Café Diem

Jesus

2012-01-14T08:24:00.001-06:00

Kristy McNichol Comes Out

2012-01-10T18:06:00.000-06:00

I've suspected for years...

From an article at People.com

Kristy McNichol Wants to "Be Open About Who I Am"

Kristy McNichol has been out of the public eye for 20 years. Now she's chosen to come out – to try to help kids who are being bullied.

McNichol, 49, who has lived with her partner Martie Allen, also 49, (photo of both below) for the past two decades, decided to make a statement about her sexuality and share this photo because she is "approaching 50" and wants to "be open about who I am."

She "is very sad about kids being bullied," her publicist Jeff Ballard tells PEOPLE. "She hopes that coming out can help kids who need support. She would like to help others who feel different."

Best known for her Emmy Award-winning role as Buddy Lawrence in the '70s show Family and later as Barbara Weston in Empty Nest, McNichol left it all behind when she dropped out of Hollywood to focus on her health.

Done with acting, McNichol spends her time focusing on tennis, yoga, travel and raising her beloved miniature dachshunds. "She is very happy and healthy," says Ballard. "And she enjoys living a very private life."

Childhood Stories: At The Movies

2011-12-23T18:03:00.001-06:00

Earlier this week, Carlos and I were watching a new series on the Turner Classic Movies channel called TCM's Night at the Movies, with the first episode concentrating on Thrillers.

Other episodes - that have been aired, but we haven't seen yet - are entitled:
The Horrors of Stephen King (which I'm looking forward to)
The Gigantic World of Epics

The discussion of thrillers and movies reminded me of a couple of stories from my childhood.

When my sister Christine and I were kids, our parentsthought that the movie theater was a great babysitter when they got tiredof us and couldn't send us off to the local swimming pool.

Our mom would bring us to Lakeside Theatre, pick out a movie, and come back for us two hours later.

I remember one specific time our mom was trying topick a movie for us to see, she saw the title The Boys from Brazil. Since she usually picked our movies by the titles - she rarely read aboutthem beforehand - she remarked: "That sounds like a great adventure movie."

The plot to The Boys from Brazil: "In this thriller based on Ira Levin's novel, young Naziseeker Barry Kohler (Steve Guttenberg) stumbles on the trail of the infamous"Angel of Death," Dr. Josef Mengele (Gregory Peck), who is planningto resurrect Hitler's vision in South America. But when Kohler shares thisinformation with seasoned Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman (Sir Laurence Olivier),Lieberman doesn't take the information seriously until he makes his own grimdiscovery."

I was 10 years old.

Lucky for us kids, we decided on another movie.

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Growing up, our family didn't bother with the concept ofmovie start times. Whenever we were ready to see a movie, we wouldall pile into the car, buy tickets for the movie we wanted to see, and walkinto the theater.

More often than not, we were walking into themiddle of the movie. No worries. We would stay until the end of themovie, wait during the break, see the movie from the beginning to the partthat we had walked into - and then leave.

I didn't realize until I was in high school that movies were much more enjoyable in order.

Recipe: Potato Salad

2011-12-18T18:58:00.000-06:00

This is the dish I am bring to Christmas Day dinner - the BEST Potato Salad I have ever eaten. I have made it a few times and gotten rave reviews each time.

The Best Potato Salad

The recipe is originally from All Recipes.

Ingredients:

6 eggs

10 red potatoes

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup ranch dressing

1/3 cup dill pickle relish

2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon celery seed

1 onion, chopped

1/4 cup pepperoncini (optional)

1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)

Directions:

Place the eggs into a saucepan in a single layer and fillwith water to cover the eggs by 1 inch. Cover the saucepan and bring the waterto a boil over high heat. Remove from the heat and let the eggs stand in thehot water for 15 minutes. Pour out the hot water; cool the eggs under coldrunning water in the sink. Peel and chop the cooled eggs.

Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with water.Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, andsimmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and refrigerate until cold. Peeland cube once cold.

Stir together the mayonnaise, ranch dressing, relish,mustard, salt, pepper, paprika, and celery seed in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs,potatoes, onion, pepperoncini, and olives; stir until evenly mixed. Cover andrefrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

My Notes:

I do not peal the potatoes, but leave the skins on.

I don't add the pepperoncini, but do add the black olives. Since I'm in New Orleans, I use Creole Mustard instead of Yellow Mustard.

Four Rooms; Four People

2011-12-18T18:41:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted an update on my office goings on in awhile.

This past week, our office turned into a logic puzzle. First the set up...

Our office consists of four rooms.

Room 1: Monica
Room 2: Pat and I
Room 3: Keisa and our large (70 copies per minute) copy machine
Room 4: Storage and our lunch room

When we moved into our current office three years ago, I was in Room 3 by myself. That lasted about a week when I switched with Keisa because I didn't want to be in a room by myself.

Early last week, Pat requested that she and the copy machine be moved closer to each other. She is our Copy Coordinator and uses the copy machine the most. She is also our, uh, most senior employee - in her late 50's - and says that her feet sometimes hurt her. Plus, she has arthritis.

The obvious answer was to switch Keisa and Pat. Keisa didn't want to switch. She likes the solitude. Even though I'm the boss, I didn't feel it my place to force the move.

Our next solution was to move the copy machine closer to Pat's desk. We tried that for less than a day, but - because our building and electrical set up is from the 1930's - we kept blowing circuits.

Switching Pat with Monica was not an option. Monica's office has exactly one plug. See previous paragraph.

As we were having our third brainstorming meeting, I mentioned to everyone the puzzle about the fox, the goose and the bag of beans - and how our situation could be viewed as a logic puzzle.

After a few more moves, we ended up moving the copy machine and Pat into Room 4 - and are hoping the electrical set up supports our plan. I also advised Pat that she should keep her original desk in Room 2. I believe that she'll get "lonely" in Room 4 by herself. She's the type of person that needs to talk to someone all day long.

We'll see how this move evolves. For now, we have an office of four people in four rooms.

Paris Trip - The Details II

2011-12-16T18:19:00.001-06:00

Continuing from this post...

On Monday, after another petit dejeuner, we walked down Boulevard Henry IV...

stopped in a park...

walked down to the Seine...

over Pont Sully...

and stopped at the Institut du Monde Arabe or Arab World Institute, per Jason's request. Unfortunately, the Institute was closed. Too bad: The architecture outside was cool...

We then headed to one of Carlos's requests: the Paris bookstore filled with English Language books - Shakespeare and Company. Yes, that is me in these pictures...

I bought the book The Seven Ages of Paris by Alistair Horne, which seemed appropriate, making sure I had the clerk stamp my book.

On the way back to our hotel for a nap, we passed by Notre Dame again...

an old building (when Paris calls a building old, it's OLD)...

fantastic food on nearly every corner...

and a random carnival.

After our rest, we had our most traditionally French - and I think best - meal on our trip at a restaurant called Cafe Louis Philippe.

Their website (but in French)

Their Yelp entry

Their Foursquare entry

Our perspective...

And that was Monday (Day 4 of 9).

Video: "I Gave My Kids A Terrible Present"

2011-12-16T17:19:00.000-06:00

I have never actually seen Jimmy Kimmel Live, but after the "I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy" video and this new one below - "I Gave My Kids A Terrible Present", I think I may have to start watching.

Boycot Lowe's

2011-12-13T19:25:00.000-06:00

From Entertainment Weekly's website:

Lowe's pulls ads from "All-American Muslim" after "ordinary" portrayal protested

A TLC reality show offering a positive portrayal of Muslim life has come under protest and at least one advertiser has pulled its support.

Hardware store giant Lowe’s has yanked ads from the series after the Florida Family Association encouraged members to email the program’s advertisers.

“The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish,” the group said about the show, a docu-soap chronicling everyday Muslim families in Dearborn, Michigan that debuted last month. “Clearly this program is attempting to manipulate Americans into ignoring the threat of jihad and to influence them to believe that being concerned about the jihad threat would somehow victimize these nice people in this show.”

The organization posted a letter allegedly from a Lowe’s representative agreeing to pull its ads: “While we continue to advertise on various cable networks, including TLC, there are certain programs that do not meet Lowe’s advertising guidelines, including the show you brought to our attention. Lowe’s will no longer be advertising on that program.”

Lowe’s then acknowledged and defended its decision on Twitter: “We did not pull our ads based solely on the complaints or emails of any one group. It is never our intent to alienate anyone. Lowe’s values diversity of thought in everyone, including our employees and prospective customers.”

Florida Family Association also suggested Home Depot and Sweet’n Low have been scared off, but emails posted from the companies say they only bought one ad each in the first place. All told, the organization claims its email campaign has convinced 65 companies to stop advertising with the show.

Now the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has weighed in and is calling on its membership to support the show — and to contact Lowe’s. “Sadly corporations, such as Lowe’s, have succumbed to the idiocracy of such garbage campaigns, which are orchestrated by groups and organizations which lack credibility, legitimacy, and are founded on the basic notions of bigotry and racism reminiscent of a shameful era in this country’s history,” said the organization in a statement.

A TLC spokesperson wouldn’t discuss the protest, but told EW: “We stand behind the show All American Muslim and we’re happy the show has strong advertising support.”

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Here's a link to the story.

Here's a story about Lowe's sort of apology.

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From Kal Penn's Twitter feed: “Our next movie: ‘Harold & Kumar Do Not Go To @Lowes. Please take a sec to sign & support an all-American show.”

Shuggie Otis

2011-12-02T20:29:00.001-06:00

A few months ago, I was listening to WTUL and heard Shuggie Otis's song Strawberry Letter 23 for the first time in 30 years.

I heard the song again today and was planning on researching all the songs that sampled it.

Then I came across this video, which did all the work for me...

If you want to see for yourself, here is The Brothers Johnson cover version of the song...

Outkast's Ms. Jackson that samples the song...

And Beyonce's Be With You that samples the song and lyrics...

Paris Trip - The Details I

2011-12-02T18:23:00.001-06:00

Carlos, Jason, Brandon and I spent seven days (plus a few travel days) in Paris, returning late night on Saturday, November 26.

If you want the 2:52 Short Attention Span Version of our Trip, click the video below.

If you want the details...

We left Friday morning, November 18 to catch a flight around noon. After a layover in Houston, we arrived in Paris around 8 am Saturday (November 19) morning. On the Paris flight over, I think I slept the most - and I slept only about 90 minutes.

Between finding an ATM, navigating the Metro, getting food and locating our hotel, we arrived around 11 am, tired and ready for some sleep. After checking into our hotel, we napped for about an hour and then went exploring....

Through a market a few blocks from our hotel...

Past the Bastille (now a ~~traffic circle~~ roundabout)...

To Notre Dame, where we spent a few hours, including eating freshly-made crepes and hanging out in the park behind Notre Dame ...

Through the outside of the Louvre and the surrounding area...

And that was Saturday (Day 2 of 9).

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Sunday (November 20) we spent at the Louvre. The last time I was in Paris, I went to the Louvre, but in the six hours I was there, I was only able to see the Denon wing. This time - in our kind-of-rushed-eight-hour journey - we made it all the way through the Denon wing, through all of the Richelieu wing (including the Medieval Louvre, which I find fascinating) and through the majority of the Sully wing. I feel there is still so much that we didn't see that I could go back again. Next time.

Here are some pictures to help convey how large the museum is...

After 9+ hours at the Louvre, we decided to tackle walking down the entire distance of the Champs-Élysées...

(stopping in shops along the way) to the Arc de Triomphe - and then walking up these steps to the top!

The view made it worth the trip (and the leg cramps)...

And that was Sunday (Day 3 of 9).

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I'll fill in more details, day by day, as I have time in the coming weeks.

Have you been to Paris? We're going back in 2013. Let me know your recommendations for places to go.

Tourist In Your Own Town - 2011

2011-11-13T10:35:00.001-06:00

For the 5th year in a row,Carlos and I spent a long weekend (the first weekend in October) playingtourist in the New Orleans French Quarter.

Hereis a link to all our past adventures.

This year's theme was LiveMusic, though we ignored the theme once we arrived.

As we have thepast three years, we stayed at my parent’s bed and breakfast. I keep lobbyingfor us to stay at a proper hotel as we did the first year, but Carlos likes thefamily aspect.

I livestrolling through the French Market. Carlos loves taking the streetcar. We both love eating out and movies.

I am definitely not afood writer and I have forgotten most of whatwe actually ate, but I do remember my general feeling about the food and the restaurant - so here's a description of our weekend guided by our food choices.

Friday Lunch

The Gumbo Shop

C+

I had theChicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo to see if it was better than what I cook. Itwasn’t. We have traditionally started off our Tourist Weekend here,but I think we’ll find a new tradition. If I can cook gumbo better than a place called The Gumbo Shop, it's time for us to move on.

Friday Dinner

Mojitos Rum Bar& Grill

B+

Better than wethought it would be. I think we pre-judged the place because it has changednames so many times over the years. The outside courtyard was packed, witheveryone listening to the band. We ended up inside, which was sparselyfilled. Very nice.

Saturday Breakfast

Croissant d’OrPatisserie

We arrived alittle before 9 am. By 9:15, there was a serious line out the door – andlimited seating. If you want to eat here, go early. Carlos, Jason, Brandon and I are going to Paris for a week for Thanksgiving. When I return, I'll re-judge this place against the best Patisseries in the world.

Saturday Lunch

Mona Lisa Pizza

Pie and Sliceare my top two pizza places in the city, butMona Lisa is aclose third.

Saturday Dinner

Drago’s Seafood Restaurant

CharbroiledOysters: A+

Everything elsein our meal: C-

Carlos had theShrimp and Grits with Tasso. I had the Shuckee Duckee: "Blackened duck breast over linguinipasta with oysters and cream sauce". We both ate about 1/4 of our maindishes and later on tossing the To Go boxes. This isanother Tourist Weekend tradition that we’re going to change next year.

Sunday Breakfast

El Gato Negro

A wonderful new tradition. The rating isfor the El Gato Negro in the French Quarter, not the one onHarrison Avenue. I have heard that location isterrible.

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Our OtherActivities

Friday Night Movie

50/50

B+

Though Ithought it would be more of a comedy. Carlos’s response: “It’sabout a guy getting cancer. How funny did you think it would be?”

My thinking is a bit shallow, but I don't follow Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an actor because I don't think he's cute.

I have to respect his talent, however, because he's starred in some of my favorite movies:

Inception

(500) Days of Summer

Brick (still one of my all-time favorite movies - I sat Jason and Carlos through it one New Year's Eve a few years ago during our night of "Everyone bring the best movie/TV show right now you want to share".) I still agree with my decision.

Mysterious Skin

Latter Days (one of the best ever gay-themed movies)

Spice and Tea Exchange of New Orleans

A+

A hugeselection of spices and teas.

I bought:

Black Chocolate Tea (my favorite)

Plus the sales guy was cute.

Presbytere Museum: Katrina Exhibit

A+

This was Carlos's idea. We both museums. He saw the promotion for this exhibit during last year's trip.

Of course, we both lived through Katrina so it was very moving.We spent nearly three hours watching the videos and looking at the photos. It's definitely a must see!

Santa’s Quarters

I bought Purple, Greenand Gold ornaments for two people on my Christmas list. This business has been around since the 1980's. With such a niche marketing idea, I don't understand how, but if you're in New Orleans - no matter what season - it's definitely worth the stop.

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We also stopped at numerous art galleries on Royal Street. I'm always looking for wall art. But none of their wares struck me. Maybe next year.

We also spent a couple of hours perusing the French Market along Decatur Street - both on Saturday afternoon, before waiting for the Riverfront Streetcar to go to Drago's and then again Sunday morning after breakfast. I bought presents for my cousin Casie - I picked her name in this year's family gift giving - and my brother-in-law Jeff. Casie lives in Austin and Jeff lives in Atlanta. I bought them gifts to remind them of New Orleans.

By the time Carlos and I left Sunday afternoon, our stomachs were full and our wallets were empty.

I feel that's a great way to give back to my city.

New Orleans. Proud To Call It Home.

Carlos wants to move our Tourist Town weekends to the spring so we're going to skip October 2012 and have Tourist In Own Town VI in March 2013.

Stay tuned.

Post Scrips II

2011-11-13T08:53:00.001-06:00

Back in June 2011, I updated a few past posts. As I type this, it is Sunday morning and Carlos is still in bed - so I have a few minutes to update some other posts, which I have been meaning to do for awhile.

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Update to Gardening: Year Two
and
Gardening: Year Two, Week Three

The Summer 2011 here in New Orleans was very dry for about two months. Then we had tons of rain for about a month. This year's crop - green bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, jalapenos, and snap beans - shriveled up in the heat. And then were drowned out by the rain.

NOTHING grew this year. Next year, I'll try bell peppers, cucumbers, snap beans (which seemed to do the best this year) and onions - a new choice, that Monica, a friend of mine at work, tells me grows well.

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Update to Fun with Remodeling

At the end of the post, I wrote, "Once all this is completed, I’ll post before and after pictures". Well, I completed the office remodeling project in February 2008, but never got around to posting pictures. Thanks to a reader (Hey Iona!) for pointing that out. Here are before and after pictures of my office / guest room.

Back wall...

Front Wall...

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And an update to a very recent post...

Update to An Evening with Stephen King

"The doors open at 6:30 pm." My plan was to pick up Carlos at 5 pm, eat at a restaurant about a block away from the event, and get in line at 6 pm. We altered our plans a bit and ended up getting there about 5:45 pm. This is what we saw:

The entrance was on the other side of the block - meaning that the line snaked around the front of the building, down the entire left side of the block, and back to near the middle of the next side of the block - where we joined it.

By the time, everyone was let in at 6:30 pm, the line almost joined back to itself at the front of the building. In the auditorium, we were in the middle - so the seating wasn't too bad.

We received a free book with our ticket. Only 250 out of 2000 were signed - randomly distributed. I got one!

Since I'm also in the Stephen King Book Club, I will also receive the book within the next month. I'll give that copy to charity.

Carlos and I ate at the newest location of New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Company on St. Charles Avenue. New Orleans has many, many great restaurants so there is really no reason to eat at a chain. This chain is the only one I enjoy.

These Go To 11

2011-11-11T18:58:00.001-06:00

Combining three of my favorite things:
the movie Spinal Tap
great music played loud
NPR

NPR's All Songs Considered had a story this morning - because of 11/11/11 - of...

These Go To 11: Songs Best Heard Extra-Loud

There's no denying certain songs are best experienced when played as loud as possible. Since this Friday, 11/11/11, is Nigel Tufnel Day — the unofficial holiday honoring the fictional Spinal Tap guitarist, who cranked his amplifiers past 10 — this week's episode is all about the songs that instantly make you want to turn the volume up.

Click the link above or here to read the entire article - and to hear all the music.

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Here is a short, partial list of songs that I turn to 11:

Renegades of Funk - Rage Against The Machine

Oh Yeah - The Subways

Think the drummer's cute? Watch the video for him shirtless. Think the singer's cute? Go to my other blog to a post from 2008.

Sabotage - The Beastie Boys

Recently Distressed - Phantom Planet

Phantom Planet is the band that also sang California and whose original drummer was the actor Jason Schwartzman. Here's an live version of the song, before Jason Schwatzman left the band in 2004.

Think the singer is cute? He's Alex Greenwald. He did some Gap commercials...

And appeared in one of my all-time favorite movies...

Vagabond - Wolfmother

The version of the song from the excellent movie (500) Days of Summer where I discovered the song...

The whole song...

A Life of Illusion - Joe Walsh

The Bucket - Kings of Leon

Inside Out - Eve 6

Dammit - Blink 182

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What are yours?

Video: "I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy"

2011-11-11T18:13:00.001-06:00

From Jimmy Kimmel Live on November 2...

So mean. So funny!

A Guide To Safe Social Media

2011-11-02T19:19:00.001-05:00

For my friends who spent too much time updating everyone on their status. You know who you are.

O Death

2011-10-14T20:35:00.000-05:00

My friend JoLynn's dad died this week.

Here is how she described his death to me today at the wake:
"He had a stroke a few years ago and has been bedridden since. On Tuesday, he called to Linda [his wife] that he wasn't feeling well, and asked her to sit him up. As she did, they held hands and said the Our Father. He died at 'thy kingdom come...'."

The funeral home was packed: He had seven siblings, and came from a large Italian Catholic family.

He was 68.

Funerals always get me thinking about mortality.

My dad is 77. Although he is very active ~~for his age~~, his prostate cancer has returned (though he is positive his current treatment will again cure him). I know that one day - hopefully not soon - we will lose him. As JoLynn's dad's mass was going on, my mind was wandering toward which funeral mass I would be attending next. I love my dad. I hope it is not his.

My mind was also wandering toward:
- I don't own a proper wedding/funeral suit. My current one is too small in the waist. I need to give it to Brandon - my only friend who is smaller than I am.
- Who would be the pallbearers in my funeral?
- Who would be the pallbearers in my dad's funeral?

Related Musical Interlude I ...

From (one of the best shows ever!) Supernatural episode "Two Minutes To Midnight": O Death by Jen Titus. ("Embedding Disabled by Request")

Funerals remind me of past funerals. I've been to too many. Tonight, I started to compile a list to post here, but it just felt distasteful while typing "Robert B. - 19 years old, Car Accident, returning from Biloxi while attending an Aerosmith concert, 1988".

This time, instead of posting a list, I think I'll keep these memories close.

Related Musical Interlude II ...

An Evening with Stephen King

2011-09-30T20:34:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited...

From the Octavia Books web site (Support your independent book seller!):

An Evening With Stephen King - 11/22/63: A Novel

Author Event

Start: 11/12/2011 6:30 pm

Doors open at 6:30PM, program will start promptly at 7:30PM. Please arrive early.

Please join us for an exciting evening with Stephen King presenting his new novel, 11/22/63.

We are holding the event at The Academy of the Sacred Heart's Nims Fine Arts Center, 4301 St. Charles Avenue (at Napoleon Avenue).

Tickets:

Free with pre-purchase of 11/22/63first edition by Stephen King from Octavia Books, redeemable for a copy of the book at the event. We strongly recommend thatyou pre-purchase now by coming to Octavia Books or calling us at during storehours at 504-899-7323. Tickets may also be purchased online by clicking here. You must pay for your tickets at the time you reserve them.

A total of 250 first editions of 11/22/63 will be signed by Stephen King prior to the event and will be blended in randomly with the copies available to all ticket holders.

ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963, THREE SHOTS RANG OUT IN DALLAS, PRESIDENT KENNEDY DIED, AND THE WORLD CHANGED.

WHAT IF YOU COULD CHANGE IT BACK? In this brilliantly conceived tour de force, Stephen King—who has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writer—takes readers on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it.
It begins with Jake Epping, a thirty-five-year-old English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching GED classes. He askshis students to write about an event that changed their lives, and one essay blows him away—a gruesome, harrowing story about the night more than fifty years ago when Harry Dunning's father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a sledgehammer. Reading theessay is a watershed moment for Jake, his life—like Harry's, like America's in 1963—turning on a dime. Not much later his friend Al, who owns the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to the past, a particular day in 1958. And Al enlists Jake to take over themission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination.
So begins Jake's new life as George Amberson, in adifferent world of Ike and JFK and Elvis, of big American cars and sockhops and cigarette smoke everywhere. From the dank little city of Derry, Maine (where there's Dunning business to conduct), to the warmhearted small town of Jodie, Texas, where Jake falls dangerously in love, every turn is leading eventually, of course, to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and to Dallas, where the past becomes heart-stoppingly suspenseful, and where history might not be history anymore. Time-travel has never been so believable. Or so terrifying.

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. Among his most recent are Full Dark No Stars, Blockade Billy, Under the Dome, Just After Sunset, the Dark Tower novels, Cell, From a Buick 8, Everything's Eventual, Hearts in Atlantis, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Lisey's Story and Bag of Bones. His acclaimed nonfiction book, On Writing,was recently re-released in a tenth anniversary edition. King was the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2007 he was inducted as a GrandMaster of the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in Maine with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

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Below is a picture of one of my book shelves...

Again, I'm very excited.

Paris Trip II

2011-09-30T20:01:00.000-05:00

Our Paris trip is getting closer. So close that I am asking my staff, "If you were standing in the middle of Paris, what would you buy?"
Pat - shot glass
Keisa - ash tray
Monica - ankle bracelet

Pat doesn't really drink except once in awhile with her bowling league. Keisa doesn't smoke. Monica, well, Monica is the type to wear an ankle bracelet. I'm so glad I quizzed them. I would have gotten all of them candles from Notre Dame or scarfs.

I was describing to them some of my favorite photos from our last trip to Paris in October 2011. Here are the ones I'm bring to work on Monday.

Lost...

Notre Dame at Night...

Everyone Planning For The Weather Change - Except Me (at the top of the Eiffel Tower)...

Painting the Painting (at the Louvre)...

Paris Trip

2011-09-27T17:36:00.000-05:00

Carlos, Jason, Brandon and I are spending Thanksgiving week in Paris. Carlos and I have been trying to get back there since our last trip there - and to other spots in France - in October 2007.

The four of met this past Saturday to discuss our plans - and then to watch Paris Je T'Aime.

Among other items, we discovered this about the weather via a travel web site:

The November Thermometer

Minimum temperature: 5 degrees C (41 degrees F)
Maximum temperature: 10 degrees C (50 degrees F)
Average temperature: 6 degrees C (42.8 degrees F)
Average rainfall: 54 millimeters (2.1 inches)

How to Pack

November in Paris is rainy and chilly, with low temperatures approaching freezing. Factor in wind chill and fewer daylight hours and you'll immediately understand why your suitcase should be well-stocked with plenty of sweaters, scarves, coats, and warm socks.
An umbrella and/or a waterproof jacket with a hood are a must in this wet season.
In terms of footwear, you don't necessarily need boots, but suede shoes or shoes made of any non-waterproof material are to be left at home. If you enjoy sporting heels, remember to bring at least one pair of flat shoes for walking, as the streets and even metro stairs can be slick from the rain.
A light pair of gloves will make walking around the city more comfortable.
You may also want to think about bringing a small thermos so you can warm yourself with hot coffee or tea while seeing the sights.

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My To Pack list now includes a heavy coat, a scarf, gloves and a wool hat.

I'll post more details about our upcoming Paris trip soon.

Quotes I Live By III

2011-09-23T21:16:00.000-05:00

As I walk through my day, many thoughts pass through my mind. Here are some quotes by others that reflect ideas I think.

Take your work seriously, never yourself.

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even. - Ann Landers

The skill in attending a party is knowing when to leave.

Angry people want you to see how powerful they are...loving people want you to see how powerful you are. - Chief Red Eagle

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For past quotes, click here.

Fall 2011 Television

2011-09-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

For us TV junkies, the Fall is the best time of the year. New shows to sample. Old shows returning.

Here are my Top Ten Television Shows I'm Looking Forward To - Fall 2011...

10. Grimm (New Show - NBC, Friday nights) - I've always been a fan of fairy tales. This show proposes that those tales were real - are running around New York City. It could be interesting; it could be very lame. I'll watch the first episode and decide.

9. Terra Nova (New Show - FOX, Monday nights) - Time travel. I'm hooked before I even see an episode. I love good time travel yarns - the 2007 TV series Journeyman, the 1989 movie Millennium, (though it seems everyone else hates this movie), the 1995 movie 12 Monkeys, the 1979 movie Time After Time - but will quickly turn against bad ones - 2003's Timeline, no matter how cute Paul Walker is; 2004's The Butterfly Effect or any of its sequels - so I'll watch this show just based on that one point.

8. The Amazing Race (CBS, Sunday nights) - My friend Debbie turned me onto this show about five seasons into its run. I'm not a huge fan of reality shows. Except for Survivor, I really don't watch reality TV - though I did watch The Real World through the first New Orleans season. As far as The Amazing Race, if I like the contestants, I stick around.

7. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX, Thursday nights) - Such subversive fun. The people remind me of my friends and I back in high school - if we ran an empty bar and were all sociopaths. Here's a typical scene from one of my favorite episodes:

6. The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Thursday nights) – The first season is still the best. (I think the show is on its fourth season now.) But it’s still the second funniest comedy on TV. The first? See further up my list.

5. The Good Wife (CBS, Sunday nights - moved from Tuesday nights) – Carlos and I sampled this show last season – the show’s first – and loved it. Bonus: Carlos can point out Julianna Margulies’s wig in every shot.

4. Survivor (CBS, Wednesday nights) – As with The Amazing Race, if I like the contestants, I stick around. With Survivor, however, I don’t think I have ever not liked the contestants enough to completely delete the show from my DVR – though certain seasons are definitely better than others.

3. Criminal Minds (CBS, Wednesday nights) - I also watch the reruns on Ion Television and A&E. According to my spreadsheet, I have seen every episode at least three times. I also talk with other fans via two different newsgroups. For those who watch the show, I'd like to tell you that there are two episodes that I refuse to watch again: 100 and Mosley Lane. They're just too disturbing. Sorry: No spoilers here for those who haven't seen the episodes, but if you're a fan of the series, I urge you to see those episodes – but only once. I have tried to indoctrinate Carlos into the show. He can't get past that much of the violence is against women. I can't blame him, but I look past it.

2. Modern Family (ABC, Wednesday nights) – Even when I’m home alone, I laugh out loud. By far, the best comedy on TV. This would be my choice as the best show on TV except for …

1. Supernatural (The CW, Friday nights) – I discovered this show in reruns on TNT during its third season. Until I caught up, I was watching older episodes – first through season five, then back around to season one – along with the newer season six at the same time. I even buy the monthly Supernatural magazine at Barnes and Noble.

Honorable Mention (in no particular order):

Two and a Half Men (CBS, Monday nights) - Just the first episode to see how Ashton Kutcher does. I've never liked this show. Maybe I will now. (Update: I watched the premiere last night. Nope, I still don’t like the show. Though the Darma and Greg cameo, a show also created by Chuck Lorre, was cute.)

Glee (Fox, Tuesday nights) - I have to like the show. It's in my Gay Agenda contract. But I've never really been crazy about it. Please don't turn me in. (Here are my past posts about Glee.)

The Vampire Diaries (The CW, Thursday nights) - I have seen exactly one episode, but Ian Somerhalder is one of my Top 20. Plus, he is from Mandeville - right across Lake Pontchartrain from me.

Bully Beatdown (MTV and MTV2, various nights) – Another reality show from Mark Burnett, the creator of Survivor. In each episode, show host Jason “Mayhem” Miller challenges bullies to fight against a professional mixed martial artist for a chance to win $10,000. The money they get depends on their performance against their opponent, with any money they don’t win going to the bully’s victims. It's great fun to see the bullies get their ass kicked.

1 Girl 5 Gays (Logo, various nights) – A Canadian talk show that premiered on MTV Canada in 2009 and on Logo in 2010. The female host sits down with a revolving cast of five gays to discuss love and sex. (Here is my past post about 1 Girl 5 Gays - from April 2011.) I used to love the show, but now that the novelty has worn off, I seek it out less and less.

Here are a few sample questions from the show:
Would you let someone go down on you if you hadn’t showered?
Is long hair sexy?
Describe your shortest-lasting sexual encounter.
Who would you do – John Stamos or Johnny Knoxville?

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What show are you most looking forward to this season?

Theme Dinners - Season 3

2011-09-16T18:08:00.000-05:00

Our Theme Dinners have started up again.

Season 1 was Fall 2010. Season 2 was Spring 2011. After this Season - Fall 2011 - I think we're only going to have them in the Fall. Spring is just too busy here in New Orleans.

Or we may end after Season 3. We'll see how this Season goes. Like any good "show"that ends with everyone wanting more - think M.A.S.H., Seinfeld, Mary Tyler Moore - we want to end on a high instead of limping to an embarrassing end - think Mad About You, Scrubs, Laverne & Shirley.

To recap, here have been ALL the Themes we have used so far...

Season 1 -
Episode 1: Cold Food
Episode 2: Vegetarian
Episode 3: Dish Rhymes with a Saints Player’s Name
Episode 4: Idioms (e.g. “Spill the Beans”, “Couch Potato”, “Sour Grapes”, “Cut the Cheese”, and so on)
Episode 5: Dish Based On Your Fantasy Place to Live
Episode 6 – Part 1 of 3: Appetizers Only
Episode 6 – Part 2 of 3: Dish Rhymes with the Name of a Celebrity
Episode 6 – Part 3 of 3: Food Must Be on a Stick

Season 2 -
Episode 1: Healthy Food
Episode 2: Dish That Reminds You of a Favorite Movie
Episode 3: In Honor of Valentine’s Day, The Dish You Love The Most
Episode 4: Mardi Gras Food (Purple, Green, Gold, or Parade Food)
Episode 5: Jeopardy (Each person picks a theme from a hat, but does not reveal. The night of our dinner, everyone tries to guess the themes.)

Season 3 -
Episode 1: Let Them Eat Cake

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Since Season 3, Episode 1 is fresh in my mind - because we met this past Wednesday - here is a list of dishes presented:

Christine - Tofu Cakes with Jicama Relish
Greg – Crab Cakes
Jason K. – Petit Fours on a really cute tiered platter. He named the presentation “Babette”.
Jason S. – Angel Hair Pasta with Crab Cakes & Marzipan Cake (though that may not be correct) (first place for both dishes)
Julie – British Fish Cakes and Chips with little British forks
Marshall – Potato Pancakes (third place)
Mary – Recession Cake (second place)

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A few people have dropped out this season. I am working on recruiting some fresh members. Everyone seems to be having fun, but we need a couple of dynamic personalities to lubricate the evening. I get nervous hosting any event. When I get nervous, I get quiet.

Jane Lynch

2011-09-16T17:43:00.000-05:00

NPR's Morning Edition interviewed Jane Lynch this morning. Somewhere during that 7 minutes and 20 seconds, I went to Amazon and bought her new book.

Here's the short version of the interview.

It's a big week for Jane Lynch. Her memoir, Happy Accidents, was released on Tuesday, and this Sunday night, she'll be hosting the Primetime Emmy Awards. And she's a reasonably good bet to pick one up, too: her second in a row for playing the scheming cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on Fox's Glee. On Friday's Morning Edition, she talks to David Greene about her career, her book, and the difficult process of telling her parents she was gay.

Lynch learned perseverance early after she quit a school play in which she'd been cast because she was afraid of making mistakes. Despite the fact that wanting to be an actress was her "first conscious memory," she became so afraid of failing that she walked away from the project. "That is the last time I walked away from anything," she says. "I've been a yes person now for a long time."

One person to whom she eagerly said yes was director Christopher Guest, whose work on so-called "mockumentaries" like This Is Spinal Tap and Waiting For Guffman she already admired when she met him when he directed her in a commercial for Frosted Flakes. Lynch and Guest ran into each other again later, and he cast her in his 2000 film Best In Show, where she played one-half of a dog-showing couple opposite Jennifer Coolidge. She went on to appear in Guest's A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration, as well as Judd Apatow's wildly popular The 40 Year Old Virgin, where she played Steve Carell's sexually accommodating boss who sings him what she says is a Guatemalan love song. As Lynch explains, though, the words come from a Spanish textbook and in fact vow to blame her mother for cleaning her room.

But in spite of her many successes, Lynch says it wasn't easy for her when she told her parents she was gay. "I went to see a therapist," she says, "because I was just suffering so much over this alienation I felt from my family." The therapist convinced her to try writing her parents a letter, with the understanding that, of course, she didn't have to send it. But when she wrote it and the words came easily, she sent it after all — which, she says, was undoubtedly the point of the exercise.

As she cruises into her high-profile hosting gig this weekend, Lynch says she's learned a lot about how to approach her own limitations: "I think the most important thing is that it's not like I'm done growing and evolving, but I certainly have so much more compassion and kindness for myself, and I have cut myself some slack."

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For the long version - or if you'd rather listen than read - follow this link and click on Listen To The Story.

Take A Sheet Ad Campaign

2011-09-16T17:36:00.000-05:00

From AdFreak, one of my daily blog stops...

Worst Ad Campaign of the Year? Sheets Energy Strips

This campaign for Sheets Energy Strips has to be the low point of 2011 advertising so far. This is a product you put in your mouth, yet it's being marketed with headlines that reference defecation. It's one thing to do a silly coupon—it's another to build a brand around this kind of thing. Pitbull (above) and LeBron James are among the company's celebrity endorsers (James is actually a co-founder of the company), but that won't do much to help its reputation—it'll just bring theirs down.

Here's a link to the original article.

Heaven by Brandi Carlile

2011-07-15T20:22:00.000-05:00

For those of you who watch the excellent show Friday Night Lights, the song played in the background when Matt asked Julie to marry him was Brandi Carlile's cover of Bryan Adams's song Heaven.

Tonight was the SERIES finale of Friday Night Lights. You'll be missed. More on that in another post.

Austin: The Mixed CD

2011-07-01T19:35:00.000-05:00

Carlos and I are driving to Austin next weekend. I recommended that we bring some music to pass the driving time. I recommended that we each throw out suggestions for themes of three mixed CD's. Then have each of us create playlists based on the suggestions. Besides the listening pleasure, I thought that our contrasting approaches to the themes would be intriguing.

For the math impaired: That's 12 CD's. Austin is 8.5 hours from New Orleans.

I gave Carlos my three themes tonight:
1998
Dance Music
Music From Movies

He told me earlier this week that he is working on his themes - and that the first two were easy (as were mine) and that he would send all three by late tonight.

Updates to our project as they evolve.

Austin, here we come!

Tennis Anyone?

2011-07-01T19:06:00.001-05:00

Carlos is a huge tennis fan. One of his default TV channels is the Tennis Channel. He is planning a trip for us to Austin to the Davis Cup the weekend of July 9th. (We're going on the cheap: Staying with my cousin, driving instead of flying, and so on).

He's such a fan of tennis that he even bought a $50 Wimbledon towel a couple of years ago.

Our friend Julie sent him this link to someone "who recreated the 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer in paper form. The video flips back and forth between two hands holding notebook pages that show where the ball was hit and what the score was. Combined with actual player/game noises and crowd cheering, it’s such a clever final product."

WIM•BLE•DON from BRYANKU on Vimeo.

It's fascinating. I've watched it a few times and can't figure out how the people know which pages to turn to in such a short amount of time.

Gay Marriage Sign

2011-06-30T21:05:00.000-05:00

Pass it on...

Found it at !! OMG BLOG !!

Song History: More Than A Feeling (Revisited)

2011-06-15T22:20:00.000-05:00

Update

The It Gets Better Project III

2011-06-14T21:56:00.001-05:00

I was searching around for shirtless pictures of Kyle Dean Massey - for a Yahoo group that I run called Male Stars Shirtless, 836 Members strong - and came across his It Gets Better video. It's one of the better ones I've seen.

Kyle Dean Massey's It Gets Better Video

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Here is my other recent favorite video for the It Gets Better Project from someone named Billy Nilles - mainly because he's cute.

I saw Billy Nilles as part of the new commercial for Google Chrome...

I tear up every time I see it.

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Here are my two earlier posts about the It Gets Better Project.

Best Drummer Ever?

2011-06-11T23:24:00.000-05:00

At last night's Rush show, there was some discussion about Neil Peart being the Best Drummer Ever.

Back in high school, I played along with Neil Peart in my bedroom with my drum sticks (uh, my dad's screw drivers), dreaming of making a living as a drummer. I also drummed along with John Bonham, Keith Moon, Sib Hashian, Carl Palmer and others.

Through the years, I have had two friends who actually made their livings as drummers in bands.

Marc, whose band put out two CD's here in New Orleans in the early 1990's, played with the same tree-trunk drum sticks that John Bonham preferred and - at least to my ear - tried to emulate his sound.

Kyle, who is the only person that I know personally that has a Wikipedia entry (sorry, no link, I try to keep this blog a bit anonymous), was the third drummer for a still-successful New Orleans rock band. He even played on one of their best-known hits. When he's drumming, he looks and sounds like Keith Moon. His all-time favorite drummer, however, is Ringo Starr.

My point is that Neil Peart is a great drummer, but the title of Best Drummer Ever depends of one's taste.

Who is your all-time favorite drummer?

Incidentally, my all-time favorite drummer is Don Henley...

Eagles - Hotel California by hushhush112

Playwright Albee Defends 'Gay Writer' Remarks

2011-06-11T21:13:00.000-05:00

I heard this on NPR's Morning Edition earlier this week and really agreed with Edward Albee's position.

June 6, 2011

Edward Albee's recent remarks about being labeled a "gay writer" sparked controversy within the gay community, but the playwright insists such definitions are "prejudicial."

"Maybe I'm being a little troublesome about this," Albee tells NPR's Renee Montagne, "but so many writers who are gay are expected to behave like gay writers and I find that is such a limitation and such a prejudicial thing that I fight against it whenever I can."

Albee was recently criticized for a speech he gave while accepting an award at the 23rd annual Lambda Literary Awards. The ceremony, held May 26, honored work by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender authors. Albee — who is best known for plays such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Zoo Story and A Delicate Balance — was presented with the Pioneer Award, meant to honor those who have broken ground for LGBT literature and publishing.

In accepting the honor from Lambda, Albee told the audience, "A writer who happens to be gay or lesbian must be able to transcend self. I am not a gay writer. I am a writer who happens to be gay."

He continued by saying, "Any definition which limits us is deplorable."

Some artists in attendance felt Albee's tone was inappropriate for the event and have said that creating and supporting work that is specifically gay is important to the visibility of the gay community.

"The only part of the evening I truly found disappointing was the acceptance speech given by Edward Albee for his Pioneer award," attendee Sassafras Lowrey wrote on her blog. "He spent the majority of it talking about why writing from a queer experience was a lesser art form, how his 'sexual proclivities' have nothing to do with his art."

The Wall Street Journal's Speakasy blog and lesbian website Autostraddle also wrote about Albee's comments and the debate they have ignited about the future of gay writing and publishing.

Albee tells Montagne he has always fought for gay rights and points out that other artists are not put into such categories.

"Who goes around talking about abstract expressionist painters and making a definition or a distinction between those of them that were straight and those of them who were or are gay? Nobody does it," Albee says. "People only do it with writers and I find that so ridiculous."

Albee says he remembers being discriminated against by theater critics who knew about his sexuality early on in his career. He says when Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf — about a professor and his wife throwing a party for a new professor and his spouse — debuted in the early 1960s some critics wrote in their reviews that Albee was likely portraying two gay couples.

Now, at age 83, Albee says he's working on a new play. He isn't giving any details yet, but he says it explores various prejudices.

"None of which, oddly enough happens to concern being gay," he says, "but it concerns itself with prejudices that involve us a great deal more as a society."

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Here is the original NPR story, where there is also a seven-minute audio version of the story for those reading averse.

Post Scrips

2011-06-11T20:59:00.001-05:00

Here are updates to some of my past posts.

In my post Top 10 Artists: Badfinger, I mentioned my friend Kyle. This past Thursday, he called me. Besides a few brief conversations about four years ago, I hadn't really spoken to him in at least 10 years.

He called to tell me that his step-dad, the one who along with his mom raised him from an early teenager, had died on Monday (June 6th). After further questioning, Kyle told me that he had actually killed himself, one day after his 62nd birthday, apparently distraught about money issues.

I attended the visitation Thursday afternoon.

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In my post List: Top 5 Classic Rock Bands, I discussed Rush in detail. I have seen them live once before, in 1988 in Shreveport. Last night, Amy, Carlos, Debbie, Lloyd, Morgan, Steve, and I saw them live for their Time Machine tour, one of the highlights being that they played their 1980 album Moving Pictures in it's entirety.

Thursday night, the night before the concert, Carlos, Debbie and I watched Rush: R30, 30th Anniversary Concert - all the while blind taste testing Canadian beer, in honor of Rush's home country.

Carlos and I both picked Labat Blue as our least favorite. (Debbie came too late for the taste testing.) He picked Molson Canadian as his favorite; I picked Moosehead as mine. Truthfully, all three really tasted the same.

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In my post Judgment Day, I mentioned in passing my current Favorite TV Show Ever (This Week) Supernatural.

I first discovered the show while the TNT network was running season four. I have now seen all of seasons four, five and one - with the TNT network starting over the showings after season five. The show is currently in its 6th season on the CW network. I am watching the new episodes too. I have a big gap in the middle of the series, having never seen any of season three and only at the beginning of season two via TNT.

As I did with my other Favorite TV Shows Ever (This Week) Criminal Minds and Ninja Warrior, I have printed out a complete episode list and am crossing them off after viewing.

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Postscript to the above postscript:

When Morgan came over Friday night to pick Carlos and I up, I was watching an episode of Supernatural. His reaction was, "Oh, isn't that the show with that guy that used to be on Gilmore Girls." True, but not the connection that I expected from one of my straight friends. I guess Gilmore Girls is just that good of a show. (More on that TV show another day.)

Top 10 Artists: Badfinger

2011-06-03T18:50:00.027-05:00

Back in the early to late 1990’s, my two closest friends were Matt and Kyle. We each had strong and quite different opinions on the best bands in the land. (Matt’s favorite band was Van Halen; Kyle’s favorite drummer was Ringo.)

The three of us all agreed on very few bands, but one of them was Badfinger.

Badfinger is one of my Top Ten Favorite Artists of All Time.

Their history is filled with bad luck and bad timing, and they never became as successful as they could have been. (Typical of their luck, their edition of Behind The Music on VH1, while having one of the most compelling stories, was the lowest-rated episode of the series. The episode is not currently mentioned on VH1's website. I found this on IMDB: "Much like the band itself, this 'Behind the Music' episode was somewhat jinxed. It was originally commissioned to be the 76th BTM episode, but due to numerous pitfalls, setbacks, and curses, it ended up airing approximately two years or about sixty episodes later than originally planned." According to another source, the episode was so low rated that it was aired only six times, during a time when VH1 was airing their "Behind the Music" series nearly around the clock.)

Badfinger evolved from The Iveys, an early 1960’s British band. After a small lineup change, recording an album (Maybe Tomorrow) as The Iveys, and contributing three songs to the Magic Christian movie soundtrack, the band consisted of Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins and Joey Molland.

Picked up by The Beatles' Apple label in 1968, in 1969 they adopted the name Badfinger. (Apple Corps' Neil Aspinall proposed "Badfinger", in reference to "Bad Finger Boogie", an early working title of Lennon/McCartney's "With a Little Help from My Friends", as Lennon had hurt his forefinger on a piano by using only one finger.)

Badfinger released No Dice in early 1970.

The single from this album, "No Matter What", peaked in the United States at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970. The song is often regarded as an early offering in the power pop genre – and is also the ALL-TIME FAVORITE SONG of my friend Matt. (I personally can’t yet pin down my all-time favorite song, though Matt's entry is a worthy one.)

"No Matter What" - from No Dice, written by Pete Ham

Other stand-out tracks on No Dice are "Better Days", "I Don't Mind", and the closer "We're for the Dark". The album also contains the original version of "Without You". Although Badfinger did not release the song as a single in Europe or North America, it was taken to number one on the Billboard charts in 1972 by Harry Nilsson, and again became a hit for Mariah Carey in 1994. "Without You" has been the top money-earner for Badfinger in publishing royalties, having been covered by over 180 artists. The song was also picked to provide the title for Dan Matovina's 1997 biography, Without You: The Tragic Story Of Badfinger. Of course, continuing in Badfinger's tragic tradition, the out of print book is much sought after and commands $499 on Amazon for the hardcover version.

Starting the countdown of my Top Ten Favorite Badfinger Songs (in chronological order)…

#10
"Midnight Caller" - from No Dice, written by Pete Ham

#9
"We're For The Dark" - from No Dice, written by Pete Ham

Recordings for their next album Straight Up began in early 1971 under the direction of producer Geoff Emerick at Abbey Road Studios, who produced the bulk of No Dice. Although these early recordings were completed and both the album and a single, "Name of the Game", were ready to be released, Apple Records co-president George Harrison decided the album could be improved under his personal direction, which led the single to be canceled and all the material recorded up to that point to be shelved. Harrison recorded a couple of new tracks with the band in the summer of 1971, as well as re-recording a couple of the original tracks. (He can be heard playing a slide-guitar duet with Pete Ham on the song "Day After Day", with Leon Russell featured on piano.) Additionally, Harrison and Phil Spector planned a different string arrangement for "Name of the Game", but this apparently never came to pass.

"Day After Day" - from Straight Up, written by Pete Ham

Due to a hurriedly assembled benefit concert that summer, The Concert for Bangladesh, at which Badfinger performed, Harrison lost interest in the Straight Up project and did not return to it after the concert. Apple retained Todd Rundgren to finish the album. Rundgren utilized recordings begun by both Emerick and Harrison, re-recorded some of them, and also recorded several new tracks with the band (notably "Baby Blue") in less than a month. (It had already taken the band over a year to record what songs they had.)

"Baby Blue" - from Straight Up, written by Pete Ham

#8
"I'd Die Babe" - from Straight Up, written by Joey Molland

#7
"Perfection" -from Straight Up, written by Pete Ham

Although recordings for their next album began as early as 1972, shortly after the release of Straight Up, Ass wasn't released until November 26, 1973 in the United States and May 1974 in the UK. The album was originally delayed because of production quality, as the band attempted to produce the album themselves after producer Todd Rundgren departed the project with just two songs recorded. After a first version of the album was rejected by the label, Apple engineer Chris Thomas was hired as a first-time producer to improve the overall recordings and make new track selections.

The album was further delayed when a disagreement surfaced between Apple and Badfinger's management on publishing copyrights. The majority of the tracks on Ass were written by Joey Molland. Molland, unlike his bandmates, never signed a publishing agreement with Apple Music, instead assigning the individual copyrights of his songs selected for Badfinger albums to Apple Music after production. Badfinger's then-manager, Stan Polley, attempted to use Apple's lack of a publishing agreement with Molland to block release of the album; he told Molland not to agree to any individual assignments, and Molland obliged. To circumvent Polley's strategy, all songs on the US and UK album releases of Ass were credited by Apple to Badfinger, not to the actual authors.

Ultimately, Ass peaked at #122 in the Billboard 200 and did not chart in the UK. The single "Apple of My Eye" only peaked at #102 on Billboard's "Bubbling Under" chart in America. After the album was deleted from the Apple catalog a large number of heavily discounted copies appeared in cut-out bins at U.S. record stores during the 1970s. The original CD version released in the 1990s is now rare because it was re-released only in a few countries (UK, Canada and Japan) for a limited period.

Ass was the last original album issued by Apple that was not by an ex-Beatle. From then on, only the Beatles as solo artists and Yoko Ono released records on Apple until the label went out of business in late 1975.

As Badfinger was completing work on Ass, Badfinger's manager, Stan Polley, signed the band to a three-year, six-album deal with Warner Brothers. As a result, shortly after the band and producer Chris Thomas completed recording of Ass, they found themselves back in the studio making a new album for Warner.

Although the album is technically untitled, it is commonly referred to as Badfinger.

The intended title, For Love Or Money, was misplaced by the label at the time of production and was never used. The intended title referred to Badfinger's label change from Apple Records to Warner Brothers.

Unfortunately for the band - and the fans - this release and the next are, in my opinion, the two best of Badfinger's albums. And until many, many years later, these were also the rarest of their albums.

#6
"Lonely You" - from Badfinger, written by Pete Ham

#5
"Shine On" - from Badfinger, written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans

#4
"Song for a Lost Friend" - from Badfinger, written by Pete Ham

Although the album received positive reviews in Rolling Stone magazine upon its release and is sometimes considered to be the band's best work, their next album Wish You Were Here was pulled out of record stores in 1975, seven weeks after release, because of a lawsuit between WB music publishing and Badfinger's management. The album's abbreviated manufacturing run and short tenure on the market has made the original LP relatively rare.

I personally saw the album in a used record store on Magazine Street in 2002 for $110 – and would have bought it if I had had the money on me.

Before being recalled, the album had time enough to chart, peaking at #148 in the US. In the 1990s it was re-released in CD format in Japan and Germany only. Until the album was eventually released on CD in the United States in 2007, a complete set of those songs was a music Holy Grail for me.

#3
"Got to Get Out of Here" - from Wish You Were Here, written by Joey Molland

#2
"In the Meantime / Some Other Time" - from Wish You Were Here, written by Mike Gibbins / written by Joey Molland

#1
"Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" / "Should I Smoke" - from Wish You Were Here, written by Pete Ham / written by Joey Molland

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Despondent with the frustrating situation of his record company and his manager, in April 24, 1975, Pete Ham committed suicide by hanging. He was 27.

For me, this is when Badfinger ceased to exist.

The next three years saw surviving members trying to rebuild their personal and professional lives against a backdrop of lawsuits. Comebacks with the albums Airwaves (1978) and Say No More (1981) floundered, as Molland, Gibbins and Evans see-sawed between cooperation and struggle in attempts to revive and capitalize on the Badfinger legacy. Having seen Ham's body after Ham's wife had called him, Evans reportedly never got over his friend's suicide.

On November 19, 1983, Evans also took his own life by hanging – at the age of 36.

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Pete Ham, who I feel was the backbone of the group, has two posthumously released albums. The better of the two is 7 Park Avenue.

If you want to check out only one Badfinger album, I recommend Badfinger: Best of Volume II, which contains the best of the later albums.

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Here is a link to a website about a Badfinger convention in 2006.

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Postscript.

Both Badfinger and The Beatles had a song entitled "Love Me Do". Here are both. Which do you prefer?

New Discovery: Tracy Chapman's Change

2011-06-03T17:06:00.003-05:00

I recently discovered Tracy Chapman's 2005 song Change. I can think of at least two friends of mine who would benefit from these words.

Plus, it's catchy!

Here are the lyrics, with the song following below:

If you knew that you would die today,
Saw the face of God and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?

If you knew that you would be alone,
Knowing right, being wrong,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?

Are you so upright you can't be bent?
If it comes to blows are you so sure you won't be crawling?
If not for the good, why risk falling?
Why risk falling?

If everything you think you know,
Makes your life unbearable,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you'd broken every rule and vow,
And hard times come to bring you down,
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would die today,
If you saw the face of God and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you saw the face of God and love
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?

Comedian Lisa Lampanelli versus the Westboro Baptist Church

2011-05-28T08:08:00.001-05:00

"We're here. We're queer. We take it in the rear!" -- that's the chant comedian Lisa Lampanelli started in Topeka, KS when she promised to donate $1,000 for every Westboro Church protester that picketed her show. Forty four protesters showed up. $44,000 of Lisa's dough went to the Gay Men's Health Crisis.

Taken from one of my daily reads, Joe My God

Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

2011-05-27T22:19:00.003-05:00

For quite a few years, I have been making Red Beans and Rice every Sunday. Here in New Orleans, it's tradition to cook Red Beans on Mondays - something about wash day - but I have a large block of free time on Sundays. Each week, I tweak the recipe a bit until now I think I have it perfected. Cooking a good pot of Red Beans and Rice is a deceptively complex endeavor. I don't have my current (final?) recipe worked out on paper yet, but I'll post it here once I do.

In the last few months, I have been rotating into my Sundays cooking Chicken and Sausage Gumbo in place of Red Beans and Rice - and have been getting really good compliments on the results each time. I thought I'd share my recipe here.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
(adapted from a recipe by Karlie, my sister Christine's girlfriend)

Ingredients:

½ cup butter
½ cup flour
2-3 lb. chicken
3 large onions – diced
2 green bell peppers – diced
4 stalks celery – diced
1-2 lb. Andouille or smoked sausage
1 bay leaf
Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning
Worcestershire sauce
Rotel Tomatoes
Salt
1 lb. okra – cut
3 tbsp. Parsley
Kitchen Bouquet®

Directions:

In large pot, cover whole chicken with water. Bring to a boil and then cook about 45 minutes. While chicken is cooking, make a roux in a large Dutch oven. Add onions, bell peppers, and celery. Sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add sausage.

Set chicken aside to cool. Add chicken stock to mix. Once chicken cools, peel and discard skin. De-bone chicken and add to mix.*

Add bay leaf, parsley, seasoning (Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning works best), Worcestershire sauce, Rotel Tomatoes, and salt to taste. Cook for two hours on medium, stirring occasionally.

Add okra. Simmer for three hours, adding more seasoning as needed. Add Kitchen Bouquet® to taste.

Serve over rice.

*Alternate: Add entire cooked chicken with stock. As chicken separates from bone, remove bones and discard.

Judgment Day

2011-05-19T19:50:00.007-05:00

According to sources, this Saturday - May 21 - is Judgment Day.

Here are four perspectives.

My Friend Steve

In discussing the upcoming New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, he guides his readers:
Maybe you’re afraid you’ll be Raptured this weekend and don’t want to make any big plans. That’s understandable, but I am here to help. If you fear you may be a divine bubble-team, a potential at-large participant on Selection Saturday, you still have time to ensure this is not so. Here’s a handy list of activities. Make sure you do a few of these over the next day or so and you can rest easy that your name will be wiped from the Rapture list, freeing you for dinner next Wednesday. You can thank me at MiLa.

1. Assert that the earth is more than 4000 years old
2. Believe in evolution
3. Treat someone gay as, like, just another human being
4. Dance (see Footloose for more information)
5. Refuse to handle snakes
6. Commit a crime against nature (this is an advanced strategy)

My Friend Jason

My Current Favorite TV Show Ever - This Week (Supernatural)

The series's Season 4 Episode 20 episode entitled The Rapture (click the link to see the episode) is described as:
Castiel appears to Dean in a dream and says he has something important to tell him but they need to meet somewhere private. Dean and Sam go searching for Castiel but instead find Jimmy, Castiel’s human vessel, who has only a spotty recollection of being an angel. Jimmy wants to return to his family and normal life, but Dean and Sam are concerned about his safety.

This movie (or Arnold Schwarzenegger's current situation)

New Post This...Sunday (May 22)

News Story: Wasilla High School Bans Song by Gay Rock Legend

2011-05-15T14:43:00.003-05:00

Freddie Mercury's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' deemed inappropriate

By K.T. McKee
Frontiersman

Published on Thursday, May 12, 2011 9:39 AM AKDT

WASILLA (Alaska) — When members of Wasilla High School’s symphonic jazz choir heard Friday it wouldn’t be singing the popular Queen hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” at this year’s graduation ceremony after working on it all year, the students couldn’t get their heads around it.

WHS Principal Dwight Probasco reportedly had received complaints from at least one parent that the 1975 hit written by Freddie Mercury wasn’t appropriate for the ceremony simply because Mercury was gay.

“The whole thing was just ridiculous,” senior Rachel Clark said Monday. “They’d played the song on the school intercom and we played it at prom. It’s a great song and the choir was really excited to be singing it. And the senior class felt like it defined them.” Choir member Casey Hight, a junior, was angry enough to contact a gay and lesbian support organization in Anchorage for help. They told her to contact an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union.

“I felt like the school was discriminating for sexual orientation and I felt it was wrong,” Hight said Monday. “It’s so stupid because there’s nothing sexual in the song. There aren’t even any cuss words.”

Although Probasco wouldn’t comment on the issue Monday, Senior Class Advisor Deb Haynes said Probasco has now agreed to allow the choir to sing an edited version of Bohemian Rhapsody that doesn’t include lyrics in one section about killing a man.

“The kids had put a lot of time into the song, but at graduation we really try to accommodate anything that might be a sensitive issue for anybody,” Haynes said, adding she didn’t understand why the song would have been a problem in the first place. “I’ve heard it a hundred times and it’s never bothered me.”

Hight said she believes Probasco decided to put the song back on the graduation program because he didn’t want any problems with the ACLU.

Clark said it didn’t make sense for the school district to tout tolerance for all and then turn around and allow homophobia to dictate something such as graduation music.

“We were joking about singing Elton John’s ‘Candle in the Wind,’ instead,” Clark said. “I guess no matter what you do, someone’s feathers are going to get ruffled.”

Clark said she’s glad the choir will be able to sing the song after all, because several of the singers have solos.

“The whole attitude of the song just seems to fit our class,” she said.

---------------

Link to original story.

Economics

2011-05-15T09:03:00.005-05:00

Back in college, I took three Economics courses. I remember hearing about "guns and butter" and tuning out. I was totally confused. Somewhere in my third course, however, I had a breakthrough and suddenly understood the concepts.

I never considered being an Economics major - though I did end up studying for four other majors (Psychology, English, Math, and Business) - before settling on the one that I graduated with - Marketing.

I was thinking about Economics recently because NPR's Planet Money ran a story about the website The Economics of Seinfeld. From the website: Seinfeld ran for nine seasons on NBC and became famous as a “show about nothing.” Basically, the show allows viewers to follow the antics of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer as they move through their daily lives, often encountering interesting people or dealing with special circumstances.

It is the simplicity of Seinfeld that makes it so appropriate for use in economics courses. Using these clips (as well as clips from other television shows or movies) makes economic concepts come alive, making them more real for students. Ultimately, students will start seeing economics everywhere – in other TV shows, in popular music, and most importantly, in their own lives.

I haven't yet read through the seven pages of examples, but the site does bring back the memories of college - and my fascination with Economics.

Awesome Things Video

2011-05-15T08:53:00.002-05:00

One of the blogs I regularly read is 1000 Awesome Things.

We can all use some positive thoughts in our life. Here is the accompanying video by the blog's author. Description from the site: Neil Pasricha's blog 1000 Awesome Things savors life's simple pleasures, from free refills to clean sheets. In this heartfelt talk from TEDxToronto, he reveals the 3 secrets (all starting with A) to leading a life that's truly awesome.

What My Mother Told Me

2011-05-13T17:50:00.003-05:00

In honor of Mother's Day this past Sunday, here are the
Top Nine Things My Mother Has Told Me Over The Years.

1. "No one is looking at you. They are all too concerned about themselves." That thought has helped me countless times over the years. About a stain. About my tripping. About wearing the "wrong" outfit to a party. Her message: Be yourself.

2. From nine years old onward: "Go outside and play. There's nothing to do inside. But be home when the street lights come on." Growing up, our neighborhood was filled with kids. We loved to play Kick the Can, Capture the Flag - in a 12 block by 13 block area - Baseball, Kickball, and Football, among other games. (Carlos hears my stories about the games we played in the streets as a kid and pictures us growing up poor.) Thanks to our older friend Doris who organized them, we even put on three full-production plays (including building the stage) in her back yard.

3. When my sister Christine and I were both young kids (each under seven), my Dad would hang out at Robert's Bar after work. Most nights, after a couple of hours, my Mom and us two kids would drive to the bar. Mom would coach Christine and I with the exact words, and send us in: "Daddy. When are you coming home?" Tears in our eyes were encouraged by Mom. I didn't understand the concept at the time, but my Dad certainly did. He came right home.

4. To me at 11 years old: "Don't tell your swim coach you have an upset stomach. This will be the only time you'll be able to go to Disney World for $100 [via the JCC Swim Team]." Three hours into the bus trip, I vomited all over myself, my clothes, and my seat mate. My swim coach called my mom and was PISSED - but the rest of my first trip to Disney World was fantastic.

5. When I graduated from college, after having worked for Kinko's for almost five years and having turned down a post-graduation job offer from them, I went to work for a Marketing company - my major. After the first day, I came home crestfallen: It was cold call selling of direct mail advertising. I hated it and felt like a failure. Still living at home right after graduation, the morning of my second day, I was ironing my pants getting ready for work - with tears in my eyes. Mom said: "You don't want to go? Don't go. Call them now so you'll get their answering machine. Then don't look back. Call Kinko's. Tell them that you feel bad that you left them in the lurch about the position they offered you and that you have changed your mind. Don't beg for your job. Spin it that you're doing them a favor." I took her advice and was working for Kinko's again that afternoon. I stayed for 10 years.

5. "Do what you love. The money will follow." I have followed that advice since I have started working. My Freshman year in college, I loved music and radio, and wanted to be a DJ on my college radio station - and auditioned to be a DJ. I got a shitty shift, but worked my way up to create The Birdman and Poker Show in Prime Time Tuesday nights. I was also picked by the Station Manager my Sophomore year to be the Program Director of the station. By my Junior year, the Media Council elected me Station Manager - complete with a full college scholarship (room, board, tuition and books!).

6. "I'm shy." My mother has always claimed to be an introvert, though having practiced for many years appearing as an extrovert. Most people who know her don't believe it. I always have - because I understand the base of what she means and that's what I aspire to also. She has always reminded me of Carol Burnett. Carlos says that this video clip is a perfect representation of her personality.

Carol Burnett from "Once Upon A Mattress"...

or Carol Burnett's version from 1964...

7. "Of course you are my favorite. Don't tell your sisters." Growing up, my two sisters and I all felt that we were the favorite child. We know now that there is no Sophie's Choice. Each child is the favorite. Each child is special. Each child is different. Each child is his/her own person - and was rewarded and encouraged toward his/her own path. And all three of us realize how hard that is to pull off by a parent.

8. "You're gay? Oh. Okay." I came out to her around July 2008 - when I was 41. I know. I know. I was old. [A long post on all that soon.] As you know, the opening line is crucial. Mine was, "You like Carlos, right? Well...He and I are more than friends." She was as cool about it as all my friends said for years she would be about it. I should have told her when I was 10.

9. "Carlos wants to buy a house? I'll be his real estate agent." For a year. The two of them - only, without me - traveled the city in search of the perfect house for Carlos. In the meantime, my boyfriend and my Mom bonded. Without me. Invaluable.

Makes Sense To Me

2011-05-10T18:59:00.001-05:00

Gardening: Year Two, Week Three

2011-05-06T18:41:00.004-05:00

The garden is coming along nicely. I am already learning some lessons: Next year, plant only one pack of snap beans. They're growing wildly. I'm interested to see what happens when the cucumber vines start to crawl around.

From last year, I did learn that cucumber vines grow and grow and grow. Thus the addition of the chain fence in the back.

I'm really getting into this gardening thing. I learn new things every year.

TV Show: Extreme Couponing

2011-05-06T18:14:00.003-05:00

This past weekend, TLC had a marathon of their newer show Extreme Couponing.

Basically, puffy-haired women and a few obviously-gay-but-married-anyway men spend up to "35 hours per week" (!) clipping, organizing, and obsessing over coupons. Then, they head to the grocery to buy truck loads of crap they don't need but "stockpile" anyway because they're getting a great deal. You do not need 100 bottles of hand lotion. Ever.

"I bought $1000 worth" of stuff I don't need "for $12".

I was buying into the concept until I saw three of my pet peeves in one episode:

1) The word is pronounced "coupon" not "Qpon".

2) Fifty cents is written 50¢. If you write .50¢, you are saying 1/2 of a penny.

3) Your coupon books did not come "from God just in time to save [your] home". They came in the mail. Your mailman is not God. God is busy smiting people. He has no time for your petty hobby.

I can no longer watch this show.

House Painting

2011-05-06T17:45:00.005-05:00

Time Line -

Before:

Friday, April 22: Scraped and power washed entire house

Saturday, April 23: Painted my house behind the fence - so I could practice before I went in full view of my neighbors to...

Sunday, April 24 (Easter Sunday): Pained my house in front of my house and in front of the prying eyes of my neighbors

Sunday, May 1: Painted the trim (I guess that's what it's called. I painted all the non-white stuff.) Touched up everything else.

After:

Professional Quote from Painting Company: $1300
Cost of Doing It Myself: $300
Neck Pain, Back Pain, Sunburn: Priceless

Music Challenge: Producers

2011-04-29T19:18:00.004-05:00

Carlos and I were talking a few weeks ago about prominent record producers.

Among the ones we brought up in the conversation were:
Shep Pettibone
Mutt Lange
Todd Rundgren
Nile Rodgers

He offered me a challenge -
Create a mixed CD of your favorite producer's product. I agreed and figured that he'd pick Shep Pettibone, since he'd produced many of Madonna's singles - who Carlos loves though he is definitely "NOT DEFINED BY MADONNA".

He picked Nile Rodgers.

I picked Todd Rundgren. After some research, I have found that Todd Rundgren has produced 58 albums including some of my favorites, and the reasons I picked him:

Badfinger - Ass (though only two of the songs)

Grand Funk Railroad - Shinin' On

XTC - Skylarking (great album!)

Badfinger - Straight Up (One of his best producing efforts)

--------------------

Once Carlos and I both present our compilations to each other, I'll post them here.

How about you: Do you follow certain producers? Who are your favorite producers? Do you feel (strong) record producers shape a band?

New Discovery: The Decemberists

2011-04-21T21:23:00.008-05:00

A quick one while we're away...

At work, we alternate among many radio stations including the local Progressive college station, WTUL.

On most Friday afternoons, the DJ plays The Decemberists, especially this song...

Here is my other current favorite song of theirs...

I guess I am very particular: Songs by the Decemberists that have an apostrophe in the title.

For those in New Orleans, they're playing at Jazz Fest on the "First Sunday". I am still working out mentally if I can venture out into the world on a Sunday. We'll see...

What a great song. What a great band.

Friday Music Mix

2011-04-15T21:52:00.003-05:00

Carlos is off tonight at Cat's Meow with his work peeps.

Among other projects, I'm home working on my second music compilation of the month. I usually put one together - and sometimes more if time or inspiration hits me.

The music compilation CD just reflects the music I'm listening to at that moment in time - regardless of the current trends. Carlos always gets a copy. Depending on the music, I send copies to other people.

Tonight, I put my cherished Media Monkey on Auto DJ, skimmed off the tunes that didn't fit, added other tunes that inspired me and came up with this set...

---------------------

Tangent:

I pay for programs that I respect. To me, money = a vote toward a program that gets it right. After trying the free versions, I paid full price for the complete versions of Media Monkey and the app Shazam.

---------------------

...

Wire - U2
It's The Music That We Choose - Gorillaz (video below)
Jerkin' Back N Forth - Devo
Feet Don't Fail Me Now - Utopia
Hammer In My Heart - Utopia
Precious Declaration - Collective Soul
She's Got You High - Mumm-Ra (video below)
Heart Like A Wheel - Steve Miller Band
Have You Ever Seen The Rain? - The Ramomes
Have You Ever Seen The Rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival
(Wish I Could) Hideaway - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Alone (live) - Heart
The Road Home (live) - Heart
These Dreams (live) - Heart
Ain't It Heavy (live) - Melissa Etheridge
The Long Run - The Eagles
Touch 2 Feel - Girl Talk
The Angels - Melissa Etheridge
Under Pressure (live) - My Chemical Romance and The Used
Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship (video below)
Take It Easy - The Eagles (video below)

You can probably follow which songs came up in the auto mix and which ones were inspired from those.

The videos of some of the songs:

A Great Meal

2011-04-14T19:22:00.004-05:00

A couple of times per week, Carlos and I put together an elaborate meal to eat.

Last night, I was sitting outside on my side porch, listening to the radio, drinking a Blue Moon beer when he showed up with marked pages in two cookbooks - Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the one he uses the most these days, and Taste of Home: Most Requested Recipes. The recipes that he picked were some of the most delicious we have had in awhile - so I wanted to share them with you. We altered each recipe a bit, which is reflected in our listings.

Champignons Sautés à la Crème
[Creamed Mushrooms]

Ingredients:
1 lb Fresh Mushrooms
2 Tb Butter
1 Tb Olive Oil
2 Tb minced Green Onions or Shallots
1 tsp Flour
1 cup Whipping Cream
3 Tb White Wine*
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tb Softened Butter

* The original recipe called for Madeira, but Carlos wanted to use white instead of red wine. I think he sees red wine as an ingredient in French meat dishes such as Boeuf Bourguignon, which he loves to cook - and is quite good at cooking.

Directions:
Sauté the mushrooms in hot butter and oil for 5 to 6 minutes, but do not allow them to brown any more than necessary. Add the shallots or onions and toss over moderate heat for 2 minutes.

Stir in the flour and cook slowly for 2 minutes more, stirring.

Off heat, blend in the cream and seasonings. Then boil down rapidly until the cream has reduced and thickened. Add the wine, and boil for a moment to evaporate its alcohol. Correct seasoning. May be set aside and reheated later.

Off heat and just before serving, fold in the last 2 Tb butter.

Tasty Onion Chicken

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Butter, melted
1 Tb Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp Ground Mustard
1 can (2.8 oz) French-Fried Onions, Crushed
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves

Directions:
In a shallow bowl, combine the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Place the onions in another shallow bowl. Dip the chicken in butter mixture, then coat with onions.

Place in a greased 11" x 7" baking dish. Drizzle with remaining butter mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 to 25 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170°.

Bon Appétit!

Working The Room

2011-04-10T19:41:00.017-05:00

Carlos and I had a busy weekend.

Friday night, I was invited to an Asado by my friend Dale. Her (36-year-old) daughter Beth and Argentinean husband Gabriel were hosting at their Uptown house.

Gabriel designed and custom built a brick-enclosed grill - complete with chimney - in their backyard. I had been to a "Meat Party", as I call it, at their old house pre-Katrina. This one was just as fun. Gabriel would ring his bell - installed on his brick-enclosed grill - every time new meat was ready. I told him that I was up for whatever he was cooking - as long as he didn't tell me what was "odd" food and what was "normal" food.

I know I had ribs and different types of sausage. I found out later that I also had sweetbread. I can tell you that it is neither sweet nor bread - but it does taste a bit like chicken.

Saturday morning, Carlos and I were invited to a brunch at Steve and Sheree's house. (Steve is an old friend of mine from early high school. I have known him since we were both 13.)

Then he and I spent the day in the Quarter at French Quarter Fest.

When Steve invited us, he told me that there would be about 20 people there and that besides Carlos and me, everyone else would be food writers or food bloggers. I do read Steve and Sheree's blog regularly - and I highly recommend it, especially if you live in New Orleans and/or love New Orleans and/or love food.

-----------------

Tangent - Some of my favorite posts from their blog, French-Quarter-Fest-centric because that fest was this weekend:

French Quarter Fest Logistics
French Quarter Fest Food
French Quarter Fest Music
Ranting about Outback Steakhouse - and chain restaurants in general

And my all-time favorite post of theirs (so far)...
Safety in the French Quarter

-----------------

I also mentioned to Carlos what Steve had said about the other attendees so he would have the same information as I had and could be prepared. He didn't seem concerned. Carlos is always so graceful and social at parties. I, on the other hand, show up at our (mutual) hair cut guy with prepared topics. Over the years, I have tried to absorb his calmness about "working the room".

This weekend were two great occasions to practice my social skills. Friday night, I knew maybe five people out of 50. Saturday morning, Carlos and I knew exactly two people out of 20 (the two hosts). Both outings were successful in their own way.

Picture yourself invited to a large party where you know a very small handful of people - maybe even only the hosts: Do you talk just with them? Do you branch out and talk with other people? Do you drink too much to overcome your shyness? Do you make an excuse to leave early? Do you wuss out entirely and not show up at all?

Over the years, I have done all of the above. Here are my Tips For Working The Room that I have learned over the years.

1. The first people and the last people at the party you should talk with are the hosts. But do not cling to them all night. They have an entire room to attend to.

2. When you arrive, have something to hand the hosts. Never show up to a party empty handed. Never. Plus it'll give you something to - briefly - talk about.

3. Leave the above item at the party. Always. Do not take it home with you. Ever.

4. Offer to help with something. Refill the ice. Stir the chili. Take the coats. It'll help the hosts and give you something to talk with your potential new friends about.

5. When introducing yourself to other guests, relate yourself to your hosts - someone you will all have in common. ("Dale and I worked at Kinko's together, and have remained friends ever since. I have known Beth since she was in her teens.")

6. Don't talk too much. Listen. Ask questions. No one wants to hear about your life. Everyone wants to talk about their own life.

7. Don't talk too little. No one wants to talk with someone who can't keep up his side of the conversation.

8. Find the most wall flower person at the party. She/he is feeling exactly as you are, but not handling it as well as you are. There is power in numbers. Go talk with him. Then the two of you go talk with other people together.

9. When you're introducing yourself to someone, repeat their name back to them. And again. And later again. (I still remember Karen's name from Friday night because when I met her, I kept saying her name.)

10. Think about what you have in common with the guests before you arrive. (Before Steve and Sheree's brunch, I read the 15 unread entries of their blog - and all the comments. Turns out, many of the comments were made by other guests at their brunch.)

And in case all of the above fails...

11. Have an exit strategy when you arrive. Near the beginning, work into the conversation with someone (preferably the hosts) that you may have to leave early because 1) you have to get up early for work, 2) you accidentally double booked the evening, 3) your spouse is a bit under the weather, and so on. Make the excuse something that you can brush off if your night is going well.

---------------

Keeping with the weekend theme, here is the song W.E.E.K.E.N.D. by Arling & Cameron. If you are in New Orleans and listen to WTUL on Friday mornings, you know this song.

Gardening: Year Two

2011-04-10T18:50:00.004-05:00

Last year, I planted red bell peppers, green bell peppers, orange bell peppers, and cucumbers in my first ever attempt at a garden.

Only the cucumbers really worked out.

This year, I am planting cucumbers again. Plus, another try at green bell peppers. I am also attempting eggplant, jalapenos, and snap beans. Here is a picture of my garden - week one. Ever week or so, I will post an update.

I have learned from last year that the cucumber vines like to crawl. Thus the reason for the chain link fence.

I may also post some recipes that I make from my garden's results.

My Favorite TV Show Ever (This Week)

2011-04-10T14:42:00.008-05:00

There is TV that I watch and there is TV that I obsess about.

When I find a TV show that I really love, I go through a period where I obsess about it. I have to watch every episode. I make spreadsheets about the episodes that I have watched and the ones that I still have to watch. I have to join every newsgroup and Yahoo group about it. I have to read everything on the TV show's website. I subscribe to the Twitter feed of every cast member.

I have to show Carlos my New Discovery.

My earliest post about my Favorite TV Show Ever - This Week was in September 2007 about Ninja Warrior on G4. I still watch the show, but not as religiously as back in September 2007.

Here are my current Favorite TV Shows Ever - This Week:
Shameless (the US version. I have never seen the UK version.)
Top Chef
Friday Night Lights
Criminal Minds (though besides Janeane Garofalo, I'm not yet a fan of the spin off Criminal Minds Criminal Behavior.)

And the one I want to focus on today:
1 Girl 5 Gays.

My DVR is set to search for TV shows with certain key words - "France", "New Orleans", "Time Travel", and so on. One of those words is "gay", and one night it picked up the late-night Logo channel show 1 Girl 5 Gays - originally on MTV Canada.

The subtitle of the show is "20 Questions about Love and Sex".

Some sample questions:
What is the creepiest thing a stranger has said to you?
Who is the most embarrassing member of your family?
Who would you do - George Clooney or Christian Bale?
Do you like your bum?

The show is well into season two. I have looked for a complete list of questions asked so far, but haven't found them. I am working on my own list, as I watch the show. (I have written almost 10 show's worth of questions - 200 questions.) My friends and I play Loaded Questions and Adult Loaded Questions. I am going to turn these questions into Super Adult Loaded Questions.

Once I do have a list of all the questions, I'll post them - so everyone else can benefit from my research. I'd love to see others play Super Adult Loaded Questions with the questions.

Blog that rates the guys - the best and the worst

1 Girl 5 Gays on Twitter

A list of each cast member's Twitter pages - so you can follow your favorites.

My favorites guys are:
David
Matt Barker
John Paul
Ish
Juan

I really like the host, Aliya-Jasmine, too. She sets just the right tone and asks the perfect follow up questions when needed.

The Red Menace

2011-03-26T19:40:00.002-05:00

Here’s an interesting email exchange I had at work yesterday between our Accounting Tech (the one who pays the bills for our office, but is physically located in another building) and me.

I responded to her a detailed email, highlighting some key points in red. Her response to that email starts below.

ACCOUNTING TECH: I’ve printed these communications for the files but in the future, please use another color for hi-lights. The color RED used in business dealings is insulting. That’s why black and blue ink are the standard choices for written and oral communication. I guess my hi-lights looked red - thought I was using a burgundy………. I’ll refrain from using that one in the future.

[Then before I had a chance to reply to her…]

ACCOUNTING TECH: I’m laughing at myself--- we don’t speak in colors. My bad……………… Sometimes we refer to humans by color which is not cool anyway.

ME: Insulting? That’s the first I’ve heard that. Where do you get that information? We use red all the time – for emphasis, to pull it out from other items in an email. (I just did a Google search for that information, but didn’t come up with anything except that “red shouldn’t be used on a business card in Madagascar”.) And I’ve already heard to never use blue in written communication (that is, on a piece of paper) because it doesn’t copy well. I guess it all depends on the background we come from. I guess everyone has his/her communication preferences.

ACCOUNTING TECH: I was taught that on another job. In the Admin office we don’t use “RED” for that reason. Oh well. Have a great afternoon.

ME: That's cool. No red to you. Got it.

Joan Armatrading

2011-03-25T18:54:00.009-05:00

One of my proudest musical accomplishment has been to introduce Joan Armatrading to so many people including both my sisters and my friend Kyle.

She is definitely in my Top Ten Favorite Artists of All Time. (Complete list one day.)

I also introduced my sister Christine (an out and proud lesbian) to Melissa Etheridge's music. Christine just wasn't knowledgeable about some lesbian rockers I guess.

While I was in Atlanta this past weekend, my other sister Claudia mentioned that she lost her Joan Armatrading compilation CD that I made her a few years ago. Christine wasn't sure if Claudia meant that she "lost" the CD or if she really lost it. Claudia then started singing Everyday Boy, an obscure song from Joan Armatrading's 1995 CD What's Inside.

I followed up her a capella version with a trip to iTunes to download the song to my iPhone - so we could all four (including Claudia's husband Jeff) listen to it.

Since returning from Atlanta on Monday, it's been a busy week. Tonight is the first night I have had to put together an update Joan Armatrading compilation. Pulling songs from her 20 albums from 1972 until the present to make 80 minutes of music was really tough, but here is the final compilation.

Get In The Sun
Kissin’ and a Huggin’ (see below)
Back to the Night
Down to Zero (see below)
Cool Blue Stole My Heart (see below for a live jazz version)
Everyday Boy
Heaven
Love & Affection (see below for a live version done at Abbey Road Studios for one of my favorite series Live From Abbey Road)
Kind Words (And A Real Good Heart)
Did I Make You Up - with Mark Knopfler
Drop The Pilot (see below for 2008 live version)
Wrapped Around Her
The Weakness in Me
Show Some Emotion
Can’t Stop Loving You
Me Myself & I
When I Get It Right
Mama Mercy
In Your Eyes
Whatever’s For Us
Flight of the Wild Geese

I tried to mix old, new, hits, non-hits, and so on. I do not have her three most recent CD's - 2004's Live All The Way From America, 2007's Into The Blues, and 2010's This Charming Life - so once I get those, I'll make an updated updated compilation.

Here are the videos of my most favorite songs from the compilation.

Don't know Joan Armatrading, but want to check her out now? Start with this CD and work out from there. You won't go wrong with any of her releases. (When I get some more time, I may go album by album, track by track, to tell you the best of the best.)

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I have seen both Melissa Etheridge and Joan Armatrading live. Those stories in a future post. For Melissa Etheridge, picture three guys and 3000 lesbians at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.

The 50 Best Gay Movies

2011-03-25T18:14:00.002-05:00

For those interested, AfterElton.com did a poll of the 50 Best Gay Movies.

If you don't want the details on each movie, but only the list, here you go (with the ones in bold the ones I've seen):
1 Brokeback Mountain (2005)
2 Shelter (2007)
3 Latter Days (2003)
4 Milk (2008)
5 A Beautiful Thing (1996)
6 Get Real (1998)
7 Maurice (1987)
8 Were the World Mine (2008)
9 Trick (1999)
10 Juste Une Question D'amour (Just a Question of Love) (2000)
11 Big Eden (2000)
12 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
13 Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
14 Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008)
15 Broken Hearts Club (2000)
16 Angels in America (2003)
17 Longtime Companion (1990)
18 Jeffrey (1995)
19 Sommersturm (2004)
20 All Over the Guy (2001)
21 Mysterious Skin (2004)
22 Philadelphia (1993)
23 Burnt Money (2000)
24 Birdcage (1996)
25 Edge of Seventeen (1998)
26 My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
27 Boy Culture (2006)
28 Parting Glances (1986)
29 Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
30 The Trip (2002)
31 Shortbus (2006)
32 The Boys in the Band (1970)
33 Yossi and Jagger (2002)
34 Another Gay Movie (2006)
35 The Bubble (2006)
36 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
37 C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
38 Coffee Date (2006)
39 Making Love (1982)
40 Prayers for Bobby (2009)
41 East Side Story (2006)
42 Love Songs (Les Chansons D'Amour) (2007)
43 Mambo Italiano (2003)
44 Adam & Steve (2005)
45 In and Out (1997)
46 My Own Private Idaho (1991)
47 Rent Count (2005)
48 Eating Out (2004)
49 Mulligans (2008)
50 Transamerica (2005)

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How many of these have you seen?

I have been working on my own Top Ten Gay Movies of All Time list for awhile. I'll get around to posting it one day.

Atlanta Trip

2011-03-25T17:58:00.008-05:00

My sister Christine and I travel to Atlanta once a year to visit our younger (35 years old) sister Claudia - and her husband and three kids (currently 6, 4 and 2).

Christine and I remark that we're not actually going to Atlanta for three days, but to Claudia's Backyard. This is my third year going (and Christine's fifth), and the furthest we have gotten into Atlanta is to Cosco three miles away to buy groceries. The rest of the time, we are playing with the kids - soccer, baseball, pushing them on the swing, drawing on the ground with chalk, playing in the sandbox, and repeat. For three solid days.

Our schedule is usually get up with the kids at 7 am, eat and relax until 9, play in the yard until noon, naps for all until 3, play until 5, eat then baths and bed at 7. We call Claudia Nazi Mama. She has the kids on such a tight schedule, but the kids love the structure.

All three siblings in my generation are very structured. We think it comes from our parents: They never gave us any structure (no rules, no curfews, and so on) growing up. We think we're compensating for it in our adulthood.

------------------------

Tangent:
When we were growing up, our parents had three rules for us kids:
1. You couldn't smoke in the house unless you had a friend over.
2. You couldn't go out on school nights - unless you were going to the library.
3. You couldn't have the car out overnight.

We never had a curfew, but usually came home at a reasonable hour because all of our friends had curfews.

------------------------

After the kids are asleep at 7, the three of us (plus Claudia's husband if he is home from work) retire to the back porch for wine and conversation. All three nights (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), we stayed up way too late for a morning that we had to face those kids.

But us adults were having such fun. Because Claudia lives in Atlanta and Christine and I live in New Orleans, we rarely have the opportunity to sit and catch up. Whenever I talk with Claudia (or Christine), it feels like we are picking up a conversation we just dropped - though it may have been six months prior.

I probably I don't discuss my sisters enough here (especially Claudia), but they're very important to me. I am very proud of them and, though all three of us are quite different, am glad that our friendships have evolved nicely into adulthood.

Paolo Nutini Revisited

2011-03-23T18:45:00.003-05:00

Remember Paolo Nutini from this post?

Here's an updated picture of him. Too bad.

The Percussion Side of Town

2011-02-17T19:05:00.019-06:00

Back in the day, my old friend Kyle and I used to spend hours in bars, feeding jukeboxes and playing one-on-one Tough Music Trivia.

Some examples...
I’ll name the drummer. You name the band. First one to miss buys the next round.
Sib Hashian...

I’ll name the Badfinger member. You name the year he committed suicide. An extra point if you can name the location and the method.

I’ll name The Pretenders member. You name the year he died of a drug overdose.

Fleetwood Mac has had a revolving list of members, but almost always only a total of five at one time. Name all 16 total members.

I'll name the record label. You tell me the artists that have been signed to it.
Apple Records...Swan Song...A&M...

We were constantly searching for the most arcane trivia to throw out.

-----------------

Visual Aide:

Besides Badfinger, Mary Hopkin was one of the Beatles's first artists signed to Apple Records. Here is Mary Hopkin's Those Were The Days.

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My point is that Kyle and I were constantly challenging each other toward learning about new artists - and sharing the knowledge.

My favorite artist that he introduced me to is Donny Hathaway.

Today, I was finalizing my February 2011 CD - my once monthly CD compilation that I create and make a copy for Carlos. When I was telling him the playlist, he remarked that I had another Donny Hathaway song on it and that I should blog about the reason for that.

So here we are.

Let's start at the beginning - and then skip around. Donny Hathaway's first hit was the Billboard 100 #87, Billboard R&B #23 song The Ghetto Part 1. Here is the live version of the Ghetto (all the parts) originally from his CD These Songs For You, Live.

The title of this post comes from that song.

His biggest hit was with Roberta Flack - The Closer I Get To You, reaching Billboard 100 #2, Billboard R&B #1.

You may know best Donny Hathaway for the Christmas standard This Christmas. The song, released in 1970, has become a holiday staple and is often used in movies, television and in advertising. This Christmas has been covered by numerous artists including The Whispers, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Harry Connick, Jr., *NSYNC, and Gloria Estefan.

I remember first playing Carlos some Donny Hathaway. His immediate reaction was that he sounded like that guy who sang the theme to Maude. Good ear, Carlos: That is indeed Donny Hathaway too.

If you want an overview of Donny Hathaway, go with 1990's A Donny Hathaway Collection. Follow that link to a sample of all of his hits.

If you want to jump right in, I strongly recommend his 1973 studio album Extension of a Man or any of his numerous live releases.

Here is his song Flying Easy from that CD.

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On January 13, 1979, Donny Hathaway killed himself by jumping out of his 15th-floor room in New York's Essex House hotel.

Top 10...Classic Rock Bands

2011-02-11T20:33:00.004-06:00

Now that I have tackled my Top Five Classic Rock Bands, I wanted to complete the list to Top 10.

I am still working on the list and the accompanying narrative, but I wanted to give you a preview.

This band is definitely on the list...

Melismatic

2011-02-11T20:04:00.007-06:00

Carlos and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary this March 23rd.

There are countless reasons I love him. One of the Top Hundred is that he consistently gives me a challenge in my pop culture knowledge.

He sent me the below article, knowing that I love music - especially the analysis of it.

Bonus: I have found a new word – “melismatic” – that I will try to work into a conversation this week.

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Trilling Songbirds Clip Their Wings

AS symbolic shifts go, two recent events in pop music couldn’t have been more illuminating. On Nov. 24 “Burlesque,” a big-screen musical starring Christina Aguilera, opened and landed with a thud, both critically and at the box office. On Dec. 2 came the Grammy Award nominations. Among releases up for the album of the year award are those by Lady Gaga and Katy Perry; Ms. Aguilera, who also released an album, “Bionic,” in 2010, was ignored.

Such turnover is part of pop’s constant process of renewal: out with the old idols, in with the new. But the ground shifted under pop in an even bigger way. As seen and especially heard in “Burlesque,” Ms. Aguilera has been one of the foremost practitioners of the overpowering, Category 5 vocal style known as melisma. The female pop stars who have dominated the charts this year rarely opt for that approach. Their ascent makes it clear that melisma has retreated, while pop, which has just wrapped up one of its best years in at least a decade, has benefited from a return to less frilly, less bombastic vocal showcases.

Although there’s nothing simple about it, melisma in its simplest form is a vocal technique in which a series of notes is stretched into one syllable. Its roots can be tracked back to gospel, blues and even Gregorian chant; Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder used it sparingly early in their careers.

But beginning two decades ago, melisma overtook pop in a way it hadn’t before. Mariah Carey’s debut hit from 1990, “Vision of Love,” followed two years later by Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You,” set the bar insanely high for notes stretched louder, longer and knottier than most pop fans had ever heard. A subsequent generation of singers, including Ms. Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé, built their careers around melisma. (Men like Brian McKnight and Tyrese also indulged in it, but women tended to dominate the form.)

That melisma heyday is jarringly invoked on Ms. Carey’s current album, “Merry Christmas II You,” a collection of seasonal standards and originals. One of the tracks, a rendition of “O Holy Night” recorded in 2000, is a reminder of the days when Ms. Carey and her voice were in full melismatic overdrive.

Whether it’s because of public fatigue or the advancing ages of its mainstays, who can’t quite sandblast the high notes as they once did, those days appear to be over. Ms. Aguilera’s “Bionic,” along with recent releases by Ms. Carey (“Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel”) and Ms. Houston (“I Look to You”), have sold far below their usual multimillion levels. “American Idol,” whose contestants have long been clearly influenced by melisma, is in ratings and buzz decline.

Beyoncé and Pink, who embraced melisma early in their careers, have both left it behind. Pink’s new compilation, “Greatest Hits ... So Far!!!,” is dominated by her rock-leaning rasp, whether she’s taking a crack at a ballad (“Dear Mr. President”) or a party anthem (her current single, “Raise Your Glass”). Although she was fond of elongated syllables while a member of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé gradually moved away from brassy displays. Her luminous recent hit “Halo” has only a suggestion of melisma. It’s telling that her most recent hit, the irresistible dance pop song “Telephone,” is a collaboration with Lady Gaga.

Starting with Lady Gaga and Ms. Perry the nonmelisma female performers who have taken over iPods and the radio couldn’t be more different vocally. On “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream,” her ubiquitous 2010 hits, Ms. Perry opts for short, breathy gulps in her singing. Her voice occasionally glides into an upper register, as on the bridge of “California Gurls,” but it mostly aims to convey likability and approachability, not prowess and imperiousness.

As heard on her current single “We R Who We R” from her new mini-album, “Cannibal,” Kesha has a thin, often computer-manipulated voice that recalls ’80s new-wave pop acts. It’s often hard to tell when her singing voice ends and the Vocoder processing kicks in.

The technically best singer of the bunch, Lady Gaga, has a deep, mildly nasal delivery that, on hits like “Alejandro,” evokes a more tuneful Madonna. Her version of melisma is more visual than aural: her Broadway-inspired stage shows, arresting videos, Warhol-redux costumes and exploding bras are over the top, as opposed to her singing.

What all those singers have in common is a delivery far less virtuosic than the melisma queens of old. (Some, like Taylor Swift, they may not be vocally capable of it either.) None is likely to inspire contestants who will stand before Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler on the next season of “American Idol.” Rather than wrestling the melodies to the ground, these singers adhere closely to them. The high notes Ms. Perry reaches for on “Teenage Dream” are the merest of vocal trills. One of the year’s most arresting hooks, Rihanna’s contribution to Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie,” conveys sadness and regret in a beautifully understated manner devoid of vibrato.

What makes singles like “Telephone” and “Alejandro,” “California Gurls” and Kesha’s “Tik Tok” and “Your Love Is My Drug” stand out aren’t the voices at their core. It’s the combination of vocal personality, arrangement, hook and songcraft — the eternal, enduring ingredients of classic pop. Even their voices are turned into hooks: one of the most memorable parts of “Telephone” is the moment Lady Gaga’s voice imitates a busy signal.

Those songs were also central to this year’s invigorating resurgence of pop. From the teen-bop star Justin Bieber to the casts of “Glee” and the boy-band TV series “Big Time Rush,” dance-infused pop singles made a triumphant comeback in 2010. Beats and melodies once again became the stars — a welcome reprieve from the melisma era, when emphasis shifted from songwriting to Olympic-style displays of lung power. To test the damaging influence of melisma, one need only try to hum one of Ms. Carey’s vaporous hits all the way through; it’s virtually impossible.

Melisma may have also run its cultural course. Ms. Carey, Ms. Houston and Ms. Aguilera, to name its three main champions, are most associated with the period from the late ’80s through the late ’90s: an era now largely associated with money, ostentation and American power, especially during the latter half of the ’90s. Their brawny vocal approach and lush, widescreen records reflected their times as much as the Clinton-era Wall Street boom.

Pop’s new divas may not be able to ascend to vocal heights the way Ms. Aguilera still can in “Burlesque.” But in many ways they’re better suited for the post-crash economy. Every so often even pop music has to downsize.

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Here are some videos to go with this post.

Theme Dinners - Season 2

2011-02-04T09:04:00.004-06:00

At the beginning of November 2010, we ended Season 1 (as I have come to call it) of our Wednesday Night Dinners - breaking for the holidays until January.

Before I describe the Dinners from Season 2 that we have had, let's recap the themes from Season 1.
Episode 1 - Cold Food
Episode 2 - Vegetarian
Episode 3 - A Dish That Rhymes with the Name of a New Orleans Saints Player
Episode 4 - Idioms
Episode 5 - A Dish That Reminds You of Your Fantasy Place To Live
Episode 6 - Three Themes Together: An Appetizer, That Rhymes With The Name of a Celebrity, On A Stick

Here's my slide show with Season 1's pictures:

We awarded first, second, and third place - based on votes - but I didn't keep track of the winners. I will this Season.

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Our Dinners resumed on Wednesday, January 12 with the theme Healthy Food. (After the gluttony of the holidays, we thought that was fitting.) Here are the top dishes so far this Season:

Episode 1 - Healthy Food
First Place: Curt's French Onion Soup
Second Place: Angela's St. Charles Avenue 12-Hour Egg Salad
Third Place: Marshall's Chicken, Feta, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach Wraps

Episode 2 - Dish That Reminds You of The Name of a Favorite Movie
First Place: Jason S.'s Potatoes au Grey Gardens (Movie: Grey Gardens)
Second Place: Julie's Moon Pie Banana Stars (Movie: Moon)
Third Place: Debbie and Bart's Wine Sampling (Movie: Sideways)

Come Up Next (on February 9): Episode 3 - In Honor of Valentine's Day, The Dish You Love The Most

Until then, Bon Appétit!

Car Issues

2011-02-04T08:50:00.005-06:00

Last Saturday, I had my traditional every four month screwing at Speedy Oil Change. ("You see how dirty your air filter is? You really should have that replaced." "For a car with your mileage, you really should get the high mileage oil change - for an additional $20.")

They also said that I had a crack in my radiator. I trust Speedy to change my windshield wiper blades, but not to diagnose major issues. I have noticed that steam (steam, not smoke) has been coming out from under my hood for the past six weeks. As with most car issues, I figured that if I ignored it, it would go away.

This morning, I brought my car to The Radiator Shop on Jefferson Hwy, telling them only that "I think there's something wrong with my radiator". Sure enough, I have a crack across the top of my radiator. Todd, the owner, told me that it would be about five hours - and then offered me a ride home. Assuming the actual repair works out, I highly recommend The Radiator Shop. (I am also going to review them on my Poynt iPhone app.)

Ryan Kwanten: GQ Australia's Man of the Year

2011-01-07T19:28:00.004-06:00

Ryan Kwanten is GQ Australia's Man of the Year.

Thanks to Carlos, I read the US version of GQ. Maybe I should start picking up the Australian version.

Here is my favorite picture of him.

For those who don't know who he is, here's his IMDB page.

Life

2011-01-06T19:27:00.002-06:00

To Consider...

The Final Countdown

2010-12-23T14:21:00.001-06:00

see more Funny Graphs

Glam Rock (or Katy Perry Revisited)

2010-12-22T19:16:00.005-06:00

or The Last Mix III (I am adding Katy Perry's Hot N Cold to my Last Mix compilation.)

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Carlos and I were talking about Katy Perry recently after her appearance on the Victoria Secret 2010 Fashion Show. (He religiously watches it; I don't understand the reason for the show but watch it for the music - while reading EW.)

I remarked to him that her song Night N Day sounded like Glam Rock. He didn't know about Glam Rock so I, of course, had to make him a mixed CD - with Katy Perry in the midst of it all.

For those who aren't familiar with Glam Rock, here is my favorite Glam Band - Sweet...

And here's a classic David Bowie track: Starman.

About David Bowie, like with Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen, I can see how others see his artistry, but I just have never been a fan.

----------------------

After narrowing down my list from over 80 songs, here is the Glam Rock Plus Mix that I made:
Young Americans - David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
Heroes - David Bowie
Rebel, Rebel - David Bowie
Starman - David Bowie
Suffragette City - David Bowie
Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
The Ballroom Blitz - Sweet
Little Willy- Sweet
Blockbuster- Sweet
Teenage Rampage- Sweet
Fox on the Run- Sweet
Action- Sweet
All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople
I Only Want To Be With You - Bay City Rollers
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
By The Light of a Magical Moon - Marc Bolan & T Rex
Bang A Gong (Get It On) - Marc Bolan & T Rex
Raw Ramp - Marc Bolan & T Rex
20th Century Boy - Marc Bolan & T Rex
Cosmic Dancer - Marc Bolan & T Rex

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If you have any suggestions, pass them on!

My Sister's Christmas Party

2010-12-22T17:29:00.006-06:00

Most years, my sister and her girlfriend have an epic Christmas party. There are 100 people in their house at the peak of the party, with probably 150+ people attending overall.

I am always in awe of the numbers. I can muster 10 or 15 people for a party at my house. Christine and Karlie pull from both their jobs, the New Orleans Lesbian Tennis League (not the actual name, but it might as well be), all our extended family - and their kids, all my friends, and on and on.

There was a special Kids Central set up where the 20+ kids hung out.

Christine and Karlie are the same couple that have twice now rented a 50 foot water slide for their back yard. When it comes to parties, they don't fool around.

This year, Christine (my sister) called me a few days ahead of the party, freaking out that "no one" was coming to her party. She reminded me of a Halloween party that we apparently held when she was 6 and I was 7 - and NO ONE came. Yes, NO ONE. We invited all the kids from school and from our neighborhood. We set out all the treats. We decorated our house. And NO ONE came.

I have no recollection of this event. But Christine is famous in our family for remembering everything. I'll have to verify this with my parents.

Their Christmas party was, of course, a great success. Wine flowed. Lesbians talked with doctors. Young kids talked with 92 year old women. And on and on.

Carlos's work party was the same night so he came by at 9 pm. Here is the email exchange after the party:

Carlos: Christine and Karlie,

Before things get even crazier with the holidays, I wanted to thank you for throwing your annual Christmas party. I had a blast. Look, when I get boozy enough to introduce myself to total strangers on their way out your front door, then you know I've had a great time!

I even remember Donna Moore! Furthermore, one of your guests and her children came caroling at my door at 9pm Sunday night! The party continues!

Thanks again, and please, please, please have it again next year.

Carlos

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Claudia (my younger sister): Carlos, you're funny:) Sorry we missed the fun!

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Angela (my mom): Wait, wait, wait: I missed Carlos introducing himself to total strangers???!!!

...And don't you love your new neighborhood, Carlos, where people come caroling during the holidays? We need to join them next year.

This was really funny.

Thanks, Christine and Karlie also for a wonderful party.

It was fun to see everyone, Angela and Russ

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Gotta love the holidays!

Sign

2010-12-12T08:32:00.003-06:00

Reposted from the always interesting STFU Conservatives...

Blog: Margaret and Helen

2010-12-09T18:44:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Google Reader, I stop by almost 100 blogs regularly. One of my favorites is Margaret and Helen - "Best Friends For Sixty Years and Counting".

Here is an excerpt from one of Helen's recent posts:

For everyone who is currently considering removing their Obama sticker from the back of their car… for every Democrat who made the effort to get out the vote and today is feeling a little down… for every progressive American who is thinking about moving to Canada…. I say this:

Christine O’Donnell might not have been a witch, but Sarah Palin is definitely a bitch. Three steps forward. One step back.

We’re still two steps ahead of the game with a Senate and a White House. Washington will be grid-locked for the next two years, but the ground war just came to the States. Democrats need to stop looking for middle ground and start looking for higher ground. And for goodness sakes, grow a pair and quit apologizing for it.

As I see it, the Democrats have one job between now and the next election - figuring out how to get those who stayed home mad enough to get off their asses. Democracy isn’t a spectator sport. I mean it. Really.

She's 84 years old and still fighting the good fight!

Follow Up: Fuck You

2010-12-02T20:44:00.003-06:00

In 2009, Lily Allen released a song called Fuck You that I discussed here.

The song was a hit, making it to #1 in Belgium and number 68 on the Billboard charts.

This past Summer, Cee Lo released a song entitled Fuck You.

Both are catchy songs.

Each have disparate messages.

Here is Cee Lo's very catchy song - to compare to Lily Allen's same-named one.

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In the future, I'll discuss my history with the word fuck, including my 3rd grade suspension concerning the word.

Email Exchange

2010-11-29T17:47:00.003-06:00

Over the years, I have given my 74-year-old dad computer lessons. Some things are just outside of his grasp - like using the Shift key. Here is an email exchange today about an upcoming event.

Me: Do we have anything planned yet for Christmas morning – for the family gift exchange? I offer to host. We can meet around 10 am at my house for coffee, donuts, grits and grillades (mom’s recipe), and/or hot chocolate. What do you think?

My Sister Christine: Assuming that it works for Karlie, which I think it does, I think it sounds nice. We have “Christmas with the [in laws]” this year, but I don’t it will start until the afternoon. Thanks for offering to host. I love the holidays!!!

Me: And I have two Snuggies ready for anyone who wants to use them! (Karlie can bring hers too.)

My Dad: WE WILL BE IN ATTENDENCE DAD

Me: Sounds good. Remember: In email, ALL CAPS means that you are YELLING at someone. You really should practice with the Shift key.

My Dad: THANKS

Me: Oh the irony…

Mystery Solved

2010-11-29T17:24:00.007-06:00

Remember the guy in the below photo? He is the mystery actor described in this post.

Carlos figured out who he is. We were watching Runaway Jury yesterday morning and recognized him. His name is Cliff Curtis. Here is his official IMDB photo.

Here is his bio via IMDB:

Cliff Curtis was born in Rotorua, Aotearoa, New Zealand, on July 27, 1968.

Of New Zealand Maori descent (Ngati Hauiti, Te Arawa) he spent time when young learning the traditional Maori fighting styles of mau rakau. He enrolled at the New Zealand Drama School, and then the Teatro Dmitri Scoula in Switzerland.

After returning to Aotearoa New Zealand from Europe, he was cast in The Piano (1993). Subsequent roles in New Zealand include the camp melodrama Desperate Remedies (1993), the gruelling urban drama Once Were Warriors (1994), and the lighthearted comedy Jubilee (2000).

In Hollywood, Curtis has played a range of different roles and ethnicities in films. He plays a Colombian in Blow (2001), an Arab in Three Kings (1999) and The Insider (1999), a Latino in Training Day (2001) and Runaway Jury (2003), and a drug dealer of ambiguous ethnicity in Bringing Out the Dead (1999). However, he is probably best known for his role as Paikea's father Porourangi, in Whale Rider (2002).

Carlos has a great memory. He said that he couldn't remember the guy's name, but remembered that he had starred along Bruce Willis in a movie. We can now confirm that movie is Live Free or Die Hard.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T20:35:00.002-06:00

In my generation, we have 13 cousins. At 43, I am the second oldest. The first five of us are very close in age and grew up together.

My 41-year-old cousin Paul, the youngest of us five, has been battling colon and liver cancer for the last six months or so.

In person, via email and via Caring Bridge, he keeps us updated on his condition. Since today is Thanksgiving, I wanted to share with you his most recent communication. You’ll see that he is quite a good writer – and tries to keep his humor about the situation.

All right…all right, I’m back in the game. Today was the big pow wow with Dr. Griffin, and the unknowns are now known and on the books.

To back-up a bit and get you on the right page, I had a CT scan last Tuesday, because they hadn’t taken a look at my toenail on my left pinky toe. Well we got it, and now they can digitally recreate every pore in my body. The CT came back favorably, and we are now describing the size of the liver lesions in mm rather than cm.

As usual, the colon doctor didn’t trust the tested and proven CT to determine his prognosis, and I’m sore again. The really good news is that I’m scheduled for surgery on December 10 at Tulane Hospital. I am first in line for the day, which, like flying, is where you want to be. Funny, the similarities these days between flying and colorectal cancer.

Anyway, the colon surgeon should go first and re-connect my plumbing and then the liver surgeon. Sad to say, but we really don’t know what his plan is for the liver. I guess I’ll wake up with a surprise. Regardless, I’m very excited about making progress toward the end of the surgeries and getting to the next stage, whatever that is.

I will be in the hospital for 2 days, which would mean I will be out by Sunday if all goes well. Both procedures are laparoscopic this time, so recovery should be nothing like the first surgery. I assume that I will have more scans after the surgery and take those results to the Medical Oncologist to see what’s behind the next curtain. As I have stated before--through gnashed teeth--I want the second chemo regimen. I want to go through this just one time, and I will do what I need to do to achieve that goal.

All is well on the home front. We are heading to Shreveport tomorrow evening to spend Thanksgiving with Sarah’s family. I am looking forward to getting out of town for a few days and relaxing. I genuinely feel good and have had no other major incidents with my special friend [his colostomy bag]; however, I will be burning the bulk of my clothes once this is over. Oh, and after the surgery I’ll have some fancy balloons available for any birthday party or bar mitzvah. I have been itching to start jogging again but have learned from a reliable source that sweat and the adhesive on my apparatus do not work well together. Jogging can wait.

I hope you are all doing exactly what you want to do this Thanksgiving. In my family, all Thanksgiving attendees must write on a little piece of paper what they are thankful for and place it in a basket. After we dine the contents of the basket are read aloud and everyone tries to guess who submitted the entry. It’s funny, touching, sometimes sad, but always meaningful. I will not be there this year, so here’s what I’m thankful for: I am thankful to be alive. I am thankful that my body has reacted so well to treatment. I am thankful that I have such wonderful people around me who support and love me. I am thankful for doctors who have torn me up and are putting me back together. I am thankful for the quiet strength that I receive from my wife and children. I am thankful for being treated normally and not like I’m a piece of thin blown glass. I am thankful for the opportunity to kick this thing in the ass, turn around, and attack the rest of my life.

I printed out Paul’s Thankful For submission and slipped it into this year’s basket. We all had a good cry.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

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Some Thanksgiving quotes:

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.
- Frank A. Clark

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.
- W.J. Cameron

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.
- Irv Kupcinet

There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.
- O. Henry

On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.
- William Jennings Bryan

Thanksgiving is America's national chow-down feast, the one occasion each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty.
- Michael Dresser

Forever on Thanksgiving Day
The heart will find the pathway home.
- Wilbur D. Nesbit

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.
- Cicero

And though I ebb in worth, I'll flow in thanks.
- John Taylor

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.
- Aesop

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"
- William A. Ward

List: Top 5 Classic Rock Bands

2010-11-19T19:06:00.022-06:00

Our friend Debbie loves to ask, "What is your Top Five ____________? Go."

My list of Top Five Classic Rock Bands has been set for years.

1. U2 - which I discuss fairly often.

2. Led Zeppelin - which I have discussed numerous times, including my Top Ten Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time list

3. Rush

4. Queen - one mention so far

5. Pink Floyd - also one mention

I thought today I would discuss Rush.

In 8th grade (1980), Rush's album Moving Pictures came out. A friend of mine brought it to school and insisted I borrow it. I did. And I was hooked for life.

The cover's double meaning (right) was lost on a 12 year old.

For years later, I wanted to be a drummer because of Neil Peart. Ironically, I never tried to play (the drum solo song) YYZ from the album. I used my drum sticks - known to my dad as his screw drivers - on my drum kit (AKA the floor and pillows of my bedroom) to perfect Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta, Vital Signs and especially Limelight.

Here is what I wanted to be able to do as a 12 year old - done by a (then) 9 year old: Teddy Z covering, drums only, Tom Sawyer.

Hell, I'd like to play like that now.

Here is Vital Signs live in 1984.

My friend Lloyd and I would endlessly discuss the meaning of the songs Red Barchetta, Witch Hunt, Camera Eye, and all the other songs on the album.

A small footnote at the end of Red Barchetta says, "Inspired by 'A Nice Morning Drive' by Richard S. Foster." In the pre-internet world, it took me years to figure out that was a short story in the November 1973 issue of Road and Track magazine. I am still trying to hunt down a reasonably priced copy of the magazine on eBay. Those damn Rush fanatics.

Here's an article by Richard Foster describing when he finally met Neil Peart, Rush's drummer and main lyricist, in 2006.

After listening to Moving Pictures, I had to find out everything about this band.

I started at the beginning with their eponymous first album, continuing through Fly By Night and Caress of Steel. All noble efforts, but nothing that really hit me.

Then I discovered their fourth album (right) - 2112.

The first side is all one song, divided into seven parts. I remember thinking, "It's something about a world without music, but I don't get it." Then I listened to it again and again and again.

Here are parts 1 and 2, live in 2007:

Side two has some decent songs, but nothing like the fantastic side one.

Moving up the band's history, I then discovered A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres and Permanent Waves. Without exception, every song on those three albums are fantastic and as still some of my favorites.

A Farewell to Kings has the (sort of) hit Cinderella Man, but I'm more partial to their longer songs such as Xanadu and Cygnus X-1.

I don't play an instrument, but I have been told that mastering their 10 minute instrumental La Villa Strangiato from Hemispheres is prized among musicians. Something about all the odd timing changes. My friend Kyle used to be in a bar band that covered that song - and well too.

Here is a live version of La Villa Strangiato from around 2004:

The Trees, another of the songs from Hemispheres is an allegory about, well, here are the lyrics:

There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw

Here is a live version of The Trees from the late 1970's.

Permanent Waves has some of their most popular songs, including The Spirit of Radio - which they opened their concerts with for many years. (Even their 2005 live 30th Anniversary CD opens with the song.)

Here is The Spirit of Radio live from 1984:

By the time Signals - their next studio album after Moving Pictures - came out, I knew every song of theirs, and ate up the new CD. I was a Sophomore in high school and my Theology class (Catholic boys school requirement) was informally called "Sex, Drugs, and Rock N Roll". All we discussed were those three subjects. In detail. For nine months. Our professor, Fr. Ed, was quite cool. (I still keep in contact with him via Facebook.)

We were encouraged to bring in our favorite albums. He would play the songs and we would discuss the lyrics. We did one Rush song, Losing It, from Signals. Here are the lyrics:

The dancer slows her frantic pace
In pain and desperation
Her aching limbs and downcast face
Aglow with perspiration

Stiff as wire, her lungs on fire
With just the briefest pause
The flooding through her memory
The echoes of old applause

And she limps across the floor
And closes her bedroom door...

The writer stares with glassy eyes
Defies the empty page
His beard is white, his face is lined

And streaked with tears of rage

Thirty years ago, how the words would flow
With passion and precision
But now his mind is dark and dulled
By sickness and indecision

And he stares out the kitchen door
Where the sun will rise no more...

Some are born to move the world
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we'd like to be
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you, the blind who once could see
The bell tolls for thee...

I don't remember the exact discussion. All I remember is how proud I was that we were talking about MY band with the entire class for an entire hour. How very cool.

There is no video or live performance of the song by the band, but here is the studio version of the song.

Geddy Lee, the band's singer/bass player/keyboard player, introduced keyboards more and more into the bands songs - starting with Signals. I kept buying their albums for awhile - after Signals came Grace Under Pressure, then Power Windows, then Hold Your Fire. By their latest live set A Show of Hands, I had moved on to other bands (though I diligently bought every new release, and still do). But every so often, I pick up a Rush CD from my pile and listen to it.

Recommendations -

If you have never ever heard a song by Rush, start with Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures or their second live album Exit...Stage Left, which contains songs from that time period. Those are the easiest to jump into.

If you're a fan of prog rock, start with 2112 or Hemispheres.

If you're already a fan of Rush, you must see the documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage. My favorite part is watching the actual home movie of Alex Lifeson (guitars) telling his parents that he is dropping out of high school to go on the road with his band. Priceless.

-----------------

Final Note -

Moving Pictures and 2112 are the two Rush albums contained in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

----------------

Final Final Note -

Apparently the creators of South Park are Rush fans too...

Link: What The Heck Has Obama Done So Far?

2010-11-18T17:34:00.003-06:00

If someone says, "Obama hasn't done ONE good thing for our country yet!!", here's a site to help you set the misguided person straight:
What The Fuck Has Obama Done So Far?
or the PG version What The Heck Has Obama Done So Far?

Source: The always entertaining STFU, Conservatives

Tea Baggers

2010-11-17T20:18:00.001-06:00

A friend emailed me this, though he still calls them Tea Partiers, whereas I call them Tea Baggers.

Did you know that the words “race car” spelled backwards still spells “race car”?

And that “eat” is the only word that, if you take the first letter and move it to the last, spells its own past tense, “ate”?

And if you rearrange the letters in “Tea Party Republicans,” and add just a few more letters, it spells: “Shut the fuck up you free-loading, progress-blocking, benefit-grabbing, resource-sucking, violent hypocrites, and deal with the fact that you nearly wrecked the country under Bush and that our president is black, so try and get over it.”

Isn’t that interesting?

Punching The Clock

2010-11-12T21:04:00.007-06:00

At work, we have a new time clock system, mandated by the university.

There are five people in my office. Three of us are salaried and are unaffected; the other two are hourly. Even though I am the Manager of our office - but AS I HAVE SAID OVER AND OVER TO THE HOURLY PEEPS NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU BITCH TO ME - I have no control or affect on the new system.

Today, we had an Office Meeting. I said:

You can complain and complain all you want about this new system. I will always listen to you. I will never get defensive.

This is not my system. I am merely telling you the details that I hear from my superiors. Whatever questions I cannot answer, I will ask upward - no matter how much resistance I get.

[The upper up bosses are "tired" and "frustrated" of questions about the new system and want them to stop. I plan on asking questions as long as I want to.]

Remember this though: This new system is not going away. Whether you like it or not, long term, you WILL be judged by how you react to this obstacle.

Character comes from how well you work with adversity. Grow and learn from this experience.

Will you adapt? Will you fight it? Will you quit? It is your call. I will back any decision you make.

Dead Pool

2010-11-12T19:54:00.004-06:00

Remember the 1988 Clint Eastwood movie The Dead Pool? I haven't actually seen it, but I can relate to it. I keep track of celebrities who have died.

Some days when Carlos and I talk after work, I open the conversation with, "Guess who died today." (Carlos, who keeps up with pop culture as much as I do, usually knows the answer.)

I subscribe to the newsletter for the website Who's Alive and Who's Dead - including daily bulletins for very famous people.

I receive the daily and weekly posts from the associated Yahoo Group.

CNN sends me daily bulletins.

All so that I can know information like Jill Clayburgh's death was announced yesterday.

I have never played the game The Dead Pool, but I may play this year. Once I have my list - and after I post it to The Dead Pool - I'll post it here.

New Discovery: Antony Hegarty

2010-11-12T19:12:00.004-06:00

I have had "Antony Hegarty" listed on my New Discovery list for almost two years - so I guess I can't call him a New Discovery.

Flipping through the channels one evening, I came across a tribute concert to Leonard Cohen. I was half paying attention until this astonishing voice came on. This is what I saw. Unfortunately, "embedding disabled by request".

I stopped in my tracks and watched with my mouth agape for the entire time. What an incredible voice.

Antony (and his band The Johnsons) made their US network television debut on Late Night with David Letterman:

They have also appeared on one of my current favorite shows, Sundance Channel's Live from Abbey Road.

Here is Antony Hegarty's Wikipedia page.

Mahna Mahna and other songs

2010-11-12T18:50:00.002-06:00

Earlier this week, Carlos and I were playing songs for each other with the challenge, "Try getting this out of your head". Here are our top picks...

Mahna Mahna and the Snowths from The Muppet Show

If I Knew You Were Coming, I'd Have Baked A Cake - Eileen Barton

A Bushel and A Peck - Doris Day

What songs can you think of?

Story: Justin Bieber -- I Want to Step Up Against Hate

2010-10-24T21:57:00.003-05:00

Justin Bieber is not at all on my radar and I never thought I would ever be blogging about him, but I have to give him points for this...

Justin Bieber will take a stand against bullying and homophobia after he was on the receiving end of some hateful words this weekend ... TMZ has learned.

As TMZ first reported, Bieber was confronted by a 12-year-old boy at a laser arcade -- and things got heated after the boy called Bieber "a faggot." We're told the boy repeated the comment and then put his hand out toward Bieber and Bieber pushed it away as he left. We're told Bieber's rep has told police this story and it is backed up by witnesses.

Bieber is telling friends he had no idea how hurtful these comments could be -- but even though he's a straight teenager, he now wants to take a stand against bullying and homophobia.

We're told Bieber will be going public -- probably within the next week -- to lend his support to the anti-bullying campaign.

And this is interesting ... our sources say Bieber's own people wanted to keep the specifics of the confrontation under wraps, but Justin felt it was important for people to know what happened.

As TMZ has already reported ... although police are investigating the incident, they've already concluded Bieber was not the instigator.

---------------

The original story can be found here.

Sign Near Books

2010-10-22T21:28:00.001-05:00

From one of my daily reads STFU Conservatives...

Pillow Cases

2010-10-17T12:51:00.007-05:00

Ever since I came out to my parents in the Summer of 2008, they have been very loving and do all they can to show that they accept me the way I am.

They also try to bond with Carlos, my boyfriend:
My dad (a financial adviser) gives Carlos financial advice. My mom (a part-time real estate agent) spent the last year working with Carlos to buy a house.

When we stayed at their bed and breakfast last weekend, they had these pillow cases on the bed - specially ordered by my mom from my younger sister who runs a part-time monogramming business.

Too cute.

Tourist In Your Own Town - 2010

2010-10-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

Once a year, Carlos and I spend a weekend in the New Orleans French Quarter, doing all the activities that tourists do. We’re tourists in our home town.

Our theme this year was “Eat, Drink, Be Merry…and Shop”. I researched many choices in all those categories. Once our weekend began, we virtually ignored my list.

We arrived at The Little Yellow House Bed and Breakfast (next door to my parent’s house) around 1 pm, and promptly walked past Port of Call. Our plan was to eat there, but the line was too long. (That ended up being that restaurant’s theme all weekend.) We ate at The Gumbo Shop. We each had Gumbo as our appetizer (though different types of Gumbo). I had the Catfish St. Peter – a special of the day. It was catfish with some kind of rich sauce that included shrimp. (I’ll have to hunt around for the recipe.) Carlos also had a catfish dish, though his was not nearly as good.

We then wandered through the Quarter, stopping in many shops and finally the French Market. I saw some local themed trivets that I wanted to buy but didn’t want to carry around. I should have bought them then: The booth disappeared after Friday.

After a quick rest at the B&B, we ate dinner with my parents at Marigny Brasserie. The service was slow and the food was underwhelming. My friend Cherie tells me – in the blog post here that she and my friend Steve run – that the place has gone down over the years. I can attest to that.

Our parents went to a fundraiser for Uganda (a random reason for a fundraiser, we thought) at Café Rose Nicaud, between Marigny Brasserie and Snug Harbor, while Carlos and I wandered down Frenchman Street. We stopped in the Faubourg Marigny Art and Books store, browsed through the porn and both bought Superman Fleur de Lis t-shirts. After looking in on a few other clubs down Frenchman, we ended up at Balcony Music Club for a drink.

Then home to bed.

Saturday morning, I was up early, letting Carlos sleep in. My mom and dad were in the driveway. My dad was going to work for awhile and my mom was walking down to Café Rose Nicaud for coffee, as she does every Saturday morning. She and I first walked to the French Market (again in search of trivets). Then met some more locals for coffee. Carlos joined us.

Laury, the friend of my parents who lives in the south of France and who we visited during our October 2007 trip, was there. We caught up with her and her adventures. She works in New Orleans two months a year and lives in France the other 10 months. I want her job!

Carlos and I then took the Riverfront Streetcar all the way down to near the World War II museum. (If we ever end up living down in Marigny, I could take that to work every day. Ahhhh, to dream. I don’t think I could convince Carlos to live in that area of town.) We had already seen the actual museum; we were there to see the new movie – Beyond Boundaries. The movie was interactive in that it was projected on a huge screen, our seats shook, smoke and mist came at us, and objects were raised and lowered at appropriate times. It was amazing!

I picked up a WWII t-shirt at the gift shop (more spending!) and then we raced over to our 2 pm reservation at the New Orleans School of Cooking for a cooking class. The highlight of last year’s Tourist Weekend was the cooking class. We had found out the previous day that there were actually two classes offered. We immediately signed up!

This year’s class consisted of more New Orleans history woven through the cooking of Shrimp and Artichoke Soup, Crawfish Etouffee, and more Pralines. (The school demonstrates Pralines during every class.) If you are ever looking for something to do in New Orleans, I highly recommend these cooking classes. They’re $22, last about two hours, and you get to eat your results.

I will post the recipes for both main dishes in my next post.

With our bellies full, we wandered around the Quarter a bit, ending up at Canal Place Cinema – now called The Theatres at Canal Place. We saw the 6:10 showing of The Town, but were going really just to experience the updated set up.

The overall experience was very elegant. Since we arrived almost an hour early, Carlos and I bought our reserved seats (for $12 each), had a drink at the bar, and chatted with the very friendly staff. Once the time came for the movie, we leisurely bought our popcorn from the counter and took our seats. We could have ordered our popcorn - or anything from the extensive menu - from our seats merely by pushing a button between us, but we wanted to save the automatic 18% service charge.

Downside...
The lights in the theatre were on the entire time. I thought because the servers needed to see the patrons. When relating this to others who have been to this theatre, they told me that they think that someone forgot to turn the lights off. During the course of the movie, there were at least 20 trips by servers into the theatre. I don't think it was an accident. If you want to actually watch the movie you are paying for without any distractions, The Theatres at Canal Place are NOT the place to go.

Walking down Decatur back to our B&B, we saw Ami – of “Travis & Ami”, who got married in my parent’s backyard back in 2002 (?) – walking to a bar on Decatur to “do her show called Fire and Ice”. Apparently she is a fire twirler in her spare time.

We ended up getting some late night food at La Peniche and eating it in our B&B.

Then to bed.

Sunday, I again awoke early and again walked down to the French Market. Still no trivets, but I did buy some very nice smelling candles. When I returned, Carlos and I had breakfast with my mom and dad, recapping our weekend.

My co-worker Karen asked me about my favorite meal during the weekend. I guess it was the Catfish St. Peter, but no meal really stood out for me. For a city known for food, we must not have covered the correct restaurants. We’ll have to concentrate on that more next year.

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Details on 2007 trip

Details on 2008 trip

Details on 2009 trip