Big Leather Couch

TIME TO DONATE SOME RICE TODAY!
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Build your vocabulary, feed the hungry...
17,461,100,870 grains donated at this point...17 BILLION TOPPED!



We first met this guy about a year and a half ago (maybe longer, time flies when you are having fun) and began reading his blog, interestingly enough, while he was on vacation and one of his friends was posting a "Best Of" for him ...

Since then he has fallen completely in love with us...He tries to hide it, but we know he does love as...yup we do..and we love him in a manly sort of way...

So...we have decided to throw him a party...now don't tell him, it will be a surprise party and all y'all are invited...

We have set it up with a caterer and will have all of his favorites...




We even brought back a famous movie star to sing to him and since she is dead and can see the future, she has decided to let us see that his wish WILL COME TRUE!

TIME TO DONATE SOME RICE TODAY!
<-----------------------------------------------
Build your vocabulary, feed the hungry...
17,308,779,870 grains donated at this point...17 BILLION TOPPED!



A bet is a debt of honor...

Yesterday is over...

Well by the time you read this it will be...thankfully...it was not a great day personally...but we have moved on and left the wreckage of February 5th, 2008 in the ditch where it belongs...

And the last humdinger of the day was the tornado sirens blaring as a warning and the live shots of tornadoes within 5 miles of our home...and the mall about two miles away sustaining severe damage with injuries...

So, if we did not make it to your blog yesterday, we apologize...our mood was just too dark...


On Tuesday, the fans of the NY Giants gathered along the "Canyon Of Heroes" in Manhattan...From Battery Park, up Broadway to City Hall...the traditional route for parades in NYC...the route that gave the term 'ticker-tape parade' it's name...In the 30's and 40's and 50's and 60's the financial houses which had their offices on that route would shred the 'ticker-tape' and throw it out the window as the parades passed...

What is 'Ticker-tape'? Well...The origin of the term ticker tape came from the sound made by the machine as it printed, and tape simply refers to the machines using a paper tape printout as a rolling display of stock prices. In 1867, Edward A. Calahan of the American Telegraph Company invented the first stock telegraph printing device. Early versions of stock tickers provided the first mechanical means of conveying stock prices ("quotes"), over a long distance over telegraph wiring

A few arrests were made for disorderly conduct, but the wonderful thing is there apparently there were no cars burned, no stores broken into, no one sent to the hospital which seems to be the norm in other cities when their teams win Championships.

A couple of videos of the celebration...

We are still flying high on our GIANTS incredible win in the Super Bowl...The media has been pretty brutal on the Patriots using the word 'failures' more than once...is it fair? Maybe not, but when a team displays arrogance from the top down and has been accused of cheating to gain a competitive advantage, well that is the neighborhood you roll in...

If they had won they would have been lauded with accolades beyond belief...I found it incredulous that during the pre-game shows, the talking heads were saying Tom Brady would be the best that ever played the position if he had won...and they did it with smiles... after the game...nope, not any more...

Fandom and the public at large is fickle...and in our opinion they have a right to be...and if you are a sports star, and you accept the adulation, then you must be willing to accept the vilification when you disappoint those fans and the public...

Here is the pay-off to the bet that was conceived on TurnBaby's radio show between Mr. Fab and myself...have not seen it yet, so have no idea what he has done...

Well it appears that person (yeah I changed it...no sense diving to his level) has two blogs and put his video on his second one...

Was it a pay-off to our bet? Not in my opinion...

We were brought up to believe a bet is a debt of honor...the video he posted was an insulting very weak attempt at what he considers humor...if you want to see it, you go find it...I will not link to it..Those who find it funny...well that is you...

We should have known not to expect someone like that could actually accept a loss and do it with class and dignity...keep your $5...buy a personality

Now, on to...THE COMMERCIALS...

there were some great commercials this year and some absolutely horrible commercials and even a commercial that was not accepted by TPTB at FOX...

Of course, we are not putting up all the commercials...you can find them all at Spike: Powered by iFilm to see those we might not use here...

We will work our way up...

First ... the losers...

• All of the commercials from salesgenie.com...what a collection of crap...they had a number of them, but this was the worst:

• Now, let me ask you...TPTB declined on the Danica/godaddy.com spot, yet THIS one get through? Please, gag me...ok, this is sick..

Now the commercials that were just boring...

• Did anyone actually watch this commercial all the way through? Anyone??? Bueller?

8:00 am : Wake up and make some breakfast…first make some home fries with onions and some bacon and when all is ready, mix up some eggs with a few shots of Tabasco and pour over the potatoes and eggs and bacon on the griddle and let the eggs set.
YUM… an instant omelet…

10:00 am – 1:00pm:
Start getting the food for the day ready by sectioning about 6 pounds of chicken wings…put 2 pounds on a aluminum sheet pan and put into the oven at 425 degrees…

Check the Bruschetta mixture we put together on Saturday evening to ensure the flavors have mingled just right… yup…yummo…

Slice up a French Baguette and put slices into oven to brown. When browned rub them on both sides with sliced garlic cloves…(put some of the Tomato & Basil mixture on 2 or 3 and try (Hey…have to make sure it is good)

TV on in the background - ESPN - and the whole world is picking the Patriots – does not surprise us at all…but hell, we love being the underdog…

Turn the wings to crisp the other side…

Mix up the sauce for the second batch of wings, Maple Wings, which consists of maple syrup (yup the real stuff), soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, garlic, garlic powder, onion powder…Pour over the wings in an aluminum pan and set aside…

Take wings out of the oven and put into bowl and pour Buffalo hot sauce over them and mix well…put into serving dish and cover with wrap…try 2 or 3 (Hey…have to make sure they are good)

Lower the over to 350 and put Maple Wings in and cook for an hour...increase the heat and cook another 45 minutes…

Remove form oven and try 2 or 3 (hey…have to make sure they are good)

Talk to mom and dad and make sure all is well in Florida…take a shower…

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm:

Put on FOX and watch their pre-game in the background as we answer some emails and make some calls to friends who we have spent past Super Bowls with…

Nancy makes a cheese dip from Velvetta and Rotelle and also uses some Sweet Pepper and Pineapple Relish and cream cheese for another dip…when they are ready, we try some of both while she is out running…(hey have to make sure they are good)

Pour our first Gentleman Jack with 3 ice cubes…

All the talking heads are pushing the Patriots throughout the pre-game

About 3:10, the Pepsi commercial we shared with all y’all last week airs…

Switch over to the PGA a couple of times to see how Phil Mickelson is doing with Tiger winning another tournament over in Dubai…

Arg…have to listen to Bob Kraft spout accolades about his team…

Football and Ryan Seacrest DO NOT go hand in hand…this Red Carpet thing is a real joke folks…

Paula Abdul sings her new song she recorded for Randy Jackson’s new album…yawn

Finally at 4:00 pm they leave the fluff of the Red Carpet and focus on football…

This Frank Caliendo guy does nothing for us…how many routines do we have to watch???

Nancy’s boys will be home before kick-off…whew…thought we would have to eat all this food by ourselves…as they are both Ole Miss fans, thus they are also Eli fans, so the house will be for the Giants…

LOL…Mickelson missed a putt on 18 by about 6“ and is forced into a play-off…he just does not have the killer instinct…

Call Matt and wish his team good luck…as we have said, his allegiance to the Patriots began from his being in MA from the time he was 5 until 10…

Time for the FOX talking heads to make their picks…gee…let’s see how this goes…
Terry: Patriots - wants to see history
Howie: Patriots and he puts on a Red Sox hat
Jimmy: Patriots
Frank: NY Giants (maybe we like this guy after all!)

FOX presents a reading of the Declaration Of Independence by past and present stars of the NFL…we choke up when Michael Strahan is shown at Ground Zero in NY with members of the NYFD…and when the widow of Pat Tillman reads her portions…

Nicely done FOX…

5:00 pm – Pre-Game show

Game time 30 minutes…time for another drink…

The Road Warrior, Resilient NY Giants come out onto the field…the cheers indicate they have many fans in the stadium…

The NE Patriots then run out onto the field…were there as many boos as cheers for them, we truly could not tell…but the sounds were different…

Want to see this new movie “Vantage Point”…it looks like a winner…

Jordin Sparks will get to sing the National Anthem…we ask this every year…why can they NOT sing it live???? It is done in stadiums and arenas around the country almost daily…yet on Super Bowl Sunday, it is a recording…

She did a nice job with it though…

Wings into the oven to reheat…Chili is warming on the stove…

Coin-toss coming up…who will get the ball first?

Roof is closed in Arizona…did you win that wager? LOL…sure it was on the board in Vegas…

Sheesh there are like 750,000 people out in the center of the field for the toss…and the Giants win the toss….

5:30 pm – KICK-OFF

And the first commercial will be…Bud Light…Breathe Fire…poor kitty…

Opening drive for the Giants stalls inside the 20...that is not a good thing...Field Goal time...

GIANTS up 3 - 0

Diet Pepsi Max – Bobble-head … hehehehehe

Under Armor does a commercial very similar to the Macintosh 1984 commercial we shared on Friday, only in their commercial, they are the hero…

Penalties will kill you every time… Pass interference continues the NE drive…

NE 7 – 3

Did you log on to godaddy.com to see the Danica Patrick commercial? Huh? Didja?
Not surprised FOX turned it down at all…

Gee…Plaxico …hold on to the damn ball…

Then Amani Toomer shows how it is done…GREAT CATCH

Ooooooooooo the chili we made a few weeks ago has aged nicely…yummy…dang.. we need another beer…

Liked the Bridgestone commercial with the screaming animals as the car barrels down on the squirrel…funny

Interception NE…

Budweiser “Rocky” commercial hearkened back to the days they did good ads…YEA!

Giants defense stops NE on a great play…

Incredible that NE did not get possession on a fumble but the Giants go 3 and out….

Giants using the run much more effectively…but then a fumble and a loose ball puts them at 3rd and 18…

Planters Cashews commercial…excellent use of humor…LOL

LOVED watching JT getting beat up in the Pepsi commercial …..bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

Giants had the Pats stopped and then give up 2 - 3rd and 13 first downs…and the Pats are moving the ball…

FUMBLE…recovered by the Giants…

Giants defensive, especially Justin Tuck, has been all over Tom Brady so far…they must keep it up…have only given up 81 yards to NE in the first half…

End Of The First Half … NE 7 – 3

OK, gonna call TurnBaby while the halftime show is on…

That is done and listening to Tom Petty…we do like Tom and we are assured that nothing controversial will happen…

SECOND HALF

Giants bend, but force a punt by NE…or did they? Did the Giants have 12 men on the field? It looked like he got off in time…

OK, Salesgenie.com you wasted you money folks…your commercials are horrible…

Review…12 men on the field and NE gets a first down…penalties…

Then they put the brakes on the drive and NE goes for it on 4th and 14 and do not make it…they decided not to go for the 49 yard field goal…interesting call…

Giants need to get in the end zone here…

Eli missed a read and did not see Toomer wide open…Giants punt

Ball downed at the 10 yard line and then NE gets a penalty and starts at the 5…BIG BIG need for the Giants to stop them here…

Like the looks of “Jumper”…

“The Ability To Fly”…ouch that hurts…. Heheheh Bud Light stepping up this year…

Again, the Giants bend, but do not break….and NE has to punt to start the 4th quarter…

Excellent NFL ad focusing on Chester Pitts of the Houston Texans…did not know his story…most excellent…

LOL Coke commercial with the balloons from the Macy’s parade all fighting for the Coke bottle… heheheheh

Third quarter ends NE 7 - 3

FOURTH QUARTER – as Travis just said to me…15 to a Championship

Giants ball...

BIG BIG pass to the TE Boss for a huge gain,…45 yards…

Then a nice pass to the rookie Smith…and a TD pass to David Tyree

Giants 10 – 7 …

Oooooooooooooo Big Wheel racing….now THAT would be fun….

FOX pushing “Terminator” hard…it is a great show… you should watch…

Giants D steps up again and forces another NE punt…

Now the offense needs to just hold onto the ball…and run down the clock

E*Trade has a new star…a baby making trades….heheheh in the first he spits up at the end…this time he hires a clown…and realizes it is ‘creepy’…

Plaxico Burris … he has helped the Giants get here, but not having a good game tonight…

Giants have to punt it away … one more defensive hold…one more…

And NE drives the field for a TD …14 -10

Giants have to go 83 yards in 2:39 with 3 time outs left…

Eli Manning makes a great play getting away from a sack and throws down field…David Tyree makes the catch…ball at the 24 yard line

Pass to the end zone….Plaxico all alone…TOUCHDOWN…great route…

Giants 17 – 14!

Love the shot of big brother Peyton shouting in the luxury box…

:35 seconds left …

Defense has to just play smart…NE has 3 time-outs …

Incomplete pass…

Sack of Brady… :19 left…. 3rd and 20

Pass…long downfield….tipped…

4th and 20… :10 left

Long pass….incomplete…and

THE GIANTS WIN SUPER BOWL XLII

Congrats to the team no one gave a chance…never during the entire playoffs did anyone give them a chance…

• They had to travel to Tampa Bay...and they won...
• They had to travel to Dallas...and they won...
• They had to travel to Green Bay...and they won...they shut down the running game of the Packers (28 total yards)...
• Today they totally shut down the running game of the Patriots (43 total yards) and today they are CHAMPS

WTF ..why did Bellichek leave the field????? He came out to the center of the field and the refs made everyone get off the field since there was 1 second left on the clock, yet he headed for the tunnel...weird

Miami remains the only NFL team to go undefeated and win the Super Bowl….

Eli is no longer Peyton’s little brother…He is named MVP...second year in a row a Manning is the MVP!

Tom Coughlin, whose job was on the line after week two this year is now the coach of the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS...

A special shout to Dad Vince...a lifelong Giants fan, who we spoke with at the end of the game and he was just so very excited....THEY DID IT DAD!

hummm guess there will be a video posted today or tomorrow over at Mr. Fab's site...poor bas&&rd...thought he was funny and that his team would win...when he posts it, we will give you the link to watch him pay off his bet...

Finally, we will be posting some of our fav commercials tomorrow, but if you want to see them all today, you can go over to SPIKE - powered by iFilm to watch them...we received an email just now inviting us to post them and send people over to the site...

We can not upload the obvious choice, QUEEN "We Are The Champions"...so, since the New York Football Giants are all ready to have one...

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES "We're Having A Party"

TIME TO DONATE SOME RICE TODAY!
<-----------------------------------------------
Build your vocabulary, feed the hungry...
16,618,642,590 grains donated at this point...16 BILLION TOPPED!



Well, it has been a real tiring trip...

Landed in Atlanta and got a call from the plant telling us they were ready for us...Headed on over and began making some color corrections...

Then we had some press problems and it extended the approval until about 7:00 pm...

Went right to dinner and began with a plate of 1/2 & 1/2 (half homemade potato chips and half fried onions), shared by the table as we had a couple of cocktails...

This was followed by clams on the half shell...sweet and yummy...and then a nice blackened rib-eye steak, cooked pink but not bloody...we shared some potatoes au gratin, sauteed green beans and sauteed mushrooms...

During dinner we knocked off two bottles of Silver Oak Cabernet, a most wonderful wine...

Dessert was a shared slice of NY Cheesecake, and a couple of espressos and Sambucas...

Headed back to the hotel around 11:00 pm and got into bed...phone rang about two minutes later at 2:16 am and we threw on the sweats and headed over to the plant...

passed at least 4 cops on the 15 minute drive, all doling out tickets...kept our speed to the posted 55 mph...

approval number two ended and we were back in the car...cops still all around...and climbed into bed at around 4:00 am...

Two minutes later at 6:24, the phone rang and we threw back on the sweats and got back into the car... no cops spotted on this journey...

approval number three ended and we were happy we had grabbed our sunglasses since the sun was bright...we were back in bed at around 9:00 am... slept until 11:30 am...

Spent the afternoon doing emails (business and personal) and sliding down our sidebar visiting our friend's blogs...and writing this post...

real drained, it is not as easy as it used to be...when we were in our 30's we did 56 hours straight in Chicago and when we were done we went out drinking to try and break the buzz...drank for about 3 hours and then headed to our hotel where we watched a movie on HBO until 6:00 am...slept for 12 hours...

Last approval will be at around 8:00 am this morning and then we will probably head to the airport and see if we can get out of dodge by going stand-by on an earlier flight than our schedule 5:26 pm flight...weather seems to be in a flux for today in Memphis with some possible ice and even snow...should make for some fun travel

We are wondering why our visits are really down recently...we see people on other blogs who were regulars here and yet they do not show up and take their seat on The Couch...it makes us wonder why...

we will just accept that some people have decided they are not pleased here or with us any longer...

You can talk about posting for yourself as much as you want, but when you see these kind of things it is sad and frustrating...

OK, enough...we are tired and allowing ourself to blabber about this and feel all creepy...

If we had not made a vow to never delete something we wrote here early on, you probably would not even be reading this...



Sunday is the big day for the NFL...BIG BLUE vs. THOSE OTHER GUYS...and in case you didn't know, our son Matt is a huge NE fan...OK, so making him live in MA from 5 until 10 did have a lasting effect, sue us !

We will leave you this week with more more commercial and a wish that the commercials this year live up to the hype and not be as boring as they have been the last two years...

We always come back to this ad...arguably the most famous Super Bowl commercial ever... The story of the creation and decision to air the commercial is as interesting as the commercial itself.

It was directed by Ridley Scott right after he finished the legendary "Blade Runner".

The 60-second film was created by the advertising agency Chiat/Day, with copy written by Steve Hayden.

The film was shot in London and most of the actors were British skinheads hired for the day at a cost of $125 each, as the director was unable to find enough actors prepared to shave their heads.

It was shown to a large audience for the first time in October 1983, at Apple's annual sales conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Based on the reaction of the sales team and management reviews, Apple executives booked two television advertising slots during the upcoming Super Bowl.

However, the Apple board of directors was dismayed by the ad and instructed management not to show it and sell the slots. Despite the board's dislike of the film, Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple) watched it and offered to pay for the spot personally if the board refused to air it.

The reason the commercial was saved from total cancellation was the result of an act of defiance and an act of bravado.

According to the book "The Mac Bathroom Reader" by Owen Linzmayer:
“ The board hadn't demanded the commercial be killed, nonetheless Sculley asked Chiat/Day to sell back the one and one half minutes of Super Bowl television time that they had purchased. The original plan was to play the full-length, 60-second 1984 spot to catch everyone's attention, then hammer home the message during a subsequent commercial break with an additional airing of an edited 30-second version.

Defying Sculley's request, Jay Chiat told his media director, Camille Johnson, "Just sell off the thirty." Johnson laughed, thinking it would be impossible to sell any of the time at so late a date, but miraculously, she managed to find a buyer for the 30-second slot. That still left Apple with a 60-second slot for which it had paid $800,000."

The commercial that launched the Macintosh is purported to have been shown only once; but to qualify for 1983's advertising awards, the commercial also aired on December 15 at a small TV station in Twin Falls, Idaho [CBS affiliate KMVT], and in movie theaters for weeks starting on January 17th.

It is now seen as the first example of event marketing, and is popularly credited with starting the trend of yearly "event" Super Bowl commercials.

It lives on in infamy...