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!