Friday, December 25, 2009

Ahhh....Beer....



So I recently ventured into the world of beer making. Ever had a home brew? Some are good...but, lets be honest and say that most taste like "Panther Pee"...that's right..."Panther Pee" (A Family Term). Well, I felt it was fitting that while I was "pissing" away money on beer equipment with a pregnant wife at home, that it would be best to have her make the flavor selection. Her favorite is Blue Moon, so we selected a Belgian White. The initial brewing process took an evening, then you let it ferment for 2 weeks...then you add your sugars, bottle and let the final fermentation/bubbles develop for four weeks. The final product....was better than Blue Moon!!! Long story short...venture into the beer making business and don't crack those bottles until the process is complete! (Or you could do what I did and open one bottle per week to taste the progress!...you still have plenty of that 5 gallons left at the four week mark.)


Here's the company I recommend if you're in the Utah area...




Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Artistry...Complexity...A lesson: Ben Cooper, Radical Face



Ben Cooper. The man behind the mask that is, Radical Face. The album: Ghost. A man that seems to put simplicity, and complex imagery together into one thought- provoking package. This album, to a first-time listener, may be nothing special, simple and soft indie music. But, as you keep listening...and let it get the worn out, rusty gears working again... you start to see more than that. Ben establishes mental imagery... and accomplishes what many cannot... he makes the listener feel, and relate.

It seems that people tend to think that you need the bad to fully appreciate the good. In rebuttal....what happens when there IS no bad? It seems like whatever challenge life can throw at you unexpectedly...there is always a way out of the dank, dark, shadow of chance. It is NEVER the end. Whether family, financial, relationship, or marital problems seem to surround your life, there is always a way out. To put an end to looking into the past...burn it...smell the smoke of your past...a quick memory...then never to enter your nostrils again.

Live your life in it's time and embrace the gift given. That is why it's called the present...
Look forward, to the answer within, reaching. Never get too busy in this life...stop and smell the flowers...observe the trees...the complexity of nature...the ferocity of a thunderstorm...the starry night sky... Appreciate what you have now... love those around you... never let go of what's most important in life... Not just creative composition with chimes..bells...hand-claps...instruments...human voices... It's more than that. It brings one into deep thought...

For those who let it...His creation is speaking...
Listen.

COMPOSER: Ben Cooper
ARTIST: Radical Face
ALBUM: Ghost

-To Whom it may concern, these are my thoughts

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Reunited...and it feels so good!



When the average Joe thinks of the band Faith No More, they probably think about the couple of videos that were over played in the 90's. (Epic, Midlife Crisis...ect.) I have to admit, I always liked Faith No More and thought they were good...have most of there cd's...but never really loved them. Well, in the last month...that has changed! They have "Reunited"...and it does feel so good. I believe that the reason that I didn't fall in love with the band in the past, is because I never saw them live. Enjoy the concert that changed my view of the band. I hope they come to the U.S. soon!


Poker Face/Chinese Arithmetic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBE3CTcNa8I
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6ArofGsUNk
Chariots of Fire/Stripsearch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjdfcrPDPow
P.S. - I will own all of there cd's now...and they will be purchased from an actual store!