Demand Euphoria!
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Sunday, July 29, 2018
It's just gravy, don't argue with me
(This is a repeat - in honor of National Lasagna Day)
There are many great religious debates that have rages throughout the world - the Great Schism, the entire plot of The Mahabharata, the Diet of Worms, Henry VIII vs Pope Clement, Shiite vs Sunni and the most virulent - is it Tomato Sauce or Gravy. I'm not that wise a man and I'm only part Italian but it's Gravy and not Tomato Sauce and if you don't understand that then you should just eat at the Olive Garden and you've basically missed the whole point of all the Godfather movies. So, even though this gravy (tomato sauce) is not mixture of a roux and pan dripping, a person should wager as though it is called Gravy, because living a life based on this has everything to gain, and nothing to lose.
Ingredients
* About ½ cup olive oil
* 1 lbs sweet or hot Italian sausage (or mixture)
* 1 lb your favorite meatballs (about 16 formed meatballs*)
* 1 1/2 lb beef short ribs (cut into 2 inch pieces, if you're good with a meat cleaver great, we'll talk later, if not have the butcher do it for you.)
* 1 lb marrow bones (if you can find them - make friends with your butcher you never know when you may need to dispose of a body)
* 1 lb lamb neck bones (pork bones will do, in a pinch)
* 1 large Spanish onions, chopped
* 5 or 6 garlic cloves, chopped
* 1 12-oz can tomato paste
* 2 28-oz cans whole peeled tomatoes (preferably San Marzano) with juices
* 2 bay leaves
* 2 bottles of Montepulcino (or any other dry red wine)
* Salt to taste (about 2 to 3 tsp)
* dried basil and dried oregano to taste (about a tablespoon each but God forbid you actual have to measure that out.) * Box of italian pastries (must include cannoli)
* no sugar (yeah I know your grandmother probably used it but don't)
Tools
* 1 large heavy bottomed stock pot (you know you have the right size if you can fit a severed head in it with the lid closed)
* cutting board
* sharp chef's knife
* large wooden spoon
* large serving bowl (preferably one with a picture of Pope Paul VI giving a benediction but 'Kiss the cook or else' will do.)
* large serving platter (the one with the chip in it. 'Yes I know, we can never have anything nice in this house' one.)
* the special bowl we use to make grandma’s meatballs (even though we aren't making her meatballs)
* small bowl to beat eggs (sorry, I don't have a funny name for it. What am I a comedian?)
* DVD of the newly transferred Godfather
* CD of Luciano Pavarotti or Julius LaRosa's greatest hits
* small empty Welch's grape jelly jar (if you don't have one or don't remember what I'm taking about use an empty Bonne Maman Strawberry jam jar but don't tell anyone you used it.)
Instructions
Open the first bottle of wine and pour into the jelly jar. Go into the living room and start the Godfather. Take your first sip of wine and wonder what wedding gift you would have brought Connie. Gauge the distance between your living room and the kitchen and adjust the audio of your TV accordingly (you will need to be able to just about hear the movie over the music in the kitchen.)
Start the CD.
Place the large heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium heat. When it feels hot when you put your hand over the top of the open pot, coat the bottom with olive oil. When you can smell the olive oil, begin to brown all meats on all sides. Start with the sausage (curse in Italian when splattered by grease), and remove; meatballs*, and remove; ribs, and remove; then finally the neck bones, remove. (Add more olive oil and sip wine as needed.) Add onions to pot and slowly brown, stirring occasionally, about 3 to 5 minutes (don't burn). Add garlic and lightly brown, stirring occasionally, another 1 or 2 minutes. Have the bizarre Proustian rush that Grandma smelled like Maja soap and onions cooked in pork grease. Sip you wine slowly, listen to 'E lucevan le stelle' and ponder this.
Add tomato paste and stir to coat onions. Slowly cook until paste begins to thicken and turn deep reddish brown, about 5 minutes. Fill tomato paste can with wine and stir it around, put aside. Add tomatoes, one can at a time, slowly crushing them with your hand (imagine they are the hearts of your enemies) bay leaves, dried oregano and dried basil. Stir well, making sure you get down to the bottom. Put the wine and tomato paste mixture into one empty tomato can and more wine to fill half the can. Swirl it around to clean the can. Pour the contents into the other can and repeat. Pour the contents of that can into the pot and bring to a low boil.
Call in one of your kids (or the neighbor's kids) to throw cans into recycle bin and playfully swat them on the ass. Not too hard or child service may get involved. Have another glass of wine and wonder what scene the movie is up to. Run into the living room to see. Lower heat and simmer. A major controversy arises at the point - do you partial cover or not. Purist will tell you to cook uncovered (they are either OCD and enjoy cleaning or you have a kitchen slave.) Partial cover until sauce begins to thicken. Wonder whether or not Luca Brasi "sleeps with the fishes." Bring your freshly refilled jelly jar with you and find out. Remember to come into the kitchen ever now and then to stir the gravy. Life is not worth living if you burn your gravy.
After about an hour, add ribs and marrow bones (if you had them - major secret, the marrow from the bones will add an unbelievable depth to your gravy and will cut the acidity taste, so you won't need the sugar.) Wipe down the side of the stove from the gravy splatters. Tear off a piece of the Italian loaf and taste the gravy. Hurry up back to the movie before you miss the hit on The Godfather and Richard Castellano giving Italian cooking lessons.
In about another hour, cut the sausages into quarters and add. Once again wipe down the sides of the stove. Start thinking about what pasta you want with the gravy. I prefer fresh tagliatella or spaghetti but you could go with ziti or rigatoni, if you must. Remember to stir that gravy. If the gravy seems a little too thick and a glass of water (from your jelly jar. No one's in the kitchen - who's to know.) Again curse in Italian as you are burned by the hot splatters of gravy and the red oil slick that has developed on the top of the gravy. More bread, more wine (maybe a piece of cheese or dried sausage) and back the film.
Hope you've gotten back to the film in time for 'drop the gun and take the canolli’. Be happy as a clam you remembered to buy cannoli. In about another half hour, stir the gravy add meatballs and stir again. Turn off the heat and cover the pot (the residual heat will continue to cook the gravy and heat a small Cape Cod house in the middle of winter.) Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta, remember to salt the water or my father-in-law ghost will come and haunt you. Go watch the rest of the movie.
Come back to the kitchen after the movie's over and realize that a lot of the water has probably been boiled away. Add about 2 more cups and bring to a boil. Restart the CD and play the theme from The Godfather cut. Turn the heat back on under the gravy. Season to taste with salt and add about a 1/4 of grated cheese (another secret.) Add your chosen pasta to the boiling water and cook for the required amount of time.
Drain in a scolapasta (colander.)
Be impressed with yourself that you know that a scolapasta is a colander. Use a slotted spoon to transfer meat to serving platter. Ladle sauce over your favorite pasta.
Call your family to the table, open the second bottle of wine and manga (have plenty of grated cheese at the table.)
* Meatballs (probably not like your grandmother's)
I'm not your grandmother (not even your grandfather.) I have not sweated nights trying to figure out how I'm going to pay the rent while my no good husband is out gambling or god knows what. I have not made homemade pasta for my no good sister-in-law, whose running around with Frankie the Butcher behind my stupid brother's back. I do not have decades of seething internalized rage that may had helped your grandmother perfect her meatball recipe but I'll share one with you anyway.
Ingredients
* 1 lb of Ground Chuck
* 1 Egg
* some of your crusty italian bread
* 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs (about 3 Tsp.)
* Fresh Parsley
* Grated Parmesan Cheese
* Fresh Garlic - You can never have too much garlic!
* Coarse Black Pepper and Salt
* Pinch of salt
* Teaspoon of dried basil
Put the chop meat in the bowl you use to make meatballs, the one your grandmother gave you instead of your cousin. Even though your cousin was always the more handsome one, the one everyone thought would be a fashion model or a famous actor some day (who now lives down in Miami, giving elderly divorcees 'erotic massages'.) Add all of the seasoning and cheese into the bowl as well.
Tear up about two pieces of Italian Bread into small pieces and moisten them with a little red wine. Add them to the bowl of meat. Add half of the breadcrumbs and begin mixing the meat and other things together - just until they are combined.
But don't mix the meat too much. Does the meat mixture look like it's not coming together? Add a little more breadcrumbs. But don't mix the meat too much. Imagine that you've just gotten slapped in the back of the head from mixing the meat too much. Stop. Wash your hands and have a glass of wine to calm your nerves.
You should be able to make about 16 meatballs with this recipe (unless you have OCD then you can make exact 16 meatballs - divide the meat mixture in half, then half again, then half again - you get the drill.) When you roll your meat mixture into balls moisten your hands lightly (so the meat won't stick to your hands.) Don't compress the meatball too tightly or it will be tough but roll it between your hands until it holds together to form a ball.
Put aside until you're ready to cook.
Demand Euphoria!
Ingredients
* About ½ cup olive oil
* 1 lbs sweet or hot Italian sausage (or mixture)
* 1 lb your favorite meatballs (about 16 formed meatballs*)
* 1 1/2 lb beef short ribs (cut into 2 inch pieces, if you're good with a meat cleaver great, we'll talk later, if not have the butcher do it for you.)
* 1 lb marrow bones (if you can find them - make friends with your butcher you never know when you may need to dispose of a body)
* 1 lb lamb neck bones (pork bones will do, in a pinch)
* 1 large Spanish onions, chopped
* 5 or 6 garlic cloves, chopped
* 1 12-oz can tomato paste
* 2 28-oz cans whole peeled tomatoes (preferably San Marzano) with juices
* 2 bay leaves
* 2 bottles of Montepulcino (or any other dry red wine)
* Salt to taste (about 2 to 3 tsp)
* dried basil and dried oregano to taste (about a tablespoon each but God forbid you actual have to measure that out.) * Box of italian pastries (must include cannoli)
* no sugar (yeah I know your grandmother probably used it but don't)
Tools
* 1 large heavy bottomed stock pot (you know you have the right size if you can fit a severed head in it with the lid closed)
* cutting board
* sharp chef's knife
* large wooden spoon
* large serving bowl (preferably one with a picture of Pope Paul VI giving a benediction but 'Kiss the cook or else' will do.)
* large serving platter (the one with the chip in it. 'Yes I know, we can never have anything nice in this house' one.)
* the special bowl we use to make grandma’s meatballs (even though we aren't making her meatballs)
* small bowl to beat eggs (sorry, I don't have a funny name for it. What am I a comedian?)
* DVD of the newly transferred Godfather
* CD of Luciano Pavarotti or Julius LaRosa's greatest hits
* small empty Welch's grape jelly jar (if you don't have one or don't remember what I'm taking about use an empty Bonne Maman Strawberry jam jar but don't tell anyone you used it.)
Instructions
Open the first bottle of wine and pour into the jelly jar. Go into the living room and start the Godfather. Take your first sip of wine and wonder what wedding gift you would have brought Connie. Gauge the distance between your living room and the kitchen and adjust the audio of your TV accordingly (you will need to be able to just about hear the movie over the music in the kitchen.)
Start the CD.
Place the large heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium heat. When it feels hot when you put your hand over the top of the open pot, coat the bottom with olive oil. When you can smell the olive oil, begin to brown all meats on all sides. Start with the sausage (curse in Italian when splattered by grease), and remove; meatballs*, and remove; ribs, and remove; then finally the neck bones, remove. (Add more olive oil and sip wine as needed.) Add onions to pot and slowly brown, stirring occasionally, about 3 to 5 minutes (don't burn). Add garlic and lightly brown, stirring occasionally, another 1 or 2 minutes. Have the bizarre Proustian rush that Grandma smelled like Maja soap and onions cooked in pork grease. Sip you wine slowly, listen to 'E lucevan le stelle' and ponder this.
Add tomato paste and stir to coat onions. Slowly cook until paste begins to thicken and turn deep reddish brown, about 5 minutes. Fill tomato paste can with wine and stir it around, put aside. Add tomatoes, one can at a time, slowly crushing them with your hand (imagine they are the hearts of your enemies) bay leaves, dried oregano and dried basil. Stir well, making sure you get down to the bottom. Put the wine and tomato paste mixture into one empty tomato can and more wine to fill half the can. Swirl it around to clean the can. Pour the contents into the other can and repeat. Pour the contents of that can into the pot and bring to a low boil.
Call in one of your kids (or the neighbor's kids) to throw cans into recycle bin and playfully swat them on the ass. Not too hard or child service may get involved. Have another glass of wine and wonder what scene the movie is up to. Run into the living room to see. Lower heat and simmer. A major controversy arises at the point - do you partial cover or not. Purist will tell you to cook uncovered (they are either OCD and enjoy cleaning or you have a kitchen slave.) Partial cover until sauce begins to thicken. Wonder whether or not Luca Brasi "sleeps with the fishes." Bring your freshly refilled jelly jar with you and find out. Remember to come into the kitchen ever now and then to stir the gravy. Life is not worth living if you burn your gravy.
After about an hour, add ribs and marrow bones (if you had them - major secret, the marrow from the bones will add an unbelievable depth to your gravy and will cut the acidity taste, so you won't need the sugar.) Wipe down the side of the stove from the gravy splatters. Tear off a piece of the Italian loaf and taste the gravy. Hurry up back to the movie before you miss the hit on The Godfather and Richard Castellano giving Italian cooking lessons.
In about another hour, cut the sausages into quarters and add. Once again wipe down the sides of the stove. Start thinking about what pasta you want with the gravy. I prefer fresh tagliatella or spaghetti but you could go with ziti or rigatoni, if you must. Remember to stir that gravy. If the gravy seems a little too thick and a glass of water (from your jelly jar. No one's in the kitchen - who's to know.) Again curse in Italian as you are burned by the hot splatters of gravy and the red oil slick that has developed on the top of the gravy. More bread, more wine (maybe a piece of cheese or dried sausage) and back the film.
Hope you've gotten back to the film in time for 'drop the gun and take the canolli’. Be happy as a clam you remembered to buy cannoli. In about another half hour, stir the gravy add meatballs and stir again. Turn off the heat and cover the pot (the residual heat will continue to cook the gravy and heat a small Cape Cod house in the middle of winter.) Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta, remember to salt the water or my father-in-law ghost will come and haunt you. Go watch the rest of the movie.
Come back to the kitchen after the movie's over and realize that a lot of the water has probably been boiled away. Add about 2 more cups and bring to a boil. Restart the CD and play the theme from The Godfather cut. Turn the heat back on under the gravy. Season to taste with salt and add about a 1/4 of grated cheese (another secret.) Add your chosen pasta to the boiling water and cook for the required amount of time.
Drain in a scolapasta (colander.)
Be impressed with yourself that you know that a scolapasta is a colander. Use a slotted spoon to transfer meat to serving platter. Ladle sauce over your favorite pasta.
Call your family to the table, open the second bottle of wine and manga (have plenty of grated cheese at the table.)
* Meatballs (probably not like your grandmother's)
I'm not your grandmother (not even your grandfather.) I have not sweated nights trying to figure out how I'm going to pay the rent while my no good husband is out gambling or god knows what. I have not made homemade pasta for my no good sister-in-law, whose running around with Frankie the Butcher behind my stupid brother's back. I do not have decades of seething internalized rage that may had helped your grandmother perfect her meatball recipe but I'll share one with you anyway.
Ingredients
* 1 lb of Ground Chuck
* 1 Egg
* some of your crusty italian bread
* 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs (about 3 Tsp.)
* Fresh Parsley
* Grated Parmesan Cheese
* Fresh Garlic - You can never have too much garlic!
* Coarse Black Pepper and Salt
* Pinch of salt
* Teaspoon of dried basil
Put the chop meat in the bowl you use to make meatballs, the one your grandmother gave you instead of your cousin. Even though your cousin was always the more handsome one, the one everyone thought would be a fashion model or a famous actor some day (who now lives down in Miami, giving elderly divorcees 'erotic massages'.) Add all of the seasoning and cheese into the bowl as well.
Tear up about two pieces of Italian Bread into small pieces and moisten them with a little red wine. Add them to the bowl of meat. Add half of the breadcrumbs and begin mixing the meat and other things together - just until they are combined.
But don't mix the meat too much. Does the meat mixture look like it's not coming together? Add a little more breadcrumbs. But don't mix the meat too much. Imagine that you've just gotten slapped in the back of the head from mixing the meat too much. Stop. Wash your hands and have a glass of wine to calm your nerves.
You should be able to make about 16 meatballs with this recipe (unless you have OCD then you can make exact 16 meatballs - divide the meat mixture in half, then half again, then half again - you get the drill.) When you roll your meat mixture into balls moisten your hands lightly (so the meat won't stick to your hands.) Don't compress the meatball too tightly or it will be tough but roll it between your hands until it holds together to form a ball.
Put aside until you're ready to cook.
Demand Euphoria!
Saturday, July 28, 2018
The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (78)
The last page from the ACME Catalog -
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Claude the Cat/ Bert and Hubie Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1950 Chuck Jones classic, Feed The Kitty:
The cartoon originally was going to have had one more scene at the end. As Claude the cat floats via balloon to "Cat Heaven," the mice are shown inside the house, in front of the fireplace, roasting cheese clumps (shaped like marshmallows) on toothpicks. Claude is seen through the window, blissfully drifting skyward.
On July 27, 1940, Bugs Bunny's first cartoon short Wild Hare, directed by Tex Avery, premiered. As of January 2013, he has appeared in more films than any other cartoon character. More than 175 films, to be exact. Here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour, we love all of Bugs Bunny cartoons. So we thought we'd all watch a couple of documentaries about Bugs. This absolutely requires a comfortable seat and a few bags of popcorn.
Bugs’ name came from his animator. In 1938, Ben “Bugs” Hardaway was redesigning a new rabbit character. A fellow employee casually referred to the drawing as “Bug’s Bunny” (which was written above the illustration) and the name stuck ever since.
Demand Euphoria!
Friday, July 27, 2018
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Monday, July 23, 2018
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Saturday, July 21, 2018
The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (77)
Another page from the ACME Catalog -
In the Disney/Pixar movie Monsters, Inc., Pete Docter and his team created a scene similar to the one where Marc Anthony puts the cat-shaped cookie on his back. The sequence where Sully thinks that Boo has gone through the trash compactor is an almost shot-for-shot remake of (and an homage to) Feed the Kitty.
In June of 1979, Robert Palmer released his fifth solo album, Secrets. On this date, July 21, 1979, Robert Palmer released the song Bad Case Of Loving You as a single. We here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour love all of Robert Palmer's work and think he is almost criminally not remembered today. We thought we'd all watch a concert from German TV from 1979 with Mr. Palmer supporting his most recent album at the time.
The song Bad Case Of Loving You (sometimes known as Doctor, Doctor) became Palmer's biggest hit up to that time and continued his momentum as a solo artist.
The song was written by Moon Martin (John David Martin), who released the original version on his 1978 album Shots From a Cold Nightmare. Martin is a singer/guitarist/songwriter from Oklahoma who made his way to California in the late '60s with his band Southwind. When the group broke up in 1971, Martin took on studio work. He took up with Linda Ronstadt, and played on her self-titled album (they lived together at her farm house in Topanga Canyon for a while). He nearly joined some of Ronstadt's other backing musicians (the Eagles,) but ended up a solo artist and signed a deal with Capitol Records.
Demand Euphoria!
Friday, July 20, 2018
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Monday, July 16, 2018
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Saturday, July 14, 2018
The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (76)
Another page from the ACME Catalog -
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with a Sam Sheepdog/ Ralph Wolf Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1953 Chuck Jones classic, Don't Give Up The Sheep:
This is the first short featuring Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Wolf and is the prototype for their next six episodes. Ralph Wolf's design looks slightly different from later cartoons to follow: in this one Ralph is shorter in height (shorter in height than Wile E. Coyote), scruffier-looking, and has furrier back legs and no fur on his feet. Ralph Wolf would later be redesigned to be thinner, taller, and more similar to Wile E. Coyote in later appearances.
On July 13, 1985, rock n’ roll’s biggest stars put on a charity concert of epic proportion. Organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, Live Aid raised money for Ethiopian famine relief while showcasing rock n’ roll legends and rising stars alike. ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour would like you to join them in re-watching a portion of that historical broadcast. Set some time aside during the day and tune in and out of it. (You can see a somewhat comprehensive set-list directly on the Youtube link to help you find your favorite artists.) Have a frosty beverage (or two.)
As we have mentioned before, in just 20 minutes, Queen delivered possibly one of the greatest live performances of all time. Fronted by virtuoso Freddie Mercury, the band delivered hit after hit, beginning with the operatic Bohemian Rhapsody and ending with the stadium-pleasing power ballad We are the Champions.
Demand Euphoria!
Friday, July 13, 2018
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Maybe I'll bring... 'How to Build a Boat.'
Last year I came up with the best way to avoid copyright issues with the BBC, I teamed up
with Toho Studios and renamed Desert Island Discs, Godzilla's Atoll LPs, brought to you by
ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour.
(In case you've never heard of the BBC show Desert Island Disc - people are asked what
music they would bring with them if they were stranded on an island for an indefinite
period of time.
Here are the rules:
1.) You make choose 8 pieces of music and tell me why you chose them.
2.) You then get to choose one book to take with you (you automatically get to take the Complete Works of Shakespeare and either the Bible or another appropriate religious or philosophical work.)
3.) You get to choose one luxury, which must be inanimate and of no use in escaping the island or allowing communication from outside. (You can cheat here - since you can listen to music, there is some form of electric, so you may have refrigeration for your luxury item.)
Once again there is nothing profound or deep in my Godzilla's Atoll LP choices - they're just songs that I like (in no particular order)
Life on Mars - David Bowie
I'm going to start with the toughest. Choosing you favorite Bowie cut is like choosing you favorite kid. After I boiled it down for the purposes of Desert Island Disc, I mean Godzilla's Atoll LP, again ACME doesn't want a problem with the BBC, I had two possible picks. I could go with either Heroes or Life on Mars. After much soul searching, since I went with Heroes the last time, I'll go with Life on Mars. Hopefully, I'll be able to get though it before I start crying.
Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac
I so clearly remember when Rumours came out, back when the earth cooled and formed a hard crust. I've mentioned before, that my sister and I wore the needle on the record player out playing the album. Currently, my daughter loves Fleetwood Mac and enjoys this cut.
I loves you Porgy - Nina Simone
This is a fantastic version of a Gershwin song performed by a phenomenal artist. Listening to this would wipe away any drab thought I might have while on the island; the music will carry you away.
Downtown Trains - Tom Waits
Why wouldn't you want to listen to Tom Waits? I don't think I trust anyone who doesn't like Tom Waits.
Crying - Puddles Pity Party
It's a very good dry martini of a song.
Gaucho - Steely Dan
Ah, the ever present Steely Dan cut. I probably wouldn't need a Steely Dan song; I could call them up at will in my mind. But this is the perfect song to have with you while stuck on a desert island.
If You Are But A Dream - Frank Sinatra
I can't have every Sinatra song, so this year I picked one of early Sinatra hits; one could listen to this and imagine the Sinatra songs to come while you're on a desert island.
Johnny Strikes Up The Band - Warren Zevon
I had to have only one Warren Zevon (and I picked Mohammed's Radio last year,) I figured I go with one of the 'cheerful' ones. Also it's rumored to be about the band Queen.
Everyday Is Like Sunday - Morrissey
Even on a desert island, you need songs about how miserable it is to be in a nice place. And why not have Morrissey ask you to await Armageddon
The book I'd take with me would be War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (the 2007 Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation)
It was a difficult choice between this and Anna Karenina, but I've already read the later two other times and I think I am old enough to better understand Pierre's journey throughout the novel.
As always, the luxury item would be a refrigerator full of Bombay Sapphire (and maybe, tub of kalamata olivies.)
So that's eight songs (and that's all you're allowed.) This year I feel content with my choices (although I didn't go with Elvis Costello; hopefully he is doing well.) I'll try to get marooned again next year for my birthday, and see how I do.
Demand Euphoria!
Here are the rules:
1.) You make choose 8 pieces of music and tell me why you chose them.
2.) You then get to choose one book to take with you (you automatically get to take the Complete Works of Shakespeare and either the Bible or another appropriate religious or philosophical work.)
3.) You get to choose one luxury, which must be inanimate and of no use in escaping the island or allowing communication from outside. (You can cheat here - since you can listen to music, there is some form of electric, so you may have refrigeration for your luxury item.)
Once again there is nothing profound or deep in my Godzilla's Atoll LP choices - they're just songs that I like (in no particular order)
Life on Mars - David Bowie
I'm going to start with the toughest. Choosing you favorite Bowie cut is like choosing you favorite kid. After I boiled it down for the purposes of Desert Island Disc, I mean Godzilla's Atoll LP, again ACME doesn't want a problem with the BBC, I had two possible picks. I could go with either Heroes or Life on Mars. After much soul searching, since I went with Heroes the last time, I'll go with Life on Mars. Hopefully, I'll be able to get though it before I start crying.
Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac
I so clearly remember when Rumours came out, back when the earth cooled and formed a hard crust. I've mentioned before, that my sister and I wore the needle on the record player out playing the album. Currently, my daughter loves Fleetwood Mac and enjoys this cut.
I loves you Porgy - Nina Simone
This is a fantastic version of a Gershwin song performed by a phenomenal artist. Listening to this would wipe away any drab thought I might have while on the island; the music will carry you away.
Downtown Trains - Tom Waits
Why wouldn't you want to listen to Tom Waits? I don't think I trust anyone who doesn't like Tom Waits.
Crying - Puddles Pity Party
It's a very good dry martini of a song.
Gaucho - Steely Dan
Ah, the ever present Steely Dan cut. I probably wouldn't need a Steely Dan song; I could call them up at will in my mind. But this is the perfect song to have with you while stuck on a desert island.
If You Are But A Dream - Frank Sinatra
I can't have every Sinatra song, so this year I picked one of early Sinatra hits; one could listen to this and imagine the Sinatra songs to come while you're on a desert island.
Johnny Strikes Up The Band - Warren Zevon
I had to have only one Warren Zevon (and I picked Mohammed's Radio last year,) I figured I go with one of the 'cheerful' ones. Also it's rumored to be about the band Queen.
Everyday Is Like Sunday - Morrissey
Even on a desert island, you need songs about how miserable it is to be in a nice place. And why not have Morrissey ask you to await Armageddon
The book I'd take with me would be War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (the 2007 Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation)
So that's eight songs (and that's all you're allowed.) This year I feel content with my choices (although I didn't go with Elvis Costello; hopefully he is doing well.) I'll try to get marooned again next year for my birthday, and see how I do.
Demand Euphoria!
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Unfortunately, times have changed
People are no longer, easily offended by the bare legs of a chair anymore.
Demand Euphoria!
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Monday, July 9, 2018
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Saturday, July 7, 2018
The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (75)
Another page from the ACME Catalog -
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with a Daffy Duck Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1952 Robert McKimson.classic, The Super Snooper:
Daffy Duck's character Duck Drake, a "Private Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat", is a parody of a Philip Marlowe type detective.
We spoke too soon about ACME making it back to the 21st Century. We have lost our internet connection again. So while we have it for a moment, our sponsor, ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour is asking you all to join them in watching the Beatles first film, A Hard Day's Night, which premiered on July 6, 1964. Make an extra bowl of popcorn and find your favorite spot on the sofa and get comfortable.
The words “The Beatles’’ are never spoken throughout the course of the movie. Not even during the press conference scene.
Demand Euphoria!
Friday, July 6, 2018
The city is usually empty on this weekend
By all means, find a quiet bar to contemplate life while imbibing.
Demand Euphoria!
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
I may not have access but Happy 4th of July!
(I may still not have access, so please enjoy this encore presentation)
Happy Sedition against Our Former Sovereign nation
If only for one day a year, it's important to remember that the British weren't always the friendly sort of people who gave us the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Monty Python. They're also responsible for warm beer, vinegar-flavored potato chips, and irritating Anglophiliacs on our own shores schedule as shed-yule and issue as iss-yew. On July 4 of every year, therefore, we celebrate our forefathers having told them to screw.
We not only celebrate the purging of the British blight from our land: we celebrate the manner in which it was done, which was at once brilliant, daring, and easily adapted to the screen. The events that led to our independence are all the more worthy of remembrance, even inaccurately, at this crucial juncture in our history, and I therefore offer the following summary of American independence for the edification of my friends.
In 1774, representatives from each of the thirteen colonies convened in Philadelphia to complain. This was The First Continental Congress. Upon registering their various complaints, they returned home.
One of the colonists' primary complaints was that British cabbies working in the colonies refused to unionize. This was called "Taxis without Representation," and became the issue that ultimately pushed the simmering discontent of the colonies into outright hostility. Sensing the volatility of the situation, British troops advanced toward Concord in April of 1775, forcing Paul Revere to ride his horse (and not to ring bells and warn the British not to take our guns but we won't bring up Mrs. Palin on this holiday.)
The first shot that rang out at the battle of Concord was so loud that its sound reverberated all the way around the world. As a result, the British heard it behind them instead of in front of them. This caused the fog of war. Neither the British nor the Colonists were prepared for fog, so the War was postponed.
In May, representatives once again convened in Philadelphia to complain about the taxis, the fog, and other grievances. This was the Second Continental Congress. Unlike the previous Congress, however, this one tried to work out a deal with Britain's King George. This was difficult, as King George was insane and regularly confused the colonies for colostomies, causing considerable embarrassment to everyone involved but accruing great profit to Britain's flourishing proctology trade.
In June the Colonists developed a Continental Army and a Continental Currency, operating on the assumption that an insane king would be easier to deal with if they had a lot of money and guns. This assumption proved partly correct, as the Brits appeared to ease hostilities for nearly a year. It also proved partly wrong when, in May 1776, the Americans discovered that the King had been hiring German mercenaries to come kill them.
In June of 1776 the Colonists finally decided that instead of working something out with the British it would be easier and more satisfactory to shoot them.
On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia read a resolution to the Continental Congress. The essence of his resolution was that King George and Great Britain could kiss his hairy American ass. The Congress appreciated Lee's sentiments, and subsequently formed a committee to write a note to King George in which it would be made plain why it had become necessary to start shooting the British.
The committee was chaired by Thomas Jefferson. Its four other members were John Adams and Benjamin Franklin (each of whom was counted twice for the sake of Stature - ok, ok, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston were also on the committee.)
The Declaration of Independence wasn't a very long document, but little Tommy Jefferson was trying so hard to impress all the older guys that he overwrote it, using an archaic style of English that is best understood in translation.
Here is a translation of the Declaration in its entirety:
"It's a good idea to let people know why you're having a revolution. We think it's pretty obvious that any government that screws its people over is cruising for a bruising. We're not saying anyone with a hair up their butt ought to have their own revolution, but we've put up with an awful lot of crap from King George. He won't let us do anything on our own, and whenever we try, he sends people to kill us. We've asked him over and over to back off. We've told him over and over that we'd only put up with so much. But did he listen? No. So to hell with him and to hell with Britain and all their phony goddam accents. We'll kick their ass or die trying."
These were, what political scientists refer to as "fightin' words."
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration was presented to the Congress. Nine of the thirteen colonies voted to adopt it. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against it (we know where you live). Delaware couldn't make up its mind, and New York abstained. Copies of the Declaration were distributed the next day (photocopiers were much slower back then). On July 8 it was read aloud in Philadelphia's Independence Square.
The document wasn't fully signed until August, but as soon as it was, Americans began shooting the British in earnest. By February of 1783 they had shot enough of them that Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Russia officially acknowledged the United States of America as an independent nation.
In honor of our Independence, we celebrate the anniversary of its declaration by blowing things up, roasting dead animals over hot coals or gaseous flames, and drinking cold, sudsy beverages that inhibit our ability to think. Such festivities may not honor the philosophical nuances of our revolution, but they do keep the rest of the world at a comfortable distance.
Happy Fourth of July folks!!!
Demand Euphoria!
If only for one day a year, it's important to remember that the British weren't always the friendly sort of people who gave us the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Monty Python. They're also responsible for warm beer, vinegar-flavored potato chips, and irritating Anglophiliacs on our own shores schedule as shed-yule and issue as iss-yew. On July 4 of every year, therefore, we celebrate our forefathers having told them to screw.
We not only celebrate the purging of the British blight from our land: we celebrate the manner in which it was done, which was at once brilliant, daring, and easily adapted to the screen. The events that led to our independence are all the more worthy of remembrance, even inaccurately, at this crucial juncture in our history, and I therefore offer the following summary of American independence for the edification of my friends.
In 1774, representatives from each of the thirteen colonies convened in Philadelphia to complain. This was The First Continental Congress. Upon registering their various complaints, they returned home.
One of the colonists' primary complaints was that British cabbies working in the colonies refused to unionize. This was called "Taxis without Representation," and became the issue that ultimately pushed the simmering discontent of the colonies into outright hostility. Sensing the volatility of the situation, British troops advanced toward Concord in April of 1775, forcing Paul Revere to ride his horse (and not to ring bells and warn the British not to take our guns but we won't bring up Mrs. Palin on this holiday.)
The first shot that rang out at the battle of Concord was so loud that its sound reverberated all the way around the world. As a result, the British heard it behind them instead of in front of them. This caused the fog of war. Neither the British nor the Colonists were prepared for fog, so the War was postponed.
In May, representatives once again convened in Philadelphia to complain about the taxis, the fog, and other grievances. This was the Second Continental Congress. Unlike the previous Congress, however, this one tried to work out a deal with Britain's King George. This was difficult, as King George was insane and regularly confused the colonies for colostomies, causing considerable embarrassment to everyone involved but accruing great profit to Britain's flourishing proctology trade.
In June the Colonists developed a Continental Army and a Continental Currency, operating on the assumption that an insane king would be easier to deal with if they had a lot of money and guns. This assumption proved partly correct, as the Brits appeared to ease hostilities for nearly a year. It also proved partly wrong when, in May 1776, the Americans discovered that the King had been hiring German mercenaries to come kill them.
On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia read a resolution to the Continental Congress. The essence of his resolution was that King George and Great Britain could kiss his hairy American ass. The Congress appreciated Lee's sentiments, and subsequently formed a committee to write a note to King George in which it would be made plain why it had become necessary to start shooting the British.
The committee was chaired by Thomas Jefferson. Its four other members were John Adams and Benjamin Franklin (each of whom was counted twice for the sake of Stature - ok, ok, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston were also on the committee.)
The Declaration of Independence wasn't a very long document, but little Tommy Jefferson was trying so hard to impress all the older guys that he overwrote it, using an archaic style of English that is best understood in translation.
"It's a good idea to let people know why you're having a revolution. We think it's pretty obvious that any government that screws its people over is cruising for a bruising. We're not saying anyone with a hair up their butt ought to have their own revolution, but we've put up with an awful lot of crap from King George. He won't let us do anything on our own, and whenever we try, he sends people to kill us. We've asked him over and over to back off. We've told him over and over that we'd only put up with so much. But did he listen? No. So to hell with him and to hell with Britain and all their phony goddam accents. We'll kick their ass or die trying."
These were, what political scientists refer to as "fightin' words."
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration was presented to the Congress. Nine of the thirteen colonies voted to adopt it. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against it (we know where you live). Delaware couldn't make up its mind, and New York abstained. Copies of the Declaration were distributed the next day (photocopiers were much slower back then). On July 8 it was read aloud in Philadelphia's Independence Square.
The document wasn't fully signed until August, but as soon as it was, Americans began shooting the British in earnest. By February of 1783 they had shot enough of them that Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Russia officially acknowledged the United States of America as an independent nation.
In honor of our Independence, we celebrate the anniversary of its declaration by blowing things up, roasting dead animals over hot coals or gaseous flames, and drinking cold, sudsy beverages that inhibit our ability to think. Such festivities may not honor the philosophical nuances of our revolution, but they do keep the rest of the world at a comfortable distance.
Happy Fourth of July folks!!!
Demand Euphoria!
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Born under a bad sign
Do to circumstances beyond our control, I may not be able to post until Thursday. Please check back.
Demand Euphoria!
Demand Euphoria!
Monday, July 2, 2018
Aestophobia -
the fear of hot weather. It is the branch of Thermophobia, fear of heat.
Hey, drink lots of fluid and try to keep cool; it really is hot out there.
Demand Euphoria!
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Toques off to our neighbor in the North!
Regardless of what the man in the White House says, the ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour would like to salute our friends in Canada on Canada Day.
Canada is the second-largest nation in the world. It is not part of the United States - (it's the U.S.' nicer sister, not dissing Mexico, the U.S.' feistier sister.)
A little jewel sitting at the top of the continent.
In the 151 years of their nationhood, Canadians have given the world paint rollers, snowmobiles, electric organs, green ink, toboggans, snow blowers, plexiglass, and the push-up bra.
Canada has about the same population as California, but fewer Scientologists.
Canadians consume more Kraft Macaroni & Cheese dinners than any other nation in the world.
Today is the 38th anniversary of the Canadian national anthem, 'Like America, But Colder.'
Canada's leading export to the United States is Canadians. Dan Aykroyd, who happens to have been born exactly 66 years ago today, is one.
Pamela Anderson is another, and was also born today, although she's younger (most of her is north of 40, but some parts are significantly younger).
Other Canadian exports: Bryan Adams, Paul Anka, Alexander Graham Bell, Raymond Burr (of nipple rouge fame), John Candy, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion, Michael J. Fox, John Kenneth Galbraith, Lorne Greene, Peter Jennings, kd lang, Marshall McLuhan, Joni Mitchell (hopefully she's doing well), Alice Munro, Mike Myers,
Oscar Peterson, William Shatner, Alex Trebek, Shania Twain, Neil Young and of course everyone's favorite Canadian Zen Buddhist, the late Leonard Cohen.
(... I forget to pray for the angels And then the angels forget to pray for us.)
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Demand Euphoria!
Canada is the second-largest nation in the world. It is not part of the United States - (it's the U.S.' nicer sister, not dissing Mexico, the U.S.' feistier sister.)
In the 151 years of their nationhood, Canadians have given the world paint rollers, snowmobiles, electric organs, green ink, toboggans, snow blowers, plexiglass, and the push-up bra.
Canada has about the same population as California, but fewer Scientologists.
Canada's leading export to the United States is Canadians. Dan Aykroyd, who happens to have been born exactly 66 years ago today, is one.
Pamela Anderson is another, and was also born today, although she's younger (most of her is north of 40, but some parts are significantly younger).
Oscar Peterson, William Shatner, Alex Trebek, Shania Twain, Neil Young and of course everyone's favorite Canadian Zen Buddhist, the late Leonard Cohen.
(... I forget to pray for the angels And then the angels forget to pray for us.)
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