2 weeks ago
"James-Younger Rye Ale"
Quickie-review
Produced* to coincide with the annual "Defeat of Jesse James Days" celebration in Northfield, Minnesota. The locals still call it 'Jesse James Days' and it's quite the to-do in Northfield. While I can't make it to this year's event, I'm happy to have had the opportunity to sample this a little early.
"James-Younger 1876 Rye Ale" is basically a contemporary 'American Pale Ale' with the addition of chocolate rye as a specialty malt, and this grain in turn imparts a toasty "cocoa"-like character in addition to the traditional spiciness of rye. Likewise, there's some hop spiciness (and aromatics, and bitterness...) in this beer that place the beer more in line with a contemporary "American IPA" than a lower-strength (and "less-hoppy") pale ale, so in fact this beer is like a mash-up of three styles: Rye Ale, APA, and A-IPA. I've had my fair share of Rye ales in the past few years, and this one really holds its own: it's no Hop Rod Rye, but it is a nice change of pace for folks who've cut their teeth on the likes of Boulevard Pale Ale and Summit "EPA".
Kompai!
*Produced by Bank Beer Co.
"Actresses" vs. "Talent"
Here's a solid rant from Andrew Price.
When it comes to Hollywood and the casting of actresses I probably agree with this guy on all counts, but what the heck do I know? Well, I know what I like in a film, and I don't see much of that sort of thing anymore. As if anyone here needed reminding, storytelling should be the top priority in crafting a film, and while digital/S/FX should be given consideration, it should remain a distant second to the story arc and plot. Doubtless some folks in Hollywood think of films these days more as marketing tools (product placement, Happy Meal tie-ins) or as a way to extend the copyright on an earlier property via licensing, franchise and serial film-making and re-makes, but that's not how the industry got to the point where there was a Golden Age.
Nowadays, the way films are made -and the way talent is cast- it's no wonder why both Box Office and Video sell-through receipts are diminishing.
It might not be worth mentioning (for lack of my desire to explain it) but my significant other was well-indoctrinated with a feminist worldview while at college (a woman's college no less) and complains endlessly of the photographic interpolation of the "Phallic Male Gaze", whether it be in Print or Web Advertising, Television, or Film. Given this fact, her dislike of contemporary films should be self evident, and moreover I'd say that she has a point. Entire literary careers have been built via the extrapolation of this uniquely post-modern and Feminist point of view, including enough books to fill entire libraries. And while I do not 100% agree with said argument I understand the general gist and think that there's something to it -- judging by his piece, I reckon Andrew Price would also think so.
And now that I've gotten all schoolmarm-y and wrecked the flow of this highly-read blog, I will end this post with this thought: try to think clean thoughts while enjoying the digital fakery of "Supergirl" : )
When it comes to Hollywood and the casting of actresses I probably agree with this guy on all counts, but what the heck do I know? Well, I know what I like in a film, and I don't see much of that sort of thing anymore. As if anyone here needed reminding, storytelling should be the top priority in crafting a film, and while digital/S/FX should be given consideration, it should remain a distant second to the story arc and plot. Doubtless some folks in Hollywood think of films these days more as marketing tools (product placement, Happy Meal tie-ins) or as a way to extend the copyright on an earlier property via licensing, franchise and serial film-making and re-makes, but that's not how the industry got to the point where there was a Golden Age.
Nowadays, the way films are made -and the way talent is cast- it's no wonder why both Box Office and Video sell-through receipts are diminishing.
It might not be worth mentioning (for lack of my desire to explain it) but my significant other was well-indoctrinated with a feminist worldview while at college (a woman's college no less) and complains endlessly of the photographic interpolation of the "Phallic Male Gaze", whether it be in Print or Web Advertising, Television, or Film. Given this fact, her dislike of contemporary films should be self evident, and moreover I'd say that she has a point. Entire literary careers have been built via the extrapolation of this uniquely post-modern and Feminist point of view, including enough books to fill entire libraries. And while I do not 100% agree with said argument I understand the general gist and think that there's something to it -- judging by his piece, I reckon Andrew Price would also think so.
And now that I've gotten all schoolmarm-y and wrecked the flow of this highly-read blog, I will end this post with this thought: try to think clean thoughts while enjoying the digital fakery of "Supergirl" : )
File Under: Holy Shit
These are the sort of things that they never teach us about in "World History" class in high school, right here in the U.S.A.
Chinese Government Dismantles Memorial to Dead Japanese Civilians
Hattip: Japan Probe
Anime Crash-ed
I've always wondered whatever happened to the East Coast retail and home video software outfit known as "Anime Crash". I only visited the shop a couple of times in Cambridge, and always wondered why it never took off as a retailer.
Doubtless, the times changed and brick and mortar retail along with the home video market are basically gutted from where they were in the mid-1990s, so this continuing series of blogs should be worth the wait.
It describes an insider's perspective on the so-called American 'Anime Industry'.
Doubtless, the times changed and brick and mortar retail along with the home video market are basically gutted from where they were in the mid-1990s, so this continuing series of blogs should be worth the wait.
It describes an insider's perspective on the so-called American 'Anime Industry'.
The Cleanest Race and the Hermit Kingdom
Here is an interesting -nay, fascinating- presentation courtesy of C-Span.
P.S. That is not "Heino" giving the presentation, it is B.R. Myers.
