Canucks vs Bruins - NHL Playoffs - Stanley Cup Final

This is it! 1,230 games have been completed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide.

(Photo via zimbio.com)

1

VS

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2011 Season Series:

Boston won 1-0

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule:

All games are available on CBC, RDS, NBC and Versus (check your local listings) and have an 8pm EST start time:

1 - Wednesday, June 1 in Vancouver, 2 - Saturday, June 4 in Vancouver, 3 - Monday, June 6 in Boston, 4 - Wednesday, June 8 in Boston, *5 - Friday, June 10 in Vancouver, *6 - Monday, June 13 in Boston, *7- Wednesday, June 15 in Vancouver

*If necessary

What's the story?:

To start this off...it feels good to be right! From the beginning, I picked a Boston-Vancouver final and I wanted to let you know.

Saadiq Throws It Back With Style

(Photo via raphaelsaadiq.com)

Your favorite member of Tony! Toni! Toné! Raphael Saadiq has done it again and it feels good! Yeah! It feels g..ahem...His latest offering "Stone Rollin'" will take you back to a simpler time when soul was raw and recording quality was low.

I am pleasantly surprised after a first listen. If you like Motown, Mayfield and that for real old school soul sound, I highly recommend giving Saadiq's latest effort a whirl.

P&B Approved Cuts:
- Heart Attack
- Radio
- Good Man

 -Paqman

Larry David Brings Back Da Ruckus with Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 8

The summer TV season got a whole lot better when HBO announced that Curb Your Enthusiasm would return for an 8th Season.  The premiere will go down July 10 at 10PM on HBO.  

-Turnbull

NBA Finals Preview

photo via callthecomputerdoctor.com

I've been calling for the demise of the Miami Heat since the first round of this year's playoffs.  Hasn't happened.  Will the Heat keep sizzling and end up hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy?

Can Dallas exorcise the demons from their 2006 Finals loss to Miami, and win their first NBA title in franchise history?

Random Acts of Comedy: Zach Galifianakis on the YouTube

(Photo via unrealitymag.com)

Surfing on YouTube can take you to some strange places. Thankfully I landed on some great Zach Galifianakis vids this weekend. My faves are the segments produced for Funny Or Die called "Between Two Ferns".

R.I.P. Mr. Gil Scott-Heron

photo via ilistensoyoudonthaveto.com

Gil Scott-Heron, the legendary soul music singer and often considered "forefather" of rap music, has passed.  He was 62 years old.

Best known for his 1970's politically and racially charged spoken-word composition The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Scott-Heron's career was experiencing a resurgence as of late.  His 2010 album I'm New Here was critically acclaimed, and collaborations with contemporary artists such as Blackalicious, Reflection Eternal, and Jamie XX have brought his music and style to a new generation.  

His work has also been notably sampled by Kanye West, who used elements of Scott-Heron's

"Comment #1" on the closing track "Who Will Survive in America" from the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album.  West also sampled the track "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" on "My Way Home" from his Late Registration LP.

-Turnbull

The Huffington Post Launches Canadian Edition

(Photo via huffingtonpost.ca)

Popular news website The Huffington Post launched a Canadian version of their service yesterday. HuffPost is an online only news/blog site that has great commentary as well as great international coverage.

HuffPost has mobile apps for the American version of the site on most devices, but no word as of yet if the Canadian version will become a reality. I, for one, am excited about this and look forward to see how fellow Canucks will react to this new player in the Canadian market.

A few guest writers of note from the first 2 days since the launch: Georges Laraque, Elizabeth May, David Suzuki and Meg Tilly. Check it out and let us know what you think.

-Paqman

Friday Flashback - "Song that Thom Yorke Wishes He Wrote" Edition

Blur - "Girls & Boys"

I've always loved the groove on this one. Read the Thom Yorke confession here.

-Turnbull

Elzhi Spits Fire on Nas Tribute Mixtape. And it's Free.

If you're a fan of Nas' critically-acclaimed debut album Illmatic, you gotta cop this new mixtape by former Slum Village member Elzhi.

(photo via thatsdatkush.com)

It's available for a free download HERE.

Elzhi takes an already classic album, and adds his own Motor City-inspired perspective to it.  To take things up an level, he adds live instrumentation via live band Will Sessions, who have been quietly tearing up the Detroit music scene.

The story:



-Turnbull

In Which Mike Miller Is Officially Inducted Into the P&B 'Player' Hall of Fame

Inspired by Ice-T's classic cut "M.V.P.S.", this will be a recurring post paying tribute to anyone that exemplifies a true Player, including but not limited to these attributes: dedication, leadership, drive, focus, or innovation.

(Photo via blog.eastbay.com)

Mike Miller is grit embodied. He's playing with a ruptured tendon in his right hand as the Heat are on the verge of eliminating the Bulls. He chipped in 9 points in the 4th quarter in game 4 and also grabbed 9 boards. Dude is tough as nails, like hockey player tough. In addition to what should be a season ending injury, his newborn daughter is in the hospital with an unspecified condition that may require surgery. Miller is going through some heavy emotional and physical pain, but continues to support his team. He says that what's happening to his daughter is putting his thumb injury in perspective.

Mr. Miller, your dedication to the Heat and fighting through major adversity makes you a Player.

-Paqman

NYC Dining Car - 6-Course Dinner Aboard the L-Train

Sorry Dudes...Take Kim Kardashian Off Your Wish List Thanks to Engagement To Humphries

(Photo via igossip.com)

Since we are getting sooooooooo much traffic from Turnbull's March post about the Kardashian/Humphries relationship, here is some news for you: they are engaged.

P&B's Mad Crystal Ballin':

- A reality show
- A ridiculously extravagant wedding
- V.I.P. invites to the nuptials for Turnbull and Paqman
- An eventual divorce...Come on!! Humphries is a baller!!
- Another reality show about the breakup

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 about us. Help us spread the P&B word!

Cheers!

-Paqman

Friday Flashback - No Gas Face for Paqman & Bull Edition

3rd Bass - "The Gas Face"

According to the Urban Dictionary, to give a gas face is "to show someone a sign of disrespect". In this 89 classic from 3rd Bass, it's made very clear that MC Hammer is the recipient of the primary gas face. Pete Nice and MC Serch were not fans.

This track was produced by Prince Paul and features 2 samples from Aretha Franklin ("Respect" and "Think") and one from The Emotions ("I Like It"). The video is a who's who of the hip hop world from that time with cameos by Flavor Flav, Salt-n-Pepa, Eric Sermon, Kid from Kid 'n Play and Prince Paul. The world was also introduced to a young, skinny MC called Zed Luv X and his brother, DJ Subroc. Zed Luv X would later evolve into one of my favorite MCs of all time DOOM aka MF DOOM aka The Vaudeville Villain. It's a treat to see DOOM without a metal mask, rocking prescription glasses and no pot belly!

SOOO...Who do you think should get the gas face?

-Paqman 

Is the Future Odd? Tyler, the Creator is Stirring S&!t Up

This post contains words that you might find offensive. Sorry, it's not me. It's Tyler, the Creator.

(Photo via elbo.ws)

MCs always try to bring their game to the next level. Some MCs have been successful in bringing the entire game to a whole new level. Others act the fool and get attention. Enter: Odd Future with their controversial ring leader Tyler, the Creator.

In Case You Missed It: Chad Ochocinco's Bullriding Attempt

If you didn't catch it this past weekend, Chad Ochocinco, wide receiver with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, attempted to ride a bull at a Professional Bull Riders event in Atlanta.

Sighting the need to scratch the activity from his "bucket list", the eccentric (and clearly suicidal) Ochocinco lasted all of 1.5 seconds atop Deja-Blu, the 1,500-pound bucking beast.

Prior to the event, Ochocinco trained with nine-time World Champion rodeo cowboy and PBR co-founder Ty Murray, and was paid $10,000 for his appearance.

Now, I don't know what's funnier ... the bullride itself, or the look on Murray's face as Chad discusses what he's about to do!



In response to claims that his coaches, and the NFL, may not be too happy about him taking such a career and life-threatening risk, the six-time Pro Bowler said "I'm sure my coach [Marvin Lewis] was probably upset, I mean, I would be too.  I'm sure the NFL is upset, but I don't follow their rules anyway."

-Turnbull

Sharks vs Canucks - NHL Playoffs - Western Conference Final

This is it! 1,230 games have been completed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide

Luongo snags a Thornton shot (photo via canucks.nhl.com)

1

VS

2

2011 Season Series:

Vancouver won 3-1

What's the story?:

The Sharks have made it to the Western Final for the second year in a row. For those of you that have a short memory (or if you're a Sharks fans), the Blackhawks swept San Jose on their way to winning the cup. You can't win until you learn how to lose, right?

Lightning vs Bruins - NHL Playoffs - Eastern Conference Final

This is it! 1,230 games have been completed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide.

St. Louis sliding by Thomas (photo via zimbio.com)

3

VS

5

2011 Season Series:

Boston won 3-1

What's the story?:

The Lightning are players. They have surprised the puck out of me cause I did not expect them to make it this far.

Calling An Audioble: Fleet Foxes

(Photo via dedica.la)

I decided to add the new Fleet Foxes album, Helplessness Blues, to my Rdio queue last week. I've listened to the album 3 times since then and I gotta say that I'm really feeling it. I would describe their sound as medieval Simon and Garfunkel, packaged with stellar harmonies and haunting acoustic guitar work.

Fleet Foxes are a 6 piece from Seattle that have released 2 full albums, the first being self titled, on the iconic Sub Pop label. Tracks of interest include Sim Sala Bim, The Plains / Bitter Dancer, The Shrine / An Argument and Helplessness Blues, which is available as a free download on their official website.

This is the perfect album to throw on if you invite the guild to your house to enjoy some fine mead or if your looking to cut out the noise and chill. You can expect this to be in my top 20 for 2011.

-Paqman

Friday Flashback - Pornollapalooza Edition

Porno For Pyros - "Pets"

Porno For Pyros rose out of the ashes of Jane's Addiction  break-up thanks to Lollaploozian phoenix Perry Farrell. This was the first single from their self-titled debut released in 1993.

Enjoy!

-Paqman

Iron Like a Lion in Zion: 30th Anniversary of the Death of Bob Marley

(photo via ohspress.com)

Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley.  Musical Legend, National Hero, Cultural Icon.  Thirty years ago today, on May 11, 1981, the world lost the reggae superstar to a battle with melanoma.

He was 36 years old.

Bob Marley meant so much to so many, and touched lives not only with his music, but with his endless efforts to unite people through his message of "One Love."

From his humble beginnings growing up in the Trenchtown section of Kingston, Jamaica, to his meteoric rise to international superstardom as frontman of The Wailers, Marley is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century.

His musical and spiritual legacy live on.

-Turnbull

Hot Saucynisity - the Return of the Beastie Boys: the P&B BBM Chat

We here at P&B love technology. We both use Blackberry Messenger like crazy, so why not show our deep conversations to the world! This is a first in the Blogosphere (we think). Here it is: The P&B BBM Chat.

(photo via randyraisch.wordpress.com)

Turnbull AKA Tza: Bro I've finally given this new Beasties rec a listen. Wasn't sure at first but after a few listens it sound completely dope.
Turnbull AKA Tza: So nice to hear a rap "group" again. Nice lyrical trade-offs between MCs
Paqman: Agreed. That is their trademark. Did u check out the vid?

Friday Flashback - Dillatastic Edition

The Pharcyde - "Runnin'"

This J Dilla produced track kills to this day. The always blazed out Pharcyde drop science on samples from Stan Getz from a track called "Saudade Vem Correndo" and Rev Run from Run D.M.C.'s "Rock Box".

The Dilla/Pharcyde partnership produced some timeless and ill cuts. What's your fave song from this dynanmic duo? Post your thoughts in the comments.

-Paqman

Digital Natural Selection: Evolve or Become a Virtual Victim

(Photo via warungkopiseesharpminor.blogspot.com)

The buzz word around the interweb these days is privacy (and its apparent unsecured availability). I conduct the bulk of my daily tasks online (and on my BlackBerry) like millions of other plugged in citizens of this increasingly virtual world. There have been 3 major breaches that have sounded the alarm in the past month that should make you put your s%|t on lock down. If you don't take this seriously, you will succumb to Paqman's first law of Digital Natural Selection: the virtual ecosystem is a living, evolving environment, and you should adapt to its changing landscape. If not, you will become a victim (as your information will be used maliciously and your funds will become extinct).

Just for Kicks: PF Flyers

(photo via shopstl.com)

Me and Paqman love Kicks.

Actually, we like all kinds of men's footwear, but we especially love a great pair of sneakers.

I was in the market for a new pair for the upcoming Spring/Summer season, and saw this particular brand in the window of a New Balance store in West Toronto.

NBA Playoffs - Eastern and Western Conference Semifinal Preview

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies are set to square off in NBA Western Conference Semifinal action
(photo via espn.com)

Heat vs Celtics, Hawks vs Bulls in the East.

Grizzlies vs Thunder, Lakers vs Mavericks in the West.

P&B break down both Conference's Semifinal series: