TV: 30 Rock

We were skeptical at first of 30 Rock. Tina Fey and the assorted SNL cast ofttimes promises hilarity and delivers lukewarm humor at best. However, 30 Rock was recommended to us several times, and was readily available for internet viewing so we checked it out, and we have not been disappointed!

30 Rock is a parody of the NBC network, and the SNL show in particular. They mock capitalism, idealism, republicanism, and the whole theory of television. This show is quite innovative and very funny.


Quick vote: This show is smart and sassy, and one of our new favorites. Take a bite out of humor!!! (Alright, that was too cheesy, even for us...)

Music: Cassadaga by Bright Eyes

We have listened to Bright Eyes for a long time, and for a while became disenchanted with Conor Oberst's grainy voice and his melancholy lyrics. But Aunt Jiggy burned us a copy of this cd a few months ago, and we grew to really enjoy it. The music seems more mature then their previous albums, and we're impressed by their list of collaborators.


"But when great Satan's gone, the whore of Babylon,
She just can't compete with all that outer space.
She breaks, she breaks, she caves, she caves..."
--Four Winds

" First you want to ride off into the Sun,
Then you want to shoot straight to the Moon.
Make a plan to love me sometime soon.

When you are young the world is a Ferris Wheel.
I know we will grow old it is lovely, still,
Make a plan to love me sometime soon."
--Make A Plan to Love Me Soon


Quick vote: We like this album, but it definitely is an acquired taste.

Books: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

We certainly are well read dogs, and we like to keep up on all of the classics, which is why we made the time in our busy days to read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Though a raving socialist and a bit of a cookie-cutter plot-writer, we tend to like Dickens. (You know what I mean, a raving evil Capitalist with so much money and so little heart is pitted against a poor defenseless boy, and surprise, surprise, the boy wins! GE doesn't follow this exactly, but you see this in Nicholas Nickleby, Oliver Twist, Christmas Carol, etc...)

Pip is an orphan living with his tyrannical sister and her tender-hearted husband, the local blacksmith in a small British country town. He runs across some convicts in the moor one night, steals food and a file for them, and his life is never the same. Miss Havisham, is one of the most bizarre literary figures, and Estella haunts the pages with her icy beauty.


Quick vote: If you haven't read this, or any classic literature lately, it's a good reminisce of high school lit classes. Yeah we went to high school, you wanna fight? We've got claws.

Trails: Millcreek Canyon

Our parents are kind enough to take us around to all of the greatest trails around, and this week we want to give a shout-out to our all time favorite, Millcreek Canyon! This canyon is located in the east side of Salt Lake, north of the Cottonwoods, and it is the only dog-friendly canyon around!

Millcreek Canyon is full of steep trails that lead up on either side towards Big Cottonwood Canyon or Emigration Canyon. As the name suggests, there are several creeks running down the mountainsides and through the canyon. There are many biking and hiking trails, but best of all, on odd days, dogs are allowed off-leash!


Quick vote: Off-leash trails? Hiking and biking? Creeks and animals? Count us in!!! (We're panting in anticipation of a good run!!!)

Blogs: Dooce

Our Aunt Didi recommended this blog to us a while ago, and we didn't really like it at first, but we've quite warmed up to it (especially when she's talking about dogs!!!). Heather B. Armstrong is an ex-Mormon people-mom and dog-mom living in SLC (like us!). Her blog is funny, quirky, irreverent, and doesn't really seem to have a purpose.

""We can joke about that here," said Jon, "but if you say that on your website people are going to take you seriously."

"You mean people are going to think that we're encouraging our daughter to lie?"

"Isn't that what it sounds like we're doing?"

"No, we're encouraging her to lie successfully."

"And when she does we'll be so proud.""

--For all the new people visiting because they saw that five-second clip on FOX 13

Check it out here!


Quick vote: Anyone that loves their dog as much as our parents deserves to have their blog highlighted on this magnificent website.

Bitches out.

Movie: Juno

Though we tried several times to sneak into the theater to see Juno on the big-screen, we weren't able to make it, and we just barely got around to watching it. This highly-acclaimed indie flick, definitely stood up to all the hype. It was quirky, funny, and ultimately had a good message. (We're not afraid to admit that Maggie, the weak one, shed a tear or two.)

Sixteen-year-old Juno becomes pregnant (we're actually not sure how that really works, so we unfortunately can't enlighten you there). She goes through the process of finding an adoptive family, making decisions about what will happen to her baby, determining her relationship with the father, and attending high school all at once.


Quick vote: This show was quirky, cute, funny, and had an incredible soundtrack. What's not to bark about???

TV: Iron Chef (Japan)

We love cooking shows. There's something about watching a chef chop up a thick piece of raw meat and drooling all over our parents' couch that gets our day started off right. We recently gotten into watching the Iron Chef, the Japanese edition.

The idea is, there is a challenger cook, and he goes tete-a-tete with one of the resident Iron Chefs. They get a 'secret ingredient' (e.g. stingray, oxtail, tofu, peaches) and have to prepare four (though they have been known to prepare up to eight) dishes incorporating this ingredient. The show is filmed in Japanese, but is dubbed (poorly) in English, and the result is incredible. The women are coy, the Iron Chef's take themselves too seriously, and the whole show is a melodramatic masterpiece.


Quick vote: This show will make you want to whip out your cutting boards, big knives, and pots to start cooking! We're drooling right now thinking about it, so grab a bone to gnaw on, settle down on your mom's couch, and enjoy IRON CHEF!!!

Music: None Shall Pass by Aesop Rock

We've been listening to a bit of rap lately, and we've really been enjoying Aesop Rock, and their album, None Shall Pass. With an electronica background and funky singing thrown in, this is some of the most original and eclectic rap we've heard (We know how oxymoronic this sounds.)


"Sign of the swine in the swarm
When a king is a whore who comply and conform
Miles outside of the eye of the storm
With a siphon to lure out a prize and award
While avoiding the vile and bizarre that is violence and war
True blue triumph is more!
Like, "Wait, let him snake up out of the centerfold."
"Let it break the walls of Jericho."
"Ready? Go! "
Sat where the old, cardboard city folk
Swap tales with heads like every other penny throw"
--None Shall Pass

"I stood before the glittery borders of new radius
In search of the fabled city of mud and crushed velvet.
What I found was a gutter
Where the love of entertainment meets the lust for blood and demerits.
Cutters of the pie throw your summers in the sky.
Collar pop, jolly roger."
--Citronella


Quick vote: We're not huge fans of rap, but we can really get into this album!!! Give it a lick!

Aunt Kenya's Philosophy: While I'm not certain that said "Aesop" has the angst he is continually referring to in this album, I am sure that his rapid-fire delivery and surprisingly apt and poignant vernacular is something I personally connect with. This album is quite copasetic!

Aunt Kenya is one of our doggie aunts on our mother's side. She is a border collie-lab mix, we'll have a picture of her at some point...

Books: Outside Magazine

Alright, alright. We know that Outside is a magazine, and not a book, but we've been quite busy, we had our Aunt Annie come stay with us for quite some time and she takes a lot of looking after, she's very needy, and we haven't been reading a ton. So cut us some slack!

Outside is an awesome magazine for those of us that enjoy the outdoors (This does not mean you, toy poodles!) The authors include incredible pictures of great places to visit, as well as recommendations to best enjoy your time outdoors and to stay in shape. Our favorite part is when they review all sorts of outdoorsy gear, we sure do love to spend money on camping and hiking stuff! You should see all of our camo gear...


Quick vote: We really enjoy this magazine, we've had a subscription for about a year now (Rather, our mother has a subscription, and we thieve each copy from her after she has sufficiently dissected it.) If you're looking for the latest info on the nicest stuff, check it out!!!

Blogs: Edible

We just ran across the website, Edible. Basically, they sell anything that seems inedible for a hefty fee. Here is a list of some of the delicacies we found for sell:

* Tequila Flavored Lollipop with a real worm inside
* Toffee Scorpion Candy
* Rare Chinese Wild Tea picked only by specially-trained monkeys (Though we're willing to bet that these "specially-trained monkeys" can't blog!!! Beat that Darwin!)
*Reindeer Pate

And many more found here...


Quick vote: This stuff looks gross, but we definitely don't have as discerning a palate as our human friends, and we have no qualms eating our own defecate, let alone a bug or two.


Lastly, we'd like to bid farewell to our friend Aunt Annie who has been staying with us for the last ten days or so. She was a treat to spend time with, and we enjoyed her input on our blog. After trying it out, we think we'll periodically have our friends and family post as guest critics, it seems a welcome addition!!!

Movies: Memento

This movie is trippy! We sat down this past week to watch Memento, starring Guy Pearce (Time Machine, Count of Monte Cristo) and Carrie-Ann Moss (Chocolat, Disturbia, The Matrix Trilogy).

The main character, Leonard, is in an accident and loses the ability to create short-term memories. He retains his long-term memory, but every few minutes, he forgets what he is doing or why he is doing this. He is striving to avenge his wife's death, and reminds himself through an intricate, disorganized process of Polaroids and tattoos. The story itself is mostly played in reverse chronological order, so you feel like Leonard, completely in the dark as to what went on before-hand. Classic line, "Why am I chasing this guy? Oh wait, he's chasing me."


Quick vote: This movie is definitely one you have to give your full attention, but it's a must-see. Even after watching several times, we're always noticing new clips and nuances that leave us reeling. The level of detail is astounding.

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: This movie makes perfect sense to me. I also have no short-term memory. Why am I typing on this keyboard???

TV: Top Design

Though we haven't watched the show Top Design for a while, we were quite into it in it's first season, and we think it's available for viewing online. It aired a year or so ago on the Bravo network, and was one of a number of the same variety of reality tv shows (e.g. Top Chef, Project Runway) on at the time.

Each week, the aspiring interior designers have a project or special concept that they have to design 'a space' for (e.g. Picky design students, children) with different price. Then a group of professional interior designers evaluate their work.


Quick vote: It seems like another cheesy reality show, and it actually is. But we always like to find new ways to decorate our doghouses. With such a small space, you need to maximize functionality!

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: Maggie and Sammi! Stop blogging and start finding me treats! Some nieces you two are...

Music: Strange and Beautiful by Aqualung

We've been listening to Aqualung lately, and we've really been enjoying it. They're a more low-key band reminiscent of Coldplay or Radiohead.

"I never understood before.
I never knew what love was for.
My heart was broke, my head was sore.
What a feeling.

Tied up in ancient history,
I didn't believe in destiny.
I look up, you're standing next to me.
What a feeling."
--Brighter than Sunshine

"I've been watching your world from afar,
I've been trying to be where you are,
And I've been secretly falling apart, unseen.
To me, you're strange and you're beautiful.
You'd be so perfect with me but you just can't see.
You turn every head but you don't see me.

I'll put a spell on you,
You'll fall asleep and I'll put a spell on you.
And when I wake you,
I'll be the first thing you see,
And you'll realize that you love me."
--Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put a Spell on You)


Quick vote: We really like this band, and we recommend that y'all check them out!!!

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: These songs are kind of boring, because I can't really breakdance to them. I got mad breakdancing skills. Bird. Bird. Bird. Bird. Bird.

Books: The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

If you keep up with our blog, you'll know that this week's selection won the Morning News' 2008 Tournament of Books. The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao is an interesting story about immigration, diaspora, and culture. Though we enjoyed the storyline, it was a quite foul, and we wouldn't want to recommend it to anyone for that reason...

Oscar is a fat, nerdy kid who obsesses over any women he can find, but is too socially inept to ever make anything happen with any of them. Lola is his uber-sexy sister who doesn't put up with any crap. Their mother is a busty Dominican woman who left the DR years before for unknown reasons.


Quick vote: This book is quite interesting and we really liked it, but as mentioned earlier, it quite foul, so we can't recommend it in good faith.

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: I don't like to read. It hurts my sensitive eyes.

Blogs: Fawson's Page

The Fawsons have a home page. The tagline is:
"Two Bipeds
Two Bitches
One Awesome Family"

Check it out!!!!!!!!!!!


Quick vote: Keep up with our family's goings on at our new home page!!!! And hopefully Bob will start a blog like we previously requested!!!

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: This is stupid. I'm not on it anywhere.

Movies: Ratatouille

Though we are only one and two, we actually are much more mature than that, as dogs age faster than humans. So normally, we're not really into children's movies, but for the Pixar suite, we will make an exception. We have watched (and licked!) the Pixar film Ratatouille and we find it quite to our liking. It's sweet, not too big, and has a bit of a spice to it!

A rat loves to cook. A boy wants to be a chef but cannot cook. Together, they can conquer the culinary world!!! Or can they?!?!


Quick vote: This Pixar film is cute and fun. And we're all for animals and humans interacting more fully. Check it out, if you're into this sort of things.

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: I hate rats.

TV: Gossip Girl

We have just gotten into the ridiculous television show on the CW network, Gossip Girl. It's quite similar to The O.C. for those of you that are familiar with that program, only it is set in New York, and somehow seems even more ridiculous for it's east-coast aristocracy-ness.

The Gossip Girl is a blog that follows the lives of the elite Upper East Siders of New York. Serena van der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, Nate Archibald and the rest all attend pricey private schools, summer in the Hamptons, and get into all sorts of trouble with drugs and partying. What happens when an outsider attempts to court Serena? What happens when friends sleep with the wrong guy? Gossip Girl answers all these questions, and more!!!


Quick vote: This show is a little ridiculous. Alright, it's quite ridiculous. But if there's anyone who values ridiculous, it is we bitches. Check it out if you're into cheesiness, teenage angst, and haut couture.

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: This show is stupid. But there is delicious human food, which I like. There are also glittery things, which I also like.

Music: Songs About Girls by Will.i.am

FYI: We have a guest star with us for the next few days, our Aunt Annie Fawson. We love our Aunt Annie, though she is a tad cynical and narcissistic. She'll be putting her two cents in now and then, watch for her curly-haired ears!!!



We have gotten our paws on Aunt Jiggy's iPod, and have found some incredible musical gems on there. This week's selection is from the oh-so-talented artist will.i.am and his album Songs About Girls. This album is larger than life, and also quite graphically sincere/original.

" Mommy lookin good from her head to her feet.
She forty-four, but she still lookin sweet.
And you can tell her daughter aint even at her peak.
Cause her mama lookin so hot, packin that heat.
So be a good girl and thank your mama.
She make me steamin like a sauna.
Look out, look out, here she come now.
Look out, look out, here she come.

Baby where'd you get your body from?
Tell me where'd you get your body from.
Baby where'd you get your body from?
Tell me where'd you get your body from.
I got it from my mama."
--I Got it From my Mama

"Yeah, She Be Flyin'
But, She A Girl
That Makes Her A Fly Girl!
Yeah!"
--Fly Girl


Quick vote: If you're into the objectification of women and lyrics so simple you'll think a poodle wrote them, then by all means check out will.i.am!!!

Aunt Annie's 2 cents: Do you pronounce that name as william??? Explicit lyrics hurt my tender, sensitive ears.

Book: Lord of the Rings Trilogy

We just finished the epic fantasy series The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. These books are classic, and we think that everyone should get the opportunity to read them in their lifetimes.

Frodo Baggins is tasked with a heavy burden, an all-powerful ring. He must travel across Middle-earth to the far reaches of Mordor to destroy it, before Sauron can use it to defeat the good peoples of the fantasy world.


Quick vote: Classic fantasy literature. We're wagging our tails in approval!!! (Well, Sammi's only wagging her stub. Loser.)

Advice: Medical

We dogs have some insight for you, our faithful readers. We sure you have, as our parents oft have, traveled to the mystical doctor or even the hospital when you have a wound or sickness of some kind. What a waste!!! We recommend instead, licking whatever ails you, and it will heal in no time!

Recently, Sammi accidentally ran into a barbed wire fence, creating a silver-dollar sized wound that went as deep as her muscle! Our parents took her in to the evil vet, put her under anesthesia, and then stitched her wound up. However, it wasn't until our mother removed the stitches, and Sammi was able to lick the wound unhindered did the wound finally start to scab up.


Quick vote: Dog's Tongue >> Evil Vets. So let us lick you, it'll be good for you!

Blogs: The Plug

We have recently run across the web-zine (a sort of blog that comes out in editions, rather than posts) called The Plug. These people are hilarious and it is our new favorite!

Honestly, we have nothing more to say other than go visit!!!


Quick vote: Hilarious.

Movies: Dan in Real Life

Looking for a funny movie, we decided to check out Dan in Real Life. Steve Carrell, Dane Cook, and rave reviews made us certain we were in for some chuckle-worthy good times... However, we were quite disappointed on this front. The film had a funky indie vibe, but it lacked the humor we were so desperately searching for.

Dan is an author of a parenting column and a widower with three teen-aged daughters. He is on family vacation when he meets a phenomenal woman at a book store and they hit it off right away. It turns out that this woman is his brother's new girlfriend, and he has to suffer through this whole family vacation listening to everyone praise her, and pining after her. See what we mean? Not funny!


Quick vote: Although we can recognize it now for a great love story and a funky indie-type film, we were so disappointed on our first viewing at it's lack of comedic value, that we may never be able to get over it and truly appreciate this movie for the gem it actually is.

TV: Charmed

Though our parents rarely watch this show, we have historically spent an inordinate amount of time during the day watching Charmed, Law & Order, and other incredible shows. Today, we will talk about Charmed.

The show is about three sisters, who also happen to be good witches. They all live together, with their very different personalities, and battle with daemons, warlocks, and other evil magical beings that attempt to attack California. (They have no particular association with California, they just happen to live there.)


Quick vote: This show is not known for it's great acting, but we enjoy the storyline, and it's something to watch while your parents are gone at work all day....

Music: Figure 8 by Elliott Smith

An oldie, but a goodie is what we tend to say about Elliott Smith. Our aunt Didi, said something applicable about this the other day, "There are some cds that you listen to in the moment, and then there are some cds that you can listen to all of your life." Elliott Smith, and especially Figure 8 and XO fall into this category for us.

" You don't need my help anymore,
It's all now to you, there ain't no before.
Now that you're big enough to run your own show
You're just somebody that I used to know."
--Somebody I Used to Know

"The spin of the earth impaled a silhouette of the sun on the steeple,
And I gotta hear the same sermon all the time now from you people.
Why are you staring into outer space crying,
Just because you came across it and lost it?
Everything reminds me of her."
--Everything Reminds Me of Her


Quick vote: This is one of our all-time favorite albums. If you've never checked out Elliott, we highly suggest that you do so.