And given the history of United, losing a guitar seems a sweet let-off.
14 July 2009
And finally for the evening
Yes, I know everyone else has probably seen this already, but it is catchy. And the video is nice.
It's encouraging but...
A report, that's made most news sources this week, from Durham University demonstrates that UK children deem the bible irrelevant. That's encouraging. The problem is that teaching them correct information as to why it's irrelevant, a lie, and causes so much confusion isn't occurring.
If they were taught how to think, and explained why the koran, the bible etc are the bastion of the ignorant, then I can see how the news would be good. It would mean they are thinking, and ridiculing of religious zealotry could potentially end a lot of conflict. It won't of course, but I live in a happy place.
But I don't think this report is encouraging, I think it's a reflection of ignorance. I know the bible, I've read it many times, I've cited sections, I 've critiqued sections. I also think it's a pile of crud, but I know why I think that. I think these kids don't know why its irrelevant, as if things were going well, they'd be answering that evolution has led to the rich diversity of life we're busy killing. But they don't. And although the level of evolutionary teaching in the UK isn't good - it's certainly better than parts of bible-belt US tho'.
My position is similar to this report, evolution should be taught as soon as possible - and I agree with that report that 5 years old would be about right. The insidious nature of the right-wing creationalist idiots, means the early kids are taught to think, the better. This paper also suggests an early start, and also reflects my position that evolution should be taught as fact, not theory. It is well beyond any concept of theory as the public understands the term.
On the positive, if slightly surreal, side Richard Dawkins (he who thinks Steve Rothery is God), has set up a rival to scout camps. A summer retreat for non-believers, read about it here.
Most of this rant has been writing while listening to the Blind Boys of Alabama. I find that quite funny :)
me
11 July 2009
Cunning plans
Cunning plans are taking shape, sadly I can't reveal anything due to the diverse readership of the blog !!! But I've spent the last four hours doing stuff which should prove productive later in the week !
In booze news, my Dun Bheagan Island 8yo malt has passed on (it's Talisker btw). For those of you after a cheap Islay-ish malt, you could do worse - about NZ $60. More than adequate, and certainly better than 'fiddich or 'morangie which cost more.
I'm quite excited. But even more excited about my immediate afternoon plans which revolve around awesome food, whisky, music vids and possibly b-grades.
No I have no idea why that interests me either.
Been a good music day too, I started with Echolyn - emphasising to myself how much I don't like them, moved to Muse (huzzah), Okkervil River, Talk Talk in Montreux (DVD), now Rush (Snakes and Arrows has grown on me, in a good way).
Love and lollipops, B
In booze news, my Dun Bheagan Island 8yo malt has passed on (it's Talisker btw). For those of you after a cheap Islay-ish malt, you could do worse - about NZ $60. More than adequate, and certainly better than 'fiddich or 'morangie which cost more.
I'm quite excited. But even more excited about my immediate afternoon plans which revolve around awesome food, whisky, music vids and possibly b-grades.
No I have no idea why that interests me either.
Been a good music day too, I started with Echolyn - emphasising to myself how much I don't like them, moved to Muse (huzzah), Okkervil River, Talk Talk in Montreux (DVD), now Rush (Snakes and Arrows has grown on me, in a good way).
Love and lollipops, B
05 July 2009
Whisky : Highlands tasting
Although my Friday night wasn't the most exciting, I cleaned the oven. Yes, that was it. Oven cleaning.
But last week we had a whisky tasting of Highlands single malts, Daniel had tried to chose malts outside of those we've had before. I don't think it was that successful. None were bad, but there wasn't much that stood out. Never mind, it's added more to list of whisky's I've tried.
Clynelish 14yo I think it was the 14yo anyway. I'm not a huge fan of Clynelish, I prefer the dearly departed Brora next door. Nose: hint of salt, caramel, grass, sweet, age? Palate: kinda flat, a bit salty, tastes cheap. Finish: med-long, very weak hint of smoke. 6/10
Old Pulteney 12yo 40% Nose: sweet, fruit, low alcohol, mild. Palate: soap - really strong!, background of salt Finish: short, bad. 5/10
Old Pulteney 17yo 46% no chill filter Nose: incr alcohol, coconut, bright, reminded me of a Springbank. Palate: empty, rum, too light, salt, dry. Finish: medium, but not great 6.5/10
Old Pulteney 21yo 46% no chill Nose: salt, petrol, vanilla, and yet empty. Palate: banana, vanilla, salty. Finish: medium 6/10.
Glenmorangie Astar 57.1% non chill slow growth air seasoned Quercus Alba Yeah that's right, they tell you about the damn tree it's been bottled in. On the other hand, it's the first interesting 'morangie I've had. Nose: vanilla, sweet (from the oak?), maple syrup, marshmallows. Palate: sweet, spicy, full, caramel, bourbon hints. Finish: med-long, spicy 8/10
Balblair 1997 43% bottled 2008 bourbon wood Nose: sweet, maple syrup, mild, weak, banana, boring. Palate: soft, sweet, pineapple lumps, salt. Finish: none. soft-short. 6.5/10
Balblair 1975 46% bottled 2007 no chill/colour sherry casks Nose: older, leather, smoke, wood, caramel, complex. Palate: wood, smoke, bourbon, sherry?, kinda empty. Finish: med- but grows in complexity. 7/10
All in all, not outstanding. I hadn't had Balblair or Old Pulteney, but then again on the basis of this, I won't be chasing them either!
Me.
01 July 2009
Has had quite a superb evening`
The day was boring, and kinda productive. But still boring.
The evening involved paua fritters, salad and chips, washed down with Wells Bombadier. I'm not known for supporting hot babes to stay in their relationship, but in this case, GB you hang with the j-boi. He's ok in my book.
Managed to get some stuff done for me (shock, horror), watched the pre-raphaelites ep1-2 which is lovely, my man-crush on top gear, then listened to Genesis "We Can't Dance" in 5.1, which really is a magical experience.
Now curled up in bed watching Sit Down, Shut Up. I'm liking it, I think.
Me xxx
27 June 2009
More movies
I know, reviews on beer and movies. What a change for this blog. I'd hate to become predictable. So a quick summary of movies seen recently:
Peeping Tom it's an older movie (1960) and parts of the dialogue are rough on the modern ear, almost like it was written for the stage then moved sans naturalism to the movies. For all that, it's pretty good. It's tight and it's certainly quite a complex wee thriller/horror. The main character is a camera operator, and moonlights taking pictures of scantily clad women. Yes it's a tough life in the 60's. Slowly his psychological problems come to the surface, or rather in some cases are forced to the surface. The girl enters his life (and no way is she 21!), creating an interesting situation with her mother and the main character, queue flashbacks etc etc and much wonderfully dark cinematography.
Recommended - it's certainly been influential. And I found it a refreshing take on whats now become a tired genre. That probably explains why it bombed when released...
The Night Porter, yeah it appears I might have been on a pervert quest with these two. Nevermind, this was superb. It was advertised as the most controversial movie of our time - ho hum. Story is: ex nazi prison guard and the woman he used to shag in vaguely sado-maso fashion, meet up 20 years later while he and his ex-nazi buddies are trying to get rid of any evidence of their activities. She's now the wife of someone famous, but soon she and Max (the ex-nazi) are getting it on. The S & M aspects are quite mild, rather the movie focusses on the love affair between the two. It's sweet, deep, and ultimately suffers the fate all heroic love does (for dramatic purposes). This is a wonderfully deep, interesting and intelligent movie. The cinematography is wonderful (as it is in Peeping Tom) lending the movie a drab, haunted air - which just builds the pathos for the two main characters.
Really recommended.
I think I might watch a movie now, Terminator seems a good choice :)
And Rugby.
Me
Peeping Tom it's an older movie (1960) and parts of the dialogue are rough on the modern ear, almost like it was written for the stage then moved sans naturalism to the movies. For all that, it's pretty good. It's tight and it's certainly quite a complex wee thriller/horror. The main character is a camera operator, and moonlights taking pictures of scantily clad women. Yes it's a tough life in the 60's. Slowly his psychological problems come to the surface, or rather in some cases are forced to the surface. The girl enters his life (and no way is she 21!), creating an interesting situation with her mother and the main character, queue flashbacks etc etc and much wonderfully dark cinematography.
Recommended - it's certainly been influential. And I found it a refreshing take on whats now become a tired genre. That probably explains why it bombed when released...
The Night Porter, yeah it appears I might have been on a pervert quest with these two. Nevermind, this was superb. It was advertised as the most controversial movie of our time - ho hum. Story is: ex nazi prison guard and the woman he used to shag in vaguely sado-maso fashion, meet up 20 years later while he and his ex-nazi buddies are trying to get rid of any evidence of their activities. She's now the wife of someone famous, but soon she and Max (the ex-nazi) are getting it on. The S & M aspects are quite mild, rather the movie focusses on the love affair between the two. It's sweet, deep, and ultimately suffers the fate all heroic love does (for dramatic purposes). This is a wonderfully deep, interesting and intelligent movie. The cinematography is wonderful (as it is in Peeping Tom) lending the movie a drab, haunted air - which just builds the pathos for the two main characters.
Really recommended.
I think I might watch a movie now, Terminator seems a good choice :)
And Rugby.
Me
Beer Review
It's been a hellish wee week, things were heading downhill and kinda exploded on Thursday. In keeping with every organisation, we have people in roles who have no idea what they are doing. I had pointed this out, constructively, about 6 months ago. Since then I'd made some helpful suggestions (how to structure meetings, how to write a sentence, how to use active language, how to facilitate etc etc), to no avail - both to the person, their manager, and my boss and my bosses boss.
This guy wastes time, he cannot structure meetings, he doesn't know how to state something, he blatantly lies, he changes his story through a meeting, and he can't answer a question. Things came to a head on Thurs when I asked the same question for 15 minutes trying to get an answer - my boss and the next level up boss were there too. I didn't get anywhere, so stormed out pointing out this was getting anywhere, and if he can't answer a simple question what's the point of him having his job? My boss then pointed out a few more of his failings and the wee dear went home, apparently crying.
The various managers there did make a point of saying I hadn't done anything too bad. Whcih was nice.
So today I've been editing, I might take in a movie, and watch the rugger.
But this beer review is from last Saturday before the rugger. The beer concentrations were high (for 1pm on a Sat) and I certainly felt a bit relaxed by the end of it. The tasting focussed on beers from Marlborough from Roger Pink (Pink Elephant brewing), Renaissance brewing with Brian Thiel, and missing in action was 666 brewing. So all top quality NZ beers.
Renaissance Discovery APA 4.5% I love Renaissance brews, this one is full bodied, tasty, bitter with fruit (grapefruit) hints.
Renaissance Perfection PA 5% Sweetish ale, toffee hints, I found it creamy with a honey flavour, nice bitter aftertaste. Made using malt crystals apparently (I think I got that right).
666 Diablo 5.4% 666 brewing had made some beer especially for this tasting - how cool is that! so small (25L) brews as possible releases later. This was a dark beer, toffee, sweet, ruby coloured, malty, hops aroma. Very very very nice.
Renaissance Elemental Porter 6% I had this a couple of weeks ago, I love it. Very strong coffee taste.
Pink Elephant Golden Tusk 7.1% I have vague memories of this one at the old Malthouse, it was called something else back then. Parmesan cheese nose, big hop nose/flavour, toffee, wonderful stuff. Big big ale.
Pink Elephant Mammoth 7% raspberries (no really!), sweet, hint of cherry? huge flavour
Renaissance Stonecutter 7% superb beer, sweet, dark malt, chocolate, very malty, full mouth flavour
666 Avarice 7.5% fruity, sour, hops, good mouth taste.
Renaissance Marlborough PA 8.5% Very tasty, malty, smooth, sweet, huge alpha hops aroma, superb beer.
Pink Elephant Trumpet Barley Wine 10% Sweet, vintage, manuka honey, fucking huge, barley wine
This tasting was superb, if brain numbing. All of these beers would stand up to anything you threw at them in competitions. I wasn't grading them as we do for the whisky tasting, but the top two IMO were the Renaissance Marlborough PA, the Pink Elephant Golden Tusk. Brian Thiel, from memory, promised that the Marl. PA would be bottled at some point, so I'll be getting some. But honestly, you won't go wrong with any of these beers. When you consider the Perfection PA was my least favourite, it puts the others into context. The sooner 666 brewing start releasing beers the better...
Info I do remember, Renaissance brew in 25000L batches, although this equates to about 21000L-ish taking into account bubbling during the process. The Stonecutter used to be brewed in half batches, but they've recently sorted out the scaling (like baking, brewing isn't exactly double the recipe and expect it to work) so we should get more of that too. huzzah!
I imagine I'll be having a nice beer or two tonight. So slainte...
B
This guy wastes time, he cannot structure meetings, he doesn't know how to state something, he blatantly lies, he changes his story through a meeting, and he can't answer a question. Things came to a head on Thurs when I asked the same question for 15 minutes trying to get an answer - my boss and the next level up boss were there too. I didn't get anywhere, so stormed out pointing out this was getting anywhere, and if he can't answer a simple question what's the point of him having his job? My boss then pointed out a few more of his failings and the wee dear went home, apparently crying.
The various managers there did make a point of saying I hadn't done anything too bad. Whcih was nice.
So today I've been editing, I might take in a movie, and watch the rugger.
But this beer review is from last Saturday before the rugger. The beer concentrations were high (for 1pm on a Sat) and I certainly felt a bit relaxed by the end of it. The tasting focussed on beers from Marlborough from Roger Pink (Pink Elephant brewing), Renaissance brewing with Brian Thiel, and missing in action was 666 brewing. So all top quality NZ beers.
Renaissance Discovery APA 4.5% I love Renaissance brews, this one is full bodied, tasty, bitter with fruit (grapefruit) hints.
Renaissance Perfection PA 5% Sweetish ale, toffee hints, I found it creamy with a honey flavour, nice bitter aftertaste. Made using malt crystals apparently (I think I got that right).
666 Diablo 5.4% 666 brewing had made some beer especially for this tasting - how cool is that! so small (25L) brews as possible releases later. This was a dark beer, toffee, sweet, ruby coloured, malty, hops aroma. Very very very nice.
Renaissance Elemental Porter 6% I had this a couple of weeks ago, I love it. Very strong coffee taste.
Pink Elephant Golden Tusk 7.1% I have vague memories of this one at the old Malthouse, it was called something else back then. Parmesan cheese nose, big hop nose/flavour, toffee, wonderful stuff. Big big ale.
Pink Elephant Mammoth 7% raspberries (no really!), sweet, hint of cherry? huge flavour
Renaissance Stonecutter 7% superb beer, sweet, dark malt, chocolate, very malty, full mouth flavour
666 Avarice 7.5% fruity, sour, hops, good mouth taste.
Renaissance Marlborough PA 8.5% Very tasty, malty, smooth, sweet, huge alpha hops aroma, superb beer.
Pink Elephant Trumpet Barley Wine 10% Sweet, vintage, manuka honey, fucking huge, barley wine
This tasting was superb, if brain numbing. All of these beers would stand up to anything you threw at them in competitions. I wasn't grading them as we do for the whisky tasting, but the top two IMO were the Renaissance Marlborough PA, the Pink Elephant Golden Tusk. Brian Thiel, from memory, promised that the Marl. PA would be bottled at some point, so I'll be getting some. But honestly, you won't go wrong with any of these beers. When you consider the Perfection PA was my least favourite, it puts the others into context. The sooner 666 brewing start releasing beers the better...
Info I do remember, Renaissance brew in 25000L batches, although this equates to about 21000L-ish taking into account bubbling during the process. The Stonecutter used to be brewed in half batches, but they've recently sorted out the scaling (like baking, brewing isn't exactly double the recipe and expect it to work) so we should get more of that too. huzzah!
I imagine I'll be having a nice beer or two tonight. So slainte...
B
19 June 2009
Civilised are the NZ gangs
There could be a few blogs from me today, dependent somewhat on booze intake, which currently stands at none...
From the front page of the Dom this morning, Gang brawl outside shop: Gang members armed with hammers, golf clubs and axes...
WTF? Golf clubs? Are NZ gangs a spin-off of the village people? The construction worker, the lumberjack and the golfer?
Are you patched? Nope, but I've got plus-fours...
Awesome!
18 June 2009
Those heady heights of a fortnight ago
When we was tops ... ahhh all dim dark memories now, our quiz team was back to 5th. Again. And I disturbed them by my highly erratic pop knowledge. Just for S2H, here's the one I did get - artist and song...the guy on the right doesn't seem as sold on the idea ...
love, me.
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