Thursday, December 30, 2010

Beat Writer: Doug Dennison - In the Flesh

My Guardian Angel

We all have someone looking after us.

Whether you believe it or not, I feel at least once in your life you will experience an event where someone or something will show up right when you need them.

When I was the tender age of 25, I, Doug Dennison, met my Guardian Angel in the flesh.

The event unfolded as such....

It was a crisp October evening in the great city of Chicago.

I was walking away from my place of business on Michigan Ave getting ready to cross the busy street at the corner of Michigan and Pearson. With ear buds in place and iPod in hand, my eyes were transfixed at finding the perfect song to travel home with.
As I stood at the street corner still scrolling through songs and waiting to walk west across the street, I felt a presence approach me and take their place a few feet behind me.

Without looking up and noticing with my keen peripheral vision, the walk light turned from red to green. At a gunshot like reaction my body was ready to follow my first left step.

At an even faster pace then my gun shot reaction, I heard an angelic, yet vaguely familiar voice yell out "Whoa Man!" which stopped me right in my tracks. As the voice continued to ring through my ears and above the volume of my chosen song, I looked up and noticed a bicycle messenger passing by, just a few inches from where I should have been at that moment.

As I turned around to hear the voice and thank him for stopping me in my tracks, my adrenaline pumped knowing I had just avoided massive injury. My head completely turned at the moment I looked the man in his eyes, recognized exactly who he was and said, "Thanks." He plainly shook his head in gratitude.

As I walked away from the avoided dangerous situation I realized I had just met my Guardian Angel.
And to this day, almost 4 years later, I will always thank Billy Ray Cyrus for saving me from harm.

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Monday, December 27, 2010

MUSIC: Download Black Keys and Big Boi

Spin has up on its website a really impressive mashup of Black Keys and Big Boi. I highly recommend checking it out and downloading it to your tape deck.

I've embedded the eight-track mashup. Please head over to Spin.com to get the full lowdown. Link below.

The Brothers of Chico Dusty (Big Boi vs. The Black Keys) by wick-it

Click here to check it out on Spin.com

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Holidays! Holidays!



With the holidays approaching and gifts being opened, there is still one gift I won't be able to open until Jan. 20. That is of course when Parks and Rec comes back from its hiatus. And by hiatus I mean giving up its time slot to Outsourced. I'm excited for this show to come back. It is easily among my favorite comedies and favorite shows all together. The leap from season one to season two was tremendous in writing, acting, plot and not trying to be the Office - which was a great move.

I'm still amazed how NBC can't market this night of television and its television stars better. I mean, Joel McHale, Baldwin, Poehler, Fey, Carell (for the time being). The network has a handful of some of the funniest people on one night and never hammer home that fact. Baldwin is just great. Poehler and Fey had huge 2008/2009 years due to SNL and elections, Carell is a legitimate movie star, McHale has a great following because of the Soup. I just don't get it. Oh wait...sorry, William Shatner is on CBS right now - I got to go!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

MUSIC: Back to the Front



I'm very eager to share new music with all you that sometimes I forget to share my favorite music I've listened to for years. Here is that example. There are times my iPod just perfectly shuffles the songs and playing this song on the CTA at night was that. Here is Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back and Forth.

Also, please enjoy another Four Tet - Hands.

And who could forget this little number. Click to find the mystery song.

Move Over Clark Griswold

Conan unveiled his set decorations last night and I have to say that this was one of my favorite bits he's done on his new show. Next year I will definitely try talking the Mrs. into putting a giant inflatable chicken sandwich in our place.

Friday, December 17, 2010

MUSIC: Jam On This



Let this one ride in you CD player for a couple of spins and let the party take itself to another level. Not a lot of writing for my posts today - the music is speaking for itself. Enjoy this fun song.

Note: to enjoy this song to the max please follow these steps: 1. pop open a bottle of cheap chardonnay 2. put on your best umbra shorts 3. dance, dance

"Cancel my appointments."
-"What appointments?"
"Wishful thinking."

Fri Fri Fri Friday! (Part 2)



Enjoy your Friday! I wanted to include a song from a band I was lucky enough to see live by accident, Suckers. I went to a show and this awesome band opened up. Enjoy! Also, as I write this, I'm looking directly at a poster for one of my favorite movies Man on Wire, so I wanted to include the trailer for the Academy Award-winner for best documentary. Go watch this movie! Right after you watch an episode of COMMUNITY!

Fri Fri Fri Friday!

"You don't have to tell me what day it is, it's Fri Fri Fri Friday! Party. Time. Weekend. Beginning. Now! It's Five ooooooooooo' clock! (Steam whistle) Quittin'. Time! (Steam whistle) Let's. Get. Cookin'!" (Cue Loverboy - Working For The Weekend)

Now that I've confused all of you...

Chet has been a big fan of Jenny Lewis for a long time and I have to say I'm quickly becoming one too, however, I didn't love her performance on Conan last night. She's the lead singer of Jenny and Johnny, Rilo Kiley, and she costarred in the 1989 adventure hit The Wizard with Fred Savage.

Here's the song that was performed on Conan last night, after hearing the album version it sure has planted itself in my head.

Monday, December 13, 2010

From the Mrs.

The little lady shared this with me today and I realized it's been a while since I've done a "From the Mrs." post. "Let's Fly!" - Gordon Bombay



And as an added bonus I thought I would share one of her favorite montage clips.

Friday, December 10, 2010

We Have Confirmation!

Chet said it earlier this week and now we have confirmation, Community has been named the best show of 2010 by multiple sources. However, I do have one question for both lists, where the hell is Friday Night Lights?

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New York Magazine Top 5 Shows
See the Full List
1. Community
2. Mad Men
3. Terriers
4. 30 Rock
5. In Treatment

Buddy TV Top 5 Shows
See the Full List
1. Community
2. Lost
3. Breaking Bad
4. Chuck
5. The Vampire Diaries

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Let's Be Clear: Problem Solved

I think we can all calm down after that wonderful BREAKING NEWS we had today. The new banner does look and feel great. I think it brings out the best in us. That being said, I think it is time we do some real hard-hitting pieces. Some earth shattering stuff. So hear I go: With my first edition of "Let's Be Clear," I'm going after the airline safety manual. I don't know if anyone else has stumbled across this gem, but I did on a domestic flight from Chicago to Dallas (I felt like I needed to add domestic flight, to be fair I've never taken anything other than a domestic flight). But here is what I stumbled across. I never knew why I was so afraid of flying when I was a little boy, now I know. I am so glad I never sat next to this guy who is forcing this boy to do something naughty.

BOY:
"Mister, the flight attendant was right, the bag isn't filling up with air."

CREEPY MAN WHO SAYS HE IS FLYING FOR 'PLEASURE':
"Ahhhh...Trust me, it's working"

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BREAKING NEWS: NEW BANNER IS AWESOME

It's winter, It's dark, it's cold. Boom.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Movie Convo: The Butcher

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If you are ever in need of a "Guy's Night" you should sit down and watch The Butcher. Full disclosure: I haven't seen the entire movie, but the clips and scenes from my DVR have left me speechless and have been playing on a loop for a few weeks now. I don't think I have ever seen this good CGI of someone driving in a car in my life. I mean, I truly feel like I'm in the car with Eric Roberts and there is a loading dock through the window. The fighting moves equal Jason Bourne. The dialogue is rapid fire that the actors deliver with ease. To go-out-on-a-limb, this movie might surpass Tripfall (that's hard to do). But this movie - according to IMDB - came out in 2009, making this Eric Robert's follow-up to The Dark Knight. I'd say equal playing field. Please enjoy this movie! Next up: Blown Away.

Editor's Note: I will go into much deeper discussion on Tripfall at a later date. That movie might require its own blog.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Best Show On TV



Think the title pretty much sums it up. Hope you all enjoy this great show, and if not please start watching.

"Stargate's better!" -- I definitely spit my drink out when the guy said that line walking away from Abed. Cheers!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

15 Dollars In a Jukebox



There was no way we could get by without posting this gem. Last night we enjoyed a night out - dare I say a staff Holiday Party? - and this song was bought multiple times. We completely owned the jukebox for hours. I'll post the my bar set list soon. Keep posted. But in the meantime please in enjoy.

Back To Old Self



I can't get to my sites! For whatever reason, I was having most difficult times trying to post on to this great blog. But I've switched browsers and all is back to normal! So nothing says back to normal like a remix of an old Nat King Cole song!

I hope it isn't constantly snowing wherever you are reading this.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Just Because it's Awesome

Watch. That's all.

Rhapsody!

I thought about it for a long time and I finally did it, I canceled my Netflix subscription and traded it in for Rhapsody. I'm not sure why I didn't take my brother-in-law's advice sooner? It's the best way to listen to music at work. Here is one of the songs from an album I've been listening to.