Finished Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medecine [4/30/2010]

This book is really interesting. Topics covered include infection, aging, allergies, and cancer. I found it an easy and enjoyable read compared to a lot of non-fiction out there. The only flaw is that it is a bit out-dated having been written in 1994. I'd love a follow up sequel.

Ale Sampling No. 1 [4/26/2010]

BreweryNameLocationShort DescriptionRating
Fischer Biere d' AlsaceFischer Tradition AmberSchiltigheim, Francefruity94
Anderson Valley Brewing CoBoont Amber AleBoonville, CAgood92
Samuel AdamsCranberry LambicBoston, MAdoesn't taste like a lambic89
Four PeaksKiltlifterTempe, AZlike spice cake94
St PetersOrganic English AleBungay, Englandlight, refreshing (seriously)94
Spoetzl BreweryShiner BockShiner, TXdry, good taste90
Oak Creek Brewing CoNut Brown AleSedona, AZmalty, creamy, sweet, nutty95
Big Sky Brewing CoMoose Drool Brown AleMissoula, Montanatoasty, nutty94
Full Sail Brewing CoKeelhauler Scottish AleHood River, ORhoppy89
Batemans BreweryCombined HarvestWainfleet, Englandtoasty, delicious96
Dundee Brewing CoHoney BrownRochester, NYsweet92


See Also:
Wheat Sampling No. 2
Wheat Sampling No. 1
Porter Sampling No. 7
Porter Sampling No. 6
Porter Sampling No. 5
Porter Sampling No. 4
Porter Sampling No. 3
Porter Sampling No. 2
Porter Sampling No. 1

Wheat Sampling No. 2 [4/26/2010]

BreweryNameLocationShort DescriptionRating
Moab BreweryRocket Bike Wit AleMoab, UTorange, coriander92
Papago Brewing CoOrange Blossom Mandarin Wheat AleScottsdale, AZlike an orange creamsicle89
Pyramid BreweriesHaywire HefeweizenSeattle, WAnice orange flavor94
Avery Brewing CoWhite Rascal Belgian-Style Wheat AleBoulder, COhoppy, bitter86
Ballast Point Brewing CoWahoo WheatSan Diego, CAinteresting92
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing CompanySunset WheatChippewa Falls, WII like the lemon a lot94
Paulaner BreweryHefe-WeizenMunich, Germanytoo much banana88
Left Hand Brewing Co.Haystack WheatLongmont, COtoo much banana89
Gordon Biersch Brewing CompanyHefeweizenSan Jose, CAbanana, bitter, but ok89
Widmer Brothers Brewing CoHefeweizenPortland, ORbitter, mild yeast flavor89
New Belgium Brewing CompanySunshine WheatFort Collins, COtoo much banana88
FranziskanerWeissbierMunich, Germanyok, not my favorite89
New Belgium Brewing CompanyMothership WitFort Collins, COtoo much banana88


See Also:
Wheat Sampling No. 1
Ale Sampling No. 1
Porter Sampling No. 7
Porter Sampling No. 6
Porter Sampling No. 5
Porter Sampling No. 4
Porter Sampling No. 3
Porter Sampling No. 2
Porter Sampling No. 1

Finished Iorich [4/24/2010]

The latest installment in Steven Brust's Vlad series was one of my favorites of all of them. I really liked the character of Perisil. I hope he returns again. I was also happy to have Kragar play a part in this one. Unfortunately, I'll probably have to wait a year or more for another Vlad story.

Finished The Crying of Lot 49 [4/21/2010]

This book is very strange in that I liked it as a whole even though I didn't like any of the characters in any way, or the action, or the descriptions. It was annoying that I still wanted to keep reading despite everything being so un-likeable. The best way I can explain it is that there is a sort of messiness to the mystery that is appealing. It's like a dream in that it doesn't make sense and there are no answers.

more on commercials: a freaky one angers me, and a cool one inspires me [4/21/2010]

I don't like it when commercials are scary or disturbing. It doesn't make me want to buy anything. Instead I get an aversion to the product that I may have been ambivalent towards prior to the ad. This is like anti-marketing, and it upsets me. Why would you pay money to make me scared, when your product isn't supposed to be scary?

I get that it's trendy to break rules and all, but, this MFS commercial goes too far for me: http://annex.mfs.com/subs/video/commercial_internal/popup2.html Who decided it was acceptable to mess with people's eyes and make them look like aliens? Am I the only one who thinks this is very creepy?

I've always liked the Absolut magazine ads. This new commercial of theirs continues the tradition of promoting art and creativity.

Check out this kinetic sculpture by Arthur Ganson [4/06/2010]

Finished Burning Chrome [4/06/2010]

Gibson's writing is no less impressive in short form. I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection. Here is a line I especially liked from Johnny Mnemonic: "The sound it made was like a world ending, like the wires that hold heaven snapping and coiling across the sky." Here is another from Fragments of a Hologram Rose: "The explosion had been visible two miles away, a white sheet of heat lightening that had turned the pale branches of a bare tree against the night sky into a photographic negative of themselves: carbon branches against magnesium sky."