General

i dont know how i came across the band but they dont suck.
and its not just because i like real shorebirds (the birds themselves).

similar to the oranges band, but not as good.

In searching for information about Tommy Dorsey… i found some information about Billy Lustig and the Scranton Sirens

what can we say? can assume uconn is overated… or is villanova that good?
its still hard to say, but it sure is fun finding out.

who cares about gorges when you have coal!

i ust love this video, and i was thrilled to see it being shared.
watch jamie muir – he is the act to be seen – he is the percussionist noisemaker extrordnaire.

can’t help but love philly basketball.
it doesnt compare to the ACC or midwest hoosier bullshit.
this is pure rough physical grinding basketball. less style, more spirit.

the only thing that surprised me about the super bowl was learning that detroit is less than 300 miles from pittsburgh.

i’m somewhat glad the steelers won, however i think i’ll always feel resentment toward them. it stems back to my days as an oilers fan.

i’m even happier that jerome bettis didnt score. because i never liked him. not even a little bit. i wish he didn’t have to get a ring.

New Jersey passed it smoke-ban… so its looking like Philadelphia will try again at passing the law.

The new proposed bill is cast as a means of protecting employees from smoke. So it a health issue? Sure we can say that (it worked for other state laws)… but this law will would allow smoking in tobacco and cigar shops (logically), allow smoking in casinos…er I mean “gaming establishments” and would allow for hotels to have up to 25% of their rooms set aside as smoking rooms. So in reality it has nothing to do with worker health. I am pretty much for the ban (as a social smoker)… why can’t we just be honest about it. Most people find cigarette smoking a dirty disgusting habit and dont want to be subject to second hand smoke.

So the smoking ban looks progressive and the city desperatly wants to follow the trend. Fine, just do it already. Just tear it off like a band-aid.

“If I’m in a restaurant and I’m eating and someone says, ‘Hey, mind if I smoke?’ I always say, ‘No. Mind if I fart?…It’s one of my habits. They have a special section on airplanes for me now. I quit once for a year, you know… but I gained a lot of weight. It’s hard to quit. After sex I really have the urge to light one up.”” – Steve Martin

More news from the world of competitive eating…

Sonya Thomas, “The Black Widow”, continues her reign as Iron Gut (27 current world) titles by eating 26 Grilled Cheese Sandwichs.

For a middle eastern spice I’m linking to Al Jazeera, and who said they’re biased against the West!

Woodchuck should be handled in accordance with the general rules for game in the field. The blood should be drained, and the entrails removed and the body cavity wiped clean. When hung for 48 hours, they are ready to the skinned and cooked.

Woodchuck meat is dark, but mild flavored and tender. It does not require soaking; however, many people like to soak it overnight in salt water. If the woodchuck is caught just before he begins his winter sleep, there is an insulating fat layer under the skin. Remove excess fat. remove 7 to 9 “kernels” (scent glands) in the samll of the back and under the forearms. Parboil the meat of older animals; cook by recipes calling for chicken or rabbit.

WOODCHUCK (GROUNDHOG) PIE

1 woodchuck, skinned and cleaned
1/4 cup onion
1/4 cup green pepper
1/2 tbsp minced parsley
1 tbsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
4 1/2 tbsp. flour
3 cups broth

Biscuits:
1 cup flour
2 tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. fat
1/4 cup milk

Cut woodchuck into 2 or 3 pieces. Parboil for 1 hour. Remove meat from bones in large pieces. Add onion, green pepper, parsley, salt, pepper, and flour to the broth and srit until it thickens. If the broth does not measure 3 cups, add water. Add the meat to the broth mixture and stir thoroughly. Pour into baking dish.

For biscuits: sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Cut in the fat and add the liquid. Stir until the dry ingredients are moist. Roll only enough to make it fit the dish. Place dough on top of meat, put in a hot oven (400 degrees F.) and bake 30 to 40 minutes or until dough is browned. Serves 6-8.

I know your teeth have gnashed through death
Still you come to me
So gently
Find a soft place on your body
And rub me with it
Oh, this I won’t soon forget
You’re the one that will remain
You’re the one that will remain

Bust a lock with a rock
Don’t need a key to have me
This was your cold discovery

We needed a fever, we needed a cure
The bait no longer lured
Say goodbye, quick if you can
The car waits for me
Just across the border
Wish me luck, no good luck
No bad luck, just wish me luck
With my cold discovery

You are gone
My cold discovery
You’re the one that will remain

Well, I can hold a woman down on a hardwood floor
Well, I can hold a woman down on a hardwood floor
And your teeth can gnash right through me
Looking for a soft place
And of this you won’t soon forget
I had no soft place for you to rest
And this was your, your cold discovery
Your cold discovery

Well, I can hold a woman down on a hardwood floor
Well, I can hold a woman down on a hardwood floor
This was my, my cold discovery
My cold discovery

If you saw it for what it really was
My cold discovery
My cold discovery
My cold discovery
-smog-