Friday - 1/27/12 

"Instant Karma" anniversary. Ray Manzarek talks about 'L.A. Woman'. Pat Sajak hosted 'Wheel of Fortune' drunk. Fried food and heart disease. Aftershave that covers up strip club scents. Long work week  and depression. iPad leads to bad posture. 10 uses for vodka...other than drinking. Signs you're not cut out for fatherhood.

JOHN LENNON

It was 42 years ago tonight (January 27th, 1970) that John Lennon recorded "Instant Karma." Lennon had already recorded several experimental albums and two singles under the name the Plastic Ono Band. "Instant Karma," however, was released under the name John Ono Lennon, the name he'd created when he legally changed his middle name from Winston to Ono the previous April.

Although the public didn't know it, Lennon had quit the Beatles in September 1969, which is reportedly why he had the single's sleeve featured his name in bold, black letters, to announce himself to the world as a solo artist.

Lennon wrote the song in a single afternoon, recorded it within a week, and originally hoped to release it the following week. At the time, Lennon told Britain's music paper Melody Maker that he wanted to be able to release music as easily as issuing newspapers. Lennon talked about what the song meant, explaining, "Whenever you do something, there's a reaction to it. Even if you cough, you cough germs out all over the place. If you cough love out, out goes love. That's what 'Instant Karma' is."

The song was recorded between 7:00 p.m. on January 27th and 4:00 a.m. the following morning at London's Abbey Road Studios. At the suggestion of George Harrison,legendary "Wall Of Sound" creator Phil Spector produced the song. Harrison also played guitar and piano on the session. There's still some disagreement as to who actually played on the backing track, with several reports listing Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Badfinger's Pete Ham overdubbing parts as well. Future Yes drummer Alan White -- who had made his live debut with Lennon the prior September in Toronto -- handled the drums. At the end of the session, the Beatles' road manager Mal Evans rounded up the patrons of Hatchett's, a nearby nightclub, to help supply backing vocals.

THE DOORS

Ray Manzarek credits the sound of the Doors' final album, 1971's L.A. Woman, to the group's expanded lineup -- including a bass player and rhythm guitarist. The surviving Doors -- Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore -- all contributed to the band's new DVD, Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story Of 'L.A. Woman', as well as participated in the just-released L.A. Woman: 40th Anniversary Edition CD set.

Manzarek credits L.A. Woman's producer Bruce Botnick with convincing the Doors' to flesh out their sound for the sessions: "Well, Bruce came up with Jerry Scheff -- Elvis Presley's bass player -- but then the idea of using a rhythm guitar player was the idea to free Robby so that he didn't have to play rhythm, then overdub guitar solos. And Mark Benno was just a real strong, y'know, country player, kind of, 'Southern Rock' boy and just great shots and great solid rhythm to him. And so, Jerry Scheff, John Densmore, and Marc Benno were really the rhythm section and did a really, fabulous job."

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Wheel of Fortune was a little bit looser in the '80s. Host Pat Sajak recently admitted that he and Vanna White used to drink -- a lot -- before the filming the show.

When asked by Dan Le Batard if he ever hosted the show while drunk, Pat admitted, "Yes. When I first started and was much younger and could tolerate those things. We had a different show then."

Sajak, 65, revealed that they used to have a two-and-a-half hour dinner break, which he and Vanna would spend at a local Mexican restaurant drinking margaritas.

He recalled, "Vanna and I would . . . have two or three or six and then come and do the last shows and have trouble recognizing the alphabet. I had a great time. I have no idea if the shows were any good, but no one said anything, so I guess I did okay."

Sajak began hosting the game show in 1981 and White joined him a year later.

STUDY: NO DIRECT LINK BETWEEN FRIED FOOD AND HEART DISEASE

 New research holds good news for fried food lovers, finding that there's no direct correlation between the amount of friend food people eat and their risk of heart disease. The study that followed 40,000 people in Spain for nearly 15 years found instead that long-term heart risk depended more on what kind of oil was used in frying, with olive oil and sunflower oil considered the healthiest. However, study researcher Michael Leitzmann of Germany's University of Regensburg warned that this isn't a free pass to go hog-wild on fried foods, noting that they are higher in calories and linked to obesity and high blood pressure.

NEW AFTERSHAVE COVERS STRIP CLUB SCENTS

A strip club in South Africa has unleashed a new line of aftershave products that smell like the excuses a man might give his wife if he spent the night at a strip club. The line is called "Alibi" and has several scents including one called "My Car Broke Down" which smells like fuel, burnt rubber, grease and steel. (FARK)

55-HOUR WORK WEEKS LEAD TO DEPRESSION

 People who spend long hours at the office are more than twice as likely to develop depression as those who do a regular 9-5 day. Researchers found those who spend more than 11 hours a day -- or 55 hours a week -- at their desk faced a higher risk. The most susceptible were women, younger people and those on a low pay grade with moderate alcohol consumption. The researchers said it seemed some who earned more could be 'buffered' from depression by having a job they enjoyed, or higher levels of 'social support' such as staff who could do things for them. But women in high-earning jobs were more likely to suffer depression, as they may have been more likely to have multiple responsibilities outside work, and younger people -- perhaps coping with trying to excel in their career, while facing family and financial demands -- also experienced higher levels of depression. (Daily Mail)

iPADS LEAD TO BAD POSTURE

 Using an iPad on your lap can lead to bad pasture. Research found that people flexed their necks more when using media tablets compared to typical desktop computers. For the sudden popularity of tablet computers including the Apple gadget has not allowed for the development of guidelines to 'optimize users' comfort and well-being', according to the latest research.

10 USES FOR VODKA -- OTHER THAN DRINKING (LimeLife.com)

• Window cleaner -- no chemical cleaner here, just spray your windows with diluted vodka and wipe with a lint-free cloth for a streak-free shine.
• Chrome cleaner -- again, no streaks or hard water spots here, just soak a cloth in vodka and wipe on chrome fixtures.
• Laundry deodorizer -- yes, just a spritz of vodka (not diluted) will remove odors, then hang laundry to dry.
• Rust remover -- soak the rusty screws in vodka for a few hours, wipe clean.
• Flower preserver -- a few drops of vodka, plus a teaspoon of sugar will keep flowers from wilting.
• Stain remover -- remove upholstery stains by dipping a cloth in vodka and rubbing it on fabric.
• Weed killer -- mix 1 ounce of vodka, 2 cups of water and a few drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Spritz on weeds.
• Mold and mildew cleaner -- spray tile and caulk with vodka, allow it to sit for 30 minutes, then scrub with a toothbrush. Rinse.
• Muscle soother -- mix equal parts vodka and water in a ziplock bag and freeze.
• Odor fighter -- spray diluted vodka in smelly shoes.

SIGNS YOU'RE NOT CUT OUT FOR FATHERHOOD (AskMen.com)

No.10 You always abandon projects: Remember that summer you tried to learn the guitar? Or that half semester you spent in cooking school? Or how about that day you tried to become a sword swallower? Admit it: You always set out with the best of intentions before abandoning each project once the glamour wears off and the real work sets in. And, make no mistake about it, children are a lot of work. If you're not in it for the long haul, you shouldn't be in it at all.

No.9 You're too materialistic: With all due respect to blazing infernos and cattle stampedes, nothing puts your material possessions at greater risk than letting an infant have free reign over your house. Apple juice will be smeared on your artwork, slices of cheese will be loaded into your Blu-ray player and puddles of drool will cover every single surface in your home. If you can't handle that kind of kiddie-induced carnage, you may not be ready for fatherhood.

No.8 You're a Womb Raider: A womb raider is a male gold digger who deliberately impregnates a wealthier woman within weeks of meeting her. And while there's nothing amiss with knocking up an heiress if you genuinely like children, there is something fundamentally wrong about doing it purely because you want to quit your day job. Children are a blessing, not a meal ticket.

No.7 All of your plants are dead: If you're too busy to water your Chinese evergreen once a week, there's no way you're going to find the time to diaper, clothe, feed, entertain, and nurture a baby. Being a parent is easily the most demanding job in the world, and it requires a concentrated, full-time commitment.

No.6 You're a neat freak: Babies were designed to get messy. They poop, barf and fling their feces around like Charlie Sheen after a half-dozen cocktails. If you can't stand the thought of your home looking like it's been ravaged by a hurricane, then you're probably not ready for children.

No.5 You're a slob: Perhaps the only thing worse than being a neat freak is being an unrepentant slob. If you can't clean up after yourself, then there's no way you're going to be able to keep up with the mountains of toxic diapers, stained washcloths and pee-soaked onesies your baby will generate on an hourly basis.

No.4 You need to be the center of attention: One of the most difficult things about having a child is coming to terms with the fact that you no longer matter. Oh, sure, you're still essential to your baby's care and well-being, but friends and family members will suddenly start ignoring you to give their undivided attention to your little bundle of joy. Playing second fiddle to an incomprehensible rug rat may be fine for some men, but it can be a huge blow to the ego for guys accustomed to having the spotlight all to themselves.

No.3 You're in debt up to your eyeballs: Anyone who insists that children are priceless clearly hasn't read the latest data. According to the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, the typical two-parent family will spend $222,360 on a child by the time he reaches 17. And that's assuming you have a son. If you have a daughter, you'll also want to shell out an additional $10,000 on a chastity belt and a shotgun to scare away her potential suitors. If that sounds like more money than you'd care to spend, you may have to wait until your finances are in order before having children.

No.2 You have zero patience: When it comes to dealing with children, patience is more than just a virtue -- it's an absolute necessity. Most children don't begin to talk until they're 14 to 20 months old, and their frequent inability to be understood often results in epic meltdowns. Make no mistake about it, you will have Lego blocks flung at your head, strained carrots dumped into your lap and any number of ballistic devices aimed at your groin. It's absolutely critical that you maintain patience and composure during these trying times, as your baby tries to communicate his most pressing needs and desires. If you can't handle that -- and many men can't -- you may not be ready for fatherhood.

No.1 You want a surrogate you: We know that your life may not have turned out exactly the way you wanted, but having a child won't magically erase all of your past mistakes, and you can't live vicariously through your kid. Anyone who enters fatherhood with those kinds of ulterior motives is setting themselves -- and their offspring -- up for a lifetime of bitter failure.

Thanks for listening to The Eagle while you work. Keep it fabulous, Houston!

xoxo,

Jennifer Tyler

Fabulous Mid-Day Diva