Beer snob's paradise

I got bored yesterday and decided to take a roadtrip to Kahn's Fine Wines on the north side of Indianapolis. A Fort Wayne native on Ratebeer had recommended it to me last month. Kahn's carries something like 800 varieties of beer. It was like beer snob heaven. The store was well staffed with very knowledgeable employees who were helpful and willing to dig around in the back to retrieve beers that I requested and couldn't find on the shelves. The manager was a veritable encyclopedia of fine brews. I can't recommend this store highly enough. They even believe in cellaring some of the beers that age well for a couple of years so people like myself can find them now. Also while I wasn't looking at the wines, I understand that they have an excellent selection. Look for their Keystone Ave. location for the vast beer selection.

Not that anyone is likely to care, but my excellent loot from this first trip to Kahn's included the following:
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout 2003
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Rochefort 10
Stone Brewery 8th Anniversary
Stone Brewery Double Bastard
Stone Brewery Vertical Epic 04.04.04
Ommegang Three Philosophers
Avery The Beast
Barley Island Bourbon Barrel Oatmeal Stout
Founders Imperial Stout
Thirsty Dog Siberian Imperial Stout
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Dark Horse 3 Guys Off the Scale Barley Wine

Snakes on a Trailer

No, I'm not talking about some idiot releasing snakes in a mobile home park. I'm talking about the official Snakes on a Plane movie trailer! Finally we get our first real look at the greatest movie masterpiece of 2006, nay, of the decade, no no, upon once again viewing the shot of Samuel L. Jackson whipping some guy with a snake, make that of the millenium! It's snakes on a muthafarkin' plane, bitch!

Yep, it's gay marriage time

Maryland State Senate candidate Jamie Raskin was asked by a Republican senator in a judicial hearing whether prohibiting gay marriage was required by "God's law". His response was succint and right on the mark. "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You didn't place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible". He goes into more detail about his stance on his website.

The biggest problem with prohibiting gay marriage is that the arguments for doing so are a clear violation of separation of church and state. It comes down to people saying that homosexuality goes against the Bible or against "natural law". I'm sorry, that's not good enough. It's good enough for a church. It is not good enough for our government as it enshrines the views of one religion regardless of the rights of those who are not believers.

In the interest of equal rights, our government should be obligated to provide the legal rights of marriage to homosexual couples. From a civil perspective we have no right to discriminate against these people. Now the religious aspect of marriage is a different story. Churches have the right to marry or not marry these couples according to the church's beliefs. That's freedom of religion.

This controversy is really that simple. Each church can make its own choice, but for the government to make the choice is injecting religion into the government.

Music - Matisyahu

Ever heard a Hasidic Jew singing great reggae music? If so, you've probably already heard Matisyahu. I'm not sure how a Jewish guy from New York ended up making reggae music with notes of hip-hop and indie rock, but he's not just a novelty. He's damn good and has enjoyed growing buzz since last fall's live album. I wouldn't be surprised if his first major release studio album, out this week, goes platinum. Seriously, it's good stuff.

Another movie... Doom

I had a beer and a screwdriver while watching Doom last night. I recommend a lot more alcohol. At such a moderate consumption level, I was unable to drink the movie good. I'm not sure that's possible anyway. Sure I didn't have any high hopes for this film. I just wanted a fun, mindless, fast paced action film. There are two good things about it. One, the five minute first person shooter perspective near the end of the movie is good for a laugh, and two, The Rock is in it. He's playing a ridiculous part in a ridiculous film, but as in his other movie roles, especially in The Rundown, he seems to know how silly it is and plays his part with a subtle wink at the camera. His charisma comes through and makes the poor plot and rather slow early pacing a bit more tolerable. However, he can't save the film from these flaws and atrocious dialogue. So again, I can't recommend the film without copious amounts of alcohol.

Outdated movie review, part... whatever, Prozac Nation

I'm not sure why I rented Prozac Nation (2001), though it might have had something to do with the pretty girl on the case. The movie is based on a book that is supposedly a true story. Christina Ricci stars as a 19 year old girl named Elizabeth with a lot of depression related mental problems who's starting college at Harvard. Ricci, who's looked scary thin in more recent press photos, looks good in this five year old film. Unfortunately that's the best part about it. Much of the movie is spent watching the unstable Elizabeth hurt other people and herself with her wild mood swings, paranoia, and narcissism. I felt some sympathy for her, especially when I saw how screwed up her bitter mother was, a particularly irritating character played by Jessica Lange. On the other hand, Elizabeth's self-important teenage angst gets old, as does her zero to bitch in 2.5 seconds routine. Sometimes I just wanted to tell her to grow the fuck up. It's a movie about someone with a mental disorder, so I suppose I sound insensitive, but the character is written too shallowly and it gets irritating.

Near the end of the film, the obligatory narrative that mentions the title "Prozac Nation" smacked me in the face with the message. It's something about how prozac seems like buying smack from a dealer, maybe it's good but maybe it isn't, gosh lots of people take prozac, and perhaps the fact that the drug, and others like it, regulates mood may not in fact be a good thing. That last part is something that should have been explored much more in the movie, and instead we get a rushed conclusion that briefly touches on it. To cope with their most painful emotions, are people robbing themselves of intense emotion, "robbed of my tears" as Elizabeth puts it, by taking these drugs? Are we on a slippery slope to the soma of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World? And while it's certainly harmful to be deeply depressed all the time, if one never felt deep emotional pain, an essential element of gaining perspective, wisdom and so much more would be lost. However, the movie, like the main character, was too shallow to really get into it. 2 stars.

Really? Snakes?

Yep, snakes. On a plane. And there's not a goddamn thing you can do about it. Except take a look at an entire blog dedicated to the upcoming film...

Alternative medicine and paranormal claims

Bogus medical treatments continue to be a huge problem. I highly recommend a visit to Quackwatch for a well researched look at herbal and natural remedies and any type of non-conventional treatment you or a family member is considering or receiving. Remember that "all natural" doesn't automatically mean safe or effective (hemlock and arsenic are natural). Be wary of treatments that are backed by anecdotal evidence rather than peer reviewed scientific studies. And of course keep in mind that homeopathy is total bullshit.

For psychic, supernatural, and other paranormal claims, consult the Amazing Randi. Since 1964, Randi has been offering a cash prize, which has now grown to a million dollars, to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event. Over a thousand people have applied for the prize. Few have agreed upon and shown up for the preliminary test, which if successful is followed by a formal test, and no one has even passed the preliminary test. Check with Randi for information on biggest douche in the universe John Edward, frequent talk show guest and high priced "psychic" Sylvia Browne, and much more. Next time you're tempted by someone's paranormal claim, take a look at the site and also consider why this person hasn't claimed the million bucks.

Snakes

Snakes on a plane, man. Snakes on a muthafarkin' plane.

George W., agent for peace?

In an interview yesterday with ABC, the President said that he hopes that his presidency, in retrospect, will be viewed as an "agent for peace."

What? No seriously, Mr. President, an agent of peace? Are you making a joke?

I really don't know what else to say...