Dear Crasstalk COW


Happy Friday, Crasstalkers. Thanks for stuffing my inbox with nominations this week. Now just remember to do it every week until the end of time. Hit the jump for my recap of this week’s posts and, of course, your Comment of the Week.
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Adam Yauch, Co-Founder of Beastie Boys, Dies at 47

Another great artist and innovator of music died today. Adam Yauch, also known by his handle, MCA, passed away. He had been battling cancer since 2009 and was most recently unable to attend the group’s well-deserved induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Yauch, together with Mike “Mike D” Diamond formed a punk rock band back in 1979. Later, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz joined Yauch and Diamond to become who we have known since then as the Beastie Boys. They were three rowdy and wild white guys from New York who started out as a punk rock band but quickly transitioned to hip hop. Their in-your-face style invaded the hip hop music scene and brought it to the forefront of MTV and radio. There is hardly any person in the generations since then who doesn’t know the party anthem, (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party). Continue reading →

How Much Twee is Too Much?

Having a positive outlook isn’t usually a deal breaker in a relationship or in life, even though sunshiny people make our left eyes twitch if we’re not caffeinated enough. But then there’s the twee personality, or the twee affect, or the shroud of perpetual happy that’s all consuming in a way that’s only supposed to surround Pixar animation or most everything found on Etsy.com. Continue reading →

Midnight Movie Review: The Avengers

I love movies. More importantly, I love seeing movies before almost everyone else. Certain movies will get me to the theater at midnight, so I figured I’d see them first and write a review the next day so you can get a real review from someone that isn’t a Hollywood hack.

In this installment… The Avengers. There will be spoilers. Continue reading →

British Pubs in Pictures

On a recent trip to the U.K. we spent as much time in pubs as possible. We’d snoop out the proper pubs – old, dark buildings with low ceilings and beams with padding on them so when you walk into it you don’t hurt your forehead too badly.

Mainly we were in search of bitter beer, which is hard to find in SoCal, where we live. The pub food… well, the fish and chips were greasy and the chips didn’t taste as much of potato as they should. Anyone wanting a light meal was out of luck (try the antipasto plate, it’s as close as you’ll get to a salad, most places).

No one even seems to offer a ploughman’s – a trad lunch of Cheddar and/or Stilton Cheese, pickled onions and good bread. Continue reading →