YOU GOTTA EAT

"A man's gotta eat. If it makes you feel any better...

...you taste much better than we thought you would." 

DID YOU KNOW?

While the first commercially packaged toilet paper was produced in 1857...

it was not until 1935 that Northern brand first started advertising as splinter-free...ouch!

HELP! FIRE!

 So once again there is a fire brushfire out of control here in Florida. And of course it’s near I-4 to cause trouble to the traffic (on a holiday weekend, no less). Seems to happen at least once a year around here. But the thing is, we’re in a drought situation (according to the news) and the fire is what they call a ‘controlled burn’ set by the fire department!!!   Which is obviously out of control…again… I’d really like

to know who decides that controlled burns are a good idea when everything is bone dry??? Really??

A few years back they had a really bad multi-car accident because of a ‘controlled burn’ mixed with early morning fog…

Those who do not learn from the past, are condemned to repeat it…

 EPCOT

DOWNTOWN DISNEY PARKING LOT

CAN YOU SAY...TOO MANY LAWYERS?

The best place to be a lawyer and make some money in Tampa Bay is in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area. Lawyers in that market are bringing in an mean average of $140,340 a year, according to statistics released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics    . Those are the second-highest average lawyer salaries in the state.

Lawyers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro are getting by with an average of only $108,900, below the national average of $130,490. Then again, the Tampa metro has six times as many employed lawyers as the metro south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro has 7,430 lawyers to North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota's 1,200.

Also making a living in six figures, the 700 lawyers in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro bring home an average of $130,800.

 

FRIDAY FUNNIES

World War II Fighter Plane

 A P40 Kittyhawk, found in the desert in a remote part of Egypt. Pretty neat, the plane crashed in 1942; apparently the pilot survived since there were no bones, uniform, etc found with the plane, which was mostly intact, even after 70 years! Though more than likely the pilot didn't survive the desert after leaving the plane. 
 The RAF Museum hopes to get this plane, the one they have was assembled from parts of other planes!

RIP: EUGENE POLLEY

At the ripe old age of 96. But who is Eugene Polley, you may ask? Thanks for asking; he was the man who invented the TV remote. One of the greatest inventions since sliced bread! I remember as a kid my Dad would always jump up while we were watching a show and crouch by the TV so he could change channels during the commercial in order to see how the football game was going (or baseball, or golf). Click, click, click...click, click, click...Dad, c'mon...we need to see Lassie save Timmy from the well, Dad, c'mon...click, click, click...

And the model above is the original model changer, kinda like a ray gun - how cool is that?

DARK SHADOWS - 2012

 Well, had to go and see it, seeing that I used to watch the soap opera back in the 60s. And it was surprisingly enjoyable. Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins did not go over the top (too much) and played his part with just the right balance of seriousness & humor. As an added bonus, a great performance by Alice Cooper (the ugliest lady ever) & a cameo by Christopher Lee (NOT as a vampire). And watch carefully during the party scene, ("thanks for inviting us") as a quick cameo from Jonathan Frid (RIP:Barnabas Collins), Lara Parker (Angelique), David Selby (Quentin Collins), & Kathryn Leigh Scott (Josette & others). Also some really cool special effects. Yeah, pretty good movie, whether you're a fan of Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp or Tim Burton, go see it on the big screen.

DONALD 'DUCK' DUNN - WHAT HE DID

Otis Redding (Pain in my heart, 1964) 
Wilson Pickett (In the midnight hour, 1965)
Booker T & The MGs (Sould Dressing, 1965)
Otis Redding (Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads, 1965)
Mar-Keys (Great Memphis Sound, 1966)
Booker T & The MGs (In the Christmas Spirit, 1966) 
Otis Redding (Otis blue, 1966)
Wilson Pickett (Exciting Wilson Pickett, 1966)
Otis Redding (Soul Album, 1966)
Booker T & The MGs (And Now... Booker T & The MGs, 1966)
Guitar Showdown at the Dusk 'Til Dawn Blues Festival, 1966) 
Eddie Floyd (Knock on wood, 1967) 
Albert King (Born under a bad sign, 1967) 
Otis Redding (Live in Europe, 1967)
The Mar-Keys/Booker T & The MGs (Back to Back, 1967)
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas (King & Queen, 1967)
Various Artists (Monterrey International Pop Festival, 1967)
Booker T & The MGs (Hip Hug-Her, 1967)
William Bell (Soul of a Bell, 1967) 
Albert King (Blues for Elvis, 1968)
Otis Redding (Dock of the Bay, 1968)
Otis Redding (Immortal Otis Redding, 1968)
Various Artists (Soul Christmas, 1968) 
Isaac Hayes (Presenting Isaac Hayes, 1968)
Booker T & The MGs (Uptight, 1968)
Booker T & The MGs (Best of Booker T & The MGs, 1968)
Booker T & The MGs (Doin' Our Thing, 1968)
Booker T & The MGs (Soul Limbo, 1968)
The Staples Singers (Soul Folk in Action, 1968)
Johnnie Taylor (Who's Making Love, 1968)
Booker T & The MGs (The Booker T. Set, 1969)
Albert King (King of the Blues Guitar, 1969) 
Delaney & Bonnie (Home, 1969) 
Mitch Ryder (The Detroit Memphis Experiment, 1969) 
Muddy Waters (Fathers and sons, 1969)
Eddie Floyd (Rare Stamps, 1969)
Mavis Staples (Mavis Staples, 1969)
Otis Redding (Love Man, 1969)
Booker T & The MGs (Mclemore Avenue, 1970)
Otis Redding (Tell the Truth, 1970)
Booker T & The MGs (Melting Pot, 1971)
David Porter (Victim of the Joke?: An Opera, 1971) 
Rita Coolidge (Rita Coolidge, 1971) 
Ronnie Hawkins (The Hawk, 1971) 
Albert King (Lovejoy, 1971) 
Freddie King (Getting Ready, 1971) 
Herbie Mann (Push Push, 1971) 
Don Nix (Living by the Days, 1971) 
Bill Withers (Just as I Am, 1971) 
Jesse Ed Davis (Ululu, 1972)
Rance Allen (Straight From the Heart, 1972) 
Freddie King (Texas Cannonball, 1972)
Doug Clifford (Cosmo, 1972)
Mel & Tim (Starting All Over Again, 1972)
Elvis Presley (Raised On Rock/For Ol' Times Sake, 1973)
MGs (The MGs, 1973) 
Duane Allman (Anthology vol. 2, 1974)
Eddie Floyd (Soul Street, 1974)
Shirley Brown (Woman to Woman, 1974)
Muddy Waters (Muddy & The Wolf, 1974)
William Bell (William Bell, 1974)
John Prine (Common Sense, 1975)
Rance Allen (Soulful Experience, 1975) 
Leon Russell (Will o' The Wisp, 1975) 
Rod Stewart (Atlantic crossing, 1975) 
Joan Baez (Gulf winds, 1976) 
Carol Grimes (Carol Grimes, 1976) 
Richie Havens (End of the Beginning, 1976) 
Chris Hillman (Slippin' Away, 1976) 
John Prine (Prime Prine, 1976) 
Rod Stewart (A Night on the Town, 1976)
Leon Russell (Best Of Leon Russell, 1976)
Manhatten Transfer (Pastiche, 1976)
Mickey Thomas (As Long As You Love Me, 1976)
Sam & Dave (Back at 'Cha!, 1976)
Ritchie Havens (End of the Beginning, 1976)
Keith Christmas (Stories from the Human Zoo, 1976) 
Joan Baez (Blowing away, 1977)
Shirley Brown (Shirley Brown, 1977) 
Roy Buchanan (Loading zone, 1977) 
Mickey Thomas (As long as you love me, 1977) 
Levon Helm (Levon Helm & The RCO All Stars, 1977) 
Albert King (The pinch, 1977) 
Diana Ross (Baby it's me, 1977) 
Manhattan Transfer (Pastiche, 1978)
Blues Brothers (Briefcase Full of Blues, 1978)
The Emotions (Sunshine, 1978) 
Bruce Roberts (Bruce Roberts, 1978) 
Billy Swan (Your OK, I'm OK, 1978) 
Peter Frampton (Where I should be, 1979)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Damn The Torpedos, 1979) 
Leo Sayer (Here, 1979)
Steve Cropper (Playing my Thang, 1980)
Blues Brothers (Made In America, 1980) 
Bob Dylan (Shot of love, 1981)
The Staple Singers (This Time Around, 1981) 
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Hard promises, 1981) 
Stevie Nicks (Bella Donna, 1981) 
Eric Clapton (Money and Cigarettes, 1983) 
Eric Clapton (Behind the sun, 1985) 
Wilson Pickett (Wilson Pickett's Greatist Hits, 1985)
Albert King (Best of Albert King Vol 1, 1986)
Booker T & The MGs (Best of Booker T & The MGs, 1986)
Various Artists (Atlantic Blues, 1986)
Jimmy Buffett (Hot Water, 1988)
Eric Clapton (Crossroads, 1988)
Soundtrack (The Great Outdoors, 1988)
Soundtrack (Roadhouse, 1989)
Legends Of Guitar (Electric Blues Vol.1, 1990)
Willie Dixon (The Chess Box, 1990)
Muddy Waters (Chess Box, 1990)
Stevie Nicks (Timespace: The Best of Stevie Nicks, 1991)
Johnnie Taylor (Who's Making Love, 1991)
Various Artists (Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, 1991) 
Albert King (The Best of Albert King, Vol 1, 1991)
Booker T & The MGs (Hip Hug-Her, 1992)
Wilson Pickett (A Man and a Half: The Best of Wilson Pickett, 1992)
Booker T & The MGs (And Now... Booker T & The MGs, 1992)
Booker T & The MGs (Doin' Our Thing, 1992)
Blues Brothers (Definitive Collection, 1992)
Roy Buchanan (Sweet Dreams: The Anthology, 1992)
William Bell (Little Something Extra, 1992)
Rufus Thomas (Can't Get Away From This Dog, 1992)
Various Artists (Blues Masters Vol 1: Urban Blues, 1992)
Various Artists (Stax/Volt Review, Vol 3: Live In Europe - Hit The Road Stax, 1992)
Blues Masters Sampler (1993)
Otis Redding (Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding, 1993)  
Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert, 1993)
Various Artists (The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles Vol 2: 1968-1971, 1993)
John Prine (Great Days: The John Prine Anthology, 1993)
Albert King (The Ultimate Collection, 1993)
Wilson Pickett (In the Midnight Hour, 1993)
Roy Buchanan (Guitar on Fire, 1993)
Jerry Lee Lewis (All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology, 1993)
Otis Redding (Otis Redding Sings Soul, 1993)
Ruby Johnson (I'll Run Your Heart Away, 1993)
Freddy King (Hide Away: The Best of Freddy King)
Booker T & The MGs (The Very Best of Booker T & The MGs, 1994)
Booker T & The MGs (That's the Way It Should Be, 1994)
The Original Soul Christmas (1994)
Various Artists (Texas Music, Vol 1: Postwar Blues Combos, 1994)
Manhatten Transfer (Pastiche, 1994)
Carla Thomas (Gee Whiz: The Best Of Carla Thomas, 1994)
Bill Withers (The Best Of Bill Withers, 1994)
Sam & Dave (The Very Best Of Same & Dave, 1995)
Various Artists (Blues Masters Vol 1-5, 1995)
Various Artists (Jingle Bell Jam: Jazz Christmas Classics, 1995)
Various Artists (Original Sould Christmas, 1995)
David Porter (Victim of the Joke?, 1995)  
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Playback, 1995)
Muddy Waters (Goodbye Newport Blues, 1995)
Tony Joe White (Lake Placid Blues, 1995)
The Soul Children (Soul Children/Best Of Two Worlds, 1995)
Levon Helm (Levon Helm & The RCO All-Stars, 1996)
Albert King (The Blues Don't Change, 1996)
Rance Allen (Soulful Experience, 1996)
Freddie King (Getting Ready, 1996)
Taveres (Best of Taveres, 1996)
Various Artists (Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940 to 1994, 1996) 
Carla Thomas (Love Means Carla Thomas/Memphis Queen, 1997)
Rance Allen (Let the Music Get Down in Your Soul, 1997)
John Fogerty (Blue Moon Swamp, 1997)
Yvonne Elliman (Best Of Yvonne Elliman, 1997)
Ray Charles (Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection, 1997) 
The Blues Brothers (Blues Brothers & Friends: Live from House of Blues, 1997)
Tinsley Ellis (Fire it up, 1997)
Boz Scaggs (My Time: The Anthology 1969-1997, 1997)
Leon Russell (Retrospective, 1997)
William Bell (Bound to Happen, 1997)
Otis Redding (Dreams to Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology, 1998)
Stevie Nicks (Enchanted: The Works of Stevie Nicks, 1998)
Booker T & The MGs (Time Is Tight, 1998)
Soundtrack (Vampires, 1998)
Albert King (The Very Best of Albert King, 1999)
Eric Clapton (Clapton Chronicles: Best of 1981-1999, 1999)
Crosby Stills Nash & Young (Looking Forward, 1999)
The Soul Children (Genesis/Friction, 1999)
The Blues Brothers (The Blues Brothers Complete, 2000)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Anthology: Through the Years, 2000)
Don Covay (Mercy, Mercy/Seesaw, 2000)
Eric Clapton (Money & Cigarettes, 2000)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Mercury Smashes... and Rockin' Sessions, 2000)
Eric Clapton (Best Of Eric Clapton [Import Bonus Tracks], 2000)
Neil Young (Road Rock Vol 1: Friends & Relatives, 2000)
Johnnie Taylor (Lifetime, 2000)
Bill Withers (Lean on Me: The Best of Bill Withers, 2000) 
Eric Clapton (Unplugged/Clapton Chronicles, 2001)
Freddie King (Ultimate Collection, 2001)
Freddie King (Texas Cannonball, 2002)
Mavis Staples (Only for the Lonely, 2002)
Albert King (Born Under a Bad Sign, 2002)
Neil Young (Are You Passionate?, 2002)
William Bell (Soul of a Bell, 2002)
Leo Sayer (Here, 2003)
Joan Baez (Complete A&M Recordings, 2003)
Booker T & The MGs (Soul Men, 2003)
Sountrack (Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey, 2003)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Southern Roots: Boogie Woogie Country Man, 2004)
Various Artists (Soul Comes Home: Celebration of Stax Records, 2004)
John Fogerty (Blue Moon Swamp, 2004)
Richie Havens (Dreaming As One: The A&M Years, 2004)

FRIDAY FUNNIES

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

A Royal Navy engineer called Brian Diamond serving onboard

HMS Diamond receives a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.

(With thanks to BBCOnline.com)

ISAK DINESEN: THE LIFE OF A STORYTELLER

By Judith Ferman:
 (In the early 1900s) "British East Africa had a highly erotic atmosphere; it was a place where, with the sanction of nature, civilized inhibitions were let go. Serial monogamy was athletically practiced, and in the bars of steamers that carried settlers out to their farms or hunters to their adventures, women were accosted with the famous question, 'Are you married, or do you live in Kenya?'"

RIP: SCHNITZELHAUS

1996 - 2012: Arguably the best German restaurant in Central Florida, certainly the best in Tampa. A poor economy and a less than stellar location in a strip mall led to Mike & his wife Suzi surrendering to the inevitable.

My wife and I were fortunate to get there 3 or 4 times over the years, but living 1-1/2 hours away we were not able to go as often as we may have wished. But the authentic German cooking and the excellent German beer and the charming host & hostess made the visits there memorable. Mike once told me he would not serve me his strudel unless I had the vanilla ice cream on top (not my favorite flavor) and the strudel was well worth having the vanilla ice cream for! 

Sorry to see them go, but the memories will live on for many years to come.

RIP: DONALD 'DUCK' DUNN

1941 - May 13 2012: Bass player extrordinaire...Stax House band playing on songs by Otis Redding, Albert King, Sam & Dave; was one of Booker T's MGs and played on Green Onions. Went on to be the bass player on the Blues Brothers Band.What a guy, the music world is poorer without him.

Rock on Donald...rock on...

TRUE THAT

Just because the phrase goes "the customer is always right" doesn't mean the customer actually knows shit from shinola… 

FRIDAY FUNNIES

GOD'S DESIGN?

Tami Fitzgerald, who heads the pro-amendment group Vote FOR Marriage NC, said she believes the initiative awoke a silent majority of more active voters in the future.

"I think it sends a message to the rest of the country that marriage is between one man and one woman," Fitzgerald said at a celebration Tuesday night. "The whole point is simply that you don't rewrite the nature of God's design based on the demands of a group of adults."

Hence the banning of divorces…oh wait, they still allow those. (I'm pretty sure that divorcing one's spouse wasn't one of the 10 commandments…)

RIP: ADAM (MCA) YAUCH

1964 - May 4 2012: Of the Beastie Boys. Never a fan, but I did like "(You Gotta)Fight For Your Right(To Party).

 And one should never have to die that young.

FRIDAY FUNNIES