Billy Mays

I like Billy Mays. Is it me or was his death the most shocking of the week? Ed was old, Farrah was sick, and Michael Jackson was Michael Jackson. Billy Mays was this second-tier pseudo celebrity. He was kind of annoying, but you totally bought into whatever he was selling. You genuinely liked him. And the spots he did recently for ESPN360.com were great.

Yesterday morning I had caught his new show "Pitchmen" on Discovery Channel and loved it. It seemed like this show was a platform that could elevate Billy's celebrity to a whole new level. And then mere minutes later, I heard the news of his death. A shock. Out of all of the celebrities who passed away in the recent week, he had the most upside at the here-and-now for a promising career. The others had had their time to shine like a countertop cleaned with Orange Glo.

RIP Billy Mays, we hardly knew thee.

The King of Pop

I like The King of Pop. Let's for the moment set aside the Michael Jackson of the past 15 or so years, and remember the influential artist of music and dance. There were few others who even came close to being as popular on a global level as The King of Pop. In my mind, he was long gone before last night. The musician we all knew disappeared behind a veil of weirdness and scandal many years ago, but his music continued to live on.

There's no better way to wrap up Top 5 Week here than with my Top 5 Favorite Michael Jackson Songs--and it's tough to only pick 5, but I'll do my best. Share your favorites in the comment section. Have a great weekend!

Top 5 Favorite Michael Jackson Songs
(In no particular order)

Thriller


Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough



Man In The Mirror



Beat It


Billie Jean

So You Think You Can Dance

I like So You Think You Can Dance. It's June and on a whole, TV sucks. The great shows that keep us glued to the tube on a habitually in the Fall, Winter and Spring are on hiatus. Plus, we're outside more, hitting the bars, the park and other outdoorsy type activities. So needless to say, when Wednesday and Thursday evenings come about, I have nothing to watch. Or should I say, I HAD nothing to watch. Because now I'm hooked on So You Think You Can Dance.

You might think that this is just another lame reality competition show on Fox. And, in some ways it is, but overall its much more. In my opinion, and even though the ratings don't back it up, So You Think You Can Dance is a better show than American Idol. It comes down to singing vs. dancing and the popularity of singing styles vs. dancing styles.

As part off Top 5 Week, here are my Top 5 Reasons So You Think Can Dance is Better Than American Idol. And really, there were no witty remarks yesterday about Organization, so step up to the plate and make a comment.

Top 5 Reasons So You Think Can Dance is Better Than American Idol

1. The HOT ladies -- American Idol's singers don't have the sculpted, toned, amazingly hot bods of the girls on So You Think You Can Dance. PLUS--they dance around in next to nothing.
2. The Judges -- No condescending, snarkiness with the So You Think You Can Dance judges. Nygel Lithgoe and Mary Murphy, two well-decorated dancers in their own right, provide helpful, courteous, fair and honest feedback to al lthe dancers. At no point are they ever making fun of the contestants--something that seems to happen on American Idol anytime Randy Jackson opens his mouth. Th only downfall is Mary Murphy kind of loud and obnoxious, but at least you can understand what she is saying, unlike her counterpart on Idol.
3. Voting -- While fans choose which couples are in the bottom three, it is the judges who ultimately decide who is going home. Not only that, but the dancers must perform a solo routine for the judges as a last ditch effort to stay. This process gives the viewers some control, but keeps the judging in the hands of the professionals.
4. Music -- Yes, yes, So You Think You Can Dance is not a music show, that's American Idol. Well, you're wrong. The music makes the performances, sometimes. From Pop to Indie Rock, Rap, Country, Classical, Hip Hop, Bollywood, whatever. The tracks are the originals and almost always addd to the emotions being exerted by the dancers.
5. Talent -- Only a handful of the Idol finalists can actually sing well. ALL of these finalists can dance well, in my opinion. Of course, that's not saying much if you've ever actually seen me dance.
   

Organization

I like Organization. Growing up, I was the kid with the messy room, the doodled notebook, the paper-filled locker, and the wrinkly clothes. No where did I have any context of organization in my life. I had hints of it when applying to colleges, a little more when I was actually in college (especially when applying for internships and jobs) and really fell into a great organized lifestyle in my post-college years. Nowadays I keep my finances in order with a nice Google Doc, and on the job I am in love with To Do lists and Excel. It's actually a rather unhealthy relationship with Excel.

As we continue the Top 5 Week, I shall list my Top 5 methods for organization. Feel free to list your thoughts in the comment section, or just use the space to make fun of me with a witty joke. But it better be witty, or so help me...

Top 5 Methods for Organization

1. Excel -- love it or hate it, you know it's great. And if you're like me, you haven't even scratched the surface of what it is capable of doing.
2. To Do List -- I recommend a legal pad. The larger format and flip-over pages allows for not only enough space to chronicle notes for each item, but a history of your past days as well (great for when it's time to enter time sheets). And who doesn't love crossing off tasks with a big red pen?
3. Post-It Notes -- You laugh and scoff, and call it a mess, but you know what? It's my mess and there's a method to the madness. Post-it notes are the best for taking quick notes and organizing them later. Especially when your thoughts are in sequential order to start.
4. Manila Folders -- Yes, there are still those of us who print out papers. It's not often at my interactive shop that we print out items, but when you do, having a folder (typically per Client) is the best way to go.
5. Binders -- I once quipped that I had a Minor from Penn State in Binder making. I gave my old boss so much crap for all the Binders I had to make (sorry Dina). But, it wasn't long before I found the value in perfectly organized three-ring slice of heaven.
   

CBS Shows

I like CBS Shows. There was a time in the not too far off past that CBS had some of the crappiest shows on television. ABC dominated Fridays, NBC Thursdays and Fox was just Fox. For the past 10 years or so, however, CBS sitcoms and dramas have been nothing but stellar. They basically raised from the dead the traditional sitcom, removing the schlockiness of the 80s and 90s, and creating sitcoms made for Generations X and Y. Not to mention how shows like JAG and CSI took the crime-drama to new heights.

Continuing Top 5 week, I am going to list my Top 5 favorite CBS Shows. Feel free to list your fav's in the comments below.

Top 5 Favorite CBS Shows

1. How I Met Your Mother


2. Numb3rs (thanks Kim)


3. Two and a Half Men


4. NCIS (looking forward to the LA version in the fall)


5. The Big Bang Theory (best show on TV right now)



Honorable mention: Letterman, Price is Right (original) and CSI:NY and Vegas

Amusement Parks

I like Amusement Parks. Recently, news broke that Six Flags was filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. They aren't closing, just re-organizing their books. Perhaps they finally succumb to their incredibly outrageous ticket prices. What is up to now? $40? $60 per ticket? It's just way too much for the everyday family to include in their annual vacation budgets in 2009. And they're not the only ones. Almost all amusement and theme parks are expensive.

But you know what? No matter what the future may hold for these types of parks, and I am sure they will be fine post-recession, my personal past and memories of times at amusement parks will always be joyful. I love roller-coasters and spending all day riding them. I love walking around the park, with family or friends, on a beautiful summer day--catching a show, getting soaked on the log flume, relaxing on the ferris wheel--I love it all.

All this week I am taking a page out of High Fidelity, and will give you a Top 5 List related to what I like. For today, here are my Top 5 Memories At Amusement Parks.

Top 5 Memories at Amusement Parks

1. During a trip to Dorney Park, an old co-worker of mine from my job at Wood River Village retirement home found a doppleganger for multiple colleagues and residents from the home. It was outrageous. At one point, we even found my look-a-like standing in line for a ride. Of course, I had to kill him. There can be only one.


2. At Epcot Center one night on my Senior Class Trip, we were enjoying ourselves somewhere halfway around the world. Well, the final bus of the evening as leaving in the next five minutes and we had to run around the world to catch it. Well, that's what we did. I think we may have even lost one in China.


3. While on a ferris wheel at Dorney Park with my family, we noticed that we could see our car in the parking lot from the very top. Testing out the range of his remote key device, my dad hit the lock button twice to see if it would make the car beep. It did. So what did we do? That's right, we waited for some poor schmuck to walk by it and made them jump by hitting the button. High-class hilarity.


4. In high school, we spent a day, also at Great Adventure, for "Physics Day". Let's just say I did what I had to do and had a very astute group member who excelled at all things science and math. So during one of the moments of down time, my buddies and I recorded a song at one of those Karaoke shops. Five of us banded together to sing one of time's most classic hit singles, a song that will certainly live on for generations to come and will be revered by the scholars of the future. We sang, "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. And yes, I still have the tape.


5. The Dumbo Ride at Magic Kingdom when I was four-years-old. 'Nuff said.

What are some of you favorite Amusement Park memories? Leave them in the comment section!

Joseph Thomas Meginley

I like love Joseph Thomas Meginley. That's the name of my new nephew! He was born yesterday morning weighing in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and a long 20.5 inches. Congratulations to my sister, brother-in-law and the new big sister, my niece. A very happy day for my family! Have a great weekend!

JOSEPH THOMAS MEGINLEY
Born June 18, 2009

Thunderstorms

I like Thunderstorms. The summer brings with it many things: Beach trips, BBQs, Warm weather, Popsicles, Bee stings, humidity, etc. But one of my favorite summertime traditions is the Thunderstorm.

The eerie calm that fills the air before the action begins. There's that smell in the air of rain, stuffing your nostrils as the humidity swelters to capacity. The drip, drip of the first drops, getting larger and larger with each splash against your naked arm. The flash on the horizon, followed by a low-rumble of the oncoming deluge. Then suddenly--BAM! © Emeril Lagasse

And much differently then the misty rain that we all hate, the Thunderstorm is welcomed with open arms. You tend not to run for shelter, but accept the refreshing solution to summer's hottest afternoons. You embrace the Thunderstorm. All around you are rain drops exploding like water balloons throw with giddiness from the heavens. Rivers of water appear out of nowhere on the street. Lightning pops from the sky in all directions, met almost instantaneously with the crack of thunder, no longer just an afterthought miles away. Swirling winds surround you, swallow you up and create a chaotic symphony conducted by Mother Nature. And then--as quickly as it had begun, it is over.

The calm returns, but its no longer eerie, but serene. The remnants of the Thunderstorm and all the moving parts are everywhere, lit by the peeking sunlight. A sign of the chaos being over rises in the sky as a rainbow, met with a grumbling reminder of the storm in the distance that was there only minutes before. Ahh, Thunderstorms are great.

Mouse Traps

I like Mouse Traps. Attention all animal lovers, members of PETA, and those who have an unhealthy love of mice--DO NOT READ THIS POST.

So I came home Tuesday night and found not one, but two, little critters dead in two Mouse Traps. After multiple attempts to capture these little guys, I finally got them. And look, I don't necessarily feel good about killing mice by having a metal wire snap on their cranium. But, when I come home and find little surprises on my counter and stove, that's when I turn lethal. Not to mention that I am moving in a week and a half and don't want the new tenant to have to deal with the mice. See! I'm caring!

My history of mouse catching and using Mouse Traps goes back to my days in Narberth. The Spar and I had a little mouse problem at our apartment and these little buggers were brazen. There were times I was in the kitchen and they'd poke their little heads out just to stare at me. So one day I bought a pack of four sticky traps and laid the first one down under the stove. In less than an hour I heard the squeak of a mouse. When I checked the trap I had not one, but TWO mice on one trap. I set another and caught another. A third trap down and the next day I caught a fourth mouse. (NOTE: We weren't really that dirty, it was an old house in a heavily tree-filled area.) Finally, I placed the fourth trap down, but no dice. It wasn't until I was doing the dishes one night that I saw a little mouse peeking at me from behind the microwave. I pulled out the trap from under the stove and cornered the mouse between the microwave, which he ran under, and the stove. Forcing him out from his hiding spot he ran straight onto the trap. It was then that I felt horrible. He was squirming and stuck. So, to put him out of his misery I broke its neck with a spatula. And he was dead. Mouse number five.

And now, as I have decided that I can't stomach the sticky traps, I went for a regular spring-loaded trap and with one snap, these guys were met with a quick, swift (hopefully painless) death.

Sleep

I like Sleep. And after a weekend of Yuengling-filled Bubba Kegs, camp fires, great friends and late, late nights...I needed Sleep. So I went to sleep early and woke up late, thus a short post. But don't think I shall leave you unfulfilled. To make your visit to Andy Locke Likes worth your while, here is a favorite video of mine to keep you entertained:

Sunny Mondays

I like Sunny Mondays. It's hard to wake up on Monday mornings and think anything positive or pleasant. Not impossible, but somewhat difficult. But sometimes there are little things that can help make that transition from a Weekend of great friends and memorable experiences to the start of the weekly grind of commutes, Clients and time sheets. Sunny Monday mornings can be just the ticket.

When the work week is kicked off with dark clouds and rain drops, you feel as though your head is suddenly Velcroed to your pillow. You need to literally rip one from the other just to get up. And even then the weight of a crappy morning weighs you down, forcing your body back to the bed and your head to the Velcro pillow.

However, when the Sun peeks through the shades and tickles your face, all that weight and Velcro seem to disappear. Your body rises with ease and feels refreshed for the start of a new day, a new week. At least that's how I feel on a day like today. It is beautiful and sunny and even though I'd rather be waking up to the smell of beer, bacon and (Buddha?) the fresh air of the middle of nowhere with some of my favorite people, I'll take a Sunny Monday in Baltimore.

Camp Fires

I like Camp Fires. The sun sets on a hot and humid afternoon, giving way to the crisp coolness of the summer night. Friends gather round, congregating in a circle of tree stumps, camping chairs and cooler lids, to share stories of times gone by and times to come. The faint strum of a guitar string slowly crescendos to a chorus of 80s power ballads. With beers held high and arms wrapped around their neighbor, everybody stands and sings. Smiling and laughing and forgetting the lyrics, the circle in the woods is alive with life even in the dead of night. And as the song winds down, it hits its final note and silence falls among the orange, glowing faces. Silence challenged only by the pop, crack, pop of the Camp Fire.

Touching all five senses, a Camp Fire is in and of itself a living memory. The smell of burning wood, the taste of smokey goodness, the sight of pulsating embers, the feeling of warmth, and the sound of crackling twigs--Camp Fires can take me back to any summer of any year of my life. Whether a family trip, summer camp, vacations, or on annual excursions to the woods for a Weekend, the Camp Fire is the constant connection that binds these different experiences into one, unified happy memory.

As the summer ramps up over the next few weeks, go out and start a fire. You heard me, start a fire. A controlled one, of course. Gather some logs, some twigs and branches, too. Find a pit, a match, some beer and good friends and family. And just let the Camp Fire guide you through the night. It may be a memorable night or it may be a blip in your life, regardless, for those few hours of night, you'll experience the only fire and flame that can be called heaven. Have a great weekend and I hope you enjoy H.T. Adjemian's posts while I am away!

STARTING MONDAY
Andy Locke Likes what H.T. Adjemian Likes

Special guest blogger, H.T. Adjemian, will be filling in for me while I am away on vacation. He's a swell guy and I think you'll like him.

Bacon

I like Bacon. Scratch that--I love Bacon. Bacon is glorious. Bacon makes the world go round. Bacon is the food of the gods. If I were on death row and had to choose my final meal, it would certainly include a heaping (yes, heaping) amount of bacon. Bacon is the way, the truth and the li--oh wait, that's Jesus. Ok, Bacon is awesome. Can I get an AMEN?!?

And these days Bacon is everywhere--we have Bacon-flavored ice cream, Bacon vodka, Bacon sex dreams, Bacon hangover remedies, Vegetarians who love Bacon, Bacon lube, Bacon as a condiment, the Bacon Brothers, and on and on. (Thanks to all the friends who have sent these links around in the past few weeks/months). There hasn't been a product with so many uses since George Washington Carver revolutionized the peanut. UPDATE The Baconator has asked that I post this video of Jim Gaffigan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaK9bjLy3v4

Next week I will be seeing some great old friends, some who I see but once a year at this time. We'll catch up, tell stories, and recount past times, all while sitting drinking from our beer-filled Bubba Kegs and devouring endless amounts of Bacon. It's truly what binds our friendship all together. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

COMING NEXT WEEK:
Andy Locke Likes what H.T. Adjemian Likes

Special guest blogger, H.T. Adjemian, will be filling in for me while I am away on vacation. He once wore a fedora made of Bacon--and ate it.

Bubba Keg

I like Bubba Keg. Do you enjoy beer in the summertime? Does your beer get warm in the summer sun? Yes and yes? Okay, good. Before you continue reading, please take a moment to purchase a Bubba Keg. All summer beer should be drank out of a 52 oz. Bubba Keg. Go ahead, I'll wait. Trust me, this blog will be here when you get back. And to make the time away a little more grand, here is some background music for you while you make your purchase. Sing along if you'd like. *UPDATE* The original Biz Markie video was taken off YouTube. But I found another version of the song (just ignore the video).

Done? Good. In about 5-7 business days, you're Big Ass Mug will arrive. When it does, the first thing you'll want to do is put Beer Inside. After that, just drink. And please, I urge you to go and sit out in the sweltering summer heat with your ice cold beer in your Bubba Keg. It's going to stay cold. And it is GLORIOUS! (Sure beats a plastic measuring cup)

COMING NEXT WEEK:
Andy Locke Likes what H.T. Adjemian Likes

Special guest blogger, H.T. Adjemian, will be filling in for me while I am away on vacation. And for those scoring at home, H.T. Adjemian just grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

Labyrinth

I like Labyrinth. Not because it is an Oscar-worthy film from 1986, but because it begs the obvious question, "What was Jim Henson smoking in 1986?" He was probably hanging with his buddies one night, passing 'round the happy pipe, having a conversation kind of like this:

JIM HENSON

Dude, I am Jim "fucking" Henson. I created the Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock--HELLO!! I am the real Master of Puppets. I can come up with any ca ca story and some Hollywood nutbag will make it into a movie.

STONER BUDDY #1

Duuuude, you should make a movie with Bowie.

JIM HENSON

Oh, God no. Ziggy Stardust? Really?

STONER BUDDY #2

Hehehe, and make him King of the Midgets. No wait, King of the Goblins!

STONER BUDDY #1

Yeah! King of the Goblins.

JIM HENSON

Hmm. That's an awful idea. I like it! Let's have Ziggy look like a strung out Jamie Lee Curtis in a leotard. And he can--he can---Oh! He can kidnap a baby and threaten to turn it into a goblin, while simultaneously hitting on the baby's teenage sister.

STONER BUDDY #1

You are a genius.

STONER BUDDY #2

What about a swamp that farts?

JIM HENSON

Oh my god, that's gold. Yes! What should we call it?

STONER BUDDY #2

Swamp Fart and the Goblin King!

JIM HENSON

Eh. Too literal. We need something more...puzzling...

STONER BUDDY #1

Labyrinth? It sounds like labia. Hehehe.

STONER BUDDY #2

Anything having to do with the female anatomy is puzzling to you.

JIM HENSON

Labyrinth! It's perfect! Now pass me the Cheetohs! Daddy got the munchies!

END SCENE

Do yourself a favor and rent Labyrinth from Netflix so you, too, can be amazed at how f'ed up cult classics are supposed to be made. Enough of this Napoleon Dynamite crap. The kids today need more farting swamps, grizzly goblins, and David Bowie in leotards. God bless you Jim Henson!

P.S. Labyrinth also stars a young Jennifer Connolly.
P.P.S. She calls her goblin friend, Hoggle, the wrong name at the beginning of the film. What does she call him, you ask? Hogwarts. Interesting...

COMING NEXT WEEK:
Andy Locke Likes what H.T. Adjemian Likes

Special guest blogger, H.T. Adjemian, will be filling in for me while I am away on vacation. He's kind of like P.T. Barnum, minus the stench of elephant dung. You'll dig his posts.

BlackBerry

I like BlackBerry. Recently, I was given a great, great new contraption--a BlackBerry--by my work. Now you may say, "New? Andy, get with the times, yo! That ain't new." Besides needing to work on your grammar, you need to understand that I am not behind the times, and yes I realize that just about every business person and their grandmothers have a BlackBerry or similar PDA device. It's just that--this is my first!

I came from the realm of thinking that phones are meant to merely call people. Texting I felt was okay, too. Photographs was pushing it, and anything else was just plain silly. Well, now that my skinny fingers have caressed the teeny, plastic keys, jumped at the ding of a new email, and perused the Internet from the john--all of that is out the window.

Let me just say, however, that I will not be one of those people who constantly check their BlackBerry every second of the day and night. At least after the honeymoon. I apologize in advance to anyone who I interrupt in order to view a message, text my Mom, respond to a Client, or quickly search IMDB to win a bet. I promise it won't always be like this. Just let me play with my shiny, new toy until I get tired of it. Thank you.