Instant Joy

I had the best cup of coffee in Gstaad, Switzerland at a local spot called Charlie's Tea Room. It was creamy and smooth without adding anything to it. There's something about European coffee that instantly warms the soul.

I'm giving Instant Coffee a second chance in the New Year. I rekindled my relationship during a trip to London this past summer. English Instant Coffee is a way of life - why boil the kettle and brew the coffee? Knock em' both out at once.

Don't get me wrong, nothing beats good fresh brewed coffee. But, when you need it in a flash or just a cup, don't be afraid to give Instant a try. I've found it to be slightly smoother than a traditional cup and way less work. Cheers to new ways in the New Year!

Give em' a whirl, you won't know until you try!:

Starbucks VIA - $5.95/5 Servings

Folgers Instant - $4.99/8 oz. Jar

NesCafe - $21.00/ 3 7 oz. Jars

Fish Dance

Have you seen this victory celebration? It's out of control. The best part is #29 snapping a picture at the end!

Take me to the Movies

Recently, I have been asked for some favorite movie recommendations. Skirting around the staples, my first reply has been An Education. This BBC Film based on the book by Nick Hornby released in 2009 but I didn't get a chance to catch it in the theatre.

The attraction stems from an appreciation for surprises so I won't give too much away. Having never heard of the flick until it was on my coffee table, I didn't' have any expectations (no chance for a let-down). The plot was creative. The actors, Carrie Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard, delivered. My knowledge about London in the 1960s has increased (Mom - I know what you were up to!). All in all it's a winner for a wintry evening.

Cake Wrecks - Holiday Series

Thank you, Regina, for introducing me to Cake Wrecks. This site is fantastic and always makes me laugh! The pictures are priceless but the captions are pretty decent, too. Page through the archives - it never gets old!

Sustainability Quote

A couple Ford employees presented a great case on the Sustainability of Ford Motor Company last night. I really value this quote and truly believe in the message it carries:

"Business must be run at a profit, or else it will die. But when anyone tries to run a business solely for profit...then also the business must die, for it no longer has a reason for existence".    Henry Ford

Cyber Monday

I love Cyber Monday. It's a great time to take care of early gifts and save some money! Here are some of the top deals that I found today - Happy Shopping!:

Kate Spade: Take an Additional 25% off Sale Items & Free Shipping

Endless: $30 off orders over $100; $60 off orders over $200; $100 off orders over $300

Piperlime: 20% off every order until Midnight

Moosejaw: Free $31 EGift Card with any $149 purchase

JCrew: 25% off Mens & Womens Sweaters

Puma: 20% off & Free Shipping

Kiehls: 20% off & Free Shipping

Williams Sonoma: 20% off & Free Shipping

FredFlare: 99 Gifts under $9

Wash & Wag

Over the weekend I took this little lady to Scrubbers, a self-serve dog wash and grooming joint. The staff were wonderfully accommodating and I actually think that Molly had a good time! The decision for the destination bath developed when I realized that I didn't have a space to wash her (and I didn't want to clean up after!).

Smart dog owners have started to make adjustments to their homes for their pets. Check out the dog shower recently featured on Craft1945, a fantastic blog dedicated to to the craft of building and architecture. What lucky, pampered pups!?

Hold the Phones

I just received word that the best of two worlds are combining. Pavement, the reason our generation is full of talented, independent thinkers, is joining up with Ace of Cakes, an awesome reality show on the true life of cake baking - no, really. Though it's not scheduled yet, keep an eye out for a Pavement-dedicated delicious creation. Fingers crossed that it holds a candle to the famous Orange Amp Tribute to Clutch.

State-of-the-Art: Art

 
A round of applause to Steve and Derota Coy for their innovative artwork posted on the Roosevelt Hotel last Saturday. As a Detroiter, you may have noticed Hygienic Dress League gas-mask murals throughout the city. However, the reason behind the street art has often been misunderstood - a catalyst for success in a modern environment. This recent Detroit News article, Street Artists Put Unique Brand on Detroit, explains the details of their latest gorilla marketing plan to boost recognition for avant-garde art.

Cute Video

 

Christina sent this to me today - I needed a good laugh and this was a perfect cure! I mean, seriously, how cute is this little lamb?!

GapMinder.com

GapMinder.com is one of those concepts that you wished you had started yourself because it's so incredibly awesome. This innovative technology looks at hundreds of years of data and analyzes it for a modern mind. Started as a non profit venture, GapMinder aims to promote a fact-based world view through increased use and understanding of freely accessible public statistics. In 2007, Google purchased the Trendalyzer software and made it open to the public.

Click on the GapMinder World Tab and play around with the Open Graph options. It's crazy what you'll discover!

Dunder Simpsons

Did anyone catch the into to The Simpson's Tree House of Horror XXI on Sunday? It's a true story that my love for The Simpson's and The Office has diminished over the past few seasons, but the intro spoof on Dunder Mifflin was really funny. Sorry for the low-budg YouTube post, it was the best version I could find!

Fun Prints

Berkley Illustration has the most fun prints for sale on Etsy. The suits just make me laugh! What regal creatures?!

These images would look really great posted as a set in a game room. Each concept is a digital archival print created from original pen and ink drawing. Fun colors, creative designs and affordable price points parlay these prints into a tri-fecta!

Smitten for Mittens

I just love the cozy-knit mitten designs from Kate Spade. The new Winter collection features such cute statement pieces that add a little pop of color. A Siberian Tiger Pull Through Scarf will pair perfectly with a black jacket. Fun accessories are an easy way to add some flair to a bundled up, cold weather outfit! Thanks Miss Spade!

Well Said.

This came in from my friend this morning.

"seeing as I don't spend about 15 minutes in the day care prior to work, take an extra 15 minutes in the cafeteria getting breakfast and socializing, then come up to chat with co-workers about kids in school, who's pregnant, etc., hop on facebook till about 10:30, go to meetings where we schedule another one to talk about the same thing, work out in the gym, then "work" at my desk while I eat my lunch, plug in a few stats into an automatically formatted excel sheet, attend a "networking" event, then go home right at five…. Is it cool if I change my hours from 1 to 3:30?"

Thank you, Lions!

People laughed when I picked up the Lion's defense on my Fantasy Team. I'm okay with it. I might not be super thrilled with my first round pick, Ray Rice, but I'm definitely okay with the Lion's D.

We Need More Jamie Olivers

Not to gross you out, but I think this video is pretty epic. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is an important step towards a massive organizational change. Proper education is a powerful tool that can effectively promote positive decision making for a life time. Give this video some attention - you'll be glad you did.

Cute Lil' Monster

This is the office dog, Thor. He loves eating food out of trash cans so the hot dog costume is a natural fit for the hungry pup! Happy (almost) Halloween!

I will not drink an effing Merlot!

Sideways, staring Paul Giamatti, is one of my favorite movies to watch over and over again. I saw it for the first time in Boston when I visited a friend during spring break. We snuck a bottle of wine into the theater (big purses rock!) and stumbled home through severe East Coast snowstorm.

This video is my favorite scene, and has now become my favorite line to pull out during random conversations. It's right up there with the classic Home Alone line, "Buzz, you're girlfriend... Woof!"

A Love for Home

I'm in love with this tune, even though it's been out for ages. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an addict for a good horn section in a song. The lyrics from Home (is Wherever I'm with You) remind me of a simple southern love story.

This video is a network debut of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros on Letterman. Is it as catchy to you, too? I just want to put it on repeat!

Lucky to have Known Him.

Sorry for the bad news. I'm saddened to say that Orange Hat Guy passed away over the weekend. While the Wings games will not be the same, I am proud to have known him for most of my life. Thanks, Orange Hat Guy, who is secretly known as Kenneth Rucker, for bringing so many smiles over the years. You will be greatly missed by many fans.

Vintage Zombies Rock!

While I'm not super versed in Halo video games, Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel without a Pulse has an amazing soundtrack of doo-wop songs performed by indie bands. Clearly I grew up before video games had sound tracks but I think it's a great concept to gain exposure in a new market.

This modern Zombie soundtrack (I laugh every time I read that) features a fantastic cover of The Drifter's, There Goes my Baby, performed by The Walkmen. Additional artists, including The Flaming Lips, The Dandy Warhols, Ben Kweller and Phantom Planet, put a new spin on old classics. What a great album to add to the collection?! Perfect listening music for cocktail hour!

It's All in the Game

Finally, a version of Monopoly that competes with The Simpson's special edition. Some talented soul has reworked The Wire into a new style of this classic board game. "Omar's Coming - Lose $10,000" is definitely the best square but definitely the scariest to land on.

If I could change things, there would be less stoops and more details. For example, where's Prop Joe? Where's the East v. West basketball court? I mean, if Lawyer Levy gets a square - then there better be some make-good cards for Stringer Bell & Brother Mouzone. Regardless, this version definitely gives Marvin Gardens & Boardwalk a run for their money.

Patagonia

Patagonia is a great company to work with. They are known in the marketplace for their commitment to the environment and their workers. Recently, I found out about the Patagonia Environmental Internship program. Patagonia Founder, Yvon Chouinard, has always dedicated dollars to activists and realizes that Patagonia has an opportunity to donate people, too.

Through the Patagonia Environmental Internship program employees can leave their jobs for up to 2 months to work with an environmental group. Their position at Patagonia is secure and employees will continue to be paid during their time out of the office. Chouinard understands the positive value that this program will provide to the community as well as the workplace.

Corporations have a responsibility for their actions in the community. Thank you Patagonia for continuing to go above and beyond what is expected of you as a business.

Fine Art

This piece by Nelson De La Nuez really speaks to me. Probably because it's true. His work reminds me of the infamous local Detroit artist, Niagra. If you haven't been to her site, check it out - it's awesome.

Hot Toddy

Fall is here which means the Hot Toddy is back in season. The traditional Scottish recipe calls for a shot of Whisky in your favorite mug. Add boiling water, a spoonful of honey or sugar and a half slice of lemon. Stir in 2 cloves and, if you have one, a cinnamon stick. Let it brew for 3–5 minutes. Yum! One of these and you're guaranteed a good nights sleep.

Have You Seen This Man?

Mini emergency. The Orange Hat guy didn't show up to the home opener for the Red Wings tonight. If you have seen or know this man - please let us know that everything is a-ok and peachy keen. I won't sleep soundly until there's an answer.

For those of you who don't know, The Orange Hat guy is a staple of our child hood. He attends every Red Wings game and is the definition of a dedicated fan. Without him, things just aren't the same.

Watch out!

If you're not familiar with this fine creature, it's a Tarantula Hawk. Yep, you read it correctly, a tarantula hawk. They exist worldwide and can be found locally in desert areas of the US. (another plus for the mid-west!)

Our recent photo shoot crew was lucky enough to experience these hybrid pests on their most recent trip to Tuscon, Arizona. The sting, which will hopefully be described in detail by our photographer, is among the most painful of any insect, but the intense pain only lasts for about 3 minutes. For food? Pretty obvious. The tarantula hawk prefers female tarantulas and seeks them in their burrows. Sick.

Business Sustainability

Sustainable Value: How the World's Leading Companies Are Doing Well by Doing Good is a book written by Christopher Laszlo that details how modern companies have incorporated sustainability measures into their businesses. You'd be surprised by the profit revenue generated through sustainability measures - at least I know I was.

One of the main factors stressed through the book is that sustainability will not work if the whole organization is not on board and education practices are not put into place. Laszlo uses an example of a squeaky wheel to drive this point across. For a quick fix, a person can throw water on the gear and solve the noise for a short while. When the squeak comes back, louder and stronger, a person is inclined to use the same quick fix. This cycle will continue until someone investigates the cause of the squeak and delivers a solution that prevents the squeak from coming back.

Start to the New Season

Nope, I'm not talking about Fall this time. Season premiers have launched and I need to quickly adjust my schedule and weed out the ones that might not pay off this year. The Office and East Bound and Down are already on the chopping block.

I faithfully returned to Bored to Death on Sunday and I am happy to say that it's still one of my favorites. The HBO series stars Jason Schwartzman as struggling writer who takes up moonlighting as an unlicensed private detective. Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson add to the chaos with a lot of drinking, smoking and cheap white wine. The witty writing and clever acting guarantees a laugh. Catch this show on HBO - Sundays, 10pm.

It's the Little Things...

I'm the proud owner of this refreshing Diet Coke thanks to Jahvid Best's stellar three week performance (without a serious injury) on the Lions. Hopefully his toe situation is a quick fix and he'll be back in action this Sunday against the Packers.

It's been a tough start to the season but nothing too unexpected with the loss of Stafford. Surprisingly, the Lion's defense has scored a solid amount of Fantasy points (Thanks, Suh). What are your hopes for the Lion's this year?

Cider Donuts

I love Fall. It's my favorite season. Something about beautiful colors and cozy sweaters makes me happy. I spotted my first cider donuts at the market last weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed every last cinnamon-sugary bite. Delicious! Pick some up today at the Franklin Cider Mill.

This Made Me Laugh

Lovely Idea (STOP)

I just love the idea of sending a telegram -(STOP)- It gives people something tangible instead of just a phone call -(STOP)- My mom still has the original telegram that was sent from Hong Kong to London announcing her birth -(STOP)- What a unique way to hold onto a memory!?

TelegramStop makes it so easy to bring back this nostalgic communication -(STOP)- Send one to someone you love today!

Speechless Americano

We No Speak Americano ft. Cleary & Harding from vepaks on Vimeo.

Sam sent over this amazing music video today. Yolanda Be Cool and producer DCUP sample the 1956 song, "Tu vuò fà l'americano" by Renato Carosone. The music video reminds me of Here it Goes Again by OK Go - but with French style and a little bit more awesomeness.

Jeepster

This T.Rex song has a killer bass line. Marc Bolan's hair is so awesome and I can't help but love the way he totally incorporates it as an accessory for his dance moves.

Knoxville in Detroit

Johnny Knoxville (with help from Palladium Boots) recently spent time in Detroit to film Detroit Lives, a mini documentary on our city. Teaming up with Ko Melina from the Dirtbombs, Phil Cooley from Slows and other Detroit Icons, Knoxville ventures on a history tour of the neighborhoods. The videos do a good job of displaying inspiring images from around town, leaving viewers with a shimmer of hope for modern motown.

My favorite clip comes in Part Two when they film the old Cass Tech then turn to the new, modern building. It just shows how the media can manipulate what the viewers see.

Cruise? I'll pass....

This video is wild. The Pacific Sun Cruise liner hit rough waters off the coast of New Zealand last week. The images in this video look like they're straight out of The Poseidon Adventure!

Moosejaw has yet to Block Vimeo!!

Silverghost - "Dissapearing" from Silverghost on Vimeo.

So far we've lost Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, YouTube among others. But, Vimeo is still in action.... which thankfully means that I can watch the new Dissapearing video by Silverghost that was posted on Motor City Rocks yesterday. The video and the song are both killer. The look on the bald eagle is probably my favorite clip. And, the whole video totally reminds me of an 80s PBS Science film which will quickly be followed by "The More You Know" NBC public service commercial (the one with the fancy rainbow thing). I mean, what's not to like?!

Hipsterrific pt. 2

Hams, thank you. These Hipster Dinosaurs are fantastic. Hats off to the inspired creative genius who pretty much nailed the concept.

Efficient Living

Maybe less really is more? The Seattle Times recently ran a feature on a fully functional 182-square-foot home located in the city. I'm not surprised that the owner sports a master's degree in whole-systems design and works as an airplane interiors engineer for Boeing.

Complete with a video lounge, energy efficient appliances, a full bathroom and Brazilian wood accents, this house is an amazing product of innovative design.

Racing Away

Friendly reminder that live racing at the Hazel Park Raceway ends on September 18th this year. If you haven't made it out to the track yet - plan and trip, pick up a $2 beer and post a bet like these lucky guys. But, take my advice: "Loose Lips Sink Ships" but she doesn't pay out.

Hazel Park Harness Raceway is located in southeastern Michigan, just north of Detroit, at the corner of 10 Mile Rd & Dequindre in Hazel Park.

Strong Leadership

My dad told me this Eisenhower quote the other day about successful leadership. I think that it is so important for an organization to have strong leadership to teach important qualities and drive positive growth in the environment. And, even though employees might not realize it at the time, workers on the receiving end of good leadership really value the structure and productivity.

My Dad followed up with this:

Well, I am a firm believer in planning outcomes, and working the plan to a successful conclusion. I was a Project manager by trade and I was very successful in every project that I did, and some were extremely large with up to 80 people working under me. We always had a plan and we constantly updated it with new information as we went down the path. This has served me well over the years and continues to do so, whether it’s large projects, a home building scenario, or just organizing my day to day activities.

Another way to say it is: Plan the work, then work the plan!

Rich Boy

Dave pulled a fancy music fact out at dinner the other night. Rich Girl, by Hall and Oates was originally titled Rich Boy after a guy they knew in college. Here's a quote from Hall about the lyrics and inspiration:

"Rich Girl" was written about an old boyfriend of Sara [Allen]’s from college that she was still friends with at the time. His name is Victor Walker. He came to our apartment, and he was acting sort of strange. His father was quite rich. I think he was involved with some kind of a fast-food chain. I said, "This guy is out of his mind, but he doesn't have to worry about it because his father's gonna bail him out of any problems he gets in." So I sat down and wrote that chorus. [Sings] "He can rely on the old man’s money/he can rely on the old man’s money/he's a rich guy." I thought that didn’t sound right, so I changed it to "Rich Girl." He knows the song was written about him

Picture Perfect

My coworker Scotty Karate has this picture set as his desktop background. It's perfectly positioned for me to stare at over the notice board of my desk. I love the picture. It's like a little piece of heaven.

Better Made in Detroit

I love Better Made potato chips. The traditional chips are light, crispy and mouth watering while the BBQ chips use a fantastic balance of sugar and spice. After looking into their history, it's pretty amazing that Better Made set up shop in Detroit during The Great Depression and has remained successful for 80 years.

Their site offers a quick glace at the Better Made plant on Gratiot, highlighting a 7 minute "Bin to Bag" packaging process, as well as a pretty diverse recipe section which features creative ways to cook with Better Made chips. Delicious!

A Must Read

Recommended by Julie, and further by myself, Gang Leader for a Day is a must read. This true story takes place in the Chicago Projects during the height of the Chicago gang era. Author Sudir Venkatesh details the ins and outs of life as a gang leader in the Black Kings, corner squatter, ruthless project leader, street hustler and average resident of the city's solution to mass housing. If you read Freakononmic, then you've experienced an excerpt. But, the whole story paints the best picture. I can't stop thinking about it! I felt like I was reading "True Life: I live The Wire".

Lessons on Vinyl

The very fancy and talented Ben Blackwell has a great article featured in Collectors Weekly this month. I enjoyed a mini science lesson on how vinyl records are made followed by the fantastic pic of Ben on his analog banana phone. Thanks for the smile!

Circles & Squares

The term L7 Weenie reminds me of The Sandlot. You know, when Squints is describing Smalls, "Come on, Benny. Man. The kid is a... L7 weenie!". But, it's ironic that with time the term evolved from a compliment to a slang insult. When referring to a person, a Square originally meant someone who was honest, traditional and loyal. An agreement that is equitable on all sides is a "square deal".

American culture transformed the term from a compliment to an insult to an obsolete term. The Square shape reference is created by putting together an "L" made with the left thumb and index finger and a "7" made with the right thumb and index finger. Makes total sense.

Personality Check

I'm a fan of Seth Godin's writing. His blog post today is straight forward and accurate. Light enough to make you think and strong enough to make you change your path.

Exploration and the risk of failure

People seem to be in one of two categories:

* Those who seek stability, affiliation, work worth doing and the assurance it (whatever it is) will be okay.
* Those who explore, need to know that failure is an option and quest to make a dent in the universe.

You can be in either category, the world needs and rewards both. But pick a brand and a job and a posture that matches your category, or you'll fail, and be miserable until you do.

Hint: there is no category of: "does risky exploration, never fails."

Hampsterdam

The Wire is by far the best TV series to date. This video sums up the best 100 quotes throughout all 5 seasons. Watching it reminds my why I gave 60 solid hours of my life to such a great cause. And, for the record, I still don't believe that Snoop is a girl.

Long Island Lolita

I was too young to really remember the whole Amy Fisher saga when it hit the news but I did catch Casualties of Love: The "Long Island Lolita" Story on Lifetime. And, I feel like I'm a better person for watching it. I can't believe IMDB only gave it 4.1/10 stars. Round of applause to Alyssa Milano. Who knew that the former Who's The Boss child star would go on to play such a pivotal role in a historical masterpiece... then create her own sports fashion line?

Now, I'm just wondering how I missed the Amy Fisher Story staring Drew Barrymore?

Anyway. That whole crew is still finding a way to make a dollar. This store in The Daily Beast, makes Mary Jo Buttafuoco the normal ones in the situation. If anyone reads her book, let me know. I'd love a full report.

Detroit Tigers

Last night, Vic renamed the Detroit Tigers, "Miggy and the Minors" then "Miggy and the Mud Hens". The recent loss of Magglio Ordonez will make for a tough finish to the season. Detroit is faced with a 9 rookies on a 25-man roster. I've stopped counting the times that I've asked, "Who is that and where did they come from?".

So, what do we have to work with?

Austin Jackson, even though you're not really a rookie to us, please keep hitting over a .300 and making exceptional plays on the warning track.

Boesch, you proved early in the season to Detroit fans that rookies can play essential roles. Even though your momentum has slowed down, we're waiting with our fingers crossed that your lull ends and you're back to hitting grand slams.

Ryhmes and Worth - we don't really know you yet but feel free to step up and start making plays. If you play your cards right, you'll be a household name in no time. Promise.

Needless to say, the Detroit Tigers have an interesting second half ahead of them. However, looking back over the past couple years, I can't help but think... if we survived Todd Jones - we can overcome anything.

Hipsterrific

My coworker, who is annoyingly singing Morrissey songs right now in an attempt to make fun of The Smiths, sent over this Hipster breakdown. Surprisingly, it does a fantastic job of showing the both the fashion and emotional evolution that started with The Emo back in 2000. If I had to pick a persona, I'd probably be Miss 2005. I think the fur hat is fancy and she look genuinely happy on that teal Vespa. It will be interesting to see what 2010 holds - I'm guessing face tats, ipads and gladiator sandals.

Rod Allen

I've always heard about the Rod Allen indecent when he played in Japan but this is the first time that I've YouTubed the video. Wow. It's like something out of Major League. Or even Major League: Back to the Minors. Both fantastic, underrated movies - sorta like this clip.

Fantastic

My friend Garrett emailed me this convo yesterday. Only in Detroit.

Setting: Bronx Bar (Cass Corridor)

hot girl - "can I have 2 orange juices no ice?"
Bartender - "sure." (cracks two cans and pours into a glass)
hot girl - "oh... i thought it was going to be fresh squeezed."
bartender - "do you know where the hell you're at?" (laughing)
hot girl - (laughs along a bit) "thanks".
(girl orders breakfast and goes and sits down.)
bartender - "what's the deal with these two hot chicks. They're gorgeous."
patron - "dude that's Miley Cyrus."
bartender - "hannah montana?"
patron - "yeah."
bartender - "i hope she's not pissed that no one knows or cares that its her."

I Heart Funky Cowboys

Goober and The Peas put on another awesome show at Saint Andrews last Saturday night. I was lucky enough to grab a spot by a giant fan which kept me cool inside the sweat-bath venue. The new songs were fantastic and, as always, so were the crowd favorites. I snapped this pic during "Loose Lips Sink Ships" and began to wonder what that actually means...

Turns out it's a WWII slogan to remind military personnel and civilians that talking about troop movements could result in enemy intelligence agents collecting data and being able to report when troop ships took off. Fascinating.

Laugh Hard It's a Long Way to the Bank

When I first heard Modest Mouse, I wasn't sure if I was a fan. Float On was an instant hit but the whole "Punch you in the Glasses" song wasn't exactly what I wanted to listen to in my free time.

Once their songs started appearing onto my Pandora stations - I was pretty much hooked. I tried to learn a bit more about them and came across their wikipedia page. It's pretty awesome that Issac Brock made something out of the hand he was dealt with as a child (read Early Life). What a crazy mess to live in.

Anyway, the ROMT show last Friday was fantastic. Two thumbs up.

Mason the Wonder Dog

My friend Matt pretty much has the coolest dog ever. Aside from pulling off a varity of common tricks, Mason has also mastered arguably the coolest trick of all time. Score!

Otis Redding

I wonder if Otis Redding and Steve Cropper knew that Sitting on the Dock of the Bay was going to become an instant classic. It's such a feel good song. Since it was recorded shortly before Otis passed away, only Cropper has been able to see its success. I love this quote from Cropper during an NPR segment about Otis:

Otis was one of those kind of guys who had 100 ideas. Anytime he came in to record he always had 10 or 15 different intros or titles, or whatever. He had been at San Francisco playing The Fillmore, and he was staying at a boathouse, which is where he got the idea of the ship coming in. That's about all he had: "I watch the ships come in and I watch them roll away again." I took that and finished the lyrics. If you listen to the songs I wrote with Otis, most of the lyrics are about him. He didn't usually write about himself, but I did. "Mr. Pitiful," "Sad Song (Fa-Fa);" they were about Otis' life. "Dock Of The Bay" was exactly that: "I left my home in Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay" was all about him going out to San Francisco to perform.

Lady Gaga

Seriously Lady Gaga? Class it up.

BBC Quizzes

The BBC has a fantastic section dedicated to quizzes and surveys on the Human Mind. The Senses Challenge is my favorite. It's filled with tough mind games that test your nervous system - it's cool because it has a mini explanation for why the human mind thinks the way it does. Have fun with it!

Photoshop

This is crazy! Click here and let the image load. It will fluctuate between the printed final image and the pre-photoshop picture!

Mad Men Officical Site

Have you ever ventured to the AMC website and checked out the Mad Med Official Site? You'll love the features even if you don't watch the show. Take the Quiz, "Mad Men Yourself" and whip up a tangy greyhound from the cocktail guide:

Ingredients:
2 oz Vodka
5 oz Grapefruit Juice

Instructions:
Pour vodka and grapefruit juice on top of the ice in a cocktail glass. Stir well. Enjoy!

Classic Songs on the Radio

On the Garage Station last night I heard an oldie that I hadn't come across in a in a while. The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes for You is such a classic hit. It reminds me of the school dance scene in Milk Money (a closet favorite). What a great surprise!