Burning River and Hancock

Tonight we went and saw Hancock and I tried the Burning River Pale Ale from GLBC.

Hancock was a better movie than I thought it was going to be, but it could have been better in a few ways. Several of the reviews that I read say that the best part of the movie is the section before the turn. That's probably true. It's funny. I like movies where superheroes aren't perfect and Hancock reacts to public criticism in the same way that most of us would: badly. He saves a guy's life and the public is pissed off at him for the way that he does it. That hardly seems fair!

It's not really a movie about a superhero. It's a movie about a guy who needs someone to care about him. Here are some spoilers: Hancock doesn't know who he is or where he comes from or how it is that he got to be the way he is. He woke up with amnesia in a hospital in Miami and thinks that he must be pretty worthless if no one ever came and looked for him. That worthlessness really eats at him. A simple thing like meeting a kid who likes him despite the bad things that people say about him or having inmates clap for him when he finally speaks up in group are enough to give him the feeling of being needed. It's a film on the theme of "no man is an island."

Also, Hancock kills a few people. I don't know how you folks feel about that, but I don't mind seeing that from a super hero. Perhaps I'll start an Unideal Observer thread about it.

The Burning River beer is only OK in my book. I'll drink the ones that I have, but I'm not really interested in getting any more. It's a bit too bitter for me. Whereas the Dortmunder was beautifully balanced this one is a little heavy on the hops for me. It reminds me most of a Samuel Adams. They have essentially the same tastes. If you like one then you'll like the other, but neither are for me.

Also: Shark Week is coming! I wish it were then now.

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Aud and I went up to Ohio this weekend, and it was great to see everyone who was around. I miss those Bowling Green folks. A couple of them have a radio show on Mondays from 4-6 that discusses political issues. I'll be calling in there pretty regularly when I have the chance. If you go to that link you can find a link to their show's live broadcast on the interwebs. Check it out.

Also while I was in OH I picked up a sample pack of beers from the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland, OH. They are a really great brewery, and they make some very fine beers. Unfortunately I had only just discovered them when I left OH and it isn't available in Tennessee for some reason. I'll post some little reviews of the beers that I try in the next few days. Here's the first one!

Tonight I tried the Dortmunder Gold Lager. The website lists 14 gold medals for this beer from the World Beer Championships. It deserves every one of them. The color is a beautiful gold and the head is thin but stiff enough to last to the last sip while leaving light rings on the glass. The flavor is a really plesant and balanced combination of malt and hops that leaves a lightly hoppy aftertaste. If you want a bright and delicious lager with a lightly hoppy flavor, this one is for you.

As a side note, check out the website for the GLBC. They are a green company in many different ways, and the brewery tour video on the site is pretty excellent.

To Grandmother's house we went!

Audrey and I spent the weekend+Monday at my grandmother's house. It was a good time had by all, I think. We were able to stay until Monday to see my Aunt Marge.
I installed blinds for Grandma and she and Audrey did things with plants and Grandpa watched the weather channel and informed us of the weather conditions in the greater Jacksonville area every few minutes.
After Aud and Grandma packed up all of the plants that Audrey thought were pretty I got to plant them and stick them in water to root and such like that. I'm not the best planter, but I hope that most of them survive.

Matt dances across the world.

This video was made by a fellow named Matt Harding. He travels and dances this silly dance wherever he goes. Sometimes lots of people dance with him. It's made me smile today.

Mike has a new car!

I had to say goodbye to Sally last night. She has been a wonderful car for the last 10 years, but it was time to part ways. I fervently hope that she goes to a highschool kid who is fixated on repairing 1995 Thunderbirds.

Last night I traded her in for a 2008 Nissan Sentra. It's got almost all of the bells/whistles, but the manager decided to count it as "used" since it had 572 miles on it. Apparently the previous owner returned it because she was worried that the intellikey system would interfere with her pacemaker and kill her. (This is a neat little feature that allows me to keep a key fob in my pocket and run the car without inserting a key. I just turn a switch. It also unlocks the doors and such for me when I'm close enough. Neat!) We got it for a lower price than many of the used Sentras were going for, and that's super for us. Pictures will follow later this evening!