The Awesome Supercharged 1958 Packard Hawk

For it's final year, the glorious Packard name in fine automobiles offered up a real jewel, the 1958 Packard Hawk. It was essentially a luxury modified Studebaker Hawk, but included some beautiful additions giving it a real early muscle car appeal. With a special fiberglass front end, a dummy rear tire trunk lid, a hood scoop, and the addition of a McCulloch supercharger, which pulled nearly one horse per cubic square inch at 275 horses from the 289 cubic inch engines, the 1958 Packard Hawk had an aggressive appearance. It might have been the closet thing in the 1950's to those aggressive 1970's vintage Pontiac Trans Am muscle cars. The 1958 Packard Hawk was a pioneering muscle car design and one of the greatest automobiles ever produced in the U.S.

At the time, the styling was somewhat controversial, where only a mere 558 examples were sold, leading Studebaker to drop the Packard name after 1958. But in more recent times, the Packard Hawk has gained more acceptance as an early luxury/muscle car design.

The interior was all leather, with aircraft style armrests and some details that remind the driver of those luxury boats of the 1950's as well. It was simply stunning to sit in one, let alone to own one.

Amazingly, examples of this very rare luxury/muscle car tend to sell for less than Corvettes or Thunderbirds of the same vintage, yet sell for twice as much as Studebakers of the same era. But finding one is a difficult task, as few collectors seem willing to part with their cars.

The supercharged 1958 Packard Hawk is certainly a great automobile. With styling aggressive enough to start a war, this was one of the coolest 50's cars of all time.

TBS Starts Airing "Sexy" New Conan Ads

In a parody of some sexy ads such as the famous Paris Hilton one for hamburgers, TBS is starting to run a mock sexy car wash video featuring a bearded Conan O'Brien. The ad features Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me". For sure, this is a funny promo ad.

Other Conan news is that Max Weinberg will not follow Conan to TBS and has dropped out of the show to pursue some other musical desires, including assembling a big band sound band. He will be replaced with James Wormworth, long time fill-in drummer when Max toured with Bruce Springsteen.

BTW, O'Brien started wearing a beard during a writer's strike along with David Letterman as a protest, but both shaved after the strike concluded. O'Brien grew his latest beard after his NBC show ended. Conan's new TBS show will debut next month on November 8. According to his exit contract terms, that was the earliest that he could return to the air in addition to clauses that prevented his continued ribs at NBC,which is strangely the host network to his new OUTLAW show starring actor Jimmy Smits.

Bad Fashion: NBA Coach's Nazi Tie?

Maybe Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott needs to pay a lot closer attention to his wardrobe. Just like those funny little Charlie Chapin mustaches, Adolph Hitler had a particular way to kill off style and make some fashions way uncool. But, apparently Coach Scott hadn't heard about a little news event called WWII, and decided to go with this tie.

Innocent mistake for sure. But, good for a laugh here.

A tip of the hat to our pals over at TMZ for this news tip and hilarious photo.

Two New Shows Get Canceled.

It seems that the new shows are starting to drop like flies, with MY GENERATION canceled by ABC after just two episodes. FOX canceled "Lone Star" last week. Next on the new show death watch list is that latest stinker from Conan O'Brien's production company, OUTLAW, the absurd tale of Jimmy Smits playing a very conservative Supreme Court justice who gives up his job to become a flaming liberal rebel lawyer. A truly bizarre tale of the most incredible ever documented case of an overnight political conversion.

Don't look for DVD box sets of any of this trash. It's gone forever unless you bothered to record it.

Russian Motorcycle Brand Ural Brings Back The Sidecar

Founded in the Soviet Union in 1940, after reverse engineering some BMW motorcycles, IMZ-Ural survived both the war and the collapse of the Soviet Union to continue to build a line of rugged motorcycles, most known for including a sidecar. While most of the Ural motorcycles continue to be sold in the former Soviet Union, many imports of the sturdy Russian brand are finding their way to the United States and other countries.

Ural has produced over 3.2 million motorcycles since the days of Stalinist Russia, and with some designs such as the Gear-up looking much like a war surplus item, the brand has an appeal to the collector of unique bikes. Other models feature a more retro look with windshield sidecar. The company markets a full line of products to satisfy almost any sort of sidecar motorcycle buyer.

With prices starting at $9,999, Ural motorcycles may not be very cheap. But, the company builds a design proven to withstand the roughest of Soviet roads and backwoods driving. And that says a lot for body, frame and suspension strength.

Dog The Bounty Hunter Hospitalized After Bounty Hunt Goes Bad

Call it an "occupational hazard", but Dog The Bounty Hunter has been hospitalized for an apparent blood clot condition injury following a bounty hunt that went bad. Dog's wife reported that he will "4sure survive" and also called the injury an "occupational hazard" as well.

Duane "Dog" Chapman actually got his nickname because of his relationship with God. His mother was an Assembly Of God minister, and although a very religious man, young Dog was arrested 18 times for armed robbery. Previously, Dog was a member of the Devils Disciples Motorcycle Club, and also spent 5 years in prison in Texas because of a conviction for accessory to murder. Chapman also faced legal problems in recent years with an arrest by the Mexican government for his capture of notorious rapist, Andrew Luster, an heir to the Max Factor company fortune. Although Luster was convicted on 86 of 87 rape related charges in the U.S., the Mexican government chose to prosecute Dog because he didn't turn Luster over to Mexican authorities.

29 Republican congressmen appealed to the Bush Administration's Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice to seek justice from the Mexican government. Eventually, in a 2007 Mexican court case, a judge ruled that the statue of limitations had passed and the arrest had been improper, setting Dog and a co-defendant partner free.

It's not immediately known just how serious the blood clot injury to Dog is. But he's been a shining example of a former criminal who has turned his life around taking notorious rapists and other serious criminals off the streets. He's won praise from many in law enforcement.

Dog is the star of a popular reality series on the A&E network. Ironically, the season premiere of the show is set for this upcoming Wednesday night on the network.

America's Greatest Foods: Andersen's Split Pea Soup

One of the greatest American brands of split pea soup has to be the legendary brand from the famed Andersen's Restaurant from the little California town of Buelton. In 1924, Danish immigrant Anton Andersen began his dream of founding a small restaurant, but it was his awesome split pea soup recipe that eventually won over the hearts of the millions of visitors to Andersen's Restaurant over the years. During WWII, the little restaurant was actually closed for several years as the U.S. Army needed the Andersen's Restaurant and Hotel to house and feed their troops in transport. After the war, the restaurant reopened and eventually the demand for Andersen's legendary split pea soup led to it being canned and sold in many better grocery stores across the U.S.

The little cafe was called the "electric" cafe because the new electric stove purchased by the wife of Anton Anderson. She was so proud of it.

It was partly good luck that enough customers found out about the Andersen Electric Cafe in the early days to make into a legend, but it was the foresight of Anton Andersen to choose a location on the way of hungry tourists to the famous Hearst Castle. In the post-war years, the son of Anton, Robert "Pea Soup" Andersen helped to manage the restaurant into a huge success including the marketing of Anderson's Split Pea soup. Over the years, Robert developed a close friendship with actor Ronald Reagan when he purchased a ranch near the Andersen's Restaurant.

In the 86 year history of Andersen's, the two cooks on the famous Andersen logo have split literally millions of peas for the famous soup. Outside of the Andersen Restaurant you can have your picture taken with a sign with face cutouts.

The beauty of Andersen's Split Pea soup is a very thick yet ultra creamy texture. And it is fully seasoned with plenty of taste. It's a perfect restaurant soup that you can enjoy in a can. All natural, no preservatives. It's a great connoisseur soup. It's one of America's greatest foods.

The Bottom Line: A great quality American restaurant split pea soup. You'll love it. ++++(Four Stars, for excellent taste, texture and seasoning).