Investing in American Jobs

Wal-Mart Supercenter
Pittston, PA
I guess the self-checkout registers that cost cashiers their jobs were made in the USA?

Sega At Kay-Bee

Kay-Bee Toys (1992)
Sega Genesis
This flyer is likely to be from late May or early June, 1992.  Kid Chameleon was released on May 28th that year, and it's price suggests that it was a new title at the time that this was printed.  Back then, I had a Sega Genesis, and I played Sonic The Hedgehog and Golden Axe II almost every morning before school.  Years later, I would add used copies of Kid Chameleon, Quackshot and Streets Of Rage to my game library.

125 Years Of Phillies History

Phillies Dream Scene
Jamie Cooper (2009)
This beautiful oil painting is hangs in the Suite and Club Entrance Lobby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.  Phillies Dream Scene shows a locker room of legendary Phillies across the 125 year history of the franchise.  It measures 14 feet by 4 feet and was painted by former Australian Rules Football player Jamie Cooper.

From left to right in the back, the painting includes:

- Jimmy Rollins
- Lenny Dykstra
- Larry Bowa
- Darren Daulton
- Chase Utley
- Cole Hamels
- Steve Carlton
- Ryan Howard
- Chuck Klein
- Del Ennis
- Mike Schmidt
- Richie Allen
- Johnny Callison
- Jim Bunning
- Jim Konstanty
- Robin Roberts
- Grover Cleveland Alexander
- Tug McGraw
- Bob Boone
- Tony Taylor
- Garry Maddox
- Harry Kalas
- Richie Ashburn

Seated in the center of the painting, from left to right, are:

- Phillie Phanatic
- Paul Owens
- Charlie Manuel
- Dallas Green

Note: Pete Rose is not shown in the paining, but he is represented by a rose in the vase on the table behind Charlie Manuel and in front of Dallas Green.

Happy To Be At The Ballpark

Sunday, May 27, 2018
Toronto Blue Jays @ Philadelphia Phillies
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Pitching: J.A. Happ vs. Nick Pivetta
Results: Blue Jays defeated Phillies, 5-3
Photo Gallery

On July 29th, 2010, the Philadelphia Phillies traded J.A. Happ, Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar to the Houston Astros for Roy Oswalt.  The Phillies had lost Jamie Moyer for the season to an injury, and the trade that brought Oswalt to join Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton was universally praised for creating one of the most talented pitching rotations in modern history.

Since leaving Philadelphia, Happ pitched for the Astros, Blue Jays, Mariners, Pirates, and finally back to the Blue Jays for the start of the 2016 season.  He won 20 games that year and has come into his own as one of the best pitchers in baseball.  He's faced the Phillies three times (2011, 2014 and 2016) and led his team to victory each time.  Happ made it a perfect 4-0 against his former team yesterday with the Blue Jays 5-3 victory over the Phillies.

Aaron Altherr and Nick Williams put the Phillies on the board with back to back RBI singles in the 6th inning, and Carlos Santana (pictured above) had a nice game, going 2-4 and scoring a run, but it wasn't enough for the Phillies to get the win.  On the strength of RBI doubles hit by Devon Travis in the 2nd and Dwight Smith in the 6th, the Blue Jays held the lead throughout the game.  A home run by Curtis Granderson in the top of the 9th capped off the Blue Jays 5 - 3 victory.

Thai Game

Thai Seafood Curry
Diamond Club - Philadelphia, PA
Citizens Bank Park has got more to eat than cheesesteaks and hot dogs.  This is especially true in the Diamond Club.  It's not often that I'm able to get these seats, so I can't pass up the opportunity to eat a dinner of shrimp and mussels at the ballpark.

That Thing Is Operational

Return Of The Jedi poster
Illustration by Rick Sternbach (1983)
The final movie of the original Star Wars trilogy was released 35 years ago today.  This poster was made available through the Official Star Wars Fan Club during the Episode VI theatrical run (source: StarWarsArchives.org).

Captain Jack Sparrow On Rhythm Guitar

Hollywood Vampires
Sands Bethlehem Event Center - May 21, 2018

It's not everyday that you get to see three separate legends come together to take the stage.  The Hollywood Vampires formed three years ago when singer Alice Cooper, Aerosmith lead guitarist and backup vocalist Joe Perry, actor and musician Johnny Depp (yes, that Johnny Depp) and Warlock bass guitarist Tommy Henriksen.

This show is part of the second world tour for the supergroup, and the setlist mixed their original music with Alice Cooper classics, including an incredible encore performance of School's Out with the godfather of shock rock sending everyone home on a high.  Johnny Depp took over on lead vocals for two songs: People Who Died from The Jim Carroll Band, and Heroes, which was done as a tribute its author and original artist, the late David Bowie.

It was an incredible show from start to finish.  Here is the setlist:

A Candy Bar With My Name On It

Happy Birthday Grandma

My grandmother passed away six years ago.  Today would have been her 80th birthday.

At some point from 1959 to 1961, she painted this picture of my father sleeping in his crib with a stuffed rabbit toy.  There was a few other paintings in the attic when we cleaned out the house.  I knew they were up there, but Grandma didn't really talk much about them, other than to say that she liked to paint when she was younger, but she lost interest in it.

Happy birthday, Grandma.

Too Tweet

Tweety Bird T-Shirt
Warner Bros Studio Store (1998)
The nWo Wolfpac stable formed on WCW Monday Nitro twenty years ago this month.  One of the more unusual pieces of merchandise that were sold to promote this stable include this WCW / Loony Tunes crossover t-shirt.

Tweety Bird may look innocent, but anyone who watched the cartoons can tell you that he'd be absolutely brutal in a cage match with The Cat.

A Show About Nothing

Twenty years ago today, the final episode of Seinfeld aired on television.  Folks in New York stopped on the streets to watch it in Times Square.

Just Another Fuzzy Space Hippie

When I was an alien
Cultures weren't opinion

Gotta find a way, find a way when I'm there

Territorial Pissings

Nirvana (1991)

Hootenanny Television

Bob Dylan (1963)

It was 55 years ago today that Bob Dylan walked out on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Dylan was booked on the show and wanted to play Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues, a protest song against the dangerous radical group The John Birch Society.  When he was told he couldn't play the song on CBS, Dylan essentially told them to go to hell and left the studio.

I've Never Outgrown Them

Toys R Us
I-81 North (2018)
I guess we won't be seeing these for very much longer.

Lehigh Valley LeBron

I wonder if Yacksel Rios would be willing to give up his number.
source: @IronPigs

Sun Worship?

St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Man, the church services sure has changed since I was a kid.

Peaceful Sounds of Childhood

Art Garfunkel
Kirby Center - May 8, 2018
I've listened to Simon & Garfunkel since I was four years old playing mom's records while I colored in my bedroom.  They're one of my favorite groups and I've listened to them throughout my life.  While I never got to see both of them perform together, I'm extremely happy and thankful to have had the opportunity to see Mr. Art Garfunkel sing in Wilkes-Barre.

He sang a lot of the classic Simon & Garfunkel hits and told stories and read from his poetry book between songs.  My favorite moment was hearing him sing Bright Eyes, a song that I first heard in the cartoon adaptation of Watership Down.

It was a wonderful night and a great show.  I hope to see him again.

The Bullet Club Comes To Allentown

WWE Live (house show)
PPL Center - Allentown, PA

-1-     WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match
          The Bludgeon Brothers (Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E)

-2-     Big Cass defeated "The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger

-3-     Six Woman Tag Team Match
          Asuka, Becky Lynch and Naomi defeated Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville and Lana

-4-     MizTV segment with Daniel Bryan

-5-     Triple Threat Match
          WWE United States Championship Match
          Jeff Hardy defeated Samoa Joe and Shelton Benjamin

-6-     WWE Smackdown Women's Championship Match
          Carmella defeated Charlotte Flair (after interference from The IIconics)

-7-     Six Man Tag Team Match
          The Bullet Club ("The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
          defeated Shinsuke Nakamura and The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro)

I See A Red Door

Paint It Black
The Rolling Stones (1966)
One of the greatest rock songs of all time was released in the United States 52 years ago.  It became the third Stones song to hit #1 in the US, and the sixth to occupy the top spot in the UK.

A Long Time Ago On A Movie Set Far, Far Away...

Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back cast photo (1980)
From left to right: Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Dave Prowse (Darth Vader), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2).

Jedi In London

Heathrow Airport
London, England
I'm hoping that the aircraft on the flight to Kashyyyk is a bit roomier than the one to Endor.  Wookies can get grouchy.

Sushi Nachos? Yes Please!

Wasabi Doritos
Frito Lay (2018)
Alright, these things are tremendous!  I really hope they consider making these a permanent addition to the flavor lineup.  These would be great as an ingredient for a creative fusion street food  I'm picturing Sushi Nachos made up of a layer of Wasabi Doritos topped with Spanish rice, shrimp or and drizzled with a soy, ginger or ponzu sauce; or maybe even a creamy chipotle sauce.  You could even use clams or scallops in place of the shrimp.  My mouth is watering just thinking about the possibilities!

How Do You Buy Your Bananas

Bananas By The Each
Target - Wilkes-Barre, PA

Sriracha Chicken and Waffles

Sriracha Chicken and Waffles
B3Q Smokehouse

I was drawn in by the sheer creativity of this dish, but to call it unique doesn't do it justice.  This may be the most delicious thing I've ever eaten from a food truck, and that's a pretty long list of lunches and dinners.  Just look at the description from the menu - how could you possibly pass this up?

This is the first time these guys have come here since I started working out of this office.  I really hope that it's one of their regular stops this summer.  If the other food on their menu are half as good as the Sriracha Chicken & Waffles, I'll work my way down the list and try them all.