And 1: Google One Ups Social Approval

Google is officially jumping into the "Like" game that was popularized by Facebook. The new add on for your Google profile will allow you to "+1" search results and eventually will be available on your favorite sites.

Google says that the +1 stands for "this is pretty cool" or "you should check this out" according to the launch page for the new offering.

Watch the vid for more details or click here.

-Paqman

Axing his Way into Your Flute Playing Dinosaur Heart

(All photos via axecop.com)

I'm over 30 years old and I enjoy comics. It reminds me of being a kid again. It reminds me of waiting for that new issue at the news stand. It reminds me of begging my mom for some dough so that I can buy and read part 5 of the Torment storyline from Todd McFalane's Spider-Man.

So why the return to the books? To start, I can afford to buy issues even though they cost close to 5 bucks (in my day, they were 2 to 3). The art looks great with the use of digital color and the story lines are dope. The Walking Dead is personal fave (I read the whole series up to the current issue before the AMC series started). I recently discovered a ridiculously hilarious webcomic through Boing Boing called Axe Cop. The premise: a cop with an axe doing what he does best...chopping heads and saving the world.

The Kardashian Effect

UPDATE: For those of you poppin' by for the first time, take a look at the other posts on our blog. Or even better, tell your boyfriends/husbands/partners about us. Help us spread the P&B gospel!

Hump and Dash ... steppin' out
(photo via socialitelife.com)

If you're only a "casual" NBA basketball fan, or if you don't watch Hoops at all, you may not know who Kris Humphries is.

However, if you're into celebrity news and Hollywood gossip, you may NOW know who Kris Humphries is!

Next Up: Theophilus London

TL preps for his bright future ... with shades on.
(photo via lowefactor.com)

I first heard about this MC/singer/songwriter/producer named Theophilus London when I read a write-up on him in the December 2010 issue of GQ Magazine.  The one-page feature heralded the Brooklyn, NY native as a performer to keep your eyes on in the upcoming new year, and also talked about his unique, 90's-inspired fashion sense ... dude rocks the old school "Game"-brand snapback baseball hats with oversized shades, Gucci blazers, loudly-coloured dress shirts, and white buckskin shoes.

However, the thing that intrigued me the most was how the article described his music, "as if an MC stole the mic at an 80's new wave dance party and rhymed over New Order and The Cure - with some Fela Kuti and Miriam Makeba thrown in." 

I immediately decided to investigate.

Friday Flashback - I Like My Melons Blind Edition

Once Blind Melon traded the old lady in this video for a bee girl, they became household names. This cut is from their brilliant self-titled record from '92. Do yourself a favor and pick it up from your favorite record store. You won't regret it.

-Paqman

Rdio: Uping the Game

(Photo via rdio.com)

Canadian music users and consumers are frustrated with the lack of music services available in our home and native land. Pandora disappeared years ago and might come back eventually. The whole world is still buzzing about Spotify, even though it's not available in North America. There are some services available right now, free or not, but nothing compares to what Rdio (pronounced ar-dee-o) is offering. And they are offering pretty much everything.

Canuck Chef Chuck Hughes Takes Out Bobby Flay in Iron Chef Showdown

Chuck Hughes gettin' busy at his Montreal resto, Garde Manger
(photo via foodanddrinkfest.com)

Congrats to Canadian Chef Chuck Hughes for claiming victory against New York City culinary king Bobby Flay on Sunday night's episode of Iron Chef America: The Series.

The two chefs waged war against one another to determine who could dazzle the judges with their cooking prowess, working with the chosen secret ingredient:  Canadian Lobster.

Hughes impressed the panel of judges with his creativity on all 5 of the required dishes, including his take on a Canadian classic ... Lobster Poutine.

After he was declared the winner, Hughes stated "This really is a dream come true for me.  It was one of the most intense challenges of my life, and I'm so proud to represent Quebec and Canada as a winning Iron Chef."

When he's not busy kicking ass on televised cooking competitions, Hughes can be found running the show at his Old Montreal restaurant, Garde Manger.

Step Into The Madness: NCAA Tournament Update

President Obama wasting time ... umm, I mean ... filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket
(photo via espn.com)

Hoops fans ... how's your "Bracketology" going?

The 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, AKA "March Madness" is in full swing, with 3rd round action taking place all day Saturday and Sunday.

This is by far my favourite sports tournament.

You never know who's gonna beat who ... Upsets can happen at a moment's notice!

Friday Flashback - Ain't a Damn Thing Changed Edition

Sometimes I Rhyme Slow - Nice n Smooth

Taking you back to '91. Enjoy!

-Paqman

In Which DOOM and Thom Yorke Will Pwn Your Cerebral Cortex

(Photo via thequietus.com)

There are rumors that Thom Yorke and everyone's favorite villain, DOOM aka Daniel Dumile aka King Geedorah aka the Vaudeville Villain aka MF DOOM, are releasing a full length album in the near future. Yorke remixed Gazillionaire from DOOM's Born Like This album. Looks like they enjoyed working together. For those of you who aren't down with DOOM, the near future means anytime within the next 5 years. Either way, it will be a release we will monitor here at P&B.

Bandcamp - The Next Best Thing to Being @ SXSW

If you run into me over the next 5 days or so, I might be slightly depressed ... in a random "funk", so to speak.

"Turnbull, why the long face?" you ask.

Answer:  "I'm stuck in Toronto right now .... and I'm not at this year's SXSW Festival."

Last year, the Future-Mrs and I ventured to Austin, Texas for the annual music+film+interactive media festival, with the majority of live music showcases taking place from March 15th to 20th.  There's over 2,000 bands playing in over 90 venues throughout the downtown area.  Austin is by far one of the best city's I've visited.  The locals are extremely friendly, the food is AMAZING (especially at Stubb's, and Lamberts), everything's clean, and it's super-easy to get around.  Go there if you can!

So how do I deal with my inability to attend this year's festival?  Thanks to the good folks at Bandcamp, I sit at home and listen to their free live stream of music from over 470 bands performing this year!

Simply click the link below, kick back and enjoy the music.  You may stumble over a great new band you've heard before.  If you're not digging something you hear, just skip to the next track.

Big props to Willis Mack for the tip on this...

ENTER

Nate Dogg Found Dead on March 16th, 2011

RIP Nate Dogg

August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011

Found dead at age 41 from a massive stroke.

Above is one of my fave Nate Dogg appearances in the classic Regulators by Warren G.

Spin this hard for the whole day

-Paqman

Mos Lib

Video courtesy of Stones Throw Records

We here at P&B are down with Mos Def. On a personal side (in my opinion), Mad Lib is one of the best producers in the game.

The above video is a full track offering for the Mad Lib produced "World Premiere". If this is how the new Mos is gonna sound like, I'm so in.

-Paqman

The West is the Best: Stats (Like Hips) Don't Lie

This is the best picture that I can find that represents East vs West. Nuff said. (photo via smartassradio.com)

For those of you who don't know, I'm an Ottawa Senators fan. I don't need a shoulder to cry on or any type of consolation for this Club's luck (or lack of it) this year. 29th overall. Worse than the always crappy Islanders. Not doing much better than the young and rebuilding Oilers. And most painfully, the Leafs are in the hunt for that 8th seed in the home stretch while the Sens are planning their strategy for the 2011 Entry Draft. 1st or 2nd pick? Nugent-Thompkins, Laarsen, Landeskog, or Couturier? Not the kind of conversation you want your team to have at this point in the season. For more of my Sens ranting, check out my other blog Stranger In Leaf Nation.

The Race is On

I can't remember the last time the NHL Western playoff race was this tight. As of Saturday, March 12th, 8 points separate the 11th seed from 4th. Within that range we are looking at the Kings, Stars, Flames, Ducks, Predators, Coyotes, Hawks, and Wild. The top might change with Detroit, Vancouver and the Sharks sitting comfortably in the top 3 seeds, as the red hot Hawks are knocking on the door. The craziest part of the Western race has to be the 12th seeded Blue Jackets playing with a winning record at 31-26-8. Flip it to the East in the same spot, we're looking at the Devils at 31-32-4. The spread from 4th to 11th on the Atlantic side of the league is 18 points. The West continues to be the strongest side in the NHL year over year. But I've also noticed this trend in the NBA. Was Jim Morrison right all along? Is the West the best?

Concert Review -11th Annual Indie Music Awards- Royal York Hotel, Toronto

Janelle Monae interacts with the audience at the Independent Music Awards

The 11th Annual Independent Music Awards took place at Toronto's Royal York Hotel on Saturday evening.  The award show and concert took place as part of Canadian Music Week, and featured performances from some great "up-and-comers" on the scene.  And with Arcade Fire's big Grammy win this year, it seems like a huge groundswell of attention will continue to be focused on independent music in general.

Friday Flashback - Early Saturday Morning Tribute Edition

Man In the Box - Alice In Chains

Dedicated to Mike Starr, original bass player for Alice In Chains, who was found dead on March 8th, 2011.

Mike Starr
RIP
April 4, 1966 - March 8, 2011

-Paqman

Liked Blake Griffin's Car Dunk? Peep this!

Just caught this on today's edition of "Around The Horn"

Dude's name is Guy Dupuy, and it all went down in Poland of all places!  And1 Live Streetball Tour:



-Turnbull

Wartime Confessional: the Eventual Rise of Gorilla Warfare Tactics

(Photo via goodmusicallday.com)

I stumbled upon this group by accident. It was a little more than a month ago when the name Gorilla Warfare Tactics popped into my view. I usually give newly discovered music a few bars before I move on to the next. They earned more of my time.

Mid-Season NBA MVP Report

We're just past the midway point of the 2010-11 NBA season. Let's take a moment and discuss who the Association's Best Player has been so far.

(photo via washingtonexaminer.com)

Celebrity Hunting

(photo credit: behindthehype.com)

I remember the first time I saw HBO's "Entourage." Must've been around '06, and I was hangin' at my boy Big Jay's crib having pre-drinks before heading out for the night. He popped in a DVD from the show's first-season box set, and proceeded to tell me that the next 22 minutes would change my television-viewing life. He was right. I'd never seen anything like it. It was like "Sex in the City ... For Fellas!" I've been a fan of the show ever since, and as such I've kept my eye out for other projects involving its cast.

Friday Flashback - Hip Hop Classic Edition

'93 'Til Infinty - Souls of Mischief

Oh so mischievous and oh so good.

Dedicated to my fiancé.

-Paqman

An Offering of Limbs

The Thom Yorke Dance Guide including Figure 5 - Empty Pockets and Figure 6 - Karateka ( Dance figures via radioheadthekingoflimbs.com ) 

Now that we've all had the chance to digest the latest Radiohead album, what have we learned? We learned that Radiohead was to save Rock yet again based on headlines from creativity starved music writers. We at the same time learned that Thom Yorke could have been cast as the lead in Black Swan after his performance in the video for the album's first single Lotus Flower. (Quick question: Was Yorke's Black Swan from The Eraser featured in Oronofsky's movie? If the answer is no, that's a sweet opportunity lost.) Finally, we re-learned that Radiohead is the coolest band in the world.