Winter beer choices.

Ahhhh, we have all been there gentlemen, and lets face it....it's inevitable. I could blow smoke up your ass and tell you to drink moderately, and turn down that shot of Jameson. However; we all know that isn't going to happen, so lets talk about what we should be getting obliterated drinking this time of year instead. Obviously Sam Winter is always a fantastic treat, and it only comes around but once a year so don't miss it. A dark wheat Lager brewed with winter spices.....salivate. Ok, ok, we all know how I feel about Sam Adams products. Another teriffic winter beer is a good Whiskey Porter, youve seen em, but have you tried them? They are always around, if your in my neck of the woods Brown in Troy has a fabulous home brewed Whickey Porter, that will also know your sock off. O.K, now well say you have tried a Whiskey Porter, and you have enjoyed it..obviouisly! Now I want you to have your bar-tender make you a black and tan (Guiness) with your favorite Whiskey Porter. Ecxtesey ensuse. The Sweetness from the Whiskey (or bourbon if necessarey) combined with the richness of the Guiness is a Winter treat that would warm the heart of Scrooge himself. One other tip, for you novice drinkers out there: Is your bartender doing your black and tan combo justice? I'll give you a tip. A well made black and tan alwayts looks like there is more tan than black, proportionally. This is because a Guiness glass carries more fluid in the top half than the bottom. this means if your Black and tan was eye balled to a 50/50 ration there is probably too much black and not enough tan.

As my friend from Dos Equis says: "Stay thirst my friends." A terrible beer, but a hilarious ad campaign!

The Book of Eli

It's only once in a great while that a film comes along, so compelling and wonderfully complex and discrete in its story telling that it has you thinking about it and pondering it's possible messages for days on end. When that does happen, it is oh so sweet, and the Book of Eli is just this kind of fantastic movie making. I could shower the Book of Eli with accolades for several hours on end, and never truly do it justice. Part of what made me so pleasantly surprised at this movie was how it was marketed. Upon seeing the previews to this film one would have imagined that it was going to be a fun, yet run of the mill post-apocalyptic action movie. Much to my surprise The Book of Eli is anything but run of the mill. This is movie making at it's best. A more thoughtful, and though provoking story telling you will not find, and it's because of one of holly woods lost arts. The art of subtlety! Making people think about the story, and it's messages. We have gotten to a point, sadly, where every message in a movie has to be concrete and heavy handed, lost is the wonderful subtle style of The Book of Eli. Much like some of the greatest Russian Literature of our time like "Crime and Punishment," Sometimes themes are better off when they meant to be pondered and examaned, rather than concrete black and white themes like movies such as "Crash," which is about as subtle as a swift kick in the nuts. It's hard for me to go too in-depth with the plot and not destroy the experience for you, and it is an experience. Denzel Washington, and Gary Oldman deliver powerhouse performances, as per their usual. In a film that is character, and idea driven these two actors were perfect for these roles. roles that are so much larger than you can imagine, or that first meets the eye, but you'll be pondering these characters for a week after you see the film. I won't go any further talking about Eli, because I want people to see this masterpiece with fresh eyes that haven't already been tainted by short sighted reviewers. I will say this, see this movie, and be preppared for great film, not a mindless action picture.

Rating: six and a half out of seven stars.

Disaster in Haiti. John Cusack to lead survivors to career suicide.

No one hates a tragic natural disaster like I do, but isn't U.S overdoing things with a 100 Million dollar donation? Last time I checked were broke right? If we have all this cash to burn, I should be getting another god dam stimulus check in the mail. Has Haiti ever even had 100 million dollars? I know this earthquake was tragic but aren't most of the building over there huts with straw tops? I know it sucks when someone knocks over your lincoln logs, but it doesn't take 100 mill to put them back together.

A quick word on recent Games!

I won't bother to mention Modern Warefare 2. It's a great game, and everyone knows it's a great game. I'm here to tell you about two games it would be a mistake to miss this year. Marvel Ultimate alliance II, and Wet. Both of these titles could go under the radar due to thier release at the same time as other, bigger releases. Wet is really a can't miss, despite it's inexplicable mediocre revies (7.5 on Gamespot) this styleistic action game is more than you could hope for in an action game. Wet is like playing a Quentin Tarantino movie, with a cool cheesey 70's action movie feel. Wet even feature funny intermission sequences like you were at the drive inns long ago watching a great B-rate action flick. Weather your sliceing someone in half with your sword, or sliding across a table with both barrels blazing, Wet is exhilirating action fun from start to finish.

Rating: Marvel Ultimate Alliance II: Four out of six stars. Wet: Five out of six stars.

Dragon's Age....um, hell yes!

If your anything like me, and if your a meat eating beer guzzling male, you are, then from time to time you utterly crave a good old fashioned role playing game, and Dragon's age provides that nectar that you are craving. These are utterly high accolades for a role player, because the past few years have been pretty plentiful with the great role players. Oblivion, and the Shivering Isles ad on were terrific, as was the more recent Fallout 3, and Mass Effect. That said Dragon's age delivers in a time when good role players have been churned out on a pretty regular basis, and it certainly hold it's own. Do you like a good story? If yes, your in luck, to say the least. DA delivers a great story, more story, and then a little more good story. You'll find yourself so wrapped up in the intriguing dialogue of DA that it seems more like a terrific interactive movie than a game, but thankfully those wonderful parts are follo0wed up by epic battles and lengthy quests, which will test your ability to utilize unique combinations of party members, and tactics. There are so many fascinating ways to approach a battle, and each battle is unique in what will best work to triumph. You may at times want archers and mages, but leave a rouge behind and you may find you cann'ot pick a certain lock or disarm a trap. You may also control if your parts rushes forward and attacks at will, or should they hold position and give you a chance to throw a few aarows before your tanks rush in and risk a quick death. The combat choices are incredibley interesting and keep the game fresh till the very end. There are also a myriad of ways to approach how you level up your team. There are so many different skills, and combat tactics to inprove, and each one has a drastic effect on what each of your party will excell at it, or what their weaknesses will be. Armor, weapons, shields, potions....oh my. There are a lot, and plenty of variations to each. You'll spend so much time with merchants outfitting your team that you'll say; "Makers Breath, how is it four in the morning?"

Overall: Four and a half stars out of six. If this game has a weakness it is probvably the graphics, which are a little weak, but not enough to make this anything other than a must play game in 2010. It does fall short of fallout 3, but in all fairnesss that is a role player that sets the bar so high, it's allmost impossible to touch it. In short; buy Draggon's Age. Play it, live it, love it, and don't make any plans for a while.

Championship weekend 2010

Alright, alright, it's been a while. Fear not faithful men and women, my wit and wisdom are back! First and foremost are our NFL title games. The most exciting weekend in sports every year, and 2010 is no different, infact these are two of the best match-ups in recent memory. The New York Football Jets will travel to Inianapolis to take on the Colts in a battle of wills. These are two of the most stubborn teams in football, as capsulized by their head coaches, Rex Ryan and Jim Caldwell respectively. You have to admire Rex Ryans commitment to hard nosed football, the Jets do not panic. They just keep playing defense and running, until someone finally makes a big play. Jim Caldwell also sticks to his guns, including his decision to rest starters down the regular season stretch, a decision that is now a mute point. They both stick to paying their style of football with unwavering passion, and this weekend should be no different. The Jets have a lot going for them in this game. The Colts run defense is horrendus, and noone runs better than the Jets and their powerful o-line. The real key to this game is if N.Y can survive the first ten minutes of this game. The Colts will no-doubt come out firing in front of their home crowd, and it will be crucial for N.Y to get through the first quarter with a low or zero score. If the Jets do this they will have a chance to wear out a bad run defense and keep the football away from Peyton Manning. More shots of Manning standing on the sidelines helpless in a Jets game, is exactly what Rex Ryan needs to ahppen. Defensively the Jets are one of few teams that stand of chance of confusing Peyton with their blizt schemes. Why can the Jets do this? A simple answer; "Revis Island." Darrell Revis can man cover any receiver in the league without help, and because of this the Jets can bring pressure and crowd the line of scrimmage at will. This is a more difficult task against a Clots team that spread the ball out, but N.Y only has to force Peyton into shorter throws and extra snaps to frushtrate and force Indianapolis into mistakes.

Pick: J...E....T....S Jets, Jets, Jets!!! Call me crazy if you want, but one thing never changes in the NFL. Come playoff time there are two things you want to be doing well; running the ball, and playing defense. The Jets are REALLY good at both of those things.


Vikings at Saints: Tough game to pick. The one seed, and the two seed go head to head in what should be an epic battle for the NFC title. For the Vikings it's as simple as it is for the Jets, they must run and keep Drew Brees away from the football, but unlike N.Y I'm not convinced the Brett Favres Vikings are patient enough to do the job. Adrian Peterson hasn't been on track in weeks, and should the run game start slowly it will be tempting for Minni to turn to their future hall of famer to try and keep up with the Saints, but this wil be a trap. The Vikings will not win a shoot-out with New Orleans they must not loose their patients. For the Vikings to have a chance they must keep feeding Peterson, and try to keep the game close unitll the Saints D starts to tire.

Pick: Who Dat? Thats right, pick Saints. Unlike Rex Ryan and the Jets iron will, I think the vikings will panic and find themselves in a hole early and often. Look for Darren Sharper to be a big hero Sunday against his old teammate Brett Favre.