November 2007 Archives

It seems more restaurants are getting into the music industry.

First, Starbucks started releasing albums by themselves and then in conjunction with big-name artists. (Check out their Web site to see the various albums.) Now, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has jumped in, too.

Multi-platinum group Lonestar just released "My Christmas List." The kicker? It's exclusively available through Cracker Barrel.

So ... now it'll be a fight over the royalties.

The "Fish n Flush" has given a new meaning to "flushing a fish" after he swims to Fish Heaven.

It's a clear two-piece toilet tank ... one piece holds the flushing water and the other is a functional aquarium. Or leave the aquarium part dry for a reptile house!

(Just in time for the holidays!) Unfortunately, you can't pull the curtain when it's time for your business.

I had plans to take my fiance along to lunch at Reader's Cafe in Hanover today. I had never been there, but heard good things. We pulled up and it looked quaint enough. Lots of books with little cafe tables by the window and up in a loft. We peeked at the menu on the dry erase board above the counter. It was small and mostly consisted of salads, soups and sandwiches with unique ingredients. We were starving and the Maryland crab soup was all he found appetizing. I was disappointed, because these treats are right up my alley. We turned and walked back out the door. How do you handle the eating differences you have with friends/family members?

Global warming is on the tip of most people's tongues in this day and age. And pollution (air, noise, etc.) is not far behind.

Most people I know are doing their best to conserve and recycle, but it isn't those people we need to worry about. It's the people who couldn't care less ...

While I was running the Rail Trail the other day, two young girls were walking along the sidewalk on Princess Street. As they came to the grass at the trail in front of me, the one girl chucks her soda can on the ground followed by a candy wrapper.

ABC is bringing back "October Road" at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. This seems like an odd time to premiere a show that barely survived last season. The comedy "Notes From the Underbelly" was also renewed and will kick off at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 26. I'm wondering how many episodes were filmed before the writer's strike and if these shows will be off the air again as suddenly as they re-appeared.

"Delheads" and other bluegrass devotees out there might have caught the American Routes radio interview with the legend and county native Del McCoury broadcast Nov. 17.

McCoury talked about his days on the farm and logging the forests of Pennsylvania, as well as his bluesy "high lonesome" sound. If you missed it, download it here.

The AP retracted its story about Paris Hilton and the drunken elephants. Check out the details here.

As a child of the '80s, I was more into He-Man's twin sister, She-Ra (Princess of Power), than G.I. Joe.

Still, I was struck by the news that in a forthcoming film version, the "real American hero" will work not for the U.S. military but what sounds like a cartoonized United Nations force:

It's that time again. Season four of "Project Runway" kicks off at 10 p.m. tonight on Bravo. I can't wait to see what crazy challenges the judges have up their sleeves this season. Check out the competitors here. See who can "make it work" and who has to say "aufedersein."

Intoxicated elephants can rest easy because they have Paris Hilton on their side. My co-worker passed this story to me, and I though it was a joke. Apparently though, drunken elephants are no laughing matter. After being jailed for driving under the influence, Paris seems to be on a mission to make sure no man, woman or animal abuses alcohol. Of all the weird celebrity charity causes, I'm pretty sure this one takes the cake. Read about it here.

Have you ever noticed how local grocery chains have a habit of displaying a few shopping carts, filled to the brim in their entry ways, each labeled with a price for the whole load at their store and at their competitors?

If you're at Weis, the Weis cart will always be the lowest price one. If you're at Giant, Giant's cart will be the better deal. Same for Wegman's. Or wherever.

The other day, I wondered how that could be accurate. I quickly realized that each store's display likely contains different items.

Do the supermarkets really think we're not smart enough to notice this? Do they think we don't shop around? Especially here in York County...

The 41st annual Country Music Association Awards will be handed out in Nashville, TN tonight. Don't miss seeing '70s sensation The Eagles perform at the CMAs for the first time. The band recently released its first album in 28 years, "Long Road out of Eden." Other artists scheduled to perform include Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood. The shows starts at 8 p.m. on ABC.

For all you York Countians not blessed with satellite who are left flipping through your car’s radio dial desperately searching for something — anything — beyond country, Top 40 and hard rock, your prayers have been answered.

The University of Pennsylvania’s WXPN (88.7) is now being broadcast in Central Pennsylvania.

Praise the lord!

I saw "The Darjeeling Limited" Friday. I knew before I even entered the theater that it would be a picturesque film about a family with problems like "The Life Aquatic" and "The Royal Tenenbaums." I wasn't sure if Wes Anderson's most recent film would be worth the price of a ticket and popcorn, but it was. The characters, sets and script were top-notch. I couldn't stop talking about it the whole weekend and can't wait to see Anderson's rendition of Roald Dahl's "The Fantastic Mr. Fox," which is due in 2009.

If I lived in the parallel universe depicted in the upcoming film "The Golden Compass," my daemon would be a jackal.

Apparently, that means I'm modest, sociable, inquisitive, flexible and assertive, according to the results of a 20-question test I took here. That's pretty accurate. So, what is a daemon?

"The Golden Compass" is based on the first novel in Philip Pullman's trilogy "His Dark Materials," which describes the world of 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua. There, a person's soul lives on the outside of his or her body in the form of a daemon -- an animal spirit that accompanies them through life.