Hello, and welcome to the Phile for a Saturday, how are you? It's Dapper Day, but not on the Phile. Here it's more like Diaper Day. So, who watched the season finale of "Big Brother"? I did, I love that show. Apparently some of the contestants on "Big Brother" were fired from their real jobs for racist remarks they made on the show. But this was the best season for "Big Brother" ever, according to Paula Deen. Starbucks has a new policy. If you have a gun, they're asking you to leave it at home — thus making it easier for them to rob you. According to the Orlando Sentinel, there was a rally to get Tim Tebow to play quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the bad news: Only 12 guys showed up. The good news for Tebow? Those 12 guys were Matthew, Luke, Mark, John and Peter... The face value of tickets to this year's Super Bowl will be as high as $2,600. So that's what it will cost the Jacksonville Jaguars if they want to go to the Super Bowl... $2,600. Cher has turned down an invitation to sing at the 2014 Olympics in Russia because of Russia's anti-gay laws. Their anti-gay laws are so strict, men can be arrested just for showing up at a Cher concert. This week Apple released its new operating system. It was nice to breeze through 40 pages of user terms and conditions again. It's been too long. There are so many new features for Apple. The new features will make your phone the most technologically advanced piece of electronic equipment you will ever accidentally put through the washing machine. Researchers at Ohio State say the number of pedestrians who have been injured while using smartphones while walking has more than doubled since 2005. They also confirmed that those injuries are hilarious to watch. Those Ohio State studies say that not only do people walk into traffic, but people have walked off bridges. That's one of the injuries no one has any sympathy for. You are the idiot. You got what you deserved. North Korea says it's ready to resume nuclear talks with the U.S. for the first time in five years. But President Obama said it's going to be pretty awkward... not talking to North Korea, but having to thank Dennis Rodman. Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff is apparently so mad over the NSA’s spying scandal that she has canceled her trip to the White House next month. Of course it didn’t help when Brazil called to say they weren’t coming and the White House was like, “Yeah, we heard.” Let’s see what else is going on in Washington... Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell admitted they have no Plan B if the House doesn’t avoid a government shutdown. Of course this raised a lot of questions, like, "Since when did they have a Plan A?" Spencer Hadley, senior linebacker for Brigham Young University, was suspended for violating the Mormon-run school's honor code by committing an act so unimaginable, so soul-reckoning, so depraved and debased that we shudder to print his actions here. (Please, if you have young children nearby, send them from the room and tell them to hide themselves in a darkened closet beneath a pile of blankets until you have finished reading the next sentence.) He was photographed holding a bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne in a room full of apparent alcohol-drinkers, some of whom displaying gratuitous cleavage. Hadley's football suspension will last five games, but his soul's torment in the unquenchable fires of Hell will likely be eternal. People, I said it before and I'll say it again, the world would be a much better place without guns, religion, and college football. Actually, I never said that in my life. Well, I just said at the top of this entry that today is Dapper Day. If you don't know what it is, it's the day people put on our rainbow tunnel colored glasses and live in an Herb Ryman painting. So, this week the new video game "Grand Theft Auto 5" came out, and I don't play video games, but I have to admit the graphics look amazing. Check it out.
I mentioned that there was a rally to get Tebow to play for the Jaguars in Jacksonville. It beats what Tebow is doing now.
What the hell? Could that picture be edited and trimmed even more? That's terrible. Okay, I have to tell you what bloody Dapper Day is for real. It’s just people getting dressed up to go to Disney World... just as they did when Disneyland first opened in 1955. There was a lot of people walking around work like this today...
Last few entries I showed you the latest trend which is rapper's schlocking their own cereal. Well, another rapper has come out with his own cereal and I have the ad here...
Okay, so, I also have telling you about some sports teams with weird names. Well, here's another one... The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Class A minor league baseball team based in Iowa. A name like this may look really odd at first glance, but when you consider that Iowa is known for its corn, the name ‘kinda' fits the region.
That's so dumb. Okay, so, I have mentioned sports quite a bit on the Phile this entry. It is NFL season, and like the last two years I have invited my good friend Jeff to the Phile to talk football. So, once again, it's...
Me: Hey, Jeff, welcome back.
Jeff: It's great to be back on the Phile!
Me: So, before we start, the Giants lost.
Jeff: If it's any consolation the Steelers lost too, so we are both in a bad way this year.
Me: That's good, I guess. So, what's the big NFL news this week?
Jeff: The biggest news was the Manning Bowl, which featured Peyton versus Eli. As you have mentioned, Peyton won. I did not know this fact, but since being drafted, Eli Manning has thrown more interceptions than any other quarterback in the NFL. But at least he has more Super Bowl wins than his big brother.
Me: I am starting to think the wrong Payton is playing for the Giants. Any other big football news?
Jeff: I would say the other big news this week is that both the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs sit in first place at 2-0. I think Kansas City is even more surprising with a new head coach in Andy Reid, new quarterback and the number one draft pick who really hasn't lived up to the hype just yet. It feels like a long time since any one in the AFC East has been in first place other than the New England Patriots. But right now it is the Miami Dolphins with second year quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Me: I do not like the Dolphins. Okay, so, how did we do last week? I take it Lori is still in the lead, am I right?
Jeff: Lori is indeed still in first place. All three of our teams lost this week, However you and I both sit at 1-3 while Lori is at 4-0. She leads by ten points after two weeks.
Me: Damn! Well done, Lori. Okay, this weeks picks... I'm suck at this. I say Lori's Eagles will win by two and the Cowboys will win by 5. What do you two say?
Jeff: Her picks this week are Seattle to win by five points and San Diego by three points. My picks this week are Packers by four points and Buffalo by three points.
Me: Alright, I will see you here next week.
Jeff: See you next week!
Man, that's just a shitty logo. Haha. Well, last week Erin Hannigan, the Health Care Campaign Manager for Organizing for Action was here. She's here again to talk about healthcare again. So, please welcome back to the Phile... Erin Hannigan.
Me: Hello, Erin, welcome back to the Phile. So, you have a question for me I was told...
Erin: Hi, Jason. Yes, what can you buy for less than $100 a month?
Me: Comic books, Blu-rays, a lot of stuff I can think of. Action figures... but that's not you have in mind I take it.
Erin: Jason, for six in ten Americans who are uninsured, it'll soon get you health insurance.
Me: Are you sure?
Erin: Yes. That's not just a cool stat I cooked up... this is what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported this week.
Me: I don't believe you. Haha.
Erin: Go on... check it out yourself. And be sure to pass it on.
Me: Sure, I'll go ahead and do that right now, Erin. Anyway, this is important news, right?
Erin: This is news everyone needs to see... especially the people who don't currently have health coverage.
Me: So, Omabacare is working?
Erin: Obamacare is working, and this is one big way how. And I have a cool graphic to share this fantastic news about Obamacare.
Me: Wow, that is good news.
Erin: Now for the bad news... Would it surprise you to know that the House of Representatives just passed a budget that strips all funding for Obamacare?
Me: They did pass that budget?
Erin: Yes, and there are just 9 days left to avoid a government shutdown, and Speaker John Boehner has caved to a small group of House Republicans who want to turn back the clock on Obamacare.
Me: They say they're even willing to let the government shut down to get their way I believe, am I right?
Erin: Yes, you are. This is an excellent time to remind Americans that the law they want to take away is already helping millions of Americans... providing free preventive care, ending lifetime caps on coverage, and preventing anyone from being denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, just to name a few.
Me: And Obamacare will help more?
Erin: Obamacare is about to start helping millions more the fact that six in ten Americans will have a chance to get good health care for $100 or less a month is something we need to be shouting from the rooftops.
Me: Is there anything you want the readers of the Phile to do?
Erin: Spread the word, and help expose the members of Congress who are desperately, repeatedly still trying to tear down health care reform.
Me: Thanks, Erin, and keep us posted.
Erin: Thank you, Jason.
I don't see the point of that graphic Erin had. It said the same thing she said, am I right? Oh, well. Alright, the 35th artist to be pheatured in the Phile's Art Gallery is Branko Vranic, and this is one of his pieces...
I know someone who would love that piece. Branko will be a guest on the Phile a week from today.
Today's pheatured guest is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian legendary heavy metal band Anvil. Their latest album "Hope in Hell" is available on iTunes and they will be appearing next at Inferno Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 1st. Please welcome to the Phile... Steve "Lips" Kudlow.
Me: Hello, Steve, how are you? Welcome to the Phile.
Steve: Good.
Me: You guys have some interesting names. Tell the readers who is in the band. And where did the name Anvil come from? It is very heavy metal sounding.
Steve: Myself Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner, Glenn Five... because the band started in a time that metal music started to be become popular we had the choice of names that later came to be, but the early bird get's the worm... an anvil is used to bend and shape metal objects... what better name could there be?
Me: I guess you don't really have unusual names. Steve, I first heard about you guys when you were on Conan's "Tonight Show". That was your first major appearance on an American talk show, right?
Steve: It was actually our second time. We did Jimmy Kimmel about a month or two earlier.
Me: Okay, Is this your first appearance on an on-line blog?
Steve: Is that supposed to be funny?
Me: Ummm... not really. Okay, after I saw you guys on Conan's show, I checked out your documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil. How did you guys come up with the idea to make a documentary?
Steve: We didn't!! It was an old fan and friend, Sacha Gervasi, we had known from the early eighties got back in touch with us... he had grown up to become a screen writer in Hollywood. It was his idea.
Me: I am sure it got you a lot of fans who didn't really know who you are, Steve. Did it help a lot in that nature?
Steve: There is no doubt what so ever that our audience has grown and that we have become recognizable when seen in public places.
Me: I read and was told if it wasn't for you guys there would be no Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica, so thanks a lot! Haha. I am sure you guys are fan of those bands, but what other bands are you into? Is there anybody you listen to that's not heavy metal?
Steve: It is the public that label music... there's only two kinds!!! Good and bad!!!! I still listen to what I grew up with. This music was the true renaissance of electric guitar.
Me: Okay, when did you start to play guitar, Steve?
Steve: As the Beatles and Rolling Stones began to emerge I began playing guitar. I started at 10 years old in 1966, so I witnessed and was influenced by what was around me. One year later Jimi Hendrix put out "Are You Experienced" and changed the electric guitar forever. There was an onslaught of great players and music to be part of what I love and listen too.
Me: What about Foghat?
Steve: Interesting you ask that!!! Amazing band!! Always loved this band for it's incredible arrangements of rock and roll style heaviness. Dave's voice was brilliant... really brave and courageous person to go out on the road til he died!!!
Me: Yeah, he was. Steve, what part of Canada are you from?
Steve: Toronto, Canada
Me: I ask all Canadians I interview if they are fans of one of my favorite bands ever so I will ask you. Are you fans of the Barenaked Ladies who are also from Toronto?
Steve: No, not my type of music although I'm aware of their popularity and wish them all the best...
Me: I am sure you guys have seen your share of barenaked ladies over the years. Do you still get groupies at your shows?
Steve: I don't know!!! I'm married!!! I suppose any girl seen back stage is a groupie... better not tell my wife that!!
Me: I have to ask, were you guys in The Green Hornet? How did that happen? That was pretty cool.
Steve: Michel Gondry saw the Anvil movie and asked us to do a cameo in The Green Hornet.
Me: Okay, let's talk about your latest album, "Hope in Hell". How many albums have you guys recorded over the years?
Steve: This is our 15th studio recording.
Me: How long has the band been together?
Steve: Robb Reiner and myself have been playing together since 1973.
Me: Did you guys write all the songs on the album?
Steve: Yes.
Me: And you came out with best of album called "Monument of Metal: The Very Best of Anvil". How did you guys go about choosing the songs to be put on there?
Steve: Very best of? I think that's completely subjective. We compiled what we thought was a good cross section of songs. No real reasoning about it... we just chose songs we still like after many years.
Me: Does it feature songs from your whole career?
Steve: Most of it!!
Me: You guys are big in Europe, and play a lot of shows over there. How do you compare shows in Europe and America?
Steve: Americans seem to understand my English a bit better... LOL... other than that very little difference.
Me: Have you ever played in Orlando?
Steve: Yes... a few years ago at the House of Blues.
Me: What has been your favorite show you have ever done, Steve?
Steve: I don't have a favorite show... every night is special.
Me: Do you find in your audiences more of a younger crowd?
Steve: Age is of no consequence... people of all ages like timeless metal music.
Me: Steve, thanks so much for being on the Phile, it truly is a huge honor. Do you have a website you wanna plug?
Steve: Anvilmetal.com.
Me: Thanks again, and I hope you will be playing and touring for many years to come, Steve. Take care, and come back again please.
Steve: Thank you.
That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Jeff Trelewicz, Erin Hannigan and Steve "Lips" Kudlow. The Phile will be back tomorrow with Demetrius Green, CEO of Full Moon Entertainment Pictures and then Monday with songwriter Jill Krachmer. So spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Strawberry Blondes Forever!
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