Chad Chandler

Home Theater/Computer Advice Bleg

Chad — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:08:30 +0000

I need some IT help, so I contacted the folks at Popular Mechanics with a question that I think would make for a good story. In the meantime, I thought I’d post it here in case any tech-savvy readers stumble by.

Here’s the email. I can’t be the only person asking this question, can I?

Dear Editors: Technology is finally getting to the point where I can merge my PC/TV/DVD/etc… and I want to take the right steps to build a quality home theater/computer for the least expense possible.

My Current Situation: I’m an avid Netflix user and have Charter digital cable with DVR. I currently have a Dell laptop through work and I’m planning to buy my wife a netbook to use around the house. Our old Dell tower (running XP) is filled to the brim with music and pictures. I have a Droid phone and my wife has an iPod touch, so we rarely use the home computer for ad hoc internet browsing anymore. It’s basically a digital filing cabinet at this point.

My Future Situation: My wife told me I can buy a HD flat screen TV if I lose some weight (I’m very susceptible to bribery), and I expect to buy one before this fall. My old DVD player is on the fritz, so It’s time for me to get a new DVD player too. Also, I’m putting off buying a new computer or extra hard drive until I know what role it’ll play in the new entertainment center. My A/V and surround sound system still work fine.

My Question: I’m planning to move all of our electronics to a credenza (which I’ll build) in the den/family room. What combination of gadgets do I need to buy to have a fully functional home entertainment center? On my new TV, I want to be able to stream Netflix movies, watch HULU videos, shop for media and products on Amazon, browse through my digital music library, and do work on Microsoft Office files if I have to. Naturally, I want it all networked with my other devices and I want all my data backed up on a regular basis. I’m not quite ready to give up cable for purely online media, so I’m holding onto my cable connection for the time being. But that might change when more sports are available online. What should I do?

Obviously, we’ll need to buy a blu-ray player that also streams Netflix videos. We’ll also need a wireless keyboard and mouse to use in the den. For the rest, a friend recommended attaching a cheap Acer netbook and external hard drive to my new TV to provide an internet connection, operating system and storage for all of our pictures/videos/music. Not to sound too critical, but that seems like a ‘duct-tape solution’ to me. The little netbook would be open and running 24 hours a day, emitting light from inside the credenza and heating up all the other electronics.

Is there a cheap tower I can buy that’ll have Microsoft 7 (and hopefully Microsoft Office) already installed on it? Also, despite the iPod, we’re PC users. I’ll change my OS if I have to, but that’s an awfully small corner to paint ourselves into if you ask me. Anybody have any tips? I’m not looking for perfection. I’m looking for a cheap and effective solution.

Top 25 Sports Movies Of All Time (& 50 More)

Chad — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:56:03 +0000

I’ve always been disappointed in other people’s lists of great sports movies. After thumbing through the movie database in my brain for a recent post, I decided I’d compile my own list. To begin, I decided on the criteria. I tried to be objective and strip the films of personal nostalgia and cultural hype. I don’t think average movies should be included on the list just so some of the more obscure sports can get a mention. My list is all about quality entertainment, not equal opportunity.

The films have to revolve around a single sport and must include a decent amount of playing time in order for me to consider it a true “Sports Movie.” For example, Tin Cup is obviously a sports movie because of the plot and playing time. The Sandlot qualifies as well, but barely. In contrast, Resurrecting the Champ revolves around boxing but isn’t a sports movie in my opinion. Neither is The Black Stallion, even though it concludes with a horse race. Anyway, here’s the list:

Top 25 Sports Movies of All Time:

Honorable Mentions (Or, 25 more, with special attention to obscure sports):

Victory

Movies That Have a Place In Our Hearts (Or, a little nostalgia never hurt anyone):

That’s my list. I guess the most important selection/ranking criteria for me was… If I’m watching TV on a rainy Sunday afternoon at 3:37 pm and a game is coming on at 4:15 pm, I’m probably flipping through the channels looking or something to watch until the game comes on. If I stumble upon a movie in the first tier, the odds are close to 100% that I’ll put down the remote and probably forget to change it back in time for the start of the game. The movies are that good. The same situation plays out for the remaining films, but the odds go down for each tier. Does that make sense?

I should add that I omitted several titles on purpose. People always say that they love movies like Chariots of Fire and Raging Bull. That’s probably the cinematic equivalent of Nielsen testers lying about watching NOVA on PBS instead of American Idol on FOX. This is what comes to mind when I think of Raging Bull. Movies like that simply aren’t very entertaining. As a result, they’re not on my list.

Still, don’t assume that because a movie you like isn’t listed here, it means I didn’t consider it (although it might). This isn’t a database of all sports-related films. There are also plenty of Almost Sports Movies, like The Champ, The Eiger Sanction and The Hurricane, but I just didn’t think they qualified.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my criteria and my selections.

Italian Beef Sandwiches & Sweet and Spicy Cole Slaw

Chad — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:41:34 +0000

The wife and I are enamored with our new Sunday treat, the Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich.

If you’re not familiar with this heavenly mess, think of it as the bastard offspring of a French dip and a Philly cheese steak. Watch this video for more information. There’s really no place locally to get these sandwiches, so I’ve been experimenting at home with my crock pot. There are several recipes online that have merit, and I’ve pieced them together to formulate my own method.

Slow-Cooked Italian Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients:

2 cans low sodium beef broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 (.7 ounce) packages dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 tablespoon each low sodium soy and Worcestershire sauce
1 (2.5 pound) chuck roast (look for a roast with little fat)

Directions:

Rub coarsely ground pepper on the meat and sear it in a pan (with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter). Don’t add any salt; there’s already enough in the sauce. While the meat is browning, combine the beef stock, water, oregano, basil, parsley, garlic powder, salad dressing mix and sauces into a crock pot.

Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours. When you can easily poke through the meat with a wooden spoon, it’s done. Remove the meat from the crock pot and shred it with two forks. Try to remove as much gristle and fat as possible. Return the shredded meat to the crock pot to cook for an additional half hour or more to soak in the juices. You want the meat to stay in decent-sized chunks and strands, so don’t let it get too soft.

Use a slotted spoon to serve the meat on toasted hoagies. Top with your choice of pepperoncini, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms and sliced provolone cheese.

Purists would argue that the roast beef should be sliced instead of shredded. They’d be right, but that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t own a mechanical slicer and this recipe tastes just as good.

Note: The jus will taste way too salty and spicy throughout the cooking process. But after the meat is shredded and the sandwiches are prepped, it will all come together perfectly. Trust me. I usually open the hoagies, toast them, and then add some provolone while the bread is still under the broiler. The thin layer of cheese helps to keep the bun from getting too soggy too fast. Still, I like my sandwiches a little messy, so I spoon on some extra sauce. My wife eats hers with a fork.

I’ve also finalized my recipe for Sweet and Spicy Cole Slaw that you see in the last picture. It perfectly complements these sandwiches, as well as pork barbecue and any other picnic food. I think I based it on this recipe. The slaw has always tasted good, but now that I have my mandoline, I can make it look good too.

Sweet and Spicy Cole Slaw

Ingredients

2 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons spicy mustard
2 teaspoons celery seed
Salt and coarsely ground pepper to taste
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled
1 large head fennel
1/2 large head of green cabbage
1/2 red onion
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions

Use a mandoline to finely shred the cabbage, fennel, apple and red onion. Do the apple first. Mix the lemon juice with the apple shreds to keep them from turning brown. Save the fennel fronds to chop and garnish after everything is mixed.

Stir together the honey, vinegar, oil, mustard and celery seed in a bowl. Immediately toss the dressing with the cabbage, apple, onion and fennel. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with the rough-chopped fennel fronds. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

This recipe makes enough to fill a 9″ x 12″ casserole dish. I suggest making it about two hours ahead of time and letting the flavors blend in the refrigerator. Unlike most cole slaw recipes, this one is very light on the mayonnaise. That means it’s a more picnic-friendly version. If you don’t have a mandoline, you can still make this recipe. Just make sure to take the time to slice the ingredients as finely as possible.

77 Good Movies You Might Not Have Heard About

Chad — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:32:32 +0000

I was discussing films with my wife’s cousin at a wedding a few weeks ago, and we promised to trade suggestions for good movies that aren’t commonly discussed. In order to compile my list, I pulled up my Netflix history and started copying and pasting titles. As the list grew longer, I decided to blog it. Friends are always asking me for movie advice anyway, so it’s nice to put a list on paper, so to speak.

This is not a list of “under the radar” movies or “indie” films that lived up to the hype. Nor is this a list of all the great movies since Hollywood went talkie. It’s merely a subjective list of films I’ve enjoyed that might not be very well known to casual movie fans in their 30s or younger. Some are new, some are old, some are blockbusters, and some are independent productions. I’ve tried to skip over the more ubiquitous titles and provide a diverse compilation for people who are running out of new releases for their Netflix queues.

Here are the movies in no particular order. All of you will have seen some of these films, but none of you will have seen all of them:

The Power of One – Inspirational story about the turmoil in South Africa from WWII onward as seen through the eyes of an English-born boy surrounded by Afrikaners. If you liked Invictus, you’ll like this movie as well.

Knockaround Guys – Good story about young gangsters trying to make their own score and build up their own enterprise. If you like this movie, you might also like Suicide Kings.

A Murder of Crows – Murder mystery starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tom Berringer. If you like unfolding plots, you’ll also like The Spanish Prisoner.

Equilibrium – A surprisingly good action film starring Christian Bale. It’s set in the future where order is kept by a Samurai-like cult of pistol-wielding warriors. It sounds weird, but it works. If you want to see a weird story that doesn’t work, check out Blind Fury.

Being There – One of Peter Sellers’ best comedic appearances. It’s a great critique of perception versus truth, set in Washington DC. For epic Peter Sellers, watch Dr. Strangelove. But be forewarned; dark comedy like that is an acquired taste.

Wind – There should be more movies about sailing (Summer Rental and One Crazy Summer notwithstanding). It’s a story about passion and perseverance in the face of adversity. Matthew Modine is flawless in the starring role, striking just the right balance between silliness and seriousness.

The King of Kong – Good documentary about an average guy trying to break the world record in Donkey Kong. It’s an amusing exploration of the geeky world of top-tier arcade gaming.

Gattaca - An eerily prescient sci-fi film that warns of the dangers and prejudices that will likely accompany genetic research. It has a small but very effective cast.

Victory – WWII soccer movie. It would have been better without Stallone, but it’s worth watching if only to see Pelé do a bicycle kick.

Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back - Entertaining documentary by Martin Scorsese. You have a great director telling the story of a legendary American artist. If you’re a really big Dylan fan, you might also like the indie film, I’m Not There. It’s a very abstract, episodic recounting of the influential periods and controversial moments in the singer/songwriter’s life. If you don’t know a lot about Dylan and his work, then you’ll hate it.

The Heist – When I first saw the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, it reminded me of this movie. In both films you have Pierce Brosnan plotting a complex robbery, but this time his motive is revenge. If you like revenge capers, you might also like Framed.

Joshua – Uplifting Christian drama that shows everyday people reacting to the unexpected benevolence of a Christ-like figure. Or if you prefer a somewhat darker second coming, check out The Seventh Sign. It features everyday people reacting to the coming retribution of a Christ-like figure.

Little Big Man – Adventure biography kind of like Forrest Gump, but Starring Dustin Hoffman and set in the old West.

Just Cause – Great murder mystery often overlooked when discussing courtroom dramas with twist-endings. If you like it, you’ll also like Presumed Innocent.

The Great Train Robbery – Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland attempt a heist on a moving train. Loosely based on real events during the Crimean War.

Happy, Texas – A couple of escape convicts put on a beauty pageant while hiding in a small Texas town. It’s a typical situational comedy, but good acting by Steve Zahn makes it stand out. If you like redemption comedies, you might also like Trapped in Paradise.

Papillon – I have very few rules when it comes to movies, but one of the better ones is “watch anything starring Steve McQueen.” It’s based on a semi-true story of a prison escape. If you like it, you’ll also like The Great Escape and The Count of Monte Cristo. For epic Steve McQueen, see Bullitt

Rear Window – Jimmy Stewart. Alfred Hitchcock. Intrigue. This movie has everything. Like several Hitchcock films, it comes across more like a play than a movie (especially to young viewers), so know that going in. The recent film, Disturbia, was a terrible adaptation of this excellent original.

8 Heads in a Duffel Bag – Joe Pesci at his comedic best. David Spade is pretty good too. If you like hostage humor, you might also like The Ref.

The Mosquito Coast – Watch Harrison Ford’s character be gripped by paranoia and megalomania in this classic film. If you like watching someone slowly lose his mind, then you’ll also like Michael Douglas in Falling Down and Humphrey Bogart in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

Tom Petty: Runnin’ Down a Dream – Two-part documentary on the meteoric rise of the influential rock legend. If you like musical history, you’ll probably like Standing in the Shadows of Motown as well.

The World According to Garp – Probably the most underrated comedic drama of the 1980s and one of my all time favorite films. You need to see it more than once to appreciate some of the more subtle humor.

Touching the Void – If you like the TV show, I Shouldn’t Be Alive, then you’ll love this film.

Stir Crazy – Maybe my favorite comedy of all time. It’s even better if you didn’t watch as Richard Prior and Gene Wilder played their heavily-improvisational routine into the ground with See No Evil Hear No Evil and Another You.

Shane –This is the apex Western. Pale Rider, Open Range, and all the similar films in between are largely adaptations of Shane’s basic plot.

She’s the One – Edward Burns’ film follows the troubled love lives of several men in an Irish-Catholic family. Tom Petty did the entire soundtrack.

Horatio’s Drive: America’s First Road Trip – Ken Burns’ documentary about the first trans-American car race. You’ll love the dog.

The Quiet Man – John Wayne + Ireland = Awesome. It’s a funny movie, even in this jaded age of ironic humor and sarcasm. The fight scene rivals the ending of Every Which Way But Loose.

The Black Stallion – Visually stunning film about the bond between a boy and a horse. It probably would have been a good movie even if it ended right after they were rescued from the island. The horse race at the end is just icing on the cake.

The Hustler – If you don’t know that The Color of Money is a sequel, then you need to see the original. Paul Newman is great as always. For epic Paul Newman, see Cool Hand Luke.

Powder – When I saw The Green Mile, it reminded me of this film. The plots are completely different, but the underlying theme is the same: Our ethically-challenged society rejects purity, and therefore doesn’t deserve it.

Brian’s Song – If My Life is the male equivalent of Steel Magnolias, then Brian’s Song is the male equivalent of Beaches. It’s based on the true story of Chicago Bears players Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo.

Vertigo – Once again, Jimmy Stewart teams up with Hitchcock to make a classic, although Hitchcock gave a little too much away before the end. Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety is a spoof of this classic.

Mumford - A light-hearted story about a psychiatrist in small town Americana. Colorful characters and an unexpected twist make it fun.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town – Try to forget Adam Sandler’s awful remake (Mr. Deeds) and enjoy the original. Gary Cooper is ironically appropriate for the titular role because his acting style seems so out of place for his character.

American Flyers – Good story about the relationship between two brothers who are competitive cyclists. What the film lacks in plot, it makes up for with character development. If you’re into cycling, then also check out Breaking Away and Quicksilver.

Primer – Great indie flick. The lesson is an old one; don’t mess with time travel. Something always goes wrong.

The Zero Effect – Detective drama starring Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller. The small cast, unfolding story and subtle humor make this film fun to watch.

Miller’s Crossing – Too many movies focus on Italian mobsters. Like Road to Perdition, this is a good Irish mob movie.

Family Business – Tense film about three generations of men in a family with a criminal background. The grandfather is an old crook who lives in the past, the grandson is jealous of his grandfather’s adventures, and the man in the middle just wants to protect his son from the life he struggled to leave behind.

Les Paul: Chasing Sound – Documentary about the guitar legend. If you don’t know who he is and what impact he had on modern music, then you need to watch this film.

Deep Water – Depressing, yet captivating documentary about the solo yacht race around the world in 1969.

The Freshman – Light-hearted comedy that somewhat satirizes The Godfather. I still can’t believe Brando did it. But then again, you could never predict what Brando would or wouldn’t do. For epic Marlon Brando, see A Streetcar Named Desire.

The Groomsmen – Edward Burns’ movie about old friends who reunite for a wedding. It’s a home run with a good story, a good cast, and good acting.

Happiness – Very dark comedy. If you’re easily shocked or offended, then this movie is not for you. It follows an interconnected group of people, some normal and others not so normal, who are struggling to find happiness. If you enjoy it, you’ll also like Little Children.

The Razor’s Edge – The movie adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s novel of the same name. Bill Murray starred in a remake in the 1980s (The Razor’s Edge) that’s worth watching too. The earlier version more closely follows the novel. The later version features a performance by Catherine Hicks that makes you hate her character by the end of the film.

Rope – I know I sound like a broken record, but Jimmy Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock teamed up to make another good one. It’s based on play that was was inspired by the Leopold and Loeb murder that captivated the nation in the 1920s.

The Mission – Powerful film about redemption starring Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons. Like many other epics, it takes a while for the plot to thicken. So be patient.

Author! Author! – Al Pacino is great as a flaky playwright and stepfather. One of my all time favorite comedies.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill – Surprisingly emotional documentary about, you guessed it, the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill.

Revolution – Story about a reluctant father drawn into conflict to protect his son. When I first watched The Patriot, it reminded me a little of this film. But don’t expect Al Pacino to go native and hack his enemies to pieces like Mel Gibson’s character did. This film has more in common with The Last of the Mohicans than The Patriot.

The Red Violin – Great drama spanning centuries. Like Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye, it’s a series of short stories strung together by a recurring character. But instead of a cat, this movie centers around a violin. What makes this movie great is the beginning-to-end story arc and provocative surprises.

The Bishop’s Wife – My wife and I watch three movies every Christmas: It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, and this film.

Death Sentence – Intense thriller that follows an average businessman out to avenge the murder of his son. Kevin Bacon’s physical transformation from beginning to end is amazing. If you like revenge thrillers, you might also like The Limey.

The Lion in Winter - Peter O’ Toole and Katharine Hepburn as Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine (and a very young Anthony Hopkins as Prince Richard). Only two megastars could effectively deliver this dialogue. Best line of the movie: “I even made poor Louis take me on Crusade. How’s that for blasphemy. I dressed my maids as Amazons and rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn… but the troops were dazzled.” O’Toole also played Henry II in Becket.

The Ten – Paul Rudd’s collection of comedic shorts. If you like Role Models and Anchorman, much of that troupe makes an appearance in this film.

Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age – Two great biopics about the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Kate Blanchett and the rest of the cast are great in both films, which is incredible when you consider that the original and sequel were made almost ten years apart.

The Nines – Ryan Reynolds is pretty good in this indie suspense film. The premise is probably better than the acting, but it’s refreshing nonetheless. The plot is delivered through three interrelated stories and it takes a while to figure out what’s really going on.

Honkytonk Man – Clint Eastwood and his son star in this depression-era, coming-of-age story centered around a fading country singer trying to cement his legacy. You’ll be humming their song for weeks. Keep your eye out for Marty Robbins’ cameo at the end.

Darkon –If you liked Trekkies, you’ll love this documentary. You’ll even feel a little guilty when you realize your shameful capacity for ridicule and scorn. Still, you’d have to be a Saint not to laugh at these people.

The Mist – Very welcome and refreshing iteration of the monster movie. Like the classics, it focuses more on the breakdown of civility than the shock-value of the monster(s). The ending makes it stand out among modern horror/thriller films.

High Noon – Another of my favorite Westerns. It’s a case study in rising action. The movie opens with 85 minutes until noon, and it’s 85 minutes long. So the viewer actually gets anxious as the seconds tick by in real life. The story is a powerful metaphor for honor and courage in the face of danger. If you put America in the role of the main character, Great Britain in the role of the retired sheriff, France in the role of the judge, and the UN in the role of the church congregation, then you have a metaphor for just about every major conflict America’s been involved in since WWII.

Crossroads – Most people wouldn’t know it, but Ralph Macchio made movies in between The Karate Kid and My Cousin Vinny. If you like Southern blues music and folklore, then you’ll like this film. I should confess that I used to have a thing for Jami Gertz, and she looks pretty hot in this movie

New Suit - Indie comedy that satirizes social climbing and hype in the movie business.

Saint Ralph – Based on a true story about a kid who tries to uphold his end of a bargain he made with God by finishing the Boston marathon.

Dark City – Pulpy sci-fi movies like this aren’t for everyone, but I like them. It’s like a cross between Blade Runner and The Truman Show.

Man on Wire – Very well made documentary about the Frenchman who secretly secured a tightrope between the rooftops of the World Trade Center towers and walked the wire for the better part of an hour.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Among my favorite Westerns. How do you not love a movie with Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne? Vera Miles is pretty soft on the eyes as well. The last line of the movie is absolutely priceless.

Sunshine – Pretty intense film about a spaceship crew trying to save the planet. It’s along the lines of Armageddon, but without the forced jokes and the melodrama. The ending could have been better, but it’s worth watching if you like sci-fi.

Hideaway – A father gets psychic visions of a killer’s crimes and struggles to protect his family from harm. If you like supernatural powers mixed in with your murder scenes, then you might also like Firestarter and The Fury. If you like spiritual powers mixed in with your murder scenes, then check out The Prophecy and The Order.

Eddie and the Cruisers I & II – Not great plots by any stretch, but I love the music. If you like the Springsteenesque sound of blue collar rock, then you’ll like these movies. Think of them as hours-long music videos.

Confidence – Con man mystery movie starring Edward Burns. Kind of like a cross between The Sting and Heist but with a smaller cast (if that makes any sense).

American Swing – Risqué documentary about the “free love” club scene in New York City from the 1970’s until the outbreak of AIDS. It specifically focuses on people who used to manage and frequent the controversial nightclub, Plato’s Retreat.

The Legend of 1900 – Great movie about a pianist who lives his entire life on a cruise ship and grows to love his confines and fear the outside world.

Food, Inc. – Decent exposé about where your food comes from. It would have been a lot better if it didn’t include ideological diatribes about unrealistic sustainability initiatives and “evil” corporations. So while it is in fact eye-opening, it comes across as if it was put together by freshmen art history majors at UC Berkeley. If you’re prepared for the far-left bias going in, you can keep the eye-rolling to a minimum.

Last of the Dogmen – A professor goes missing in the Oxbow and a modern cowboy finds her among a tribe of Cheyenne that have lived a secluded existence in the mountains since the 19th century. The plot sounds absurd, but Tom Beringer’s performance pulls it off.

Immortal Beloved – Gary Oldman as Ludwig van Beethoven. The whole movie is conflict after conflict with a good soundtrack. Gary Oldman might be the most under-appreciated actor of our time (along with Marcia Gay Harden). He literally transforms into new characters. Watch him in this film and then compare it to his roles in The Contender and The Fifth Element. You’ll swear it’s three different people.

That’s my list. There are plenty of other great movies out there, but you’ve probably already heard of them. There are also other great classics (and documentaries and foreign films), but they don’t always translate well to my generation. The films on this list are pretty foolproof. Some of them aren’t world-beaters, but they’re all worth watching at least once.

Note: I wanted to add a several more indie/cable productions to this list, but I didn’t because they’re not listed in the Netflix database. I guess they never found a distributor?

The Theory of Flight – Powerful story about friendship, compassion and determination. Helena Bonham Carter absolutely excels in a challenging role outside of her typical persona as the madame of macabre.

Thursday – Crime thriller with a common story; an ex-gangster has left his troubled past behind, but his past doesn’t want to stay there. All of his sins come back to haunt him on one disastrous day. If you liked Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill saga, you’ll like this movie.

Grand Tour: Disaster in Time – It’s not a ground-breaking film by any stretch, but the plot is thought-provoking. Then again, I love time travel stories. If you like this movie, you’ll also like Millennium (these movies are in the Netflix database, but their release dates are unknown).

I’m Not There (I’m Gone) Lyrics

Chad — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:49:52 +0000

I’ve been listening to Dylan’s I’m Not There a lot lately. That might seem odd, considering that the track starts part way through the first verse and many of the lyrics are inaudible. The song was unfinished an never intended for release. Fans weren’t even sure the songs were real until the appropriately named series of Basement Tapes were released by Columbia Records:

As Dylan recovered from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in July 1966, he summoned the Band and began to record both new compositions and traditional material with them. All of the sixteen Dylan compositions are thought to have been recorded in 1967 in the basement of Big Pink, a house shared by three of the members of the Band, while the eight Band songs were recorded at various times and locations between 1967 and 1975; overdubs were also added in 1975 to some of the Dylan songs

Even though the cut of the song is rough, the melody is hypnotic and the listener can get the sense of what Dylan was trying to say. Despite the relative popularity of the song, it’s hard to find a decent transcription of the lyrics. I thought I’d give it a shot.

You can listen to the song at last.fm (the player is in the top-right corner).

Sonic Youth covered the song for the abstract Dylan biopic, I’m Not There. Here’s their cleaner, more fluid rendition of the song: I’m Not There (I’m Gone)

Homemade Sweet Potato Chips & Garlic Aioli

Chad — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:45:22 +0000

The wife gave me a mandoline for Valentine’s Day and I’ve been waiting for a chance to break it in. Last night we decided to make some healthy, homemade, sweet potato chips. I set the slicer to 1/8″ and went to town. It’ll take some practice to get perfectly even slices, but I was pleased with the model we chose.

It’s amazing how far one potato goes when the slices are so thin.

I sprayed some baking sheets with canola oil and spaced the slices evenly. This is one and a half potatoes:

I baked them at 375° for 20-25 minutes. I took them out when the centers started to brown, sprinkled them with kosher salt, and let them cool on some paper towels.

Some of them came out crispy, but others were a little moist. Next time, I’ll cook and cool them all on a raised rack. The air flow beneath the chips should cook both sides more evenly.

While the sweet potato chips were cooking in the oven, the wife and I made a garlic and onion aioli dipping sauce (the recipe is below).

And since dinner can’t consist of just chips and dip, I also sauteed some shrimp. Aioli is a great alternative to cocktail sauce.

I recently got a relatively cheap, 10″ Cuisinart nonstick pan for the few times I cook eggs or cream sauces, and I thought I’d break it in as well. Since I had the time, I slowly infused a tablespoon of olive oil with garlic and lemon zest over medium-low heat.

When the garlic started to burn, I spooned it and the zest out of the pan. I added a pat of butter and dropped in the shrimp. The pan caramelized them nicely. It’s taken me a long time, but I’ve finally gotten good at knowing when to take the shrimp out and let them finish cooking on a serving plate. They tasted great.

Here’s the aioli recipe:

In a food processor, pulse the garlic and green/white onions until minced and thoroughly combined. Combine the egg yolks and lemon juice in a bowl. Add them to the pulsing processor until well blended. Slowly drizzle the oil into through the feeding hole (in the lid) of the processor until the sauce emulsifies. When the sauce is thickened, add salt and pepper to taste.

This aioli had a nice bite to it, but it tasted better with the shrimp than the chips. I usually make aioli with sauteed shallots and roasted garlic instead of raw, but this was a fun alternative. Next time I’ll make a blue cheese aioli to serve with the chips by omitting the onions and garlic and adding a few ounces of blue cheese and chives.

Aioli is really easy to make; it’s basically a dressed up version of mayonnaise. You can add some chopped dill and use it to make potato salad or add some sour scream and fontina and use it to make a spinach dip. Either way, it’s both versatile and easy, and that’s a winning combination in my book.

The Circus Is In Town

Chad — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:46:54 +0000

On our recent trip to DC, the wife and I listened to the novel, Water for Elephants. Even though much of the book is set in the early Depression Era, the colorful storytelling and the dynamics of a traveling carnival made us want to visit the circus. The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus just came through Greenville and we went to see yesterday’s show. I took these pictures with my phone:

Oddly enough, my phone is the only reason we got to see the circus. We were in Charlotte for a wedding on Saturday and drove back to Greenville on Sunday morning, just in time to make the show. As is sadly typical for us, we managed to leave our circus tickets in the hotel room. I called the arena box office and they said that I could have them reprinted if I had the credit card used to purchase the tickets and a photo ID.

After searching for our tickets, the lady at the window said she couldn’t find a record of our purchase. I politely asked to see her manager and then the manager searched the computer several times to no avail. After a few more futile attempts to match our debit card with a purchase, she said she was sorry but she couldn’t find a record of the transaction. I handed my phone through the ticket window and showed her my online bank statement, which proved I purchased two seats from that account on the 10th of February. She disappeared for another ten minutes and came back with our tickets. Isn’t technology great?

My Letter in The Greenville News

Chad — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:47:12 +0000

I recently wrote another guest editorial for The Greenville News. This time, instead of printing it just as I wrote it, they butchered it down and ran it as a letter to to the editor. As is all too common, their selective editing removed the larger context of the piece.

Here’s their version: Letter: Downtown wants you for 120 minutes

The full piece is here:

The City Asks Us to Spend Our Money Downtown (And Then Promptly Leave)

After reading the heavily edited version, one commenter wrote, “You’ve obviously never had to park in downtown DC, LA or NY. If you can find a spot for a mere $55, you’re in luck. Greenville is a piece of cake dude, so quit whining.”

“Obviously.” There’s a reason they say you should never assume anything.

Stumphouse Tunnel & Issaqueena Falls

Chad — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:22:21 +0000

This weekend, the wife and I decided to take a day trip to Walhalla and nearby Stumphouse Mountain Park, which includes Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls. Walhalla is a small town about 20 minutes south of Clemson on Highway 11, and the park is on the other side of the highway from Sumter National Forest.

Stumphouse Tunnel has an interesting story:

The tunnel was first proposed in 1835 by residents of Charleston, South Carolina as a new and shorter route for the Blue Ridge Railroad between Charleston and the Ohio river valley area which until then was only accessible by bypassing the mountains entirely to the South and then traveling up north through Georgia and middle Tennessee. In 1852, 13 miles of tunnel were proposed to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains through South Carolina, North Carolina, and into Tennessee. Construction on the railway was begun in the late 1850s and was successful through most of South Carolina until hitting the mountains around Wallhalla in Oconee County. There Stumphouse tunnel along with three other tunnels was to be built.

Construction on Stumphouse tunnel began in 1856 when the George Collyer Company of London brought many Irish workers into the area for this project. Many of the workers lived in housing on top of Stumphouse mountain called Tunnel Hill. By 1859, the State of South Carolina had spent over a million dollars on the tunnel and refused to spend any more on the project, therefore the tunnel work was abandoned.

The tunnel is pretty imposing, especially when you consider that it was excavated largely by hand:

There are all kinds of ghost stories associated with the tunnel. Most of them are contrived at best, but that didn’t stop me from reciting them all to my wife before we entered the crypt-like cavern. She didn’t seem to bite on the ghost stories, but she really got scared when I casually noted that there could very well be a wounded animal in there, frightened, and ready to lash out at any threat. She grabbed the flashlight with one hand and my arm with the other. We entered at our own risk:

After you get about 1600 feet in, the remaining tunnel is blocked by an old, rusted gate. Standing alone in the dank darkness, I was reminded of Poe’s Cask of Amontillado. This is the view from the inside:

There are supposed to be graves on the mountain above the tunnel, but we hiked all over the place and didn’t see any marker stones. After hiking back down, we wandered across the park to Issaqueena Falls. Here’s the story behind the name:

[The] falls were apparently named after an Indian girl who discovered her tribe planned to attack a nearby community of white settlers.

She quickly dashed away on her horse to warn the settlers of their peril. During her ride, she named the places she passed – such as Mile Creek, Six Mile, Twelve Mile, and Eighteen Mile – until she finally reached the threatened settlement now known as Ninety Six.

Learning of her betrayal, Issaqueena’s tribe chased her to the falls, where the young maiden pretended jump but hid behind the wall of water instead. Assuming she was dead, the tribe called off its search and Issaqueena was able to make her escape.

This is one of the few waterfalls we’ve visited where you see the falls from above. You hear the roaring water as you approach and there’s a viewing area off to the side where you can take in the falls:

If you look at the picture above, you can see the hidden ledge just below the top where the water falls straight down. We wanted to hike down to it, but it was too muddy. We’ll get a picture behind the water wall next time we’re in the area.

Post Script: Lunch in Walhalla

On the way back home, we stopped in Walhalla for lunch. We’d heard good things about The Steak House Cafeteria, so we gave it a try. We each loaded our trays with fried chicken, mac & cheese, rice & gravy, iced tea, and my wife got a dessert. Everything looked good, but I couldn’t help but wonder how long the food had been sitting in steam trays. When it was time to pay, I was stunned by the check-out lady’s rudeness. She could give the Soup Nazi a run for his money. There was no one else in line except for the two of us, but she acted as though the queue was winding out the door and we were the wrench in the cogs. It’s almost as if her job was to spot the out-of-towners and harangue them until they retreat outside the city limits. When she rang us up, the total came to more than twenty dollars. 20+ dollars. A third of the food order was rice!

Although the price was shocking, we were even more surprised by the taste of the food. The rice was mushy and the gravy was bland. How do you screw up rice and gravy? The mac and cheese was average, with overcooked noodles and not enough salt. The chicken was okay, but not ‘$20 good’ if that makes sense. My wife ate two bites of her oreo-crusted dessert and put her fork on the table. I asked if she wanted to take the rest home and she responded with a terse “no.” I honestly think that was a first. I should mention that I actually liked the unsweetened tea, but then again, I like really weak tea. The man who attended to the dining room was polite, but adequate tray removal service doesn’t make up for lousy food.

We’ve driven by The Steak House Cafeteria on Sundays and it’s always packed. I don’t get it? Either toxic drinking water has dulled the townsfolk’s taste buds or the restaurant had a really bad day. Either way, the only way I’ll ever step foot in that place again is if I’ve sinned and am in need of severe penance.

Greenville On Ice

Chad — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:03:45 +0000

We had an ice storm this past weekend. It was very mild and by Sunday morning the streets were navigable enough to do some sightseeing. Here’s the Reedy River from the South Main Street bridge:

After we finished brunch, there were a lot of people walking around outside. I guess after being cooped up by the snow and freezing rain all day Saturday, everyone was ready to get out and stretch their legs.

These pictures were taken with my new cell phone. Not too bad, huh?