On April 12 2010, KFC introduced the new Double Down sandwich. As you may probably know, it's a bunless sandwich consisting of two pieces of boneless chicken filets (your choice of Original Recipe or grilled), two slices of bacon, two slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese, and Colonel's sauce. As KFC says, there's so much chicken there’s no room for a bun. You can read more about The Double Down here on the KFC website.
So far, the sandwich sammich has been called everything from "delicious" to "disturbing and totally disgusting". What are your thoughts?
With just over 40% of the vote, the Bill Murray/Andie McDowell comedy Groundhog Day was selected as the 1990s movie I should watch next. Something I learned today which fascinated me is that Groundhog Day was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 2006 as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Damn... I didn't know it was like that! Click here so you can see that Groundhog Day is in esteemed company.
I plan on watching Groundhog Day within the next month. Once I do, I will post my review here.
Here are the final poll results:
Groundhog Day- 43%
The Big Lebowski- 31%
American Beauty- 12%
Pump Up the Volume and Sling Blade- 9% each
Magnolia- 4%
Thanks to everyone who let their voice be heard in this poll!
Born In the U.S.A.- Bruce Springsteen Cherish What Is Dear To You (While It's Near To You)- Freda Payne Treat Her Like A Lady- Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose Life In A Northern Town- The Dream Academy Theme from One Day At A Time (Valerie Bertinelli's 50th birthday) Summer- Buffalo Tom Back On the Chain Gang- The Pretenders Psychedelic Shack- The Temptations
Now & Then segment's feat. artist: The Scorpions Spirit of Rock (from their 2010 album Sting In the Tail) Still Loving You (released in 1984)
Theme from The Six Million Dollar Man (Lee Majors' 70th birthday) Now That We Found Love- Heavy D. & the Boyz Could It Be Magic- Donna Summer It's My Life- Talk Talk Golden Time of Day- Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
8 pm hour
What's Up- 4 Non Blondes Am I Wrong- Love Spit Love Outstanding- The Gap Band Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)- Joe Tex Heartache Tonight- The Eagles Will the Wolf Survive- Los Lobos Millenium- Robbie Williams Sign Your Name- Terence Trent D'Arby Wild Night- John Mellencamp & Meshell Ndegeocello I Feel For You- Chaka, Chaka, Chaka, Chaka Khan Come and Get Your Love- Redbone Badge- Fanny Round & Round- Ratt
The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Am I Wrong by Love Spit Love
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting singer/songwriter Justin Nozuka. He came to the office where I work to perform a few songs from his sophomore album You I Wind Land and Sea (which came out on April 13, 2010). If you are into acoustic pop/rock with a soulful edge, I think you'll enjoy this album. For those not familiar with Justin, his voice is reminiscent of Robin Thicke's. When I heard You I Wind Land and Sea for the first time, I enjoyed it... but it gets better with each listen.
One aspect I appreciate is the subtle stylistic shifts throughout the album. For example, the title track has a gospel feel (in addition to a wah-wah guitar solo). "Swan in the Water" starts off quietly with light accompaniment behind Justin's heartfelt vocals, but slowly builds to a mid-tempo groove before coming full circle back to its peaceful beginning. "Woman Put Your Weapon Down" features a first-rate guitar solo by one of Justin's band members, Mark Pellizzer. He accompanied Justin during his performance at my workplace and in between songs, Justin graciously made a point to mention Mark's guitar work on this track.
Justin even has a connection to this guy! When I mentioned the connection to Justin, he smiled and asked how I knew about it. Ah, the wonders of Wikipedia! Ironically, one of the songs on You I Wind Land and Sea is titled "Soulless Man". Check out Justin's music because he is anything but soulless.
My grade for You I Wind Land and Sea: B+
Below is a clip of Justin Nozuka performing an acoustic version of "Heartless", one of my favorite tracks from You I Wind Land and Sea. The performance took place at this year's Mayercraft Songwriter Panel. You can also catch Justin on The CBS Saturday Early Show the morning of 4/24.
Yes, it's time for you to make your voice heard and vote for a movie I'm interested in seeing, but haven't yet. This time I've selected six movies from the 1990s. The movie with the most votes is the one I will watch next. Once I watch it, I'll post a review. Feel free to post in the comments section why you feel that I should watch the movie that you chose.
Radio inspired many songs, what is your favorite? "Life Is A Rock, But the Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion
Do you still listen to the radio? Why/Why not?
Yes, because I like to take a break from listening to CDs while in my car. I also enjoy the feeling of discovering a song or hearing one that I haven't heard in awhile. In addition to listening in the car, I also occasionally stream stations at home (this is how I listen to the classic alternative show "Time Warp with Cristina" Sunday mornings from 8-noon on 89X.)
What's your favorite station? WDRQ, 93.1 (aka "Doug FM"). It's format is "Variety Hits".
Are there any songs you discovered on the radio? Yes.
What are they? Although the number of songs is countless, a recent one comes to mind: "He's Mine" by The Platters. I was listening to Little Walter's Time Machine a couple of Saturdays ago and heard it. It's the only single of theirs I know of that features the female member (Zola Taylor) on lead vocals. I didn't even know the song existed, but I looked it up and found that it reached #23 pop and #5 R&B.
Since it's April 15, here is a clip from part 1 of an episode of The Beatles' 1960s Saturday morning cartoon in which they perform "Taxman". The clip also includes a sing-along segment to another popular tune by The Fab Four... enjoy!
This past weekend, actress Dixie Carter passed away due to complications of endometrial cancer at the age of 70. Without a doubt, her best known role was as Julia Sugarbaker on the sitcom Designing Women (1986-1993). One of the highlights of many Designing Women episodes was when the outspoken, liberal Julia would go on a rant that would leave her adversary literally speechless. The scene below, which is very timely considering the divisive political climate in this country, is from the 1988 episode "The Candidate":
Ironically, Carter was a registered Republican who described her political views as libertarian. One thing I learned over the weekend was that because Carter disagreed with many of the commentaries she had to deliver as Julia, she made a deal with the producers that for every speech she gave, Julia would get to sing a song in a future episode. When viewers were treated to scenes such as the one below (from the 1990 episode "Payne Grows Up"), I'd say a song for each speech was a good trade-off.
Do you have any favorite moments from Dixie Carter's career? If so, please share them in the comments section.
In the recent poll in which I asked readers how they felt about Tiger Woods' return to golf for the 2010 Masters, over 40% of you said that you had no rooting interest. Since it's not self-explanatory as to why one voted the way they did, I wish that people had elaborated in the comments section. Although it's likely that those rooting against Tiger did so based on the extra extra-marital affairs he had, there may be some who disliked him before they knew he was cheating on his wife. My opinion of Tiger Woods the golfer hasn't changed at all. I rooted for him pre-November 25, 2009 and I continue to do so. Although I'm not condoning anyone cheating on their spouse, the Tiger Woods controversy was blown out of proportion. The way some in the media/public reacted, you'd think Tiger murdered and/or raped somebody.
Here are the final results:
Poll question- How do you feel about Tiger Woods' return to golf for the 2010 Masters?
I'm neutral like Sweden- 44% I'll be rooting against him- 29% I'll be rooting for him- 25%
Long Train Running- The Doobie Brothers My Drawers- The Time Push It- Salt-N-Pepa Go To Hell- Alice Cooper Half A World Away- R.E.M. Stay- Shakespears Sister Mr. Cabdriver (live)- Lenny Kravitz
The Guilty Pleasure of the Week: I Think I Love You- The Partridge Family
Albert Flasher- The Guess Who Turning Japanese- The Vapors Words- Missing Persons Around the Way Girl- LL Cool J Never Stop- Brand New Heavies Rock Creek Park- The Blackbyrds
8 pm hour
Naughty Naughty- John Parr Feel It Again- Honeymoon Suite The Love You Save- The Jackson Five "Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)" Kiss the Rain- Billie Myers Jackie Blue- The Ozark Mountain Daredevils I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man- Prince
Now & Then segment's featured artist: Natalie Merchant It Makes A Change (from her 2010 CD Leave Your Sleep) Trouble Me- 10,000 Maniacs
Jealous Again- The Black Crowes Dance Hall Days- Wang Chung Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car- Billy Ocean So It Goes- Nick Lowe Crazy On You- Heart
The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car by Billy Ocean
As a tribute for creator/exec-producer Matthew Wiener, during the wrap party for the 3rd season of the Emmy-winning series Mad Men, the cast and crew put together a video in which they sing along with or lip-synch to Ann-Margret's version of the title song to the 1963 movie Bye Bye Birdie. Be sure to stick around for the last two minutes of the video for bloopers, false starts, and assorted silliness.
Unfortunately, Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris) does not take part in the video. For fans of the luscious redhead, here's a two-fer:
What other songs from the "Mad Men" era would you like to see the cast & crew perform for future wrap parties?
Tate Modern And Soho
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I've got these galleries in Soho mixed up in these pics. I just want to
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My Family's History In "Old Whitehaven"
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Recently, I turned some of the research I've collected on my family's
history into an article. The article, *"Tracing My Black Roots In Old
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Ding, Dong! Mafia Calling (with April Flowers)
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[Bobby] needs some solid legal experience and this job should provide it.
--President John F. Kennedy joking to Department of Justice official Ronald
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OK, firstly would love to get to a date.
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Music Review: The Pre-Amps - Covers
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Surviving a Breakup and Moving On
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breakups are the worst. And, as has been predicted since day one...
This Old Blog
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Natalie Morales Moves To Access Hollywood
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*Today * fooled you this time. You thought it was one happy family and the
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REO - Washing the Blues Away
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Wuz up to all my buds out there... or at least to those who are still
subscribed. Hard core man, hard core. Well I know it's been awhile but I'm
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Squeezing It All In
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We’re down to the last few weeks of summer – school starts on Sept. 3 for
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With Sadness
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The Next Big Thing?
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Some very...
Band from Poland: Psychohollywood
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I love it when bands send me an email or a CD and ask me to check them
out. Sadly, I haven't been doing much with music lately due to LIFE.
These guys s...
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