Here is one of the darkest pieces of Star Wars music, “The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)“, played in one of the Death Star elevators. This clip is from the Family Guy hour-long episode Blue Harvest which is a “tribute-remake-parody” of the movie Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Lovely stuff and quite funky…

Now, I am going to ruin this moment a little by giving some nerdy facts… “The Imperial March” was first heard in Star Wars Episode V:The Empire Strikes Back, so how can it possibly be played in this elevator?

Maybe Darth Vader commissioned this piece of music by John Williams first and tried it out on the Death Star before he made it is own personal theme?

Are you a collector? Yes? No? Records? Stamps?

Now you do not have to choose, you can collect both records and stamps and be twice the nerd.

I have to find some pen pals from the UK and in my opinion they have managed to pick out some very good albums, both musically and with great cover art.

“For decades the album sleeve has been the canvas for some of the most
imaginative graphic artists in the world. This stamp issue salutes this unique art form and celebrates some of the greatest examples, used by UK artists.”

Read more about these cool stamps and other British stamps and postmarks at Norvic Philatelics.

There is nothing like standing in front of a big pile of laundry and wondering where to start?

But today I got some help from the guys in Slayer. I folded the laundry while listening to their new album World Painted Blood. The album sounds great with your typical aggressive Slayer sound and great performances from all members.

But I bet they never thought that they recorded laundry-folding-music… He He

The other day I felt like listening to the song 21st Century Schizoid Man. I have been listening to and enjoying progressive rock for quite some time now but never really listened to the band King Crimson. I guess you need to find the right album to start with because from what I have gathered they are an unreliable bunch when it comes to the music. And when I write they I guess I mean Robert Fripp…? I did take home the album Three of a Perfect Pair from the library but never really got into it, but I am ready now to give it another go.

But I watched a documentary a while ago and on it they talked about the birth of prog rock and they played the track 21st Century Schizoid Man from the album In the Court of the Crimson King and it was just awesome! That track might not have been buried for the rest of the world but for me it was quite and ear-opener and had been more of less buried to me.

I  did a search for the track on Spotify but the original recording by King Crimson were nowhere to be found, actually no recordings by King Crimson are available there, at least by the time I write this. Here it were the second buried treasure is found…

Instead of the original recording I found a whole bunch of cover versions of the song and listened to the swedish death metal group Entombed and their version which I had heard before. After it came a version by the Canadian band April Wine. I have never heard them before and I must say that their version was really great! They have rearranged it slightly and it is kind of a cross between progressive and southern rock.

April Wine was one of those bands which I had heard little about and never paid much attention to. They were lost along with other bands with semi-metallic looking band logos and names like Steel Virgin, Great White and Molly Hatchet.

April Wine’s cover of “21st Century Schizoid Man” is available on their album Harder… Faster from 1980.

Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show. A talk show! On the internet! Totally Free!

I have downloaded and watched a few episodes on my iPod and they have all been entertaining and fun. Why not check out the different guest he has had on the show and maybe you will find a few that looks interesting to you?

I am currently in the middle of watching episode #27 with guest Eddie Izzard. I have also seen Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane drink whiskey and talk about his journey from a small town in Rhode Island to fame in Hollywood.

Click here to go to iTunes and see a listing of all the episodes and different guests.

This absolutely wonderful clip really makes you think… of course they had to eat on the death star.
In my book Eddie Izzard is a genius and one of my favourite stand up comedians of all time. Enjoy!

All this talk about Penne Ala Arrabiata got me hungry so here is a recipe that I will try out this weekend.

I had this great idea for the front cover for my upcoming album but then I saw that REO Speedwagon already beat me to it!

I was going to put on a black tight little number I had saved for this occasion, borrow the neighbour’s cat and take a photo in the all red alley behind our supermarket. But then one day I saw this cover in a magazine and my dream was shattered. They even stole my idea of framing the image with leopard fur.

But to be totally honest I am glad they used this concept before me, I do think my music and this image would have been the perfect fit anyway…

The title says “Pictures This” but I would have named it “Do not try this!”.

It looks dangerous, you could end up with two tongues!

I wonder if they censored this cover art in the record shops at the time it was released? I mean this image if far more dangerous for the youth to see than a crouch or half a nipple, right?

I am now proud to announce that my blog has received the prestigious Official Burgundy Seal of Approval. After many hours and posts I can finally sit back and relax with three fingers of Glenlivet, a little bit of pepper and some cheese and admire my work.

Ron Burgundy: I don’t know how to put this but I’m kind of a big deal.
Veronica Corningstone: Really.
Ron Burgundy: People know me.
Veronica Corningstone: Well, I’m very happy for you.
Ron Burgundy: I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

Why not make your own official seal at:
www.says-it.com

I recently discovered the TV program Grand Designs and I enjoy it immensely. There are all kinds of TV programs nowadays dealing with building houses, rebuilding houses, failed home improvements angry carpenters and botoxed interior decorators. But this program with its host Kevin McCloud is in a league of its own in my opinion with very interesting projects and great insights and information from McCloud.

This is TV at its best, entertaining and educational! It is like my other small fetish for cooking shows… it is something very pleasurable by watching progress from your own couch… but I can not help but feel a little bit lazy at the same time.

For me it has been somewhat of an eye opener, I have always been interested in houses, architecture and design but now I actually feel like moving in to this field of work. But I guess it is not easy for a 37-year-old who has never done anything like this before…

Each episode of Grand Designs is written and presented by Kevin McCloud, who has a degree in the history of art and architecture. In each episode, he visits someone who has decided to build their dream home, or at the very least, undertake a rather impressive build.  His obvious experience with builds such as this shows, whilst at the same time, he often gets taught new skills.

Despite having completed 7 series of the show, each home can most certainly be remembered, and it appears that they won’t be running out of “Grand Designs” to study in the near future.