Bubba Dogs

Craig LaBan, the Philly Inky restaurant critic whose reviews can make or break local eateries, wrote a column today recapping the year’s best. Not surprisingly, family friend Chip Roman’s Blackfish in Conshohocken, was awarded best BYOB (link under food to the right). Other notables listed below as well as link to full article.

LaBan’s Year in Eating Review

Best chef: Jose Garces.

Best restaurant: Osteria.

Best meal: A “farm table dinner” at Talula’s Table.

Best ethnic delivery: Tiffin.

Best relocated classic: Fuji.

Best new BYOB: Blackfish.

Best single bite:

Tinto’s blue-cheese-smeared “montadito” toast topped with duck confit wrapped in Serrano ham, crowned with a black cherry.

Best raw food: Scallop and watermelon seviche at Xochitl.

Best updated bubbe food: Veal kreplach with artichokes at Rae.

Best cheeseburger: The cheese-stuffed wonder at the Good Dog Bar.

- Craig LaBan

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I can’t believe that people are still interested in the “He said…she said” saga between Donavon McNabb and reporter Pam Oliver. Go read about the genocide in Darfur, learn the history of Led Zeppelin or read a compelling essay about Time’s Person of the Year, Vladimir Putin. Please, get over it and hope that McNabb is back for one more run next year (one man’s opinion).

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Mike Ness and Social Distortion. Classic punk. Saw ‘em last year at House of Blues in A.C. Great show but a bizarre scene. A bunch of 40-45 year olds in the mosh pit thinking it was 1985.

#6 on Time Magazine’s best web sites is menupages.com.

Open your takeout menu drawer and you’re likely to find the five food-stained restaurant menus you’ve been ordering from for years. Your mealtime options shouldn’t be limited to these same, stale choices. Choose the neighborhood you live in, pick the type of cuisine you’d like to order and browse selections from hundreds of eateries.

2,175 Philly restaurants (including the ‘burbs) with reviews. Bookmark it. I also have it under food on the sidebar. It’ll come in handy some day.

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Todd Zolecki, resident Phillies blogger for the Philly Inky, wrote today:

As much as Phillies fans have complained about their team not adding pitching, the Mets and Braves haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire. I still think the Phillies are going to score a ton of runs, even without Rowand. In fact, here’s my prediction: If Jenkins is healthy, he will put up better numbers than Rowand in 2008. But their starting pitching remains a serious question mark, meaning life might not be any easier for the Phillies next season. It might just as up and down an adventure.

I think it could be a two-team race again between the Phillies and Mets.

Complete story: Phils: Looking Ahead to 2008

Pitchers and catchers in 50 days (February 14th); Home Opener in 96 days (Monday, March 31st - Nationals). Info on how to register for the lottery to purchase opening day tix can be found here: Opening Day Tix

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Jimmy Cliff on SNL, 1976 (hosted by Dick Cavett). Funky bass. What an amazing voice.

The Sixers lost to the Lakers last night. Leading scorer was the Laker’s center Andrew Bynum with 24 points. He also collected 11 rebounds. Some may remember my relationship with the 20 year old who Inky sportswriter David Aldredge claims “..has the look of a young franchise center…” I can tell you that when I knew him, he had the look of a lazy, underachiever who was outplayed by half of the 8th grade centers we came up against. Check out this entry from July: Bynumite and me .

Time Magazine’s latest issue has a list of this year’s Top 10 of everything from non-fiction to stocks.

Time’s Top Ten’s

One of their lists is top ten video’s. Will Farrell is arguably the funniest comedian out there. This video is #2 on Time’s Top Ten. Caution for language…

Billy Bragg’s on Conan, 2006:

Eef Barzelay, formerly of Clem Snide, sings an angry acoustic tune. Great words:

Guinness good for you - official

The old advertising slogan “Guinness is Good for You” may be true after all, according to researchers. A pint of the black stuff a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks….Story:

Guiness is Good!
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For those that are hosting this Christmas and still trying to figure out the menu (this would include myself), the Times had a good article on simple apps to prepare.

101 Appetizers in 20 Minutes of Less

If into it, check out the reader comments that appear with the article. Offered are about 80 more recipes that look pretty tasty.

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I saw The Replacements, Paul Westerberg’s original band, at Constitution Hall in D.C. while a student at GWU in 1986. Tommy Stinson, the bass player who was only 13 when The Replacements formed in 1980 and 19 when I saw him, was not only a creative influence in the band, but a world class lush. He performed the show in D.C. with a bottle of Jack Daniels at his side (drinking age was 18 in D.C. at the time, as if it would have mattered). By the time the encore came, he could barely stand up. In 1997, he was hired as the bass player for Guns and Roses. Westerberg, however, was the lead singer and songwriter for the Replacements and the unmistakable leader of the band. Here he is at the peak of his solo career. He was a college favorite of mine, and I hadn’t seen him play live for years before seeking him out on youtube. Listen to how tight this band is:

I Can’t Wait

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Great site for the Philly fan (also posted under sports to the right):

The 700 Level

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ESPN has reported that the Phils have signed former Brewers outfielder Geoff Jenkins to a two year deal for $13 million. He can play both corner positions and platoon with both Jason Werth and Burrell when he gets into his annual hitting funk. Look for him to hit .270 and, with 500 at bats, around 25 dingers. Not a bad pick-up.

It’s also believed that Chad Durbin, a former Tigers starter, is close to signing. Our friends at thegoodphight.com sums this one up well:

His best season was last year (coincidentally, a CONTRACT year) when he went 8-7 with a 4.72 ERA in just over 127 innings. He has gone over TEN innings pitched approximately FIVE times in a NINE year career. In 2002, 2003 and 2004 he posted ERAs of 11.88, 7.27 and 6.97, respectively. And his 2004 ERA was over 60 innings, so there’s more than enough there to make it reliable. Welcome, if you will, the next candidate in “Who Wants To Maybe Possibly Be Better Than Adam Eaton?” If we give this guy more than two mil a year, I’ll have a stroke.

Been wanting to get into yoga for a while, though I haven’t been as disciplined as I would like. I have, however, downloaded a video (free) which is great for beginners and really does provide relief for those parts of my body that ache after playing hoops the night before. If you’ve been thinking about giving it a shot, download this video. It takes about an hour to complete a workout. Find a quiet place away from the kids (challenge in my house) and do it four times over the course of a week. I guarantee you’ll feel results. (New Year’s Resolution?)

I found this in the feedback section of the website:

I injured my back in a car accident in October and had over $15,000 worth of rehabilitation. 6 months after it was over, I had a massive relapse. I felt exactly as I had the days after the accident. A friend then told me about this website and told me I should give the free video a try - to see if it could help. I did so, and I can not describe how astonishing the results are. Every day that I do yoga is a pain free 24 hours. Not only do I sleep better, but after 2 months, I’m noticeably stronger in my legs, back, and arms. Anyway, I wanted to say thanks….

Thank you
Rustin Scott

Free Yoga Video

A Classic Elvis moment. This was in protest of his label ordering him to play the less rebellious “Less Than Zero” over the controversial “Radio Radio” on Saturday Night Live. December 17, 1977 (30 years ago yesterday).

It’s nearly impossible to escape goods made in China these days. Looking at my son’s toy from his Mickey D’s Happy Meal reminded me of a series being run by the Times entitled “China, Choking on Growth.” Readers wishing to educate themselves about costs involved in China’s becoming the fastest growing economy in the world should read and watch this series.

The latest installment involves farm raised fish. Haven’t you wondered why shrimp is so much more affordable now then it was 20 years ago? And, while I do enjoy a dish of tilapia on occasion, I’d never even heard of it before 5 or 6 years ago. This one will get you thinking a bit folks.

A major take-away for me re: China is the costs involved with raising the bottom line ($$$$). They are experiencing so many problems that will profoundly impact the rest of us. A brief and glaring example being their thirst for oil. Lots of the former farmers in that country of 1.3 billion can now afford that automobile that was formerly a bicycle. No wonder they’re chummy with Iran (They’re financing the construction of oil refineries throughout that country). You think $3 a gallon is expensive? Think about what today’s kids will be paying in 15 years unless alternative fuels are created. I’m not looking to get all Al Gore on y’all, but read this series. It really is important to all of us.

Below is a brief excerpt and a link to a short video can be found here: China Choking on Growth, Part VII

China produces about 70 percent of the farmed fish in the world, harvested at thousands of giant factory-style farms that extend along the entire eastern seaboard of the country. Farmers mass-produce seafood just offshore, but mostly on land, and in lakes, ponds, rivers and reservoirs, or in huge rectangular fish ponds dug into the earth.

“They’ll be a major supplier not just to the U.S., but to the world,” said Richard Stavis, the chairman of Stavis Seafoods, an American company that imports Chinese catfish, tilapia and frog legs.

China began emerging as a seafood power in the 1990s as rapid economic growth became the top priority in the country. But environmental experts say that headlong pursuit of higher gross domestic product has devastated Chinese water quality and endangered the country’s food supply. In Guangdong Province in southern China, fish contaminated with toxic chemicals like DDT are already creating health problems.

The NY Times has a great interactive feature on the players implicated in the Mitchell report.  Curt Schilling, in his 38pitches.com blog, wrote that yesterday was the worst day in MLB since the Black Sox scandal of 1919. 

Why couldn’t the juice have assisted David Bell when with the Phils as much as it did Bonds?

Link: Players Named in Mitchell Report

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A 25 second barrel beginning at 1:38. North Shore:

25 seconds in the green room

Swell on the way for you winter surfin’ folk:

December 13, 2007-Thurs 8am

We got some surf on the way. A strong low is due to develop in the SW, then move off the Mid-Atlantic coast over the weekend. The storm should move off the coast to our south which is good, but it’s hard to pinpoint the timing. Right now, the models are showing seas to jump late Saturday into Sunday morning, reaching the 6ft mark (direction - ESE). The winds will all depend on the storm’s track, so lets hope for NW on Sunday. Another update tomorrow…TeddyD

Twenty years ago, a friend and I traveled to Ireland and I’ll never forget the Cliffs of Moher.

Irish surf has gotten some great rap in recent years. I recently learned that, when the wind blows offshore (not the sea breeze that you see above), the waves can reach a clean 30 feet. The only problem is that there are 900 foot cliffs in the way if you choose to do one more bottom turn. The waves are big enough to require a tow-in and there’s a cool documentary entitled And Then the Wind Died… which is soon to be released. Here’s a clip:

And Then the Wind Died…
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Amazing site for music heads. Type in a band that you’re into and it will play tunes from similar bands that you’d probably also enjoy. Great way to expand your music horizons. I typed in Wilco. The songs that followed were from from Tom Petty, Uncle Tupelo, Cracker, Radiohead and Ben Harper.

Coolest thing is that you can create up to 100 stations. Free registration. Trust me on this one. It’s a phenomenal website. No more need for radio.

Here’s a description taken from their “About” page:

Pandora is the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Together our team of fifty musician-analysts has been listening to music, one song at a time, studying and collecting literally hundreds of musical details on every song. It takes 20-30 minutes per song to capture all of the little details that give each recording its magical sound - melody, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm, vocals, lyrics … and more - close to 400 attributes! We continue this work every day to keep up with the incredible flow of great new music coming from studios, stadiums and garages around the country.

Pandora.com

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Great news. On Saturday, May 24th (Memorial Day Weekend), the first Sea Isle City min-triathlon will be held with the start right at the beach on JFK Blvd. My hope was to bring a tri-triathlon to Sea Isle in the fall, but it appears that we’ll all have to begin our training a bit sooner. You have a bit over 5 months to get in shape. Sounds like a great New Year’s resolution for those that need the motivation.

I’ll provide details as they’re received, but latest info can be found here:

SIC Trathlon

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Thanks Mom and Dad for my education so that I didn’t end up talking like this:

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For Carousel/Old time Dead Dog folk, Jammin’ Dave found himself in a jam recently. Shout B. Dent:

Jammin’ Dave Bar Brawl

Anyone want to babysit my little guys while K and I take a week in Prague?

2008 Vacation Spots

Great song by, still, a great band:

A friend (shout to Sean) sent this file.  I just wonder what some of these people are doing today.  Check out Devestatin’ Dave…

 More:

Ridiculous Album Covers

Great NY Times article for athletes. More and more, research shows how important the mind is in overcoming physical pain. Great read for those that would like to take it to the next level.

I’m Not Really Running, I’m Not Really Running…