The Clash "Live at Shea Stadium" (Sony BMG) -- While The Clash's opening spot for The Who at the now-defunct home of the Mets in 1982 was hardly the quartet's best onstage performance, it was the high point of the group's profile in the U.S. Thus, the crowd is loud and into it, the band -- which had been honing its skills on the road -- is tight as it runs through 14 songs from its self-titled debut through the then-recent "Combat Rock." The only problem is that with Terry Chimes on drums instead of Topper Headon, a certain spark is missing. But the recording is ace and the booklet -- while woefully lacking in useful information -- is packed with photos from the gig (onstage and backstage), so why not get a reminder about why The Clash was standing on the verge when this disc was recorded. --Bobby Tanzilo
Pumpkin pie with Lakefront pumpkin beer -- Yes, at first this sounds way too pumpkin-y, but I recently tried this combo and it was amazing. I am one of those folks who likes pumpkin beer, but usually only have one every season. I am the same way about pumpkin pie: one slice, maybe two, and I'm set for another year. Interestingly, I like these two paired better than separately. Together, they create a sweet, slightly spicy and deliciously rich indulgence. --Molly Snyder Edler
Stitcher application for the iPhone -- The best way to explain this service is "the news and information equivalent of Pandora." This is a way to easily find and download podcasts of interest from sources like CNN, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, Reuters and dozens of others. You can customize a "station" that funnels information that you like to hear on your morning commute or during your evening jog. It's killer, and you don't need an iPhone. Check out stitcher.com. ---Drew Olson
NBA League Pass -- If you order now, you save $20 on NBA League Pass. Winter's coming and that means basketball. With NBA League Pass, you get all the games and access to NBA Broadband and a cool stat channel, too. If you are into hoops, you need this. --Jeff Sherman
"Be Here to Love Me," the Townes Van Zandt movie -- Any fan of Townes will tell you that the late legendary singer / songwriter was an anomaly wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a heartbreaking story of manic depression mixed with musical genius. "Be Here to Love Me," a 2006 documentary by Margaret Brown, collects interviews with Van Zandt's family - both biological and musical - as well as with the singer himself, to tell the turbulent tale of his sometimes inspiring, sometimes terrifying lifestyle. --Julie Lawrence
Campbell's V8 Soups -- I'm a working mom who eats lunch at her desk so I can cram other things into my life like sneaking out to the gym (sound familiar?). Those lunches usually consist of boxed goods pulled from the freezer and cupboard on the mad morning dash out the door. With that in mind, Campbell's new V8 soups fit nicely into my routine. I hate canned soup (blame it on college survival on Chicken Wild Rice), so I was a bit skeptical about how these would taste. I'm happy to report that the Garden Broccoli and Sweet Red Pepper options are delicious. They are also low in calories and high in fiber. Each container equals two servings, which taste fresh, creamy and not different from my homemade versions (just more convenient). --Erin Ulicki
upsidedowndogs.com -- We love a quirky little blog at OnMilwaukee.com headquarters. This one, which is self-explanatory, features lots of pictures and invites you to send in yours to make Fido famous. --D.O.
The Pfister Shoe Shine -- I enjoy a good shoe shine, so I'm happy that the shoe shine set up is back at the Pfister Hotel. It's perched up on the second floor now (it was downstairs before the Well Spa was built), so it offers a relaxing break from the day and a great view of the lobby. Only $5 plus tip for men. --J.S.
The recipes section at Target.com -- I was looking for some information on one of the delicious Archer Farms products that Target stocks when I stumbled across the recipe section at their site. I was impressed by some of the selections. Check it out here. --D.O.
"Just How Stupid Are We? Facing the Truth about the American Voter," -- With less than three weeks until the presidential election, both Republicans and Democrats are pointing fingers at each other and trying to assign blame for the financial crisis, the Iraq War and a general feeling among voters that the country is headed in the wrong direction.
There is plenty of blame to go around in this mess, but Rick Shenkman - an investigative journalist and professor - is one of the first to point a finger at the voters themselves.
In a witty, measured and non-partisan look at the state of things, Shenkman tries to find answers to an important question: "How can so many people be misinformed during an era of almost unlimited access to information?"
Shenkman says that the "blame" in this case belongs to the political parties, TV, polls and the horrifying trend of anti-intellectualism. --D.O.
Jerome at Metro Market -- I shop at Metro Market, 1123 N. Van Buren St., several times each week. I love it. Jerome seems to always be there, too. He's either greeting or checking, but in either position he's always cheerful, talkative and very nice. Most of the staff are great, but there's just something about Jerome. He's a nice guy who makes my shopping experience better. --J.S.
Kashi Pocket Bread sandwiches --I am such a fan of Kashi products that I would buy plenty of stock in the company if it weren't private. Until then, I will continue to support their mission by stocking my freezer with lunches. In addition to their frozen entrees, Kashi just brought their pocket bread sandwiches to the Milwaukee market. So far, I've tried the Chicken Rustico and Turkey Fiesta and each was tasty and filling. Their third option, the Veggie Medley, is sitting in the freezer for later this week. What I particularly like about the Kashi products are they are high in protein and fiber and are always more filling and tastier than a Lean Cuisine or Weight Watcher meal. --E.U.
