Whilst sorting through the paperwork on my desk, I came across the list of Tequilas that were featured at the last Tequila Tasting I worked at.
So here you go:
Sauza Tres Generaciones Anejo
Chinaco Blanco
Oro Azul Anejo
Fortaleza Blanco
Chaya Anejo
Cazadores Reposado
Patron Silver
Patron Reposado
Patron Anejo
Gran Patron Platinum
Don Eduardo Blanco
Don Eduardo Reposado
Don Eduardo Anejo
Partida Anejo
D Los Altos Reposado
Milagro Select Barrel Silver
Milagro Select Barrel Reposado
El Conde Azul Reposado
Gran Centenario Anejo
Casa Noble 5yr Anejo
La Pinta Pomegranate Tequila
Clase Azul Platino
Corralejo Reposado
Don Julio Blanco
Herencia Anejo
Jose Cuervo Reserva da la Familia Platino
1921 Special Reserve
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival
Budweiser has an ABV, alcohol by volume, of 5%. Guinness is 4.5%. Your average beer is not high up there in alcohol. A strong ale, however, has at least 8%. Still not as strong as Wine, which is usually around 12 to 14%, but Beer Festivals are so much more fun. So what the hell did I end up drinking last night at the Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival?!
30 dollars gets you in the door, where you get a glass and tickets for your 8 tasters. 8 four once tastes, 30 bucks. Might seem like a lot of money, but factor in how much it would cost to try 8 beers of this level. Nectar Ales' Black Xantus, for example, sells for about 15 dollars a bottle. That's half the cost of the festival right there.
The best beer I had last night was Bear Republic's Clobberskull. It's an English Strong style, with an ABV of 10.5%, and aged in Cabernet barrels. I love English Strong ales, definitely my favorite style, and this one was true to the style, even if it came out of California.
I got to try the Life & Limb, which is a collaboration between Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada Brewing. Strong Ale, ABV of 10.2%.
La Jolla Brewing's Thor, an Imperial Red, ABV 8.6%, dry hopped with Cascade, Amarillo and Simcoe.
Ballast Point's Barmy, a Honey Fruit Beer, ABV 10.0%, made with honey and apricots.
Alaskan Brewing's Baltic Porter, ABV 9.8%.
Ballast Point's Victory at Sea, an Imperial Porter, ABV 10%, made with coffee and vanilla bean, and the best beer made in San Diego.
Buckbean's Very Noddy, ABV 10.5%, an Imperial Schwarzbier.
Deschutes Brewing's Black Butte XXI, an imperial porter, 11% ABV, aged in Stranahan Whiskey barrels.
Drake's Brewing's Denogginizer, a Double IPA with an ABV of 9.2% ABV.
Grand Teton's Black Cauldron, an Imperial Stout with an ABV of 8%.
Green Flash's Palate Wrecker, a Double IPA, ABV 9.5%
Papago Brewing's Oude Zuipers, a Tripel, ABV 11%.
Hair of the Dog's Doggie Claws, a Barleywine, ABV 11.5%
Lagunitas' Gnarleywine, a barleywine, ABV 9.7%.
Yeah, that's 14 beers. Had a few more than the 8 tasters. It's good to know how to work the system.
30 dollars gets you in the door, where you get a glass and tickets for your 8 tasters. 8 four once tastes, 30 bucks. Might seem like a lot of money, but factor in how much it would cost to try 8 beers of this level. Nectar Ales' Black Xantus, for example, sells for about 15 dollars a bottle. That's half the cost of the festival right there.
The best beer I had last night was Bear Republic's Clobberskull. It's an English Strong style, with an ABV of 10.5%, and aged in Cabernet barrels. I love English Strong ales, definitely my favorite style, and this one was true to the style, even if it came out of California.
I got to try the Life & Limb, which is a collaboration between Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada Brewing. Strong Ale, ABV of 10.2%.
La Jolla Brewing's Thor, an Imperial Red, ABV 8.6%, dry hopped with Cascade, Amarillo and Simcoe.
Ballast Point's Barmy, a Honey Fruit Beer, ABV 10.0%, made with honey and apricots.
Alaskan Brewing's Baltic Porter, ABV 9.8%.
Ballast Point's Victory at Sea, an Imperial Porter, ABV 10%, made with coffee and vanilla bean, and the best beer made in San Diego.
Buckbean's Very Noddy, ABV 10.5%, an Imperial Schwarzbier.
Deschutes Brewing's Black Butte XXI, an imperial porter, 11% ABV, aged in Stranahan Whiskey barrels.
Drake's Brewing's Denogginizer, a Double IPA with an ABV of 9.2% ABV.
Grand Teton's Black Cauldron, an Imperial Stout with an ABV of 8%.
Green Flash's Palate Wrecker, a Double IPA, ABV 9.5%
Papago Brewing's Oude Zuipers, a Tripel, ABV 11%.
Hair of the Dog's Doggie Claws, a Barleywine, ABV 11.5%
Lagunitas' Gnarleywine, a barleywine, ABV 9.7%.
Yeah, that's 14 beers. Had a few more than the 8 tasters. It's good to know how to work the system.
Friday, October 23, 2009
A New Religion
So today, whilst preparing to foist off more alcohol upon the ever ignorant public, I started thinking about the concept of good and evil, in the paradigm of the Christian religion, of course, because they're so much fun to make fun of.
The idea of hell, of evil. I thought about the presupposition that this place necessarily be somewhere other than the place for good people. but then I thought, if God is omnipotent and omniscient, then he's also an evil mother fucker. Literally, in the case of the holy trinity, figuratively in this case.
So I started thinking about an afterlife where both the good and the evil are side by side. You know, kind of like Los Angeles. And then I had my great Revelation.
We're all dead.
Yes, you see, we're already in the afterlife, and there's both the good, the bad and the ugly...would that still be both? Mmmm, grammatical details.
Anyways, I figure you die, but then you cling to those past memories, the idea of how your life once was, and your mental state clouds your afterlife and creates this shithole you call your living life. But you're not live, you're dead.
We're all dead. (Yes, I've been reading about the Nac Mac Feegle, leave me alone.)
Now I must propagate this prophecy, and convince people to release their grasp on this mental hold of a previous existance. Die to be truly dead again!
Killed by Death.
This is my contribution to humanity. Decreasing the Overpopulated planet. Heh.
Now if I could just work twinkies into it.
The idea of hell, of evil. I thought about the presupposition that this place necessarily be somewhere other than the place for good people. but then I thought, if God is omnipotent and omniscient, then he's also an evil mother fucker. Literally, in the case of the holy trinity, figuratively in this case.
So I started thinking about an afterlife where both the good and the evil are side by side. You know, kind of like Los Angeles. And then I had my great Revelation.
We're all dead.
Yes, you see, we're already in the afterlife, and there's both the good, the bad and the ugly...would that still be both? Mmmm, grammatical details.
Anyways, I figure you die, but then you cling to those past memories, the idea of how your life once was, and your mental state clouds your afterlife and creates this shithole you call your living life. But you're not live, you're dead.
We're all dead. (Yes, I've been reading about the Nac Mac Feegle, leave me alone.)
Now I must propagate this prophecy, and convince people to release their grasp on this mental hold of a previous existance. Die to be truly dead again!
Killed by Death.
This is my contribution to humanity. Decreasing the Overpopulated planet. Heh.
Now if I could just work twinkies into it.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Commitment.
In October, the University of California Davis begins accepting applications for the Fall 2010 semester. I plan on applying for their Viticulture program.
This means moving to Davis, which if you don't know, is situated northeast of San Francisco, near Sacramento. Most likely I can transfer jobs up there, I'm not sure.
What I am sure of is that I am making zero headway here in San Diego. Yes, I have a sweet life. I live half a block from the beach, in perfect weather, with hundreds of attractions to amuse me, from the Zoo to Brews. Heh. I should be in marketing.
While it's fun to work where I do, it's still a shitty retail job.
I'm a 31 yr old living a 21 yr old's life. And I'm going to fix that.
Of course, all this is contingent upon my being accepted at UC Davis. I wonder if I should even mention having a Master's or not. Would that be prudent, when I'm going for a second Bachelor's?
This means moving to Davis, which if you don't know, is situated northeast of San Francisco, near Sacramento. Most likely I can transfer jobs up there, I'm not sure.
What I am sure of is that I am making zero headway here in San Diego. Yes, I have a sweet life. I live half a block from the beach, in perfect weather, with hundreds of attractions to amuse me, from the Zoo to Brews. Heh. I should be in marketing.
While it's fun to work where I do, it's still a shitty retail job.
I'm a 31 yr old living a 21 yr old's life. And I'm going to fix that.
Of course, all this is contingent upon my being accepted at UC Davis. I wonder if I should even mention having a Master's or not. Would that be prudent, when I'm going for a second Bachelor's?
Decision Reached.
You know, really, I could just keep this vague, record all the comments, advice and whatnot, and turn it into a really fun self-help book. Kind of like Choose Your Own Adventure, the Magic 8 Ball, et al.
Don't know what to do? Just flip this book open to any page and get your answer!
Flip flip flip "Get the bloody surgery done you wanker."
Flip flip flip "What kind of crack are you on to even consider such a thing?"
You know, like a more modern I Ching.
Don't know what to do? Just flip this book open to any page and get your answer!
Flip flip flip "Get the bloody surgery done you wanker."
Flip flip flip "What kind of crack are you on to even consider such a thing?"
You know, like a more modern I Ching.
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Decision
I have a Credential of Ministry, a Bachelor's, a Master's, even a Doctorate, and yet, I still find myself working at a low level retail job hell.
I think it's time for a drastic life altering mind blowing decision to change all of this, which will likely involve radical restructuring of life and landscape.
Meena would approve.
There is still part of me holding back though, the reticent careful part, who hasn't quite been quashed, smashed, or ripped limb from bloody limb. Stubborn headstrong resilient bastard.
I had a quiz tonight, and for one of the questions, what is...I forget...something like diaphractic analysis or somesuch, my answer? "32 points in Scrabble." I sure hope my teacher has a sense of humour.
I want to go fishing.
I think it's time for a drastic life altering mind blowing decision to change all of this, which will likely involve radical restructuring of life and landscape.
Meena would approve.
There is still part of me holding back though, the reticent careful part, who hasn't quite been quashed, smashed, or ripped limb from bloody limb. Stubborn headstrong resilient bastard.
I had a quiz tonight, and for one of the questions, what is...I forget...something like diaphractic analysis or somesuch, my answer? "32 points in Scrabble." I sure hope my teacher has a sense of humour.
I want to go fishing.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Random Musings
I'm in the middle of trying to organize my box o' notebooks, still. So you get these little random snippets of thoughts, musings and other mental miasma.
Have you ever wondered if the French fuck like they Fence? Lunge! Parry! Riposte!
I'm pretty sure I could write a thesis on how the Lord of the Rings is thinly disguised gay literature.
"We're all damaged goods, which, using the bell curve, makes us all equal."
In 1875, the Director of the American Patent Office resigned, saying, "What's the use of going on, there's nothing left to invent."
"Man is the only animal that maltreats the females of his kind." - Jack London
Moo-Chicken.
The Muffin Man.
Hamartia, that's the actual word for what is commonly known as the tragic flaw.
a politician is an arse upon
which everyone has set except a man
ee cummings
"You might as well stand and fight, because if you run you'll just die tired."
"An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral."
Philogyny. Oh yeah.
Have you ever wondered if the French fuck like they Fence? Lunge! Parry! Riposte!
I'm pretty sure I could write a thesis on how the Lord of the Rings is thinly disguised gay literature.
"We're all damaged goods, which, using the bell curve, makes us all equal."
In 1875, the Director of the American Patent Office resigned, saying, "What's the use of going on, there's nothing left to invent."
"Man is the only animal that maltreats the females of his kind." - Jack London
Moo-Chicken.
The Muffin Man.
Hamartia, that's the actual word for what is commonly known as the tragic flaw.
a politician is an arse upon
which everyone has set except a man
ee cummings
"You might as well stand and fight, because if you run you'll just die tired."
"An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral."
Philogyny. Oh yeah.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tigger vs. Hobbes
So, while I was cleaning, organizing and throwing away extraneous stuffs the other day, I came across the big jumbled box o' notebooks, papers and notes. Including the tally sheet for the Tigger vs. Hobbes debate, which, for entertainment purposes, I'll repost here.
I had the idea the other day, probably from watching too much Robot Chicken, about Winnie the Pooh going off and attacking the other inhabitants, and the only other animal there which might face off with him would be Tigger, but then I thought about Tigger fighting, and the idea of a Tiger fighting with someone instantly reminded me of Hobbes, from Calvin & Hobbes, of course. So what would happen if the two, a la Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, were to clash in epic battle? Or even regular battle?
So I sent out a Text Message to damn near everyone in the address book on my phone. Some of you may have missed it, or I might not have your number, which is probably for your benefit, as random texts like these come through. 22 people responded, most instantly, which made for a fun day at work, thank you.
In the end, Hobbes won out by two votes. I didn't count my vote, but it would have been for Hobbes. Tigger can bounce around as goofy as he likes, but Hobbes would simply disembowel him, Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat that he is. Feel free to renew the debate.
Did you know Virgin Records has their own Wine?
So does Dan Akroyd. He has expanded his liquor business(Crystal Head vodka) into wine. Good for him. Because he doesn't have enough money? No, because his House of Blues venues frequently host Metal Bands. Which reminds me, I need to figure out the friggin' next three concerts coming up before I misbook.
And so I leave you with the great Debate. Tigger or Hobbes?
I had the idea the other day, probably from watching too much Robot Chicken, about Winnie the Pooh going off and attacking the other inhabitants, and the only other animal there which might face off with him would be Tigger, but then I thought about Tigger fighting, and the idea of a Tiger fighting with someone instantly reminded me of Hobbes, from Calvin & Hobbes, of course. So what would happen if the two, a la Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, were to clash in epic battle? Or even regular battle?
So I sent out a Text Message to damn near everyone in the address book on my phone. Some of you may have missed it, or I might not have your number, which is probably for your benefit, as random texts like these come through. 22 people responded, most instantly, which made for a fun day at work, thank you.
In the end, Hobbes won out by two votes. I didn't count my vote, but it would have been for Hobbes. Tigger can bounce around as goofy as he likes, but Hobbes would simply disembowel him, Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat that he is. Feel free to renew the debate.
Did you know Virgin Records has their own Wine?
So does Dan Akroyd. He has expanded his liquor business(Crystal Head vodka) into wine. Good for him. Because he doesn't have enough money? No, because his House of Blues venues frequently host Metal Bands. Which reminds me, I need to figure out the friggin' next three concerts coming up before I misbook.
And so I leave you with the great Debate. Tigger or Hobbes?
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Wine Bottling.
So, being as I have been to *almost* every brewery and brewpub in San Diego(There are two I haven't been to) on Friday I offered to take my friend to one of the local ones, Oceanside Ale Works, as he'd never been. Unfortunately, I had to wait til I got off work...
I hate working Fridays. So I had a beer at lunch. ONE beer, a Tecate. When I got back to work after my lunch break, we had a vendor there doing a tequila tasting for the employees. And a vodka. So I had a shot of Gvori vodka(very clean), and then on to the tequila. Dos Manos tequila. Silver(technically it's a platinum since it's triple distilled) was smoother than expected, Reposado was okay, Anejo was decent. Not the best tequila I've had, but far better than many I've had as well. Then I had the Tonala anejo, which was good, I've been curious about that one, but was leery of it because of the bottle it comes in, which is a hand crafted ceramic vessel. There's a thing amongst tequila makers, and some sell their Tequila more through the appeal of the bottle rather than the tequila itself. I digress. Finally, I had some of that lovely Tonala 4 yr Anejo. Technically(again!) you could call it an extra-anejo, or leyenda, but they've been bottling this stuff since before the recent amendments to Mexican Tequila Regulations, so they're not calling it extra...That stuff is good, sublime, and a damn good deal, I must say. Good sipping Tequila.
So let's see, 1 Tecate, 1 vodka, and 5 Tequilas, and I still had 3 more hours of work...well, that last hour? Yeah, that's when we've started our beer tasting...
Sometimes Fridays suck, and sometimes I can light my breath on fire.
Anyways, we make it to Oceanside Ale Works and get our first pints, I get a bratwurst, and we're mingling, talking to people, checking out the brewery...and then we notice that right next door is a winery. So we amble on in, beers in hand, and start chatting to the guys at the winery. We decide to do their Wine Tasting, blow through a Barbera and a Nebbiolo that were unspectacular, but then they give us a Cabernet Reserve which was damn good, and a nice tawny Port, and I love me some Port.
Anyways, we chat up the guys, talk to them about coming in to my work to do a tasting for the employees(boo-yah!), and then they mention how they're bottling wine tomorrow, and to come by if we want to help out, get a couple bottles of wine out of it...
can you say hell yeah? And that's without having had 1 Tecate, 1 Vodka, 5 Tequilas, 1 Blonde Ale(4.5%), 1 Strong Ale (8.2% I think), and 5 or 6 glasses of wine(they certainly weren't counting)...
So much bloody fun. Got to learn a lot about the wine making process, got to have a lot fun. Of course we were drinking the wine as we were bottling it. Everyone had a glass. Of course we also had a pitcher of beer from next door. So it would be, Fill Bottle of wine, drink beer, cork bottle, drink wine, dry off bottle of wine, cap it, drink, heat wrap the cap on, drink some more, put the labels on, drink and drink and drink...box.
So yeah. Pickled. It was a bit of work, I'll confess, but to be honest, we were having so much fun we didn't care.
I owe thanks to my friend Susan who came and gave us a drive home(don't drink and drive kids!), and another thanks to my roommate who drove me back to get my truck.
I hate working Fridays. So I had a beer at lunch. ONE beer, a Tecate. When I got back to work after my lunch break, we had a vendor there doing a tequila tasting for the employees. And a vodka. So I had a shot of Gvori vodka(very clean), and then on to the tequila. Dos Manos tequila. Silver(technically it's a platinum since it's triple distilled) was smoother than expected, Reposado was okay, Anejo was decent. Not the best tequila I've had, but far better than many I've had as well. Then I had the Tonala anejo, which was good, I've been curious about that one, but was leery of it because of the bottle it comes in, which is a hand crafted ceramic vessel. There's a thing amongst tequila makers, and some sell their Tequila more through the appeal of the bottle rather than the tequila itself. I digress. Finally, I had some of that lovely Tonala 4 yr Anejo. Technically(again!) you could call it an extra-anejo, or leyenda, but they've been bottling this stuff since before the recent amendments to Mexican Tequila Regulations, so they're not calling it extra...That stuff is good, sublime, and a damn good deal, I must say. Good sipping Tequila.
So let's see, 1 Tecate, 1 vodka, and 5 Tequilas, and I still had 3 more hours of work...well, that last hour? Yeah, that's when we've started our beer tasting...
Sometimes Fridays suck, and sometimes I can light my breath on fire.
Anyways, we make it to Oceanside Ale Works and get our first pints, I get a bratwurst, and we're mingling, talking to people, checking out the brewery...and then we notice that right next door is a winery. So we amble on in, beers in hand, and start chatting to the guys at the winery. We decide to do their Wine Tasting, blow through a Barbera and a Nebbiolo that were unspectacular, but then they give us a Cabernet Reserve which was damn good, and a nice tawny Port, and I love me some Port.
Anyways, we chat up the guys, talk to them about coming in to my work to do a tasting for the employees(boo-yah!), and then they mention how they're bottling wine tomorrow, and to come by if we want to help out, get a couple bottles of wine out of it...
can you say hell yeah? And that's without having had 1 Tecate, 1 Vodka, 5 Tequilas, 1 Blonde Ale(4.5%), 1 Strong Ale (8.2% I think), and 5 or 6 glasses of wine(they certainly weren't counting)...
So much bloody fun. Got to learn a lot about the wine making process, got to have a lot fun. Of course we were drinking the wine as we were bottling it. Everyone had a glass. Of course we also had a pitcher of beer from next door. So it would be, Fill Bottle of wine, drink beer, cork bottle, drink wine, dry off bottle of wine, cap it, drink, heat wrap the cap on, drink some more, put the labels on, drink and drink and drink...box.
So yeah. Pickled. It was a bit of work, I'll confess, but to be honest, we were having so much fun we didn't care.
I owe thanks to my friend Susan who came and gave us a drive home(don't drink and drive kids!), and another thanks to my roommate who drove me back to get my truck.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Facebooking it
So, this blog feeds directly to my Facebook account, which generates enough comments and movement that I've considered doing this far more often, much as I used to do on my old MySpace page. It would, at least, give more substance to the daily Facebook visit than inane quizes like, "What kind of Tampon are you?"
In reference to my previous post, I was called an asshole because I stated that I didn't like Michael Jackson. The Pop singer, not the Beer God. I never listened to his music, didn't like his whole shtick, and I blame him for the shitty artists foisted upon us by Mass Media.
The King of Pop? If he so claims. Good gimmick, self-promotion...and it leads to...Strippers. the Britney Spears era of Music Artists. Performers who cannot sing or write, but merely prance about stage in skimpy clothing. I call them Strippers.
So yes. Feedback is always welcome. Should I continue?
In reference to my previous post, I was called an asshole because I stated that I didn't like Michael Jackson. The Pop singer, not the Beer God. I never listened to his music, didn't like his whole shtick, and I blame him for the shitty artists foisted upon us by Mass Media.
The King of Pop? If he so claims. Good gimmick, self-promotion...and it leads to...Strippers. the Britney Spears era of Music Artists. Performers who cannot sing or write, but merely prance about stage in skimpy clothing. I call them Strippers.
So yes. Feedback is always welcome. Should I continue?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Question of being an Asshole
In one night, in less than five minutes time, I am told that I am the greatest, a sweetheart, someone I've known less than five minutes tells me they love me, I'm an asshole, I hate everything, and I'm the worst person ever. It's an interesting dichotomy of my life.
Frequently, the appellation of asshole is applied to me because of Music, Movies, or some other aspect of Popular Culture. If I have a discussion about movies with someone, as evident in my last blog, then generally there will be some disagreement. Style over Substance seems to be popular in Hollywood films, and if I criticize this, or point out its...lack of certain qualities, I am an asshole. Not that there are not a plethora of foreign films which fall into the Style category of film; Several foreign films I enjoy immensely are not in the Substance vein.
I don't listen to the radio or watch any of the dozen or so music television channels. Can't abbreviate that, as MTV doesn't play music, but MTV2, Fuse, CMT and several others do. Listening to Metal can be quite a bitch. Watch two metalheads meet for the first time, they have the size each other up. You never see two pop music size each other up quite the same as Metalheads do. We have to jump through hoops, throw names, prove ourselves. Pop Music fans don't have to go through Proving.
For those of my friends who have suffered through some of my more assholic episodes long enough to know me well enough will be able to affirm that I am merely a Contrarian. I don't like being told what I should like. The onus of this is that I have to search out my likes instead. I don't get them delivered to me via Mass Media. Sometimes, this results in my watching or hearing some truly obscure material, or simply being a few years ahead of the remake circuit.
Try having a conversation with someone and not being to discuss movies, music or television. Nice weather.
Martial Arts? I had the jujitsu conversation once too many times, now I try not to mention having ever studied any of the martial arts.
This is going to start rambling. Thank the insomnia.
I just finished watching a documentary on Steve McQueen. Some part of my brain is analyzing all of his movies and creating a summation of the Steve McQueen dress code. I blame my roommate leaving his copies of Details and Esquire in the bathroom.
I reread Lloyd Alexander's "The Book of Three". I read "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" as well, mainly because of the 'Net Comic "Delusionary State." I have four or five webcomics I follow.
I have no career. I need to formulate get rich...in any time frame...schemes. Well, maybe a little quicker, if just to pay for the health care I know I need but can't afford.
Health care is on everyone's list of watercooler conversation lately, I hate to bring it up, but speaking as someone who knows they need to go to the doctor, but can't, because I can't bloody well afford it...ooh, more debt, yay, because the student loans aren't enough.
Did I mention I'm taking bloody auto shop classes just to keep my student loans deferred? When are we going to get Universal Education Care? When are my bloody degrees going to be worth a fucking damn? When I will get the constant bleeding fixed?
Not to mention the Dental Care. Does Dental Care fall into the whole Universal Health Care thing? Universal? Do we have to treat Martians? What about other illegal aliens? So it's just a National Health Care...right...look, just find a way to make it profitable for somebody, and it'll happen.
I had a cup of coffee in the afternoon just so I could stay awake to get my autoshop studying done, now I can't sleep when i really want to...which isn't really anything new, I can't ever seem to sleep when I want to.
Three days no drinking. This is harder than it seems. San Diego is one of the Beer Meccas of the world. Seriously. Other cities have more pubs, but we have both high quality breweries and brewpubs, and a lot of them. We have a definite beer culture here, so much so, in fact, that the Southern California IPA is being considered as an official beer designation by the World Beer Cup peoples. Speaking of which, Stone Brewery's latest seasonal beer, the Vertical Epic, will be unleashed tomorrow. 9-9-9, that's their shtick.
Bah, time to go read yet another book as I fail to yet again sleep for yet another night whilst I try not to drink a Yeti beer...just yet. Yet yet yet. Does it look funny yet?
I am the Reverend Doctor Godzilla, and I need a better paying shtick.
Frequently, the appellation of asshole is applied to me because of Music, Movies, or some other aspect of Popular Culture. If I have a discussion about movies with someone, as evident in my last blog, then generally there will be some disagreement. Style over Substance seems to be popular in Hollywood films, and if I criticize this, or point out its...lack of certain qualities, I am an asshole. Not that there are not a plethora of foreign films which fall into the Style category of film; Several foreign films I enjoy immensely are not in the Substance vein.
I don't listen to the radio or watch any of the dozen or so music television channels. Can't abbreviate that, as MTV doesn't play music, but MTV2, Fuse, CMT and several others do. Listening to Metal can be quite a bitch. Watch two metalheads meet for the first time, they have the size each other up. You never see two pop music size each other up quite the same as Metalheads do. We have to jump through hoops, throw names, prove ourselves. Pop Music fans don't have to go through Proving.
For those of my friends who have suffered through some of my more assholic episodes long enough to know me well enough will be able to affirm that I am merely a Contrarian. I don't like being told what I should like. The onus of this is that I have to search out my likes instead. I don't get them delivered to me via Mass Media. Sometimes, this results in my watching or hearing some truly obscure material, or simply being a few years ahead of the remake circuit.
Try having a conversation with someone and not being to discuss movies, music or television. Nice weather.
Martial Arts? I had the jujitsu conversation once too many times, now I try not to mention having ever studied any of the martial arts.
This is going to start rambling. Thank the insomnia.
I just finished watching a documentary on Steve McQueen. Some part of my brain is analyzing all of his movies and creating a summation of the Steve McQueen dress code. I blame my roommate leaving his copies of Details and Esquire in the bathroom.
I reread Lloyd Alexander's "The Book of Three". I read "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" as well, mainly because of the 'Net Comic "Delusionary State." I have four or five webcomics I follow.
I have no career. I need to formulate get rich...in any time frame...schemes. Well, maybe a little quicker, if just to pay for the health care I know I need but can't afford.
Health care is on everyone's list of watercooler conversation lately, I hate to bring it up, but speaking as someone who knows they need to go to the doctor, but can't, because I can't bloody well afford it...ooh, more debt, yay, because the student loans aren't enough.
Did I mention I'm taking bloody auto shop classes just to keep my student loans deferred? When are we going to get Universal Education Care? When are my bloody degrees going to be worth a fucking damn? When I will get the constant bleeding fixed?
Not to mention the Dental Care. Does Dental Care fall into the whole Universal Health Care thing? Universal? Do we have to treat Martians? What about other illegal aliens? So it's just a National Health Care...right...look, just find a way to make it profitable for somebody, and it'll happen.
I had a cup of coffee in the afternoon just so I could stay awake to get my autoshop studying done, now I can't sleep when i really want to...which isn't really anything new, I can't ever seem to sleep when I want to.
Three days no drinking. This is harder than it seems. San Diego is one of the Beer Meccas of the world. Seriously. Other cities have more pubs, but we have both high quality breweries and brewpubs, and a lot of them. We have a definite beer culture here, so much so, in fact, that the Southern California IPA is being considered as an official beer designation by the World Beer Cup peoples. Speaking of which, Stone Brewery's latest seasonal beer, the Vertical Epic, will be unleashed tomorrow. 9-9-9, that's their shtick.
Bah, time to go read yet another book as I fail to yet again sleep for yet another night whilst I try not to drink a Yeti beer...just yet. Yet yet yet. Does it look funny yet?
I am the Reverend Doctor Godzilla, and I need a better paying shtick.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Departed, and why I get into trouble over that movie
In 2002, there was a Hong Kong film that came out called "Infernal Affairs." This film won over 23 awards in Hong Kong and in film circuits throughout the world. It was lauded as one of the greatest films to ever come out of asia. Why, therefore, do I have such a problem with this movie, why do I constantly get into fights in multiple bars, pubs and other fine drinking establishments? Well, one because those are the places I hang out in. And Two, because this movie was poorly treated in America.
Many of you, more than might know Infernal Affairs, might know a little film starring Leonardo DiCaprio called The Departed. Matt Damon, Jack Nickel's son, yeah. This movie should never have been made. The Departed is a direct remake of Infernal Affairs.
Infernal Affairs was brilliant. It toured the world, winning accolades, until it came to the U.S. There it was given limited, small, minimal theatrical release. This was one of the biggest films in the world's history. I loved this film, saw it before it ever came to the theatrical run in this country.
The problem i have is that Americans, we, my native country, do not accept other cultures. We take them and remake them, mold them into our image, remake the films to make our own. Sure we let in the occasional foreign object such as slumdog millionaire, but 95% of the time, we simply recreate it. We as Americans are not ready to accept other cultures. It's us or nothing. There is no El Mariachi, there is only an American friendly remake. There is no Tom Yum Goong, there is only the Protector. There is no Infernal Affairs, there is no Hero, there is no Curse of the Golden Flower.
These films are reduced, reused, recycled. Those who find these films beneficial, beneficial, benevolent, and simply good, are marginalized, the freaks, the art house connoseurs who are only fit for France, the enemy, the cheese loving surrender monkeys.
Why we cannot accept outside involvement? We are insular. Literally. A continent reduced to an island.
my problem with the Departed is that it should have never existed. Infernal Affairs should have been given a full run, should have been promoted fairly, not buried and forgotten so as to provide a vessel for DiCaprio to pretend he can act, that Scorsese is still avant-garde.
We've already started remaking their television into our shows.
In Anthropology, they notice how groups do not accept outsiders. Participant-observation. Exogenesis, Entrogenesis. Is our world really that small?
Many of you, more than might know Infernal Affairs, might know a little film starring Leonardo DiCaprio called The Departed. Matt Damon, Jack Nickel's son, yeah. This movie should never have been made. The Departed is a direct remake of Infernal Affairs.
Infernal Affairs was brilliant. It toured the world, winning accolades, until it came to the U.S. There it was given limited, small, minimal theatrical release. This was one of the biggest films in the world's history. I loved this film, saw it before it ever came to the theatrical run in this country.
The problem i have is that Americans, we, my native country, do not accept other cultures. We take them and remake them, mold them into our image, remake the films to make our own. Sure we let in the occasional foreign object such as slumdog millionaire, but 95% of the time, we simply recreate it. We as Americans are not ready to accept other cultures. It's us or nothing. There is no El Mariachi, there is only an American friendly remake. There is no Tom Yum Goong, there is only the Protector. There is no Infernal Affairs, there is no Hero, there is no Curse of the Golden Flower.
These films are reduced, reused, recycled. Those who find these films beneficial, beneficial, benevolent, and simply good, are marginalized, the freaks, the art house connoseurs who are only fit for France, the enemy, the cheese loving surrender monkeys.
Why we cannot accept outside involvement? We are insular. Literally. A continent reduced to an island.
my problem with the Departed is that it should have never existed. Infernal Affairs should have been given a full run, should have been promoted fairly, not buried and forgotten so as to provide a vessel for DiCaprio to pretend he can act, that Scorsese is still avant-garde.
We've already started remaking their television into our shows.
In Anthropology, they notice how groups do not accept outsiders. Participant-observation. Exogenesis, Entrogenesis. Is our world really that small?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Conversation.
The art of conversation can be a tricky thing.
Namely, I'm talking about two pitfalls, both of which were brought up to me a month or so ago by a drunken screaming friend.
One, the person who isn't really listening, but merely waiting for a chance to say something. Usually this is something designed to make them look smart, dashing, witty, or possibly to divert the focus away from the current subject onto something more centered around them. Or possibly it's related to what you were discussing, but only in the mind of the person now bringing up the seeming non sequitur.
Two. The bastard who listens to what you're saying, and then throws in their two cents for the conversation, usually in an effort to one-up the speaker. This is Competitive Conversation, and you usually find this amongst men...or people talking about their cats.
Example, "I once killed a mountain lion." Retort, "I once killed two, in the snow, with nothing but my cock."
This is so bloody common, that if you're joining in a conversation and not trying to one-up the others, you may very well be assumed to be trying to anyways.
Much like "Not playing the game" IS your game.
Stupid Societal Blundering.
This has happened to me several times. And if i'm competing, it certainly isn't intentional.
I'm just more interesting than you.
HA!
Namely, I'm talking about two pitfalls, both of which were brought up to me a month or so ago by a drunken screaming friend.
One, the person who isn't really listening, but merely waiting for a chance to say something. Usually this is something designed to make them look smart, dashing, witty, or possibly to divert the focus away from the current subject onto something more centered around them. Or possibly it's related to what you were discussing, but only in the mind of the person now bringing up the seeming non sequitur.
Two. The bastard who listens to what you're saying, and then throws in their two cents for the conversation, usually in an effort to one-up the speaker. This is Competitive Conversation, and you usually find this amongst men...or people talking about their cats.
Example, "I once killed a mountain lion." Retort, "I once killed two, in the snow, with nothing but my cock."
This is so bloody common, that if you're joining in a conversation and not trying to one-up the others, you may very well be assumed to be trying to anyways.
Much like "Not playing the game" IS your game.
Stupid Societal Blundering.
This has happened to me several times. And if i'm competing, it certainly isn't intentional.
I'm just more interesting than you.
HA!
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