tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90356557321876375452012-02-15T19:12:58.973-06:00Archiving the insignificant.TLnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-28371713698596143122012-02-15T19:12:00.000-06:002012-02-15T19:12:58.984-06:00

The cereal gods have smiled upon me twice this week. As though the arrival of the excellent Great American Cereal Book was not enough, a stroll down the cereal aisle at the grocery store today yielded one of my greatest discoveries since Chocolate Cap'n Crunch. According to my wife, it tastes like a "healthy version of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch." C'mon, wife. Let's be serious. Everyone knows

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-4974619133607127422012-02-14T16:47:00.001-06:002012-02-14T17:26:22.797-06:00

Wow! Only the second assignment from Cool and Collected's "League of Extraordinary Bloggers" and my wheels are really turning! This week's topic: You have an unlimited budget and space is not a problem. What piece of Hollywood memorabilia would you want?I would want something one-of-a-kind so I wouldn't choose the General Lee. They're a dime a dozen. I would want something real so I wouldn't

TLnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-66200514509218633012012-02-11T20:24:00.001-06:002012-02-11T22:30:16.293-06:00

1. In the five days since I drew the comparison between Poison Ivy and my favorite comfort food, I've eaten crackers and milk six times. 2. My Mister Rogers fascination scored a point this week as I tracked down a sixth of the seven figures from the 1977 Neighborhood of Make-Believe playset that may or may not have been mass produced. Welcome to the party, X the Owl. Only Lady Elaine

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-4315265910205924942012-02-10T17:29:00.003-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.246-06:00

The January 1987 Teen Beat featured the usual faces on the cover and the regular spread of pin-ups throughout. Seriously. How did I not realize that this magazine was intended for girls?    The Teen Beat Times reports that Ralph Macchio is ready for a break and that Howard the Duck is a crappy movie. It also mentions a Family Ties book featuring a story never used for an episode. Hello, Amazon?

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-20103032166831057722012-02-09T17:01:00.003-06:002012-02-14T18:05:04.046-06:00

The September 1986 issue of Teen Beat was one of the first that I owned. This particular issue just happened to be the "Super 10th Anniversary Issue." There on the cover were the mainstays -- Michael J. Fox, Kirk Cameron, and Tom Cruise -- as well as a-ha frontman Morten Harket and the end-all-be-all of teen idols, Ferris Bueller. Taking a look inside, you'll also find the expected spread of

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-91229486365586416742012-02-08T12:52:00.001-06:002012-02-14T18:09:43.053-06:00

Everyone has a few skeletons in their closet. It's time I came clean and went public with one of mine. So here it goes. In the mid/late 1980s...around 5th grade...I...had...a subscription to Teen Beat magazine. Yes, that's right. This kid who lived and breathed action figures and baseball cards also had a certain appreciation for teen idols and celebrity gossip. The funny thing was, I always

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-90687721088697223622012-02-06T20:43:00.003-06:002012-02-13T19:51:35.000-06:00

Comfort food for most people consists of things like macaroni and cheese. Maybe mashed potatoes. But my comfort food is a little odd, I guess. To me, there is no better snack than a half-sleeve of saltine crackers crunched up in a glass with milk poured on it like cereal. Don't knock it 'til you try it. It's not my favorite food. It's my comfort food. Recently the question was posed on Cool

TLnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-35409648236097361072012-02-05T13:09:00.003-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.255-06:00

Here it is. BAM! Your FASTE prediction for Super Bowl XLVI. Last year I correctly predicted that the Green Bay Packers would walk away victorious. Even though I only have one reason for watching this year's game, I went ahead and employed the same method for predicting the game's outcome. I'm expecting a big game from Phil Simms.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-55757685012586504342012-02-01T16:49:00.003-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.258-06:00

Fresh off a day's work, I got home, said hello to my wife and kids...and watched this commercial one more time knowing full well that I missed something in this morning's post. Sure enough, I did. Two things in this shot of Matthew Broderick's boss. First is the baseball he's holding -- a reference to the ball Ferris caught at Wrigley Field and later used to turn off his stereo. Also, just over

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-6862395383651352482012-02-01T06:33:00.004-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.261-06:00

I was somewhat skeptical about this new Honda commercial featuring a resurrected Ferris Bueller and initially it appeared that I was on the right track. After watching this commercial through for the first time, I was quite disappointed. On the surface, it just seemed that there were so many missed opportunities and so few actual plays off the original movie. But then I slowed this down and

TLnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-6521475863147471332012-01-28T07:27:00.003-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.263-06:00

I'm amazed at how many people I have heard from in the past two days about this video. No way does this have anything to do with a sequel to Ferris Bueller's Day Off. As has been revealed in the past 24 hours, this appears to be a teaser for a commercial or series of commercials for Honda set to air on Super Bowl Sunday. Aside from the countless reporters and bloggers who have tried

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-70387252376093600732012-01-22T20:31:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.266-06:00

1. Etta James? I won't pretend she was this huge influence on me or even a musician I listened to often. But she did have one song that I'll always love. 2. Jason and the Scorchers were fantastic (as expected). This was the second time I had seen them live and it was clear evidence that the phenomenal show they put on the first time was no fluke. Having met Jason Ringenberg before, I was hoping

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-74749461257866248692012-01-13T17:53:00.004-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.269-06:00

For anyone who actually reads this blog, you probably get very tired of me talking about Justin Townes Earle. Unfortunately for you, he's got a new album coming out soon so my chatter won't be dying down any time soon. If you're interested, you can download the title track on Justin's website. Stay tuned for continued excitement about this album....Jason and the Scorchers tomorrow night...

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-16276374599376475292011-12-28T10:42:00.005-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.272-06:00

If you glanced through my Top 20 Albums of 2012, there were likely a few names that you did not recognize -- one of those being Olds Sleeper. On January 1st, he will graciously make available a free download of his new release, New Year's Poem. Leading up to the release date, a handful of fans were provided an advance copy with the request for a 55 word review in return. My inner-7th-grader

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-59935666868505353162011-12-19T14:59:00.010-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.274-06:00

It's that time of year, folks. Time for people to tell you what you should have been paying attention to over the past twelve months. With that responsibility in mind, I present the Flashlights 2011 Top 20 Musicians/Albums of the Year. Do you have any idea how difficult this was to narrow down!?! 20. Counting Crows - August & Everything After: Live at Town Hall When I first saw that this album

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-59761474004093285502011-12-15T17:39:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:44:32.521-06:00

1. I met Billy Joe Shaver. 2. Even though Bloodshot Records sent none to my local record store, I found a copy of the Justin Townes Earle 7" record released on Black Friday.  3. I think this comic was written about my daughter. She's almost four. 4. Here's a Christmas song for you to get you in the spirit. 5. I drink instant coffee. When I heat the water in the microwave, I put it in for 99

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-21833986545151446092011-11-23T10:29:00.003-06:002012-02-11T20:46:00.288-06:00

I've never been into hunting, although I've been around it all my life. Growing up, my neighbors were avid hunters with their camo gear and their bird dogs. A guy I work with today is about as obsessed with hunting as anyone I've known considering he films all of his hunts and eats deer in some form every day for lunch. I may not be a hunter in the traditional sense of the word, but I think I

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-82706997362717122822011-11-20T12:41:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:47:05.693-06:00

Sticking with the topic of the Cubs' new manager, the recent hiring of Dale Sveum has inspired me to dig through my baseball card collection to find some of his old cards. Sweet mustache.   

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-19946041000242232922011-11-19T06:05:00.000-06:002012-02-11T20:47:10.025-06:00

Seriously, fellow Cubs fans. Am I the only one who sees this?  I know the papers are saying that Dale Sveum was hired as the new manager, but I think we've just hired Beastie Boy Adam Yauch.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-9913006314280269622011-11-18T20:33:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:36:11.577-06:00

There's a bit of irony in posting this on a blog, but considering the light-hearted content of this site, I feel no guilt in doing so. So much truth here. So. Much. Truth. People used to burn pages, show their in and outrages These days the gage is who gets flamed on comment pages No claim is too outrageous for these constant news updaters Lines refined to save time, less complicators to

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-29496316850859797132011-11-16T16:14:00.000-06:002012-02-11T20:46:36.959-06:00

November 1st is a big day in our house -- at least for me it is. Every year, November 1st is the day that the Halloween and fall decorations come down and my wife humors me enough to let me to put up my collection stuff from A Christmas Story. She thinks Christmas decorations any earlier than November are simply unacceptable and I can't say I completely disagree. A few years back, Dept 56

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-23942545626682751092011-10-13T20:26:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:47:00.957-06:00

It's amazing how quickly a meaningless blog can take a backseat as soon as real life rears its ugly head. Two months into the current school year, up against my family, my job, and other tasks at hand, the ol' Flashlights blog has been feeling neglected. With a little bit of time today, let me throw some stuff your way. 1. Remember when it used to be that a new CD was so good it never left your

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-31652792779813264272011-09-17T01:16:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:35:53.980-06:00

I'm not one of those people who says that every show they go to is the best show they've ever seen. I don't do that because that's annoying and an untruth based on the momentary excitement that comes with seeing a live performance. That being said, I love Tommy Womack. I love him in a way that one man can love the music of another man and appreciate it for all that it is from lyrics to style to

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-32102366890726467862011-08-05T04:30:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.298-06:00

Back at it for another 36 weeks...

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-42598743613126465142011-07-26T23:24:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:45:43.634-06:00

Around the time of this past season's Super Bowl, I took a quick look at some 1985 Chicago Bears junk that I've got laying around. Besides the "punky QB known as McMahon" and Sweetness himself, that year's Bears team had one other major fan favorite -- the Fridge. While William Perry may have been large, he was no dumb cookie. Just like his teammates, he wasn't looking for trouble. He was just

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-21000101063032010322011-07-22T13:27:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.303-06:00

Is the Rewards code on the inside of my Miller High Life box trying to tell me something? Maybe it's time for some Johnny Fever...

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-46675690383582810202011-07-19T21:17:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:37:26.333-06:00

My family and I just returned from a short mini-vacation to St. Louis. As we settled into our hotel room, I realized that we were very near the former home of my uncle's family -- a place we visited enough times when I was younger that it was familiar. Ping-pong in the basement (that's me with the sweet haircut below), sledding down the hill in the backyard (and if I remember right, the backyard

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-84133711209560864222011-07-11T14:05:00.005-05:002012-02-11T20:47:25.374-06:00

The heat index today is expected to reach 115-120° and as I listen to the radio weather forecasts, all I can think of is Samuel L. Jackson as Mister Señor Love Daddy in one of Spike Lee's best Joints, Do the Right Thing: "I have today's forcast for you: HOT!" So I've settled in for the afternoon into my cool air-conditioned basement with Do the Right Thing on the TV and a cold glass of Miller

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-71839409203490210322011-07-06T23:11:00.004-05:002012-02-11T20:37:04.034-06:00

With all due respect to the White Castle lunch and discovery of Chocolate Cap'n Crunch, my recent birthday was highlighted by the (discounted) purchase of an awesome record. Slim Goodbody anyone?  The owner of the local record shop smiled as he rang up my purchase and commented that there's only a small population of people who even have any idea who Slim Goodbody is. I have to think that among

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-25501493009609897332011-07-06T09:08:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:40:45.692-06:00

Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while knows of my fascination with Mister Rogers as well as the seemingly-nonexistent Neighborhood of Make-Believe playset from 1977. I'm happy to say that after coming up with the Queen Sara figure last week, four of the five figures from the playset are now in hand.  You're out there X the Owl. And I'll find you.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-53312803019370983062011-07-05T14:52:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:47:05.695-06:00

The tree trimmers from the power company have hit our neighborhood this summer and as of 7:30 this morning, they're camped out directly in front of my living room window. Rather than spend the afternoon watching them and wondering how badly they're going to mangle the trees in my yard, I decided to spend the afternoon doing something I would have done twenty-five years ago. It's hot outside and

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-37134348954412182702011-07-01T10:54:00.004-05:002012-02-11T20:42:47.916-06:00

Nothing like a lazy day with some good music. I couldn't be happier with my recent (cheap) eBay purchase of the late 80s LP from Government Cheese, Three Chords, No Waiting. As usual, I'm just as entertained by the things found inside LP jackets. This particular record was still sealed and contained the original Reptile Records merchandise order form. A dollar for shipping and handling? My, how

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-36112214105930429462011-06-27T21:01:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:46:22.863-06:00

I've previously mentioned that my brother and I frequently wrote letters to our favorite celebrities when we were young and amassed a decent collection of autographs we received in return -- some authentic, some not. The only ones I've shared here so far have been the black and white photograph I recieved in reply from Ralph Macchio and the various items I got from the A-Team cast members. But

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-56190227762125893102011-06-22T19:03:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:46:13.007-06:00

Watching an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba with one of my daughters this morning, I noticed something subtle that I'm sure has gone unnoticed by thousands upon thousands of viewers before me. We were watching an episode from the show's first season and got to the story of Super Martian Robot Girl. The "cover" of the story flashes on the screen for just a few seconds before the it begins. But wait...

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-2927166982932473552011-06-20T14:23:00.004-05:002012-02-11T20:44:32.524-06:00

He's done it again. My brother has given me a CD that I love that I never would have listened to otherwise... To spite my brother, I've resisted becoming a Deer Tick fan thus far...but Middle Brother is a push in that direction.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-1253757514814640992011-06-15T21:11:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:45:30.879-06:00

Let's consider the signs of a great day. Looking back over the past 12-14 hours, I certainly can't complain. I sit here with a full stomach compliments of a nearby restaurant that my family definitely does not visit enough. It's a place just up the road that specializes in country home cooking -- and I'm talking real country cooking. This isn't Cracker Barrel -- Cracker Barrel is about as much

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-25243277788936939112011-06-11T12:50:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.332-06:00

I used to be a big fan of Yahoo!...even over Google. I liked it because I could get a solid search engine as well as breaking news at the same time. But over the past few years, as you may be aware, Yahoo! has turned into nothing short of a tabloid/blog fit only for fans of E! and Perez Hilton. It's still a quick way for me to check sports scores, however, and last night as I checked in on the

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-9602458622745561682011-06-10T21:44:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:40:45.695-06:00

Day one of summer vacation was certainly a success. It was city-wide garage sale day in a nearby suburb and a friend of mine directed me towards a sale with records at 25 cents a pop. When I got there, I was somewhat shocked to find hundreds upon hundres of LPs, most in excellent condition. Due to the recent re-recording of Tom T. Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow by some of Nashville's finest, I've

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-76790982962743782342011-06-09T20:59:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.028-06:00

As many of you know, I work in public education and working in public education, there are few times of year more joyous than early June. The hallways empty. The parking lots clear. The bells stop ringing. And I don't have to go to work for two months. With every pair of socks that I own stored away for the next nine weeks, it's time to focus my time on family and fun. There are certain

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-80031135235759232822011-05-21T01:43:00.008-05:002012-02-11T20:42:30.220-06:00

Although the Karate Kid is indeed the perfect movie, it is not without its faults. Having looked at God's other gift to movie viewers already (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), I thought a closer look at the curiosities of the Karate Kid was long overdue. Let's jump right in with the beach scene early in the movie. As the Cobra Kai arrive on their sweet dirt bikes, Dutch loses his helmet as they come

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-89148947015513251772011-05-20T08:49:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:43:59.900-06:00

After digging out my A-Team and E.T. Colorforms sets last summer, my intention was to continue on through the storage container full of Colorforms and share some of the others. Almost a year later, I'm finally getting around to it. Maybe not all at once but here's a start. First off, let's take a look at the 1984 Street Hawk Colorforms set. This was likely one of the last (if not the last)

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-75071813336208245012011-05-16T21:07:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:47:00.962-06:00

About a week ago, my wife and I reduced our cable package to the bare minimum. While it's saving us about 70 bucks a month, it's also forced me to live without cable television for the first time since I was in high school. No more ESPN. No more Comedy Central. Just the networks, PBS, WGN, and TBS. That's it. So far, I'm surviving okay as the only thing I've really missed is SportsCenter. But

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-89107668576838935322011-05-11T01:43:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:41:25.204-06:00

Five or six years ago I taught a summer course for high school students about media literacy. The focus of my class was simple -- don't believe everything you see and hear. We looked at a wide variety of topics ranging from the ownership of media outlets to subliminal advertising. Among these topics, we took a hard look at marketing strategies used to reach specific target audiences and I'm

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-22820283458539972992011-05-10T01:43:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:47:00.964-06:00

The neighborhood I grew up in has changed a lot. All of the houses are still there and most of them still look very similar to the way they looked thirty years ago. But a majority of the families who lived in those houses are no longer there. Some have moved. Others have died. While my dad continues to do an excellent job maintaining his property and keeping it looking nice, it saddens me that

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-42977010836095334652011-05-06T06:11:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:36:16.185-06:00

Last Saturday I spent the majority of my day breathing dust and mold while working at a local used record sale. A huge success, by the way, as money made from the annual sale goes towards a local non-profit service which provides news and information to the blind within our community. Anyways, after a year of collecting donations and over a month of sorting and organizing, it was time to open the

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-88486750378705879252011-05-04T16:21:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.355-06:00

Welcome to any newcomers who may have found their way here by way of the Branded in the 80s Postcard Project. I hope you'll take some time to sift through this insignificant mess of a blog and stop by occasionally in the future. For those of you who actually read this blog regularly and haven't ever visited Branded in the 80s, it comes highly recommended from this pop culture junkie. Definitely

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-53492227211800794532011-05-03T01:43:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.030-06:00

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-60331198784622185822011-05-02T01:43:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.032-06:00

It's hard to pack so much awesome into three and a half minutes... Tomorrow, folks. Tomorrow.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-83770846975672190122011-05-01T01:43:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.034-06:00

On my basement walls, you'll find plenty of things to look at. Over my turntable hangs this (replica) poster from the 1986 tour featuring Run DMC, Beastie Boys, LL, and Whodini. Of course, I wasn't there. I was too busy turning ten.Another of my favorites all these years has been Cypress Hill. Imagine my excitement to see B-Real and Sen Dog hit the stage during a Beastie Boys performance on the

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-81578301878842200282011-04-30T01:43:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.036-06:00

As you may have seen back when I dug out all of my old pins that used to cover my Levi's denim jacket back in the late 80's, among other ridiculous "flair" there were two Beastie Boys appearances.  In addition to the buttons, take a look at this video from VH1's Hip-Hop Honors a few years back. If you can get past the first few minutes of Puffy Diddy P Daddy Diddy Combs, Mixmaster Mike does not

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-35711302204703519682011-04-29T01:43:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.368-06:00

How could I talk about Beastie Boys shirts without mentioning the one I probably wore more than any other?On a family vacation in 1987, I purchased a t-shirt that combined Beastie Boys style, Buckwheat, and all-around sixth-grade hilarity.In late 1987, I was pictured in the local newspaper for some sort of award -- of course, I was wearing the shirt that would make any parent proud.This shirt is

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-23957424657160779762011-04-28T01:43:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.039-06:00

Digging deep in my closet, you might find a Beastie Boys t-shirt that I wore regularly back in high school. To the left you see the "cool" kid that I was back in 1993. Cool hair. Cool beaded necklace. Cool LSU hat -- backwards, of course. Despite the high levels of stupid in this picture, it's all balanced out by an awesome Check Your Head shirt. While this particular shirt is cool and all, it

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-82396959694561737232011-04-27T01:43:00.006-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.041-06:00

With a long day of work ahead of me, let's start things off with something simple. Long after becoming a Beastie Boys fan back in the 80's, I got into the Kottonmouth Kings during the early part (and height) of their career. I was most of the way through my undergrad years in college when Royal Highness was released. I have to admit that I picked up this album based on hearing Suburban Life on

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-24239593794893207822011-04-26T19:35:00.005-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.043-06:00

One week from today the stars will align once again as a new Beastie Boys album hits the shelves. It's been four years since their last studio album and that one was an instrumental offering. You have to go all the way back to 2004 to find to the most recent Beasite Boys release featuring the rhymes of Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D. But a new album is here. This, my friends, is worth celebrating. On

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-79490604979423032102011-04-26T18:25:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:35:39.239-06:00

I realize Record Store Day was over a week ago. I promise that I'll let it go until next year...but not until after this one last post. You see, when I initially posted that Record Store Day was a 2/3 bust, that may have been a little bit premature. As I mentioned, I set out looking for three things on Record Store Day and left my local store with only one of the three -- and that was a copy of

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-43202404858456806142011-04-23T07:35:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:46:00.293-06:00

What looks like Cap'n Crunch but tastes like cardboard? Cap'n Crunch Crunch Treasures. That's what. As a lifelong connoisseur of Cap'n Crunch in its various forms, I couldn't have been more disappointed in this garbage. While Peanut Butter Crunch is by far my favorite, I have always enjoyed a change of pace with the classic Cap'n Crunch, Crunchberries, and even the occasional holiday themed

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-86728988430269724612011-04-22T09:45:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.045-06:00

Time to fill in some blanks created by the Beastie Boys trailer that went public a few weeks ago... Still some blanks to be filled.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-26913846452296810522011-04-20T19:36:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:35:39.242-06:00

What do you get when you show up for Record Store Day right when the doors open? You get yourself pictured in a local online magazine basking in your music nerd glory. The guy in the blue hat? Yours truly.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-72415023212872373802011-04-16T10:59:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:35:39.244-06:00

I'm pretty sure Record Store Day is one of my favorite days of the year, and at the same time, a day that I loathe. I love the idea of limited edition releases being made available in support of the nearly-extinct record store. But I hate crowds. Combine the two and you've got Record Store Day. Arriving at my local record store this morning exactly one minute after they opened their doors, I was

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-11349697854721145702011-04-13T20:02:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:36:50.500-06:00

I suppose this blog could be compared to the crossover episodes that used to be commonplace among prime time sitcoms. You know what I mean. Like the time Boss Hogg and Rosco showed up at Mel's Diner on Alice. I don't often mix the various websites and blogs that I am a part of, however, this being the closest thing that I have to a "personal blog," I feel like I need to break the norm and

TLnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-79811333430741993572011-04-09T22:10:00.004-05:002012-02-11T20:47:10.047-06:00

I hate to come back after a few weeks away with a simple video link, but this is quite possibly the most awesome thing I've seen since the discovery of Andy D.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-89096339194454390912011-03-14T21:16:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:42:30.225-06:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned noticing random and irrelevant details in movies that I've seen countless times. Here's another one from the Karate Kid. If you've seen the movie you'll remember the scene where Daniel first shows off his soccer talents to earn the attention of the lovely Ali Mills. But look closely. When Freddy goes to steal the ball from Daniel, it drills him right in the face.

TLnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-23881478787714694702011-03-12T14:01:00.003-06:002012-02-11T20:42:56.419-06:00

You know you had some childhood crushes. I did, too. Mine was defined by a show that aired on our antenna-received television on Saturday afternoons when I was eight. It was 1984 and Kids Incorporated had just hit the airwaves...and I was in love. Well...in love as much as an eight-year-old can be in love. Saturdays around that time included a few things: watching cartoons while wrapped in the

TLnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-60045133201305427252011-03-05T13:19:00.000-06:002012-02-11T20:43:11.232-06:00

In 1984, McDonald's introduced its first Lego Happy Meal promotion. Through this promotion, kids were given a small Lego set to keep them busy while they choked down their cheesburger and fries. What surprises me most is not that I still have all 15+ pieces from the one Lego set I got from McDonald's. More amazing to me is that I still have the instructions that came with it.  As you can see

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-71572468768812737822011-02-26T11:13:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:45:56.155-06:00

One of the many things I recall getting excited about as a kid was the annual run of prime time Saturday morning preview specials on each of the major television networks. Just before the new line-up of Saturday morning shows would hit the air, the networks would show 30-60 minute prime time specials featuring celebrities of the day and previewing the shows that kids would soon be spacing out to

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-67713504392233649172011-02-15T17:30:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:46:52.507-06:00

I'm pretty sure things don't get much more awesome than this.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-17191875620977324482011-02-08T20:45:00.002-06:002012-02-11T20:42:30.228-06:00

I'm an idiot when it comes to obscure details from movies that I like. I take notice of the most ridiculous things. For example, have you ever noticed the picture of a bunny-shaped cake that hangs on the refrigerator door in the LaRusso's apartment in the original Karate Kid? Yeah...um...me either. Speaking of these minor (but semi-interesting) details, after looking at the finer points of

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-25272225563588258372011-02-06T14:21:00.003-06:002012-02-11T20:45:43.637-06:00

After today, I will have lived through 35 of the 45 Super Bowls played. Looking back, is the Super Bowl really that big a deal? Sure it's the culmination of the NFL season and I'm sure I'd be much more interested if the Eagles were playing today, but when I think of Super Bowls past, not much comes to mind. Here's a rundown of what I actually remember... Super Bowl XII - 1988 - Redskins vs.

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-81309179928986167532011-02-04T04:15:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.415-06:00

Super Bowl XLV is knocking at our doors and I know everyone would love to have an edge when it comes to the office pool. Here you have it. Three of the most reliable sources of Super Bowl information that you'll find anywhere online. 1. Super Tecmo Bowl About a week and a half ago, I had the idea to find out the outcome of Super Bowl XLV by way of Nintendo's Super Tecmo Bowl. Then I watched Tosh

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-91049236547899954252011-02-01T17:37:00.000-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.418-06:00

What better day to get this mess revved up again than a snow day? Looking back at the start of this blog, the hiatus wasn't necessarily a result of my other blog as much as it was a result of my other blog in combination with being back at work for a new school year. Working in education, it's very easy to find time during two months off each summer to work on things like a nonsensical blog such

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-54086624206418785892011-01-29T20:41:00.001-06:002012-02-11T20:34:55.420-06:00

Wow! Has it really been four months! Why, do you ask, does a blog start so strong only to become seemingly abandoned for a third of a year? To focus on a different blog, of course. As you may or may not be aware, I have committed myself to recognizing and archiving the work of Fred Rogers (yes, that Fred Rogers) through an ongoing blog and website. My initial plan was to take a break from

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-34859139700480745812010-10-01T20:17:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:44:16.785-06:00

Sesame Street was a HUGE part of my childhood -- records, storybooks, stuffed animals, bedsheets. But best of all -- the Little People playset. In the 1976 snapshot below, looking beyond my brother modeling a Sesame Street pillow case around his waist, the playset can be seen on the floor just to his left. Produced by Fisher-Price in the mid-1970's, the Play Family Sesame Street playset was

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-31118632565366436352010-09-11T13:51:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:45:26.721-06:00

Christmas of 1984 brings to mind a ridiculous amount of memories. There was the electronics set my brother got (which I happened to buy for myself at the flea market this morning for $3). There was the audio cassette tape that recorded about an hour of the Christmas morning festivities in our house (which, of course, is still around). There was the other cassette tape filled with songs my brother

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-9898641968659072302010-09-10T22:19:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:42:30.231-06:00

You never know what treasures await around the corner. This is the idea that I take into the flea market that is held on a montly basis here in my area. I've been hitting this flea market each month for about a year now and I've only left empty handed on one occasion. Last month turned up a handful of late 70's Fisher Price Little People cars and accessories to add to my daughter's arsenal. But

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-40806824464027780132010-09-03T20:19:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:47:15.488-06:00

I grew up in a small town -- not much different from the one you might imagine John Mellencamp grew up in. Largely industrial and agricultural, my town lacked any culture other than its own and had about as much diversity as a loaf of Wonder bread. Although there was absolutely no urban element to my small town, kids there in the 1980s, just like young people all across the country, were

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-52398623146781210842010-08-28T17:19:00.004-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.433-06:00

Straying away from the typical theme of this blog thus far, I have to take a minute to hit on some things current. It seems as though when it rains, it pours. And when it comes to new releases from some of my favorite musicians, the same holds true. In addition to two DVD releases that will find places on my shelf, over the next month three of my favorite musicians, all from completely different

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-19582494683126155702010-08-24T20:47:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.435-06:00

This is how my mind works. For the past few days, the kitchen faucet has been making an unusual sound. Tonight I finally found a few minutes to take it apart and investigate. In the fifteen minutes that it took me to fix the faucet, without any effort at all, four different images kept popping into my head. First was Cliff Huxtable. Anyone who has watched the Cosby Show knows that Cliff thought

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-53873806564635292572010-08-15T14:04:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:44:44.281-06:00

After a handful of recent posts about E.T. memories from my childhood, Shawn from Branded in the 80's continued with the topic by talking about a few memories of his own. One of his posts was about the sequel book to the E.T. story we're all familiar with. The Book of the Green Planet follows E.T. as he leaves Earth and returns to his home planet. Intrigued by Sean's post, I was happy to find

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-50430919564576528382010-08-14T07:21:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.440-06:00

Apparently I'm not the only one in my family who's a pack-rat as I've recently realized that this is an inherited trait. On a recent trip back home, my dad and I pulled out a few boxes from the attic over the garage -- each box labeled with a specific year and full of receipts and paperwork from that particular year. One of my favorite pieces of paper we came across was from the 1984 box -- a

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-43696844763177718792010-08-11T18:57:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:34:55.443-06:00

New posts may be a little sparse for a few weeks as summer comes to a close and my tenth year working in public education gets underway. Oh....back to school....back to school...

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-43376298224194115272010-08-09T04:16:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:44:16.788-06:00

My daughter loves Fisher Price Little People which is cool because these were some of my favorite toys as a kid. And when I say she loves them, I'm not talking about the new Little People with all the fancy detail. I'm talking about the original no-arms/no-legs Little People. When she was old enough to play with them without trying to eat them, I got out my old Little People from thel late 70's

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-74698856449861170402010-08-05T12:58:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:46:13.010-06:00

I think a fair comparison would be to say that the Family Circus is like road kill -- no one really enjoys it but a person can't help but look at it. In the 1999 movie Go, characters played by Timothy Olyphant and Katie Holmes have a conversation that perfectly summarizes what is likely the most common perception of the Family Circus: Claire: What do you have against the Family Circus? Todd:

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-40788729581008967372010-08-03T04:16:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:44:48.800-06:00

I realize that most people who visit this blog are looking for reminders of their childhoods and my awesome artwork is less than interesting, but you have to realize how much time I spent with a pencil and paper in hand when I was a kid. The sketchs of Garfield and the General Lee from my childhood are too many to count, but when I come across gems like this, they need to be shared. I call it "

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-47925641157317208782010-08-01T13:02:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:40:45.706-06:00

Those of us who dig through boxes at garage sales and flea markets are always in search of that one item. You know what I'm talking about. It's usually something that's either impossible to find or is out there but only at a cost much more than any normal person would be willing to pay. Some of you who know me here on the internet through my other blog are aware of my fascination with the work

TLnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-71572159440741322522010-07-29T09:14:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:42:38.196-06:00

I've got a question. But first, let me take you through the thought process that led to this question. My wife and I were watching Mad About You recently (a show that one of us loves and the other of us finds mildly entertaining...figure that one out) and I recognized a woman playing a bit part in one episode as, Fabiana Udenio, the actress who played Alotta Fagina in the Austin Powers movies.

TLnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-38257653801423854342010-07-26T04:16:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:43:06.896-06:00

I had a Pogo Bal. And it didn't just sit in the garage and collect dust either. I was a Pogo Bal pro. The idea behind the Pogo Bal was simple -- step on with one foot, step on with the other, squeeze the top ball between your feet, and jump. Intended to be the 80's answer to the pogo stick, most Pogo Bal's found themselves doomed to a life rotting in the backyard grass. Not mine, boy. I remember

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-57285403901639373892010-07-22T12:14:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:46:13.013-06:00

The last stop on this E.T. ride brings us to a read-along record. I don't think this is one from my childhood but rather one that I picked up cheap at a garage sale or flea market in recent years.   This story is read by a young Drew Barrymore in her role as Gertie. She takes readers through a very abbreviated version of the E.T. story as told from Gertie's perspective. This gets a little bit

TLnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-18244887520434734782010-07-20T15:18:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:46:13.016-06:00

There are a few E.T. books on the shelf from back in the day as well. The first, I think, came from that same supermarket book rack where I picked up the three A-Team books. Published in 1982, this book was significantly above my first grade reading level -- but I didn't care. It said E.T. so I wanted it. I'm not quite sure how I got it though. Either I had an extra $2.95 in my six-year-old

TLnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-80417575245192738802010-07-19T04:16:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:46:47.231-06:00

After my recent post about the E.T. action figure, I kept thining about that missing Speak and Spell. A little digging and guess what I found... That's right. I knew it was still around somewhere. Moving on to other E.T. goodness... Christmas of 1982 was a pretty memorable one. In first grade at the time, I was at an age where Christmas was the highlight of my kid year and Santa was still

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-66568113770020655122010-07-17T16:14:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:46:41.503-06:00

Here it is. The Mr. T stamp that has been eluding me for so long. [Image courtesy of eBay] As you can see, the Murdock stamp is there, too. Unfortunately, this stamp will continue to elude me as there's no way in 1000 years I'd consider paying $100 for it. Wow.

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-6039819231858197232010-07-17T15:08:00.003-05:002012-02-11T20:46:47.234-06:00

I've been on an E.T. kick lately. A few weeks ago, I was back home and my brother gave me a toy of mine he'd come across in a box of his own stuff. Assuming that it had been lost to the ages, I was pretty happy to see that E.T. was still around and in one piece. This E.T. figure came with a small plastic Speak-and-Spell which I am still hoping will be found someday. In addition, a kid could

TLnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-47424793734997775552010-07-13T04:12:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:44:48.802-06:00

Last week I showed some of my fine artwork created in the early 80's by my five-year-old hands. Digging through that same box, I came across three more top-notch pieces of Dukes of Hazzard artwork created by yours truly. There's the General Lee... ...Bo and Luke... ...and another General Lee. It looks like there's a foot coming out the front of the General Lee but I'm pretty sure that's

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-55873198725798122172010-07-11T09:01:00.004-05:002012-02-11T20:46:41.506-06:00

A trip to a local flea market yesterday turned up a few treasures. In addition to increasing the size of my daughter's Little People army by 12 (the original choking-hazard Little People, of course...not the new ones), I also stumbled upon a new vendor who was selling stuff right up my alley. Passing on a handful of items which I'd love to have, I walked away with five Mr. T publications from the

TLnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-45159732516202056632010-07-10T04:55:00.001-05:002012-02-11T20:40:45.716-06:00

Probably around 1983 or so, my parents thought that my brother and I needed ventriloquist dummies for Christmas. Ordered from the annual Sears Wishbook, there were several for them to choose from. Laurel and Hardy (13 & 14 below)? The classic Charlie McCarthy (12)? Maybe Lester (11), the "wisecracking pal of ventriloquist Willie Tyler?" Apparently my parents did not want to take the classic

TLnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-31647547404867455192010-07-08T07:16:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:43:06.898-06:00

In 1986, Erno Rubik created a challenging step-up from the original Rubik's cube. Actually, he and Matchbox produced eight plastic squares held together by fishing line. The object of the Rubik's Magic Puzzle was to start with the image of three separate rings, make a series of folds to the puzzle, and finish with the appearance of three interlocking rings. Christmas of 1986

TLnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-81278476024042059192010-07-06T15:05:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:44:48.805-06:00

Shawn's done it again. Over at Branded in the 80's, his recent post featuring the MPC General Lee model has immediately conjured up some memories. Several months ago, I came across a box filled with old school papers and artwork from my childhood. Among the piles of papers was a really crappy drawing of the General Lee. I was probably in first or second grade when I made this drawing -- not

TLnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-44345986217681880132010-07-05T12:59:00.000-05:002012-02-11T20:44:53.141-06:00

As I've unearthed the Hardee's California Raisins and Tang Mouths, I also came across two McDonald's Changeables. These Transformer-ish Happy Meal toys were given away back in 1989 at the height of the original Transformers popularity. Seeing as how this was a series of eight toys, I assume my family only hit McDonald's twice during the eight week span when these were

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-82602925614679977182010-07-03T06:00:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:47:19.912-06:00

After digging out the Tang mouths a few days back, I thought I'd go ahead and knock out the Hardee's California Raisins as well. This promotion was a little more in line with the overall goals of Hardee's. While the Tang mouths were completely questionable in purpose, the California Raisins promotion helped shove countless cinnamon raisin biscuits down the throats of the average American -- and

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-82617122075028836392010-07-02T10:25:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:46:47.236-06:00

A few days ago when we took a look at my Blackstar collection, I mentioned that all of my Blackstar figures and accessories were long gone. My mistake. While it's not much, in the same way there are one or two tiny pieces left from my A-Team action figures, one small shield from the Blackstar figures does indeed remain. I'm not even sure which figure this shield came with but it is definitely

TLnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035655732187637545.post-4353378322234833452010-07-01T03:58:00.002-05:002012-02-11T20:44:53.145-06:00

Building off the success of the California Raisins figures from the late 1980's, Hardee's took their promotions one step further into randomness in 1989 with a set of four Tang mouths -- the character of the time used by General Foods in marketing the Tang breakfast drink. These figures were each available on a weekly basis at Hardee's for a mere 99 cents with the purchase of any dessert of order

TLnoreply@blogger.com0