Friday 31 August 2012

KIng Of The Road


I was helping my mom clear out her storage locker when I found a box of my past glories..  


Anyone remember Final Lap?  It was the first ever multi-player arcade racing game, and during freshman year, if we weren't sleeping or eating between classes, we were usually down in the Student Union Building playing either NBA Jam or this.  Our arcade had 4 machines hooked up, meaning up to 8 players could race head-to-head.

That year, the arcade held a tournament - single elimination, top 2 finishers of each race moving on to the next round, until only 8 racers remained. Pro athletes often talk about when "being in the zone" how everything seems to slow down around them, they can anticipate their opponents a split second quicker, and the hoop looks that much bigger.. Long story short, that day, I was in the zone.  It felt like slow-motion going through that last chicane, my heart pounding with excitement, and everyone cheering and patting me on the back as I crossed the finish line.  I felt like Ayrton Senna winning the F1 World Championship.

As I received my trophy and gazed upon the crowd though, my moment of triumph came to a crashing halt, so to speak, as I realized there would be no champagne spraying, no endorsement deals, and my admiring fans were in fact, not a bevy of beautiful women waiting to throw themselves at a winning race car driver, but rather, a bunch of geeky guys who spent way too much time in a dark, noisy room playing video games..

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Monday 27 August 2012

Tiles For America

Tiles For America was started on September 12, 2001, in response to the events of September 11th.  Now consisting of 6000+ tiles decorating the chain link fence around Mulry Square in the West Village, these ceramic messages of hope, courage, patriotism, unity, support, and love have been sent from people across the United States and around the world.

Thursday 23 August 2012

It IS Pretty Super

I think I read somewhere that you can survive for weeks with only a jar of peanut butter, ice tea mix, corn oil, ketchup, and a few pieces of fruit.
(Or was that me in college..)

Wednesday 22 August 2012

I See Spots


Went to the Whitney Museum to see the Yayoi Kusama retrospective exhibition. Yep, she's weird.  Lots of dots, patterns, and psychedelic colours, which were indicative of her involvement in, and influence on, the New York avant-garde art scene of the 60's, alongside contemporaries such as Andy Warhol.

Yayoi Kusama, Accumulation (1963-64), New York

My favourite part of the exhibition was her installation Fireflies on Water (2002) - a 12 ft. square cube which you enter to experience, one person at a time; once the door closes behind you and you walk along a narrow elevated path to the center of the cube, you are surrounded by mirrors on the walls and ceilings, and water below, with the room lit by 150 small coloured lights.
  
Yayoi Kusama, Fireflies on Water (2002)

For the minute you're standing there alone in silence, there's the amazing sensation of floating in the middle of infinity. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. (Note: you need to go early to get a time slot to view Fireflies on Water, as it's only 1 person per minute x however many hours they're open, so you do the math..). The exhibition coincides with Kusama's collaboration with Louis Vuitton, which you can check out here.

Sunday 19 August 2012

Choose Your Weapon

To hold a pen is to be at war.
 - Voltaire -

Thursday 16 August 2012

Hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!

Walter Sobchak: Also, let's not forget - let's NOT forget, Dude - that keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that ain't legal either. 
The Dude
: What are you, a fucking park ranger now? 
Walter Sobchak
: No, I'm... 
The Dude
: Who gives a shit about the fucking marmot! 

The Big Lebowski - 1998

Tuesday 14 August 2012

OPE_ For Business

Wasted Youth, Pt. 40

After an hour delay, NYC awaits..

Airline: United
Route: Vancouver - New York
Delayed flights: 40
Total time spent waiting: 2 days, 2.5 hours

Sunday 12 August 2012

Beer Testing - Round 27 (European Tall Boys 2)

Can this round of Europeans take the win?

Defending Champ
Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Alcohol: 5.5%
Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL
On a seemingly unstoppable twelve win streak scoring 8.95/10.



Challenger 1
Name: Tuborg Green
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark
Alcohol: 4.6%
Price: USD3.29/can USD0.66/100mL
Tuborg is a sub-brand of Carlsberg.  The "Liquid Soundtrack" marketing - ya I get it dude, targeting the younger crowd - music, partying, drinking - I'm picturing some old balding guy past his heyday in a bad shiny suit trying to be hip pitching this concept. A bit stinky, not much flavour, and kinda fizzy. A bit of a sour aftertaste?  Final score 4.65/10.

Challenger 2
Name: Tuborg Pure Gold
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark
Alcohol: 5.5%
Price: USD3.64/can USD0.73/100mL
This "Perfectly Balanced" beer has slightly more flavour than the Green, but basically still pretty watery.  Final score 4.8/10



Challenger 3
Name: Konig Pilesener
Origin: Germany
Alcohol: 4.9%
Price: USD3.44/can USD0.69/100mL
Not much to write home about.  Basically bland and tasteless.  Final score 4.5/10.





Challenger 4
Name: Kronenbourg 1664
Origin: France
Alcohol: 5%
Price: USD3.59/can USD0.72/100mL
Tastes a little like a wheat beer.  Not bad.  One of those beers you wouldn't mind getting a pitcher of during happy hour.  Final score 6.25/10.



Asahi "The Master" Pilsner faced little challenge and wins an unprecedented 13 straight!

Saturday 11 August 2012

Beer Testing - Round 26 (Belgian Brawl)

I'm not normally a fan of Belgian beers (a little too strong and heavy for my liking).  I realize Belgian beers are meant more for sipping, but that's not my usual modus operandi, especially on a hot summer's day.  But we thought we'd test a few anyway..


Defending Champ
Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Alcohol: 5.5%
Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL
Eleven wins and no end to this streak in sight with a score of 8.95/10.



Challenger 1
Name: Duvel
Origin: Belgium
Alcohol: 8.5%
Price: USD3.37/bottle USD1.02/100mL
Floral wheat beer type scent.  Tastes pretty decent for such a high alcohol content.  Slightly bitter aftertaste.  Final score 5.1/10.



Challenger 2
Name: Maredsous Brune
Origin: Belgium
Alcohol: 8%
Price: USD3.37/bottle USD1.02/100mL
Nice dark amber colour.  Good head of foam.  Slightly fizzy, but pretty smooth for 8%.  Final score 7/10.




Challenger 3
Name: Bruegel Amber Ale
Origin: Belgium
Alcohol: 5.2%
Price: 
Nice caramel colour.  Not bad with a slightly nutty finish. Final score 7.05/10.




Challenger 4
Name: St. Martin Blonde
Origin: Belgium
Alcohol: 7%
Price: 
Light floral/candy-like scent. Not much flavour going down, but has a slightly bitter aftertaste.  And a little too fizzy. Final score 6.45/10.


Challenger 5
Name: Gulden Draak
Origin: Belgium
Alcohol: 10.5%
Price: USD3.43/bottle USD1.04/100mL
By far the strongest beer we've tested so far.  And as is typically the case, the higher the alcohol content, the more difficult it is to drink.  Hard going down, and an even harder dealing with the aftertaste.  Final score 3.2/10.




Challenger 6
Name: Augustijn Blonde
Origin: Belgium
Alcohol: 7%
Price: 
A huge head of foam on the pour, which looked promising. But the overpowering taste of alcohol made this another difficult one to drink.  Final score 4.15/10.



It was no contest for Asahi "The Master" Pilsner.

Friday 10 August 2012

Beer Testing - Round 25 (B.C. Summer Classic 2)

Relaxing at home on a Friday evening with the fams, some bbq, and a few brews..

Defending Champ
Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Alcohol: 5.5%
Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL
Ten straight wins and still going strong with a score of 8.95/10.



Challenger 1
Name: Czechvar
Origin: Czech Republic
Alcohol: 5%
Price: USD2.49/bottle USD0.50/100mL
One word - Stinky!  Nice golden colour, but beer's not meant just to be looked at.  Not much flavour,  pretty watery, and slightly fizzy.  Final score 4.4/10.



Challenger 2
Name: Erdinger Weissbier (Wheat Beer)
Origin: Germany
Alcohol: 5.3%
Price: USD3.03/bottle USD0.62/100mL
Good head of foam.  Decent mouthfeel.  No bite or bad aftertaste.  Could have a bit more flavour, but generally a good summer beer.  Not bad.  Final score 7.8/10.




Challenger 3
Name: Whistler Brewing Co. Pineapple Express Wheat Beer
Origin: Whistler, B.C.
Alcohol: 5%
Price: USD5.61/bottle USD0.86/100mL
Fruity sweet and fizzy like a soda, with a strong pineapple aftertaste.  Kind of like a shandy.  Not really my thing.  Final score 6.9/10.



Challenger 4
Name: Duchy Originals from Waitrose Old Ruby Ale
Origin: Oxfordshire, England
Alcohol: 5%
Price: USD3.41/bottle USD0.68/100mL
Waitrose is the U.K. equivalent of President's Choice, so I wasn't expecting a whole lot.  Surprisingly though, it had a nice caramel colour and taste.  I'm not sure how much added benefit the 'organic' component had (and honestly, I doubt most beer drinkers care).  But overall, I liked it.  Pass the Duchy (sorry, had to throw in that 80's U.K. music reference). Final score 7.35/10.

Challenger 5
Name: Russell Brewing IP'eh!
Origin: Surrey, B.C.
Alcohol: 6.5%
Price: 
All through elementary school and jr. high, one of my best friends was Mark Russell.  My memories of going over to his house: playing Dungeons & Dragons, shooting bow & arrows in his backyard, his older brother Pete's drum set (he was in a band), his jovial German mom always stuffing our faces with snacks, and his dad experimenting with home brew kits.  Well that beer hobby eventually turned into a small business, and now Russell Brewing Co.  So I always drink Russell Beer whenever I come across it.  I'm not normally a fan of IPA's (too hoppy for me), and this was no exception (sorry Mark!).  Pretty smooth though, and good if you like bitter beers.  Final score 5.65/10.

Asahi "The Master" Pilsner remains victorious.