Supertramp Sunday

Posted on January 27, 2008

It’s been a couple of weeks, so I thought I’d bring listenin’ Sundays back. This week: ’70s prog-group Supertramp. These may get a little repetitive ‘cuz there are only a few Supertramp songs I know (and like) but I scoured the YouTubes for some good stuff.

Here’s a classic video, “Breakfast in America”.

It’s true. You don’t have to be pretty to play prog rock.

This concert, which was the band’s last with vocalist/keyboardist Roger Hodgson, was recorded the same year I was born.

They didn’t get any handsomer in the ’80s. Though it seems kind of appropriate.
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Howard’s Pantry

Posted on January 25, 2008

Went out to eat at Howard’s Pantry the other night, one of my favorite eateries in town. The Pantry is an excellent source for good home cooked food at an excellent price. Located on 48th street between Normal and Van Dorn, it is a local institution that has been around for basically forever.

Stepping into The Pantry is really like going into grandma’s living room. The decor clearly hasn’t been updated since the late ’60s. And that’s a part of the charm.

The dining room.
It’s a restaurant that’s relatively unknown among those under the age of 70, but because it’s been around for so long it is beloved by the elderly. It is not uncommon to hear a comment about those damn dimmycrats or the colored or whatever.

Your typical Pantry patron.
The menu is your good old home cooked fare, a few different burgers and sandwiches, an amazing tuna melt, a fish sandwich, and their daily specials. Be sure to come in for the smorgas board buffet as well.

So many deals!

Their weekend specials.
I opted for the roast beef and potatoes on a slice of bread, along with a trip to the salad bar and a Green River soda. It was awesomely delicious, and they use these ancient metal plates for the salad bar that are probably made of lead or something. The food there is never disappointing though.

Mmmm. Roast beef, potatoes, gravy, and bread.

Green River soda. It tastes like green.

Be sure to give them a visit. The food is great, my dining companion and I both walked away full for less than twenty bucks. Good times at the Howard’s Pantry.

Christianforums.com Pt. 2

Posted on January 23, 2008

Last week, I wrote up some excellent thread posts from Mychristianforums.com. But one post was not enough to contain the awesomeness therein. So here’s some more for you.

This is a question that I hope to never have to ask myself. Ever. Are her parents taking out their sexual frustration on her? Is Jesus taking their sexual frustration out on her? The world may never know…

“Dear lord please help me I masturbated while thinking about Jeff’s Sailor Moon t-shirt last night what do I do what do I do I don’t want to go to hell”
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Christianforums.com Pt. 1

Posted on January 18, 2008

There’s been a website going around that I don’t feel like digging up, a list of quotes from various Christian websites that are all very ignorant statements about science, evolution, and other religions. The link had gone around a year or so ago and like most things on the internet (and in particular, Boing Boing and Digg) it got dredged up again for another go around. I poked around some of the linked sites, and found in many cases, those statements are often taken out of context (meant ironically or sarcastically), or if the poster is sincere, are usually shouted down by more reasonable people. In fact, I found plenty of reasonable people on those forums. However, this post isn’t about them. Reasonable people aren’t funny. This post is about the ignorant, the confused, and the just plain stupid. ‘Cuz they are funny. And I think we’ll be off to a good start with

Somebody has a lot to learn about the world, and anal sex in particular. wpiman2 might have to learn the hard way.

I really want to believe that this is a fakepost, but as far as I can tell, it isn’t. I suppose beating it would work to fight off sexual urges though…
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2 in 1!

Posted on January 17, 2008

Yes that’s right two posts in one! Went to a concert at Duffy’s Tavern last night to see the famous Loup River Band & Street Choir, along with friends Patrick Bradley and The Sleepover. There was dangerously bad snow out, so turnout was low, but Beerorkid was there, along with pints of very tasty 2 Below ESB for $2, so it definitely was a good time. The opener was Patrick “Motherfuckin’” Bradley doing a one-man set, complete with a singalong. That was followed up by a newer band, The Sleepover, which produced a great set. Finally, Loup River took the stage, and was fully awesome. It was guitarist/vocalist Jeff’s birthday, so happy birthday was sung, and cake was ate. How many bands give you birthday cake? Kickin’ rad. Pictures are at the Flickr.

Whilst at the show, I noticed a poster advertising “Feckin’ Irish Whiskey”. With a name like that, I was too curious to not try it. The bartenders were surprised that somebody was willing to try it. They had to hunt for the bottle, and it was brand new and unopened. Nobody knew what to charge for it, so we got it for $3 a shot (thanks Esteban!) So here’s another tasting review, for Feckin’ Irish Whiskey.

Nose: Very sweet, a bit of vanilla, almost no whiskey scent. A very mellow nose.
Flavor: Still very sweet. It’s a spiced whiskey, so it tasted more like rum than whiskey. The closest I can compare it to would be Captain Morgan, but with a bit of whiskey floated on top. It’s not a very complex flavor if I’m honest, and as I said, not very whiskey like. There’s very little barrel taste, and some vanilla flavor to it.
Finish: The finish was smooth and uncomplex, with almost no burn to speak of. As Steve said, it tasted better than it smelled. A couple of ice cubes dropped in served to mellow it a little.

It wasn’t a bad whiskey, but it wasn’t a very great one either, at least for an unwhiskey-like whiskey. If I were feeling more generous, I might be pushed to give it a 3, but as it is I wasn’t so much impressed as not horrified, so I’ll give it 2.5 out of 5.

Macworld Keynote

Posted on January 15, 2008

If anybody wants to know what I think about what Steve had to say today, head on over to MacFags to read my write-up.

Better Makeout Music: Roxy Music vs. Uriah Heep

Posted on January 8, 2008

A question presents itself. What is better to make out to? The suave and smooth ’80s hit from Roxy Music, “More than This” or, the heavy and humble hard rocking “Gypsy” by Uriah Heep? After some scientific experimentation, I think I’ve come up with a fair comparison.

Romance

Lyrically, “Gypsy” is very romantic. “I was out for quite a time / Came back with her on my mind / Sweet little girl / She means all the world”, it’s the tale of a young man who falls in love with a gypsy girl but is unable to convince her father that he is worthy. She is torn between obeying her father and going with the man she loves. He is going to prove to the father that he can be the right kind of man. Very romantic stuff indeed.

“More than This” is a little more opaque in its meaning. However, lines like “It was fun for a while / There was no way of knowing / Like dream in the night / Who can say where we´re going” speak of a love that has passed. The relationship is coming to an end, that it’s not what it used to be.

Advantage: Uriah Heep

Rhythm

“Gypsy” is pounding, driving, thrusting, hard. Great for fucking, yes. However, the down and dirty 8th note organ stabs do not do well for soft love. This is music for making love the back of a ‘79 Ranchero. “More than This”, on the other hand, is smooth, soft, it gently caresses you. Even the smooth backbeat of the drums are mellow, saying “it’s okay baby, I just want to love you responsibly”. The airy synths and almost ethereal vocals are okay with taking it slow and waiting for when you’re ready.

Advantage: Roxy Music

Lead Singer

Everybody knows that a band’s success can live or die based on its frontman. That’s what gets the girls going crazy, the sexy man on stage. And, well, I think this chart says it all:

The Heep’s David Byron, shown on the left, is, well, poodle-haired and bewildered-looking. And this photo is of his good side. Not the best looking man. Whereas Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry, on the right, is suave. The ladies surely like him. Who wouldn’t?

Advantage: Roxy Music.

Judgement

I think, with a score of 2 to 1, I have no choice but to give it to Roxy Music. “More than This” is for sure the best track to have makeouts with pretty ladies to. So remember that next time you’re putting together your mixtape. Science says so.

Daft Punk Sunday

Posted on January 6, 2008

This week I decree that you listen to some Daft Punk, despite receiving suggestions of Manilow and Neil Diamond. Here’s some Youtube videos to put you in the mood.

We’ll start off with a classic, their breakthrough really, the Michael Gondry-directed “Around the World”, which was also the subject of Diesel Sweeties comic. Very catchy.

That got remade into this video of some fellas doing the Charleston. Pretty sweet.

When the album Discovery came out, Daft Punk released a series of videos for the songs on the album that all tie in together as a little anime short film, inspired by the late ’70s anime style too, back when it was good. Here is the fresh and funky “Voyager”

Far be it from me to make you watch an advertisement, and for the Gap at that, but this commercial using “Digital Love” is aight, and damned if Juliette Lewis isn’t cute in it.

This video details the origins of many of their samples:

Finally, this video, of two drunk girls paying tribute to this very well done rendtion of “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” which I probably should post instead, but these girls are too cute to not post.

I HAD A REALLY AWESOME VIDEO HERE BUT THEY DECIDED TO TAKE IT DOWN JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE EMBARRASSINGLY DRUNK AND IN THEIR UNDERWEARS BUT OH WELL GUYS SORRY.

Crabby Bill’s Mini-Review

Posted on January 3, 2008

Disclosure: Among Crabby Bill’s employed staff, one waitress, one bartender, and something like four or five cooks are friends who used to work at the country club with me. I’ll try not to let that color my review.

Crabby Bill’s opened up this autumn in the Lincoln Haymarket, at 8th and Q. As the name implies it’s mostly a seafood menu, with a delightfully tacky decór with a seaside shack theme. My only complaint about the atmosphere was the awful reggae music, but with a set theme for your restaurant satellite radio you are limited in your selection. And they are unaffiliated with the chain of Crabby Bills restaurants in the south.

Being as I work just around the corner from this place, and I know a bunch of people there, I thought I’d stop in after getting out of work early (sorry Tyler). Steve already reviewed the place and said it was nummy, so that’s good enough for me. Oddly enough, they remembered him too, because he was taking pictures.

It was a pretty slow night there (and all over the Haymarket, really) so I just decided to have a seat at the bar. I ordered me a greyhound, as we were having a discussion about them at work earlier that evening, and I could use the vitamin C.

Looked over the menu, saw some good options but ultimately went with the grouper ($17.95). I probably should have taken notes, but I’ll do with what I can with my vodka- and cold medicine-addled brain. The fish was massive, filling up the big plate shaped like a fish. It was definitely more than I was expecting. It came with a side of sauteed carrots and some “spuds”. The grouper was doused in a citrus-y buttery sauce that if I recall right, had white wine in it as well. It was damn tasty, and almost more than I could eat. The “spuds” as they call them, were big chunks of potato in a creamy-cheesy-oniony-bacony au gratin affair that, apparently got some bad reviews but I thought they were quite good. I’d eat ‘em again. And the carrots, so gooood, made exactly like my grandma used to make them. Like for real, she prepared them exactly the same as these were. I have to say I was impressed with my fish, though I was told by the chef that next time, I have to try the tuna. So I will be going back, after I hit up a couple of the other Haymarket restaurants for sure.

The Apple Store Review Revue

Posted on January 1, 2008

Apparently, Mac users will write reviews for just about anything sold to them. I think that’s an overall trend of the internet, and I may just expand this to other sites later on, but we’ll start with the Apple Online Store. I love these things ‘cuz I know it sends DB into a frothing rage matched only by Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek II.

I was surprised to find out that Monster makes a cassette adapter. Even better is the fact that it’s very poorly made and is very vulnerable to EM interference. Here’s a common review for the Monster iCar Cassette Adapter.

Do not waste your money!
I do not have a newer auto that comes equipped with the superior in-car jack for audio function for MP-3 players, iPods, etc. So I went to the Apple Store and they recommended this item. It does not work! Completely jammed my car’s cassette player. Now I cannot eject it from the mechanism. So now I have to take the car in to the dealership and have them figure out how to gain access to the cassette player and rip that puppy out of there.

Stay away from this product!!

I have a feeing that this dumbass has a cassette player that is incompatible with adapters, and that’s why it got stuck. Kind of like those people that stick Mini-DVDs in slot-load drives.

How about reviews for a 2Gb SD card?

i accidently ran my memorycard in my laundry machine and in the dryer! when i found it why i was folding my clothes i freaked out because i was worried it hadn’t saved my pictures and videos, but when i put it in my camera about a month ago i worked! i’ve had it for the entire summer now and even now it still works as if i bought it yesterday!

This one was just funny to me. Whether it’s true or not, I hope lots of people test this.

Surely nobody would review a surge projector, right?

I love this little thing, it works great! Easy to use…
(28 of 34 people found this review useful)

Good. They were able to figure out how to plug it into the wall, and how to plug other things into it. Some of those things are hard to figure out.

Here are some reviews for a 6 ft. Belkin USB cable.

Trouble-free cable keeps the data humming. Apple delivered within 24 hours. A solid value from an efficient supplier.

the usb helped me save alot of money it saved me to buy a new printer u should get it if u lost your usb cald on your printer it saved me!!!!!!!!!!!!
(25 of 50 people found this review useful)

That last one is my favorite. Not only is it absolute nonsense, not only did this person think that they would have to buy a new printer because they lost the USB cable, not only do they miss the fact that when you buy a new printer, it doesn’t come with a USB cable, but 25 people found this review to be useful. That’s just awesome. People reviewed the review.

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