February 27, 2009

1888 Bock.

Okay, I know I normally do the beer reviews on Wednesday, but that didn’t happen, and I wasn’t about to let it go three weeks without one. This is a beer that was given to me by Petey of Petey’s Powderhorn. He really wants to be the first enabler to hit 24 beers donated! HAHAHA! He had given me a box filled with various beers to try. The reason I selected this one tonight was because at Winter Camp Petey and the rest of the gang from his neck of the woods showed up with cases of it. I did a quick evaluation of it up there, but I held off on a full review until I got home. Tonight I’m reviewing the 1888 Bock by the Leinenkugel’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI.

1888 bock.jpg

It came in a standard 12 oz brown bottle. The label is green and yellow and it’s hard to tell, but it appears to be a stream running along the edge of a forest, or in a clearing, or something. It’s hard to tell because the name of the brewery and the beer take up most of the label.

There is a nice dark reddish brown/burnt amber coloring to it. It’s clear and light passes through it easily. Yet it is dark enough that you can’t make out images on the other side. The head poured was about a quarter inch thick. It was made up of fine white bubbles, and faded to a film on the top of the beer. Minimal lacing formed on the edge of the glass.

The smell is a basic combination of caramel roasted malts with a slight toasted nut scent. A very mild fruit scent can also be detected. The taste has a thin taste of roasted caramel malts with a hint of a hop bitterness. You can also detect a bit of a grape like fruitiness to it in the finish. The aftertaste is a bit of a week bitter fruit combination.

It’s got a thin body to it. There is no coating to the mouth. There is a mild carbonation that fits this style of beer.

Overall, I’m less than impressed with this Leinie’s creation. A lot of their beers are pretty good, and this one is not bad, but it’s not what I would expect from them. It’s a sub-par beer for them. It’s not a bad beer, but I just don’t think I’d go out of my way to grab one. If you are a leinie’s fan, then I would recommend trying one, if not… I’d avoid this one. I give it 4 out of 10.

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February 25, 2009

Three weeks in a row!

The beer review has to be postponed for one night, I forgot to put it in the fridge to cool it off! I don't want to review a warm beer. So stay tuned and tomorrow we'll have a good one!

Posted by Contagion at 07:36 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 24, 2009

HR 45 Blair Holt

I've received numerous emails from friends, aquantances and as a part of mailers for groups in which I belong. They were regarding the HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009. Which was introduced by Bobby Rush D-IL. I'm not surprised that this started in Illinois. If there is anything that involves the restriction of freedom, individual rights, or firearms an Illinois politician will be all over it like a pack of wolves on a wounded deer. The only thing that might distract them would be a way for them to make money.

Let me give you the basics as to what this bill is going to do:

*Prohibit possession of any handguns or any semiautomatic firearms that can accept detachable ammunition-feeding devices (excluding antiques) by anyone who has not been issued a firearm license.

*Require all sales of those types of firearms to go through licensed dealers

*Direct the Attorney General to establish and run a federal record-of-sale system.

*Require the possessors of firearms to secure them (by secure gun storage or safety devices) when they are kept in locales where children might be capable of gaining access to those firearms.

Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm (any rifle with a magazine or ANY pistol) unless you have a license and it is registered.

That might not sound too bad to some, but if you look at what you need to get that license you need the following:

(a) In General- In order to be issued a firearm license under this title, an individual shall submit to the Attorney General (in accordance with the regulations promulgated under subsection (b)) an application, which shall include--

(1) a current, passport-sized photograph of the applicant that provides a clear, accurate likeness of the applicant;

(2) the name, address, and date and place of birth of the applicant;

(3) any other name that the applicant has ever used or by which the applicant has ever been known;

(4) a clear thumb print of the applicant, which shall be made when, and in the presence of the entity to whom, the application is submitted;

(5) with respect to each category of person prohibited by Federal law, or by the law of the State of residence of the applicant, from obtaining a firearm, a statement that the individual is not a person prohibited from obtaining a firearm;

(6) a certification by the applicant that the applicant will keep any firearm owned by the applicant safely stored and out of the possession of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(7) a certificate attesting to the completion at the time of application of a written firearms examination, which shall test the knowledge and ability of the applicant regarding--

(A) the safe storage of firearms, particularly in the vicinity of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(B) the safe handling of firearms;

(C) the use of firearms in the home and the risks associated with such use;

(D) the legal responsibilities of firearms owners, including Federal, State, and local laws relating to requirements for the possession and storage of firearms, and relating to reporting requirements with respect to firearms; and

(E) any other subjects, as the Attorney General determines to be appropriate;

(8) an authorization by the applicant to release to the Attorney General or an authorized representative of the Attorney General any mental health records pertaining to the applicant;

(9) the date on which the application was submitted; and

(10) the signature of the applicant.

What a load of baloney! Trust me folks, this is just the first step to the actual banning. See, they will use this to get all of us legal gun owners to go register our firearms with the government so that when they do the ban, they know exactly where to go and what to look for when they confiscate our firearms. If you think I'm kidding, look at what happened in England, and the history of how their firearm ban went.


It started with the Pistols Act of 1903. This seemingly reasonable law forbade selling pistols to minors or felons and established that handgun sales were to be made only to those who had a license. The Firearms Act of 1920 expanded licensing to include not only handguns but all firearms except shotguns. Later laws passed in 1953 and 1967 outlawed the carrying of any weapon by private citizens and mandated the registration of all shotguns.

Then in Dunblane Scotland an incident happened where a man killed 16 children and a teacher at a school. After that incident laws were passed that banned firearms. Citizens who owned handguns were given three months to turn them over to local authorities. Being good British subjects, most people obeyed the law. The few who didn't were visited by police and threatened with ten-year prison sentences if they didn't comply. Police later bragged that they'd taken nearly 200,000 handguns from private citizens.

How did the authorities know who had handguns? The guns had been registered and licensed. Kinda like cars.

Why would we want to let this start to happen to us in the US? Can't we learn from the UK's mistakes and not repeat them? Please contact your congressmen and have them oppose this bill.

Right now it's only in committee and realistically has a small chance of going to the floor. It doesn't even have a co-sponsor. That doesn't mean you shouldn't let your voice be known. Prevent this from turning into something bigger.

Posted by Contagion at 09:56 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 23, 2009

Changes

After spending four fun, and alcohol, filled days in northern Wisconsin with some good friends I returned to civilization and had to go back to work. That is where I discovered, like every other time I'm out of the office, drama ensues. I was getting ready to let it start to get to me when a feeling came washing over me, and a bit of news changed everything.

Change, it is a comin'

I really can't go into any details right now, because I don't have any... but there is some change coming. Enough change that it moved up doctor's appointments and clear out my calendar for the rest of the year.

I'm not talking small changes either, I'm talking really big, huge changes.

Posted by Contagion at 09:12 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

February 19, 2009

Heading to Winter Camp

Alright! I'm off to winter camp! We'll be just a little northwest of Trego, WI. There will be beer, booze, food and friends. There will be a lot of guys there that I haven't seen since last October. It'll be good to get back in touch with them.

I just hope that everyone that reads this is has as good of a weekend as I'm about to have!

I just hope that I don't drive up there and back in a snow storm like I did last year, but if I do... it'll be worth it!

Posted by Contagion at 07:02 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 18, 2009

out of it

I pulled another short night last night. I didn't get much sleep. I'm sitting here trying not to pass out on the couch and I haven't even had a beer. Right now I'm trying to get ready for the ONW Wintercamp this weekend, but I'm having a hard time keeping my mind on the task.

I'd do my beer review, but I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open to do it. I don't think I could accurately review any beer, so instead of giving an inaccurate review, I'd rather go a second week with out one.

If you don't hear from me before I leave, I'll tell you more next week.

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February 17, 2009

Weird week.

Last week my work sent me to Springfield (state capital) for an overnight visit. I have an easy time finding my hotel, but when I get there, the entire parking lot is blocked off. There is no way in or out. Now I'm not a fan of the hotel I was staying at, I only went there because that was the only hotel my company would cover the expenses. I have to park in the overflow lot.

After a nice long trip, I really wasn't in the mood for this crap, so I focused on getting to the door. I tried to keep my frustration and annoyance under control. Then when I get to the door with my one small bag. It was only an overnight trip. I'm stopped by a guy asking me, "What is your business here at the hotel". Of course I'm a little miffed because I'm thinking what a bunch of pretentious bastards. There hotel isn't that swag that they have to keep people out. I explained to the guy that I have a reservation to stay the night and that I need to check in. So he lets me go.

I'm swearing under my breath.

I get to the desk and check in. So I can't help but to ask, "Hey, what's up with the parking lot?" The girl at the desk responded with, "Obama's coming". I knew he was coming to Springfield for Lincoln's 200th birthday, but what does that have to do with their parking lot? When I asked her, she clarified, "No, Obama is coming HERE, he's staying in the hotel." When she said that, little things started to stick out in my memory. What vehicle's that were parked in the roped off area were all black and some kind of nice heavy SUV. The guy at the door, all the activity. It started to make sense.

After putting my bags in my room, I headed out to dinner. As I'm walking out I look at the guy(s) at the door and notice the ear pieces this time. I look at the plates on the big heavy SUVs, and they all have government plates. Some were senate plates, some where house plates, some were just Fed and State government plates.

When I checked out Wednesday apparently I missed Obama by a couple of hours. Honestly, that's as close as I ever want to get to the man.

Then the fun really began when I got to work on Wednesday. I walk into the office at 8:00 AM to hear that the entire building is being besieged by a computer virus. I spent the next 16 and a half hours helping coordinate the clean up with the IT guys that my company shipped in from all over the state. Yes, I said 16 and a half hours. I started my job at 8:00AM and didn't get off of work until 12:30 AM. I was tired as all hell.

I get home, and crash at 1:00AM only to get up at 4:30AM so I can get to work by 5:30AM. I needed to finish up what we started the night before. I was so tired that I kept making some very interesting verbal mistakes. Like telling one of my bosses that "this virus sucks the sweat off of a stump broke donkey". Yea, she gave me the same look you probably have on your face right now.

Since then I've still been doing some clean up on the computers at work. Which is why I haven't been my normal chatty and active self. It's also why there was no beer review last week.

Posted by Contagion at 08:14 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

February 14, 2009

Stalker Valentine.

This guy just doesn't have the right idea on how to win her over.


Posted by Contagion at 10:49 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 13, 2009

List in the suburban jungle.

I know I haven't been around. There are a couple of really good stories that go with the reason why. Unfortunately I just don't have the time nor energy to write them up right now.

Posted by Contagion at 05:24 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 10, 2009

Traveling again

I leave today to head to Springfield, Illinois on business. My company is sending me down there for a seminar. It sounds like it's going to be a really interesting one too! I'm pretty sure I'm going to be sleeping through most of it. They had two dates for this seminar, February 11th and February 12th. I had to attend on one of those dates.

All of my peers are supposed to attend as well. They, being undecisive lemmings that they are, decided to wait and "discuss it at our meetings" before signing up for a date. Me, I choose the date that worked best for me and signed up right away. When they finally got around to making a decision, they all had to go on the 12th. So I'm the only one from my office going on the 11th! Not that I have a problem with that at all.

For a week now they were all planning on leaving at noon on the 11th so they could go shopping when they got to Springfield. They included our office manager. When they said that, and I knew I was going to be going by myself I thought I would leave early to scout out Springfield for my trip next month for IGOLD.

I a meeting they were discussing when they were going to leave and it turned out they couldn't leave until 3:00 because of anotehr meeting our manager was in. Then I was asked what time I was leaving today. I told them, "I'm leaving at 2." I didn't figure it was a big deal.

When one of my peers asked kind of snottily, "Why are you leaving so early?", I was a little taken back because she was one of the ones pushing to leave at noon to go shopping. So I responded with, "Well I don't shop, but I decided to go down early to get some range time in."

Another one of my peers responded with, "I didn't know you golfed"

I responded smugly, "No, shooting range."

At that point they let it drop and wouldn't make eye contact with me for the rest of the meeting. Hopefully they learned to let their double standards go.

Posted by Contagion at 07:10 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

February 07, 2009

Girls doing things wrong.

Okay, this is mean... yet funny. It's a compliation of various clips of girls doing stuff and failing miserably. Some of it is trying to dance sexy, some of it is just other stunts. There is no nudity, but some of it does involve scantly clad women. Enjoy!

Girls Gone FAIL!

See more like this on kontraband.com

Posted by Contagion at 10:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It's because I watch a lot of football!


Click Here Play The Game at LiquidGeneration.com

I scored 800 points... yeah

Yea, I watch a lot of football, so I can spot a cheerleader a mile away! Yeah, that's it!

Posted by Contagion at 10:21 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

I'm slightly Nerdy

Ever wonder if you are a nerd or not? Looking for the definition on what makes you a nerd? Over at Mighty God King, he has a post up about what is and is not Nerdy.

I figured most to all of my readers are at least slightly nerdy. However, I know of two that classify as Dangerously Nerdy. But I wont say who.. yet.

Posted by Contagion at 10:08 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

That's one heck of a sticker price!

Well I know what I would do if I had $15.6 septillian dollars. It wouldn't be to fix the economy. I wouldn't help the poor or the third world. No, I would build my own real life Death Star. Death Star Costs $15.6 Septillion, 1.4 Trillion Times the US Debt.

Now of course the jobs it would create making it would fix the economy... but hey!

Posted by Contagion at 09:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bacon Cake!

As you might have noticed, I have a special love for bacon. I keep trying to find new and interesting ways to cook and serve it. Hence how I found the Bacon Cake!

It's all I want for valentines day! lol

Posted by Contagion at 09:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Nanerpus

There were a lot of adds from the Super Bowl, but honestly, this is the only one that has ear wormed me into singing it for a week.

Posted by Contagion at 09:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 05, 2009

Iron City Beer

Since the Steelers won the Super Bowl, and Bruce is a big Pittsburgh fan, he gave me this beer to review. Now to be fair, I have a ton of other beers that need to be reviewing that were given to me first, but if the rules don’t apply to the Steelers in the Super Bowl, why should they on here. (HAHAHAHAHA!) Anyway, tonight’s beer is Iron City Beer by Iron City Brewing Co in Pittsburgh, PA.

Iron City.jpg

We have our normal 12 oz brown bottle. There is a clear label that has a red oval with the name of the beer on it. Below that in white lettering it claims, “Official Beer of the Pittsburg Nation” It also claims to be a Premium Lager.

It has a clear yellow gold color to it. When I poured it into a pint glass, little to no head formed. What head formed was very thin and faded rather quickly to just a ring around the edge of the glass. The ring lasted until I finished the beer. No lacing formed at all.

The smell was a mildly unpleasant combination of under roasted malts and flowery hops. The scent is almost enough to turn away even the most stout of beer drinkers. The flavor is very mild. It was a hollow and kind of bland. There is a slight lemony flavor to it that masks what might be a malt flavor.

This is a light bodied beer, which has mild carbonation to it. There is no coating and is kind of watery.

Honestly this beer is not very appealing. I wouldn’t go out of my way for it, and I would probably pass it over if there was just about anything else on the shelf. Instead of buying this, I would recommend getting anyone of your mass produced major beers that are on the market. If you are looking for just a beer to drink and you could get this on sale, okay, but it’s nothing special. Overall I was less than impressed with this beer. I give it 3 out of 10.

Posted by Contagion at 08:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 04, 2009

Beer Review post poned

Due to circumstances outside of my control, there will be no beer review tonight. I will be doing it tomorrow.

Posted by Contagion at 08:11 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

February 03, 2009

Too much stuff, too little time.

Okay, I'm going to do a high level recap of where I've been and why I've neglected you for so long!

I had to work on Saturday. I hate working Saturdays. I don't mind long hours during the week, but leave my Saturday's alone! Unfortunately with my job, I have to put in the occasional Saturday. Which would be fine, if I thought it was productive. But they are opening the office for a minimal amount of people that really don't seem to get a lot of work done. I also think that overtime is the crutch of bad management. Yes, sometime it is necessary, but honestly not when it's every week for a year.

The of course was the Super Bowl on Sunday. It was a great game, one of the best that I can recall. It was nice and close all the way up to the end. Yet, no offense to Steeler fans, this win is a bit tainted. There was some officiating that was rather suspect. Calls that were kind of iffy all the way to Arizona's last play that should have gone to booth review and didn't. Yes the Steelers won... but should they have? (Bruce you do not get to comment because you are biased!)

I had my normal Monday after the Super Bowl off of work. I went down to Fritz's to spend the afternoon. The normal bartender had called off due to bottle flu... if you know what I mean. Fritz's middle daughter ended up tending bar the day. It was a fun relaxing afternoon of Beer, Martini's and a lot of conversation. I spoke with locals, with regulars, and even some guy that was passing through town. For dinner we had Tacos! I love tacos!

If only I hadn't needed to work on Saturday, it would have been a perfect weekend.

Posted by Contagion at 08:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack