what they grow.” Ashley and Nancey were awesome guests and laughed a lot. That helps.

a/perture cinema presented the week in movies and that includes what’s new to Netflix streaming as well as a review of the movie of the week, Dances with Wolves. You can also read that review that I always present on this blog, HERE.

Caitlin Weaver, the current “El Presidente” of the Winston-Salem Jaycees gives an update on what was and is happening in their world, and yours, and how you can be part of said happenings and just get involved. She’s not one to bite, but I would listen to her… just in case.

Our official music sponsor, The Garage, presented what was coming out in new music for last Friday and we played a song by Aquatic Ceremony called “Canopic Jar.” You should give the song a listen, it’s right cool if not based one something a bit morbid. Amy Fitzgerald’s voice is phenomenal so that alone makes it worth it.

The latest episode of our “almost true-to-life soap opera that practically writes itself,” As Ardmore Turns features the gang in the middle of explosions or gunfire or fireworks or something. They were getting upset about it. It could have been someone’s dinner, though…?

City Beverage, the official beer sponsor, presents Goin’ Coastal from SweetWater Brewing Company as our beer of the week. It’s an IPA that has hints of pineapple in it. I thought it was a pretty good beer.

In addition to the sponsors listed above, we’d like to thank our Official Emerald Isle: Finnigan’s Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen; our Official Seafood Sponsor: King’s Crab Shack and Oyster Bar; Our Official Provision Company: Washington Perk and Provision Company. You guys are the best and we appreciate you so much! Go visit the sponsors and enjoy their wares, you will not be disappointed, I promise! Give the whole episode a listen!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Is this “sounds-like-gunshots” mystery going to go on all summer…?” – Annoyed Ardmore Resident

Piggybacking Deliciousness or: Yes, I Eat Raw Beef

23 Monday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Food, Life as We Know It

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, RJ Reynolds, The Katharine Brasserie and Bar, The Man Who Ate the Town, WSNC

Salutations™!!

So yesterday I touched on our dinner at The Katharine Brasserie and Bar, inside the brand-spankin’ new Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, located in the historic RJ Reynolds building in downtown WSNC. Well, today, your mission, if you choose to accept it, will be to read around 2000 words about the experience and the food from my food blog, The Man Who Ate the Town. From the comments on Instagram (or Facebook or Twitter) about my pics of the experience, it seems the most polarizing item was my beef tartar. It has always been the biggest point of contention when I post a picture of  beef tartar. It’s one of my favorite foods, ever. I’d rather have it that way that charred, really. The quail egg just set the whole thing off. Sorry to those who found it unappealing, but, it’s absolutely delicious and worth trying. Anywhat! Read the whole review HERE.

20160520_212817-1-576x1024

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The Katharine Brasserie & Bar pairs Parisian charm with southern hospitality in the middle of Winston-Salem, putting a modern polish on our spot in the former RJ Reynolds Building.” – Kimpton Cardinal website.

Silent Sunday or: Oh Katharine

22 Sunday May 2016

Posted by TGBII in Food, Silent Sunday

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Katharine Brasserie and Bar, Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, Mary's Gourmet Diner, RJ Reynolds, The BCPF, The Man Who Ate the Town, Willow's Bistro, WSNC

Salutations™!!

So, The BCPF and I tried the new Katharine Brasserie and Bar located in the new Kimpton Cardinal, formerly known as the RJ Reynolds Building (aka the original Empire State Building). I will talk about that this week (perhaps even tonight) on The Man Who Ate the Town. We also tried items off the new menu at Willow’s Bistro, again something I’ll talk about later this week. So, until I do all of that, I’m going to leave you with a delicious morsel of food porn for your enjoyment.

20160521_195809

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with 3hr Braised Lamb Neck, Mustard Mix, Calvander Cheese, Braising Nage from Willow’s Bistro

And, we also took Ma Mère-in-Law to Mary’s Gourmet Diner because it was her birthday on Saturday. So happy birthday, again, to her!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The Katharine interprets a classic brasserie through the southern lens of modern-day Winston-Salem, tapping into local ingredients for our uniquely crafted menu.” – Kimpton Cardinal Hotel website.

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