Chick Fil-A vs. Me

I would like to start by saying that I love Chick-Fil-A.  I grew up in Tallahassee, where I ate Chick-Fil-A all the time.  I used to hang around there like a typical middle schooler, crushing over a guy who worked there.  Moving to LA, Chick-Fil-A was one of the things I left behind.  I took any chance I would get to stop at a Chick-Fil-A here in LA, stopping there on my way to Palm Springs, feeling lucky when my return trip was on a Monday and not Sunday.  I also considered it a highlight of going to Coachella every year.  So, I was very excited when Chick-Fil-A moved into Hollywood, about a mile from my house.

Naturally, when they moved in it brought up a lot of discussion about Chick-Fil-A's stance on homosexuality, gay marriage and all around Conservative values.  Honestly, if *I* owned a company, I would probably keep my views to myself and just focus on running a business.  If the owners of Chick-Fil-A hate the gays, so be it.  But, don't use corporate money to fund bigoted and anti-gay propaganda.  It just doesn't seem to make good business sense, if you ask me.  But, that's their deal, not mine.  When confronted by a friend about my support of Chick-Fil-A, I told them that the support of anti-gay marriage was just one franchise in Pennsylvania and it didn't seem to be something that the company as a whole supported.  I love my gays, but I wasn't giving up my chikin.  On the real.

Then a couple of weeks ago this article appeared all over my Facebook News Feed, which clearly states that they don't think that gays have a right to marry.  Pretty disappointing, but I was still planning to eat there.  The food is just that good.  And, in any given week, I really only have an 86% chance of eating there (being that they are closed on Sundays and all).

Which brings us to where we are now.

The local Chick-Fil-A's sponsored the KIIS-FM Jingle Ball featuring Lady Gaga here in LA and tweeted about it.

I saw that they posted that on Facebook, and thought, "Well, isn't that queer?"  Lady Gaga is a HUGE gay supporter and the gays LOOOOOVE them some Lady Gaga.  I would be willing to say that she is probably more gay than most of the gays that I know.  I didn't post a comment on Facebook, but then I saw it posted again on Twitter, and decided to chime in.

I thought it was pretty nice and non-confrontational.  I wasn't saying that they were wrong for their opinions on gays, just noting that it's a little contradictory for them to be supporting a gay icon and hoping that they would soon come around.  This was Saturday.  No one really follows me on Twitter.  I talk to about five of my friends on there, and it's mostly for fun.  The next morning, I'm watching football and see that some jackhole has responded to me. 

Who is Justin Clark?  And, why did he see my tweet?  I don't know.  When I went to his profile, it seems that he tweets a lot about Chick-Fil-A.  He likes snowboarding and was snowboarding after he sent that tweet.  I know this, because his profile was public.  Now, it's not.  Maybe he works there.

I responded.

And then I got this.  From the actual Chick-Fil-A! 

ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?!!?!  Rude.  And, on a Sunday no less.  I thought they were supposed to be celebrating the Lord and not sending asshole tweets to someone who didn't do anything to begin with.  I went to Twitter, and the tweet was deleted.  But, I still have it in my inbox and I think it's rude.  And I think they owe me an apology.  And, as far as I'm concerned....no food is good enough to be treated like that.  ON THE REAL.

My New Favorite Web-Obsession: Florida Mugshots

I have stumbled on the BEST WEBSITE EVER!!!   It's called Florida Mugshots and features the latest in Florida Arrests.  The best visual breaking news to come cross my desk in....EVER.  I know that some might say that it's not good to knock people when they're down, but since I am from Florida, it's more like I am laughing WITH them.  I was a little disappointed that my home county of Leon does not show up as an option to search by (meaning that my stalking of old high school chums will only come to pass if they were arrested anywhere else in Florida).  BUT, I was able to see that an ex of mine was arrested back in 2005 for DUI.  Not a shocker, but further proof that crisis was indeed averted.

So far, it looks like Sarasota County is winning with some hot shots:

File Under:  Time sucker of the day.  Check out the Most Popular, or the section tagged Hotties and Hunks.  If you're so inclined, it might turn out to be your own personal Match.com.  You're welcome!

New Music: Black Keys

File Under:  HELL EFFING YES!!

The Black Keys are set to release El Camino - their follow-up to 2010's Brothers on December 6th through Nonesuch Records.  For those of us who can't wait until then, the band has been so kind to preview five songs on their website (in exchange for your email address).  I am so in LIKE with what I hear so far.  This album is going to be huge for them.  I had already heard "Lonely Boy" since it's the first single and love it.  But, I was excited to hear what else they have in store for us.  "Gold On The Ceiling" is soulful and funky, while "Little Black Submarines" is very Led Zeppelin-it starts out very "Stairway to Heaven"and erupts into an explosion of crunching guitars).  The next track is "Sister." which is very along the lines of "Lonely Boy" and will probably be their next single, though if I had to pick, I'd choose the last track "Run Right Back"- which might be my favorite of the bunch.

Can't wait for ONE MORE WEEK!! 

New Obsession Alert: The Big Pink

I recently stumbled on a band called The Big Pink and have been obsessing ever since.  They are set to release their second album in January, 2012 on 4AD.  It's totally fitting that they are now my new favorite band and that they are on 4AD, because 4AD was the home to many of my favorite bands and henceforth became my favorite record label back in the day (ya know, when people had favorite record labels).  I don't know if I would have made it through the 90's without 4AD (would not have been pretty).  They brought me many bands, but I am mostly grateful for: Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, The Breeders, Belly, Throwing Muses, The Amps and most of all...THE PIXIES.  Love, love, love.

Anyway, 4AD knows good music, which is only one reason you should check out The Big Pink.  The better reason is because they are pretty frickin good.  "Stay Gold" had me hooked, and then came "Hit the Ground (Superman)" which sealed the deal.  January 2012 can't come soon enough!
 

Musings From My Flight: The Roach Coach

Every time I fly it’s a different experience.  Mostly because people are FREAKS.  I hate it and I love it at the same time.  While traveling this week, I had the following thoughts I thought were worth sharing:

Dear woman with an obviously teething baby.  They make these things called pacifiers now.  They’re really cool.  You can put them in your baby’s mouth and it will shut them up.  I’m no Dr. Spock, but I have to think that it works better than the ten cookies you’ve crammed in her face hoping for the same result and instead getting more of the blood-curdling Mariah Carey screams that echo through my body like a lightning bolt.  Make it stop.  Please. 

 I was sitting next to an Asian couple.  The woman didn’t speak English.  Or, if she did, she was incredibly rude screaming out her one-word demands to the flight attendant well after she had passed for sugar and cream for her coffee.  And, while I’m glad that she is nimble for her age, I didn’t really appreciate that she would just throw her leg over my face to get into her seat.  Or, that she - in the middle of me typing this - put me in prime motor-boating position for no reason at all, other than to throw her coat into her seat.  Actually, she probably would have leapt over me had I not tapped her with an annoyed, “HI.” The kicker was when she and a friend across the aisle pulled out a Farmer John’s half-pound brick of ham STEAK.  Unsliced.  She opened the package with her teeth and started going at it like a dog on a bone.  She pulled off a quarter of it, handed it to her friend and then proceeded to eat it as though it were a Snickers bar.  In the wrapper.  After downing the ham, she crumpled up the wrapper FULL OF HAM JUICE...OVER MY COMPUTER and then handed it to her husband, who disposed of it in the barf bag.

 While waiting for the flight in the gate area, there was a woman next to me.  She was older, probably early fifties.  As I’m sitting there eating my $10 sandwich before getting on the flight, I can’t help but hear music in my peripheral.  At first, I thought that the lady was wearing headphones and her music was just really loud.  I was thinking, “Get it girl, you rock on with your bad self.”  But, then it got louder and I realized that she was holding her flip phone next to her head, and was listening to some soothing Persian pop music.  It was annoying, but I was trying not to get myself worked up before the flight (I’m kind of a nervous flyer).  Then, she turned it up.   Not one to keep my feelings to myself, I looked at her and said, “REALLY?”  And, she said, “Oh, you can hear that?”  Um, YES.  I think she was mad, but at least she turned it down and moved the phone away from me.  I mean, COME ON!  I wouldn’t pop on some Pantera (or Pavement, for that matter) and expect for the entire flight to want to be entertained by my choice in music.  What is wrong with people?!

New Single: Common

I was once at a dinner with a few friends and the conversation for some reason came around to Common.  I blurted out, "I love him!" and my friend, who happens to be black, asked me why.  Was I a fan of his movies?  Did I like his music?  To be honest, I was caught off guard.  Why do I love Common?  I haven't seen a ton of movies he's in.  I've seen Date Night and Just Wright (which I happen to love...judge me, go ahead).  I don't know him, though I AM convinced we crossed paths when he went to FAMU.  My friend DJ'd at a club where a lot of FAMU dudes hung out and I worked the door on that particular night.  I do like his music, but wouldn't exactly say that I'm an expert.  I love "Go" and "Universal Mind Control" is on my workout playlist.  But, the reason I love Common, which I was embarrassed to admit, is because he's hot.  Let's be honest.  I mean, I'm not fooling myself into thinking that he would go for a goofy white lady, such as myself, but the guy is easy on the eyes.  And, he has a sultry voice that makes you want to turn the lights down.  Rawr.


So, hearing that Common has a new record out makes me happy.  Because I love him.  "Blue Sky" is a really great song.  And the video?  Well, that'll be on repeat for a minute, as they say.

I'm Baaaaack!!

For all of my loyal readers (I'm looking at you, Melissa-and loving you too), I have been indisposed for the last few weeks.  My computer was attacked, crashed and died. Wah Wah.  So, I've moved on with a new computer that is faster and hopefully better.  Goodbye Firefox, hello Chrome.  Goodbye AVG, hello Microsoft Security Essentials.  Let's hope I have a better run this time.

It's weird how a computer glitch like that can knock the socks off of you and derail all of your forward progress, but it did for a few weeks.  So, now I'm back and better than ever.  You heard me.

In more exciting news, I know you're DYING to know what I've been up to, so here goes:

1.  The Psychopath Test:  A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson

Without giving a full book report, I will simply state that I loved this book.  This is a book that we read for book club (and part of the reason that I love book club); it's not a book that I would normally have read on my own volition.  The book was witty, interesting and made me question the mental state of everyone I know.  Like Jon Ronson, I would have reacted the same way...with intense interest and disturbing introspection.  He finds that many of the most successful CEO's are indeed psychopaths.  Interestingly enough, Wall Street loves psychopaths.  One of the subjects, former Sunbeam CEO Al Dunlap, caused Sunbeam stock to catapult upon his hiring.  Al was pretty fascinating.  He seems fairly creepy and disassociated, but philanthropic as well.  He donated a grip of cash to my alma mater Florida State University.  I guess having a building named after you is a big deal to guys like this.  I think the most fascinating person that he interviewed was Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, a Haitian rebel who likes to brag that he once "had dinner with Bill Clinton."  It's pretty intriguing to watch how he tries so hard to make sure that Jon Ronson likes him, and that he honestly does come across as a somewhat likable guy - FOR A MASS MURDERER.  Spoiler Alert: he's a psychopath.

I definitely recommend reading The Psychopath Test.  If anything it gives you something really cool to talk about at dinner parties (and to secretly ponder as you sit on the other side of your boss in meetings).

2.  Cults and Foster the People at The Wiltern

Last Tuesday I went to see Cults and Foster the People.  Initially, I went just to see Cults.  Their self-titled debut is still one of my favorite records of this year.  I have to say that I was really impressed with their live show.  I thought that the singer was really cute, and they sounded pretty tight live.  What I wasn't expecting was to be blown away by Foster the People.  I've heard their record once.  I do love "Pumped Up Kicks," but I hear it all the time so it's kind of lost its luster.  I know that these aren't the lyrics, but I like to pretend that it says:  "Better run, better run....faster than my bubby."  I did think it said that at first and it made me laugh out loud.  I later found out it's bullet.  Bubby is funnier.  I digress.  These kids put on a damn fine show. It's as though someone told them early on, "Always be moving."  Because they all are pretty active on stage.  They dance, they play lots of instruments and they really seem like they are loving what they do and are grateful for it.  It shows.  If they come to a town near you, I definitely recommend seeing them.  For not knowing any of the music, I really really dug it.

3.  Football

Oh Crikey.  Where do I start?  If you follow football at all, then you will know the weekends I have been having just based on my teams:

NCAA Football
#1 will always be Florida State - I went to school here and grew up in Tallahassee, so there ya go.  We're 4-3.  Not happy about that, but we're still "building" our team.  Yeah, whatever.  I just want to win again!!

NFL
Here's where things get sticky.  I have more than one team, which is a little distressing to my fellow football watchers.

#1 - Detroit Lions - we started off hot as shit for a team that went DEFEATED two years ago.  Not counting them out yet.  We've got some pretty awesome players...Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Suh.  Love them!  We're up against Tim Tebow and the Broncos this weekend, so I will enjoy rooting against them more than any other team this year.

#2 - Philadelphia Eagles - since the Lions sucked so hard, and the Bucs weren't doing so great either, I had to pick up another team to root for.  A few of my besties are huge Eagles fans so it made it easy.  And, I like the Eagles swagger...I am a huge fan of the __Seans: DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy.  And, don't hate, but I like Mike Vick. I hate what he did, but he's a good player.

#3 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I had to pick a Florida team to root for, and they used to be staffed full of former Seminoles, so I got into them.

Recently added:  #4:  Minnesota Vikings - I'm not really a Vikings fan (unless they come to LA.  Pleeeeease come to LA!!), but I am a HUUUUGE Christian Ponder fan since he was the quarterback for FSU.  Love, love, love him.  Now that he's starting (and did pretty well, I might add), I have another team to watch.

4.  Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at The Music Box

I'm sure I've mentioned this a few times before, but Steve Malkmus is my boyfriend.  I could not live without him in my life, whether it be through Pavement or his solo work.  I thought for a bit that I could just ignore his solo work and pretend that Pavement was where it all ended.  But, after the Pavement reunion last fall, I was reminded how much I loved him.  So, we're back together.  I went to see him and The Jicks at The Music Box last Wednesday and the show was great as usual.  Although he was complaining of back pain, he seemed to be in a good mood.  He was cutting jokes.  He danced.  Ahem, he DANCED.  I was bummed that I didn't get any pictures, but the show was awesome and I just wanted to mention it to remind everyone that his latest record, produced by Beck, is pretty boss.

WOW.  Well, I think that's it for now.  It's been a busy month away from writing and trying to get my life and hard drive back in order.  Thanks for listening!!