Sunday Leftovers: Volume 02: Issue 17

Howdy true be-loggers, welcome to Sunday Leftovers! This week was heads down and heavy into work, but I did manage to catch a concert. With that said, let's open the fridge and see what's left over.

[The Back Window]


CREDIT: S. Caruso



CREDIT: The Lemonheads

[Children in all the wrong places]

Earlier this week, my wife's pal emailed me a funny article on babies in bars. My take on the situation is parents should not bring babies in bars UNLESS someone you are really close with owns it and they are cool with the kid being in there (for fun or for a small visit). I really do sympathize with a parent wanting adult interaction, but people go to bars to get away from kids. Seriously. I don't think patrons should have to filter themselves because a parent exhibited bad judgment.

On the flip side, if a parent WANTS to expose their children to human vices and dark smelly places - for whatever reason - go for it. But don't crinkle your nose at the drunk slob passed out at the bar, you knew there was a chance that slob was going to be there, so accept the risk. I am sure everyone has a cute story about "little Katie dancing in the corner bar" when she was two - but little Katie's parents didn't make it a freakin' weekly routine (or Katie's dad was the town drunk and Katie is now "dancing" for a living).

I will muddy the water a little more. Some parents can get away with taking their kids out because they know how to control their children and others cannot. I went out to dinner with my cousin, his wife, and their three year old on Friday and it was perfectly fine because they were all over him when he was even hinting at acting up. The kid got to eat some delicious Mexican food and the other patrons got to watch a cute well-behaved toddler order a sandwich at a Mexican place. This morning I went out to brunch with my wife's family and another group brought a baby and she was screeching the entire meal. If you have to go out with a young kid, don't go to a small quiet place - go to Friendly's. To the parents: Yes - your life is stressful right now and you don't know how to control your baby... don't ruin it for the rest of us... stay home until you have a handle on things or hire a baby sitter. Everyone (including your baby) will thank you.

[Recipe of the Week: RIBS]

INGREDIENTS

1. RIBS

For the Dry Rub:
3 tablespoons of sea salt
2 tablespoons of crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons of garlic powder
2 tablespoons of paprika
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 tablespoon black pepper

OPTIONAL: BBQ Sauce (you can buy it or make it)

1 regular can of tomato sauce
1 can of tomato paste
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, crushed
4 tablespoons onion, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cayenne
fresh ground pepper to taste

Cook the garlic and onion until it's soft, and then add all the rest of the ingredients. Simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Keep stirring it often so it doesn't burn, then refrigerate for a few days before you use it. This allows the flavors to blend and mellow.


DIRECTIONS
1. Pre-heat oven for 250 degrees. Insert RIBS. Cook for 4 hours
2. Take out the RIBS (OPTIONAL: Brush with BBQ Sauce). Now place the ribs on your grill. Have it set to high to sear in the flavor. Cook for an additional 25 minutes (Keep and eye out for burning).
3. Take RIBS off the grill and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

[DIY of the Week: Gourd Lanterns]

Since it was so nice this weekend, it had me thinking about the backyard...



[Video of the Week]



[Conclusion]

Sorry I am keeping it short this week, but better to be brief than to add terrible filler. If you need to reach me, you can do so via email at: "blog at joeylombardi.com". As always, don't take shit from anybody.

Smell You Later,
~ Joey

Joey Lombardi | Create Your Badge

Concert Review: The 88 @ The North Star Bar, Philadelphia

Location: North Star Bar
City: Philadelphia, Pa
Date: March 4th, 2010
Opening Act: (Don't know the name)

[Opening Acts]

The last time I stepped foot in the North Star Bar was about a decade ago and I happened to meet John Mayer before he got huge. I was excited to return to the venue to see the excellent, yet under-rated band The 88. We walked into the stage area (which holds no more than 100 people) and saw the merchandise table. My friend Mark struck up a conversation with the girl running the table and she ended up hanging with us for most of the night (she was a good sales person because I ended up buying 2 CDs and a t-shirt for my wife). She let us know The 88 was going to be the third act of five hitting the stage and she didn't know the first two.

I don't know the names of the acts, and for their sake I am glad. The first band was an odd collection of college students. A mostly female band with a big burly lumberjack looking guy playing bass. No guitar or piano player, but they had a girl playing a xylophone (or something close to it). The lead singer had a voice similar to Corinne Bailey Rae - it was beautiful, but the songs were terrible avant-garde, self indulgent, and messy. I think the singer could really make something of herself if she ditched the noise and found a more mellow, melodic act to work with.

The second band was called "Bla" or "Bla Bla" or something like that. The act was comprised of a large greasy looking fellow in a cloth trench coat looking thing and a girl that played tambourine. She did some spoken word poetry while he played the keyboard. He then took the lead and sang a series of increasingly terrible songs. I had the distinct feeling that I wasn't in on a larger joke because nobody could be that bad by accident. Kudos to them for having the balls to get on stage and do it, especially before an act that was actually talented. All I can say is good luck with whatever it is you think you are doing (besides wasting people's time).

[The 88]

After enduring the two openers, The 88 quickly came on and melted my face off. The kid running the sound board had the band SUPER LOUD (my ears are still ringing). For the first few tunes, it was very hard to pick up any of the nuances of the music since it all mushed together. The sound engineer improved things a bit when the band played a slower tune.

The 88 focused on songs from what I am guessing to be their most popular album "Over and Over". That suited me just fine since I knew those songs the best. My friend Mark kinda knows the band (this was the third time he had seen them in the last 8 days). He let me know the new material they were trying out. Tunes like "Nobody Cares" and "Hide Another Mistake" were the high-points for me, but the new material sounded great. Even though there was maybe 20-30 people in the bar, lead singer Keith Slettedahl worked his ass off, dancing around the stage and hitting his trademark high notes.

The set was short and sweet, as the band had to make time for the two other acts. Keyboardist Adam Merrin quickly struck up a conversation with Mark and I got a chance to talk to him and Keith. Adam politely listened while I told him my boring story about how I discovered the band through the TV show "How I Met Your Mother", interestingly enough Adam mentioned that show star Josh Radnor was really a big fan and might have had something to do with their songs being used. Adam and Keith were very nice and gracious people and as we walked outside to get our cab, we saw Keith quietly getting back on the bus to (presumably) prepare for another show (they played 27 out of 30 days in the last month).

I enjoyed the concert and really respect The 88's stage presence and work ethic. Check them out if you get the chance.

Here is a small clip from my crappy cell phone camera:


Here is video for a better idea of their sound:


[A Side Story]

The girl running the merchandise table had a very "Philadelphia" attitude and I immediately thought "she would be perfect for my friend Sean". I have never tried to pull this move for him before, but a girl that I knew who I have been thinking about hooking him up with recently started dating someone, so I decided to not miss another chance. I casually mention him and then pulled up a picture on my phone, she then proceeds to tell me she preferred the company of women and I felt like a total scumbag. The girl could not have handled herself with more class but I felt like I knob. Serves me right for not minding my own business.

:-)

Sunday Leftovers: Volume 02: Issue 16

Howdy true be-loggers, welcome to Sunday Leftovers! After yet another snow storm in the greater Philadelphia region, I can tell you that I am very tired of the white stuff and all the headache that comes with it. After believing the hype, the latest "blizzard" was all bust... but still caused me to stay indoors for two days. There is only so much TV a man can watch. That being said, I was somewhat productive, so let's open the fridge and see what's leftover.

[The Back Window]


CREDIT: Popgun Comics



CREDIT: 1986 - Myspace

[Interview Tips]

I went back and forth on whether I should include this article as part of Sunday Leftovers or let it stand alone. I decided to keep it separate but publish at the same time.

Career Blog: Interview Tips
(I broke it out so people running a search can find it easier)

[Recipe of the Week: Homemade Granola Bars]

This recipe comes from the good people at: Wit & Whistle. Click the link to see awesome pictures. I made a few tweaks (very minor) to mine for health benefits (and I hate chocolate chips in granola bars)

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup of ground flax seed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch pan.

In a large bowl mix oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, flax seed, nuts, cranberries and salt. Make an indention in the center of the mixture, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well. (Using your hands makes it easier to get everything coated.)

Press the mixture into the pan. Wit and Whistle suggests not going all the way to the ends of the pans because it is easier to get out the bars when done baking. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until the edges begin to brown. Cool for 5 minutes, cut the bars while they are still warm, and store the granola bars in an airtight container so they won’t dry out

NOTE: Check out the comments on Wit & Whistle - some of the readers had some very cool alternative ingredients

[DIY of the Week: Post Cards from old book covers]

While I hate the idea of trashing a book, if you happen to have a damaged book and don't know what do (other than throw it out). Give this DIY a try...

What You Need

Paperback book covers
Utility blade (optional)
Corner cutter (optional)

Full article and directions: Re-Nest.com

[Video of the Week]
This week's video we are investigating an odd phenomenon... dogs freaking out to the theme of Law and Order



People with dogs... does this really happen? Let me know!

UPDATE! Rachel Maddow's show has investigated the issue (BONUS VIDEO!)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

[Conclusion]

Thanks for reading! Check back during the week for a review of The 88's upcoming concert in Philadelphia. If you need to reach me, you can do so via email at: "blog at joeylombardi.com". As always, don't take shit from anybody.

Smell You Later,
~ Joey

Joey Lombardi | Create Your Badge

Career Blog: Interview Tips

Last week one of my close friends was asked to interview for a new position at his current employer. Since he knew that I am often asked by my company to run interviews, he wanted to bounce ideas past me. This request turned into a full on mock interview. My friend told me that my advice helped and I wanted to document (some of) it for my readers.

[Behavioral Questions]

I am often asked to run the behavioral interviews; while I follow the rules of the interview process (scoring, feedback, etc), I always rely on my intuition and instinct when recommending a candidate. For me to make a decision, I need to get to know them as well as I can in the 30-60 minutes I am allotted (not just how well they answer canned questions). I level set with the candidates and tell them general things I am NOT looking to hear. I am often asked to interview college hires and they typically use the group project example for overcoming conflict ("someone in our group didn't do the work and I had to tell my professor/confront the person"). I politely let them know that almost every candidate will use it and they won't stand out; I then hint at other areas they might use (since they don't have much experience).

I notice that most people have issues with conflict questions: that is completely understandable due to the corporate world's focus on teamwork. Most people will avoid conflict at work at all costs, so these questions are difficult to answer. My suggestion is to make up a villain in your head. Don't pull this person out of thin air, combine a few difficult co-workers and maybe add a dash of an estranged relative or friend to give you something to work with. Think about how you dealt with several uncomfortable situations and turn them into one person. Think about this for a few days before the interview.

The point of any behavioral interview is to understand your thought process. Many of the questions DON'T have a happy ending, the questions just want to see how you can handle a no-win situation. There is no shame is calling out that you can't satisfy the question as long as you articulate why. Always mention the added impact of attempting futile endeavors (other efforts suffer, stress on resources, etc) - it shows you know when to cut your losses.

General Thoughts:

• I have always said that first interviews and first dates are very similar. If you are terrible at one, I am guessing you will be bad at the other


• Remember, both sides have something to gain from fulling/taking this job. As the person being interviewed, don't think that the company has all the cards. I'll admit that this mentality is easier if you looking to switch jobs, not unemployed.


• Like any long term relationship, you want to know what you are getting into. Google/internet search the company you are interviewing at and also pull a few different job descriptions (from other companies) for the job you are looking to fill. Have a complete idea of what will be asked of you.


• Don't be too guarded on an interview, open up and let the interviewer get to know you. On the other side, don't get TOO personal (don't talk about how you have 15 cats unless you are running a non-profit shelter).

[Job-Specific Questions]

This section is obviously harder to give advice for since specific details are needed. One of the key things I can't stress enough for both your resume and interview is to focus on delivery. Have statistics on processes fixed (example: "I reduced customer complains by 35% by doing the following..."), money saved, people mentored... anything that shows you have been keeping track of your own personal job performance (if you are not doing that now - DO IT). When preparing for the interview, think about all the problems you have dealt with or continually face at your current or most recent job - how do you deal with them? Mistakes and problems are how people learn, use that education as the backbone for your discussion - the people you are interviewing with probably have the same problems (any maybe you got to the solution sooner).

For skill gaps, have talking points that discuss how fast you came to speed on stretch assignment at your other jobs. This is not a sure-fire technique because some things are hard requirements, but it's better than nothing.

[Conclusion]

Keep the first date idea in your head: nobody wants to date someone who is angry about an old flame (or job), egotistical, incompetent, too shy/introverted, or just plan old weird. If you think you are lacking in a certain area, PRACTICE! Get in front of the mirror to work on your delivery and eye contract. Find behavioral questions on the internet and practice answering them (I like to type it all out and keep a database of answers). I love the interview process; if I am the one being asked the questions... being able to prove I am the best person for the job and finding that "Ah-ha" moment in the interviewer's eyes when they agree is awesome. On the other side, finding a great candidate and helping someone move on with their career is extremely gratifying.

I know it's hard out there and you might not be doing something you enjoy, but keep working at it by making the steps you need to be where you want. Good luck getting the job you want.

Frustrating Online Shopping Experiences

Late last week Dell had a really good deal on Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS systems. I quickly ordered two (one for my wife and one for a birthday gift for a family member).

By Saturday, I found it odd that I didn't get a shipping confirmation, but I didn't receive any emails about cancellations either. Today I decided to check the status of the order and it was canceled because they over sold. I received NO NOTICE until about 20 minutes ago (and after I made a call).

To add to my foul mood, my wife and I have been debating about getting a TV for our bedroom for the last 6 months, after seeing the prices come down, I bit the bullet and ordered a nice 32 inch Samsung from Sears last night. They only had a local pick-up available (at a store 8 miles from my house - so I was fine with picking it up). I called today to ask if the order was ready and "WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN STOCK".

I called the main Sears office to make sure my order was canceled (and it was) and I asked if there was any way they could ship it to me from another store... No. While on the phone with the sales rep, I checked the online store again and it was showing as available. I go to order it - out of stock.

Does either Dell or Sears try to get my business by offering a slight discount on another product? Perhaps a coupon? Free shipping on another TV? Nope! I found the TV on Amazon, it was 10 dollars more, but I know I won't have any problems. Fantastic customer service Dell and Sears - I am sure you will stay in business for years to come.

Concert Review: John Mayer @ The Wachovia Center, Philadelphia Pa

Headline Act: John Mayer
Location: Wachovia Center
City: Philadelphia, Pa
Date: February 21st, 2010
Opening Act: Michael Franti and Spearhead

[Pre-Concert Logistics]

Having been to concerts at the Wachovia Center before, the only issue I had was when I purchased the tickets, my only delivery option was will-call which meant we had to stand in line to get them (I bought the tickets months ago). The long line moved fast so it wasn't a big deal. We were lucky to get good seats (third row) and getting down to the floor to our seats also was not as easy as it should have been, but again, not a big deal. One last thing: I have to throw in my gripe about people standing in the front rows so you have no option but to stand if you want to see. Now that it was said, I will move on.

[Opening Act]

I have never heard of Michael Franti and Spearhead before tonight. The band had several backup singers and a high energy vibe. They reminded me of a summer bar band: bright summery tones, an eclectic mixture of musicians who just seemed to enjoy playing. Franti ran out into the crowd several times and brought up little kids on stage to dance. Nice friendly people, good tone. In between sets, the band came to the front of the stage to sign autographs, which was pretty classy.

As for the music itself, as I said - summery pop music with island influence. They weren't the greatest band I ever saw in my life, but they were very good. I appreciated that the booking agents didn't hire some Mayer singer-songwriter wannabe to bore the crowd. I would like to see this band outside and near water - I can see the summer concert series at the Pier in their future.



[John Mayer]

John Mayer came on at 9:30 PM. He kicked the show off with a song from the newest album - "Heartbreak Warfare" All of the tunes from "Warfare" sounded better live (with the exception of the "Crossroads" cover which should just be buried). By the third or fourth song, Mayer started to banter with the crowd and read a sign near us that said "I can play Belief". The sign was held up by a boy no older than 11 (his name was Austin). Mayer brought him right up and to the delight of the crowd, Austin totally nailed it. After a few minutes, he allowed the kid to leave but gave him a cherry red Fender guitar to take home. I always thought John was a decent guy and that was a very cool thing for him to do.

The night continued with Mayer showcasing his extraordinary guitar skills and light banter with the crowd. Every song and every jam was excellent. At one point he teased playing "Stop this Train" but the crowd pushed for "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" (which was great) - I was bummed that he didn't play the other song because it is one of my favorites, but the crowd must be appeased.

I can't say enough good things about the show. Mayer is a professional and gives the audience a fantastic show. We left at 11:20 PM and he was still going. I don't know what time he finished but I was pleased and satisfied with the two hours I watched. Take my advice: Stop reading the tabloids and just listen to the guy's music, go out and buy his live DVD to see what kind of musician he really is. You won't be disappointed (unless you want to be).

UPDATE: I also want to make note of one of Mayer's other guitar players Robbie McIntosh. McIntosh played with a slew of bands including the Pretenders and Paul McCartney. He is an excellent guitar player that (of course) gets overshadowed by Mayer. If you happen to catch future shows, watch this guy play, he is fraking fantastic. Mayer also scores massive points for bringing Steve Jordan from the Trio project on the road as his primary drummer. That guy is AWESOME!

Sunday Leftovers: Volume 02: Issue 15

Howdy true be-loggers, welcome to Sunday Leftovers! During the week we discussed how to avoid computer viruses and I worked alot, but that doesn't mean I don't have anything to talk about, so let's open the fridge and see what's leftover.

[The Back Window]


CREDIT: Korem Shadmi



CREDIT: Robb London and the Rouges - Gloria

[Church: Praise Bands]

I went to church today - I didn't like it. I can easily come up with another religious rant, but I'd rather focus on something else. Today, I am going to talk about praise bands. For those who are not in the know, most non-catholic christian churches want to pretend that they are hip and "down with the teenagers" so they get a group of musicians together and let them play crappy christian rock. I was asked to attend a Baptism today for close friends and was welcomed into the the church with the praise band rocking out in their full glory.

Drums? Check. Guitar? Check. Bass Guitar? Check.

As I found a seat and watched these gentlemen play, I wondered "who are they". Not clean shaven like the rest of the church goers, these men had beards and goatees, balding with long hair (or shaved biker style), and looked like they were out drinking the night before. What the hell are they doing singing terrible songs about Jesus? Men pick up the guitar to meet girls and overcome shyness. Playing rock music at church seems incredibly counter-productive and oh-so-very-wrong.

I finally came to the conclusion that the men must have had massive drug problems, cleaned up, found Jesus, and now rock out for the lord....

After 20 minutes of praise band, announcements, and more praise band I found myself missing the quiet, strict, and delightfully formulaic Catholic mass that I have grown to loathe. Now I know what happened to all the hardcore hippies - they grew up, sold out, and joined fucking praise bands. Go back to the drugs!

[Recipe of the Week: Onion Tart]

I am pulling this recipe from memory based on an old episode of Naked Chef. It might not be perfectly recreated, which I am okay with.
This recipe will serve four.

INGREDIENTS
4 large Spanish onions
4 large pieces of smoked bacon (nice large strips - decent thickness)
1 lb of grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup of cream
salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS
1. Cut the very top and bottom of the onion so it sits upright (make the top and bottom flat). Then start scooping out the middle, but not to the bottom. You want to make a cup shape. Take all the scooped up onion and reserve it. Do this for all 4 onions (or however many you are making)
2. Take the leftover pieces of onion, dice it, and saute it in a small soup pot (use butter if you really want to be delicious). Once translucent, add the cream slowly - you don't want a very juicy mixture, you want it to be thick (you can even add some flour if you want). When the cream is bubbling, add most of the grated cheese (keep a little bit in reserve) and salt and pepper to taste.
3. Wrap the onion cups with the bacon and secure with a toothpick. Full the cup with the onion-cream sauce.
4. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Add some more cheese on the top and set in the oven.
5. Cook for 10-12 minutes

Enjoy (don't have a heart attack!)

[DIY of the Week: Automated Media Center]

I am bringing the geek back this week. For those of you who don't know what a media center is, skip this (or google it). For those that do, this is an awesome how-to.

Set up a fully automated Media Center

[Sunday Stocks]

China Petroleum continues to go down while AIG increases (but for how long). This week I am in the green but I am thinking of giving up on the Chinese stock as historically it spikes but always hovers around the same price.

Joey's Stocks

[Video of the Week]

I can't tell you how badly I want to re-create this video. It's going to happen.

Let's Get Sexy with Craig Robinson from Craig Robinson

[Conclusion]

Tune in later today or tomorrow for review of John Mayer (who is playing Philadelphia tonight). Later in the week I am going to post some helpful interview tips based on some coaching I did this week. If you need to reach me, you can do so via email at: "blog at joeylombardi.com". As always, don't take shit from anybody.

Smell You Later,
~ Joey

Joey Lombardi | Create Your Badge