Fun with Google Maps

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This used to be what the Barcadia looked like. Thank you Google for not updating your Streetview in the last two years.

Homeless Cougars Flood North Texas

Finally my ability to kill a bar by no longer going to it has done some good. Martini Park is closed. Admittedly, I only went once. But, like Al-qaeda, I'm willing to take credit for any destruction that contributes to my goals.

UPDATE:
Here's the scoop on what happened and why. I guess we won't be opening Wally's Planonian anytime soon.

Your Moment of Zen

Ugh

The Dallas Stars are off to a terrible start. And things got worse yesterday when it was announced that Captain Brendon Marrow was out the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Without the heart and soul of the team, it's hard to imagine them lifting themselves from the basement of the Western Conference.

So, I'm consoling myself with memories of better times.

Wrapping Up Working SoCal - The View From the Balcony

With this post, I think I've pretty much exhausted blog material related to my recent SoCal adventure. And I finish with the view from my hotel balcony. Since I was largely at working when the sun was out, these pictures are from my balcony at night. As you can see, there was not much going on around the old Embassy Suites.






Unfortunately, I couldn't quite get a good picture of the fires in the distance without a tripod, which I have not yet purchased.

The Tustin Whole Foods' Wall of Beer

One of the best things about working in the OC was the Whole Foods that was on my way from work to the hotel. More specifically the Whole Foods beer case that had tons of beers I've never seen (tasted) before. So here they are:


Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale - brewed with fresh hops, picked the day before brewing. It was a solid ale. If you like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, you'll like this. B+


Green Flash Brewing Trippel Belgian Style Ale. Eh, this was ok. Nothing really special. B-


Stone Vertical Epic 08.08.08. I've already mentioned that this is the best beer ever. A++


Brother's David Triple Abbey Style Ale. I drank this the day after I discovered the Vertical Epic. I had intended to drink more Vertical Epic, but had to settle for this. Despite the disappointment, it held up well. I good "American Belgian" ale. A



Stone Ruination IPA. I spent several days looking for another Vertical Epic, but could find not a single one. So I knew it was time to move on. But I had to stay in the family. Thus the purchase and subsequent drinking thereof (law speak?) of the Ruination IPA.

I have consumed quite a bit of the standard Stone IPA at the vile Stan's Blue Note, and that beer is like a concentrated pine forest in a jelly jar. So I was initially fearful of how hoppy this thing would be. I mean, I love hops, but I don't want the top of my head to fly off.

Well, my fears were quickly trounced. This is a great beer. Yes, it is strong in hoppy/bittery goodness. But not so much that that's all there is. It is nicely balanced and a surprisingly smooth drinking beer. A+


Urthel Samaranth Quadrium Ale. Like a Belgian Tripel, only "one louder". Admittedly, this was a novelty purchase. And I suppose its high alcohol worked (11%) since I don't really remember much about it. Thus I'll just give it a B and move on.


Indian Wells Brewing Amnesia IPA. This was the only beer I purchased that didn't come in a 22oz bottle. In fact it was the only 6-pack I bought. Thus I drank more of this than any of the other beers. For a regular IPA it was high in alcohol (7.2%). Overall, it was OK. In the pantheon of great IPA (60/90 Minute, Terminal Gravity, Full Sail) it doesn't quite hold up. But still a solid choice. B

Still Life with Husky

Working In SoCal: Day 15 -- Huntington Beach

Me?

Working In SoCal: Day 14 -- Fire!! Everyone Panic!

This is the view from my second floor work site in Irvine California. The picture is a little odd in that it was take through a window and the reflection from the fluorescent lights can be seen.

Today's Dumbest Person in the World.........

clipped from www.katu.com Woman out $400K to 'Nigerian scam' con artists

You would think Emperor Palpatine would be smarter than that.