Beer O' The Week!

For this week, we are drinking the Bridgeport Brewery's India Pale Ale.

I happen to be a huge fan of pale ales, and this India Pale Ale doesn't disappoint. It's not the best IPA I've encountered, but it does have a unique and satisfying taste. Not too hoppy, not too light, it has your usual back-of-the-tongue tingling bitterness that is normally associated with pale ales, but with a welcomed complexity that satisfies the tastebuds and goes down smooth. The aftertaste is present, but not overpowering. The ABV on this sophisticated brew is decent at 5.5%, but I don't think you'll be reaching "Beervana", as the label indicates, unless you buy a couple of 6-packs. The Empty-Meter for this beer could probably reach as high as 15, considering it's modest alcohol content and it's high level of drinkability.

Internet Exploder

Ok ok ok, we all understand that Microsoft's Internet Explorer is far and away the most widely used browser in the world. We also understand that it is far and away the worst tool for surfing the internet with, no matter which version you may use.

What I don't understand is how most enterprise (business) related websites care not to recognize this most obvious-if-oxygen-ain't obvious-enough-for-you near-fact and still require users to use the most damning web browser known to man.

The only reason that this blasphemy to browsing still occurs is because, during the mid-to-late '90s, Microsoft had nearly 90% penetration rate around the world. Thats a lot of friggin' computers, and I can't blame Microsoft for its ingenuity (even though Bill Gates practically stole his entire concept from a little company known in the '80s as DOS, i.e. MS-DOS).

What I can blame them for is rolling out a 1989 wood-grain Ford Taurus station wagon with no effin' wheels and still demand literally hundreds of hardware makers to pay licensing fees for something they would never-ever wrap their grubby-chub fingers around the wheel of.

Beer O' The Week!

I'm beginning a weekly episode where I'll pick a new 'Beer O' The Week', specifically one that I've recently tried. I think the Craft/Micro Brew scene we have shaping up in America is much needed and much appreciated, and they could use all the support we can give 'em.

So, without further ado, I present to you:

The Left-Hand Brewery Milk Stout

Ahh, the Milk Stout. I remember the first day I tried this guy, it was like the dawn of my second age of beer consumption. Many might scoff at the idea that combining beer and milk (parts) can be any kind of drinkable, but it's actually a LOT better than you might think. It's a sweet-stout with 6.0% ABV and lots of good ol' sweet Lactose!

The Left-Hand Brewery is a great little craft/micro brewery based in the ever burgeoning brew scene that is Colorado. You should be able to find it at your more selective beer or package stores for around $12/6pk.

See!!! Not Everyone Hates You!

Chris Low, over at ESPN's SEC Blog just finished up a piece about trying to find the No. 3 team in the SEC, behind (of course) Alabama and Florida.

And he had some very reasonable things to say about UGA's squad...

"For the time being, I'm going with Georgia as my third choice in the league. I think the defense will be better under Todd Grantham, and I like all the different pieces the Bulldogs have around redshirt freshman Aaron Murray on offense.

In some ways, this sort of feels like 2005 when the Bulldogs last won an SEC championship. D.J. Shockley was a first-time starter at quarterback that season, but had been around for a while. That's the difference. "

I think we pretty much ALL agree with the thought that the defense will be better under Coach Grantham, and like everybody else (including the Head Dawg himself) has been saying, it all depends on whether Aaron Murray can stand up to the challenge that is playing SEC football.

The thing that I love so much about all the ho-hum prognostication coming from the big media sources, about Coach Richt's seat and basically how "they'll never catch Florida, so it doesn't really matter" is, we were so far under the radar after the Dynasty of David(s), nobody even cared to notice how good D.J. Shockley was, and we won the SEC. With 91% of our offensive starters returning, and Coach Bobo starting to demand his paycheck, I like our chances to move the ball even if Aaron Murray takes a few games to loosen up. All I know is I will be in Columbia come September 11, and it can not get here any sooner.

For the mean time, fall practice is set to begin (without Akeem Dent, sadly) and I cannot wait to hear what those who actually do this for a living have to say.

Hello???

Wow. Just realized it's been nearly a year since I've posted anything. I've been really busy with school and work lately, so forgive me.

Anywho, not that I'm talking to anyone but myself, I've decided to change the blog up a bit. Being that I am a staunch supporter of the University of Georgia (not monetarily speaking, but supporter none-the-less), there will be some noticeable changes to the appearance and direction of this blog.

I hope those of you who have dropped by will continue to do so, as I will continue to touch on all things that just seem wrong with the world.

Also, stop by my band's new site www.deadrhythmduo.blogspot.com.

Soupkitchens for Everyone?

Apparently, Soup-lines have opened up, not just for the homeless and needy, but for people who can afford a phone.

Maybe this guy was just trying to get a free meal, and isn't really homeless, but at the sight of the First Lady, became overwhelmed with excitement and forgot about his 'homeless' gig.
The frustrating thing to try and wrap my mind around is that I pay my taxes so homeless people can eat. And of all people to plaster a smile on their face for a photo-op while working a Soup-kitchen, it's Michelle Obama. I know the lady is well-educated, but the lack of her irony detection is astounding.

Do they not have any kind of stipulations for entering a homeless shelter? Is there one in my neighborhood? I get hungry when I have no money, but I manage.


Boy this is maddening. You're welcome.

What has happened to Rock and Roll?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Rock is Dead.

As much as it pains me to say, there is no such thing as rock and roll anymore.

Of the Top-10 radio stations in America, 3 are Classic Rock, 5 are talk/news radio, 1 is Top 40, and the other is Listener Formatted.

There is a good bit of information one can pull for this small-scale sampling:

-The Baby-Boom generation is alive and well in their 50's.
--They have maybe a handful of cd's, a vault of records in the attic and no clue how to work an MP3 player. Or a CD player for that matter. If you do, kudos. You're better off than my parents.
--The radio waves are dominated, still, by this generation. They experienced the rise of FM broadcasting and Album-Oriented Rock, and most still listen to AM radio.

-Gen Y, for the most part, doesn't care about the radio. They think AM radio is a static-filled emergency channel for governmental use.
--The majority have more cd's than they can count, and enough MP3's to make any member of the RIAA regurgitate their breakfast. It's been about me, I, and mine since the invention of the Walkman, and technology has held our hand the entire way. We want to listen to what we want to listen to when we want to listen to it.

But if you were to look at the Billboard Hot 100 you find contradictroy evidence.
1. Black Eyed Peas
2. Lady GaGa
3. Pitbull
4. Jeremih (that's not a typo. Jerem-ih, Jeremy?)
5. Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain (of voice-modulation fame)
6. Beyonce
7. Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West and Ne-Yo
8. Kid Cudi (Cutie? Ah, how cute)
9. Sean Kingston
10. Lady GaGa

Now the Billboard Hot 100 compiles data from airplay, sales (digital and hard copies), ringtone sales and a handful of other things, BUT....
Who are these people? Beyonce is hot and talented, but....Will anybody remember these artists (cringe) 10 years from now? 5 years from now? TWO years???

Here's a look at the top selling albums of 1999;
1. Backstreet Boys - Millenium
2. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
3. Shania Twain - Come on Over
4. 'N'Sync - Self Titled
5. Ricky Martin - 'I'm a Douche' Vol. 1.

Now lets look at the top selling albums of 1969;
1. Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
2. Original Cast - Hair
3. Blood/Sweat/Tears - Blood, Sweat and Tears
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country
5. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

This is just a small sampling of the difference 30 years can make. Does anybody remember anything decent from the top list? Ok, Backstreet and Ricky Martin are gone for good, until VH1 does another friggin reality show. Shania Twain is semi-retired living happily in Canada with some very lucky person, and Justin Timberlake has actually done something with himself....No hate for JT.....but N'Sync is done, thank God.

And as for Britney.....well it's hard to say what happened to Britney. She definitely cracked under the pressure of the limelight (We're not in Kansas anymore!). She can sing, but she's no Christina. Britney exemplifies everything that is wrong with the music industry: It's always been about her image, not how well she can sing.

Now onto list 2. Most have no idea who Iron Butterfly is, but just creep down to #'s 4 & 5. Creedence Clearwater has nearly as many recognizable tunes as the Beatles. And Zeppelin is arguably one of the top 3 greatest rock bands of all-time. Point being; Your chances of hearing Zeppelin or Creedence on the radio today are much greater than hearing anything from List 1, and it's only been 10 years since they were on top of the music charts. It's been nearly 40 since Zeppelin 1 was the 5th best album of the year. Startling huh?

So what does all this mean?
We are all sliding down the wet slippery slope of music retardation. The good music that is out there won't ever escape the hometown bar, and nobody cares because its not good unless it can fit into any of these critera:
-Heard on any episode of of any show on MTV. (Just change it to 'TV' please)
-Showcased as the opening song for a prime-time soap opera like 'Grey's Anatomy'
-Seen as a text-for-free-download Ringtone on tv

Ahh, this topic is to heavy and I've gone on too long. Jet showed some promise, but I just can't explain it all. Here's to all the bands chugging away on the circuit, non-stop-touring, like all the big boys used to do. Cheers guys and girls.