Don’t you just love the sound of snowfall? Or lack thereof, I should say.  The prettiest part of any snowstorm (I think) is when you are safe and warm, inside your favorite room, looking out at the flakes and smiling at the silence.  On the Wikipedia page devoted simply to “snow”, the paragraph on it’s acoustic properties is fascinating!  Never knew that loud sounds, such as a pistol, can be used to measure snow cover permeability and depth.  Or that movie makers simulate the sound of walking on snow by using cornstarch, salt or kitty litter!

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Today I reported on the story of the B.K. Raji burger.

My sources said in the tradition of the Gilbert Brown burger from 1996, the B.K. Raji burger is supposed to feature six 1/3 pound patties, twenty strips of bacon and five slices of cheese.  It’s not pictured on the right, because I haven’t found an actual picture of it.

The reason why is because it may have never existed.   A Milwaukee pub this week is offering a burger that’s cashing in on B.J. Raji, after the sensational touchdown he made during the NFC Championship game.  Stubby’s Pub & Grubb has a two pound burger, Italian sausages, beer-battered fries, Stubby’s signature coleslaw, 12 slices of cheese and top it off with habenero peppers and a pickle.  If folks finish the entire thing, along with a side of choice, they get their meal for free and a pint glass and a Stubby’s sweatshirt.

That’s not what a blog about Green Bay news says though.  They suggested a that Burger King should sell the mammoth creation I listed above.

I called Burger King’s corporate offices to see if it’s a real thing and they’re getting back to me on it.   I’m thinking that it’s just the imagination of some meat-induced football fan.   I’ll keep you posted if there’s any truth to the story.

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It’s Over.  Restuarant week is what I mean.  Sad to see it end.  Glad to see it end.  It’s wonderful to get to experience restaurants, at a fixed price, and with a ’special’ menu.  It’s also great to eat at home again.  On Friday night, the last night of Restaurant Week, we went to The Eldorado Grill.  Tex Mex, Southwestern, and good.  The whole week was enjoyable.

This coming week, I’ll be eating at my own dining room table.  And for that I’m grateful.  Ah, the advantages of being married to a professional chef.

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When we last met in Classic Hits 94.9 WOLX “Blogland”, I blew the whistle on Blondie’s 1981 #1 “The Tide Is High” as originally done by the Jamaican band The Paragons. “Tide” isn’t the only song you hear on 94.9 WOLX that had a life before we “first” heard it.

Here’s another all-time favorite #1 song you ask for all the time by the 1964 British Invasion group Manfred Mann. However, the cat is once again out the bag because the Manfreds version isn’t the original. That honor goes to the Exciters best known for their 1963 Top 10 hit “Tell Him.“

The Exciters take on “Do Wah Diddy (as it appeared on the record label) sputtered out at the lower reaches of the Top 100 early in 1964 while the Manfred Mann cover recording you know and love reached #1 in America in October that same year. Why not enjoy your own private “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” A/B comparison listening party right now!

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I guess it’s part of being in Wisconsin.  Restaurant Week in Madison.  Dinner Thursday night at Ocean Grill on Martin Luther King Blvd.  And my first course was the beer cheese bisque.  Bet you can’t get that in many other states.  And if you can, my bottom dollar says it’s not as delicious as the beer cheese bisque I had at the Ocean Grill.  With crispy shallots, blue cheese and parsley. 

If you haven’t been to Ocean Grill, the setting is romantic, and modern, yet elegant.  The service good.  We had a wonderful evening. 

One more restaurant tonight. 

Then I absolutely, positively need to get on that treadmill. 

Thank you Restaurant Week.  You were wonderful.

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Adam reviews the new action remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson film; The Mechanic.

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Rated R – 1h32

Let’s be honest. It’s rare to find a good action movie that’s not cliché and predictable. We know countless shells of ammunition will spill on the ground. We know at least a couple tough guy one-liners are inevitable. We know someone will get punched really hard in the face.

You really just hope that the one you’re watching chalks up a low score on the predictability scale. The Mechanic did that for me.

Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is an elite hitman, aka a mechanic. Feeling guilty for taking out a close and personal target (Donald Sutherland,) he accepts the target’s son Steve McKenna (Ben Foster) as his protégé. I wonder if the kid is going to find out? Don’t cry that I’ve already pointed out the key storyline. Remember, we’re here for the action.

Though the audience that goes to see this film probably won’t admit it, I find it perfectly acceptable to have a man-crush on the bullet-headed intensity of Statham. He’s leading the game of modern action heroes and in many ways he’s a likable actor.

Of course this is a movie about over-excess. Just look at the movie poster. It’s a picture of a gun, made up of a bunch of little guns.

The only really annoying thing about this movie had nothing to do with the lead actors. In one scene Statham has a friendly old man who serves as his watchman. (Think of him as a Wal-Mart style greeter.) When he is not at his post, it should be clear that something is wrong. Instead, the film dumbs itself down, and highlights the facts that the old man is not at his post, tipping you off that he is missing. Is this not obvious? Did the film editor fall asleep? No, it’s just a ploy to keep everyone up to pace with what’s going on.

Overall, Statham and Foster deliver solid performances in a film that falls victim to action cliché. It’s a remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson movie of the same name, for the new generation.  While it may be easy to point out faults, I find it suited my latent bloodlust for the day.

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I know this song doesn’t fit our “format” (since it’s a hip hop tune!).  But follow along here…my son Sam’s best buddy Brett has an older brother named Danny who’s been best friends with one of the guys who made this video since they both were in elementary school a decade ago!  Whew.  I think it’s pretty cool.

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I guess that’s the best Italian accent that I’ve got.

What’s your big plan for the weekend?  For me, I’m being the cool brother and taking my big sister out for her birthday.

My wonderful sister Suzie is celebrating (the anniversary of) her 29th birthday this month so we’re going the musical route.  We’re checking out Mamma Mia! at the Overture Center tonight.  (Last check…tickets are still available)

I’m hoping that one day of I keep treating her nicely, she’ll eventually stop telling strangers embarrassing stories about me.  (yeah right!)

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     Of all the things I thought I might have in common with Jimmy Buffett, I never imagined it would be the fact that we’d both suffer a fall at the same time!  The Son of a Sailor fell off the stage in Sydney, Australia–he misjudged where the stage ended due to the footlights.  Bright blinding lights weren’t my problem, just the opposite in fact.  In the dark, I misjudged where the last step was on my staircase.  Ended up doing a face plant into the wall but not before jamming up two fingers on my right hand!  Jimmy’s injuries were more serious although he’s now been released from the hospital.  We’re both recovering well (with a margarita or three)!

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