Friday Palate Teaser

Via text, The Man of Many Email Addresses (TIMMAY, phonetically) has demanded some sort of recap from my recent (amazing, awesome, you get the drift) trip to Alaska... which I will provide at some point (think Day 12 of Gheorghemas in terms of delivery). 

But, in a show of good faith, I shall provide a Friday news dump of my own (there are no scat pics, tho that would've been a great way to lure back TR) via a few random trip photos below. Zero context shall be provided, because, well I'm lazy. Accept the post count or GTFO.

More to come at a later date. In the meantime, enjoy the weekend and face-melting temperatures in much of our respective locales.

Content was requested. Here's your god damn content.

 Please choose your favorite lyric from LFO's "Summer Girls", one of the laziest, most atrocious examples of song writing in modern history. I will see you all in the comments with my selection.

Yeah...I like it when the girls stop by.. In the summer

Do you remember, Do you remember?

...when we met..That summer??

[Chorus:]

New Kids On The block, had a bunch of hits

Chinese food makes me sick.

And I think it's fly when girls stop by for the summer, for the summer

I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch,

I'd take her if I had one wish,

But she's been gone since that summer..

Since that summer

[Verse 1:]

Hip Hop Marmalade spic And span,

Met you one summer and it all began

You're the best girl that I ever did see,

The great Larry Bird Jersey 33

When you take a sip you buzz like a hornet

Billy Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of sonnets

Call me Willy Whistle cause I can't speak baby

Something in your eyes went and drove me crazy

Now I can't forget you and it makes me mad,

Left one day and never came back

Stayed all summer then went back home,

Macauly Culkin wasn't Home Alone

Fell deep in love, but now we ain't speaking

Michael J Fox was Alex P Keaton

When I met you I said my name was Rich

You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch

[Chorus:]

New Kids On The block, had a bunch of hits

Chinese food makes me sick.

And I think it's fly when girls stop by for the summer, for the summer

I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch,

I'd take her if I had one wish,

But she's been gone since that summer..

Since that summer

[Verse 2:]

Cherry Pez, cold crush, rock star boogie

Used to hate school so I had to play hookie,

Always been hip to the B-boY Style

Known to act wild and make girls smile,

Love New Edition and the Candy Girl

Remind me of you because you rock my world

You come from Georgia where the peaches grow

They drink lemonade and speak real slow

You love hip hop and rock n roll

Dad took off when you were 4 years old

There was a good man named Paul Revere

I feel much better baby when you're near

You love fun dip and cherry Coke,

I like the way you laugh when I tell a joke

When I met you I said my name was Rich

You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge:]

In the summertime girls got it going on,

Shake and wiggle to a hip hop song

Summertime girls are the kind I like,

I'll steal your honey like I stole your bike

[Verse 3]

Bugaloo shrimp and pogo sticks

My mind takes me back there oh so quick

Let you off the hook like my man Mr. Limpet

Think about that summer and I bug, cause I miss it

Like the color purple, macaroni and cheese,

Ruby red slippers and a bunch of trees

Call you up but whats the use

I like Kevin Bacon, but I hate Footloose

Came in the door I said it before, I think I'm over you

but I'm really not sure

When I met you I said my name was Rich

You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge:]

In the summer girls come and summer girls go

Some are worth while and some are so so,

Summer girls come and summer girls go

Some are worth while and some are so so,

Summertime girls got it going on

Shake and wiggle to a hip hop song

Summertime girls are the kind I like

I'll steal your honey like I stole your bike

[Repeat Chorus]

Thank Gheorghe It's Filler

 It's Friday filler time, and we're mashing things up here at GTB.  Here's a new one...

 

Here's one I hadn't seen...

 

And my all-time favorite, still making me happy.   

 

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

AND THEN THERE'S THIS

   

Goon for Goons

A not insignificant contingent of Gheorghies is tearing it up at OBFT. They could probably use more content. In an effort to facilitate good times, I’ve embedded “Heaven is Humming,” a new album by a new-ish band called Goon. Squeaky and Dave will like it because it sounds like other stuff they like. Whit will like it because he likes everything. Everyone else will tolerate it because they’re too drunk to care.

I think it sounds like My Bloody Valentine smushed with Alice in Chains. "Northern Saturn" and "Critter" are my faves so far. Enjoy.

Of Mics and Men

About six years ago I wrote what I consider to be one of my best posts here--a long rambling description of my old Subaru as an introduction to a meditation on the 20th anniversary of "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)." Simply put, you can never have too much Wu-Tang.

To that end, I encourage you to watch "Of Mics and Men," a four-part series about the Wu-Tang Clan that will start May 10 on Showtime. Here's the trailer.



I think it will be eye-opening. The Wu is just like us! Who can't relate to a story like this, for example.



Bong bong.

via GIPHY

Fashion is Dumb: Frozen Dinner Edition

I sent this to TR, because we basically only communicate by exchanging links related to this semi-recurring bit. His reply: "I'd eat that"

TV dinner dress @Moschino #MFW pic.twitter.com/nVjTsWadpN

— @Booth (@Booth) February 21, 2019

Homecoming Filler

Springtime 25 years ago, I, at long last, graduated from the College of Knowledge. 25 years ago this weekend, Rob and I journeyed back to campus where we pretended that we were still in school, hung out at the fraternity house, and likely passed out somewhere unpleasant. Good times.

Things were different back then. None of us were married.  A few of us had jobs (not me), but none of us had meaningful ones. We drank Milwaukee's Best. Pi Lam had a fraternity house.  Most of us went back for Homecoming every year.  And Rob and I were about to co-rent a place in Arlington, Virginia with our friend the Spoid, and that would change our lives' pathways forever.

Oh, and back then we called Rob "Squirrel."

Here's to the old days.  Enjoy your weekends. I'll be headed to Williamsburg.

4002: A Backspace Odyssey

It seems our tiny dictator let a significant milestone go by.

On Monday, October 1, 2018, we the people at Gheorghe: The Blog, known collectively as the "gheorghies," except to people who are wholly unfamiliar with this blog, and even by some who are familiar with this blog and simply do not care for the colloquialism, did bear witness to and possibly even read the text of, in some cases, a post about beer.  Really good beer, like Keystone and Keystone Light. And others.

And it was our 4000th post.  

The big 4-0-0-0.  We're up there with The Georgia Peach and Charlie Hustle.  Which, um, isn't fantastic company if you just want to kick back and have a beer and a laugh, but still.

Nothing to be proud of, Russ.  Four thousand posts.

To herald such an achievement with a post itself that contains no real content but is merely self-referential may be considered resting on laurels, or simply living in the past.  Four thousand posts of beautiful tradition, from LeBron to Jonas Salk --you're goddamn right I'm living in the fucking past!

And to think it only took us 15 years.  (G:TBday is coming up in a month, it's gonna be glorrrrious.)

There's really only one thing I have to say to a group of friends who have spent a decade and a half bringing each other tiny bits of joy to brighten each other's every day:

Seriously, people.  Get a fucking life.  Also, it's happy hour.  (If you align yourself with the time zone of the brewery that produces your beverage.  And you drink Guinness.) 

Cheers, gheorghies.  Here's to 4000 more.

Stuff You Slept On, Alternatively Titled "layzman's filler" -- A Recurring Post

There are a number of albums I love that no one else seems to know about. It occurred to me that there are innumerable such albums, albums that are beloved by a only a few people and that deserve more spins. So I decided to shine a light on this stuff that we slept on, while simultaneously harnessing the immense power with which I am clothed via my G:TB platform to crowd-source content. To that end, I surveyed about a dozen of our twelve person readership for hidden musical gems. The resulting layzman's filler will trickle out as needed. First up is TR's response:

Warren Zevon's Excitable Boy turns 40 this year. The song he is most known for (Werewolves in London) is on this album, but it is far from his best song on the album (IMO).

Excitable Boy is a fun rocker with an oldies tilt, but that's not the tune I'm gonna pimp here.

Lawyers, Guns and Money is also on this album. I have loved this song for the last fifteen years, since I first heard Widespread Panic cover it. The lyrics are like something Hunter S. Thompson would write, which is high praise from a guy with a Gonzo tattoo and a son named Hunter. "Now I'm hiding in Honduras. I'm a desperate man. Send lawyers, guns and money. The shit has hit the fan." Giddyup.

The other tune I'm gonna pimp is Night Time in the Switching Yard. I vividly remember when I first heard this. I was driving to Saratoga early on a Friday morning for Sammy the Bull's BP in the mid aughts. I was near Woodstock and found a great classic rock station. This was pre-Sirius, when you had to work to find tunes. This song came and I quickly turned the volume up to 11.

YouTube link is here. You have to embed this video or you won't be my friend any more:



If nothing else, Werewolves, Excitable Boy, Lawyers and Night Time highlight Zevon's tremendous musical range, lyrical prowess and potential as a rock superstar cut from the same cloth as Petty and Springsteen. Ultimately, his numerous personal demons proved to be too much of a limiting factor on his professional success. But he put it all together on one tremendous LP. I own it on vinyl. You should too.

Ghostface Killah Has His Own Cryptocurrency

I don't understand what blockchains are but they're remarkably popular these days. So popular that Ghostface Killah is getting into the cryptocurrency game. I'm a pretty boring guy, especially when it comes to investing, so I'm skeptical.

It's called Cream Capital, which is a take-off on the song C.R.E.A.M. The "C" in the instant situation stands for "cryptocurrency." Get it?

via GIPHY

This "white paper" explains the scam how it works. Except it doesn't. ATMS are involved somehow.

"What the hell does GfK know about cryptocurrency and why should I invest with him" you might ask. Here's what CEO Brett Westbrook has to say on that topic:

"Ghostface Killah is a long-time business partner of ours," he explains. "I personally connected with him during a Reddit AMA on /r/hiphopheads last year when he was seeking tech-inclined people to work with in future technology focused projects. Dennis is a very forward thinking person and has a keen interest in emerging technologies. It's hard to ignore blockchain tech today even when you're a busy, touring hip hop artist.

"He doesn't have any technical background with cryptocurrencies. However, remember that Wu-Tang is for the children. He is very focused on what the youth and millennials are interested in. He is a very solid businessman and has surrounded himself with bright individuals with a hunger for bring new, groundbreaking technologies to market."

Oh right, Wu-Tang is for the children!



And Pretty Tone is the Chief Branding Officer--no problem, take my money.

via GIPHY

And if this enterprise collapses you know it will be easy to hail the Wallabee Champ into court. What could go wrong?

Terra F-irma

The lore of the islands and anywhere from Dewey Beach to Duval Street includes romantic tales of "hurricane parties" and stubborn sons of Hemingway refusing to leave their domicile for any storm.

CNN and The Weather Channel report stories of homes devastated and lives lost, and government officials implore anyone in a storm's path to take higher ground in far-off safe havens.

The reality of most folks we know is somewhere in between.  Batten down the hatches, meet in Danimal's safe room, and drink rum until she's gone.

As such, there should be some appropriately themed songs to soundtrack your experience.  Let's spin a few...

Fingers crossed for Mark, Dan, collective loved ones, and all of Florida.  Even Finky's.

Call The Police for postcount

In the comments a post or two ago I recommended a song, but no one probably saw it because I commented just as a new post was going up. So, in the spirit of postcount, I am turning my comment into a post.

LCD Soundsystem's new single, "Call The Police," is perfect dadrock. In it you can hear strains of The Killers, U2, The National, and of course James Murphy. You should add it to your summertime BBQ party jam play list to elevate your already premiere status as the musical cognoscente of your piece of the suburbs.



I also encourage you to comment more today--I have the day off and it's raining like crazy so I can't play tennis or fish so I need some other source of entertainment.

via GIPHY

Candidly, you guys aren't doing much in the commenting department lately. Step it up.

Give the People What They Want

Fill 'er Up Friday

I spent the week in Orlando with a bunch of sales guys. Recovery starts now.

But the world still needs us, so I can't shirk blogging duty. Our man Teejay offered this spot-on political analysis this morning:

Inspired by his simple wisdom, I reached out to the White House for comment. The response did not fill me with confidence.

The Duality of Man and Cars

For almost 30 years I've been following cars about as avidly as some of you follow sports. During that time I've seen some really cool cars and some really stupid cars, and I've realized that cars reflect the duality of man.



This duality extends to automotive accessories and features. One of, if not the, stupidest automotive trends ever is at its acme right now: matte black paint. Applying matte black paint to any car makes it look like shit. No cars look better in matte black. The other day I saw a Mercedes CLA45 with matte black paint and black rims in my parking lot. It costs over $50,000 and it's normally a pretty car. The one I saw looks like it has been beaten up and abraded all to hell. Here's the general idea.

Just plain stupid. On the other side of the duality coin, Tesla now equips their S P85D models with a feature called "Insane Mode." It does this (keep the volume down at work):



So if you're looking for a new car, get one that has shiny paint and Insane Mode.

Friday Music Filler

Like most old ladies, zmother likes to forward me stupid emails that she gets from her friends. Today, however, she forwarded me something that I find inexplicably entertaining. Playback.fm has a feature that will tell you the #1 song on the day you were born. My birthday jam is predictably dope:



And it was kismet that zwoman and I would get married based on her quite strong birthday song:



Other notably good birthday joints in zfamily:

zgrandmother: Down Hearted Blues by Bessie Smith

zstepsister: Come Together by the Beatles

zstepbrother: Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson

zbrother: Let's Dance by David Bowie

zsister: Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds

This feature also includes a link to the song you were conceived to (i.e., the #1 song 9 months prior to your birth). Perhaps unsurprisingly, zwoman was conceived to (You're) Having My Baby by Paul Anka and Odia Coates, while I was conceived to Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) by George Harrison.

And zdaughter was, predictably, conceived to Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke.

Waste a little time this Friday and tell me whatcha got in the comments.

"someone post an office space clip so we can continuing our aggressive exploitation of corporate efficiencies"

done

Dick's Filler

Yup.

On Monday, DICK’S Sporting Goods posted this map showing the most popular NFL jerseys from each state, through Week 3 of the 2014 season.

Some of these confuse me greatly.

Belated Birthday Clip for Clarence

Important Friday filler, received just moments ago:

The man won't let me access G:TB at work, so maybe one of you can put this up as filler and a belated b-day gift to Clarence:


Carry on.

The Tiny Dictator is off golfing today...

So why not let these lovely images serve as some Friday morning filler for us, while we eagerly await some sort of picks column, written by our two favorite gambling degenerates. I might even have some more useless filler later today - if so, POST COUNT.