Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

Friday Fantastic Four - Spring Portends

I was awakened - at 5 freaking 30 am - today by the sound of birds chirping outside the window.  After I shook the cobwebs from my head, I was actually fairly pleased to realize that if birds were back in town the spring can't be far away.

What are the 4 best things about spring?

1. Daffodils and tulips - As a kid, we had these flowers everywhere.  My grandfather bought them by the bushel at Frank's. At my last house, we planted hundreds of daffodils. The place looks great every spring.  I missed planting in the fall, but I have put it on my calendar for this year!

2. The Phils - Even after the disappointment of last year and the mysterious acquisitions of Ben Revere and Delmon Young, I am still excited by the sounds of spring training on the radio.  Can't wait!

3. Open Windows - I love to sleep with the windows open.  Winter in this area makes that pretty tough, so some fresh air will be welcome.

4. Marshmallow Peeps - While Just Born now has a year-round supply of marshmallow treats for us addicts, there is still something perfect about a Peep!

How about you?  What are you looking forward to about spring time?

Friday Fantastic Four - Oscars Edition

It's a big weekend around Another Delco Guy, with Jump Rope for Heart, a visit to the grandparents and the Seneca War Eagles Beef and Beer on tap for tomorrow.  Sunday it's time to settle in front of the TV to watch Danica in Daytona and THE OSCARS!

So the Oscars got me to thinking about best performances.  DeNiro in Raging Bull, Brando in On the Waterfront, Jessica Tandy in Driving Miss Daisy, Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Amazing performances by some of the best actors who have ever lived.

Which got me to thinking...

What are the best performances from otherwise bad actors?

1. Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson in 'Leaving Las Vegas' -  Cage is generally awful, thinking that YELLING a lot is acting, but this is a really nuanced, haunting role.
2. Brendan Fraser as Clayton Boone in 'Gods and Monsters' - Fraser may well be the worst actor on earth, but his minimalist approach to this role was impressive.
3. Ben Stiller as Chas Tenenbaum in 'The Royal Tenenbaums' - It's been all down hill for Stiller since this great job.
4. Helen Hunt as Carol Connelly in 'As Good as it Gets' - I've never liked her and she was passably appealing in this one, so I will give her the #4 spot.

Discuss quietly among yourselves.

Have a great weekend!

Friday fantastic Four - Time Travel

It's been a while, but I am happy to report that the Friday Fantastic Four is BACK!

Monday is President's Day here in the US, which got me to thinking a bit about history.  Wouldn't time travel be cool?

Assuming time travel existed, what time periods would you most like to visit?

1. The Wild West - how cool would it be to hang out with Butch Cassidy?
2. The Roaring 20s - Paris, flappers, speakeasies.  My kind of era!
3. The Renaissance - 15th Century Florence would be an amazing time to be part of.
4. The late 1960s - Flower Power, MLK, RFK, Vietnam, the Moon, Woodstock ... Sounds like a BIlly Joel song!

Everybody have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Light

It's kind of a gray morning here in the Philly area.  The color palette is subdued and quiet, almost drained of energy.  It's my least favorite light.  That got me thinking ...

What are your four favorite kinds of light?

1. Sunsets - It's a no brainer.  I love them all.  The Hazy yellows, the fiery oranges, smoky reds, the pastel purples and pinks.  Sunsets infuse everything with last light of the day and prepare us for tomorrow.
2. Moonlight on Snow - The bluish cast of moonlight on freshly fallen snow brings me a peace that I can't really explain.  Until I think about shoveling!
3. GE Reveal Bulbs - I know they are not good for the environment, but the light these bulbs give off just seems so perfect at home.  It's less yellow, colors, especially wood tones, look so much fuller.  The quality of light in homes has been going down a lot in my opinion, with too much harsh light from cheap CFLs. Nighttime outside is being spoiled by the horrid orangey cast of mercury vapor lamps.  Treat yourself to a few of these bulbs where you relax at home.  You will be glad you did.
4. Campfire light - Either from a back yard firepit, a fire on the beach or a real campfire, there is something magic about a fire.  The way the oranges and yellows fight back the enveloping darkness is one of my favorite things to see.

Anyway - kind of deep for the day before Cinco de Mayo, but let's hear what you think.  Have a great weekend and enjoy safely!

Friday Fantastic Four - Easter Candy

Hello all -

It's been a great week in the Region of Brotherly Love, with the Phils beating the Pirates yesterday, 1-0 to open the season, The Masters underway, the Flyers clinching a playoff date with the Pens and doughnuts in the office to celebrate a birthday!

But it's also Easter weekend for the Christians or bunny lovers among us. We have not finished the Halloween candy at my house yet, but it's time to hunt for eggs and check out what the Easter bunny left in the baskets this year.

What are your four favorite Easter Candies?

1. Peeps - absolute #1.  The ones covered in dark chocolate are pretty darn good too, but they don't get stale and chewy.
2. Jelly Belly Jellybeans - I've had a weakness since the Reagan administration when they were the rage and I would walk up to Kelly's Kandy in the Brookhaven Shopping center and scoop out my favorites into a plastic bag.
3. Cadbury Creme Eggs - They're a bit smaller than they used to be, and darn pricey, but oh so good.
4. Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs - Yeah.  I have a thing for marshmallow.

Have a great weekend of family, sports, observations and food!

Friday Fantastic Four - Dancing On Air

Tomorrow, a TV staple of my teenage years returns to the airwaves as WPHL-TV 17 revives 'Dancin' on Air' at 10 am.  The original show, much like its predecessor 'American Bandstand,'  featured local kids dancing to the latest 80s dance and pop hits. While I never appeared on the show due to my hereditary inability to dance, I do know several folks who appeared on the show.

The show helped make Madonna, Kelly Ripa, Duran Duran and others big stars and later went national as 'Dance Party USA,'. I was working as  DJ at the time and it was always great to see how crowds reacted to new music on the show.  While I will be busy tomorrow night for the new show's premier, I will definitely DVR it. 

All this got me to thanking about other things that I would bring back from my teenage years ...

What are the top four things you would bring back from your teenage years?

1. Pulsations - a great place to dance and party all night, but not as great a place to work!
2. Cruising In the Jeep - Top off, George Thorogood blasting, was a great way to start the weekend!
3. The Big Green, '77 Chevy - If Goot hadn't totaled it the day he bought it, the thing would still be running.
4. The Wharf - oh wait!  The Wharf still exists (Sort of)  And I was NEVER there as a teenager!

It's a big weekend for the Final Four, College Open Houses, Baseball Opening Days, Xfinity Live opening and so much more.  Relax and enjoy!

Friday Fantastic Four - Salem D3hoops Edition

I am down in Salem, Virginia covering the NCAA DIvision III Men's Basketball Championship weekend, so we have a Final Four edition of the Fantastic Four:

What Four Things Do You Love About the Final Four?

1. Senior Guards - They always seem to rise to the occasion this weekend, and I am hoping that this weekend is no different!  It's also great to have a senior all-star game where small college greats like Paul Kouvaris get one more moment in the sun.
2. Crazy Fans - From TitanQ to Mailsy to guys with wigs and army fatigues, it's a festival of fandom this weekend!
3. Great Coaches - I will put the guys in town this weekend up against most of the D1 coaching fraternity any day.
4. The Walnut and Bronze - It's why we're here!

Everyone enjoy the games and your weekend! Thanks to all the great folks at the ODAC, the Salem Civic Center, Mac and Bob's and Awful Arthur's for all your assistance this weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - March!

It's the first Friday in March.  March is one of my favorite months of the year, full of anticipation and ohpe for the end of winter and the start of spring.

What are your four favorite things about March?

1. Spring Training - It's pretty incredible how much news comes out of Florida every day about the Phils.  I am ready for Opening Day!
2. The Flower Show - America's premier flower show takes place right here in Philadelphia and it's always something special to see.
3. Spring Break - Two long weekends in a row and no students on campus is not a bad way to start the month!
4. March Madness - Whether it's small college conference championships this weekend, the D3 tournament the next three weekends or the Big Dance, this is the best time of year for college hoops!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Catholic High School Edition

While the Friday Fantastic Four is a day late, I have an excuse. Yesterday, pretty much everyone who went to Catholic school in the Philly area was watching our news feeds to see what the fate was of the high schools that a blue ribbon commission had recommended for closure.

The news broke yesterday afternoon and there was jubilation across the area as parents, students and alumni learned that all of the schools would be spared, though Prendie and Bonner will merge in order to survive. All of the FB posts, pictures of crying girls, biting commentary and emotion got me to thinking about my fore years at St. James in Chester.  And with those thoughts came today's fan four:

What were the four best things about going to Catholic high school?

1. Being part of something bigger than myself - We had a network, a brotherhood and even today, 17 years after Bevilacqua shut us down, STJ lives on!
2. Uniform skirts - Yes, I went to an all-boys high school, but whenever we could, we would get out early and shoot up to Cardinal O'Hara where the girls were!
3. Knowing every guy in my class - I graduated with 180 other guys.  I can honestly say that I knew every one of them, and probably knew every guy in school by name.  I'm not unusual.  Many of us are still in touch, 25 years later.
4. Having a celibate man teach us about the value of marriage - Phrases like 'allaying concupiscence' sure made us want to run out and get married, Fr. Brugger!

I feel great for everyone who helped save the Philadelphia area Catholic high schools from the chopping block, especially the Bonner and Prendie folks back home in Delco.  Congrats!

Friday Fantastic Four - I Love Philly!

So a couple weeks ago my Fantastic Four was on Philly things that I don't understand.  This week, I was driving though South Philly and realized as crazy as this town is some days, there is so much I love about it. Soooo ....

What do you Love about Philly?

1. The Italian Market - Seattle has Pike Place Market, New York has the Fulton Fish Market, DC has the Eastern Market, but none of them touches our own Italian Market.  Reeking of authenticity, this place has third-generation neighborhood shop-keepers alongside Amish purveyors and newcomers of all sorts.  The chaos makes this place worth a trip, even if you don't buy a thing.
2. The Restaurant Scene - With our own celebrity chefs, Kitchen Nightmares and Michelin Star drama and 13th St. Empires, we've got it all.  I like the diversity here.  You can get great cheesesteaks and hoagies, you can go ultra high end, you can hit a BYO, enjoy America's best beer scene or munch on tapas.  And then you can head out tomorrows night and do it again, because these ain't NYC prices.
3. City Hall - What's not to love about this place?  For years the tallest building in the city by gentleman's agreement, this is a COLOSSALbuilding.  We let protests camp at its base, watch Billy Penn pee when it rains, convince city councilmen not to jump from its heights and dress it up at playoff time.  Oh, and it's the center of government and a major city courthouse!
4. Manayunk - One of the first places I ever hung out in the city, it was where all the college kids came to town for fun before Old City was Old City.  I still like going back to the 'yunk after all these years.  I love the food, the beer, the bike race, the music, and yes, even the shopping.  Even when it floods, Manayunk comes back and makes everyone happy again next summer!

What do you love about the City of Brotherly love?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Grammys Edition

Sunday night is the Grammys, probably my least favorite show of the Awards Season.  It seems like there are too many average artists nominated and too many performances.  I know, the performances are supposed to be better than actually hearing these folks speak, but sometimes, I'd rather hear the speeches.

My list this week is heavily influenced by being in the car an awful lot with 11 year old boys and 8 year old girls.  We hear a lot of heavy-rotation, Top 40 stuff.  Thankfully, this was a great year for big-label, big artists with Britney Spears in a comeback, Pink showing more and more (musically), Katy Perry hot all summer, LMFAO party rockin' and soulful Adele on at least one of the stations 24/7.

What are your four best songs of 2011?

1. 'Pumped Up Kicks' - Foster the People - This one was everywhere last summer. Great lyrical story hidden behind the beautiful, haunting musical arrangement. I can't wait for more from them.
2. 'Rolling In The Deep' - Adele - Surely the most beautiful vocal performance of the year. I chose this one over her other mega-hit, 'Someone Like You' because it's not quite as needy.
3. 'The Edge of Glory' - Lady Gaga - Maybe the best '80s song ever. Even I try to dance ot this one.  Clarence Clemons' last performance is breezy and pulls it all together in the end.
4. 'Forget You' - Cee Lo Green - Funk Lives!!! I loved this song, both for it's unabashed homage to the 70s funkmasters, but also for the message.  Gotta love the lyrical nod to Mr. T as well. (Video is the clean version)

Everyone enjoy the music and the weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Weird Philadelphia

I have lived In the Philly region my whole life and I have to admit there are some things I just don't understand about my hometown.

What are the top four weird things about your home town?

1. The Mummers - I just don't understand the fascination.  Drunk, crossdressing union guys and banjo music?  What am I missing here? 
2. Wing Bowl - I wentto this bacchanalian event a few times as a young man, but I really didn't understand the draw of getting drunk at 5 am and watching guys eat so many cold chicken wings that they throw up.
3. Parking In South Philly - By all means, just stop your car in the middle of Shunk Street and run in to the deli to talk to Tony about that thing. Everyone will wait for you!  No problem!
4. Scrapple - Ugh.  Gritty processed pig parts.  If the diner grease wasn't enough to make you vomit, the texture of this Philly Phavorite sure will!

So what makes your home town special?  Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Friday the 13th

The observance of Friday the 13th is a classic superstition here in the US.  In Greece and some Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is seen as a day of bad luck.  While some people have a stress-inducing phobia of Friday the 13th, the folks at the Grey Lodge Pub see it as a cause for celebration!

What superstitions do you honor?

1. I still wish on my birthday candles!
2. I always put a little money in a wallet or purse I give as a gift to give good luck.
3. I believe in 4 leafed clovers and used to find them all the time in the yard in Moorestown!
4. When I coached, I had a lucky pair of underwear I always made sure I wore for big games.

Do you have any silly superstitions?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Favorite Tools

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Fantastic Four of the New Year.  I am helping some friends and relatives around the house this weekend. Last night I had to gather up my tools for the projects which got me thinking about all the tools I have and what my favorites are.  For your list, feel free to liberally define tool as anything that helps you complete a task.

What are your favorite tools?

1. My Makita LCT200W Drill/Driver set.  When I first used Bopper's version of this tool a few years back, I knew I had to have one.  Super-light, plenty of power and easy to use all day long.  At just more that $200, every serious handyman should have one.
2. My Stanley knife - One of my oldest tools.  Used for so long most of the paint is gone.  Easy to load blades, feels perfect in my hand.  I have bought a few knives over the years to see if they would feel better and I keep coming back to the old standard.
3. My HTC Thunderbolt - It surfs the web at blazing 4G speed, takes super 8mp photos, replaced my GPS, entertains the kids with Angry Birds, reads me my Audible books, has super traffic and weather apps and oh yeah it works pretty darn well as a phone too!  It's the Swiss Army Knife of smart phones!
4. My Wusthof chef's knife - A birthday gift from my brother and his bride afew years back, this knife is perfectly balanced, keeps a great edge and is a super all-around performer in the kitchen.  While my knife skills are not Food Network worthy, this baby gets it done for me!  It came in a set with a great bread knife and paring knife as well.

So what are your favorite little helpers?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Christmas Vacation

Today is my last day of work for 2011.  One of the benefits of working in higher education is the 2 week vacation around Christmas and New Year's. 

It's a great two weeks and gives me a lot of time off when most of the rest of the world is running hither and yon, trying to grab up last minute gifts and bottles of wine to take to holiday get together.  I get a week before Christmas to do all that I need to get done and then the next week to wind down.  There isn't any money to go somewhere warm this year, so I will be hanging close to my base.  I know you all don't get two weeks off, but if you did ...

What Four Things Are You Going To Do On Christmas Vacation?

1. Finish up shopping.  Yep.  Despite my earlier forays out into the shopping venues of Pennsylvania and South Jersey, I have procrastinated.  I have to make sure the piles are about the same and get a few more gifts and stocking stuffers.

2. Family Events.  While we won't have family visitors from afar this year, the locals will still gather.  My sister is the go-to person this year I guess.  I will be Swarthmore bound for Christmas Eve.  The Medford house is nice and cozy, but not really set up for large-scale family gatherings like the Mount Laurel and Moorestown houses were.

3. Lazy Days.  I have the kids a lot over Christmas Vacation, so there will be a lot of time spent just watching them play with their new stuff from Santa. 

4. Something for me.  If it stays nice, maybe some hiking.  If it's not so nice, I will have to find another way to stay out of trouble.  In the past I would always tackle some home improvement project.  I don't need to do that this year, but the days without the kids around can be tough, so I need to take some time for 'me' things!

So what are your Christmas (winter) Vacation plans? 

Have a great time this weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Outrageous Christmas Gifts

It's holiday shopping season.  I can tell because the mail guy at work is delivering boxes to every cubicle and the roads around every shopping mall are clogged from dawn to midnight.

So since you are out looking for ways to stimulate the economy, I thought I would give you my Christmas List.

What are your top four fantasy Christmas gifts for 2011?

1. The CR-V is getting a little long in the tooth, so I think a new car would be a good idea.  The Noble M600 isn't the fastest car in the world, but it's int he top 10 and is super slick to look at!
2. My Dell Laptop is 5 years old and also headed to the scrap pile someday soon.  I think a nice Toshiba 3D Blu-Ray laptop should be just what I need to do the blog for the coming year.
3. I might be the last guy in America without HDTV.  It's time to change that!  I know my brother loves his Toshiba, but for me the TV to get is a Panasonic!
4. Phinally - A pair of Phils season tickets are the way to go for my final gift request for the year.  The team is in flux right now, but who doesnt like going down to the park on a warm summer evening?

So what gifts are on your fantasy Christmas list this year?

Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Home Sick

Well I have been laid out by a cold, so after toughing it out yesterday at work,  I am huddled under a blanket at home today.  Hence, today's illness-themed Fan 4.

What four things are part of your home sick routine?

1. Won Ton Soup - This is my version of my grandfather's 'Jewish penicillin.'  If I was home sick as a kid, he would make a big pot of chicken soup from scratch.  It worked, but I never got the recipe, so I swear by won ton soup.
2. Iced Tea - Decaffinated Red Rose tea by the gallon.  It keeps me hydrated and I can still sleep.
3. The Couch - I have to get out of bed when I am sick.  I usually rest and relax on the couch, where I can at least feel like I got out of bed even if I am not doing anything else.
4. Patheticness - Yep, I am pathetic when I am sick.  I admit it.  I got through yesterday with the help of Sudafed, but today is all about me!

Everyone have a great weekend and stay well!

Friday Fantastic Four - Black Friday

It's Black Friday in America, that orgy of consumer excess that has shoppers pepper spraying each other over a $200 TV and people abandoning the Thanksgiving dinner table to eat dinner in line for the  Pod Touch 8gb that 728 other people are in line for ahead of you.

What are the four most insane things about Black Friday?

1. The 2,000 people in line at midnight at the Springfield Mall Target.
2. That I actually was out shopping in it. (Lasted a bit more than an hour!)
3. That the fire marshall actually thinks it is safe to put 1,200 people into a Toys R Us so stuffed with crap that you can only follow the person in front of you though the maze of aisles.
4. That it started at 9pm on Thanksgiving?

The kids and I are home enjoying the quiet finally.  I hope that you are enjoying some leftovers!

Friday Fantastic Four - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and I have decided to extend the fun by a bit!  What could be better than a holiday that is about cooking, eating, hanging out with family and watching football?  Yes, I understand that there is much more to it and I will cover those things in my annual Thanksgiving day post, but for now, let's just talk about the fun stuff...

What are your four favorite things about Thanksgiving?

1. Dark meat - yup - I love it!  Everyone else can fight over the dry turkey breast, I am a thigh guy!
2. Football rivalries - from the big local high school games to the Lions and the Cowboys, football has become as important to this holiday as cranberry sauce.
3. Gathering - it's the best part of the day, when people from all over converge before dinner, covered dishes or bottles of wine in hand.  This year we'll be at my sister's in Swarthmore.  Stop by!
4. Watching the women plan the Black Friday assault.  If this much planning had gone into the war in Afghanistan, the troops would have been home years ago!

I hope you are all getting ready for the holidays.  We've got a nice long weekend here full of dances and birthdays and school stuff.  Enjoy!

Friday Fantastic Four - Best War Books

It's Veterans Day here in the US the day we set aside to specially remember those who have served, fought and given so much for our nation.

So we've got a military-themed Fantastic Four this week:

What are the four best war books?

The Killer Angels – Michael Shaara - some of the best historic fiction ever written.  Wonderful dialog and a perfect sense of setting at the battle of Gettysburg.

1. All Quiet On The Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque - I remember the first time i read this in high school and how much it changed how I looked at war, the military and  the value of life.
2. The Caine Mutiny – Herman Wouk - A fantastic story, wonderful characters and writing.  Very believable war sequence and a great courtroom finale.
3. The Great Escape - Paul Brickhill - Maybe the greatest escape ever, the true story that inspired the movie.

Thanks to veterans everywhere who make it possible for my family and me to live safely and in freedom.

Friday Fantastic Four - Favorite Authors

We've been on a movie theme lately, but with Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham releasing big new books lately and Stephen King's much anticipated 11/22/63 coming out next week, I think it is a good time to switch to a book theme.

Who are your four favorite authors?

1. John Sandford - From his 'Prey' novels starring smartass detective Lucas Davenport to his new books featuring quirky Virgil Flowers, Sandford makes Minnesota interesting!  Maybe the best characters in the crime genre today.
2. John Feinstein - While he will never beat his debut 'A Season on the Brink' that took us all inside college basketball like no one ever had or will again, Feinstein turns out thoughtful sports inside stories nearly every year, showing us the heroism and frailties of the people we watch on TV every weekend.
3. Michael Connelly - Once again, an author who has had huge success with two characters, first LAPD detective Harry Bosch and now a bit player from that series has his own hit series as lawyer Mickey Haller keeps Connelly fresh.  His love for LA really comes though in these books.
4. Ruth Downie - A recent discovery for me, Downie is a British historical fiction writer whose novels feature a Roman doctor living in Britain in the second century.  Very interesting period detail, wry humor and complex plots make these a new favorite.

So who are the writers who will make you pick up a new release every time?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Cheesiest Movie Lines

I mean come on.  There are some really bad lines in some really good movies.  It amazes me that writers who can create such great work for 90 minutes turn into fools when it comes time for the film's climax.

This week's installment comes diectly from last weeks four best movie lines Fan 4 and was inspired by a friends suggestion that my #1 Cheesiest Movie Quote was actually one of the four best.  Ugh!

What Are The Four Cheesiest Movie Lines?

1. 'Nobody puts Baby in a corner.' -- Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle in 'Dirty Dancing.' I really love this movie, but this was they best they could do for the Bad Boy confronts the parents scene????
2. 'You had me at hello.' -- Renee Zellweger as Dorothy Boyd in Jerry McGuire.  This was a chick flick, but such awful treacly stuff should be reserved for the Hallmark Channel.
3. 'I'm the king of the world!' -- Lenardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson in 'Titanic.'  What a Titanically crappy line.
4. 'You're why cavemen chiseled on walls.' - Greg Kinnear as Simon Bishop in 'As Good As it Gets.'  Yeah we all say stupid things when we see a woman naked for the first time, but who brings up CAVEMEN????

So that's my top four.  I can think of a million more.  What do you have for the discussion?

Friday Fantasic Four

Ok.  We're back for week two of the revived Friday Fantastic Four.  I've been doing some movie watching late nights recently and decided that it's time for a movie-themed Fan 4.  This was one of my first Fantastic Fours, back in the 90s, and my tastes have changed some since then, so it's worth a re-visit.

What are your Four Favorite Movie Lines?

'We'll always have Paris.' -- Humphrey Bogart as Rick in "Casablanca"

'I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything.  I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed.  I don’t want to process anything bought or sold.  What I really want to do with my life, what I want to do for a living – is to be with your daughter.  I am good at it.' -- John Cusack as Lloyd Dobler in 'Say Anything'

'I think you will find these are the exact same dimensions as our gym back in Hickory.' –- Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale in 'Hoosiers'

'I hope when I am your age, I’ll be smarter than that. --- You sure are off to a slow start.' Bruce Willis and Paul Newman as Bruce Roebuck and Sully Sullivan in 'Nobody’s Fool'

There are a lot of great quotes in 'Casablanca,' but this one means a lot to me right now.  The Lloyd Dobler speech is his character's essence, and really sums up what being a teenager was in the late 80s.  'Hoosiers' has a lot of great lines too, but this one says to me, 'Anyone can do anything.'  'Nobody's Fool' is a beautifully written movie, easily one of my favorites.  Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis and even Melanie Griffith are masterful!

So what are your top 4?  Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Footloose and Movie Re-Makes

So the re-make of the 80s classic Footloose comes out today.  Kevin Bacon is nowhere to be seen, and there isn't a feathered, blow dry cut on any of the cast. 

The original was made just as I was starting high school, with all of the dances and hormones attendant thereto.  While there wasn't anyone who looked remotely like Lori Singer at a St. James dance, we sure wished there was!  Given its special place in my movie memories, it's pretty tough to see this one get re-made, which leads us to this week's Friday Fantastic Four:

What Are the Four Best Movie Re-Makes of All Time?

1. Casino Royale - Daniel Craig is angry, haunted and just freaking excellent. Maybe the best Bond movie ever.  The original was really a disaster - a send up of spy movies, not a real Bond.
2. Ocean's 11 - both were amazingly good films, Clooney isn't Sinatra, and there's no one like Dean Martin, but the rest of the re-make cast is pretty darn solid and it's a beautiful film to look at.
3. The Parent Trap - Lindsay Lohan as a cute pair of twins, Dennis Quaid as her clueless father.  A favorite of my kids and a few other folks I know.  The original stars a button cute Hayley Mills
4. Meet Joe Black - visually beautiful film with a really creepy plot.  Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt are scarily good.  Fredric March starred in the movie that inspired the 1998 remake.

Everyone have a great weekend!  I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to some downtime.

Friday Fantastic Four

I was fascinated this week but the outpouring af emotion over the death of Steve Jobs.  I had always considered him marketer, an organizer and not really a person of great substance.  On his death though, I found the sheer volume of his quotes from speeches and essays to be astounding.  My brother noted, "You have to wonder how he had the time."

Obviously, in retrospect, I was wrong on Jobs.  He was one of the most influential people of the last 50 years.  He made tech cool, revolutionized industrial design, was a game-change for the music industry and so much more.  The world will be a much duller, less beautiful, less classy place without him.

So, here's a Fantastic Four suggested by a loyal reader:

What Four People Accomplished More In The Last 50 years Than Steve Jobs?

1. Nelson Mandela - crushed apartheid, founded a new nation, changed the world.  A mega inspiration for Africa and the world.
2. Bill Gates - the anti-Jobs, created the operating system most of the world uses, uber geek now doing amazing work though his foundation.
3. Oprah - created a media empire, brought books to the masses, world is waiting for her next move
4. Mikhail Gorbachev - perestroika, glasnost, what more can you say? Had the courage to realize that the communist experiment was doomed and moved to free millions.

Jobs did a lot, but these folks did more.  Who are your four?

Friday Fantastic Four - Baseball Opening Day Edition

It's Opening Day here in Philadelphia for one of the most-anticipated Phillies seasons in my lifetime.  We've got four aces AND Joe Blanton.  We've got a giant new video board and dozens of games already sold out. 

While we will have to wait a few weeks for Chase Utley, Placido Polanco and Dom Brown, the Phillies Paithful are ready to fill Citizens Bank Park for this afternoon's opener.

What are your four favorite things about baseball season?

1. Taking John to a game or two.
2. Listening to LA and Scott Franzke on the radio.
3. Reading about baseball on The700level.com and not hockey.
4. Hoping for another parade.

I'll see you down at the bank!  Go Phils!!!

Friday Fantastic Four - Spring Break - Without Charlie Sheen!

Despite dozens several requests for a Charlie Sheen-related Fan 4 this week, I'm going to have to say no.  I mean what could the topics be?  Top four hookers Charlie has been with?  Top four drugs he's done?  Top four movies he's been in?  He hasn't been in four good movies.

Since it's Spring Break at the old workplace, and Da Boss is on Da Plane, I'm going Spring Traditional in topic selection this week.

What four places would you most like to go to spring break next week?

1. La Jolla, CA - Not so much for the golf, but for the warm breezes and the sunsets
2. Banff Springs, Canada - Soaking in a hot tub watching the Northern Lights
3. Rio - I've wanted to go to Carnivale since Demi Moore starred in the film classic "Blame it on Rio"
4. New Orleans - I've been there a bunch, but never for Mardi Gras.  I'll make it one year!

Everyone enjoy the warm weather in the northeast this weekend or where ever you are headed for Spring Break!

Friday Fantastic Four - Best High School Movies

As we continue the run up to the Oscars, our movie-themed Friday Fantastic Fours roll on.  There aren't many more fertile grounds for Hollywood than high school.  Pretty young people, teenage angst, fast cars crazy parents and teachers are all excellent grist for the movie making mills.

What are the four best high school movies of all time?

1. The Breakfast Club - the best of John Houston's 1980s high school movies.  The excellent cast can't even be hurt by the inclusion of Judd Nelson.  An inspired concept, great sound track, romance and laughs all in one great film.
2. Dead Poet's Society - a tear jerker that reminds us just how hard it is to be a teenager.  Robin Williams is spectacular in this beautifully filmed, but sad story set a private boys school.
3. 10 Things I Hate About You - Edgy Heath Ledger and super cute Julia Stiles are supported by a hilarious cast in this film shot at an actual Tacoma, WA high school. 
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Someone should have shot Matthew Broderick right after he did this movie.  He was perfect.  Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Ben Stein, Jennifer Gray and Charlie Sheen all fill in around the antics.  The most fun movie of this genre.

I really could have done another whole list on great high school sports movies, but I stayed away.  This week.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - The Best Character Actors

It's award show season.  Every Sunday night from here to baseball season will have some award show filled with B list celebrities on the way up, A list celebs on the way down and a pile of Kardashians trying to explain show why they are relevant.

We will have red carpets, Joan Rivers, the thanking of god, buddah, mom and that high school teacher who 'really knew there was talent in there somewhere.'  There will be inexplicable hosts, boring hosts, edgy hosts and has-been hosts.  and there will be a billion categories we don't care about.  Celebrity will be celebrated for celebrity's sake and darn near everyone will be over-exposed.

But there is one group of actors that I think don't get the credit they are due.  The character actors.  The folks who are so well-known for playing small, carefully developed roles that you know just the person they will be playing when you see them on screen for their first scene in a movie.  Often, they make the movie.

Who are your four favorite character actors?

1. Christopher Walken - I am not sure if he is acting or if he really is certifiable, but he's pretty darn amazing to see on screen. 
2. Phillip Seymour Hoffman - is you are looking for a guy who has problems, but is still sympathetic, you can't go wrong with PSH
3. Kathy Bates - has ANYONE every topped her in the 'middle aged, cranky but longing for a new life' category
4. Alan Rickman - what a great thinking man's bad guy.  from Die Hard to the Harry Potter series to Sweeney Todd, we is reasonable and thoughtful and scary as shit.

So who's your top four?  Have a great weekend and enjoy the red carpet!

Friday Fantastic Four

History is happening right now in Egypt as a popular uprising appears to have toppled the Mubarek government.  It's live on CNN and across the internet on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Which got me to thinking of all the history I have seen in my life. Thus, the Friday Fantastic Four is BACK, baby and back in a BIG way!

What are the four most historic events you witnessed or have lived though?

1. The Fall of the Berlin Wall - Nov 9, 1989.  This was arguably the biggest historical event in my life.  The Cold War came to an end, Millions tasted freedom for the first time and communism's stranglehold on Eastern Europe was broken
2. 9/11 - I was in New Hampshire and I drove home listening to NPR, marveling that our nation was so fragile.
3. The Challenger Disaster - January 26th, 1986 - I was in biology class when spaceflight was shown to be anything but routine and seven Americans lost their lives.
4. Barack Obama elected - November 4, 2008 - Our country did what many thought might never happen and looked beyond race to elect the first non-white president in our history.

How about you?  What are your top four?  There is certainly room for debate for folks of my generation.  The older set has some other amazing stuff to choose from.  What do you think?

Friday Fantastic Four

I've been traveling a bit this week, but I am home now.  So we've got a travel-themed Fantastic Four this week:

What are the first four things you do when you get home from a trip?

1. Kiss the kids.  Even if they are asleep.  It's hard to believe how much you can miss them in just a few days.
2. Go through the mail. Email keeps you up on just about everything, but there is somehting satisfying about seeing what has accumulated on the counter while you were away.
3. Use the bathroom.  I know - TMI - but it's just better at home.
4. Put the suitcases away.  Otherwise they will be there 2 weeks from now.

How about you?  What's your get home ritual?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

It's a Phillies Phriday in the cold and rain of October, but we've got bigger things in mind here at Another Delco Guy.

Thirty years ago, my dear brother came into this world.  One might say it's never been quite the same as it was before his birth. 

That's right, Matt is 30!

He's grown up from the little guy pictured above with his glow worm to graduate from college, travel the world, establish himself as a noted sports blogger and become a most favored Uncle. 

I won't go into all the gory details about how he used to keep me up all night rocking in his sleep, or how I taught him to throw that nasty Wiffle Ball curve he still breaks out now and then, but I will say this.  There are few people in the world whose advice and counsel means more to me that my brother's.  

But he's growing old now.  He has left his youth behind and bought the family's ancestral home.  He's begun to worry about things like his grass and new siding and the darn fool kids who blare their music until all hours. I'm sure he's got a bucket list somewhere that he's looking at and wondering how he will ever get to all these things in his waning years.  

Thus we're going to do a Friday Fantastic Four that is focused on growing old and what you have left to do. you might have done them before and need another taste, or they may be things that you just feel like you must do to fulfill your destiny (or density).

What four things do you most want to do before you can't do them anymore?

1. Visit Ireland and Poland.  They are pretty different laces, but they are part of me and I want to get there.  Sooner rather than later if possible.
2. Write that book.  I still feel like it's in there somewhere, but has lost its way.
3. Own a vacation home. Been there once, but it seems to be the quintessential mark of having 'made it' as an American.  I'd like to get back there.
4. See John and Emma become successes on their own.  It's a very fatherly thing, but nothing would please me more.  I'd give up the other three easily to see this one.

Happy 30th Birthday Little Brother!

Friday Fantastic Four

I took this photo a few days ago on one of my nightly trips to some home improvement mega warehouse outlet. It covers one of my points for today very nicely.

What four things don't you get?

1. Why the October magazines come in September. Similarly, why are Christmas decorations up and all the fall decorations gone in the stores while leaves are still green on the trees?
2. Why President Obama got a Nobel Peace Prize when seemingly nothing has been done to secure worldwide peace.
3. Why the [email protected]+ the Phils used 3 starters in yesterday's game.  I mean why are the bullpen guys on the roster if Charlie doesn't trust them???
4. Why I can't get Java on my Blackberry.  The Tour is a nice peice of technology, but this is pure silliness!

Have a great weekend!
 

Friday Fantastic Four

Well we all have moments that throw us for a loop.  I’ve had a few in my life, and each time they make me realize just what an unpredictable species we are.  Sometimes that makes life just a bit harder.  At the same time, it’s also one of the things that make the world a funny place.

What four things have surprised you most in your life?

1. That I would see the federalization of the American economy – and that a Republican would have gotten the ball rolling on the project.
2. That it’s so easy to get married and so hard to get divorced.
3. That concrete floats.
4. That we had a parade on Broad Street that did not involve cross-dressing union members and banjos.

Have a great weekend and GO PHILS!

Friday Fantastic Four

Earlier this week you might have seen the post I had about the display celebrating the coming of Autumn in front of Marc Vetri's restaurant on Spruce Street.  There was an array of flowers, a dozen or more pumpkins and a box of apples for passers by to sample.  Sadly some cretins smashed the pumpkins and stole the apples and we are left with only the flowers.

This pisses me off.  You've got a guy trying to do something nice for his neighbors and the community and some clueless jerk shows us his true colors by destroying it.  Classy!

So this leads me to this week's Fantastic Four:

What four things piss you off the most?

1. Senseless destruction - this one tops it all for me
2. People who spoil secrets. - just plain old mean
3. People who don't clean up after their dogs.  How about I come over and take a dump on YOUR lawn?
4. Littering - you can't wait until you get home to toss your Big Gulp cup? You gotta throw it out the window?

A bit of a downer way to start the weekend, but please go forth and enjoy!

Friday Fantastic Four

There's no looking back.  The window has slammed shut on summer and we're in full-on fall mode here in the Philadelphia Region.

I will admit I was hoping for a few more days of warm weather, but we will just have to wait until our annual late October Indian Summer.

It's time for an Autumn-themed Fantastic Four:

What are the four things you most like about fall?

1. Not sweating.  I like the warmer temperatures of summer in some ways, but there is nothing better than an afternoon drive with the sunroof open without having to worry about melting because of the heat and humidity.
2. Fall colors.  From the clear blue skies to leaves changing to the yellows and red and oranges of the mums to the incredible Halloween displays that will be going up on lawns across the nation, fall is the prettiest time of year.  I used to make sure I drove to fall conferences just to see all the colors.  With the kids it's harder these days, but I still want to get out and shoot some foliage this fall.
3. Fest beers.  While you seem to be able to get them earlier and earlier every year, my favorite style of brew is a malty, almost sweet fest style.  I've had two good ones this year so far and am looking forward to finding a few more.  Maybe at Blue Monkey's Oktoberfest.
4. Planting. I don't know how a kid from suburban Philly got it in his blood, but I love to plant and grow things.  It's said that Fall is for planting, and I have been trying.  I have some mums and pansies in the ground and some grass seed spread too.  Maybe a few shrubs next ...

So what do you love about the fall?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Loyal readers will know that my student worker Isaac has been helping out with the Fantastic Four this summer because I have been slacking.

Today, it's his turn to slack, so it's my turn again.  This week's list is inspired by the news that Josh Duhamel will headline NBC's remake of the classic 1970s TV series The Rockford Files.  I'm sure if you already know TRF is my favorite TV show ever, so #1 on the list comes as no surprise.

What are your four favorite TV Show Theme Songs?

1. The Rockford Files - They're updating the show to the present day, so the theme might not survive, but I sure hope it does
2. Cheers - who doesn't love the feeling of walking into you favorite bar or restaurant and having everyone say hello?
3. Hill Street Blues - the sad piano repetitions and jazzy guitar matched the show perfectly
4. The Dukes of Hazzard - Waylon Jennings was the narrator for the show and sang the theme for the show we all watched in

Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Things are a little crazy here lately, so this post had to wait until Monday at lunchtime.  Sorry for all the folks who stopped by over the weekend looking, but here ya go.  With GI Joe over $150 million worldwide in box office reciepts, it begs the question:

What are the four best action movies of all time?

1. Die Hard
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. The Great Escape
4. Braveheart

Die Hard defined big budget action for the late 20th century.  Raiders had it all, funny, smart, action scenes and a beautiful girl.  The Great Escape is the best story of the four and Braveheart is both beautiful and gut-wrenching to watch. 

I am a big fan of action movies, but not the mindless ones.  Let me know what's on your list!

Friday Fantastic Four

I'd like to thank my work study student Isaac for his contribution to this week's Friday Fantastic Four.  His somewhat edited narrative follows.  It should be noted that Issac is not an English major, but rather does something related to clay.  Or paint.  Or something visual.

Dear friends ,

It has come to my attention that a certain someone has neglected to notice our need for humor, sincerity, and above all else, sarcasm.  I know we all used to look forward to our Friday Fantastic Four, but due to the intense volume of work, crazy people and the absence of Chris, we no longer have anything to look forward to on Fridays except own own intense urges to leave work early and do whatever it is we do when we're not there (which is probably still "look at funny pictures of cats" for most of us).

I have decided to take it upon myself to re-instate the necessary venting and intense blathering we all used to love so much on Fridays.  Please don't thank me too much.  I'm just a patriot.

Isaac

What are the top four things you do when you get home from work?

1. Get a full run down on the kid's day at camp
2. Ferry John to practice
3. Eat a bigger dinner than I should and try to avoid looking at the Wii Fit
4. Try to identify to which of my rude neighbors the new dog poop on the lawn belongs

Anyway - thanks to Issac for the jump start.  Y'all have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Slightly Delayed

Ok, I know, I am late, but whew!  What a week!!!

I work in an office where most of the folks eat breakfast at their desk.  Some because it's all they can do to make it to work by 9 fully clothed, let alone having fed themselves.  Some because they spend the morning racing around getting kids to school or taking care of the animals, etc.  Some of us are just gluttons and eat at home and then again at work.

So let's do a breakfast-related theme for the week. 

What are your four favorite breakfast foods?

1. Breakfast pizza - with scrambled eggs, cheese, Bob Evans sausage mmmm!
2. Cap'n Crunch Crunchberries - I know, I know, but how great is this cereal????
3. Waffles - With real fruit on top and some hand-whipped cream - perfect
4. Cold Pizza - ok this is more of a 'back in the day' selection, but it;s perfect on a Saturday morning!

How about you?  What are your faves?

Friday Fantastic Four

We all know that the Internet can be a bit addictive.  Between micro-blogging sites, personal web sites and all of the places to get current news and sports, it's amazing anyone gets anything done at work.  So today's topic is about your personal net habits.

What four sites are you most likely to visit each day?

1. Facebook - Ok - I'm pretty much over the Twitter thing, but FB has me
2. The700Level - site run by my brother and his buddy Enrico.  It's the best Philly sports website out there.  Try it.  you'll agree!
3. Flickr - I take a lot of photos and I post them here.  It's great to see the work that others are doing too!
4. IMDB - I can't watch a movie anymore without using IMDB to see where a scene was shot or what else that guy in the background was in.

So what sites are you likely to be on when I walk by your cube?

Friday Fantastic Four

Back from a long Spring Break, the fantastic Four is ready for the Memorial Day weekend!

Ok – there are a scant 145 work minutes left before the beginning of summer.  Thus, we need a summer themed list.  Drinks?  Nah.  Been there done that.  At this point anything will do thank you.  Beach memories?  Not appropriate for the family blog.  Soooooo…

Name the Four Best Summer-Themed Movies:

1.  Summer School – Mark Harmon can act.  Who knew?  Kirstie Alley 200 pounds ago and  woooo-wee - Courtney Thorne Smith

2.  Meatballs – the best summer camp movie ever.  The stereotypical cast is perfect and Bill Murray is INSANE!!!

3.  Do The Right Thing – Spike Lee’s best.

4.  Stand by Me – beautifully shot, both touching and funny.  Crosses a ton of genres, and is still simply wonderful.

Have a great weekend and a wonderful summer!!

Friday Fantastic Four

It's Friday and it's the first day of my spring vac(stay)ation, so we've got a vacation-themed Fantastic Four.

What four things would you do for a non-travel vacation?

1. Plant flowers
2. Play with the kids in the yard
3. Sleep past 6:30
4. Catch up on some writing

What would you do with a week off and nowhere to go?

Friday Fantastic Four

My friend and co-worker Joe Manning is ... well I guess the best word is stoked ... for tonight's reunion show of Phish at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia.  He's hanging out with 75,000 of his brethren neo-hippies drinking beer and doing god knows what else down there.  He'll probably make it back to work by Tuesday.  He was so thrilled about the approach of this concert that we needed to tie him to his chair to keep him from floating away.  It's his 57th Phish show and he's been waiting nearly five years for the reunion.

Which got me to thinking ...

What Four Things Do you Most Wish Would Come Back?

1. The West Wing - great show that had rejuvenated itself only to wrap
2. Harrison Ford's acting ability - He just growls his way tough the parts these days.  remember when he was witty and charming?
3. Villanova playing its Big 5 games at The Palestra - 'nuff said
4. The inch or so of hairline I seem to be missing - I got it in the back, but the front is lacking a bit

Have a great weekend and enjoy the spring-like weather

Friday Fantastic Four

Well the Oscars are Sunday night.  I'll admit I watch the pre-show, but I am long in bed by they time they do the Best Picture award sometime after 3am in the East.  The pre-show's got it all from famous celebs dissing the host, to people you have never heard of, to Isaac Mizrahi feelin up Scarlett.  You have to wait for the actual show to start to see major stars slurring their way through speeches and the more banal and mundane remarks interspersed with interminable montages of people who we thought had died years ago.

But I digress - what we're really here for today is to ...

Name Your Four Favorite 1980s Movies:

1. Hoosiers - Wonderful story, beautifully shot, good sports sequences and Gene Hackman actually acts rather than just shouting
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Plenty of action, tons of humor and a pretty girl.
3. Some Kind of Wonderful - Mary Stuart Masterson AND Lea Thomspson in the SAME movie.  What could be better?
4. Stand By Me - How good were Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix in this?

See that wasn't that hard, was it?  Enjoy the show

Friday Fantastic Four

It's Friday the 13th.  Some folks have an unreasonable fear of this day.  It doesn't bother me, but I do have some odd fears of my own.

What four things are you afraid of?

1. I am terrified of water.  I can't swim and my nickname at the pool as a kid was 'leadbutt.'  Thus, there are some issues.
2. I am afraid of dentists.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they use pliers and flames and things.  In your mouth.  Barbarians!
3. Heights and I - Uhh not so much.  I want to not be afraid, but my body just isn't willing.
4. I am afraid of dementia.  I have spent all this time honing my brain into the incredible tool that it is and I don't want it dissolving into mush.

So what things scare you?

Friday Fantastic Four

All the Facebookers out there know there is a 25 Things fad flying around right now.  Basically you tell the world 25 random things about yourself and tag 25 friends to do the same thing.

Problem is my attention span is way shorter than 25 items.

So I'm putting the 25 Things About Me on a bit of a diet and making it into a Fantastic Four.

What Are Four Things That Most People Don't Know About You?

1. I hate Christmas ending. My lights are still up outside.
2. I had to take Spanish three times in college before I passed it.
3. I sometimes wish I had gone into a profession where I could get rich.
4. I go weeks at a time without getting a good night's sleep.

All right folks - let it all out!

Friday Fantastic Four

It's the new year and we've had a few days to break our new year's resolutions, so I thought I would do a Fan 4 based on the hopes we all have:

What four things are you most hoping for in 2009?

1. Another parade on Broad Street
2. Spending more time with the kids
3. Getting better at taking photos of people
4. The end of the economic mess

How about you?  What are you hoping for? 

Have a great weekend!!!

Friday Fantastic Four

I love massive projects.  The Big Dig?  Incredible!  I can watch shows about it all day long.  Well.  Unless the show is about this.  I also think that big public works projects, when well-planned and not subject to political whim are generally good for society.  This country has a history of doing it BIG.  But recently, many of the world's massive projects are being done overseas.  Some of that is the NIMBY nature of folks here in the US.  Some of it has to do with ill-informed media naysayers.

I think what our economic crisis needs is some massive construction projects.  Thus, this week's Fantastic Four:

What four BIG projects would you like to see completed?

1. The American Commerce Center in Center City Philadelphia.
2. A Big Dig-style project that would bury I-95 though Philadelphia and re-connect the city with its river.
3. A network of off-shore wind turbines for clean, safe power
4. The soccer stadium in Chester

How about you?  What would you build?

Friday Fantastic Four

A regular reader has reminded me that it is Friday and thus there should be a Fantastic Four post.  I considered taking the day off.  Based on the roads in South Jersey, everyone else did.  But my duty to my hundreds - err uhh - dozens umm more like several loyal readers has won out.

Since many of us are now sitting on the couch recovering from Thanksgiving, or like me, recovering from collateral effects of living near a mall, I will go with a Thanksgiving theme today.

What are your four favorite things about Thanksgiving?

1. That it's a non-religious, or at least a-religious holiday.  No pressure to get up early and get to church or anything.
2. That it's entirely permissible to say "I'm gonna get me some dark meat today!"
3. That I've got Friday off!
4. That America has turned yet another holiday into an orgy of gluttony, televised sports and shopping.

Go have a turkey sandwich!  And get me one while you're at it