Cities known foods

 

    We all eat. We all live in places that are known for their own food, by the state or their city. I'm not gonna go through every state, but I will go through some cities to show what food they are known for. Starting with Alabama.

    

  If you live in the south, you will know about a white sauce that is famous around Alabama. It is used for barbecues and smeared on fried chicken. A mayonnaise- based sauce used for southern barbecue to smear over fried chicken or other barbecue cuisines of the South. Never had it, and never will.

 In Southern Ohio, they put chili on their spaghetti. True. Also adding cheese and some onion slices. This was created around the 1920's in a restaurant in Cincinnati. They would do it in many ways. One way would just be plain noodles with chili on top. Another would be called a two-way, four-way or five-way. Adding cheddar cheese and beans and even onions. Too much for me. I'll just stick to the red sauce on my spaghetti.

   Coney Island dogs are not from Coney Island, but in Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota. There are two restaurants that are right next to each other that are considered rivals. Yep, it's true. One of the restaurants is called American Coney Island and the other is Lafayette Coney Island. Never being to Minnesota, I would not have tried a hot dog the Detroit way or the Indiana style, but if you ever are in the Midwest towns, you can try for yourself.

  Chicago always rivals with New York when it comes to pizza. Chicago-style pizza is more like a casserole, but everyone who has been to the windy city would say their pizza is the best. I've had it before and well...it's ok. The pizza was created by Ike Sewell who created Pizzeria Uno which is everywhere today. There are also famous pizzerias from Chicago like Lou Malnati's. They even have a stuffed pizza version as well. Bring your knife and fork. This pizza was not meant for your hands.

   Maryland is known for seafood. The most they are known for is crab. Their crab cakes are popular in mostly every part the oceanic side of the state. Maryland Crab cakes are fish cakes molded into a hockey puck of sorts as using a blue crab of sorts and molding it into a cake. Breading it and much more. They are most known in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland.

 Being from Philly, we are known for a lot of foods. Like soft pretzels, candy and our most famous.... cheesesteaks. There are two famous cheesesteak restaurants in Philly. One called Geno's and another called Pat's. Not a fan of Cheesesteaks, but with each restaurant, there is a certain way of asking what you want. Geno's uses real cheese while Pat's uses cheese whiz. You have to ask wit or witout. If you don't know what you want right away, you'll be pushed to the back of the line. BTW: both are greasy in the bag.

  Ever been to Key West in Florida? Well, they are known for one dessert. Key Lime Pie. A lovely dessert tart for everyone. Key Limes are smaller than a regular lime is. Using mostly that as well as whip cream and a crust, this pie is seen all over Key West. Even in popsicle shapes. Going down to the South of Florida, they are also known for Cuban sandwiches, but if you are in Key West, dessert is king.

 

   New York is a double header. Why?? Because I want to talk about two famous foods of New York. First, the Hot dog. New York is known for many versions of hot dogs. Nathan's Famous, Papaya King and many more. Using Sauerkraut and mustard on their dogs while...in Chicago, they dress their dogs like crazy.

    New York is also known for their pizza. In 1905, Lombardi's opened their first pizzeria, and the pizza chains of New York grew. Their pizza is the opposite of Chicago in every way by being thin to even foldable and portable.

  Every city in every state has their own foods. Seattle with their coffee, Texas with their chimichangas, even Buffalo New York is known for the Buffalo wing. Maine has lobster, Idaho has their potatoes and much more. It's like going around the 50 states and trying every food there. Bon Appetit.

The dark side of Sideshow Bob

 

     Even if Cartoon Characters are not real, some of them feel as if they're real. Sometimes, we laugh with them, cry with them, even hurt like they do. And this particular character from the Simpsons is one of them. He was considered a normal human being until...he went over the edge on the first season of the show.

   Back in the early Simpson era, they showed Sideshow Bob for the first time as a sidekick to Kursty the Clown. His hair was different, he didn't speak, using a slide whistle to communicate with Krursty. We had no idea one writer would make Sideshow Bob become more than just Krusty's sidekick. 

    Sideshow Bob decided to frame Krusty by robbing a convivence store. Krusty eventually gets arrested, and Sideshow Bob gets his own show. With the voice talents of "Fraiser" actor Kelsey Grammer (who I think is an ok actor) portrays Sideshow Bob and would do so for many more years. However, his scheme is eventually revealed by Bart Simpson.

 Ever since then, Sideshow Bob would find a way not to only escape prison, but to find a way to end Bart's life as well. And that's when his dark side eventually is revealed. He soon marries his aunt Selma Bouvier, only for the marriage to end when he tried to blow Selma up for insurance money. It didn't stop Bob at all.

   He tried to kill Bart in a later season as well as run for Mayor. It didn't work since he rigged the election making Mayor Quimby lose by using dead voters to make his chances better at winning. He even threatened to destroy the house for a Matlock express way. 

    The more we see him in later seasons, the darker Sideshow Bob becomes. He even tried to blow up Springfield using an antique bomb. Threatening them that Television should be rid of immediately. The only one that doesn't agree is...Krusty the Clown. Let's just say, he was found and arrested after his attempts to kill Krusty with Bart's help failed.

       We even realize that not only is Sideshow Bob a homicidal genius, but his family feels the same way. Meeting his younger brother (portrayed by "Fraiser" actor David Hyde Pierce) is the same way taking his revenge out of Sideshow Bob because he wanted to be Krusty's sidekick.

    He even faked his own death with the help of his family after getting married in Italy. Almost every "Sideshow Bob" episode is different, but you can see how tormented he has been ever since he was found of being Krusty in a robbery because of his feet, which was another reason of why Sideshow Bob really wasn't dead.

   Sometimes, you can feel sorry for one character, real or fictional, because of what they've been through. Sideshow Bob has been through hell and back many times. If it weren't for Kelsey Grammer's voice portraying him, he might not have been that frightening. Then again, whoever voices this character, Sideshow Bob would still be the same. Getting hit with rakes, his plans being foiled by Bart or the Simpson family or anything else. There is a darker side to this character that only Bart could bring out.

The start of the end of summer- Poem

 

Say it isn't so,

Virgo has arrived,

which means,

summer is leaving,

like sand through our hands,

it has gone by fast,

School has arrived,

and some students have started,

while others fear,

the last day,

of their vacation

leaves start to fall,

season feels like,

the warmth is leaving,

September is upon us,

the routine has returned,

So enjoy,

the last ice cream,

the last swim in the ocean,

the final hot dog,

hamburger,

and corn on the cob

what does it mean,

when the summertime is gone,

does it mean,

our freedom is gone as well,

no

school has started in some states,

routine has begun,

the busses start going,

from town,

to town,

getting kids,

to school

kids cry,

parents smile,

teachers drink,

school is upon us,

as,

summer vanishes,

before our eyes,

summer has come and gone,

as usual,

as this,

is the start,

of the end,

of summer.

sigh 

New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

 

    As you know...I'm not a huge fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (series or movie) but there are some positives and negatives of each one. With the movie, there is a new TMNT movie that is now out in theaters.

     Created with the help of Seth Rogan, this movie is a Nickelodeon production with some teenage boys voicing the four turtles Leo, Raph, Mikey and Donatello. 

   When it comes to TV show versions, there are two good ones and two ones that look... as if they weren't needed. The original 1988 version is one of the good ones where the late James Avery (aka Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince of Bel Air) voices the villainous Shredder. It was considered a pretty good show. Although April would be captured more than the turtles and they were pretty goofy barely using any of the weapons they had.

   There was another version that I never saw since it was short live. Only was in one season and was gone. There was a hiatus until 2012. I told you about that version and how much I liked it. Lasting four seasons and having the fifth season being called "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Even having some episodes mash up with the 1987 version.

    April was more a teenager than a woman in this version who has superpowers and can sense when she and the turtles are in danger.

      The movies had a smiler and different look to the turtles. Back in the early 1990's, the late Jim Henson made a movie having people be in suits and having the turtles in a live action situation. They did two other movies after the first one. The second one involved ooze and a kidnapped scientist. At the end, Vanilla Ice rap song is played and well...you know what happens. 

    There was another version called TMNT. I had no idea what it was about. I thought it couldn't get any worse until Michael Bay decided to make his own movie that nearly tarnished Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's reputation. Michael Bay is known for making movies and well...destroying childhood memories in the process. His version.... well, he made two and they both were not strong movies.

   What do I think of this new reincarnation of the turtle's movie created by Seth Rogan? It seems harmless. You have good voice acting from Seth Rogan, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, Ice Cube, John Cena and many more. Will I see this movie? I don't think so. This movie is more meant for pre-teens and teenagers. Maybe I'll see it in the future, but.... will it be great? I don't know, will have to find out if there will be another version of the TMNT in the near future.

Has Comedy gone too far?

 

    Back when the world was safe, we had comedians like Bob Hope, Jerry Seinfeld and others that would make us laugh. But then there are others that...well make our brains hurt. At times, you never can tell who will be that comedian that takes a step too far when it comes to comedy routines. Sometimes, they would say or do things that could anger someone.

   Jokes can be funny, but some can be hurtful as well. You just have to know what material is appropriate as well as funny for everyone to laugh at without anyone getting hurt. Some comedians can talk about private parts and puking and other stuff. Sometimes it can be funny; other times it might be offensive to someone who doesn't laugh. There are some comedians that have been banned for inappropriate things.

      Ever since the 'MeToo' movement, people have been coming forward saying that certain celebrities, some comedians, have been targeted for sexual harassment. Sometimes, it's true, other times the person telling news cameras that they were harassed...never happened. There are comedians that can never show their face again for many reasons and not just because of Sexual Harassment; it could be anything that triggers something.

    

   Will Smith, who's not much a comedian, had his life changed after the Oscars when Chris Rock made a joke about Will's wife have hair loss. He chuckled at first, then Will went over and slapped Chris in the face. He's since have apologized for his behavior. Even though Chris should not have made that comment a joking manner, it didn't mean Will should have slapped him in the face. Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

 Louis C.K. was a comedian who had his own show. He was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl in the MeToo movement. I don't know if he's doing anything now, but he used to voice a dog in 'Secret life of Pets' but Patton Oswalt took over in the sequel which I think is better than the original. I think.

   Some comedians were never funny and never know when to shut up. Dane Cook, Carrot Topp, Kathy Griffin, Amy Schumer (don't hate me), George Lopez, Michael Richards, Jamie Kennedy....they all are horrible comedians. Michael Richards used to be Kramer on Seinfeld, and I thought he was funny, but his comedy went down the drain when he became racial insensitive to a few people who were leaving his show and spatted out racial slurs to them.

   Some comedians can be funny, but they have to be careful what they say. Martin Lawerence was banned from SNL for his inappropriate jokes for women's hygiene. Some comedians have to be aware of what they're saying now a day. Even with politics. Even since (you know who) became President, people have been careful with what they're saying.

   Some comedians can be gross mentioning not only bodily functions, or even sex. Sometimes some comedians have to be aware of what they're saying and praying that they don't offend anyone or get banned for life at certain comedy clubs. Some comedians can be raunchy, and still funny at the same time. Or just plain funny like Steven Wright and his comedically timed jokes. 

   Comedy might have gone too far depending on comedian as well as the reasoning. It doesn't mean all comedians are considered raunchy or crude or raciest. It depends on the situation as well as the subject matter. But you have to be careful what you say. If you think it's funny but might be wrong to say in public, then keep it to yourself. You can make people laugh without hurting feelings. But in comedy, there is a thin line between laughter and going too far with a joke.

Klondike bar history

         Ever heard of the saying, "what would you do for a Klondike bar?" When I was little, that always the phrase that was said in every commercial. They would tempt someone with a Klondike bar to do stupid things like bark like a dog. Now, if they asked me...I would say, "absolutely nothing." I never cared for that type of bar. But how did it get its start?

    

     A man named William Isaly found the product in Ohio around the 1900's. He named the product not after the bear the Klondike River in the Yukon of Canada. In the 1920's, he created the packaging that was the iconic silver wrapper with a polar bear on it. 

 

     The Klondike Bars were sold in Isaly Dairy stores before being sold to Good Humor years later. They moved their company around and created new bar flavors. Some of their bars are chocolate, Oreo, Heath, Reese's.... I have a feeling that Hershey was another company Klondike was partnered with to create these bars.

      In Philly, they created a new product called the Choco Taco. A Taco shaped Ice cream bar topped with chocolate sauce, nuts and more. It was considered a hit everywhere and became a staple in the Klondike Bar world. Everyone loved it.... I wasn't a fan. Sadly, the Choco Taco is no more. Enjoyed by millions from Jack and Jill/Unilever ice cream company which was also a part of the Klondike bar company, it seemed the Choco Taco left us around 2022. Why? No one knows, but not everything is known to last forever.

    

      There is one product I love and will buy from Klondike. Resembling the brand Big Boy, the Klondike has created a small square ice cream sandwich that is perfect for snacking. I enjoy it. And with Ice Cream Sandwich Day being yesterday, I had one. 

       Klondike also has products like Kandy Bars, Cones, Shakes and many different flavors of Klondike bars. Klondike had to cancel a few products just like the Choco Taco, but they have more versions of Ice cream bars and sandwiches to last a lifetime for any fan of ice cream. 

   Ever since the Choco Taco was discontinued, people have been making their own homemade version of the Choco Taco. There are some recipes online that shows how to make any Klondike ice cream treat. From the Choco Taco to their own bars. It amazes me that the bar doesn't melt while in production. Must use liquid nitrogen or something to transport.

    Many years have passed. Almost 123 years since Klondike began production and it hasn't stopped since. Even if they discontinued some products, it doesn't mean it'll stop making new ones. The latest new product they have made was making their Klondike bars smaller. I guess with every food inflation going on, Klondike is another. They even have created small cones for people who don't care for the original treat.

  So once again..... "What would you do for a Klondike bar?"