...can we then work on purging the fucking cops?
I sure hope so.
The rate at which people are being Tasered (and die from it) is on a steady climb (freakin' 5 people died in January alone). Here are some videos for your viewing displeasure.
There's no doubt in my mind (though I'm not sure how to go about proving the correlation) that a lawless administration has only exacerbated the problem with a police force that has always been a largely corrupt element of society.
Where is the outrage? Are people still too busy with the TERRA TERRA TERRA calls from Preznit Fucknuts. I don't think so. Maybe 25% of the population is still stupid enough to give a shit about what comes out of that asshole's mouth any more. What's wrong with the rest of us?
UPDATE: more from the Dark Wraith. Now we throw paraplegics out of their wheelchairs and onto the floor. You know, just because.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Roger
So, has Roger Clemens received any back-room assurances that he'll get the Scooter Libby treatment?
Sure is possible, considering how divided along party lines the hearings were on Wednesday. Republicans attacked McNamee (and slurped Clemens) across the board. Could that be because Clemens is from Texas. Perhaps?
Those hearings were great comedy. I had ESPN radio on, so I could listen to Mike & Mike, Colin Cowherd, and Mike Tirico play just the most important soundbites, and I had the hearings themselves on TV, muted, just to check out body language. Oh, yeah, I was working from home because I had a doctor appointment, and we had that huge snow/ice/rain/sleet clusterfucktastrophe. There was no way I was spending two hours in a car heading to work, and two hours heading back. I put in a full work day here, even counting the time running errands.
Sure is possible, considering how divided along party lines the hearings were on Wednesday. Republicans attacked McNamee (and slurped Clemens) across the board. Could that be because Clemens is from Texas. Perhaps?
Those hearings were great comedy. I had ESPN radio on, so I could listen to Mike & Mike, Colin Cowherd, and Mike Tirico play just the most important soundbites, and I had the hearings themselves on TV, muted, just to check out body language. Oh, yeah, I was working from home because I had a doctor appointment, and we had that huge snow/ice/rain/sleet clusterfucktastrophe. There was no way I was spending two hours in a car heading to work, and two hours heading back. I put in a full work day here, even counting the time running errands.
Meme!
Toast has another one, that Bill actually had up a few weeks ago, but I forgot to propagate.
1. Grab the nearest book (that is at least 123 pages long).
2. Open to p. 123.
3. Go down to the 5th sentence.
4. Type in the following 3 sentences.
5. Tag five people.
At work:
¡Fantástico! Me gustaría tomarme un minuto para contarle sobre la Promoción Póquer de Productos. (Explique la promoción). ¿Le gustaría agregar algún artículo adicional para poder aprovechar la oferta?
From the Spanish version of Business Fundamentals for Salon & Spa Professionals (Teacher's Guide).
At Home:
Weishaupt's "illumination" & Voltaire's "enlightenment": from the Latin "lux" meaning light.
Christianity all in 3s (Trinity, etc.), Buddhism in 4s. Illuminatism in 5s.
From The Illuminatus Trilogy.
1. Grab the nearest book (that is at least 123 pages long).
2. Open to p. 123.
3. Go down to the 5th sentence.
4. Type in the following 3 sentences.
5. Tag five people.
At work:
¡Fantástico! Me gustaría tomarme un minuto para contarle sobre la Promoción Póquer de Productos. (Explique la promoción). ¿Le gustaría agregar algún artículo adicional para poder aprovechar la oferta?
From the Spanish version of Business Fundamentals for Salon & Spa Professionals (Teacher's Guide).
At Home:
Weishaupt's "illumination" & Voltaire's "enlightenment": from the Latin "lux" meaning light.
Christianity all in 3s (Trinity, etc.), Buddhism in 4s. Illuminatism in 5s.
From The Illuminatus Trilogy.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The ethanol scam, and other links
TRex has an excellent post summarizing all the recent developments in ethanol. Tons of links.
Fridge finds the perfect name for the Manning-to-Tyree play last weekend.
KSK has some fake cheerleader bios. Rips Tiki a new one. And leads us to one of the greatest comment threads of all time. Damn, Patriots fans suck.
St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter, with an amazing Yogism. It's a thing of beauty.
"...when - not if - martial law is declared" in America. So, y'all still think you're voting in November?
More Republican sex scandals. But he's not gay though.
Fridge finds the perfect name for the Manning-to-Tyree play last weekend.
KSK has some fake cheerleader bios. Rips Tiki a new one. And leads us to one of the greatest comment threads of all time. Damn, Patriots fans suck.
St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter, with an amazing Yogism. It's a thing of beauty.
"...when - not if - martial law is declared" in America. So, y'all still think you're voting in November?
More Republican sex scandals. But he's not gay though.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
This evening in trainwrecks
Toast liveblogged the Grammy Awards rather entertainingly.
Overall, we disagree on the music/talk ratio of the content. I want to see more performances and less chatter, especially the stupid teleprompter "banter" and bad jokes. Nothing better than live music.
My stand-out moments:
Cranking up the volume on my home theater in anticipation of the Foo doing Pretender, only to have to endure the worst sound mix I think I've ever heard on TV. The only five minutes of the show I actually anticipated, and they fucked it up.
Tina Turner squeezing herself into a silver thing at least 4 sizes too small, and trying to move like she did 20 and 40 years ago.
Aretha Franklin wearing the same yellow tent she wore 2.5 months ago, in this post.
Amy Winehouse. Ho. Lee. Shit. The sad thing is, her excessive abuses have actually robbed her of her talent. No timing, no rhythm, no tone, and she missed her key a lot too. She seemed like she was reading straight off a teleprompter. Awful. Her backup singers can fucking move though. And I must admit I was touched by her utter shock and the celebration with her bandmates upon winning.
Josh Groban and Andrea Boccelli in the battle for who can be most emo of the mediocre opera wanna-bes.
Jerry Lee Lewis, who I love, and whose last album was very good, looking really pissed off that they pulled him away from the buffet. I lost track of chins and jowels. Little Richard can still rock that falsetto. Impressive. I wonder if all the facelifts helped.
will.I.am with the most ridiculously bad rap I've ever heard. Highest of high comedy. I can't wait until that's up on YouTube.
Has an album less people heard of ever won the Album of the Year?
Overall, we disagree on the music/talk ratio of the content. I want to see more performances and less chatter, especially the stupid teleprompter "banter" and bad jokes. Nothing better than live music.
My stand-out moments:
Cranking up the volume on my home theater in anticipation of the Foo doing Pretender, only to have to endure the worst sound mix I think I've ever heard on TV. The only five minutes of the show I actually anticipated, and they fucked it up.
Tina Turner squeezing herself into a silver thing at least 4 sizes too small, and trying to move like she did 20 and 40 years ago.
Aretha Franklin wearing the same yellow tent she wore 2.5 months ago, in this post.
Amy Winehouse. Ho. Lee. Shit. The sad thing is, her excessive abuses have actually robbed her of her talent. No timing, no rhythm, no tone, and she missed her key a lot too. She seemed like she was reading straight off a teleprompter. Awful. Her backup singers can fucking move though. And I must admit I was touched by her utter shock and the celebration with her bandmates upon winning.
Josh Groban and Andrea Boccelli in the battle for who can be most emo of the mediocre opera wanna-bes.
Jerry Lee Lewis, who I love, and whose last album was very good, looking really pissed off that they pulled him away from the buffet. I lost track of chins and jowels. Little Richard can still rock that falsetto. Impressive. I wonder if all the facelifts helped.
will.I.am with the most ridiculously bad rap I've ever heard. Highest of high comedy. I can't wait until that's up on YouTube.
Has an album less people heard of ever won the Album of the Year?
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Still laughing two days later
A couple days ago, Shakesville's Question of the Day was "What was the best insult you've ever received?"
In comments was this gem:
In comments was this gem:
A friend of of my husband's got this in a student evaluation:
"Professor smarty-pants acts like she knows more than the rest of us just because she has a Ph.D."
I am a nerd
This was a VERY tough quiz.
Found at Toast's place, and he found it at Kona's place.
I missed #1, #5, and #22.
I don't do myspace, I don't upload to YouTube, and I didn't know what OSI was until I looked it up after the quiz.
Not bad.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Why yes, your logo does look like a giant turd...
Um, maybe someone should have vetted this idea further.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
NFL Update
TMQ has a good weekend post about the Belicheat taping issues.
I see where he's coming from about the why government can get involved, it's just that I don't want that to happen. I still think this should remain an internal matter.
Now, maybe the only thing that can get Walsh to talk (while being protected from breaking his NDA with the Pats) is a subpeona, and the threat of jail. But I really don't think it has to go that far.
Just an opinion.
I can only hope, though, that in addition to this wonderfully humiliating loss, the Pats lose more draft picks, more millions in fines, and all credibility in terms of their success in the Oughts.
That would be stupendous.
UPDATE!!!
This brilliant post right here spells out how ridiculous any government involvement in the NFL would be.
I see where he's coming from about the why government can get involved, it's just that I don't want that to happen. I still think this should remain an internal matter.
Now, maybe the only thing that can get Walsh to talk (while being protected from breaking his NDA with the Pats) is a subpeona, and the threat of jail. But I really don't think it has to go that far.
Just an opinion.
I can only hope, though, that in addition to this wonderfully humiliating loss, the Pats lose more draft picks, more millions in fines, and all credibility in terms of their success in the Oughts.
That would be stupendous.
UPDATE!!!
This brilliant post right here spells out how ridiculous any government involvement in the NFL would be.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Some observations
Only 91 rushing yards for the Giants, 45 for the Pats.
Only one field goal attempt the whole game.
The mighty QB Class of 2004 is 2-0 in Super Bowls. Elway/Kelly/Marino went 2-8, after starting 0-8. I don't know what kind of stats Manning/Rivers/Roethlisberger will accumulate over their careers, but you can't argue with the way they've started. I look forward to revisiting this topic in 10 years.
Emmitt: A loss tonight, and the loss that they went through today...
It's just too easy.
Only one field goal attempt the whole game.
The mighty QB Class of 2004 is 2-0 in Super Bowls. Elway/Kelly/Marino went 2-8, after starting 0-8. I don't know what kind of stats Manning/Rivers/Roethlisberger will accumulate over their careers, but you can't argue with the way they've started. I look forward to revisiting this topic in 10 years.
Emmitt: A loss tonight, and the loss that they went through today...
It's just too easy.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Oh, Emmitt. Oh, Dreamboat.
OK, that was the best non-Steeler Super Bowl ever.
Overall, the ads were weak. I liked the FedEx carrier pigeons, the e*trade baby, and a couple others.
As enjoyable as it was to see the Cheating Fucking Patriots go down, I realize I have to take the bad with the good. And the bad is, I still have to put up with Shula, Buoniconti, and Mercury Fucking Morris until they're stone cold dead. And I hate that. So I can only hope that they just die and go away soon.
Emmit Smith just told me that the Patriots offense was "debacled." I shit you not. "Their defense did a good job, but their offense was... debacled." No, really, KSK wasn't kidding when they wrote this post and this post. He's speaking again, and I still have no fucking idea what he's talking about. He's a savant of some sort.
And how did I forget: Bill Simmons' next article will be the best ever. I can't wait. I really can't wait.
Overall, the ads were weak. I liked the FedEx carrier pigeons, the e*trade baby, and a couple others.
As enjoyable as it was to see the Cheating Fucking Patriots go down, I realize I have to take the bad with the good. And the bad is, I still have to put up with Shula, Buoniconti, and Mercury Fucking Morris until they're stone cold dead. And I hate that. So I can only hope that they just die and go away soon.
Emmit Smith just told me that the Patriots offense was "debacled." I shit you not. "Their defense did a good job, but their offense was... debacled." No, really, KSK wasn't kidding when they wrote this post and this post. He's speaking again, and I still have no fucking idea what he's talking about. He's a savant of some sort.
And how did I forget: Bill Simmons' next article will be the best ever. I can't wait. I really can't wait.
Super Sunday
I got up at 6 am today, to watch Mike & Mike do their first Sunday show. Good times.
I napped in and out of it, because I didn't fall asleep until 3am, but I also DVRed it so I could go back and catch the stuff I missed.
They had on Arlen Specter (R-Assholevania) and Roger Goodell (Commissioner-NFL).
I know, you'll never believe this, but every slimy word the oozed out of Specter's mouth sounded like rehearsed stump-speech grandstanding in an election year. And don't get me started on ANY Republican talking about "integrity."
Gooddell was strong, straightforward, business-like, and most importantly, human. The particular case they investigated was closed, satisfactorily. Remember, while whatever went down was no doubt shady, it was not illegal. No Congress-scum from either party has any business here.
Now, don't get me wrong, I hoping the latest developments regarding the taping before Rams-Pats Super Bowl result in something meatier, some unquestionably strong asterisk on the Pats dynasty. Once again, though, that's the NFL's and the fans' business. Unless, of course, politicians want to come out and claim that they're protecting gamblers' interests when they talk about the integrity of the game. That would be some good theater.
I am not, in any way, absolving the Pats of their cheating ways. People who say "well, it doesn't impact this season because they were stopped after the first game" are complete idiots. This has been going on for years. They had miles of tape. And if you don't know the story of the savant behind the Belichick "genius," you don't have any idea what kind of competitive advantage they had. Ernie Adams still has years worth of illicit tape in his head, no matter what happened to the actual magnetic media.
Anyway, I look forward to further delving into the depths of the Belicheat era. Just not by politicians.
I napped in and out of it, because I didn't fall asleep until 3am, but I also DVRed it so I could go back and catch the stuff I missed.
They had on Arlen Specter (R-Assholevania) and Roger Goodell (Commissioner-NFL).
I know, you'll never believe this, but every slimy word the oozed out of Specter's mouth sounded like rehearsed stump-speech grandstanding in an election year. And don't get me started on ANY Republican talking about "integrity."
Gooddell was strong, straightforward, business-like, and most importantly, human. The particular case they investigated was closed, satisfactorily. Remember, while whatever went down was no doubt shady, it was not illegal. No Congress-scum from either party has any business here.
Now, don't get me wrong, I hoping the latest developments regarding the taping before Rams-Pats Super Bowl result in something meatier, some unquestionably strong asterisk on the Pats dynasty. Once again, though, that's the NFL's and the fans' business. Unless, of course, politicians want to come out and claim that they're protecting gamblers' interests when they talk about the integrity of the game. That would be some good theater.
I am not, in any way, absolving the Pats of their cheating ways. People who say "well, it doesn't impact this season because they were stopped after the first game" are complete idiots. This has been going on for years. They had miles of tape. And if you don't know the story of the savant behind the Belichick "genius," you don't have any idea what kind of competitive advantage they had. Ernie Adams still has years worth of illicit tape in his head, no matter what happened to the actual magnetic media.
Anyway, I look forward to further delving into the depths of the Belicheat era. Just not by politicians.
Quick Hits
I've got some work to do before I sit on my ass for the Super Bowl (don't forget to join us on the Virtual Couch!), but here are some interesting things:
An excellent analysis on why newspapers are failing. The indictments fly fast and furious, and they're all well deserved. Especially Wall Street. As news media became consolidated and corporatized, publishers became more interested in meeting this quarter's earnings and growth targets, instead of paying actual reporters and critics. There is nothing in my local paper (at about $150 a year) that I didn't already read online the day before. The only thing I miss is the comics page. I took care of that with a $12.95 annual subscription to comics.com. Sure, I could read all the strips I like for free, but that would entail about 50 clicks. Instead, I have a home page on which 25+ comics are consolidated for me.
If you've never heard of 2 Girls 1 Cup, consider yourself lucky. If you've heard of it but never seen it, consider yourself blessed, and be thankful for your a) self-control or b) lack of curiosity. In my case, it's A. I know what it is, and while I am curious, I'm not stupid. There are certain things you can't unsee. It is the pretty much the only thing out there in that genre of gross-out internet content that I haven't seen, and that is by design. I suggest you follow my lead on that one. On the other hand you MUST watch this slideshow, little filmclips of people watching 2G1C for the first time. A brilliant, if sadistic, little experiment. I've watched each of these people two or three times, and it gets better each time. Absolutely incredible.
This is old news by now, as it spread ridiculously fast, but just in case you haven't seen it, you're welcome. Hell, even if you've seen it, watch it again. I'm well over a dozen times already, and it still hasn't gotten old. I love Sarah Silverman, and major major props to Matt Damon (MATT DAMON!) for being such a shithead (and I mean that in the good way). Wiseasses rule.
Another must-see, is this political ad. So to speak. I don't even know if I should call it an ad, because it doesn't appear to be directly linked to Obama, and he doesn't do that "and I approve of this message" at the end. Brilliantly executed, and quite powerful. As Furious says, this would be the most talked-about Super Bowl ad of all time, if they could get it on.
Here's the YouTube version, in case you have trouble with the main link. I suggest watching it at DipDive if you can as it's much cleaner video. YouTube does some serious compression.
An excellent analysis on why newspapers are failing. The indictments fly fast and furious, and they're all well deserved. Especially Wall Street. As news media became consolidated and corporatized, publishers became more interested in meeting this quarter's earnings and growth targets, instead of paying actual reporters and critics. There is nothing in my local paper (at about $150 a year) that I didn't already read online the day before. The only thing I miss is the comics page. I took care of that with a $12.95 annual subscription to comics.com. Sure, I could read all the strips I like for free, but that would entail about 50 clicks. Instead, I have a home page on which 25+ comics are consolidated for me.
If you've never heard of 2 Girls 1 Cup, consider yourself lucky. If you've heard of it but never seen it, consider yourself blessed, and be thankful for your a) self-control or b) lack of curiosity. In my case, it's A. I know what it is, and while I am curious, I'm not stupid. There are certain things you can't unsee. It is the pretty much the only thing out there in that genre of gross-out internet content that I haven't seen, and that is by design. I suggest you follow my lead on that one. On the other hand you MUST watch this slideshow, little filmclips of people watching 2G1C for the first time. A brilliant, if sadistic, little experiment. I've watched each of these people two or three times, and it gets better each time. Absolutely incredible.
This is old news by now, as it spread ridiculously fast, but just in case you haven't seen it, you're welcome. Hell, even if you've seen it, watch it again. I'm well over a dozen times already, and it still hasn't gotten old. I love Sarah Silverman, and major major props to Matt Damon (MATT DAMON!) for being such a shithead (and I mean that in the good way). Wiseasses rule.
Another must-see, is this political ad. So to speak. I don't even know if I should call it an ad, because it doesn't appear to be directly linked to Obama, and he doesn't do that "and I approve of this message" at the end. Brilliantly executed, and quite powerful. As Furious says, this would be the most talked-about Super Bowl ad of all time, if they could get it on.
Here's the YouTube version, in case you have trouble with the main link. I suggest watching it at DipDive if you can as it's much cleaner video. YouTube does some serious compression.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Meme!
Toast has a new meme: what does your computer's desktop look like?
Mine is clean. I hate icons all over the place. My work screen shots would look exactly the same, except it would be two monitors.
Click to embiggen.
My dock is hidden normally, I just figured I'd throw it in there.
Yeah, I use a lot of apps regularly, mostly graphics oriented.
Mine is clean. I hate icons all over the place. My work screen shots would look exactly the same, except it would be two monitors.
Click to embiggen.
My dock is hidden normally, I just figured I'd throw it in there.
Yeah, I use a lot of apps regularly, mostly graphics oriented.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Oh, the links I can link...
From Shakes:
The stupididiest person on the face of the Earth.
Racism grows to new heights.
The art of projecting your actions on others. This one is a must.
Shakes knocks one out of the park.
From Kissing Suzy Kolbert
Osi wants to poop on you.
Emmitt breaks down the Super Bowl.
As does Gilbert Gottfried.
Some Great LOLcats
The nerdiest of nerd puns.
This Bud for me.
Doom.
How many heads did this fly over?
Some blasphemy...
Um...
Satellite vs. cable.
We can hang out with all the boys!
Other:
Too stupid to even realize he's being mocked.
Yes, there HAVE been terrorist attacks since 9/11.
Republicans are fucking stupid. As are our media.
The whole taking nude pictures of yourself thing becomes legally troublesome. And really fucking stupid in a way that only Americans can make it.
No.
The stupididiest person on the face of the Earth.
Racism grows to new heights.
The art of projecting your actions on others. This one is a must.
Shakes knocks one out of the park.
From Kissing Suzy Kolbert
Osi wants to poop on you.
Emmitt breaks down the Super Bowl.
As does Gilbert Gottfried.
Some Great LOLcats
The nerdiest of nerd puns.
This Bud for me.
Doom.
How many heads did this fly over?
Some blasphemy...
Um...
Satellite vs. cable.
We can hang out with all the boys!
Other:
Too stupid to even realize he's being mocked.
Yes, there HAVE been terrorist attacks since 9/11.
Republicans are fucking stupid. As are our media.
The whole taking nude pictures of yourself thing becomes legally troublesome. And really fucking stupid in a way that only Americans can make it.
No.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Nerd!
Apparently this is a very old joke, but it's new to me, and man does it tickle my nerdy bone.
Guy is visiting New England for the first time. Lands at Logan, gets in a cab, and starts asking the driver for recommendations for things to do. Some small talk ensues.
Finally, the tourist asks "Where can I get scrod around here?"
Answer: "I've been asked that many times, but never before in the pluperfect subjunctive."
Guy is visiting New England for the first time. Lands at Logan, gets in a cab, and starts asking the driver for recommendations for things to do. Some small talk ensues.
Finally, the tourist asks "Where can I get scrod around here?"
Answer: "I've been asked that many times, but never before in the pluperfect subjunctive."
Not quite a ringing endorsement
"It was like the film was raping my face."
I'm all for artists taking chances, challenging norms, even trying to "shock" or "offend." Still, at least try to have a point.
I challenge you to read that four paragraph review and tell me you can find ANY reason to see that flick.
I'm all for artists taking chances, challenging norms, even trying to "shock" or "offend." Still, at least try to have a point.
I challenge you to read that four paragraph review and tell me you can find ANY reason to see that flick.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
What a beautiful sentence
FJM, defining "dirtbag":
Sounds about right.
Men of questionable moral character, who wear lots of cologne and get fake tans and spike their hair and flash gang signs at the camera when their picture is taken even though they grew up quite white-ly in Dumont, NJ and think that pec size is fucking key to getting chicks and had their most spiritual moment ever at an Everclear concert in 1998 when the 'Clear played "Father of Mine" acoustic and it fucking rocked and they have a good buddy who's serving 18 months for sexual assault but he was totally innocent and someday they hope to like start their own club in Miami where the music would be awesome and there's dollar-Jaeger-shot Tuesdays and it would be fucking tiiiiiight.
Sounds about right.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Are we waking up?
Well, this is certainly interesting...
Americans bought more Toyota Prius hybrid gas-electric hatchbacks last year than Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicles, the top-selling SUV for more than a decade.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Have another beer!
After this footage was aired on the news, he turned himself in.
If this was football, they'd say "he has a knee."
If this was football, they'd say "he has a knee."
Friday, January 11, 2008
Sex technology
OK, I wound up crashing as soon as I got home from work, and here I am, wide awake at 10:45.
I've got Modern Marvels on, and the topic is "Sex Technology."
I've already discussed vibrators here, but the stat on this show says only 2% of American women have them. That seems ridiculously low. I'm going to have to watch the end to see the copyright date of this show. (of course, I missed it)
Another topic was all the ridiculous gadgetry designed in the "good old days" to prevent erections, wet dreams, and masturbation. Of course, these devices were used on children and insane asylum inmates. I've been trying to find some images, but Googling only gets you chastity devices from the current era, designed for fetishists. I knew about this stuff, but DAMN. Some of the devices were, quite literally, torture.
I just wish these sick, sick people had devoted their energies to having fun, instead of preventing others from doing so.
Plus ça change...
I've got Modern Marvels on, and the topic is "Sex Technology."
I've already discussed vibrators here, but the stat on this show says only 2% of American women have them. That seems ridiculously low. I'm going to have to watch the end to see the copyright date of this show. (of course, I missed it)
Another topic was all the ridiculous gadgetry designed in the "good old days" to prevent erections, wet dreams, and masturbation. Of course, these devices were used on children and insane asylum inmates. I've been trying to find some images, but Googling only gets you chastity devices from the current era, designed for fetishists. I knew about this stuff, but DAMN. Some of the devices were, quite literally, torture.
I just wish these sick, sick people had devoted their energies to having fun, instead of preventing others from doing so.
Plus ça change...
Iliterut hait male
Keith Law, an ESPN baseball writer, posts this gem:
I don't think I can add anything to that.
just because u have some big degrees and use the words ‘above average” u think u kno so much. if u did u would not be a blog writer. u are the stephen a smith of baseball. someone that nobody in the industry respects and like u said u took this job for face time. u are an arrognat person that b/c of their degree belittles others b/c of ur credentials. u could not cut it in toronto (that should prove ur an idiot) and feel u are an expert. i only read ur blog b/c u discuss some minor leaguers, but u wonder why ur so unpopluar. i will pay u any amount and out analyze u on any position player. u make the most obvious observations-like rob deer strikes out. and by the way any asshole who gets into harvard (much easier in ur day) gets an A…look at the stats
I don't think I can add anything to that.
Blogrolling
I've updated the sports section of my blogroll.
I've been reading the latest additions for quite a while, but forgot to add them.
Fire Joe Morgan - the name alone would be enough, as Joe Morgan is the biggest idiot in the universe of color-guy idiots. But the snark and statistically logical goodness that backs up the truth behind the snark is what I love. This post is the perfect introduction, if you've never read them before. And here's another one.
Flotsam Media - I've already posted about the greatest blog post in the history of blogs. But they bring the funny and the true almost every day.
Shysterball - Just good damned commentary and news.
Vegas Watch - Comentary, odds, commentary on odds, links.
That is all.
I've been reading the latest additions for quite a while, but forgot to add them.
Fire Joe Morgan - the name alone would be enough, as Joe Morgan is the biggest idiot in the universe of color-guy idiots. But the snark and statistically logical goodness that backs up the truth behind the snark is what I love. This post is the perfect introduction, if you've never read them before. And here's another one.
Flotsam Media - I've already posted about the greatest blog post in the history of blogs. But they bring the funny and the true almost every day.
Shysterball - Just good damned commentary and news.
Vegas Watch - Comentary, odds, commentary on odds, links.
That is all.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Gubmint!!!
A beautiful example of Republican incompetence:
Awesome.
(h/t Americablog)
A old friend of my just deployed to Iraq. His unit will be carrying out a mission that involves psychological operations. Guess how many Arabic speakers are in the unit? None. Guess how many weeks of training they received on Iraq, Islam, and Arabic cultural sensitivities? NONE!! But we want these soldiers to go into a foreign combat theater and help shape the hearts and minds of a foreign people. This, in a nutshell, highlights why we are making so little progress in Iraq.
Awesome.
(h/t Americablog)
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Against Me!
In my efforts to use year-end "Best Of" lists to find new stuff, I've been acquiring albums like crazy. Some licitly, some not so much. But as always, I will always throw my money at a band that works its way into my regular playlist, just like I did after test-driving Magic, for example.
Right now, that band is Against Me!
That AVClub article gave me "Thrash Unreal" which was intriguing enough to make me search out more. And I am so glad I did.
Kick ass, socially conscious, punk-rock like I haven't heard in years. Really compelling stuff.
The funny thing is, this was their major label debut, and of course I read the rumblings from their long-time fans about "selling out." That's a whole other post, but the short version is: bullshit. You mean you don't want your favorite band to make a livable income with the very same music you enjoy so much? Argh, I need to let this go right now, or I'll never get to bed.
Anyhoo, as further research, I downloaded a bunch of their old stuff too. Wowza. How did these guys escape my attention? Oh, yeah, they were cool and underground. Well, I thank the A&R person who saw them and signed them. I thank him/her profusely.
Kick. Ass.
Oh, and wonderful song titles:
Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious
Reinventing Axl Rose
Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong
Cliche Guevara
A Brief Yet Triumphant Intermission
You Look Like I Need A Drink
Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists
Ya'll Don't Wanna Step To Dis!
Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%
Lend your ear. You'll thank me.
Right now, that band is Against Me!
That AVClub article gave me "Thrash Unreal" which was intriguing enough to make me search out more. And I am so glad I did.
Kick ass, socially conscious, punk-rock like I haven't heard in years. Really compelling stuff.
The funny thing is, this was their major label debut, and of course I read the rumblings from their long-time fans about "selling out." That's a whole other post, but the short version is: bullshit. You mean you don't want your favorite band to make a livable income with the very same music you enjoy so much? Argh, I need to let this go right now, or I'll never get to bed.
Anyhoo, as further research, I downloaded a bunch of their old stuff too. Wowza. How did these guys escape my attention? Oh, yeah, they were cool and underground. Well, I thank the A&R person who saw them and signed them. I thank him/her profusely.
Kick. Ass.
Oh, and wonderful song titles:
Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious
Reinventing Axl Rose
Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong
Cliche Guevara
A Brief Yet Triumphant Intermission
You Look Like I Need A Drink
Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists
Ya'll Don't Wanna Step To Dis!
Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%
Lend your ear. You'll thank me.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
When Republicans imagine sex
Want your dick to shrivel?
Here's Bill O'Reilly:
And here's William Fucking Buckley:
"Ayn?" you ask. Yes. "Ayn." Your worst fears are realized. William F. Buckley wrote a sex fantasy about Ayn Rand. And lest we forget, he name-checked some of her characters. That is so very not gay!
You now have my permission to leave and wash your brains out with bleach.
You're back? Good.
Now, some questions:
a) Does this amuse you as much as it does me?
b) Isn't the "party of values" supposed to be against teh pr0n? Especially the bad pr0n?
c) "within seconds, his tongue was inside her, moving rapidly" Does it even remotely surprise you that falafel-boy has no technique? Does that scene in Python's Meaning of Life come to mind? "What's wrong with a kiss, boy? Hmm? Why not start her off with a nice kiss? You don't have to go leaping straight for the clitoris like a bull at a gate. Give her a kiss, boy." Actually, Mr. Cleese, BillO didn't even stop at the clitoris. He just jammed his tongue right in her twat. And moved it. Rapidly.
d) Does it make you fucking laugh out loud that Bill Fuckin' Buck thought he could maybe disguise the fact that he was writing wingnut wanking material by using words like synesthetical, transmuted, and voluptuarian?
OK, time for another bleaching session.
I'll see you when I recover.
Here's Bill O'Reilly:
Ashley was now wearing only brief white panties. She had signaled her desire by removing her shirt and skirt, and by leaning back on the couch. She closed her eyes, concentrating on nothing but Shannon's tongue and lips. He gently teased her by licking the areas around her most sensitive erogenous zone. Then he slipped her panties down her legs and, within seconds, his tongue was inside her, moving rapidly. (Bill O'Reilly, Those Who Trespass: a Novel of Television and Murder)
And here's William Fucking Buckley:
On Monday afternoon, Ayn's eyes were especially luminous when Nathaniel came in, as expected, at three. But this time she led him upstairs to a room he had never laid eyes on, a bedroom with a king-size bed and not less than six oil pictures of Ayn on the walls, one of them showing her bare-breasted, the Ayn of twenty years ago. The shades had been drawn and Nathaniel could savor the scent. Today her lover was being welcomed with synesthetical concerns for all the senses, only the music missing. But as he lay and later groaned with writhing and release, he brought the full force of his mind to transmuted, volutptuarian elation in this physical union with the very woman who had created John Galt and Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden, and had touched down her scepter on him, Nathaniel, igniting his mind, and his own scepter, which paid, now, devoted service.
"Ayn?" you ask. Yes. "Ayn." Your worst fears are realized. William F. Buckley wrote a sex fantasy about Ayn Rand. And lest we forget, he name-checked some of her characters. That is so very not gay!
You now have my permission to leave and wash your brains out with bleach.
You're back? Good.
Now, some questions:
a) Does this amuse you as much as it does me?
b) Isn't the "party of values" supposed to be against teh pr0n? Especially the bad pr0n?
c) "within seconds, his tongue was inside her, moving rapidly" Does it even remotely surprise you that falafel-boy has no technique? Does that scene in Python's Meaning of Life come to mind? "What's wrong with a kiss, boy? Hmm? Why not start her off with a nice kiss? You don't have to go leaping straight for the clitoris like a bull at a gate. Give her a kiss, boy." Actually, Mr. Cleese, BillO didn't even stop at the clitoris. He just jammed his tongue right in her twat. And moved it. Rapidly.
d) Does it make you fucking laugh out loud that Bill Fuckin' Buck thought he could maybe disguise the fact that he was writing wingnut wanking material by using words like synesthetical, transmuted, and voluptuarian?
OK, time for another bleaching session.
I'll see you when I recover.
Friday, January 04, 2008
O. M. F. S. M.
I'm trying to figure out how to embed this here, but holy fucking shit.
You MUSTMUSTMUSTMUST watch the first video here, the "beauty queen" on Wife Swap.
What's the over-under on divorces for her? I'll give you 3.5, and take the over.
What a useless piece of shit. And it's not even her fault. The blame is squarely on the shoulders of her parents. They have simply destroyed her life.
You MUSTMUSTMUSTMUST watch the first video here, the "beauty queen" on Wife Swap.
What's the over-under on divorces for her? I'll give you 3.5, and take the over.
What a useless piece of shit. And it's not even her fault. The blame is squarely on the shoulders of her parents. They have simply destroyed her life.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Letterman returns
Ahhh. I've been looking forward to tonight.
Unlike the other talk show hosts, Letterman and Ferguson are returning with writers, because Dave's company, Worldwide Pants, signed a side deal with the WGA for internet royalties, one of the key components behind the writers' strike.
Many people much more knowledgeable in these matters are blogging and writing about the nitty gritty of the negotiations. The best summation I can give you is this: in front of shareholders, Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone will say that the internet is worth billions in revenue. At the negotiating table with the WGA, he will insist that internet income is impossible to quantify, and as such royalties cannot be written into any new agreement.
Corporate America, baby!
I'm glad to see that Dave is hammering home the strike. The first 20 minutes were about nothing but the strike. In joke form, of course, but still, the issue will not go unrecognized.
I love it.
Also, if you were not aware, Worldwide Pants paid its staff throughout the strike.
Mr. Letterman: once again, you're the man.
Unlike the other talk show hosts, Letterman and Ferguson are returning with writers, because Dave's company, Worldwide Pants, signed a side deal with the WGA for internet royalties, one of the key components behind the writers' strike.
Many people much more knowledgeable in these matters are blogging and writing about the nitty gritty of the negotiations. The best summation I can give you is this: in front of shareholders, Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone will say that the internet is worth billions in revenue. At the negotiating table with the WGA, he will insist that internet income is impossible to quantify, and as such royalties cannot be written into any new agreement.
Corporate America, baby!
I'm glad to see that Dave is hammering home the strike. The first 20 minutes were about nothing but the strike. In joke form, of course, but still, the issue will not go unrecognized.
I love it.
Also, if you were not aware, Worldwide Pants paid its staff throughout the strike.
Mr. Letterman: once again, you're the man.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Diversions of the year
Flash games. Period. Yes, I want an Xbox 360. Yes, I want to play complex games with trillions of textures and triangles. But man, is there some phenomenal stuff out there for free.
Jay Is Games is the best source.
Desktop Tower Defense - Pure crack.
Vector Tower Defense - Freebasing.
PicCross - I've always loved the concept behind these puzzles, but found them to be tedious on paper.
And that's just the three that I play the most.
Crazy addictive. Unfortunately, many of these games force you to play in a browser window surrounded by ads. If you know what you're doing, you can go into the source code and find the server link for the game SWF file, download it directly, and then open it as a file in your browser. Hello, full-screen DTD! Of course, they disabled that ability with the 1.5 version, so I still play 1.2. Oh well.
Oh, lest I forget, all "escape the room" games. Some of them require a ridiculous amount of pixel hunting, which takes some of the enjoyment out of it when you're more worried about the accuracy of your mouse than your logic skills, but still, great fun.
Sphere was my favorite.
UPDATE: As it happens, Slate had an article about this a couple weeks ago. Many good choices there.
Jay Is Games is the best source.
Desktop Tower Defense - Pure crack.
Vector Tower Defense - Freebasing.
PicCross - I've always loved the concept behind these puzzles, but found them to be tedious on paper.
And that's just the three that I play the most.
Crazy addictive. Unfortunately, many of these games force you to play in a browser window surrounded by ads. If you know what you're doing, you can go into the source code and find the server link for the game SWF file, download it directly, and then open it as a file in your browser. Hello, full-screen DTD! Of course, they disabled that ability with the 1.5 version, so I still play 1.2. Oh well.
Oh, lest I forget, all "escape the room" games. Some of them require a ridiculous amount of pixel hunting, which takes some of the enjoyment out of it when you're more worried about the accuracy of your mouse than your logic skills, but still, great fun.
Sphere was my favorite.
UPDATE: As it happens, Slate had an article about this a couple weeks ago. Many good choices there.
The Year in Music
My rankings of 2007 releases
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Lyle Lovett - It's Not Big It's Large
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
Rush - Snakes & Arrows
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Same band, new band, takes the top spot two years in a row, with each of their first two albums. I can't even explain how small the odds of that happening are. They beat out Pearl Jam in 2006, and Bruce and Lyle this year. Even I'm astounded.
Acquired just recently, too soon to tell
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
M.I.A. - Kala
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Grinderman - Grinderman
Against Me! - New Wave
New to me (acquired, but not released, in 2007)
The Replacements - yeah, yeah. They were big when I was in Greece. I never heard of them until college, when their last album came out, and no one in my house listened to them. I always liked Paul Westerberg's solo stuff, though, so I got my hands on the originals, to see what the fuss was about. Not bad. Some great stuff, some meh stuff. In general, good old alcohol-fueled garage rock.
Dreamgirls - (2006) Soundtrack. Got it for the wife. Jennifer Hudson is amazing. I can do without the rest.
OK Go - Fun. Nothing too deep, just enjoyable party powerpoprock? I don't fucking know what to call it. Good shuffle tunes.
Silversun Pickups - (Carnavas) Meh. A little too noodly, and the guy whines even worse than Billy Fucking Corgan. And that's pretty fucking bad.
Chris Whitley - (Living With The Law, 1991) Toast insisted I listen to this. I knew the name, but couldn't think of anything he did. I really like the title track, Living With The Law. If no movie has that song playing at the end, with the heroes riding off into the sunset (fade to credits), then I may have to make a movie just so I can do that. And then... track fucking 2. I hate that song. Hated it when it was popular, and have managed to avoid it for 16 years. But noooooooo. Here it was again. I swear, I was so aggravated 30 seconds into the song, it colored my listening of the rest of the album. I couldn't give it a fair shake. So I stopped that day, took the song off the iPod, and gave it a week. Played it on another commute. Still love the first song, and the rest is very good too. Dark, creepy, blues/country/folk. Maybe a little too samey for many more straight-through listens (I'm way too ADD for an album full of low-energy music), but if any of these songs comes up in a shuffle, I won't be skipping it.
Blind Melon - (Goodfoot Demos, 1990) Apparently, 4 of these songs were on the demo tape that got them their major label deal. They then retreated to a barn in the country (one of the guys had a farm in the family) and practiced and practiced and played and wrote and jammed and practiced and jammed, until they were sure they had the chops, the cohesiveness, and the material. Then they started recording. These 8 songs were the can when they scrapped the whole project, because it sounded too polished, not organic enough. Of course, the A&R people were pissed. Money wasted, time wasted, buzz starting to fade and no album to release. Well, as luck would have it, Shannon Hoon hooked up with Axl Rose and did guest vocals in the Use Your Illusion albums, and appeared in the Don't Cry video. Buzz comes back. Meanwhile, they had been recording the album they wanted to make. Which was phenomenal. Anyway, 5 of these songs are on the album, so it's interesting to compare and contrast. They made the right choice. Ditched the over-produced, reverb-heavy "slick" sound, and came out swinging with a raw rock album; grinding staccato guitar rhythms, heavy driving bass, great vocals. Of course, if all you know is that fucking bee-costume No Rain song, well, you're missing out. That's not what this album is. Short story long, even though I like the songs as released better, I am getting a kick out of this. And hey, don't forget, three "new" songs too, at least to me.
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Lyle Lovett - It's Not Big It's Large
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
Rush - Snakes & Arrows
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Same band, new band, takes the top spot two years in a row, with each of their first two albums. I can't even explain how small the odds of that happening are. They beat out Pearl Jam in 2006, and Bruce and Lyle this year. Even I'm astounded.
Acquired just recently, too soon to tell
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
M.I.A. - Kala
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Grinderman - Grinderman
Against Me! - New Wave
New to me (acquired, but not released, in 2007)
The Replacements - yeah, yeah. They were big when I was in Greece. I never heard of them until college, when their last album came out, and no one in my house listened to them. I always liked Paul Westerberg's solo stuff, though, so I got my hands on the originals, to see what the fuss was about. Not bad. Some great stuff, some meh stuff. In general, good old alcohol-fueled garage rock.
Dreamgirls - (2006) Soundtrack. Got it for the wife. Jennifer Hudson is amazing. I can do without the rest.
OK Go - Fun. Nothing too deep, just enjoyable party powerpoprock? I don't fucking know what to call it. Good shuffle tunes.
Silversun Pickups - (Carnavas) Meh. A little too noodly, and the guy whines even worse than Billy Fucking Corgan. And that's pretty fucking bad.
Chris Whitley - (Living With The Law, 1991) Toast insisted I listen to this. I knew the name, but couldn't think of anything he did. I really like the title track, Living With The Law. If no movie has that song playing at the end, with the heroes riding off into the sunset (fade to credits), then I may have to make a movie just so I can do that. And then... track fucking 2. I hate that song. Hated it when it was popular, and have managed to avoid it for 16 years. But noooooooo. Here it was again. I swear, I was so aggravated 30 seconds into the song, it colored my listening of the rest of the album. I couldn't give it a fair shake. So I stopped that day, took the song off the iPod, and gave it a week. Played it on another commute. Still love the first song, and the rest is very good too. Dark, creepy, blues/country/folk. Maybe a little too samey for many more straight-through listens (I'm way too ADD for an album full of low-energy music), but if any of these songs comes up in a shuffle, I won't be skipping it.
Blind Melon - (Goodfoot Demos, 1990) Apparently, 4 of these songs were on the demo tape that got them their major label deal. They then retreated to a barn in the country (one of the guys had a farm in the family) and practiced and practiced and played and wrote and jammed and practiced and jammed, until they were sure they had the chops, the cohesiveness, and the material. Then they started recording. These 8 songs were the can when they scrapped the whole project, because it sounded too polished, not organic enough. Of course, the A&R people were pissed. Money wasted, time wasted, buzz starting to fade and no album to release. Well, as luck would have it, Shannon Hoon hooked up with Axl Rose and did guest vocals in the Use Your Illusion albums, and appeared in the Don't Cry video. Buzz comes back. Meanwhile, they had been recording the album they wanted to make. Which was phenomenal. Anyway, 5 of these songs are on the album, so it's interesting to compare and contrast. They made the right choice. Ditched the over-produced, reverb-heavy "slick" sound, and came out swinging with a raw rock album; grinding staccato guitar rhythms, heavy driving bass, great vocals. Of course, if all you know is that fucking bee-costume No Rain song, well, you're missing out. That's not what this album is. Short story long, even though I like the songs as released better, I am getting a kick out of this. And hey, don't forget, three "new" songs too, at least to me.
Does your god approve of your current course of action?
Ugh.
No, really, my question was serious. Where does stalking and threatening to rape a 15- and a 6-year old fit into your god's plan? Is that something you picked up in Sunday School? Also, shouldn't part of "accept[ing] you are a sinner" be trying to not sin? Or is sinning OK, as long as you have the self-awareness?
Maybe that's where we normal folks get it wrong. We don't have the temporary cleansing effect of confession, or the option to become "born again;" we just have to live with our consciences. Then again, we don't consider the filthy things we did to our S.O.s last night sins, so that's one less burden to carry.
Anyway, as we were discussing this over a hungover breakfast this morning, the thought that kept running through my head was "how didn't he, at some point in the 40-hour odyssey, realize what he's doing was wrong?" Being a "very conservative Christian" and all? Where was god, in all of this?
I mean, I understand a crime of passion. Not excuse it, mind you, a crime is still just that. But a flash of wrong-headed thinking, I get. If this were me (this guy lives about 40 miles away), I'd get half-way to Syracuse, and ask myself "did I bring enough diapers?" No... wait... scratch that. I'd ask myself "what the fuck are you doing?" Two hours, max. That's all it would take.
A Granville man is accused of driving 40 hours nonstop across the country and threatening to rape two girls -- ages 15 and 6 -- whom he met playing an online video game.(emphases mine)Joshua R. Stetar, 20, a self-described "very conservative" Christian who hoped to someday be a Christian school teacher, used mobile text messages to threaten the girls as he drove near their home in Spokane, Wash., police said.
It came after months of stalking the older girl through hundreds of text messages, police said.
"Tell the cops that I'm gonna rape you and your sister," Stetar allegedly wrote to the 15-year-old girl, last week.
...
Stetar sent packages and flowers to the older sister at her family's home several times this year, flooded her cellphone with several hundred text messages -- and even flew to Spokane on Oct. 23 to stake out the girl's home, Kirkpatrick said.
Stetar's Myspace page is filled with Bible verses and also includes the message: "How can I know for sure that I am going to Heaven? First, you must accept that you are a sinner."
His page also includes a video clip of talk show host Bill O'Reilly criticizing Hollywood actors for their anti-war stances.
No, really, my question was serious. Where does stalking and threatening to rape a 15- and a 6-year old fit into your god's plan? Is that something you picked up in Sunday School? Also, shouldn't part of "accept[ing] you are a sinner" be trying to not sin? Or is sinning OK, as long as you have the self-awareness?
Maybe that's where we normal folks get it wrong. We don't have the temporary cleansing effect of confession, or the option to become "born again;" we just have to live with our consciences. Then again, we don't consider the filthy things we did to our S.O.s last night sins, so that's one less burden to carry.
Anyway, as we were discussing this over a hungover breakfast this morning, the thought that kept running through my head was "how didn't he, at some point in the 40-hour odyssey, realize what he's doing was wrong?" Being a "very conservative Christian" and all? Where was god, in all of this?
I mean, I understand a crime of passion. Not excuse it, mind you, a crime is still just that. But a flash of wrong-headed thinking, I get. If this were me (this guy lives about 40 miles away), I'd get half-way to Syracuse, and ask myself "did I bring enough diapers?" No... wait... scratch that. I'd ask myself "what the fuck are you doing?" Two hours, max. That's all it would take.
2007 Meme
From Toast, who rescued it from the bowels of kate's blog.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I don’t recall. I’m sure there is something.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t really make them.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One fraternity brother had his third. Most everyone else has all they need already.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What places did you visit?
NYS, Boston, the usual. A great castle in western NY for a wedding. Beautiful place.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I dont lack for much. More money is always nice, though. More time to play golf.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I guess September 4th. That was my first day at work, working for someone else, in 11 years.
8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
I don’t really think in those terms. I just do things. Whatever.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I’ll just keep those private, thanks.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
For me: macro lens. For Erica: a ring my brother made, with her birthstone. Together: new kitchen.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Erica cranking away at her second Masters, because her job isn't enough work.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Republicans.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, life/disability insurance, gas.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I’m a little too mellow for three reallys.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Rehab.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? a little fatter
c) richer or poorer? richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Play golf, knocked more movies of the Netflix queueueue, photography.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry about money.
20. How did you spend Christmas last year?
Christmas Eve, I cooked for the MiL and SiL. Christmas Day, down in the Catskills with Mom.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Always.
22. How many one-night stands?
Um, that would be none.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Dirty Jobs.
24. What did you do for your birthday in 2007?
The usual. Dinner, etc. That’s always around the time of my party at the Saratoga Racetrack, so I usually have friends up.
25. What was the best book you read?
Cryptonomicon.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I guess the only artist that was new to me this year was Amy Winehouse.
27. What did you want and get?
A custom-fitted shirt.
28. What did you want and not get?
Xbox 360.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Superbad.
30. Did you make some new friends this year?
Not really. Some cool people at my new job, I like it there, but no friends, at least yet. I have enough friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A winning lottery ticket?
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Basic. Jeans, polo shirts at home. Slacks and collared shirts at work.
33. What kept you sane?
I’m not sane.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one comes to mind.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Republicans filibustering everything, even their own bills. And the Democrats letting it go.
36. Who did you miss?
I sucks that my Dad lives in Greece.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Again, there are some cool people at work.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Just keep plugging along. But I already knew that. Having Erica around to plug away with me helps. She rocks.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I don’t recall. I’m sure there is something.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t really make them.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One fraternity brother had his third. Most everyone else has all they need already.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What places did you visit?
NYS, Boston, the usual. A great castle in western NY for a wedding. Beautiful place.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I dont lack for much. More money is always nice, though. More time to play golf.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I guess September 4th. That was my first day at work, working for someone else, in 11 years.
8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
I don’t really think in those terms. I just do things. Whatever.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I’ll just keep those private, thanks.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
For me: macro lens. For Erica: a ring my brother made, with her birthstone. Together: new kitchen.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Erica cranking away at her second Masters, because her job isn't enough work.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Republicans.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, life/disability insurance, gas.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I’m a little too mellow for three reallys.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Rehab.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? a little fatter
c) richer or poorer? richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Play golf, knocked more movies of the Netflix queueueue, photography.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry about money.
20. How did you spend Christmas last year?
Christmas Eve, I cooked for the MiL and SiL. Christmas Day, down in the Catskills with Mom.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Always.
22. How many one-night stands?
Um, that would be none.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Dirty Jobs.
24. What did you do for your birthday in 2007?
The usual. Dinner, etc. That’s always around the time of my party at the Saratoga Racetrack, so I usually have friends up.
25. What was the best book you read?
Cryptonomicon.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I guess the only artist that was new to me this year was Amy Winehouse.
27. What did you want and get?
A custom-fitted shirt.
28. What did you want and not get?
Xbox 360.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Superbad.
30. Did you make some new friends this year?
Not really. Some cool people at my new job, I like it there, but no friends, at least yet. I have enough friends.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A winning lottery ticket?
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Basic. Jeans, polo shirts at home. Slacks and collared shirts at work.
33. What kept you sane?
I’m not sane.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one comes to mind.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Republicans filibustering everything, even their own bills. And the Democrats letting it go.
36. Who did you miss?
I sucks that my Dad lives in Greece.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Again, there are some cool people at work.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Just keep plugging along. But I already knew that. Having Erica around to plug away with me helps. She rocks.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Ageism?
Erica is convinced that's what she experienced at a consignment shop last week.
In one of her annual cullings, she came up with her usual three piles of clothes. Garbage/rags, Goodwill, and real good stuff that should go on consignment or given to someone she knows and likes.
She's never had that much luck with local consignment shops, but her consignment collection this year was 5 bags, so she had to figure something out. We're talking dresses and gowns that went for $100, $200, $300 - one does have to look hot and stylish at The Travers, you know - and higher-end basics from Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren, etc.
She asked around, and someone recommended a new place. Here's their ad, and Erica's notes:
A couple 20-something girls working the register. They look at her, give the bags a very cursory perusal, and don't want anything. Five bags, maybe $1000 worth of clothes. Nothing.
Ooooooh Kaaaaaay.
So, Erica does the next best thing - gives the bags to a fellow teacher of hers, who's much lower on the pay scale (Erica's in her 18th year.)
P is very happy to get them. As was her 18-year-old daughter, who promptly tore through the bags and stole half of it.
This was the e-mail:
"In fact, I was going to contact you to let you know that K [the daughter] actually found a few things she really liked. She is going out tonight with a few friends and is wearing one of the shirts. She seemed to like quite a few things. I let her go through the bags with me. She told me that out of the ones she picked "we could share." Nice of her, right? Anyway, thanks again for the clothes. You definitely have great taste. After going through the clothes, it's even more bizarre that they wouldn't take them."
Yes, the exact same clothes that Plato's Closet didn't want from the "old chick," were highly desired by a 18-year-old who goes to high school in a snooty area (and really, what high-school girl isn't image conscious?)
The next step is for K to take some of those clothes back to the shop and see what happens. We'll keep you posted.
In one of her annual cullings, she came up with her usual three piles of clothes. Garbage/rags, Goodwill, and real good stuff that should go on consignment or given to someone she knows and likes.
She's never had that much luck with local consignment shops, but her consignment collection this year was 5 bags, so she had to figure something out. We're talking dresses and gowns that went for $100, $200, $300 - one does have to look hot and stylish at The Travers, you know - and higher-end basics from Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren, etc.
She asked around, and someone recommended a new place. Here's their ad, and Erica's notes:
A couple 20-something girls working the register. They look at her, give the bags a very cursory perusal, and don't want anything. Five bags, maybe $1000 worth of clothes. Nothing.
Ooooooh Kaaaaaay.
So, Erica does the next best thing - gives the bags to a fellow teacher of hers, who's much lower on the pay scale (Erica's in her 18th year.)
P is very happy to get them. As was her 18-year-old daughter, who promptly tore through the bags and stole half of it.
This was the e-mail:
"In fact, I was going to contact you to let you know that K [the daughter] actually found a few things she really liked. She is going out tonight with a few friends and is wearing one of the shirts. She seemed to like quite a few things. I let her go through the bags with me. She told me that out of the ones she picked "we could share." Nice of her, right? Anyway, thanks again for the clothes. You definitely have great taste. After going through the clothes, it's even more bizarre that they wouldn't take them."
Yes, the exact same clothes that Plato's Closet didn't want from the "old chick," were highly desired by a 18-year-old who goes to high school in a snooty area (and really, what high-school girl isn't image conscious?)
The next step is for K to take some of those clothes back to the shop and see what happens. We'll keep you posted.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Movie Review
Finding NeverlandWell, so much for a light, escapist movie on a Friday night.
Jeebus Tittyfucking Christ, was the room dusty tonight. That's my only excuse, because I sure as hell wasn't wearing my contacts. If the scene at the end, with JM Barrie and Peter sitting on the bench and that boy's big blue eyes welling with tears doesn't just break your heart and fill you with hope at the same time, then you're just not human. Oh yes, there may be tissues involved. But not in the porn kind of way.
I went into this with no background on Barrie the man, other than he wrote Peter Pan. I've not read nor seen anything else he's done. For all I know, he's a one hit wonder. I'll have to find out more. It's funny, as much as I love to read, and I do so constantly, I never seem to catch up on my list, much less make progress. I swear, if I won the lottery, I'd play golf, work for charity, travel, and read. And I still wouldn't feel like I read enough.
Johnny Depp is his usual great self, Kate Winslet is very good, and Freddie Highmore as the real-life Peter is just friggin' outstanding.
4 stars.
Movie Review
BabelWow. I honestly still don't know what to make of this. I think I really like it. The basic structure, I definitely like. Three separate stories, seemingly unrelated, yet all linked in ways soon to be discovered. Layers of an onion, I guess, peeled away.
I don't know that I can even discuss basic plot points without revealing too much to those that still intend to see it (maybe it's on your queueueueue?).
Some good socio-political commentary. And I must echo all the critics who positively fawned over the Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi,who played the deaf/mute girl. A truly amazing portrayal of youth, vulnerability, and sadness. She alone is worth the price of entry.
4 stars.
Movie Review
Empire FallsWell, more of a mini-mini-series. An HBO original, based on a novel by Richard Russo. He's probably my favorite short story writer, yet I've never read any of his full-length novels. As soon as I fucking get Cryptonomicon off my table, I'm ready to attack the stack, and I will soon rectify the Russo/novel situation. I will probably start with this very story, because it's so fresh in my mind, and because it's not that often I get to do the book-movie thing in reverse. Usually, I've read the book, and dread the movie, or possibly look forward to it with reservation.
In any case, I highly recommend this 2-disc set, which we Netflixed. A stellar cast (Ed Harris, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Robin Wright soon-to-be-ex-Penn, Paul Newman, Aidan Quinn, Joanne Woodward, Dennis Farina, and on and on), a stellar character study.
Miles Roby (Ed Harris), is a simple man (note: not simpleton), living a quiet life in a quiet town in Maine. He wants more for himself and his daughter (he's soon to be divorced), but is afraid to pursue his dreams, crippled by the ever-present fear of change. There are always reasons, always excuses. Even his current responsibilities are just crutches, really.
You must watch this.
5 stars.
Hellooooooo....
Wow, it's been a while since I've written something original, as opposed to just some silly link.
Time to step up to the plate.
Time to step up to the plate.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
The greatest blog post in the history of blogkind
Would be this one.
You see, it's beautifully, amazingly, ridiculously funny, in a completely esoteric way. You get it, or you have no fucking idea what's going on.
"But there a million funny posts out there, full of esoterica," you say? Well, you are correct. I must grant you that.
They didn't take this much math. And they weren't about baseball. So they lose.
This one's for you, Mike.
You see, it's beautifully, amazingly, ridiculously funny, in a completely esoteric way. You get it, or you have no fucking idea what's going on.
"But there a million funny posts out there, full of esoterica," you say? Well, you are correct. I must grant you that.
They didn't take this much math. And they weren't about baseball. So they lose.
This one's for you, Mike.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Silly e-mail forwards
Some of these are old, some I haven't seen before, but what the heck?!
(h/t Erica)
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
New music - Free!
You know what I love? (Well, Erica, of course, but that would be "Do you know who I love?" you damned nit-pickers.)
Anyway, you know what I love? All these year-end "Best Of" music lists.
Especially the web sites that have that cool little embedded Flash player.
Especially if you can go to "view source" and find the direct link the the file right there in the HTML.
Especially when you paste all those links directly into an e-mail to yourself.
Especially when you get that e-mail, right-click on all those links, and "save target as."
Bam! 25 new songs, for nothing.
Yeah, I love that.
Anyway, you know what I love? All these year-end "Best Of" music lists.
Especially the web sites that have that cool little embedded Flash player.
Especially if you can go to "view source" and find the direct link the the file right there in the HTML.
Especially when you paste all those links directly into an e-mail to yourself.
Especially when you get that e-mail, right-click on all those links, and "save target as."
Bam! 25 new songs, for nothing.
Yeah, I love that.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Sunday booze-bloggind
Lactaid Egg-Nog and Gosling's Black Rum? Yes, please. A. Also, a very nice ingredient list on the nog part. Milk, sugar, eggs, cream, vanilla, etc. The chemicals are WAY WAY WAY down the list. Great stuff.
Van Gogh Espresso Vodka. A++++. Wait, there's vodka in this coffee? Is that why I'm stumbling around the house like an idiot?
No, seriously. I fully acknowledge I drink a little too easily, so stuff like this is buttah to me. But take your average drinker, and pour them a glass of this, over ice. Say you have a normal 12-oz rocks glass, and they get 8 oz vodka, and 4 oz ice.
They will complement you on your drink mixing. They will think they have 1 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liquer, and 6 oz something else. But they will be wrong. And they will soon be kissing the porcelain FSM. Because they will be schnockered.
This is the most dangerous, potent, delicious liquid in the world.
It should come with a disclaimer.
UPDATE: I just noticed the typo in my headline. I was going to correct it, but that just proves the power of the Van Gogh. Holy fucking booze.
Van Gogh Espresso Vodka. A++++. Wait, there's vodka in this coffee? Is that why I'm stumbling around the house like an idiot?
No, seriously. I fully acknowledge I drink a little too easily, so stuff like this is buttah to me. But take your average drinker, and pour them a glass of this, over ice. Say you have a normal 12-oz rocks glass, and they get 8 oz vodka, and 4 oz ice.
They will complement you on your drink mixing. They will think they have 1 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liquer, and 6 oz something else. But they will be wrong. And they will soon be kissing the porcelain FSM. Because they will be schnockered.
This is the most dangerous, potent, delicious liquid in the world.
It should come with a disclaimer.
UPDATE: I just noticed the typo in my headline. I was going to correct it, but that just proves the power of the Van Gogh. Holy fucking booze.
I'd have something to say about this but...
...I just came all over my keyboard.
The talent in this little get-together is beyond comprehension.
The talent in this little get-together is beyond comprehension.
This happens to me all the time.
If I had a dollar for every time a masturbating kangaroo interrupted my golf game...
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Oh happy day!
Today, my copy of the 2008 edition of this wonderfully nerdtastic book arrived in the mail. One of the three baseball books I buy every year, and probably the best of the three.Cryptonomicon will have to take a break for a couple days while I do my cover-to-cover browse of all this statistical goodness.
Then I'll slowly attack the hard-core analyses chapter by chapter, especially the new WPA and defense stuff.
Mmmm, numbers.
I should have been a fucking actuary.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Have another beer!
Gotta pay those player salaries somehow.
And really, how difficult are those lyrics? No amount of beer should make you forget those six simple words...
Monday, December 10, 2007
Um, dude? No. Just no.
This man needs to go hunting with Dick Cheney. Stat.Fun Pants? Are you motherfucking kidding me? Is your ass so fucking tight from Sunday through Friday that, when you finally "let loose" on Saturday, this is what you bust out of the old armoire?
For more Brooks Brothers, and some comment hilarity, see the girls at Jezebel.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
In case you were wondering why GM sucks so much
12 Cars with the Least Customer Satisfaction
Model / Satisfied Owners
Chevrolet Aveo (sedan) / 44%
Ford Ranger / 44
Mazda B-Series / 44
Ford Freestar / 44
Chevrolet Aveo (wagon/hatch) / 44
Chevrolet Equinox / 41
Jeep Grand Cherokee (V6, gas) / 41
Chevrolet Colorado (4-cyl) / 40
GMC Canyon (4-cyl) / 40
Buick Terraza / 34
Saturn Relay / 34
Chevrolet Uplander / 34
In other news, Honda sales up, Totota sales up, and GM sales down 11%.
Model / Satisfied Owners
Chevrolet Aveo (sedan) / 44%
Ford Ranger / 44
Mazda B-Series / 44
Ford Freestar / 44
Chevrolet Aveo (wagon/hatch) / 44
Chevrolet Equinox / 41
Jeep Grand Cherokee (V6, gas) / 41
Chevrolet Colorado (4-cyl) / 40
GMC Canyon (4-cyl) / 40
Buick Terraza / 34
Saturn Relay / 34
Chevrolet Uplander / 34
In other news, Honda sales up, Totota sales up, and GM sales down 11%.
Monday, December 03, 2007
What? People used to swear in the good old days?
This is awesome.
But I was wrong, dead wrong. Robert Edward Auctions, which is a seriously high-brow baseball collectibles company, got their hands on an 1898 MLB document that is rife with expletives. It seems at the time, MLB wanted players to avoid using "any indecent or obscene word, sentence, or expression" on the field (or have directed at fans). So they sent a out a league-wide document that gave examples of what they didn't want players saying. Here are some of the "brutal" things they didn't want to hear, and remember, this was a league-wide, uncensored, document that was sent out.
"You cock-sucking son of a bitch!"
"A dog must have fucked your mother when she made you!"
"You cunt-lapping dog!"
"I fucked your mother, your sister, your wife!"
"I'll make you suck my ass!"
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Just in case you fucking Republicans didn't quite get what your party is about
Trying to maximize the last year of GOP rule to screw America as much as possible:
Business lobbyists, nervously anticipating Democratic gains in next year's elections, are racing to secure final approval for a wide range of health, safety, labor and economic rules, in the belief that they can get better deals from the Bush administration than from its successor.
Hoping to lock in policies backed by a pro-business administration, poultry farmers are seeking an exemption for the smelly fumes produced by tons of chicken manure. Businesses are lobbying the Bush administration to roll back rules that let employees take time off for family needs and medical problems. And electric power companies are pushing the government to relax pollution-control requirements.
"There's a growing sense, a growing probability, that the next administration could be Democratic," said Craig L. Fuller, executive vice president of Apco Worldwide, a lobbying and public relations firm, who was a White House official in the Reagan administration. "Corporate executives, trade associations and lobbying firms have begun to recalibrate their strategies."
Sunday beer boredom
So, Bill and I have been brewing for a few years now, and we've always used Warsteiner bottles, because that's one of my favorite winter beers (the Dunkel).
They're a pain in the ass to cap, and that leads to one or two duds per batch, but the last two times we used them we each had to pour out 12+ bad bottles. That's unacceptable.
I since switched to drinking beers using the more common bottle used by Sam Adams, Saranac, Dogfish, and pretty much every other craft brewer. At BJs yesterday, I was looking for a case of Sam Lager, but they only had the mixed Winter case.
Four each of Lager, Winter, Old Fezziwig, Holiday Porter, Cream Stout, and Cranberry Lambic. I didn't really want that, but there was nothing else that interested me, so I figure that would be an interesting beer-blogging experiment, if nothing else, especially on the heels of Toast's little experiment last week. Of course, that was a little unfair, pitting a rookie up against the Master, but still the key point was this: This is a perfect example of what can go wrong when American craft brewers recklessly expand their catalog...
Absofuckinglutely. Every time I see that ad where they ask people how many beers Sam Adams makes, and the answer is 27 or something, I just cringe. At least 20 of those are a waste of time.
So, in short order:
1) Sam Adams Lager - B. The perfect "standard beer." You know that if you walk into the divy-est of dives, with tap after tap of Coors, Coors Light, Michelob, MGD, Bud, Bud Light, you'll at least be able to get Sam in a bottle, if not on tap. And you can enjoy your evening.
2) Old Fezziwig - B-. Darker Sam Adams. A little maltier. OK.
3) Holiday Porter - D. Really? That was a porter?
4) Winter Lager - D. Watery, and a touch of cinnamon. Winter my ass.
5) Cranberry Lambic - F. Putrid fruit juice, with a hint of beer. Never, I repeat never, buy a "lambic" or otherwise fruit-adjuncted beer from an American mass-market brewer. No sense of taste, class, or moderation. Beer for chicks who don't like beer.
6) Cream Stout - B-. Not bad. Creamy and Stouty, as labeled. Just mediocre in its category, that's all.
UPDATE: Fridge, in his drunken-Giant-fan revelry, went and gave the Holiday Porter a 4.
Let me revisit this, in full-blown beer-blogging style:
Sam Adams Holiday Porter, 12 OZ, 5.8% ABV
The Pour: Standard pour, thick head, but very lightly colored for a porter.
The Color: Completely opaque. I held it up to the brightest light I have here in the cave, and see that the base color is reddish.
The Nose: A little burnt toast over malt. A touch of coffee?
The Taste: Again, the burnt toast, with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. A good amount of hop bite, seems out of balance with the style.
The Verdict: C. The second impression worked out a little better, but still, nothing to write home about. Beer. If you handed me one of these, I wouldn't complain. Not what I would want when thinking of a "holiday porter" though.
OK, maybe I was too flip the first time, but I'm still not seeing it.
That's OK, different strokes. But I'm glad I revisited it. And I'll make sure it's the first beer I drink tomorrow before the MNF game, just to see what else I can get out of it.
They're a pain in the ass to cap, and that leads to one or two duds per batch, but the last two times we used them we each had to pour out 12+ bad bottles. That's unacceptable.
I since switched to drinking beers using the more common bottle used by Sam Adams, Saranac, Dogfish, and pretty much every other craft brewer. At BJs yesterday, I was looking for a case of Sam Lager, but they only had the mixed Winter case.
Four each of Lager, Winter, Old Fezziwig, Holiday Porter, Cream Stout, and Cranberry Lambic. I didn't really want that, but there was nothing else that interested me, so I figure that would be an interesting beer-blogging experiment, if nothing else, especially on the heels of Toast's little experiment last week. Of course, that was a little unfair, pitting a rookie up against the Master, but still the key point was this: This is a perfect example of what can go wrong when American craft brewers recklessly expand their catalog...
Absofuckinglutely. Every time I see that ad where they ask people how many beers Sam Adams makes, and the answer is 27 or something, I just cringe. At least 20 of those are a waste of time.
So, in short order:
1) Sam Adams Lager - B. The perfect "standard beer." You know that if you walk into the divy-est of dives, with tap after tap of Coors, Coors Light, Michelob, MGD, Bud, Bud Light, you'll at least be able to get Sam in a bottle, if not on tap. And you can enjoy your evening.
2) Old Fezziwig - B-. Darker Sam Adams. A little maltier. OK.
3) Holiday Porter - D. Really? That was a porter?
4) Winter Lager - D. Watery, and a touch of cinnamon. Winter my ass.
5) Cranberry Lambic - F. Putrid fruit juice, with a hint of beer. Never, I repeat never, buy a "lambic" or otherwise fruit-adjuncted beer from an American mass-market brewer. No sense of taste, class, or moderation. Beer for chicks who don't like beer.
6) Cream Stout - B-. Not bad. Creamy and Stouty, as labeled. Just mediocre in its category, that's all.
UPDATE: Fridge, in his drunken-Giant-fan revelry, went and gave the Holiday Porter a 4.
Let me revisit this, in full-blown beer-blogging style:
Sam Adams Holiday Porter, 12 OZ, 5.8% ABVThe Pour: Standard pour, thick head, but very lightly colored for a porter.
The Color: Completely opaque. I held it up to the brightest light I have here in the cave, and see that the base color is reddish.
The Nose: A little burnt toast over malt. A touch of coffee?
The Taste: Again, the burnt toast, with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. A good amount of hop bite, seems out of balance with the style.
The Verdict: C. The second impression worked out a little better, but still, nothing to write home about. Beer. If you handed me one of these, I wouldn't complain. Not what I would want when thinking of a "holiday porter" though.
OK, maybe I was too flip the first time, but I'm still not seeing it.
That's OK, different strokes. But I'm glad I revisited it. And I'll make sure it's the first beer I drink tomorrow before the MNF game, just to see what else I can get out of it.
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