Beer 30
Aug 31, 2008
Aug 30, 2008
Aug 29, 2008
Aug 28, 2008
Curious to hear what the other bloggers think. Unlike the boring, pre-ordained farce we call an election, this seems to be an issue with a potential to blow-up. The Franz Ferdinand (diplomat not the band) of 21st century conflicts, if you will.
I'm conflicted because on one hand, it seems that Russia is sort of the bad guy here. The Georgians certainly cannot fight them and seem to be genuine victims here.
On the other hand, who is the US that now it can decide when it's okay for other countries to invade and not? I realize this is not a new thing, but particularly now, with armies in Afghanistan and Iraq, both invasions made on pretexts no stronger than Russia's, how is it even possible that we feel we have any moral authority at all.
While Russia may very well be in the wrong, it seems to me utter hypocrisy for the west and the US specifically to contest Russia's actions in any way. But my opinion is fairly uninformed. Is there something I'm missing?
For all those not sure what kind of cake to get me on my next birthday, wonder no more.
Aug 27, 2008
Apparently Obama edited a line out of Kucinich's address to the convention:
How the fuck do we posta keep peace?
Actually, the edited line was:
They're asking for another four years -- in a just world, they'd get 10 to 20.
Burn!, though that's just a wink of the eye for someone as old as Ptera.
Aug 26, 2008
If any have read The Road, by Cormac McCarthy (of No Country for Old Men fame) they know that the upcoming movie will be bleak, dark, depressing and awesome. It has the potential to be the best post-apocalyptic movie of all time, although that distinction does not do it justice. The book is about family, about perseverance, and about so much more than that.
Before the movie comes out, I recommend taking a look at the book. It's a quick read--written non-conventionally but lyrically and is gripping, though of course bleak gritty and grey.
A few stills
A review of the screenplay (warning: spoilers)
The cast of Terminator 4 is reading it
Before the movie comes out, I recommend taking a look at the book. It's a quick read--written non-conventionally but lyrically and is gripping, though of course bleak gritty and grey.
A few stills
A review of the screenplay (warning: spoilers)
The cast of Terminator 4 is reading it
As you’ve probably seen recently, houses in Detroit have sold for as little as $1:
Now, I’d buy that for a dollar! - Running Man Style
Detroit’s trials and tribulations are far from over. With a mayor who will probably end up in jail within the next year, industries failing and suburban flight uncontrollable, Detroiters are asking themselves, “what’s next?”
T-baby is definitely asking questions. She’s asking questions like, “How the f*$k do we supposed to keep peace?” I concur. How the f*$k do we supposed to keep peace in a city with problems as great as these?
So cold in-Deed!
Can Detroit be saved at this point, or do we simply need to sell it to China @ $1/ton for scrap? I know that’s it’s an armpit, but surely there are things that are worth saving.
Aug 25, 2008
All the newsie-wewsie types are calling the election a dead heat right now, but Space Zombie was wondering if the old polling methods aren't a little out of date. To get a slightly more modern look at the political landscape, I thought I might have to get into the cloud...
So Space Zombie checked out the MySpace pages for Barack Obama and John McCain, and here's the low down: While McCain wins points for spicing up the original template with giant buttons and text (wonder who he's targeting with those), Obama gets the big win in the only thing that matters on MySpace--friends--which he wins by a ratio of 7.5:1. 
John--you gotta get out more--you can't even get Tom to be your friend?
(At lest he has Yula the Catfighter--seriously: you go John!)
Then SZ headed over to the McCain and Obama Facebook pages, where it was more of the same. While McCain deserves props for having a killer video game, Obama has tons more friends and a much more interesting user profile.
Come on John--you only like one book, and it's as old as you are? WTF?
--As a slight follow up, SZ checked a blender.com article which gives the top 10 songs on each candidate's iTunes playlist...I'll leave this one up to you, but I will say this: Space Zombie swore years ago that he would never respect anyone who actually likes ABBA's Dancing Queen
Fantastic Contraption: A fun online physics puzzle game
Posted using ShareThis
This game really is addicting--use your wits and your impeccable knowledge of physics to defeat the most challenging terrain...
Aug 22, 2008
Things have definitely changed since 1959--men's magazines used to feature bad-ass Marines in action and extol the virtues of illegal drugs right on the covers. Now you're lucky if you get Usher doing some fancy dance move and an endive salad recipe.
Just about everything about this issue of Saga screams pre-PC beer-in-a-can manliness, but I think my personal favorite is the headline "How To Make Your Woman A Better Lover." After all, it's gotta be her fault that you're fat, out of shape, dress like a tool, and can't keep it up...
--borrowed from Pulp of the Day
Aug 21, 2008
Hey Culture Bloggers--tired of looking like a pussy in your skinny-ass tie? Sick of the uneven tilt of the old four-in-hand? Unwilling to resemble your grandpa with the Shaq-daddy windsor? Fear not; your favorite blog has got you covered! Try this simple knot to give your wardrobe--and your confidence--that much needed boost!
The Half-Windsor Knot:
Start with the wide end on the right. Make sure that it extends about a foot below the bottom of the narrow end--unless you want to look like a total dipshit, your tie should reach the middle of your belt buckle. If you are wearing a tie and not a belt, it's too late--you are already a dipshit.
Cross the wide end over the narrow end and then turn it back under. Make sure it's not wrinkled and keep the tie as tight as possible.
Bring the wide end up and then down through the loop. If you don't want to look like a stupid fucking asshole, keep the pass tight in so that it doesn't show out the top of your knot.
Pass the wide end back around the front (right to left). This is the part that people see, so make sure that it's high enough and that you don't have any wrinkles in it. Don't be lazy: if it looks like shit, redo it.
Pull it up through the loop again.
Pull it down through the most recent pass. Tighten carefully and look sharp!
And remember: you're neither a pussy nor a Republican; so, unless you're headed to a funeral or a job interview, never button that top button--you man, you!
Aug 20, 2008
A recent marathon of travel channel top 10 lists revealed some interesting places to stay around the country. The favorite of A Jo Ker is the first, a Nordic Inn with a longship room and where the proprietor passes out Viking costumes and nicknames. But the presence of a Southern Oregon institution is pretty sweet too.
Aug 19, 2008
Important information for the future when everyone you know has at least one kid... if they all gang up on us we need to be able to defend ourselves.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/2008/08/19/how-to-win-a-fight-against-twenty-children/
Aug 18, 2008
This game makes math seem fun:
Chain Factor
2008 Portland Adult Soapbox Derby
Originally uploaded by Squid Vicious
Aug 15, 2008
Aug 12, 2008
A Michelada:
*Pour 12 oz. of tomato juice or Clamato into a glass and add:
* A few drops of hot sauce (such as Valentina or Tabasco)
* A few drops of Worcestershire sauce
* A few drops of Maggi seasoning or soy sauce.
* Squeeze a lime wedge
* Mix the ingredients in the glass.
* 12 oz Mexican beer (light beer like Tecate or Dos Equis)
Clamato is "reconstituted tomato juice concentrate and reconstituted dried clam broth, with a dash of high fructose corn syrup, and USDA Red 40 to maintain a 'natural' tomato colour." It includes MSG.
Sound good? People really like it south of the border, and north of the border, the Caeser is supposedly the national cocktail of Canada and is similar, but with vodka replacing beer which is pretty much a variant of the bloody mary.
If you're itching to try it, you no longer have to go to all the trouble of mixing it yourself. Just hit up your grocery store and pick up a can:
Aug 9, 2008
In the end, we tried 16 beers, all from the Belmont Station. We learned that without packaging and preconceptions, the results were different than any expected. Of course, any given bottle could be "off" and so further experimentation would be necessary for definitive conclusions.
Above are the beers we sampled.
They included the Lagunitas, Bridge Port, Stone Ruination, Terminal Gravity, Dogfish Head 60 min, Titan IPA, Stone, Dicks, Hop Devil, Dogfish Head 90 min, Hop Ottin, Lagunitas Maximus, Tricerahops, Full Sail Prodigal Sun, Anderson Valley Imperial IPA, and Hazed and Infused.
(We did include a couple of double IPAs and at least one Imperial.)
Going into it, Terminal Gravity and Lagunitas were probably the favorites. I think I expected one of the Dogfish Heads to win. The night, it turns out, was full of surprises. I think not seeing the packaging and not having any preconcieved notions at all about the beer made a real difference. So while I'll describe the comments about the beers below, keep in mind that no one had any idea what they were drinking. The comments are compiled from all 7 people and rarely was there full consensus.
Without further ado, in order of worst to first (all scores on 1-10 basis):
16. Terminal Gravity 3.71. A real surprise to find this ranked so low. Perhaps this bottle was off.
Comments: Metallic taste, boring, smells weird, all after taste, no flavor, peaty. Half-Turk's least favorite.
15. Stone IPA 4.5. An even bigger surprise. Maybe it took too long to get here from San Diego or it was just a bad batch.
Comments: Skunky, smells like weed, "taste like drinking cologne," bland, not enough flavor, dry finish, too sweet. Joker's least favorite.
14. Titan IPA 4.71. Not a local beer, but one that I thought might compete. Wrong.
Comments: nutty, too sweet, minimal aroma, dry mouth, light, refreshing,, musty flavored.
13. Dogfish Head 90 min IPA 5.00. Too good for us heathens or overrated?
Comments: Sweet, flavorful, nutty, like chocolate, like apple juice, strong, roasted malt, too sweet. Obie-One's least favorite.
12. Lagunitas Maximus 5.40. Another surprise to find this mighty ranked beer so low.
Comments: Licoricy, too sweet, slightly stale, fruit flavor, malty, like a brown ale, "there's something going on here." Lank's least favorite.
11. Lagunitas IPA 5.43. Almost the exact same score as its big brother.
Comments: Sweeter than i like, hoppy, apples, bland finish, too sweet, fundamental, plain but serviceable, a prototypical IPA, "makes me sick" and "I don't get it. I would puke this" Moontramp's least favorite.
10. Dicks IPA 5.57. A space zombie favorite that underwhelmed the testers.
Comments: Strong!, roasted, very hoppy, an imperial?, citrus, bitter, high alcohol, mad hops, too sweet, "makes me sick"
9. Victory Hop Devil 5.7. A highly touted beer that didn't fare so well with us.
Comments: Bad, peaty, bitter, bad smell, "Oregon wet soccer sock," sour, bad smell,"it's pretty--I want to paint my house this color," distinct, dirty, smells like wet leather. Jay G's least favorite.
8. Hazed and Infused 5.91. One of my personal favorites, it couldn't compete with the big boys.
Comments: lingering hop flavor, crisp, flowery, watery, light, okay, strong scent, "tastes like dandelions."
(tie) 7. Stone Ruination IPA 6.14. I thought this would do worse, actually.
Comments: sweet, fruit flavor, hoppy, nice finish, "smells like melon" "taste like it has eucalyptus" too sweet, perfumy, yummy, hoppy yet understatedly sweet, "palate-destroying" "your mom ain't shit."
(tie) 7. Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA 6.14 .
Comments: mild, roasted flavor, light hops, slight coffee flavor, nutty, hint of sweetness at the end. Zombie's least favorite.
5. Full Sail Prodigal Sun 6.21. An underrated brewery's seasonal earns high scores.
Comments: tastes like flowers, smoky, hoppy, dry, "tastes like a hamburger" very bitter, metalic, easy. Jay Gee's favorite.
4. Bridgeport IPA 6.25. I'm a little surprised to see this so high, since although great it's a little plain.
Comments: Light, really good flavor, underwhelming, "I could drink a couple of these," good combination of elements, "light, not hoppy but good."
3. Anderson Valley Imperial IPA 6.21. Another seasonal, get one while you can.
Comments: Good finish, sweet, strong, chewy, airplane glue, citrus hops, not too bitter, high alcohol. MoonTramp's favorite.
(tie) 1. Ninkasi Tricerahops 7.35. A new brewer from Eugene proves chops with the big boys.
Comments: Really Hoppy, fresh, crisp, really good malts, coffee, "I'm drunk!" delectable, Hoppy, bitter, excellent, aromatic, Yum!, "I'm going to puke." Space Zombie Half-Turk, Obie-One's and Joker's favorite.
(tie) 1. Anderson Valley Hop Ottin 7.35. This just in: Anderson Valley makes really good beer.
Comments: Acidic, hoppy, best color so far, dark caramel or brown sugar, "tastes like a donut should,"balanced, good aftertaste, heavy roasted malt, good finish. Lanks favorite.
What have we learned from all this? First of all, that 16 IPAs is a lot of beer, even when split 7 ways. Secondly that some of the "sexier" IPAs (Terminal Gravity, Stone) couldn't compete with the good old fashioned fundamentally sound Bridgeports and Anderson Valleys of the World. Third it was surprising how much variation there was amongst what were in essence very similar beers. Last and most important of all, that this test proves nothing and we'll need to do several more in order to fully have a definitive answer.
Aug 8, 2008
I don't see Tom Potter or Sam Adams spending the night in jail. Would their booking shot look this devilishly handsome?
The night in the County Hilton was for violating travel restrictions [leaving the country is a no-no when you're out on bail], but just wait till the poor guy wakes up to find he's been charged with felony assault.
Of course, the mayor in jail isn't the real Detroit. The real Detroit was buried in that story about [I'm guessing] 15 paragraphs down:
Kimberley Harris of Detroit, who had just been released from jail and still wore the identification band on her wrist, said news of Kilpatrick's pending arrival interrupted her afternoon nap.
Aug 5, 2008
Nostalgia may not be what it used to be, but fantasy movies sure are.
The 80's have long been deemed the highpoint of fantasy perfection, and with good reason. With lower-level, flawed but enjoyable like Krull, Beastmaster, Return to Oz, Conan, Barbarian Queen, Legend, and The Last Unicorn.
And then you get to the true classics: Dragonslayer, Labyrinth, Excaliber, Princess Bride, Willow, Neverending Story, Clash of the Titans, Dark Crystal, Baron Munchausen, and Time Bandits.
Granted we mostly saw these movies at an impressionable, not-exactly-discerning age. But many of them stand the test of time.
The 90's really didn't do much of anything. Dragonheart was not a good movie. The 10th Kingdom was a nice effort for an nbc mini-series. Edward Scissor-Hands might count too?
Now that I look at all those great movies again, the 80's might still reign supreme. But the 00's are catching up. Consider the following:
I'll start with LOTR. Love them or hate them, these movies are award-winning, billions of dollar earning flicks. Along the lines of the Rings movies are the Pirates, equally big-budget pleb pleasers that are at least quasi-fantasy.
The 2000's have their share of flawed but enjoyable flicks.
Reign of Fire was a decent attempt at a dragon movie. Ignore the first D&D movie, but the second D&D was surprisingly not sucky. The Brothers Grimm was flawed but entertaining. Mirrormask was slow of pace but visually stunning.
The Narnia movies have been, in my opinion, fantastic. Some of the best book-to-film adaptation I've ever seen. To me, these movies are actually preferable to the Lord of the Rings films.
The Golden Compass was another amazing movie. Sure, it's little kiddy, but the effects and the story were top-notch. Good acting too.
Stardust, based on the Neil Gaiman novel, was equally terrific. Maybe the best of the lot so far.
Hellboy II, whilst nominally a superhero movie, is really a fantasy movie in disguise and quite good.
Finally, the critically acclaimed Pan's Labryinth; enough critics have shot their loads over this movie for me to add anything, let's just say it's pretty bloody good.
The 2000's are nearly over and it seems Del Toro's Hobbit won't come out til the teens. Nonetheless, the 2000's have already established themselves as peers with the almighty 80's.
Aug 4, 2008
At a recent social gathering, a Joker and a Zombie were discussing beers and which were the best. Naturally.
Some claims were made about the best IPA in the world and it got this Joker thinking: what is the best IPA? What if we, the collective men of men vs. culture, had a blind taste test of 10 or so highly regarded IPA's.
The methodology is simple: Assign each beer a rating of 1-10 and whichever beer emerges with the highest score will become the undisputed IPA of the world.
Does this Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday work for anyone as the ultimate test time? 'Cause I'm willing to do this by myself, but it might be more fun if others wanted to contribute as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
