Friday, April 29, 2016

Logging

Film: Keanu

Movie comedy these days...so rare they knock it out of the park. I laughed a few times, but the "movie" aspect of these things are really lacking. They feel like snacks and not meals.
Logging

Screenplay: Beetlejuice

A great deal of fun. They don't make 'em like they used to...I cannot fathom a studio making such an inventive and weird film today.
Game of Thrones S. 6

Disappointing first episode. Pure exposition. Bummed about the events in Dorne. Still itching to watch the next one (or read the GD-book!)
Sounds Right

College Encourages a Lively Exchange of One Idea.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

US Weekly

The wife reads it, so it's around the house. They do this feature "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" and recently featured Hillary Clinton. One of the things she listed: she likes the Beatles. The Beatles! She likes the Beatles!

Good God. We are going to elect this woman President? She would've sided with King George III in 1776.
And Yet, One of Our Top 4 Candidates Is A Socialist

Venezuela does not have enough money to pay for its money.
We'll See...

Zuckerberg thinks AI will outperform humans in the next decade.

I suppose the big question is: in what? Computers outperform humans in all sorts of things already like counting big numbers.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Technology

I'm skeptical of technology until I see the application. I remember the Segway hype and when they cloned the sheep Dolly. Also, I used a toilet today with the auto flush sensor. Does this thing work for anyone? Every time I put the toilet bowl paper on a toilet with the auto flush, the auto flush takes it away. I dunno. I just don't see driverless cars living up to the hype.

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Super Bowl Ceiling

Bart Scott thinks he would've won 2 maybe 3 super bowls with Alex Smith as QB.

I wonder what he thinks of Kaepernick.
Martini Log

2.5 oz Martin Miller (80 proof) Gin
.5 oz Vya vermouth
.5 oz olive juice from jar (Tipsy Pimento Olive)

Crisp. Junipery. Smooth. Served ultra cold. A really good martini. Superior to the Beefeater with the same portions the other night.

Logging

TV: Happy Valley

A terrific main character introduction. Eerie and dark in a subtle way.
Logging

TV: Catastrophe

Watchable.
Crazy People

If this teacher were teaching my kids, I'd demand she be fired.

Thursday, April 07, 2016

Martini Notes

Gins Tried:

Martin Miller ($28-32): Super smooth, 80 proof. For one with expensive taste, could serve as an awesome baseline gin. If you order a basic martini at Providence (the 2nd best restaurant in America), this is what they use.
Martin Miller Wellsbourne ($30-37): That said, I think the splurge to the Wellsbourne version is worth it. I found a bottle at K&L for $30, which is the same as I paid for the regular MM at a liquor store. Even at $37 (Bevmo), the price difference is still worth it. Basically, the main difference is a higher proof - 94. Again, a super smooth gin. If you meet someone who doesn't like gin, pour them a MM and they will change their minds.
Fords ($25-28): This is my baseline gin right now. For guests or celebrations, I'll use MM. On a regular Thursday night before eating a steak, I'll use Fords. Incredible value. And more gin-like than MM. This is like having a great pair of boots that can be worn at nearly every occasion, except a wedding. If I were buying one gin for the cabinet, I would take Fords.
Beefeater ($16-18): Good enough in a pinch. Can find it at nearly any grocery store. Cheap. If at a crummy bar, or you don't feel like overpaying, Beefeater can do the job.
Bombay London Dry ($20 for a handle): Good value, but I don't love it. Prefer Beefeater at the price point.
St. George's ($35): tastes like a Christmas tree. A neat novelty gin, but I don't drink it on the regular.

Vermouth:
Vya: Highly recommended, but I prefer Dolin. For some reason, it tastes a little sweet to me.
Noilly Prat: Serviceable.
Dolin: My favorite. Dry.

Olives:
Small Spanish: bad
Large Spanish: good
Castelvetrano: inappropriate, but delicious

The other night, I poured a Beefeater (2.5oz), Vya (.5oz), and Large Spanish (.3 juice). Solid, but not spectacular.

The week before, we drank MM Wellsbourne (3oz), .5oz olive, and tried one with Dolin and one with Vya. I preferred the Dolin.



Logging

Film: Spy

A terrible movie.