tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16684746071602649622024-02-06T23:54:36.274-05:00We've got nothing better to do!As Black Flag's Greg Ginn said, "We've got nothing better to do, than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews!"
That is what I'm going to be doing here, drinking beer and watching TV! Who doesn't love a good beer and some good ol' fashioned prime-time TV?T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-83671491844542530922012-03-09T22:03:00.000-05:002012-03-09T22:03:46.098-05:00What are you teaching us!!?!If you caught The Mentalist on it's special night and time, tonight, you would have caught Cho dumping his drug stash. The toilet did not have a stall around it, which I can accept, maybe this is the toilet they take criminals to and we can't have criminals dumping incriminating evidence. This leads me to the worst thing I have seen on TV in a while, Cho could have easily used his foot to flush, but instead touched the filthy criminal toilet with his hand and then didn't wash! EEHHH!<br />
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Other than that, there really hasn't been anything exciting on.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-29813181340338279502011-06-25T23:09:00.000-04:002011-06-25T23:09:31.791-04:00The simple things...I know, it has been an insanely long time since my last post... but honestly, I haven't tried any exciting beers lately and the summer re-run season is upon us...<br />
<br />
BUT!<br />
Duquesne, The Prince of Pilseners, is finally available in the superior form of can! Yes, I said it, cans are better than bottles. Realize it! You never know how much light might have reached your bottle, contaminating your beer and giving you that horrible skunk smell and flavor. When drinking from the superior can format, you essentially have your own tiny keg, and everyone agrees that draft beer is better. So, Cans>Bottles. It's that simple....<br />
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Remember, when you have to pick-up a case of beer for that weekend camping trip, or family cook-out, or maybe a day at the park, or just sitting around getting drunk...nothing will do you better than The Prince of Pils! It's the perfect summer beer. While an ice cold Weiss might sound nice, the Price of Pils will give you the chills... or something.. whatever, I should get a free case of beer for this... but at only $16.99 for a 30-pack of 12 oz cans (or you could waste that same $16.99 for 24-12 oz bottles) I'm not going to complain, it's one of the best decent beer deals going!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip41H8VptSrsSEsT09L-maNJgGxuHypW66XjhX2-FabHNCaN4HYWf8DmrCrhrJdZv9BiOjr70tMB0GauTwQLcWam77ahQXEfqPne_t4b3kFk_I1ULGE8OFEKM0V4LYMSnlueFdD0AVECXw/s1600/duke1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip41H8VptSrsSEsT09L-maNJgGxuHypW66XjhX2-FabHNCaN4HYWf8DmrCrhrJdZv9BiOjr70tMB0GauTwQLcWam77ahQXEfqPne_t4b3kFk_I1ULGE8OFEKM0V4LYMSnlueFdD0AVECXw/s1600/duke1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXf8MEnfMnUxWXm9VKPxOpXp5VN8UGx-E3sqMWC_RINfcvZtKfT6RtOqHtCb2yZwbvjAg_UwpYFr6vL1vdawDyqINhoEojjYMrVikpp3vESA3hq26idSQp4l7zNqoJj5gobfgeJO4vRYD/s1600/duke3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXf8MEnfMnUxWXm9VKPxOpXp5VN8UGx-E3sqMWC_RINfcvZtKfT6RtOqHtCb2yZwbvjAg_UwpYFr6vL1vdawDyqINhoEojjYMrVikpp3vESA3hq26idSQp4l7zNqoJj5gobfgeJO4vRYD/s320/duke3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEB4w8vgdtXleT4aJVvqUcCseLsE6x9eIDDJUBRPl6ArZ9camL_8fL2sBM47y4g7krlOVhOg71Hge6Yu3EBqRb4lxpB5yux5zkngbRRCSck6QgQGCtacw4gYs0TSEmcqngCqrr_0qa3td/s1600/duke2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEB4w8vgdtXleT4aJVvqUcCseLsE6x9eIDDJUBRPl6ArZ9camL_8fL2sBM47y4g7krlOVhOg71Hge6Yu3EBqRb4lxpB5yux5zkngbRRCSck6QgQGCtacw4gYs0TSEmcqngCqrr_0qa3td/s320/duke2.jpg" width="155" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTrgHHikXXQlT6huL2IDKjAAkXh_EOjS8yELT9XfZWMcrOiIT8f5hVewbmv89Ge0LrhXqCEFQjhrzQVvfcFxcoEuHcr1wz_sIE8NzV30ynC1JZJwBXtdTvBF8Cq92tzXF5IidrlVIyGcI/s1600/duke4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTrgHHikXXQlT6huL2IDKjAAkXh_EOjS8yELT9XfZWMcrOiIT8f5hVewbmv89Ge0LrhXqCEFQjhrzQVvfcFxcoEuHcr1wz_sIE8NzV30ynC1JZJwBXtdTvBF8Cq92tzXF5IidrlVIyGcI/s320/duke4.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I wish they'd bring back the old school one at top left, just so we'd all have to carry can openers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, check out this link</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://duquesnebeer.com/2011/04/the-chugger-bottle/">http://duquesnebeer.com/2011/04/the-chugger-bottle/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I found it while searching for pictures of the newest Duquesne beer can style. I highly doubt they did this on purpose and love the PR spin. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-87389725608462614132011-05-06T16:38:00.000-04:002011-05-06T16:38:03.969-04:00no one pays attention to you...Look Chuck, I understand what you're going through, it looks like no one is paying attention to you, but there are a lot of people that really care. Just because I'm not at your "big game" on Monday night doesn't mean I don't watch the replay online...<br />
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Yeah, so, I don't think I have ever watched Chuck live, except that one time I talked about it in the past when How I Met Your Mother was a repeat.. However, I have seen every episode (and sat through NBC and Hulu's online commercials.) Somewhere in the middle of this season, it felt like everything was getting slow. That might have been caused by the fact that I at one point I was watching like five episodes a day, so it might have been slow at other times but didn't feel that way. Either way, the Chuck vs. Agent X episode was pretty intense. It was chock-full of quality story, and with two episodes left I'm excited to see how they wrap it up. The fact that the final episode of the season is titled Chuck vs The Cliffhanger isn't helpful, considering we might not ever know how it ends. There is still a large chance that Kabletown won't bring them back...T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-30313021717560331722011-04-29T23:31:00.000-04:002011-04-29T23:31:33.197-04:00House of 1000 Beers Bargain Shelf Rules.Now that spring is here, seasonal winter beers should be completely off the shelves, distributors should be almost out of spring specials, and summer beers might actually be on the shelves; I haven't checked lately. Instead of making rounds to the local beer distributors, I've decided to spend some time checking out the shelves of House of 1000 Beers. With old stock that doesn't ever seem to go bad, it's like time doesn't touch this place.<br />
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I liked it more when House of 1000 Beers didn't try to have class, and they were called 6 & Save. Now that they are House...all I can think of is this:<br />
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Either way, this place still has good deals. Six packs to go equal about the same price you'd pay per beer in a case. Some of their stock can get a little old, but if you ignore the fluorescent light coolers and go for the room temperature, dark shelves and cool it when you get home, then you'll be fine. I have never walked into this place and thought it was hot; I'd bet that is it always between 60-68 degrees. While not perfect cellaring temperatures, it's close enough. If you must have a cold beer as soon as possible, then sit in their "tap room" where they have over 30 beers on draft. Again, the draft beer can get a little old too, but the chances of it getting skunked are very slim. I've never had a skunked draft from them and have never paid more than $5 for a pint.<br />
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For all of you frugal beer drinkers that don't want to suffer through a case of Coors, House of 1000 Corpse Beers has you covered here too. Right near the entrance they have a shelf of bargain beers - stuff getting old that needs to move out now. You can score 12 oz bottles and cans of pretty decent stuff for $1 and find things that you didn't think existed, like 8% alc/vol blackberry flavored Sparks (judge me if you will, but I am totally going back for it).<br />
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I have been pretty proud of past finds at this place, like a one year old bottle of Delirium Tremens. Well I think I might have found the holy grail this time...<br />
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They had about eight 750mL bottles of Left Hand Brewing Company's Widdershins, an oak aged American barleywine style ale rated at 10% alc/vol and dated 2007, in the back corner of the top of the bargain shelf, listed at $4 each. I got two because I only had a few bucks on me, but I pretty much have to go back this weekend, and if no one beats me to it, I might just buy them all. When else do you get the chance to buy a good beer, that is already 4 years aged - in near perfect condition - for $4!? I'm probably getting ahead of myself, and I'll have to drink a bottle before I jump the gun and buy them all, but this really seems like a killer find.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-87169616384568170892011-04-24T21:54:00.000-04:002011-04-24T21:54:29.718-04:00OH SNAP!I totally forgot to post these pictures before Friday, as evidence that my group actually met and worked on our research paper..<br />
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<br />
to anyone that reads this blog for the enjoyment of my rantings, feel free to ignore these pictures, I wasn't drinking or watching TV when they were taken...<br />
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However, if you were ever a fan of My Name Is Earl, you'll appreciate this first one... I totally didn't do that on purpose<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QIwWEFmp06LH6cTYC-ry6qMecMfNdCVrlMfhNyOJNbifTskz_5QF1_Y1p2TgUYCu6bb_antLItNYAdCS1d-RizM6azEoJaGmqfCw6cYfbvNGcGQ0m3TNDJdGRytgsKBVMRhjReNTO-pw/s1600/0421111208-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QIwWEFmp06LH6cTYC-ry6qMecMfNdCVrlMfhNyOJNbifTskz_5QF1_Y1p2TgUYCu6bb_antLItNYAdCS1d-RizM6azEoJaGmqfCw6cYfbvNGcGQ0m3TNDJdGRytgsKBVMRhjReNTO-pw/s320/0421111208-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-36178694410750627552011-04-22T21:41:00.000-04:002011-04-22T21:41:49.790-04:00Cancellations Announced - I'm not going anywhere!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For the last week, while thinking about this blog, I was under the impression that it was the last one that I would be required to write. I was trying to decide if I would continue writing it, since I only have a couple followers and have no idea if it actually gets read. Eventually I decided that I would keep doing it. I will probably take more of an informal approach. I’d complain a lot more about specific things that happen in episodes. I’d give quick reviews of beer that I really liked, maybe even just for myself, so I’d remember how good it was in the future. Maybe throw in some quick notes about a cool bar. Nothing major, just somewhere I can complain about or praise things. I’ll probably expand my platform a bit as well. For example, I drink beer every year at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, so I’ll talk about that. I love the Grand Prix and it’s BYOB, so I love the beer. Never having been exposed to any critique over it, I don’t know how good this blog actually is. But either way, writing it has been fun, and the stress of trying to crank out some material that is actually palatable before 11:59 pm on a Friday will go away, making this whole process easier. Once I finally looked at the syllabus I realized I am still required to write another blog after this one…so to stick with the current theme, I am happy to announce NBC has picked up Community for another season, and the last two episodes of the current season both have the words paintball in them. So, if you have never watched Community, watch these last two episodes. The first time Community did a paintball episode it was season one’s Modern Warfare, directed by Justin Lin, the director of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast and Furious, and the newest Fast Five (not that his pedigree is a good or bad thing, I just think it worth mentioning). It was one of the best episodes of Community, rivaling their Halloween zombie episode. I don’t know who the director of these next paintball episodes is going to be, but they were special ordered as add-ons. Usually add-ons scare me; NBC hadn’t yet announced that Community was renewed when they ordered them, pointing to season-ending game changers. I am thinking that these will be great, series-ending quality episodes, with the added bonus that we’ll get more next season.</span></div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-90522460621860067482011-04-15T22:39:00.000-04:002011-04-15T22:39:45.084-04:00Summer time...and there is nothing on TV. <br />
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Sometimes I wish my blog didn't have a theme because there hasn't been much going on lately. For the last couple of weeks, it felt like every show has been a repeat. As much as I love spring and summer, the nights definitely get boring when there is nothing on TV. At least the last couple of weeks would have a sprinkling of new episodes throughout the mix, but for the most part, it was all repeats and basketball. I don't really enjoy March Madness, although, I did watch Pitt lose to Butler, but the foul shot after foul shot ending was more completely ridiculous than enjoyable. I rejoiced when I checked the TVGuide and saw that NBC was finally giving us an all-new Thursday Comedy Night Done Right - All Night. The rehashed version of Curb Your Enthusiasm starring Paul Reiser had a couple laughs and even featured Curb star Larry David "giving it his blessing," but it's not funny enough and I'm not a fan of straight-up ripping off another show; it's a weak move. Other than that, NBC totally delivered. I had planned to review a bottle of Brewery Ommegang's Hennepin Farmhouse Saison. Honestly, I can't give a review...while breaking a lot of beer advocacy rules by putting the bottle in my freezer to cool it down faster, I forgot about it, and it sat frozen for 2 days. Luckily the cork allowed some pressure to escape and the glass didn't break. I let it thaw slowly, and it tasted excellent, but from what I've read, anytime you over-cool a beer you mute a lot of the flavors. I'll have to buy this one again and see if that is true.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-77779581174723013762011-04-08T21:23:00.000-04:002011-04-08T21:23:54.219-04:00the last time i drove to cleveland there was a car on fire in the middle of the street, and to passers-by it seemed completely normal...I was anxiously awaiting yesterday's ratings to be posted. The Mentalist is by far one of the best shows on television. Last night they once again proved it by completely dominating in their time slot and coming in second overall (behind American Idol)<a href="http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/08/tv-ratings-thursday-bones-rules-the-mentalist-up-idol-csi-down-outsourced-hits-low/88708">[1]</a>. So far this season, it is rated at #9, but other than NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, every show above them is some sort of singing, dancing, or sporting competition. So as far as actual produced/filmed in a studio with actors TV shows go, The Mentalist is #3<a href="http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-season-ratings,0,1937498.htmlstory">[2]</a>. Crime dramas can be pretty entertaining, but I always like to laugh, and The Mentalist delivers a great mix. I just spent the last few weeks catching up on missed shows and from season one till now the winning formula really hasn't changed. I guess that is why this show has never been "on the bubble." When you average 15 million viewers a week, you probably aren't going anywhere. Which is great; it's a winning formula for a reason...which is what confuses me about beer. There are so many good beers that are "here today and gone tomorrow." While the craft beer industry seems to be constantly growing <a href="http://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/business-tools/craft-brewing-statistics/facts">[3]</a>, it makes me wonder, why do they cancel my favorite beers? I would have thought that it followed the same formula as TV: if people like it, keep selling it. That's why we probably won't see Patrick Jane catch Red John anytime soon. So why doesn't Great Lakes Brewing Company apply this to their beer? Their Grassroots Ale was in a seasonal mix pack I bought last spring and it instantly became one of my all time favorites. I haven't seen it since. Great Lakes' website lists it as a "pub exclusive," so if it is popular enough to keep around at your pub, then why not bring it back to the masses? How doesn't this make logical sense? I want to buy it, you have the ability to sell it, yet you don't. It reminds me of every TV network's Tuesday line-up: They've got the good stuff, they're just selling it some other day while Tuesday remains this strange day of the week where there is nothing on TV, and if you want to buy Grassroots Ale, you have to drive to Cleveland. It just seems backwards.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-35655649716928436392011-04-01T21:37:00.000-04:002011-04-01T21:37:15.994-04:00Better Beer Just a Few Blocks from Here...I went to see Adam Carolla live last night. It was in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, at the Byham Theater, which is a member of Pittsburgh's Cultural Trust. When I go to a comedy show, I expect to have a couple drinks. When it’s at a larger scale place that doesn't have to sell drinks to make money, because ticket prices are ridiculously high, I never really know what to expect. For a glimmering second I actually thought that they might have good, locally brewed beer, as a nice representation of our local beer culture. It made sense, but luckily I only had that thought for about a second. In actuality, I was faced with bottles of Corona, Blue Moon, Miller Lite, Yuengling, and I’m forgetting one, but it’s probably for the best. At first I considered having a Blue Moon, which I imagine they sell to please the “beer snobs” but I always remember my 21st birthday. I purchased Killian's Irish Red hoping to drink a good Irish beer that wasn't a stout. I realized after the first sip that something was amiss. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I could taste metal, and it just seemed wrong. After a little research, I realized I was tricked by MolsonCoors into buying one of their “craft” beers and what I was tasting was their profit margins and preservatives. I’ll skip my reasons for not liking Miller, but the distain starts somewhere around the spelling of “Lite” and ends with the realization that there is more flavor in Mon River water. I ended up purchasing one $4.75 bottle of Yuengling which the cashier promptly poured into a plastic cup without tilting it, prompting me to bend over the counter and suck the overflowing head off the top before it spilled everywhere and made my cup sticky. What a bummer. Right up the street is the East End Brewery, The Church Brew Works, and the Pennsylvania Brewing Company. All local companies with distribution systems. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust could easily sell their products. That isn’t even mentioning the Hoffbräuhaus, Rivertowne Pour House, or Rock Bottom Brewery, who don’t distribute their beer, but could easily strike some partnership with the Cultural Trust to bring better and culturally significant beer into their venues. In the end I guess they don’t care, or they would at least offer draft beer, which has much larger profit margins than bottled. They probably make enough money off of the “souvenir” sippy cup that you have to pay $3 extra for if you want to take your drink into the theater. If only they would put Carolla back on TV, I would get to laugh at his jokes while drinking good beer on my couch instead of fighting over the center armrest with the guy next to me, thirsty, hot, and cramped. Adam Carolla even joked that when he was on TV there’d be no way in hell he’d come to Pittsburgh on a Thursday night, so it isn’t like he is opposed to the idea. With the rush of pilots being produced for next season, we will once again be stuck with a bunch of crap that isn’t worth watching, but at least I can watch it without having to drink a Blue Moon.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-50077805610467536852011-03-25T20:32:00.000-04:002011-03-25T20:32:35.775-04:00Charlie Sheen. What the Chuck?When all of the major news outlets were bursting with crazy Charlie Sheen interviews, I told myself I wasn’t going to write about it. I never really liked Charlie Sheen, I thought Two and a Half Men was mediocre at best, and his best work was sitting in the police station in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. (He probably didn't realize at the time that he'd be playing this role for most of his real life.) I was hoping that if we all ignored him he would go away. Well, his very carefully orchestrated “madness” seems to have no end in sight. After breaking a world record by getting one million followers on Twitter in one day and now having over three million, it appears no one is ignoring him. I can’t for one second believe that he is actually crazy. People that freebase coke are not that coherent. He’s faking it, or better, “acting.” Good for him though, his crazy act is selling out shows fast and he already has Chuck Lorre and CBS begging him to come back. You can tell the world is a mess when repeats of Two and a Half Men are surpassing good shows in the ratings. Oh well, I guess it proves that “any publicity is good publicity.” So, hats off to Charlie Sheen, congratulations, you’re "winning." I just can't wait till he crashes and burns. It is evident that his "rants" are actually well written and rehearsed, which they should be since he is a professional actor. But that is the problem: he is trying to sell us this crazy Charlie Sheen, creating hype and publicity in order to fatten his wallet. So I drink this beer in honor of you, Sheen! Drink up while you can because at 8.2% alcohol by volume, Southern Tier’s 2XIPA, an American Double/Imperial IPA, will eventually knock you off your feet and we'll all barely remember "that time Charlie Sheen acted crazy, or maybe was, but who cares cause he's probably dead now, or at least his career is." It is full of all the usual IPA flavor suspects, but being an Imperial, it is stuffed to the brim. Overwhelming but expected, the abundance of grapefruit, citrus, and pine smells and flavors mask the high alcohol content. It perfectly represents the path I think this Sheen epidemic will take. It’s all fun at first, you drink a couple, feel great, but then the hidden high alcohol hits hard. If you're Sheen, I imagine it will crash down hard in the form of snorting a few grams of coke, leaving to pick up some prostitutes, and then spinning your car backwards off Mulholland Drive. Luckily, you’ll be so wired, you’ll walk home and probably forget everything. The next morning the police will be at your house helping you fill out a “stolen vehicle report.” But lucky for us, we aren’t Charlie Sheen, so “overdoing it” with this big IPA results in you going to sleep early and waking up with a slight hangover. You might not want to session this beer all day, just like you wouldn’t want to go on a road trip with Charlie Sheen.<br />
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Charlie Sheen's car<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzi-JNQwhulyk5lDahJJCa-xCWFe2JWw3Uo3ihTrSmvUr9OX427yfxxRsoeoN6LeTDTySMca8l1JoZltgvHjNZ8p-MlQBLueUy1vSn4e_bp7ix_bd7NhGmUqkSNVp2BWbDRTFsyXJlFbO/s1600/e3vtw58o83gdtv5d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzi-JNQwhulyk5lDahJJCa-xCWFe2JWw3Uo3ihTrSmvUr9OX427yfxxRsoeoN6LeTDTySMca8l1JoZltgvHjNZ8p-MlQBLueUy1vSn4e_bp7ix_bd7NhGmUqkSNVp2BWbDRTFsyXJlFbO/s320/e3vtw58o83gdtv5d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Charlie's other car<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpQ0ZzBUem8iO8zhf4kCtPsty5jap3Ks0Z4w_Shwd6AdLCKKiuLpDA7IwrltEd_neU3KpimCjGxVJKHYKqMYobpzOm99BtadFCk80qJobxyxkL4sesS_yK70uHDM0e0_u4e_Tz3iMLxY3/s1600/charlie-sheen-car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpQ0ZzBUem8iO8zhf4kCtPsty5jap3Ks0Z4w_Shwd6AdLCKKiuLpDA7IwrltEd_neU3KpimCjGxVJKHYKqMYobpzOm99BtadFCk80qJobxyxkL4sesS_yK70uHDM0e0_u4e_Tz3iMLxY3/s320/charlie-sheen-car.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Charlie looking like a wreck<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jeELeHPW6ixqtTHJTStF-ZGNNVh8uccUkMnTiI1QU7X-fuJf027oa7eAUSsQrZojYv3i4aucHG1pGfeb_tgmbC3HmezyXe4Y0hhJsUsYSIdQL0gYW5o5vBczHjiB3rv264KvTW3NyYq9/s1600/enhanced-buzz-19508-1299119185-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jeELeHPW6ixqtTHJTStF-ZGNNVh8uccUkMnTiI1QU7X-fuJf027oa7eAUSsQrZojYv3i4aucHG1pGfeb_tgmbC3HmezyXe4Y0hhJsUsYSIdQL0gYW5o5vBczHjiB3rv264KvTW3NyYq9/s320/enhanced-buzz-19508-1299119185-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>A relatively safe alternative<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV0Q_83vMRp5yTUGP-dl4GBtNLRnCjRaKKR0XqfLeoblhJNfaSQ-I8CnxyHcy6FgiKCfIBgIG98c_P8gAolr2jKYk6uKrPGfxDS-Cog6_rDe8hAxwoCPCcoCMw-sGqeki0Jba2zWjrJ8N/s1600/4943441652_1945ed7c21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV0Q_83vMRp5yTUGP-dl4GBtNLRnCjRaKKR0XqfLeoblhJNfaSQ-I8CnxyHcy6FgiKCfIBgIG98c_P8gAolr2jKYk6uKrPGfxDS-Cog6_rDe8hAxwoCPCcoCMw-sGqeki0Jba2zWjrJ8N/s320/4943441652_1945ed7c21.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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None of these pictures were used with permission. Thank you, internet.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-80648149320397393592011-03-20T15:11:00.000-04:002011-03-20T15:11:18.981-04:00What the Chuck? A chain of events led me to this blog. In the February 2011 issue of Grassroots Motorsports there was a small blurb about Adam Carolla’s CarCast pod cast show. I knew that this show existed and even though I like both cars and comedy, I never downloaded it. I decided to listen, starting with the oldest episode that Carolla’s website still hosted, the show from the 29th week of 2010. Zach Levi was the guest and it was pretty entertaining. For the most part they talked about Levi’s Nissan GT-R, how he was snubbed when he “drunk dialed” Toyota trying to purchase their $375k+ Lexus LFA super car, and their shared experience at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Celebrity Race. Levi also promoted his show, Chuck. I figured if Levi could be that entertaining on a pod cast I’d have to watch his show, and I started scanning hulu.com. Being thrown right into the thick of season four didn’t give me much hope of figuring out the back story but it was entertaining enough that I decided to start at the beginning. In the last few weeks I’ve watched the entire series to this point. I have to say, it’s a pretty good show. I guess it got under my radar this long because I usually end up watching How I Met Your Mother and, before it was moved in a plot by CBS to destroy NBC’s Community, The Big Bang Theory during the Chuck timeslot. Well, if I were a Nielsen Family I’d start watching Chuck instead. Maybe I’m just getting tired of the endless road that Ted Mosby is traveling while looking for his children’s mother (which has no end in sight since they are renewed for two more years), or maybe it’s because Chuck is good, but since I started this blog, I also started to pay a lot more attention to show ratings and Chuck needs viewers. I was looking forward to last Monday's episode because How I Met Your Mother was a repeat. I wanted to see how many crossover viewers there were and if Chuck would have a spike in ratings. It ended up being the lowest rated episode of Chuck this season. I’m not sure exactly how show renewals work but Chuck has been steadily losing viewers each season, which is never good. NBC originally ordered 13 episodes for season four with the option of nine more. When NBC decided they wanted nine more, all seemed well for Chuck, but I think the kiss of death was delivered when they asked for an additional two. You can do a lot of series wrap-ups in two episodes; just ask LOST. It has been said online that a 22 episode fifth season would really help with syndication, getting Chuck to the magic 100 episode mark, but I guess only time will tell. Let’s hope Kabletown does the right thing.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-58497567082076845352011-03-11T20:33:00.000-05:002011-03-11T20:33:27.540-05:00Ask, or you'll never receive...<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Since St. Patrick’s Day is in less than a week, I’ve decided to devote a little more time to Irish stouts. While it might not be the biggest drinking day of the year, I’d bet hands down that more stout is consumed this day than any other beer. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">The Great Debate: Guinness vs. Everyone Else. Guinness seems to be the staple Irish beer, but I'd rather drink something else. The biggest problem for me is Guinness themselves. As I have said before, I prefer to drink my nitrogenated beer while it is leveling. It’s a personal choice, one that I believe is superior in every way. I have a hard time respecting Guinness as a brand when their website and various ad campaigns promote ruining every pint poured by letting it "settle" and then topping it off. The relatively negative folklore that surrounds this practice is that cheap/poor Irish workers pinching every penny wanted their money’s worth when drinking in the pub. Instead of consuming their beer when it would have been most delicious they'd rather get that extra 0.5 oz of beer in their glasses. Why Guinness chooses to promote the practice is beyond me. While the beer they produce is okay, clearly they don't have taste, or they would have abandoned this and served their beer leveling. Instead, they promote it as if drinking it any other way makes lumps you in with "stupid Americans" that don’t know the proper way to drink Guinness. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">When in a bar ordering a beer, take a look at their tap handles. While I would personally prefer trying something craft brewed, the places with craft options are probably pretty credible sources for good beer already. The rest of the bars, that offer an array of bad American beer and that will probably have Guinness as their sole import, especially for St. Patrick’s Day, can benefit from people asking for better beer. While they won’t have it, hopefully it will help down the line and eventually better beer choices will be everywhere. For a regular bar that doesn’t specialize in craft brewed beer, Murphy’s is an easy step towards replacing Guinness. For one, it tastes better than Guinness. It is easily a <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/articles/653">session beer</a>. It wouldn't be much more expensive or difficult for a bar to offer and would still give them the same profit margins. It's a win-win for everyone. So, this St. Patrick’s Day, ask for a Murphy’s, and maybe next year they’ll actually have it.</span></span></div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-83967754977766225722011-03-04T21:07:00.000-05:002011-03-04T21:07:10.434-05:00How to drink beer in 4 easy steps!With St. Patrick's Day just a couple weeks away I thought it was high time I show the masses (all three of you that follow my blog) the proper way to consume nitrogenated Irish stout. Do yourself (and your liver) a favor by skipping the plastic yards of dyed green Miller Genuine Trash for something a little more true to the spirit of the day. Splurge a little and buy yourself a quality Irish draft. While out on the town I can almost guarantee the only Irish stout you will see is Guinness. They would have you believe that the only proper way to drink their stout is to pour it, let it settle, top it off, let it settle again, and then enjoy. I don't care what they say, nitrogenated beer should be consumed as soon as it is poured. With Guinness, it gives actual clarity to the flavors of the beer. Letting it settle and then topping off is ridiculous and ruins what could have been beautiful. It might be a little difficult to receive your beer in this superior state while at a bar since Guinness has every bartender this side of the Atlantic "trained" in the horrible method of ruining beer. I have requested my beer "while it's leveling" on several occasions and had to explain that I simply meant, "Fill my glass all the way to the top, do not let it settle, and hand it to me A.S.A.P!" While you might get a superior leveling stout before it's too late, you also risk the chance of making an enemy of the bartender, but it’s nothing a good tip can't fix. All hope is not lost though. Not to sound like a jerk by telling you something you already know, but beer is cheaper by the case and you can pour it properly yourself. <br />
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Step 1: Get your can and glass ready.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAOGokNwzYSe-ym6eCYCsJv1t_P8_BNaRjwtSIcsCRE9D7wY7XZ1MSMdy8K9wddo-uTSDZYrq7-DmTy415MzarPp8GSBd8P0jXZFl4faOauFYAN1xjuzU9c7O2p4fxtQ1cUwxC5EMnqHd/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAOGokNwzYSe-ym6eCYCsJv1t_P8_BNaRjwtSIcsCRE9D7wY7XZ1MSMdy8K9wddo-uTSDZYrq7-DmTy415MzarPp8GSBd8P0jXZFl4faOauFYAN1xjuzU9c7O2p4fxtQ1cUwxC5EMnqHd/s320/IMG_1956.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is wrong on so many levels to pour Murphy's into a Guinness glass.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Step 2: Crack open that can and start pouring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaXgsoLFe_AGNMJypNkWS0gdyoxyRJ2CHNq3J6VJ8phJS2LFjhOvZEHQw8_ZSM1i93PBiTiKlggXzJBcxelkDUMVXWLCnvHLEOOI-CStIPlGFRGXILvSLjfSFkykjz4-8iIR9IWrO2oAK/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaXgsoLFe_AGNMJypNkWS0gdyoxyRJ2CHNq3J6VJ8phJS2LFjhOvZEHQw8_ZSM1i93PBiTiKlggXzJBcxelkDUMVXWLCnvHLEOOI-CStIPlGFRGXILvSLjfSFkykjz4-8iIR9IWrO2oAK/s320/IMG_1957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You shouldn't pour straight like this; it is better to hold the glass at a 45° angle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5C0I2_05-2hPqFEI_ckdyd3s4hLBI_9VCPSnfxdvcEgV1yHq95M4VHJGppMco-DzH1ANaK0AQHG2ItGjxlhTGhfPFbP2YPYZopDfBJTfI2-1a1nAXkAToWHaTSny21qOyf85G6g77WzC/s1600/IMG_1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5C0I2_05-2hPqFEI_ckdyd3s4hLBI_9VCPSnfxdvcEgV1yHq95M4VHJGppMco-DzH1ANaK0AQHG2ItGjxlhTGhfPFbP2YPYZopDfBJTfI2-1a1nAXkAToWHaTSny21qOyf85G6g77WzC/s320/IMG_1958.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIYRA5JOoKNXKGibnl8WdsY0hZ1dT2aTOQridI_P2APucV7chGICYDE8L3g1U_bXuCsRj9X61yLnWofSbxh6Udv_0ZqZU6EzvNfBs6HH7XHuYo1aitZBCgsrQml9O0Tg8VP349_mRv1Yr/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIYRA5JOoKNXKGibnl8WdsY0hZ1dT2aTOQridI_P2APucV7chGICYDE8L3g1U_bXuCsRj9X61yLnWofSbxh6Udv_0ZqZU6EzvNfBs6HH7XHuYo1aitZBCgsrQml9O0Tg8VP349_mRv1Yr/s320/IMG_1959.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47IH_6ETFxyNk7CjNV7I22hil-fDRdxUHiM2_1EvXCU-s_23YN0lFB2gohfSZXbhTIHhYKOWNsxwmhaUNje40ZSisS-N4M9a-eYMhabApLMGGR_3OWHZMvetCJ9umB8IMJOzWzGsTirLw/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47IH_6ETFxyNk7CjNV7I22hil-fDRdxUHiM2_1EvXCU-s_23YN0lFB2gohfSZXbhTIHhYKOWNsxwmhaUNje40ZSisS-N4M9a-eYMhabApLMGGR_3OWHZMvetCJ9umB8IMJOzWzGsTirLw/s320/IMG_1960.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Letting something this beautiful just sit and wait to be drank would be a sin so...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Step 3: Drink your beer!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmcATwNMbLB1qBniRBrxqNpmWOEH7Cu4RB1Z5xEGt6z6JP03hrfgEr1kVpUP29j8LDBhLWLQ9UvxqmWw66lKslz6pEIvpd2ECDo0rJ_AiTdD9QXMgjP-tk2TITkR_9Yz-udfGiXdTM9m_/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmcATwNMbLB1qBniRBrxqNpmWOEH7Cu4RB1Z5xEGt6z6JP03hrfgEr1kVpUP29j8LDBhLWLQ9UvxqmWw66lKslz6pEIvpd2ECDo0rJ_AiTdD9QXMgjP-tk2TITkR_9Yz-udfGiXdTM9m_/s320/IMG_1962.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Step 4: Look at what is left in your glass: Guinness would rather you drink an entire glass of this. Once you finish what is left, you will realize they are wrong and that it was far superior while leveling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn7e49sWpqDs5zY0CHrCliwlDC2flgyfteIytuiBJTLrYZve2P_fU1Bn4FCRTxb9Iwtss4_TT5FtRPvDUYyJCiOXq5C5oq45g8Egm8lep_4bKpS40vzBj5ya3CfHJ8ryOKi_cgctxWzJB/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn7e49sWpqDs5zY0CHrCliwlDC2flgyfteIytuiBJTLrYZve2P_fU1Bn4FCRTxb9Iwtss4_TT5FtRPvDUYyJCiOXq5C5oq45g8Egm8lep_4bKpS40vzBj5ya3CfHJ8ryOKi_cgctxWzJB/s320/IMG_1963.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Since this blog is also about TV, I'll just cover my bases by saying almost everything on Thursday was a repeat. But feel free to go to <a href="http://www.guinness.com/">http://www.guinness.com/</a>, click on "The Beer," and then select the glass of Guinness. There will be a side bar that says "How to Pour the Perfect Guinness." Watch that video and note at 27 seconds when he says "stop," that is when the glass should be filled the rest of the way and then instantly consumed.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-17648682324868838112011-02-25T21:45:00.000-05:002011-02-25T21:45:31.261-05:00It's cold outside.<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Being stuck in the house accomplishing almost nothing, the question dawned on me: “Am I wasting my life?” Looking through the list of 198 Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes on my hard drive, I started to wonder if I should spend almost 13 (nonstop) days in front of the TV. To think about wasting two weeks in front of the TV just seems nuts, and that’s just one show! There were 121 episodes of LOST. I watched every one. 121 hours of my life gone, and for what? To realize that the writers totally copped out and had no idea where they were going.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW-k32paa6lZhpd2OcnPv1mUkOo6kYQFHV4zLJsrNVtylir710F4mv57VBwY-7ANunZN4GVNGk7GwNZHW3ZVoHgabFZmjKxkBCtzjzBw0IFTldGvFerjMhZZqFFF76rH7iDtBq1luGXk1/s1600/magic+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I live in this frozen ice hell by choice though, so I’m gonna go drink another beer and watch TV until spring. Which reminds me, I picked up Magic Hat Brewing Company’s “Spring Fever Mix!” </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW-k32paa6lZhpd2OcnPv1mUkOo6kYQFHV4zLJsrNVtylir710F4mv57VBwY-7ANunZN4GVNGk7GwNZHW3ZVoHgabFZmjKxkBCtzjzBw0IFTldGvFerjMhZZqFFF76rH7iDtBq1luGXk1/s1600/magic+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW-k32paa6lZhpd2OcnPv1mUkOo6kYQFHV4zLJsrNVtylir710F4mv57VBwY-7ANunZN4GVNGk7GwNZHW3ZVoHgabFZmjKxkBCtzjzBw0IFTldGvFerjMhZZqFFF76rH7iDtBq1luGXk1/s320/magic+hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The graphic design on this is pretty cool. I’ve always liked boom boxes. (For you kids that don’t know, that thing on the front is a cassette tape. While being about the same size as an IPod, they only hold a couple of albums and require a stereo to play.) Inside the case, Magic Hat’s staple, #9, is always refreshing. It used to be rated at 4.6% alcohol but this is the second different seasonal variety pack I’ve bought where it’s listed at 5.1%. I assume it is a permanent change at this point and welcome it. The extra alcohol gives it a little more kick that gets rid of the excessive apricot taste, leaving you with more than enough to know this isn’t a normal ale, but not overpoweringly so. Also always present in their variety packs is Circus Boy, an American-style hefeweizen. While I prefer a real German weiss, their version isn’t offensive and its relatively low alcohol (4.4%) makes it very drinkable which is a plus. I’m diggin’ the seasonal amber lager, Vinyl. I usually don’t like the muted taste of lagers but this one was smooth and full of flavor, a nice combination. The final beer in this mix is Demo, a black india pale ale. This style contradicts itself in so many ways. How can you have a pale black? It pours dark but it has all of the taste of an IPA. It’s no secret that I love IPAs, and this style intrigues me. I would have thought that mixing in a bunch of dark malts would pretty much change the beer entirely, but really it just adds to the experience. So if you’re as bored as me in these last couple months of winter, I recommend wasting away on the couch with a case of Magic Hat’s Spring Fever Mix and 198 episodes (plus one feature length movie) of Mystery Science Theater 3000.</span></span></div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-76439707962186601892011-02-18T20:15:00.000-05:002011-02-18T20:21:46.583-05:00How to Survive a Robot UprisingAs foretold by Jeopardy!, the machines are going to take over and we are now doomed to a fate worse than death. John Conner better send a hacked robot back in time to kill Dr. David Ferrucci and his ungodly creation, The Watson. Ewwwhh, I tremble just hearing its name. Thank God I already own a copy of How to Survive a Robot Uprising by Daniel H. Wilson PhD. Now if I could only find it...<br />
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Seriously though, how wouldn't the machine win? With a database larger than some people's apartments and a button pushing reaction time that is 38 times faster than a normal human, I have no choice but to call <b>SHENANIGANS!</b> While you have to give credit to the team behind Watson for putting us one step closer to sitting in the captain's chair of the Starship Enterprise, that was absolutely ridiculous. Of course a computer controlling a solenoid that pushes a button will be able to push said button faster than a human; that's why we invented computer controlled solenoids. I digress.<br />
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We better start stockpiling alcohol though. The robots are going to consume so much more than us to fuel their power cells. The breweries aren't going to be able to produce enough. The world will be a wreck. It'll be worse than prohibition. I can see the war between the machines and humans now, fought over the last case of some garbage like I.C. Light. It'll be an extremely sad chapter in human existence. I'm going to do all I can to prevent it by stockpiling as much as possible now. I guess I shouldn't have drank one of my last two Magic Hat Odd Notion Limited Edition Fall 2010 Witbiers! The Belgian style wit was a little strange, with hints of green apple along side the normal coriander, orange peel, and wheat, but I loved it. I should have carefully aged it for the years ahead when finding beer will be worse than finding gasoline in the post-apocalyptic Mad Max wasteland.<br />
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Prepare for the inevitable: buy beer. Make sure it's good beer though...Coors Lite doesn't age well.T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-74306544565010764492011-02-11T22:41:00.000-05:002011-02-11T22:41:54.429-05:00The Black and the Gold!While I would love to devote this space ranting about the Steelers' great victory, I can't, so instead I'm going to drown my sorrows in my own black and gold.<br />
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One of my favorite drinks is the Black and Gold. There is a nice write-up on the history of the traditional “black and tan” and all of its variations on Wikipedia. I’m responsible for adding Black and Gold to the list, which I’m almost positive gives me the right to say I invented the drink. Hopefully no one deletes my entry…<br />
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I was first introduced to the style, probably the same way a lot of people were, by Yuengling’s Black and Tan. Their pre-mixed porter version definitely does not have the taste of an Irish stout version. It’s also missing the flash that a proper poured draught black and tan has. While discussing the Yuengling version about seven years ago, my father-in-law poured me a Black Czech, which is Guinness poured over the Czech Pilsner Urquell. The idea of being able to pour two separate beers into the same glass intrigued me. While mixing beers should be heresy, it just looks too amazing to not do at least once.<br />
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The Black and Gold naturally had to follow. While Pilsner Urquell is a great beer, one of our favorite go to styles is German Hefeweizen. The beautiful unfiltered golden wheat beer from Hacker-Pschorr with a black as night top lent by Murphy’s Irish Stout fit the bill perfectly for the 2005 season Super Bowl battle against the Seahawks. This year, I had the opportunity to use Beamish Irish Stout. When mixed with the weissbier, the flavor is hard to describe. The staple creamy roasted chocolate malt from the stout mixes well with the smell of orange peel fruitiness, clove, banana, and wheat. It’s hard to describe and you should really just try one!<br />
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Pouring a black and tan of any type is a bit of an art. <br />
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First, having the proper spoon makes a world of difference. While it is not 100% necessary, it makes it a lot easier.<br />
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You’ll want to pour about half a glass of your choice bottom and let it settle.<br />
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Next, crack open that draught can. You’ll want to be quick to get it above the glass. I have had more than a couple of these nitrogenated cans start spitting if their temperature wasn’t just right. Slowly and patiently pour it over the spoon and watch your majestic masterpiece form.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKICPaJu6StQ0BmHzoU_noNR37et6oz_VCPPYV91kq9VBm97BoXs5px_IejGfk-Yl4kMwWEj5Nr-ljpm2yymh8KCf7GT_lseVL64UUdlpitPF5PRV5I9CoS9-pscA7tNuHFDmuX_nzX865/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKICPaJu6StQ0BmHzoU_noNR37et6oz_VCPPYV91kq9VBm97BoXs5px_IejGfk-Yl4kMwWEj5Nr-ljpm2yymh8KCf7GT_lseVL64UUdlpitPF5PRV5I9CoS9-pscA7tNuHFDmuX_nzX865/s320/IMG_1928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Bask in it’s glory, then drink, rinse (your glass), and repeat. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEile0AT8uOHKlhH266Le2rQjpHERZiP75_QCOqWYDYFVH_3hS3sFTHDDsQn7OfAMRtRvGNOa1IG9nSjvhrTYYJQDahb71sjU0VOG8RJZivBNtHwMSKNImxbxYTxohE-zZFiTtIslHlXbNkg/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEile0AT8uOHKlhH266Le2rQjpHERZiP75_QCOqWYDYFVH_3hS3sFTHDDsQn7OfAMRtRvGNOa1IG9nSjvhrTYYJQDahb71sjU0VOG8RJZivBNtHwMSKNImxbxYTxohE-zZFiTtIslHlXbNkg/s320/IMG_1932.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-67575776490934394182011-02-04T21:41:00.000-05:002011-02-04T21:41:12.422-05:00The Bitter Taste of...Chocolate?NBC’s Thursday night line-up once again crushed the “competition” from the other networks. I’m not going to rave on and on about how great Community’s Dungeons and Dragons themed episode was. I’m also not going to talk about The Office foreshadowing Michael leaving by having him finally get together with Holly. You watched it. You know what happened. Or at least you should have watched it because every show that night was great.<br />
<br />
What wasn’t great were the commercials. There have been a few commercials in rotation over the last month or so that just plain bug me. The opening scene of DIRECTV’s “You’ll be super busy” commercial, depicting a town in crisis because the super hero is too busy watching TV, is the worst. It shows a scruffy criminal on look-out during a bank robbery. This guy is wearing tinted welding/brazing goggles. These are not some steam-punk retro-futuristic night vision goggles; these are straight-up dark goggles--at night--ridiculous. Second is the Chex-Mix commercial advertising movie night for the neighborhood kids. The movie? Nosferatu. As a fan of old horror this is awesome, but seriously, you would have to be kind of crazy to show this movie to the local kids. Lastly, Chrysler declaring that for the past five decades cars were not classy and that style has disappeared is ludicrous. The idea that the only way to once again arrive in style is in a new Chrysler is just insane. It’s almost as if they have never ridden, or even seen, anything from Europe. Even the Japanese with their luxury brands fabricated for the American market have Chrysler beat. Giving us watered down rehashes of Mercedes Benz platforms that you luckily got as a parting gift when Daimler-Benz realized you were worthless is not innovation. <br />
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Maybe I am just bitter, like the beer I am drinking. Dogfish Head’s Theobroma is a great concept. Every beer in their “Liquid Time Capsule” series is great in concept. By using a molecular archaeologist to decipher what chemical compounds are present in ancient pottery and then using that information to create a drinkable beer is a great way to kind of see what our ancestors were probably drinking. You can definitely taste everything Dogfish Head put in the beer. From the dry bitterness of the cocoa nibs to the mild heat from the ancho chilies after each mouthful, it is interesting to see what the ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures drank. Howeve, it is not something I can recommend unless you are really curious. At $14/750ml, it wouldn’t be bad for the curious to split with a friend. Since I had a hard time getting through the entire bottle by myself, it is hard for me to recommend purchasing.<br />
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Hopefully with the Superbowl right around the corner the commericals will be top-notch, because I know the beer will be when I drink my Steeler Superbowl favorite, the Black and Gold!T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-16313719891028679122011-01-27T21:34:00.000-05:002011-01-27T21:34:42.808-05:00Comedy Night Done Right - All Night<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">NBC once again brought out the "Comedy Night Done Right" slogan and this time added "All Night" to the end. Three hours of prime-time comedy floats my boat farther than crappy lawyer-housewife-doctor drama garbage any day. I'd rather have a couple good laughs than watch some unreasonably fat people lose weight, some jerks get "stranded" on an island with Jeff Probst, or some other jerks back-stab each other for a shot at working for “The Donald”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">NBC really struck gold with Community. The writers always deliver a good story and a lot of great laughs. I’m not sure of CBS’s reasoning with moving The Big Bang Theory into the same time slot. It hasn’t seemed to affect Community’s ratings that much but since it can’t help I hope they crash and burn for it. The premiere of Perfect Couples was on right after. I probably would have watched either way because its CBS competition, $#*! My Dad Says, is total garbage. The Office is comic genius. I hate/like Michael Scott so much that I can’t not watch. I'm not sure how the show will go on, or if it should, when he leaves before the season finale. After The Office was Parks and Recreation. The ratings will tell you that it’s great, but when you’re riding the coat tails of The Office and leading into 30 Rock, it’s hard not to have good ratings. 30 Rock is such a good show that it should make other comedy shows wish they didn’t have to follow it, which brings us to Outsourced. I guess they are really lucky they do follow; maybe people just don't turn off their TVs. This show reminds me a lot of Scrubs, only in that I am embarrassed I watch it but don't make an effort to stop.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This brings us to the beer. By 10:30, Outsourced can seem pretty funny when you’re drinking Southern Tier’s India Pale Ale. I have seen this beer rated from 6.9-7.3% ABV and this American IPA is one of the better representations of this style. It pours a rich amber shaded orange with a large creamy white head. You can smell the citrus hop aroma as soon as you move it near your lips. The mix of grapefruit and citrus flavors, a bit of pine, and hop bitterness isn’t too strong as to turn you off, but definitely enough to remind you that this is a strong American IPA, and one I would definitely recommend.</span></div></div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1668474607160264962.post-5022592755148038052011-01-14T11:53:00.000-05:002011-01-27T21:37:28.178-05:00We've got nothing better to do!<div class="content-cap-top cap-top"><div class="cap-left"></div><div class="cap-right"></div></div><div class="fauxborder-left content-fauxborder-left"><div class="fauxborder-right content-fauxborder-right" style="height: 805px; width: 487px;"></div><div class="content-inner"><div class="header-outer"><div class="fauxborder-left header-fauxborder-left"><div class="region-inner header-inner"><div class="header section" id="header"><div class="widget Header" id="Header1"><div closure_uid_ayduqr="1" id="header-inner"><div class="titlewrapper">As Black Flag's Greg Ginn said, "We've got nothing better to do, than watch T.V. and have a couple of brews!" That is what I'm going to be doing here, drinking beer and watching TV! Who doesn't love a good beer and some good ol' fashioned prime-time T.V.? Well, I won't always be watching prime-time, a lot of the best shows are online, but you get the point. Life is too short to drink bad beer and too long to not waste it watching television. So, I'm going to help guide you out of the world of crappy beer and even crappier T.V. and into a world of wasting away in front of the boob-tube!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>T.V. PARTY!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08025656482846039237noreply@blogger.com0