You’re a Turkey

For all you young folks who might be finding yourselves at a hippie Thanksgiving, here’s a post-dated note from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Drugs are bad, and if you do them you are a Turkey. Not that this zinger makes any more sense than being called a goose or a pheasant, but I do remember the tragic year -- somewhere around '92 -- when the mention of the holiday bird somehow became a horrific slur. The only respectable come-back to which was “I know you are but what am I,” or “No you’re a turkey!”

So while you are cooking your bird of choice this holiday season, enjoy this Turtle-tastic PSA. And remember…Don’t be a Turkey.

Alice’s Restaurant Massacre

Sung by Arlo Guthrie, Alice’s Restaurant is possibly the only 20-minute song that I've ever heard on the radio.

Growing up in Massachusetts, this little Mass-a-cre would play on the classic rock station every year; listening to the painfully long broadcast became a family tradition. It's been several years since I left good old Mass, yet I can’t help but scavenge for the song every Turkey Day.

The song, which is more of a ballad, was written by Alro, son of folk legend Woody Guthrie, and released as the entire A-side of his first record in 1967. Based on a true story of warrants and trash-heap hauling, Guthrie’s song was made into a movie in 69.

Since many radio stations have stopped playing the song, this Thanksgiving tradition is honored on the web where the original recording of “Alice's Restaurant Massacre” is streamed on Turkey Day each year. Unable to find the song without buying the entire album, I opted for this festive little mash-up.

And if this cutesy collage is too much, there is also a live recording of Guthrie singing Alice.