New to the Collection: The Great Dictator (1940)

Every time Saucy adds a new DVD to his increasingly mammoth film collection, he will take the time to provide five indelible scenes that convinced him to spend his hard-earned sheckles on something he could have gotten for free with a DVD burner and a Netflix subscription. This installment discusses The Great Dictator, a 1940 satire of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich by silent film legend Charles Chaplin.

1.) The Globe Sequence
Easily the film’s most indelible scene, it shows a mad man in love with his own ambitions, oblivious to (or more likely, unmoved by) the calamities his megalomania is having on thousands of “Tomanian” citizens. Also, it is just an incredibly shot, choreographed, and acted sequence by a man as graceful as he was bold. Even showcases some early wire work.

Check Your Freezers: Kashi Frozen Pizza Recall

Kashi is recalling about 11,000 cases of frozen pizzas due to possible plastic fragments in an ingredient in the pizza crusts.

The impacted products include the following individually packaged pizzas:

• Kashi Mediterranean Thin Crust Pizza packaged in a 12.7 ounce box and marked with UPC Code 1862732905 3 and Best If Used Beforedate of either May10 12NU, May18 12NU, or May19 12NU;
• Kashi Roasted Vegetable Thin Crust Pizza packaged in a 12.2 ounce box and marked with UPC Code 1862737342 1 and Best If Used Beforedate of either May09 12NU or May14 12NU;
• Kashi Mushroom Trio and Spinach Thin Crust Pizza packaged in an 11.9 ounce box and marked with UPC Code 1862737344 5 and Best If Used Before date of May17 12NU.

3 Quick Thoughts on ... Philly Mag's Very Best Pizza Feature

On Sunday, my dad was telling us about the cover story of Philadelphia Magazine's July Issue: The Very Best Pizza. He said he had checked inside to see if our blog was mentioned. I had to smile to myself because he really meant it. Alas, The Pizza Project has not yet graced the pages of Philly Mag, but you never know what the future holds ...

I was excited to get our issue and read the feature, especially after being so disappointed by June's Best of The Shore cover story. Uh yeah, while I enjoy looking at some ripped, tanned, shirtless lifeguards, I was also interested in hearing about the best places to eat, drink and shop.

But about the article itself - it is great and definitely worth checking out. I love how they divided the winners by category: Crust, Sauce, Toppings, At a Table and Paper Plate. We've definitely got our work cut out for us with this guide of good pizzas to review.

Five Reviews of Five CDs in Five Sentences: Gaga, The Strokes, and More

Angles - The Strokes
The New York-based quintet is just four albums into their career and it is clear that they have no idea what sort of band they want to be. Frontman Julian Casablancas' love for electric sheen has seaped into the band's repertoire and they seem to have forgotten how to do what they do best: write memorable choruses and epic, dueling guitar lines. For every awesome track, like "Taken for a Fool," it seems like you get two uninspired ones, like "Call Me Back," a dirge-like piece of business with odd time shifts and horrific vocoder interludes (the world would be a better place if they never recorded a song like this again). Word is Casablancas couldn't even bother showing up for the recording of this album, choosing to record his vocals on a different coast than the band. If they can't come up with better than this next time, perhaps they should all stop showing up for work?

A Slightly Aimless Rant about...the Beer Guy at the Phillies Game

Went to the Phillies game the other day and decided to get a beer. While I am waiting in line, the guy working the register makes a grandiose declaration: "We card here! Have your identification ready!" I thought this pretty ridiculous in that I am 35 years old, but I acquiesced. I figured they were just trying to discourage some 18-year-old frat guy from standing in the line, and thought their efforts noble. I ordered my Anchor Steam and went about my way.

Fast-forward two innings. I go back to the same beer stand. Remembering the way I was carded the time before, I had my I.D. ready and presented it to the guy at the register. He laughs and says "Come on, man! You were born in the 70s," to the great entertainment of the rest of the people in line.

King of the Case: Smuttynose Brewing Company

Wherein I will buy a variety case and decide what the best beer in it is.

Smuttynose IPA
A crisp, hoppy offering with a fine finish. One of the best IPAs outside of the West Coast elite.

Robust Porter
I'm not a huge fan of porter beers, so I was a little disappointed when I found out that this was the "Brewer's Selection" on this particular occasion (no summer beer?). But the thing was pretty smooth despite its distinctive coffee flavor. I don't drink coffee and would rather my beer did not taste like it.

Playing Hooky: A Wonderful Day of Film in the City!

Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to tell you, my rabid fan(s), about my wonderful day in the city! It was Monday! I go into work after a terrific Father's Day weekend, and I see that several of my co-workers are out for the day. I check my Inbox. I have nothing pressing. There are some little things I could do to bide my time, but nothing that absolutely demanded my presence. A decision was made straight-away: I was blowing the chicken coop and heading out to see some movies. I decided not to tell my wife because she would make me feel bad about going (although I told her later because I have an incredibly wicked guilt complex due to Catholic upbringing and general neurosis). Anyway, I checked the movie times, put in the PTO request, and prepared for a day of frivolity rare in my recent experience.