Monthly Archives: October 2017

Spooky Piggyback? or: Shifting HQ

31 Tuesday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

So, happy Halloween if that’s your thing. Yeah, so, not so scary or spooky, I guess. but be careful as there are wee ones that are out candy-scavaging. Keep them in mind. This week on The Man Who Ate the Town, I talk

o

©Food Freaks

about Food Freaks closing their brick-and-mortar store and then I talk a bit about the situation, as I am able, with Krispy Kreme and their moving or not of their corporate headquarters to Charlotte. I can’t really say much without it being conjecture, so I just report what I know has been officially released. You can find that episode HERE.

 

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Even though we had some indoor seating, most people saw it as an outdoor place. My wife and I have four kids and we couldn’t justify keeping it open.” – Brandon Cassidy

A Week in Pictures or: B&W Life

30 Monday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

So The BCPF “challenged” me to do the Seven Day Black and White Challenge. I don’t know what it’s for… if it’s for anything. I just know that I have really gotten into working with photos that have to do with light and colors so I wanted to try doing the black and white thing. I still do colors, but this week wasn’t about that. Also, the challenge was about no people and with no explanation as to what the picture is about. It’s just a capture and its context is with its creator. I don’t know that I’d want to do much with a digital camera, as I do have one, however antiquated it really is. I just love using the filters that I have on hand.

I really started paying attention to what each filter or editing mechanism is doing and how it affects the pictures. I could get even fancier and put them through Photoshop and truly embellish them. I could, but right now, I’m just enjoying finding “subjects” to snap and doing something with them. And, with the black and white aspect, it makes for fun editing to make it more noticeable, or to make it where you don’t know exactly what it is. With my color work, I really had started making abstract things out of colored embellishments and strategic filter placement (or displacement). I had fun on the challenge and for those who don’t follow me on Instagram (I also post it on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr), I included the 7 pics to let you see what I did. I am happy with them.

The BCPF has decided that she may continue on doing the challenge. I think that I am going to do pics more regularly. Some black and white, some with color. I may take pictures of people, as well, but I find objects much more entertaining and it’s easier to manipulate the subject when it’s not people. I haven’t decided if pets count or not. Also, not everything will be about this “challenge.” Some days I just want to take pictures. I’ll still continue to post record pictures as I’m getting a lot of traction from that and, of course, food pictures because people love The Man Who Ate the Town’s pictures from different places around town.

I had a great time taking these pictures. It made me think and adjust and I really like what I do with the pictures. So, there’s something to look forward to, folks!! I hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoyed making them.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Black and white are the colors of photography. To me, they symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair to which mankind is forever subjected.” – Robert Frank

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 10/28/17

29 Sunday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF’s and my trip to Underdog Records was cool because we got to see Clay Howard and two of his girls. One really must see Clay Howard often. There were a plethora of cool things to find there. Here’s what we picked up:R-2246678-1288212272.jpeg

There was another album that wasn’t listed on Discogs. It’s about 55 years old and is surprising to me that it’s not there. That’s three that I have to put in, I guess. It’s just tedious work. But, yes, I noticed that Jonathan had a shload of turntables that he’s probably going to put up for sale. Now, before the holiday season is the time to get a jump on your vinyl collecting.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next you. When I go out, yeah I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you. If I get drunk, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you. And if I haver up, yeah I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you.” – “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (Reid/Reid)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Hallelujah

28 Saturday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

I once had a conversation about the song “Hallelujah” from Leonard Cohen. I had talked about not getting its appeal. Then I was educated and have come to really love the song. There are many, many versions of it online but this is absolutely my favorite version, ever. This is Norwegian superstars Espen Lind, Askil Holm, Alejandro Fuentes and Kurt Nilsen (who won the first season of Norway’s version of American Idol). Kurt Nilsen’s part is my favorite part. This is so good. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Well, I heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord, but you don’t really care for music, do you? Well, it goes like this: the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift. The baffled king composing Hallelujah.” – “Hallelujah” (Cohen)

Exhaustion or: It’s Been a Day

27 Friday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

I dropped 3B off at school this morning around 9am. I came straight home (we live 2 minutes from the school), put on some Thompson Twins, Ghostbusters Soundtrack (1984), Jim Croce, Pink Floyd, Eddie Money, Chicago, ZZ Top and Tom Jones records and proceded to clean up a big chunk of the house. I threw stuff away, I moved stuff out, put some stuff in a box to carry to the studio, dusted, swept, washed three loads of laundry, everything. IMG_20171027_105653_799

I only left the house three times: taking 3B to school, picking 3B up from school and a function that The BCPF needed to do. Even then, I am now sitting at over 7650 steps for the day. A step is a step is a step. It zapped me, too. I didn’t slow down until after 3pm when I took a shower. Six hours of cleaning. The only time I did slow down was when I was making the posts for the records I was playing.

All I know is, it’s a cool feeling coming how to a clean house. I’m exhausted, could barely keep my eyes open during tonight’s function, and I’m going to be sore. I’ve even fallen asleep twice writing this post. So, I’m leaving it at that. Oh, I did slow down long enough to do my B&W pic for the day, I’ll leave it here.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.” – Marie Kondo

Pictures of Home or: Machine Head (Eugeology Entry 42)

26 Thursday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

Last week was great! I really enjoyed that one. Nothing but crickets on the Eugene and Jon review fronts, though. Oh, well. I keep on keepin’ on. Let’s do it…

Machine_Head_album_cover

©Warner Bros.

 

#42 – Machine Head by Deep Purple.

Okay, so, I know I’m going to get raked hard for this, from Eugene, from Ed Bumgardner, from Doug Davis, from a lot of people, but I have never, nor do I think I ever will understand the appeal of Deep Purple. Now, before the raking begins, I have to follow that up with that I do believe DP is a talented band. I can see the influence that it had on a lot of people. I get that. I just don’t like to listen to them. Even after the first ten times of hearing “Smoke on the Water,” I was done.

A lot of that was Ian Gillian, I’m sure. I just can’t stand hearing that guy sing. It’s like he’s squeezing one out the whole time he’s babbling words from his face. The rest of it is fine. Ritchie Blackmore’s guitars and Roger Glover’s bass are fantastic and the guys are really good at what they do. I just don’t want to hear Gillian’s vocals while it happens. When the band is playing, it’s fun, when he’s singing, it’s not. And, even when it’s just the band, it’s still not that fun.

I had never heard a full Deep Purple album prior to this. That was because I figured I wouldn’t like it, based on what I had heard, even though I had gotten a cassette of Perfect Strangers because I forgot to mail my “thanks but no thanks” card back to Columbia House. So, I guess this is a good one to “start” with by DP…?

There are times during this that I like listening. “Pictures of Home” and “Never Before” are pretty good. I have never cared for the “other” two hits off the album (not counting “Smoke on the Water”), “Highway Star” and “Space Truckin’.” I just can’t get into them.

As I said, Ritchie Blackmore is a bluesy guitarist that does what he does very well. Same with Roger Glover, even though I think he’s a better player than Blackmore. Ian Paice is a powerful striker and is very solid with huge fills. He’s quite talented, too. Jon Lord has some shining moments, too, but I feel it’s more background for the most part.

All-in-all, this isn’t my thing. I don’t want to it hear it anymore. As I said, I can see it’s value and worth, I just don’t enjoy it. Sorry. I’d say I can’t wait for your reviews but I will continue to wait. And, wait some more.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“We all came out to Montreux, on the Lake Geneva shoreline, to make records with a mobile. We didn’t have much time. Frank Zappa and the Mothers were at the best place around. But some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground. Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky.” – “Smoke on the Water” (Blackmore, Glover, Gillian, Paice, Lord)

Edmund Fitzgerald Porter or: The Less Desirables Beer of the Week

25 Wednesday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

City Beverage, the Official Beer Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Beer of the Week, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes Brewing Company. It happens to be one of my favorite porters.20171025_145107

Now, yes, I know we have done this brew on the show before. Yes, I know we have probably done it more than once. However, it has been a few years, Caitlin isn’t here to “booo” a porter, all different people since the last time we had it and with craft beer, recipes change, flavors vary, it’s all good. Roasted barley and bittersweet choco-coffee notes. You gotta love that, right? Right!

BeerAdvocate rates it at 4.24/5. Untappd has it at 3.8 caps out of 5. 5.8%ABV and it’s a good beer to throw down on for a few, especially in the warmer months, or so I’m told. Have you had it? What did you think? If you’ve not had it or just have a hankering for more, head down to City Beverage and tell them this is the beer of the week and you’ll get 5% off your order! Tune in later tonight and hear what Brittany, Bethany, Sarah, Britt and Scott think of the brew! Danielle is on assignment this week. But, worry not, Groot is here and ready to help.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Robust and complex, our Porter is a bittersweet tribute to the legendary freighter’s fallen crew—taken too soon when the gales of November came early.” – Great Lakes Brewing Company

 

Another Double Piggy or: Oui! x 3

24 Tuesday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

On The Man Who Ate the Town Podcast this week I talk about Dogwood Hops & Crops and The BCPF’s and my trip to The Katharine Brasserie and Bar. I also wrote a TMWATT article about the Katharine experience. You can see the post for the podcast HERE and the Katharine article HERE.

Chops

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The new Chef is doing incredible things with the menu!” – Jax Daughtery Barnett

On Spot(ify) or: Playlisting

23 Monday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

On Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings (whenever I get to it) I offer up a new playlist on Spotify. It is sometimes my list but mostly it is the playlist from The Less Desirables Network cast of characters. That means that The BCPF, Beer Dad Jon, Beer Dad Paul, Jordan from Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking, TC of Fan Interference, Danielle and Caitlin have all done playlists up to this point. Caitlin has left The Less Desirables because she moved for work. We are working with some guest co-hosts for the time being. running-og

I’m going to ask Eugene (still part of The Less Desirables family) to contribute on a regular basis even though he has a large playlist of his own. And, I’m also going to ask some of our frequent guests to do the same. The contributors (including myself) are on a mostly-regular rotation. There are some weeks that I don’t have one to put in and that’s okay, I guess. I’ll do them when I have them.

The point is to get everyone who listens more in tune with the folks they listen to on the podcasts each week. A little insight into what goes on in their heads or some of their favorite tunes, the reasons for the lists can be anything. It is anything, really. Take this week’s playlist for example. The BCPF gave me several lists to choose from. Being as this is the only one I’ll get to from her before Halloween, I decided to take that one. It’s all songs that are spooky, talk about death, violence (as she can get, I promise it’s not that bad) and maladies that impose themselves on our fears and torments. I am making that part up. It’s just a list of songs that she likes that are a bit out there (in a non-regular The BCPF way). Give it a listen and you’ll hear what I’m talking about.

You can listen to these playlists, not only on Spotify but also on Soundsgood.co. The Soundsgood feed allows listeners to listen to available songs on platforms that may or may not be on Spotify. Some are available on YouTube, Apple, Amazon and so on. That part is still being worked through and tweaked so, keep checking back. So, here are the playlist links:

Spotify
Soundsgood.co
TLD Podcast Network (click on the link on the right hand side of the webpage)

The URL for the Spotify and Soundsgood.co links will change every week. Just subscribe to me, or check the TLD Network link to get the latest of each. Also, if you follow the TLD Network Facebook and Twitter accounts, they are updated weekly, as well.

Enjoy listening, Dear Reader, until tomorrow…
Scorp out!

—
“White on white translucent black capes. Back on the rack. Bela Lugosi’s dead.” – “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (Hawkins, Hawkins, Murphy, Ash)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 10/21/17

22 Sunday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

Another truncated Saturday but we got the regular stuff in. The BCPF and I went to breakfast (I had already walked my steps this week, plus had played on Friday night in GSO) at Mary’s and then to Underdog Records. Here’s the haul:

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©Elektra Records/Rhino

 

If you’re looking to get into vinyl again and need a turntable, currently Jonathan has a JVC L-A11 turntable for sale at Underdog Records. Semi-automatic belt drive with auto return. Working cue lever, tonearm counterweight. Brand new Audio-Technica cartridge & needle and a brand new belt. Dust cover is not cracked but has its share of scuffs and scratches. $70. Not a bad deal, at all. He has receivers, too. Ask him about speakers. Don’t forget to listen to The Less Desirables podcast every week to hear what the UDR/TLD special of the week is. All my albums are archived on Discogs where I keep track of my collection, buy, sell (if I wanted) and share with others to see what they have and them what I have. Good resource.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I been laid off from work. My rent is due. My kids all need brand new shoes. So I went to the bank to see what they could do. They said son – looks like bad luck got-a hold on you. Money’s too tight to mention. I can’t get an unemployment extension. Money’s too tight to mention.” – “Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)” (Valentine/Valentine)