Three Stooges

don't try this at home kids

giving it all away

Roger Daltrey produced his first solo album during a hiatus from The Who's touring schedule. Self titled 'Daltrey' (1973) was the first of his eight solo albums.

My brother had this on 8-track. I have not heard these songs in over three decades, but I remember each song clearly.

I didn't know until reading up on Wiki that this album introduced the song writing talents of Leo Sayer.

Roger Daltrey to me is one of the finest vocalist in rock and roll history. This was a good album, but like most of you, I enjoy him best when he's fronting the rest of The Who.

fistful of hulu

For those of you who don't have a copy - Leone's spaghetti trilogy is now on Hulu. How cool is that? Truly great westerns for those of you who have yet to experience them. I can't tell you how many times down through the years I've watched each of these films, Fistful of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly.

I own the DVDs. You can get them pretty cheap at Walmart - $5.00 or so. I watched The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly a few weeks ago. There are some deleted scenes (in Italian) that are well worth watching. I don't know what it is about these films. I will never grow tired of them.

Asbestos (1959)

Asbestos makes an important contribution to our time!

Asbestos, a matter of time! (1959)

Terrific stuff asbestos. This amazing material will outlast anyone who ever owned a home built with asbestos wall boards, floor tiles or roofing shingles (etc). Asbestos products come with a lifetime guarantee!

thanks

I was listening to some of Rush's show yesterday as he talked about the Boy Scouts. It brought to mind not just the good memories, but many of the things Boy Scouts taught me. I was a member of Troop 54 up on Noccalula Mountain. Milton Smitherman was our scoutmaster. He was a sweet fellow. Both he and Johnny Bryd are gone now. Johnny participated in a great many of our outings. I had some great friends back then: James Harp, Mark Condra, Jim Young, Kevin & Dean Smith. I didn't make it to Eagle - perhaps I should have - I was too busy having a good time. I did make it to Star. The levels just didn't really matter to me back then. I was focused on being with my buddies and all those exploits. I appreciate the scouts, what they did for me all those years ago. Thanks Milton.

The Scout Oath On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

MST3K

Funny excerpts from Mystery Science Theater 3000 commentary of Prince of Space.

for those who missed Candy

The first time I saw John Candy was in the television show SCTV. The show was just as funny, and at times even funnier than Saturday Night Live at it's best. SCTV was consistently funny. As we entered the eighties, the Second City crew started getting parts on the big screen. John Candy was probably the most successful of SCTV cast.

I miss John Candy, probably more so than I do John Belushi. I wish he were still around. Those who knew him said he had a heart of gold. I can believe that. I could always identify with John, he just had this likable-vulnerable-everyman way about him. There are not many movie stars that I'd care to have over to my home for a visit. John Candy would have been welcomed.

If you're reading this blog and have yet to discover him - go rent 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' (co-starring with Steve Martin) or 'Uncle Buck' (both John Hughes films). Another John Hughes film that both John Candy starred along side Dan Aykroyd was a comedy called 'The Great Outdoors'. The first movie I remember seeing him in was 'Stripes' (with Bill Murray).

I also enjoyed the Carl Reiner movie which starred him 'Summer Rental'. The other Reiner film that John Candy co-starred in was 'Space Balls', a spoof of Star Wars. There were a lot of great comedies to come out of the eighties. John Candy starred in many of them.

Not all his comedies were blockbusters. His last picture, 'Wagon's East' was the worst. John Candy died during the filming and his presence was replaced by a double. I am sure that if he had lived, the movie would have been funnier. Some of his movies were not all that funny - but I always liked seeing him at work. He was a likable fellow.

the ghosts of Halloweens past

Gina and I took our six year old Kelsey out on Halloween night. Katie is now a young teenager and spent the evening with other 13 year old girls partying the way young 13 year old girls party - pizza, games, silliness and giggling.

I painted a clown face on Kelsey's small features Saturday evening. She's a beautiful little girl and made for a sweet little clown. Gina manned the wheel and we hit four 'Trunk or Treat' events at churches. We also drove down some neighborhoods and did some Trick or Treating the old fashioned way. I enjoyed walking down the streets in the night holding my little giddy girl's hand. She was so excited and enjoyed every minute of the evening. This was the part of the evening that I enjoyed the most.

True, a kid can score big at Trunk or Treats - but Trick or Treating is so much more fun. Trunk or Treats are safer - but Halloween just isn't quite the way that it used to be when I was a kid. I remember all my siblings venturing out around the neighborhood going door to door. It was a different experience.

We used to just venture out on foot until Brook started driving. This enabled the young Finlayson ghouls to cover more territory. We'd Trick or Treat until porch lights went out. We'd keep going until all the light available came from street lights and the full moon above.

The last Halloween I remember going out to Trick or Treat as a kid - we all went around the neighborhood piled in and onto Brook's MG (Maggie) convertible. I guess I was in seventh grade. I was dressed as a vampire - feeling for certain that it was my last haunt.

Good times.

Now Halloween is stretched across the county as well as an entire week. Trunk or Treats during the week - even on Sunday! I guess if I were a kid, I would have liked that idea. I know that my father would not have approved. On Sunday!?! There is something missing today, then again, maybe it's just that I am a grownup. My child enjoyed each moment like I used to - that's all that matters.

Good times.