Friday, November 4, 2011

Beatle Fact Friday


Famous Beatles historian, Mark Lewisohn, has unearthed legal documents that include a clause that states that the Beatles would not play for segregated audiences. According to his findings, there were multiple tours in 1965 and 1966 in which the Far Four refused to play their music to a racially unequal audience.

The Beatles came to America right as the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum. Ahead of a gig they were set to play at the Cow palace in Daly City, California, the band inserted into their rider that they would not play a concert if the audience was segregated. Mark Lewisohn says, "I have contracts for the 1965 and 1966 tours and that rider was always there."

Other stipulations listed in the Beatles rider include at least 150 uniformed officers for protection, a special drumming platform for Ringo, electricity and water, and dressing rooms with "four cots, mirrors, an ice cooler, portable TV set and clean towels."

It's Friday, only two days closer to Monday.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Great Pretender



Oh yes, I'm the great pretender

Pretending I'm doing well

My need is such
I pretend too much
I'm lonely but no one can tell



Oh yes, I'm the great pretender

Adrift in a world of my own
I play the game but to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone



Too real is this feeling of make-believe

Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown



Too real when i feel what my heart can't conceal



Oh yes, I'm the great pretender

Just laughing and gay like a clown
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're...
Pretending that you're still around




Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tip? Tip?



If you've got yourself a cast iron skillet you probably know by now that you can't just wash it like it's any other cooking pan...it's speeeciiaaalll. If you didn't know that then you've probably already destroyed it with tons of soap by now.

NEVER EVER EVER USE SOAP ON A CAST IRON SKILLET

If it's really gross you can take some salt and pour it right on the gross parts or all over it for all I care. Salt is a natural abrasive and will work away at those nasty home fries you burnt last week and left lying about on your rotten smelly kitchen table. With a bunched up paper towel, rub the salt into the grill and then dump the salt into the trash once you've gotten rid of most of the guck. Put the skillet back on heat to evaporate any remaining grossness. Season it -- and you're ready to make it all nasty again!



You can also put some veggie oil or olive oil in the pan and heat it up and rub the salt around, then wipe it down with a paper towel afterwards...either way works fine.


Remember, don't use any silver utensils either...it'll fuck up the taste and seasoning.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween


Went to a Pre-Halloween late night showing of the 1920's silent film classic, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horrors, on Friday night. The showing we went to at Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, Bklyn. was really great because the film was screened with a live band playing the score. The band was really the highlight of the experience - I never knew instruments could produce such spooky sounds!

Nosferatu was written as a film adaptation of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, but they did not have the film rights. Changes were thus made to plot line, locations, and character names, so as not to infringe of the Dracula story. In contrast to the Dracula character, Nosferatu's Orlok does not create other vampires, but kills his victims, causing the townfolk to blame the black plague for these mysterious deaths.

The film itself, while creepy, is also comical as well. The overacting necessary to hold a silent film together rings especially humorous when played out in the horror genre. The night time scenes that were clearly shot during the day and the prosthetic face coming apart at the edges, ruined the illusion just a bit. These elements of disillusionment made for a far less scary experience than was remembered from seeing the film in childhood - that's for sure!

I must make a side note about the venue however. Nitehawk (the semi-newish theater in W'burg) has a GREAT concept going - get served food and booze (yes, they now have there liquor license INSIDE the theaters) while watching a movie. Sounds like a dream come true. But this place seriously needs to get their act together if they want to survive. They were completely understaffed, confused and confusing. The prepubescent fetus of a bartender was not only incompetent behind the bar, but also incredibly rude to top it off. Concept alone is not enough to impress the harsh critics of NYC.

Get your shit together, Nitehawk, we're rooting for you!!!