I'll admit to being a bit of a twitterer, and have been for a couple of years, well 3 years, 4 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 20 hours, 40 minutes, 35 seconds, apparently.
And it's changed me. In a good way. I think. I
For me Twitter has opened me up to statements, questions, positions, and opinions that I've really had to question, and it's been deliberate. I've enjoyed a lot of twitter, as a participant and as an observer.
Sure it's allowed me to group with people who feel the same way, and to form weak warm fuzzy bonds with some people, particularly on subjects like Cricket, or Rugby League, or Football, or Beer for instance. Sure it's allowed me to participate in the current meme.
The thing with twitter for me, is to follow people that I have some association or empathy with, either they're funny, authentic, urbane or mildly famous, but in Pdubyahworld I associate with them on some level. Although I "follow" less than 500 people in a timeline that I visit most often, I do have lists that contain perhaps 500 other people that I'm going to read.
And on some days it's a challenge. Somehow it transpires that I follow (and have listed) a lot of left-wing socialist types. They have opinions and statements that make me grind my teeth, on some days. But they are authentic and they are genuine, and I'm sure some of them are mildly famous. Which makes me sound a bit right-wing and conservative. I'd rather be thought of as liberal and self-centric :-)
From this melange then, Twitter has made me question and form actual opinions about things. About things like same sex marriage. About things like welfare. About things like the justice system. About things like religion, About things like gender equality. About things like ethics. Proper opinions, not toss-off remarks to mates over a beer in a pub opinions, but real ones. And I've changed my opinions, particularly over the last 3 years. Not all of them. Some of them.
And I think that these changes have made me more tolerant, less of a bigot, and a calmer person. I'm sure not everyone uses twitter for the same reason I do, which is a whole other post about needy, and not everyone gets the same result. There are as many drop-outs as there are adherents.
The rest of the time is affirmation that I'm among a group of like-minded people who would probably be the sort to stop and help in a crisis. Which is reassuring.
A life just as ordinary. Wherein I drink beer, and write badly
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Faith, Same sex marriage, and Children.
New Zealand is on track to remove barriers to same sex marriages. We have Civil Union legislation, but this is a sort of half-way house thing. Removing an arbitrary sex based barrier to marriage is of it's time.
However those of the faith and the religiosity have got their collective underpants all bunched and they're going to come out swinging on a number of 'points'.
And they are all nonsense. And they are all nonsense because there is not one logical argument that could be put forward that would or could justify their position. Not a one.
"Marriage is between a man and women" Since when? Since a when the 'church' decided to Ponce up some ceremony and add some bells and whistles is a when. The church is big on dogma and protocol. But I can't find any evidence that before the church decided to dress up a ceremony that marriage wasn't a thing. I can't find any evidence that before the church decided to restrict it's 'blessing' that all marriages were between men and women.
Historically then a marriage was a means to ensure a continuance. That is all. If you had not confirmed or announced partner then you had no estate to pass. Marriage brought with it some assurances.The churches brought with it dogma, and protocol and restriction.
It beggars belief that you would refer to an ancient book of myth and stories to cherry pick what your faith is. Sure the Bible might say "husband" and "wife" but it doesn't as far as I know define the gender of either in terms of what constitutes a "marriage".
The restriction or constriction is therefore one made up by the church and religion as a method of control.
In New Zealand we have out share of conservative doom-sayers
I don't mind having it on record that the idea of two men having responsibility for a child is a little beyond me. I couldn't do it. I assisted with a more maternal and capable mother in raising our children from birth. But I am talking about baby children, not toddlers, or schoolers, or teens. I don't have the same doubt about females raising children. Call me a bigot if you like, but I have first hand experience of a woman raising our child and she did a great job. I'd hire her again :-)
I have no idea what feeling or compulsions you have a person in relation to children and your level of altruism in wanting to look after, nurture and care for a child. I just don't.
I have my understanding. I have an idea of what is acceptable and required from my experience, and I have the insight from a number of people who I've associated with who've raised children. I have experience.
Just because I don't think I could does not mean I don't think you should. It might make you shudder, cringe and gasp. It doesn't mean that you can't raise a child as a parent. To have any other position on this indicates you live your life in a cave. There are lots of children raised by single parents. There are heaps raised by same sex parents, mostly female I'd wager.
The world did not stop when Elton John and David Furness adopted a child. Money makes it better or acceptable? Get a grip.
However those of the faith and the religiosity have got their collective underpants all bunched and they're going to come out swinging on a number of 'points'.
And they are all nonsense. And they are all nonsense because there is not one logical argument that could be put forward that would or could justify their position. Not a one.
"Marriage is between a man and women" Since when? Since a when the 'church' decided to Ponce up some ceremony and add some bells and whistles is a when. The church is big on dogma and protocol. But I can't find any evidence that before the church decided to dress up a ceremony that marriage wasn't a thing. I can't find any evidence that before the church decided to restrict it's 'blessing' that all marriages were between men and women.
In different ancient cultures, marriage was more of a business arrangement, joining families together for mutual benefit. Under Roman law in the first centuries of the Common Era, there were proper opportunities for divorce and the dissolution of a marital union for both parties. However, as the Christian church grew, marriage became more ecclesiastically governed; the church dictated the rules of marriage.
Historically then a marriage was a means to ensure a continuance. That is all. If you had not confirmed or announced partner then you had no estate to pass. Marriage brought with it some assurances.The churches brought with it dogma, and protocol and restriction.
Same-sex marriage is rejected as un-Christian and immoral on the basis of a myopic reading of a very few Biblical texts. And the texts in question are scant indeed.
The most referenced texts are Genesis 19; the holiness codes of Leviticus 17-26, and in the New Testament, Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:9 and his Letter to the Romans 1:26-27.
Not only does one have to "hunt" for references to same-sex practices, but there are no gospel texts that treat the matter.
There is nothing attributed to Jesus of Nazareth that has anything to do with same-sex orientation. According to the gospels, Jesus never commented on same-sex practices; that fact certainly bears repeating to anyone criticizing the gay community on Christian grounds.
Largely, same-sex practice is a topic of little interest to the Biblical authors.
It beggars belief that you would refer to an ancient book of myth and stories to cherry pick what your faith is. Sure the Bible might say "husband" and "wife" but it doesn't as far as I know define the gender of either in terms of what constitutes a "marriage".
The restriction or constriction is therefore one made up by the church and religion as a method of control.
Children
In New Zealand we have out share of conservative doom-sayers
Conservative Party leader Colin Craig said he was planning a "research-based" campaign on the advantages of heterosexual relationships and traditional family structures.
"I'm keen to be part of a campaign to get out there on this issue. It would look intelligently at the differences between homosexual parenting and a Mum and a Dad. Does gender matter, does role-modelling matter?
I don't mind having it on record that the idea of two men having responsibility for a child is a little beyond me. I couldn't do it. I assisted with a more maternal and capable mother in raising our children from birth. But I am talking about baby children, not toddlers, or schoolers, or teens. I don't have the same doubt about females raising children. Call me a bigot if you like, but I have first hand experience of a woman raising our child and she did a great job. I'd hire her again :-)
I have no idea what feeling or compulsions you have a person in relation to children and your level of altruism in wanting to look after, nurture and care for a child. I just don't.
I have my understanding. I have an idea of what is acceptable and required from my experience, and I have the insight from a number of people who I've associated with who've raised children. I have experience.
Just because I don't think I could does not mean I don't think you should. It might make you shudder, cringe and gasp. It doesn't mean that you can't raise a child as a parent. To have any other position on this indicates you live your life in a cave. There are lots of children raised by single parents. There are heaps raised by same sex parents, mostly female I'd wager.
The world did not stop when Elton John and David Furness adopted a child. Money makes it better or acceptable? Get a grip.
Related articles
- Key will back early stages of gay marriage bill (radionz.co.nz)
- Same sex marriage bill delights gay community (radionz.co.nz)
- Gay marriage to be legalised in Scotland despite two thirds of people opposing change (telegraph.co.uk)
- Gay marriage in Scotland is a 'dangerous experiment', says Catholic Church (independent.co.uk)
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Beer - #40 - Townshend Sutton Hoo
Tonight I enter the naughty forties with a "Townshend Sutton Hoo"
This is Brewed by the Townshend Brewery in the style of an English Pale Ale, and it's from Upper Moutere, New Zealand
Upper Moutere, I don't even know where that is!
Its very hoppy on the aroma, sharp. This surprised me as it's very dark brown as a beer, I'm not sure why I was surprised, I think I was thrown (as I often am) by the pale bit of pale ale).
To the taste, I found this Tart / Bitter on the first - which is much as you'd expect and I didn't get a lot else other then a malty taste. It's not unpleasant.
It's a 4.7% ABV beer in a pint bottle. So it's not one that'll rock your socks off.
A good solid beer this, and congratulations to the brewery for getting it spot on. Feeling pretty pleased with myself that I have made a good choice.
As an aside I might have to have lessons in beer as I can't seem to get one to get a head on, and this doesn't have a lacing either. I must be doing something wrong, other than enjoying it.
Arbitrarily then 7 from 10 arbitrary numbers on the arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter. It's ok it's not something that'll make me buy a lot more, but I wouldn't be adverse to ordering this out in a pub.
This is Brewed by the Townshend Brewery in the style of an English Pale Ale, and it's from Upper Moutere, New ZealandUpper Moutere, I don't even know where that is!
Its very hoppy on the aroma, sharp. This surprised me as it's very dark brown as a beer, I'm not sure why I was surprised, I think I was thrown (as I often am) by the pale bit of pale ale).
To the taste, I found this Tart / Bitter on the first - which is much as you'd expect and I didn't get a lot else other then a malty taste. It's not unpleasant.
It's a 4.7% ABV beer in a pint bottle. So it's not one that'll rock your socks off.
A good solid beer this, and congratulations to the brewery for getting it spot on. Feeling pretty pleased with myself that I have made a good choice.
As an aside I might have to have lessons in beer as I can't seem to get one to get a head on, and this doesn't have a lacing either. I must be doing something wrong, other than enjoying it.
Arbitrarily then 7 from 10 arbitrary numbers on the arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter. It's ok it's not something that'll make me buy a lot more, but I wouldn't be adverse to ordering this out in a pub.
Related articles
- Beer Tasting Class (the2fatfoodies.wordpress.com)
- 99 Bottles - Allgash White: Give it a try (boston.com)
- Crystal City to Host Dog-Friendly Beer Festival (arlnow.com)
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The one about Kim Dotcom
Kim Dotcom, born Kim Schmitz is a colourful larger than life character. He even lives local to me. But he is a rogue, and has done knowing and wilful things.
Putting aside the rights and wrongs of his arrest and the actions or inactions of the NZ Police / FBI et al which is a whole other story, there is the nagging thing about Megaupload that to me sticks out as knowing and wilful.
He's even constructed a website www.kim.com, and is has a handy FAQ page http://kim.com/scandal
On on that page you can find an indication of one of the cornerstones of the case against him. Contained in Questions/Answers/Facts #2 and #6
So, if two people uploaded the same file Megaupload would keep only one version of the file but generate two unique url links to that file, one for each user. If 10, 100 or 1000 people uploaded the same file there would be one instance of the file stored and 10, 100 or 1000 unique URL links to it.
So if the unique URL was being shared as a link to a copyright holder item then Megaupload allowed that URL link to be deleted, or taken down.
Not the file deleted, just the link to the file. So perhaps 10,100 or 1000 unique URL still remained pointing to that file.
There then seems to be a conflict between knowing what files are duplicates of other files, since clearly they boast that technology, but then to somehow with a straight face say well we've deleted the link therefore no infringement.
Reading the indictment documentation it seems apparent that various people at Megaupload were aware of the nature of the files being stored and were sharing them internally for use, and not removing the offending files, rather just the public links to them. Sure not having a URL does not allow me to download a file that has copyright claim against it, but that there might have been 10, 100 or 1,000 unique URL's available to that file kind of negates the holier-than-thou thing going on.
Good on Kim for engaging a public relations exercise, he's setting himself up to be a people's person, a mans man, a wronged individual.
Sadly I don't buy it. I have sympathy for his plight, and I'm not exactly engaged with the ethics of the arrest/seizure, but I am sure that there was knowing and there was wilful.
Putting aside the rights and wrongs of his arrest and the actions or inactions of the NZ Police / FBI et al which is a whole other story, there is the nagging thing about Megaupload that to me sticks out as knowing and wilful.
He's even constructed a website www.kim.com, and is has a handy FAQ page http://kim.com/scandal
On on that page you can find an indication of one of the cornerstones of the case against him. Contained in Questions/Answers/Facts #2 and #6
2. How did Megaupload use technology to maximise Storage Efficiency?
Megaupload, similar to other large cloud storage providers that rely on efficient data storage like Dropbox, was designed to store a single useable copy of each unique file uploaded to its servers. If multiple users uploaded identical files, Megaupload would retain one instance of the file, and generate a unique link for each individual user, called a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”). One user might choose to keep his unique link private; another user might wish to share his link with others via email or by embedding it in a webpage such as a blog post.
So, if two people uploaded the same file Megaupload would keep only one version of the file but generate two unique url links to that file, one for each user. If 10, 100 or 1000 people uploaded the same file there would be one instance of the file stored and 10, 100 or 1000 unique URL links to it.
6. Did Megaupload honor takedown notices?
Megaupload processed takedown notices swiftly and efficiently. Megaupload went beyond the ordinary and used technology to speed up the take down process. For example trusted parties including major Hollywood entities received access to an innovative real-time direct takedown web tool.
Megaupload negotiated with major copyright holders or their agents—including the Recording Industry Association of America, Disney, Warner Brothers, NBC, and Microsoft—to allow them access to take down directly, in an automated manner, an active link to material they believed infringed their copyrights. Megaupload was commended by Hollywood organizations for its take down processes.
So if the unique URL was being shared as a link to a copyright holder item then Megaupload allowed that URL link to be deleted, or taken down.
Not the file deleted, just the link to the file. So perhaps 10,100 or 1000 unique URL still remained pointing to that file.
There then seems to be a conflict between knowing what files are duplicates of other files, since clearly they boast that technology, but then to somehow with a straight face say well we've deleted the link therefore no infringement.
Reading the indictment documentation it seems apparent that various people at Megaupload were aware of the nature of the files being stored and were sharing them internally for use, and not removing the offending files, rather just the public links to them. Sure not having a URL does not allow me to download a file that has copyright claim against it, but that there might have been 10, 100 or 1,000 unique URL's available to that file kind of negates the holier-than-thou thing going on.
Good on Kim for engaging a public relations exercise, he's setting himself up to be a people's person, a mans man, a wronged individual.
Sadly I don't buy it. I have sympathy for his plight, and I'm not exactly engaged with the ethics of the arrest/seizure, but I am sure that there was knowing and there was wilful.
Related articles
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Beer – #39 – Gavroche
Gavroche is a French beer, produced by Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre, and they make the magnificent trois Monts that I like a bit.Gavroche - Biere Sur Lie - which is beer on lees. Who knows? It's a cunning French thing. It's named after a character from Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables.
It's (according to the label) Fermentation Haute - which is like a beer version of Cuisine, or Fashion 0r just that it's an indication that it's a craft beer.
330ml bottle of 8.5% ABV beer. I was for no reason at all expecting a pale wheat beer, except that previous beer from the Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre has been that way. But I was wrong, it's a dark rich red - a very inviting color, but it does has a very familiar yeasty aroma.
For all that lead up I found that none of the things is bigger than the whole, and the whole is a bit less than the parts. It's a bit thin on taste, overly carbonated on the tongue, and somewhat sweeter than I was expecting. No head and no lacing on the glass. And did I mention gassy?
So a French Red Ale, top fermented and re-fermented in the bottle. It's certainly full of it's own importance and upfront about what you're getting. Alas it's mostly bluster.
On the pdubyah-o-meter for some arbitrary measure out of an equally arbitrary thing, and this is a poor show at about 4 from 10. It's not that it's a bad beer, it's just not all that., and I'm certainly not into it. For a strong beer you'd hope that you'd get a sense of being slightly taken on a ride to the smile place, an indicator on your palette that you might be about to take a walk on the wild-side. That of course could be it's ruse, it's ace up the sleeve, the more you have the more you love it, and you'll never figure out why.
Those nice guys at the Wine Circle in Huapai I tip my beret to you for this one.
Related articles
- Kent lager toasted as one of world's best in beer 'Oscars' (guardian.co.uk)
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Beer – #38 – Epic - Hop Zombie
Epic Brewing Company, Brewed at Steam Brewing Company Auckland, New Zealand, in the Style of an Imperial/Double IPA
It's pale, very very pale golden, and the hops are there in spades. The immediate aroma is full and present.
This is a sweet, bitter and slightly coarse palette balance. Citrusy, grassy and fresh even sweet, but you for sure know it's hop-full
No head to speak of. and weirdly no lacing in the glass.
500mls (Pint) of 8.5% ABV beer and it's having no problem making itself right at home in my belly.
Deserves something to accompany this, but it stands alone perfectly well, which is what you wouldn't be if you decided to make a night of it, this could easily get you in trouble, or you could have the one and be grinning happily all evening knowing that you've had something a little special.
on the pdubyah-o-meter this is 9 arbitrary things out of 10 arbitrary things. It's great, it doesn't hold back and it's as is on the label. It'll surprise you if you arrive at it with an idea of what you're getting, it's hoppy but it says it is, but it is in a way that I found surprising.
Jolly nice.
It's pale, very very pale golden, and the hops are there in spades. The immediate aroma is full and present.This is a sweet, bitter and slightly coarse palette balance. Citrusy, grassy and fresh even sweet, but you for sure know it's hop-full
No head to speak of. and weirdly no lacing in the glass.
500mls (Pint) of 8.5% ABV beer and it's having no problem making itself right at home in my belly.
Deserves something to accompany this, but it stands alone perfectly well, which is what you wouldn't be if you decided to make a night of it, this could easily get you in trouble, or you could have the one and be grinning happily all evening knowing that you've had something a little special.
on the pdubyah-o-meter this is 9 arbitrary things out of 10 arbitrary things. It's great, it doesn't hold back and it's as is on the label. It'll surprise you if you arrive at it with an idea of what you're getting, it's hoppy but it says it is, but it is in a way that I found surprising.
Jolly nice.
Related articles
- Thirsty Thursday: Deviant Dale's IPA (bizarrocentral.com)
- Best Craft Beer Cans for the Cooler in the Dog Days of Summer (thestreet.com)
- Beer - #34 - Epic Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout (pdubyah.com)
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The one with the Personal Values Inventory
I'm participating in a Leadership Development Program at work, this is for all managers not at the Executive Level" and is in a number of sessions.
This current week we did "Engagement, Motivation and Goal Setting". Part of this was a "Know You" question and we were asked to write down our own "Values Inventory"
This might or might not be something you spend time thinking about, or you may act according to a set of self imposed set of things that you feel you "just have" or "just are."
I like these things because they test your capacity to understand you and challenges you to think about where you are in the big scheme of things.
Anyway as affirmation I went online to find some self assessments for my own Personal Values Inventory. and I found a simple one that offered up some possibilities. A simple paired statement comparison - A or B, A or B pick one. They cycle through some choices and then you get a result.
And boy am I miffed!When you then get to the end of the assessment, where you pick on of the paired statements over the other you transfer them to a tick sheet.
Answer 9 relates to : RELIGION (Guided by God or other higher power)
Not INTEGRITY, or AUTHENTICITY or HONESTY but RELIGION.
Well excuse me if you think that "my beliefs" that I would rather do the right thing other than have people think well of me means that I have some hat tip to a deity. What utter nonsense. The fact that I'm atheist shouldn't stand in the way of a good result right.
Choose God or being tidy.. what?
According to this particular self assessment then I'm very big on
- SERVICE (helping other people)
- FAMILY RELATIONS
- RELIGION (guided by God or other higher power)
- INDEPENDENCE (doing thing by myself)
- ADVENTURE (taking risks)
and I'm really not so big on
- INFLUENCE/STATUS (leading through experience)
- ORDERLINESS
- FRIENDS
So either I was having a strange day, or the results of this particular version of the pop quiz are a bit iffy.
Related articles
- Knowing Yourself First, Part I (mondaymentor.wordpress.com)
- 3 steps to sustainable leadership, high levels of engagement and great results (markgrantlondon.wordpress.com)
..and then I dreamt of a perpetual motion machine...
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"]
Robert Boyle's self-flowing flask fills itself in this diagram, but perpetual motion machines cannot exist. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]
A Perpetual motion machine, which is different from a free energy device.If you google you'll find all manner of weird and wonderous devices either real or imagined that are examples of attempts to construct a perpetual motion machine.
I'm not sure if there are rules to such things, other than once started should not stop. Most all of the devices on the net are extremely complex and involve many parts, centrifugal devices with swinging arms, strange chain driven things, things that reply on some weird notion of gravity and water.
The dream I had was of a very simple gadget, involving a couple of magnets a cog and a counter.
The counter was attached to the cog for entertainment and to show how many times the device has swung back and forth. In my dream there is no free energy created, and although there is friction between the pivot point and at the cog, there is an expectation of object at rest. There is no more energy being created than being used. In my dream this device seemed so obvious that it must have been tried before.
It was just a toy. An it'd get pretty boring after a while. I also undestand that wear and tear would make the construction doomed to failure eventually, but it's not a free energy device, it offers nothing in return.
Robert Boyle's self-flowing flask fills itself in this diagram, but perpetual motion machines cannot exist. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]A Perpetual motion machine, which is different from a free energy device.If you google you'll find all manner of weird and wonderous devices either real or imagined that are examples of attempts to construct a perpetual motion machine.
I'm not sure if there are rules to such things, other than once started should not stop. Most all of the devices on the net are extremely complex and involve many parts, centrifugal devices with swinging arms, strange chain driven things, things that reply on some weird notion of gravity and water.
The dream I had was of a very simple gadget, involving a couple of magnets a cog and a counter.
- So. The basic of my dream was that magnets when positioned pole to pole so North facing North should repel each other.
- You have one fixed and one attached to a pendulum or fixed point so that swings freely.
- When repelled the free swinging magnet swings away in an arc. Left to itself this would then eventually come to state of rest and in a neutral position, balanced between attraction by gravity and repulsion by magnetic force.
- In my dream however when the free swinging magnet is repulsed it comes to rest on a cog device, stopping it's motion, momentarily. Therefore each swing towards the fixed magnet is a discrete event.
- The cog turns by weight of gravity, and the magnet is released to perform another swing towards the fixed magnet at the bottom of the arc.
- It swings. It stops. It swings. It stops.
- In my dream there was no loss of momentum as each momentum was it's own event.
The counter was attached to the cog for entertainment and to show how many times the device has swung back and forth. In my dream there is no free energy created, and although there is friction between the pivot point and at the cog, there is an expectation of object at rest. There is no more energy being created than being used. In my dream this device seemed so obvious that it must have been tried before.
It was just a toy. An it'd get pretty boring after a while. I also undestand that wear and tear would make the construction doomed to failure eventually, but it's not a free energy device, it offers nothing in return.
Related articles
- 25 Greatest Scientific Hoaxes In History (list25.com)
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Those Three Little Words...
Empty Nest Syndrome.
MrsPdubyah was moping about the house yesterday 'unfulfilled' and generally mooching and moody, #1Son has allegedly left home and MrsPdubyah yesterday used some of my beer tokens to buy him a fridge/freezer for his new house.
I say allegedly left home, I just checked his room, There is a fair amount of detritus and general things left that I wonder if he's hoping that we'll decide for him to throw it away.
Oh and the clothes. I'm hoping that he has more clothes than what he wore to work, since there is a pile of things. MrsPdubyah will either drive over to the new house, expect me to take them to #1Son, or wait for him to come home, the latter is unlikely.
So Empty Nest Syndrome. The feeling of helplessness, the angst of your children living away from the nest.
MrsPdubyah is a bit strange on some aspects of this, we've paid for a tenancy bond, and now we've assisted substantially with home appliances. We've also brought #1Son a car recently, so he's had a fair chunk of our financial resources.
She assures me that he's been given the hard word, that the ties are cut, and that he's on his own. And then she talks about taking over a food parcel.
The fine line between letting them go to get on with it, and the tie that says you don't want them to fail. The arms length thing.
I know that some parents care less about their children leaving and live for the day, I can justify our difference by saying that as immigrants we don't really have any other extended family, no wider family that'll be called on in an emergency. Not that there will be one.
Not exactly the three little words I wanted to hear then. I did suggest that we could leave our 4 bedroom house since we clearly don't need at least two of the bedrooms and right-size our life. I leave it to you imagination as to how that worked out for me. Seems we've relocated the newly vacant bedroom as a sewing/dressing room. Who knew that that was what was missing in our life?
The upside is #1Daughter gets her own bathroom, free of boy things, so she's happy. Although she pretends to miss her brother I think not.
For me? Well I could leverage this feeling of empty to get me some outward display of love, I wonder if it stretches to a PS/3 and GT4 ?
MrsPdubyah was moping about the house yesterday 'unfulfilled' and generally mooching and moody, #1Son has allegedly left home and MrsPdubyah yesterday used some of my beer tokens to buy him a fridge/freezer for his new house.
I say allegedly left home, I just checked his room, There is a fair amount of detritus and general things left that I wonder if he's hoping that we'll decide for him to throw it away.
Oh and the clothes. I'm hoping that he has more clothes than what he wore to work, since there is a pile of things. MrsPdubyah will either drive over to the new house, expect me to take them to #1Son, or wait for him to come home, the latter is unlikely.
So Empty Nest Syndrome. The feeling of helplessness, the angst of your children living away from the nest.
MrsPdubyah is a bit strange on some aspects of this, we've paid for a tenancy bond, and now we've assisted substantially with home appliances. We've also brought #1Son a car recently, so he's had a fair chunk of our financial resources.
She assures me that he's been given the hard word, that the ties are cut, and that he's on his own. And then she talks about taking over a food parcel.
The fine line between letting them go to get on with it, and the tie that says you don't want them to fail. The arms length thing.
I know that some parents care less about their children leaving and live for the day, I can justify our difference by saying that as immigrants we don't really have any other extended family, no wider family that'll be called on in an emergency. Not that there will be one.
Not exactly the three little words I wanted to hear then. I did suggest that we could leave our 4 bedroom house since we clearly don't need at least two of the bedrooms and right-size our life. I leave it to you imagination as to how that worked out for me. Seems we've relocated the newly vacant bedroom as a sewing/dressing room. Who knew that that was what was missing in our life?
The upside is #1Daughter gets her own bathroom, free of boy things, so she's happy. Although she pretends to miss her brother I think not.
For me? Well I could leverage this feeling of empty to get me some outward display of love, I wonder if it stretches to a PS/3 and GT4 ?
Related articles
- Help for Empty Nest Syndrome (everydayhealth.com)
- Semi-Empty Nest Syndrome (onthehomefrontandbeyond.wordpress.com)
- The Empty Nest Will Be Full Once More (blainecindy1.wordpress.com)
Beer - #37 - Baird Beer - Baird Wabi Sabi IPA
Baird Brewing Company is a family-run craft brewery and pub business headquartered in Numazu, Japan. The Baird Beer I have then is In the Style of an India Pale Ale (IPA), and it is from Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan.Baird Wabi Sabi IPA. What's with that - Baird Beer is unfiltered and the addition of whole leaf green tea to Wabi-Sabi IPA has contributed a very strong particle sediment. Apparently.
It's a 6% ABV in a big 633ml bottle beer.
It's very pale, golden, hazy/cloudy and fizzy. it carries a small head, more of soda than beer. It's very hoppy/yeasty in aroma.
And it tastes like a traditional IPA, more in the american style or pale ale I'd suggest. And there is a bit of melange of flavor on the tongue. The taste carries long.
You can taste the tea!, unless I believe everything I read.
It's odd and yet not unwelcome. There is more of a smile than a frown in this. I'm sure the burp was natural and not because of the beer, honest. I'm quite chuffed with this selection, although I wish I'd taken heed of the sediment warning that I myself cut and paste in to this review. Still it won't harm me. And no, the burps seem to come as an undocumented feature. The head, you'll be pleased to know carries too. It looks like a beer, tastes like a beer, and by jolly it's a top effort!
Arbitrarily then this is about an 8.5 from 10 arbitrary things on the arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter. It wouldn't be out of place amongst some of the craft brews that are appearing in New Zealand and gives more than their fair share a decent run for the money, I like this beer.
「すごい！きれい！ as they say. And the Liquorland people in Forest Hill you rock too.
Related articles
- What Your Favorite Type Of Beer Says About You To A Date (howaboutwe.com)
- Bryan Baird's Newsletter (2012/04/30): May is Hop Madness Month; Two New Hoppy Seasonal Releases (shizuokagourmet.com)
- Review: Deviant Dales Pale Ale (boston.com)
- Beer Review: Threadless IPA [Finch's Beer Company] (twscritic.com)
- Who put that tea in my beer? (distaffsight.wordpress.com)
Honda CRV – a quick drive around the block
The nice people at Honda let me have a new Honda CRV for an hour today. They let me have, not surprisingly, the top of the range CRV-Sport,a "luxury" 2.4-litre, 4WD Sport no less.
It's a Honda. It has that over engineered for people Honda-ness going for it. Everything in it's place, everything for a purpose. It's a very pretty car, lois of nice rounded edges and curves. and a little shark fin on the roof!
Climb inside - there are a bazillion seat settings, I know that once you get it right it's right, but faffing and fiddling when you're in motion isn't the best way to start a drive. eventually I figured it out to lower the seat, tip the front of if it down, move it back, adjust the lumbar setting, and then move the steering wheel down and out. It's how I like it, the next person in will hate it. MrsPdubyah would have a mild panic every time she got in, it might do Honda well to have a memory system if they're going to invest in electrickery of this sort for seats.
First order of the day - It doesn't have a sat-nav. This appears to be a cost save, since the display is used for showing you how loud the stereo is, and then doubles as a reversing camera screen. And whilst I am on reversing camera it's a camera with some grid lines on it but no audible warning just to let you know that what you're seeing is right. My Current car has no camera but an audible warning, it is possible. Perhaps someone had switched it off. I'd be keen to have it switched back on again.
And whilst we're on the radio and the "premium" sound system I turned up the volume to maximum. Loud enough without making your ears bleed. Then I had to stop and get out to do something. I got back in and of course the volume was set to ears bleeding now, I would have thought that Honda would have a reset to default volume option on their "premium" stereo's. (again my current car has this it's a magnificent feature)
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"]
English: Honda CRZ Hybrid at the 2010 Washington Auto Show (D.C.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]
It has the same trick steering wheel that is in the CRZ, little buttons to push here and there, some obvious some not so. And it has a flappy paddle gear-box. But oddly only 5 gears. And I loved the seamless way that the gearbox works. I was intrigued that in the "sports" mode that I could go from 1-though-5 at the speed I was driving, I'd be hoping that there is some failsafe in the system that prevented you driving everywhere in 1st for instance, or trying to pull away in 5th.
It has, currently, keyless entry and keyless ignition, but the salesman tells me that as they move to a new factory overseas this might disappear. As an older generation driver things like keyless ignition are still smoke and mirrors, and it's a feature that should be there, just to show that the car is leading edge of something.
There is an "eco" mode button that lights up a green leaf thing on the dashboard. This makes the transmission mode softer, and assists in economical driving. And you can tell the economy by the way the green ring appears around the speedo when you drive, Green is good, white for a fright? There didn't appear to be a red ring to indicated lead-footery. Then again the green ring of confidence seemed to be in attendance most of the time I drove it.
And on demand 4WD, as if you're likely every to take this more than curb parking. Off-road as in parked in my garage perhaps. or for parking on the grass verge at the sunday farmers market.
It accelerates to warp speed maximum (And a bit) really quickly, smoothly and without drama when entering the motorway, and has really good mid-range acceleration. I love the acceleration and the response I got, good stuff.
It's also very very quiet and comfortable, I couldn't pick up any road noise inside the car. Then again I did have the sunroof open :-) but when it wasn't it was a comfortable quiet cockpit.
What do I not like so much? Stereo, Lack of sat-nav, lack of audible reversing proximity sensor. I didn't understand the drama of the "eco" mode, I didn't really get the green-ring of confidence around the speedo, and the drivers wheel buttons are a bit faffing and fiddly.
What do I like? It's easy to get into, it has new fangled keyless start and a flappy paddle gearbox. It has great acceleration.
However this is a much much better car than the current CRV, by any measure. At 10 liters per 100 kms that I drove it's not too thirsty for something of it's size.
Could it get me in trouble? It could, it drives to the maximum speed limit quickly and then it'll keep going.
To the chase then, would I own one? at just under NZ$50k there is a lot of competition for the money. I don't think I'd be a comfortable Honda car driver, I'd be disappointed that I'd turned into Captain Slow.
The CRV is good at what it's good at, but it doesn't bring anything but "safe" to the game, which you might like or you might despair of. It's not quirky in any sense that I could define, and although you don't necessarily want a car that challenges you, you might want one that let's you be in a bit of command over it and not the other way around. It's a driving pleasure not a driving experience.
Drive one at the first opportunity you can, it really is remarkable how different and how much nicer this is then the car you have, just how quiet, how smooth and balanced it is, and how much thought Honda have given to getting you from A to B in comfort.
You won't be disappointed. Having driven one I'm not.
It's a Honda. It has that over engineered for people Honda-ness going for it. Everything in it's place, everything for a purpose. It's a very pretty car, lois of nice rounded edges and curves. and a little shark fin on the roof!Climb inside - there are a bazillion seat settings, I know that once you get it right it's right, but faffing and fiddling when you're in motion isn't the best way to start a drive. eventually I figured it out to lower the seat, tip the front of if it down, move it back, adjust the lumbar setting, and then move the steering wheel down and out. It's how I like it, the next person in will hate it. MrsPdubyah would have a mild panic every time she got in, it might do Honda well to have a memory system if they're going to invest in electrickery of this sort for seats.
First order of the day - It doesn't have a sat-nav. This appears to be a cost save, since the display is used for showing you how loud the stereo is, and then doubles as a reversing camera screen. And whilst I am on reversing camera it's a camera with some grid lines on it but no audible warning just to let you know that what you're seeing is right. My Current car has no camera but an audible warning, it is possible. Perhaps someone had switched it off. I'd be keen to have it switched back on again.
And whilst we're on the radio and the "premium" sound system I turned up the volume to maximum. Loud enough without making your ears bleed. Then I had to stop and get out to do something. I got back in and of course the volume was set to ears bleeding now, I would have thought that Honda would have a reset to default volume option on their "premium" stereo's. (again my current car has this it's a magnificent feature)
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"]
English: Honda CRZ Hybrid at the 2010 Washington Auto Show (D.C.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]It has the same trick steering wheel that is in the CRZ, little buttons to push here and there, some obvious some not so. And it has a flappy paddle gear-box. But oddly only 5 gears. And I loved the seamless way that the gearbox works. I was intrigued that in the "sports" mode that I could go from 1-though-5 at the speed I was driving, I'd be hoping that there is some failsafe in the system that prevented you driving everywhere in 1st for instance, or trying to pull away in 5th.
It has, currently, keyless entry and keyless ignition, but the salesman tells me that as they move to a new factory overseas this might disappear. As an older generation driver things like keyless ignition are still smoke and mirrors, and it's a feature that should be there, just to show that the car is leading edge of something.
There is an "eco" mode button that lights up a green leaf thing on the dashboard. This makes the transmission mode softer, and assists in economical driving. And you can tell the economy by the way the green ring appears around the speedo when you drive, Green is good, white for a fright? There didn't appear to be a red ring to indicated lead-footery. Then again the green ring of confidence seemed to be in attendance most of the time I drove it.
And on demand 4WD, as if you're likely every to take this more than curb parking. Off-road as in parked in my garage perhaps. or for parking on the grass verge at the sunday farmers market.
It accelerates to warp speed maximum (And a bit) really quickly, smoothly and without drama when entering the motorway, and has really good mid-range acceleration. I love the acceleration and the response I got, good stuff.
It's also very very quiet and comfortable, I couldn't pick up any road noise inside the car. Then again I did have the sunroof open :-) but when it wasn't it was a comfortable quiet cockpit.
What do I not like so much? Stereo, Lack of sat-nav, lack of audible reversing proximity sensor. I didn't understand the drama of the "eco" mode, I didn't really get the green-ring of confidence around the speedo, and the drivers wheel buttons are a bit faffing and fiddly.
What do I like? It's easy to get into, it has new fangled keyless start and a flappy paddle gearbox. It has great acceleration.
However this is a much much better car than the current CRV, by any measure. At 10 liters per 100 kms that I drove it's not too thirsty for something of it's size.
Could it get me in trouble? It could, it drives to the maximum speed limit quickly and then it'll keep going.
To the chase then, would I own one? at just under NZ$50k there is a lot of competition for the money. I don't think I'd be a comfortable Honda car driver, I'd be disappointed that I'd turned into Captain Slow.
The CRV is good at what it's good at, but it doesn't bring anything but "safe" to the game, which you might like or you might despair of. It's not quirky in any sense that I could define, and although you don't necessarily want a car that challenges you, you might want one that let's you be in a bit of command over it and not the other way around. It's a driving pleasure not a driving experience.
Drive one at the first opportunity you can, it really is remarkable how different and how much nicer this is then the car you have, just how quiet, how smooth and balanced it is, and how much thought Honda have given to getting you from A to B in comfort.
You won't be disappointed. Having driven one I'm not.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Beer – #36 – Wanaka Beerworks - Sir Walter
How could you go past a beer faux named after you - Wanaka Beerworks - Sir Walter.
So from the Wanaka Beerworks, in the Abbey Tripel style - and yes Wanaka, It has a lake.*
It's a Triple, so I'm expecting hazy, yellow, nice head and lacing, fruit/sherbert. I have a lot of expectations, but as it's a faux tribute beer I'll forgive it a lot.
It's a normal 330ml bottle of 7.5% ABV beer simply presented.
I had a check on their website they have some humorous names for beers, I could be on a new mission. (do you have to do missions in order?)
and so .... Cripes! it has an uncontrollable head on it, I can pour beer
(I've had a bit of practice) but clearly this needs a more delicate and deft touch than I brought to the table.
And so fighting through the foam I get to the beer. and there's a thing. That was a bunch of taste that I wasn't expecting. The foam is very, er, forceful and firm. This is unnerving. Underneath though the last is grounded in citrus,I got oranges, but there is something else. Something dusty in the background.
It has the haze, it's a delightful color, and there is length in the taste too, which is pleasing. Not the alcohol but of the actual taste. And despite my best efforts the aroma eludes me though the foam. I'll pay more attention next bottle, because I have a back up plan.
The head does die away, and there is a fair about of lacing left.
Arbitrarily I'm going to award from arbitrary points on the equally as arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter and get to 7 things out of 10 things on some random notion of fairness. I'm happy to forgo aroma but I'm confused by the excited head. And that's not a sentence you normally hear in polite conversation. I like this though, it's not pretentious, it is what it says it is.
*Wanaka - for my 50th birthday I was taken on a road trip through some of the South Island of New Zealand, my masthead picture is from Lake Tekapo, just by the Church of the Good Shepherd. Anyway Wanaka was one stop on the journey, and cresting the hill I exclaimed "A Lake". Everyone else in New Zealand knows there is a lake at Wanaka, Not me. I've yet to live this down.
So from the Wanaka Beerworks, in the Abbey Tripel style - and yes Wanaka, It has a lake.*It's a Triple, so I'm expecting hazy, yellow, nice head and lacing, fruit/sherbert. I have a lot of expectations, but as it's a faux tribute beer I'll forgive it a lot.
It's a normal 330ml bottle of 7.5% ABV beer simply presented.
I had a check on their website they have some humorous names for beers, I could be on a new mission. (do you have to do missions in order?)
and so .... Cripes! it has an uncontrollable head on it, I can pour beer
(I've had a bit of practice) but clearly this needs a more delicate and deft touch than I brought to the table.And so fighting through the foam I get to the beer. and there's a thing. That was a bunch of taste that I wasn't expecting. The foam is very, er, forceful and firm. This is unnerving. Underneath though the last is grounded in citrus,I got oranges, but there is something else. Something dusty in the background.
It has the haze, it's a delightful color, and there is length in the taste too, which is pleasing. Not the alcohol but of the actual taste. And despite my best efforts the aroma eludes me though the foam. I'll pay more attention next bottle, because I have a back up plan.
The head does die away, and there is a fair about of lacing left.
Arbitrarily I'm going to award from arbitrary points on the equally as arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter and get to 7 things out of 10 things on some random notion of fairness. I'm happy to forgo aroma but I'm confused by the excited head. And that's not a sentence you normally hear in polite conversation. I like this though, it's not pretentious, it is what it says it is.
*Wanaka - for my 50th birthday I was taken on a road trip through some of the South Island of New Zealand, my masthead picture is from Lake Tekapo, just by the Church of the Good Shepherd. Anyway Wanaka was one stop on the journey, and cresting the hill I exclaimed "A Lake". Everyone else in New Zealand knows there is a lake at Wanaka, Not me. I've yet to live this down.
Related articles
- Winter Trip of 2009 (jyhedgehog.wordpress.com)
- Exploring Wanaka (myworldmarkstory.com)
- 11Days 10 Nights New Zealand Itinerary (alwaystravelicious.com)
- Day 6 - Wanaka (alwaystravelicious.com)
Growing up - "It's no use we're losing her Captain"
Such a timid thing, I though. MissPdubyah has all the worldliness of a tea-spoon. This is the daughter who had to look up a map to see how to drive Browns Bay from our house (clue: It's pretty much a straight line from here).
This is the daughter who got lost driving to Browns Bay. Seriously. The same daughter who failed her first attempt at a full drivers license for driving too slowly.
The same daughter who's childhood memories are all stories that end "and I cried"
That one.
Well she has a casual contractor job with a mall shop. The hours she can work are at a whim of a manager. The hours she can get from her job in Albany have been curtailed because of a new employee, and so she was offered a chance to work in the St.Lukes shop. A bigger, better shop.
Travelling from our house to St.Lukes means a trip on the motorway over the harbor bridge. This is like some mystical gateway, a challenge, a barrier (think the Prisoner and the giant soap bubbles). Anyway having drawn her a map and spoken to her about what lanes were best to be in an when she got lost. And ended up in Newmarket, and this is one story that actually does end with... and I cried)
Given some counseling and new advice MissPdubyah managed to renegotiate the motorway system and ended up at work. She followed her manager's car back to the motorway to get home.
That was then. Now we have ....
Thursday - I drove my friends to the Museum, and
Today I drove to Mission Bay for a yoghurt.
to Mission Bay. For a yoghurt. This is the modern equivalent of driving to the 'tron for a milkshake.
I can't believe how much, so suddenly a change like this happens. It's like having a baby all over again, and the bit where you're left wondering when did they stop saying choo-choo and start referring to them as diesel-electric engines.
I fear MrsPdubyah and I have lost her...... and found a new one. he says smiling
This is the daughter who got lost driving to Browns Bay. Seriously. The same daughter who failed her first attempt at a full drivers license for driving too slowly.
The same daughter who's childhood memories are all stories that end "and I cried"
That one.
Well she has a casual contractor job with a mall shop. The hours she can work are at a whim of a manager. The hours she can get from her job in Albany have been curtailed because of a new employee, and so she was offered a chance to work in the St.Lukes shop. A bigger, better shop.Travelling from our house to St.Lukes means a trip on the motorway over the harbor bridge. This is like some mystical gateway, a challenge, a barrier (think the Prisoner and the giant soap bubbles). Anyway having drawn her a map and spoken to her about what lanes were best to be in an when she got lost. And ended up in Newmarket, and this is one story that actually does end with... and I cried)
Given some counseling and new advice MissPdubyah managed to renegotiate the motorway system and ended up at work. She followed her manager's car back to the motorway to get home.
That was then. Now we have ....
Thursday - I drove my friends to the Museum, and
Today I drove to Mission Bay for a yoghurt.
to Mission Bay. For a yoghurt. This is the modern equivalent of driving to the 'tron for a milkshake.
I can't believe how much, so suddenly a change like this happens. It's like having a baby all over again, and the bit where you're left wondering when did they stop saying choo-choo and start referring to them as diesel-electric engines.
I fear MrsPdubyah and I have lost her...... and found a new one. he says smiling
Growing up – the one with the still leaving home
It's been an intriguing week.
Boychild has signed his tenancy agreement with his girlfriend and a new landlord for a place in Kelston.
All his worldly goods in a couple of boxes.
I was rebuked for my assertion that his prime concern was the Interwebtubes, it wasn't. apparently he's worried about burning the new place down. I have no idea how my spawn has turned out if this is his concern.
MrsPdubyah has paid the bond with the landlord, and despite her mercenary outlook is now looking for a fridge freezer unit to deliver to them on the weekend.
Who knew that there were shops specifically set up for second hand fridges. The Appliance Store in Birkenhead for instance, and TradeMe is an endless source. Makes sense, I mean, who ever throws out a fridge? We're still using the one we brought 25 years ago to keep my beer in. And the Freezer still seems to freeze ok. I shall miss them when they are gone.
Boychild has sorted an electrickery account, he's brought some insurances (including fire) and is looking forward to his day of assembling things in his new shag-pad.
The new place, I've haven't seen it yet, apparently is quite elevated and has a view over Auckland, but it is old school, and MrsPdubyah says it's a bit musty.
She bit her tongue though since she's lived in some well average places.
Hopefully boychild will rein in his enthusiasm and accept the gifts that MrsPdubyah will bring, including a fridge.
I think they're still short a Table and Chairs, and a washing machine. It's not the end of the world, the laundromat can be a great meeting place, and they probably have free wi-fi these days.
Boychild has signed his tenancy agreement with his girlfriend and a new landlord for a place in Kelston.
All his worldly goods in a couple of boxes.
I was rebuked for my assertion that his prime concern was the Interwebtubes, it wasn't. apparently he's worried about burning the new place down. I have no idea how my spawn has turned out if this is his concern.
MrsPdubyah has paid the bond with the landlord, and despite her mercenary outlook is now looking for a fridge freezer unit to deliver to them on the weekend.
Who knew that there were shops specifically set up for second hand fridges. The Appliance Store in Birkenhead for instance, and TradeMe is an endless source. Makes sense, I mean, who ever throws out a fridge? We're still using the one we brought 25 years ago to keep my beer in. And the Freezer still seems to freeze ok. I shall miss them when they are gone.
Boychild has sorted an electrickery account, he's brought some insurances (including fire) and is looking forward to his day of assembling things in his new shag-pad.
The new place, I've haven't seen it yet, apparently is quite elevated and has a view over Auckland, but it is old school, and MrsPdubyah says it's a bit musty.
She bit her tongue though since she's lived in some well average places.
Hopefully boychild will rein in his enthusiasm and accept the gifts that MrsPdubyah will bring, including a fridge.
I think they're still short a Table and Chairs, and a washing machine. It's not the end of the world, the laundromat can be a great meeting place, and they probably have free wi-fi these days.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Supporting Local - the one where it costs us more
We're encouraged to support Kiwi made, and to be proud of our Kiwiness. But this week, and added to a story of last year, it seems that we might just be paying through the nose for some of that faith.
Both the examples below, Air New Zealand, and Adidas New Zealand are both under some scrutiny for their pricing models.
I'm probably being a curmudgeon on this, and this is just the natural order of things, by and large no corporate does anything for altruistic purpose. Why give your money away for no reward.
Air NZ claim that "of course your tickets that buy in NZ on NZ's Airline cost more" because "They spend millions on advertising" and that of course has "Downstream" benefits. So basically we pay more to support our local Air Line so they can spend more on adverts, oh and of course they support Rugby - They are a 'global partner' of the All Blacks.
Adidas claimed that "of course the replica jersey costs more in NZ" because "we spend millions in sponsorship of rugby in New Zealand" Which is just like saying compulsory donation from you, benefit to us!
I'd not be surprised if, for example, Fisher and Paykel run a similar model for Netball sponsorship, it's not altruism that'd make them sponsor a sport.
The model where the price is slightly higher, the profits slightly higher, and as a result the company can show a generous largess in supporting a sports team, which should generate more sales which generates more profits, you see where this is going.
With the advent of the interwebtubes it becomes more obvious, and both the examples below are as a result of being able to by online, in real time, for the same goods, or service, and get a different experience. I'm sure they didn't think it through really. Afterall your marketing spend is a local issue, but with a global reach. People shouldn't be disloyal and shop elsewhere but at home, should they?
I don't object to sponsorships, profits, profit margins, sales, or globalisation, but I do object to being treated as a bit of a dumbass by the talking head PR people about these things. They'd sell a lot fewer jerseys though if it came with a tag that said "for every jersey you buy we will recover the cost of sponsorship for your team by $10.00. Never happen. Nor would Air NZ get away with a advertising Surcharge on their tickets of 5% to aid their global marketing initiatives.
#justsaying
Air New Zealand has been left scrambling to explain why Kiwis are charged hundreds - even thousands - of dollars more than British passengers for the same flights.
A customer based in Britain who books online a return economy-class flight from London to Auckland will pay much less than a New Zealand-based traveller who books the same journey in reverse on Air New Zealand's website at the same time.
The price disparity can vary wildly, but a standard round-trip between Auckland and Heathrow via Los Angeles will set a New Zealand-based passenger back $500 more for an economy seat, $1500 more for a SkyCouch upgrade, $2100 more for a premium economy seat and $3000 in business class.
Air New Zealand public affairs manager Tracy Smeaton explained Air New Zealand spent $100 million on promoting the country to foreign tourists - an investment that benefited New Zealanders downstream
Adidas has refused to cut the price of All Blacks jerseys despite a threat from the country's largest retailer to pull the tops from shelves.
An All Blacks replica jersey, manufactured by adidas, is available for $220 in New Zealand retail stores, but listed for sale at $US79.99 ($NZ92.68) on the website worldrugbyshop.com.
Mr Huggett said rugby fans knew they were supporting New Zealand rugby when they bought a replica All Blacks jersey.
Adidas New Zealand manager David Huggett said "We invest millions of dollars in Kiwi rugby from grassroots through to the All Blacks, including a major investment in the state-of-the-art All Black jersey."
People being able to buy jerseys for a cheaper price online was no different to being able to buy cosmetics or other consumer products more cheaply from offshore retailers, he said.
Both the examples below, Air New Zealand, and Adidas New Zealand are both under some scrutiny for their pricing models.
I'm probably being a curmudgeon on this, and this is just the natural order of things, by and large no corporate does anything for altruistic purpose. Why give your money away for no reward.
Air NZ claim that "of course your tickets that buy in NZ on NZ's Airline cost more" because "They spend millions on advertising" and that of course has "Downstream" benefits. So basically we pay more to support our local Air Line so they can spend more on adverts, oh and of course they support Rugby - They are a 'global partner' of the All Blacks.
Adidas claimed that "of course the replica jersey costs more in NZ" because "we spend millions in sponsorship of rugby in New Zealand" Which is just like saying compulsory donation from you, benefit to us!
I'd not be surprised if, for example, Fisher and Paykel run a similar model for Netball sponsorship, it's not altruism that'd make them sponsor a sport.
The model where the price is slightly higher, the profits slightly higher, and as a result the company can show a generous largess in supporting a sports team, which should generate more sales which generates more profits, you see where this is going.
With the advent of the interwebtubes it becomes more obvious, and both the examples below are as a result of being able to by online, in real time, for the same goods, or service, and get a different experience. I'm sure they didn't think it through really. Afterall your marketing spend is a local issue, but with a global reach. People shouldn't be disloyal and shop elsewhere but at home, should they?
I don't object to sponsorships, profits, profit margins, sales, or globalisation, but I do object to being treated as a bit of a dumbass by the talking head PR people about these things. They'd sell a lot fewer jerseys though if it came with a tag that said "for every jersey you buy we will recover the cost of sponsorship for your team by $10.00. Never happen. Nor would Air NZ get away with a advertising Surcharge on their tickets of 5% to aid their global marketing initiatives.
#justsaying
Kiwis pay top dollar on Air NZ
Air New Zealand has been left scrambling to explain why Kiwis are charged hundreds - even thousands - of dollars more than British passengers for the same flights.
A customer based in Britain who books online a return economy-class flight from London to Auckland will pay much less than a New Zealand-based traveller who books the same journey in reverse on Air New Zealand's website at the same time.
The price disparity can vary wildly, but a standard round-trip between Auckland and Heathrow via Los Angeles will set a New Zealand-based passenger back $500 more for an economy seat, $1500 more for a SkyCouch upgrade, $2100 more for a premium economy seat and $3000 in business class.
Air New Zealand public affairs manager Tracy Smeaton explained Air New Zealand spent $100 million on promoting the country to foreign tourists - an investment that benefited New Zealanders downstream
Adidas All Black Jersey (Augsut 2011)
Adidas has refused to cut the price of All Blacks jerseys despite a threat from the country's largest retailer to pull the tops from shelves.
An All Blacks replica jersey, manufactured by adidas, is available for $220 in New Zealand retail stores, but listed for sale at $US79.99 ($NZ92.68) on the website worldrugbyshop.com.
Mr Huggett said rugby fans knew they were supporting New Zealand rugby when they bought a replica All Blacks jersey.
Adidas New Zealand manager David Huggett said "We invest millions of dollars in Kiwi rugby from grassroots through to the All Blacks, including a major investment in the state-of-the-art All Black jersey."
People being able to buy jerseys for a cheaper price online was no different to being able to buy cosmetics or other consumer products more cheaply from offshore retailers, he said.
Related articles
- Kiwis pay top dollar on Air NZ (nzherald.co.nz)
- AIG wants logo on All Black jersey, says journalist (radionz.co.nz)
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The one where schools drop Bible class as interest falls
This is a story that isn't quite like what it seems like Schools drop Bible as interest falls - National - NZ Herald News.
In the article it says
Which says that the school can't resource correctly for children not being taught from the book of the sky god, not that teaching from the book of the sky god is wrong, inappropriate or outdated thinking, but that having to find a teacher or activities to replace indoctrination means that they have to come up with some alternative thing. They'd still be doing the indoctrination if less parents were exercising their choice, this is a decision forced on the school by the parents and not some brave decision by the school to change their thinking and delivery of education.
There's nothing wrong with fables and lessons on doing the right thing, but you don't have to have specific religiosity to do that, you don't need a book of a mystical being to be able to instill a moral compass, and to affirm that things like, say, killing someone, is wrong, or that theft isn't really what you do in a civilised society.
Couple of amusing things in the story
So that makes it o.k., appropriate, correct, and relevant? no!, and I fail to see how it disadvantages people. I'd hate to think what would happen if the school expanded the religious lessons to include the Koran, or teaching from Buddhism. Actually you know what, I was just being an egg.
The other quote I like is this one
And I agree. Bible isn't for school. Science is for school, Maths and English are for school. Instilling the values of society, the right and wrong, that's for parents, and in my house the Bible wasn't part of that.
In the article it says
"Browns Bay principal Roger Harnett said parents had been withdrawing their children from the Churches Education Commission programme.
Last year, about 50 students dropped out from a roll of 500, but Mr Harnett said complaints increased when students saw their friends choosing to opt out and persuaded their own parents to let them drop the class too.
This year, the board of trustees decided to cancel the programme because they were having a problem catering for the increasing number of students withdrawing. It made the decision after a review of all non-curriculum activities."
Which says that the school can't resource correctly for children not being taught from the book of the sky god, not that teaching from the book of the sky god is wrong, inappropriate or outdated thinking, but that having to find a teacher or activities to replace indoctrination means that they have to come up with some alternative thing. They'd still be doing the indoctrination if less parents were exercising their choice, this is a decision forced on the school by the parents and not some brave decision by the school to change their thinking and delivery of education.
There's nothing wrong with fables and lessons on doing the right thing, but you don't have to have specific religiosity to do that, you don't need a book of a mystical being to be able to instill a moral compass, and to affirm that things like, say, killing someone, is wrong, or that theft isn't really what you do in a civilised society.
Couple of amusing things in the story
"Robin Palmer, of Browns Bay Presbyterian Church, was concerned that children whose schools did not use the Bible in Schools programme would be at a disadvantage. "We regard the programme as adding value to the school, and it's been around for many years."
So that makes it o.k., appropriate, correct, and relevant? no!, and I fail to see how it disadvantages people. I'd hate to think what would happen if the school expanded the religious lessons to include the Koran, or teaching from Buddhism. Actually you know what, I was just being an egg.
The other quote I like is this one
"Parents have ample opportunity to teach children about the Bible outside school time"
And I agree. Bible isn't for school. Science is for school, Maths and English are for school. Instilling the values of society, the right and wrong, that's for parents, and in my house the Bible wasn't part of that.
Related articles
- The antidote for public-school indoctrination (wnd.com)
- Teach children the Bible is not about them (thebereanway.wordpress.com)
- Christians target schools in 'mission' (stuff.co.nz)
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Beer – #35 – Adnams Broadside
Adnams Broadside made of "Pale Ale malt and First Gold hops, Broadside is a dark ruby red beer rich in fruitcake aromas, almonds and conserved fruit." it says.
It's a 500ml 6.3% ABV strong ale Brewed by Adnams as an English Strong Ale, in Southwold, England. A bit quirky - Broadside is an award winning Extra Strong Bitter ale that was named after the “Battle of Sole Bay fought against the Dutch Republic in 1672 off the Southwold coast.”
Have a fight have a beer, The English way since ages ago then.
I'm expecting quite a bit from this then, particularly in color and aroma. And I'm not disappointed in either. Pours to a nice head too, win!
Bit of a fruity aroma, hey I read the label and it says that it would have one, and it does, and a fairly complex taste set. It has bitterness but a strangely sweet bitterness that isn't unpleasant.
I'd suggest that this is a fantastic beer actually, and one that I'd be happy to sit with for a session, nothing wrong with it that I can find. It unremarkable, unchallenging and yet it's not missing in action. It delivers what it says it does. You can tell I'm impressed.
I have to award arbitrary score on the arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter, and in this case it would be 8 from 10 arbitrary numbers. It's not that it's a bad beer, it just that it's not a remarkable beer, It's just a very good beer, and me and the blue cheese are going to enjoys it's company for a couple.
Oh I forgot to mention that the last time I had an Adnams Ale was when we were on a self-drive cruise boat on the Norfolk Broads, and I'm sure it was at a place called the Wherry Inn. But then I would have been say 17 years old, and that my friends is a long time ago. Now I'm dead set sure it Wherry, and I'm dead set sure that means chain pulled or driven. And I'm also dead set sure we had a few.
It's a 500ml 6.3% ABV strong ale Brewed by Adnams as an English Strong Ale, in Southwold, England. A bit quirky - Broadside is an award winning Extra Strong Bitter ale that was named after the “Battle of Sole Bay fought against the Dutch Republic in 1672 off the Southwold coast.”Have a fight have a beer, The English way since ages ago then.
I'm expecting quite a bit from this then, particularly in color and aroma. And I'm not disappointed in either. Pours to a nice head too, win!
Bit of a fruity aroma, hey I read the label and it says that it would have one, and it does, and a fairly complex taste set. It has bitterness but a strangely sweet bitterness that isn't unpleasant.
I'd suggest that this is a fantastic beer actually, and one that I'd be happy to sit with for a session, nothing wrong with it that I can find. It unremarkable, unchallenging and yet it's not missing in action. It delivers what it says it does. You can tell I'm impressed.
I have to award arbitrary score on the arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter, and in this case it would be 8 from 10 arbitrary numbers. It's not that it's a bad beer, it just that it's not a remarkable beer, It's just a very good beer, and me and the blue cheese are going to enjoys it's company for a couple.
Oh I forgot to mention that the last time I had an Adnams Ale was when we were on a self-drive cruise boat on the Norfolk Broads, and I'm sure it was at a place called the Wherry Inn. But then I would have been say 17 years old, and that my friends is a long time ago. Now I'm dead set sure it Wherry, and I'm dead set sure that means chain pulled or driven. And I'm also dead set sure we had a few.
Related articles
- Review: Deviant Dales Pale Ale (boston.com)
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Spam of the week
For my own amusement I thought I would post the best of the worst bits of A goodly selection of spam that for whatever reason gets posted as comments here, for this week then;
or
or
or my favorite
or
or
or
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and today.....
I am assuming you are taniklg about the plugin for wordpress. If so, yes I have upgraded to the latest version, I like what it adds to the backend of the site in terms of functionality. If you are taniklg about something else, you must let me know.
or
I am 69 years of age, and a treadmill is not going to get rid of saoctmh fat. I have never in my life bought anything from a tv shop commercial, but I did buy a AB DOER TWIST from that source, and I must admit it does the trick very well. I have two bad knees and had a hip replacement and walking was not comfortable and the weight loss was not worth mentioning. Now I am fitter and doing well.
or
The beer garden is eneastislly a gift from the tournament directors. We are sorry, those of you under can’t partake of the beer. But, you can still stay and hear the band! The beer garden is outside and contained in a fence. But the music is just as clear outside of the fence.
or my favorite
how have you never made a black and tan and yet you run a beer site? it’s a basic part of growing up! it will work fine. but palese use a good american stout when you make it. nothing against guinness, which is the official beer for a black and tan, but it’s too sweet. try a three floyd’s darklord. it’ll blow your mind
or
Τι μου θυμίζει, τι μου θυμίζει Brothers and sisters, the time has comeFor each and every one of you to ddcieeWhether you are gonna be the problem,Or whether you are gonna be the solution
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and today.....
Growing up – the one with the leaving home.
#1 Son is about to leave the parental home and set up a love nest with this girlfriend. It's been a while coming.
As a father I'm pleased that he's at last making his way in the world and leaving home to set out anew is a big step for anyone to take.
So they've found a place to live, and it sounds very 70's. They have a few things between them, or rather the girlfriend has a few things, since she's been living away from her parents for a few years. #1 son brings nothing to the table, not even a table.
We're going to help with the bond for the flat, but MrsPdubyah is reluctant to do more than that. Which is strange possibly because deep down she does not want him to leave the house. You'd think she'd be all for setting him up and letting him go. Proves you can be married for many many years and really not get your partner.
Anyway west down to talk about what they might need to get them into a normal life. The list went like this;
in that order. Really yes.
Last night #1 son had an intense hour on the interwebtubes looking at the price of broadband plans.
I'm sure he'll be right, his girlfriend will sort out his lack of ability to pick up dirty clothes and to his inability to find the kitchen sink to wash plates up. It's a big challenge.
One thing MrsPdubyah did say to #1 Son was that because they didn't have a washing machine that he'd be fine to drop off his dirty laundry to home and she'd be happy to wash it and drop it back to him. WTF seriously!
As a father I'm pleased that he's at last making his way in the world and leaving home to set out anew is a big step for anyone to take.
So they've found a place to live, and it sounds very 70's. They have a few things between them, or rather the girlfriend has a few things, since she's been living away from her parents for a few years. #1 son brings nothing to the table, not even a table.
We're going to help with the bond for the flat, but MrsPdubyah is reluctant to do more than that. Which is strange possibly because deep down she does not want him to leave the house. You'd think she'd be all for setting him up and letting him go. Proves you can be married for many many years and really not get your partner.
Anyway west down to talk about what they might need to get them into a normal life. The list went like this;
- Broadband
- Fridge
- Washing Machine
- Table and Chairs
- Crockery
- Knives and forks
- Chest of draws for clothes
- Electricity Account
in that order. Really yes.
Last night #1 son had an intense hour on the interwebtubes looking at the price of broadband plans.
I'm sure he'll be right, his girlfriend will sort out his lack of ability to pick up dirty clothes and to his inability to find the kitchen sink to wash plates up. It's a big challenge.
One thing MrsPdubyah did say to #1 Son was that because they didn't have a washing machine that he'd be fine to drop off his dirty laundry to home and she'd be happy to wash it and drop it back to him. WTF seriously!
Beer – #34 – Epic Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout
Well, the Epic Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout was another beer that was recommend to me to try.
It's an 8% ABV Imperial Oatmeal Stout delivered in a massive 750Ml bottle. My work is cut out tonight then
It pours really dark, like a really good stout should, and has an aroma of citrus, and coffee and chocolate, so I thought.
The taste is amazing! Big on coffee, sweet caramel malts, Chocolate, it has them all, in aces! It somewhat surprising to have the aroma that follows the taste. Not what I was expecting and I might add completely welcome, thank you very much.
Of course this is from the Epic Brewing Company and is Brewed at Steam Brewing Company here in Auckland. Epic is about right
I've nothing bad to say about this, the head dies away but leaves a nice lacing in the glass, The aroma is still there and the taste is, well, tasty.
On the completely arbitrary Pdubyah-o-meter this is a powerful 9 from 10, This is a beer that you should share with your mates, and as I look around me just now I can see a couch, which is where I'm going to sit and share this with. Top stuff
It's an 8% ABV Imperial Oatmeal Stout delivered in a massive 750Ml bottle. My work is cut out tonight thenIt pours really dark, like a really good stout should, and has an aroma of citrus, and coffee and chocolate, so I thought.
The taste is amazing! Big on coffee, sweet caramel malts, Chocolate, it has them all, in aces! It somewhat surprising to have the aroma that follows the taste. Not what I was expecting and I might add completely welcome, thank you very much.
Of course this is from the Epic Brewing Company and is Brewed at Steam Brewing Company here in Auckland. Epic is about right
I've nothing bad to say about this, the head dies away but leaves a nice lacing in the glass, The aroma is still there and the taste is, well, tasty.
On the completely arbitrary Pdubyah-o-meter this is a powerful 9 from 10, This is a beer that you should share with your mates, and as I look around me just now I can see a couch, which is where I'm going to sit and share this with. Top stuff
Related articles
- Review: AleSmith Speedway Stout (articles.boston.com)
- Good Morning! Want a Coffee in your Beer? (foodservicewarehouse.com)
- Review: Deviant Dales Pale Ale (boston.com)
- Beer | Santa Fe Brewing Company Imperial Java Stout (selectism.com)
- Three Beers From Gray's Brewing Company (aleheads.com)
Friday, July 6, 2012
The facination of the media for Redemption
re·demp·tion:
- An act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
- Deliverance; rescue.
- Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation.
- Atonement for guilt.
- Repurchase, as of something sold
One of the online media sites in New Zealand, Stuff.co.nz, uses "redemption" at the drop of a hat.
A quick search returns About 2,590 results on their website which is a little on high side don't ya think?
Redemption and Sport return 2,090 results !! which is a little on the high side don't ya think ?
The other online site The New Zealand Herald returns only about 1,000 results. Redemption and sports gets a paltry 70 results.
So either the Journalists at Stuff are a Pious bunch who have some intimate knowledge of the religiosity of the people they are writing about, or someone at these media outlets doesn't think "Redemption" means what they think it means.
In the context that the media use it, mostly, it's for sport. And what they don't divulge is what it is that they are seeking or receiving or asking redemption for?
A Redemption from what wrong or misdeed that they've done, aside from being an abject failure at their earlier attempt at something. They are mostly professional sportspeople, they've been paid, or are getting paid to do what they do. It's not like they have to give the money back for their failure.
Are they seeking to apologise and show they are worthy of adulation and adoration, and the cash that they comes with it, and to prove that we should throw more money their way?
Worst cases are they don't get paid as much next time, or they don't get another opportunity. Either way it's not a redemptive situation is it?
Sure as an individual it could be that they are trying to redeem their good name then, regain their cachet with their adoring public, from who they crave admiration, seek redress to the bad publicity that comes with some act or other on or off the sporting field. But that does not excuse the media for running over 2000 stories of redemption under any circumstance that I can think of.
If I'm wrong however I'll seek redemption at the earliest opportunity
Related articles
- College Football Powerhouses That Will Experience Redemption in 2012 (bleacherreport.com)
- Redemption Is Near by Roger Edwards (thebarnabascenter.wordpress.com)
- The Redemption. (crittyjoy.com)
- The Redemption Story (catherinekaputa.typepad.com)
- Best of 2007: The Best Look of Redemption (fabsugar.com)
- Redemption (feministperspective.wordpress.com)
13th July : Today the NZ Stuff website ran another story about redemption and sports
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Spam...
I just want to mention I am all new to blogs and truly enjoyed your web-site. Probably I’m planning to bookmark your site . You really have fabulous writings. Appreciate it for sharing with us your web site.
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn seomthing like this before. So good to seek out somebody with some unique thoughts on this subject. realy thanks for beginning this up. this web site is seomthing that’s needed on the internet, somebody with slightly originality. helpful job for bringing seomthing new to the web!
yo wut rules do u yo wut rules do u have i know that guy named off most of them but how do you decide who sveres and how many sveres do you get and also say if you dont hit a cup but they fail to return the ball what happens then let me know or send me a full list of rules cuz we pong it up all the time just never done it with paddles
Rob-I simply can’t belivee that you’re not on Facebook. That’s where ALL the networking is happening for authors and journlists these days. It’s an amazing tool for getting you and your writings noticed.Look me up at Facebook, and read my friends list. You’ll see what I mean.Let me know when you open your Facebook site.Deborah
Please save your money. I have severe oiaoetrthritss. I thought that these would give me some relief of tough days. i bought the left and right. They slide down when i take 2 steps. (Yes, I got the right size. $200. and I can’t and have never used them. I use ace bandages instead. I had NO IDEA that i could not return! There was a not in each box that the item was non-returnable. I am very, very, very unsatisfied with both of these braces. A complete and total waste of money. I wish that I could return, as they have never been used!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
I remember the first time I broke a bone as if it was only yesterday.
And it was! I've managed by some good fortune not to have had a broken bone for my whole life. Untill just past midnight on Sunday.
I've managed to fracture a toe. The one referred to as "this one has none" in the nursery rhyme.
Not even a big toe, a proper toe, but the little one next to the littlest one.
I managed to walk into a small upright heater that I'd placed in the hallway to heat the top part of the house. Yes I put the heater there, and I knew it was there. But it was just past midnight and I was moving about the house half asleep, in the dark and on auto-pilot.
Here's a tip, don't do that in future.
The toe was at a bit of a right angle, and I nudged it back into place, got into bed and slept on it. Pointless dashing out at midnight. However next morning it's unbearable to walk on and it still hurt's something chronic, or I'm a bit of a wuss. Probably the latter. It makes me wonder how people with real injuries get on.
So anyway at the A&E on Monday Morning having it checked out the Doctor says a couple of things....
When I fist pump as she tells me I have a fracture, and I explain it's a first broken bone she comments "that was a weird response" and then she says
"Don't come back next week to tell us it still hurts, we know that already" meaning that at 4-6 weeks of uncomfortable is just that, 4-6 weeks, oh and I get a medical certificate declaring that "I'm fit for work"
So a temporary end to the less of me project whilst I learn to hobble from A to B.
I've managed to fracture a toe. The one referred to as "this one has none" in the nursery rhyme.
Not even a big toe, a proper toe, but the little one next to the littlest one.
I managed to walk into a small upright heater that I'd placed in the hallway to heat the top part of the house. Yes I put the heater there, and I knew it was there. But it was just past midnight and I was moving about the house half asleep, in the dark and on auto-pilot.
Here's a tip, don't do that in future.
The toe was at a bit of a right angle, and I nudged it back into place, got into bed and slept on it. Pointless dashing out at midnight. However next morning it's unbearable to walk on and it still hurt's something chronic, or I'm a bit of a wuss. Probably the latter. It makes me wonder how people with real injuries get on.
So anyway at the A&E on Monday Morning having it checked out the Doctor says a couple of things....
When I fist pump as she tells me I have a fracture, and I explain it's a first broken bone she comments "that was a weird response" and then she says
"Don't come back next week to tell us it still hurts, we know that already" meaning that at 4-6 weeks of uncomfortable is just that, 4-6 weeks, oh and I get a medical certificate declaring that "I'm fit for work"
So a temporary end to the less of me project whilst I learn to hobble from A to B.
Related articles
- Broken bones anyone? (laurieanichols.wordpress.com)
Monday, July 2, 2012
Beer – #33 – Stoke Bomber - Smoky Ale
I've had two people who've had the Stoke Bomber - Smoky Ale, and they have had totally different opinions on it.
It's a 650ml bottle (big) of a 5.7% ABV beer, made in Nelson by the McCashin family.
It pours a deep golden color, and has a hoppy aroma which confused me as I was expecting bonfire smoke! Not a lot by way of head, I might be pouring it wrong, or it might be headless.
Oh and there's the smoky taste, which is pretty subtle and not as shocking as I was expecting. When I say subtle I don't mean it's not there, but again I was expecting bonfire burnt wood / carbon footprint in a bottle. Don't ask why.
The smoky taste doesn't overpower the other tastes that this beer brings to the glass. I got bitterness like a pale ale, peppery and fizzy :-) It's not unpleasant.
It's defiantly more to my taste than say Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude - which they said couldn't be done, and probably shouldn't have, however that's not a smoky beer but made with peat/whiskey flavor in mind.
I'm enjoying this though, not so much that I'd stock the fridge with it, but it is consistent on the tounge and is holding it's flavors. I was worried that I had two of these, but I think I'll manage it ok. It is however a "with food" beer and not a stand at the bar and quaff beer for my money, and it's stand up to some robust counterpoint tastes.
The arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter for some arbitrary numbers from an arbitrary number then, and this has pleased me because it's more palatable than I was expecting. So for that it's a 4 from 5 arbitrary things from a thing.
oh the two opinions I mentioned at the top were at either end of the scale, one loved it the other couldn't finish it. I'd say that the latter might have been because they were having a mini beer-fest in their lounge, and I'd pick that the Smoky Ale would clash with pretty much any other beer that you'd have had before.
It's a 650ml bottle (big) of a 5.7% ABV beer, made in Nelson by the McCashin family.It pours a deep golden color, and has a hoppy aroma which confused me as I was expecting bonfire smoke! Not a lot by way of head, I might be pouring it wrong, or it might be headless.
Oh and there's the smoky taste, which is pretty subtle and not as shocking as I was expecting. When I say subtle I don't mean it's not there, but again I was expecting bonfire burnt wood / carbon footprint in a bottle. Don't ask why.
The smoky taste doesn't overpower the other tastes that this beer brings to the glass. I got bitterness like a pale ale, peppery and fizzy :-) It's not unpleasant.
It's defiantly more to my taste than say Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude - which they said couldn't be done, and probably shouldn't have, however that's not a smoky beer but made with peat/whiskey flavor in mind.
I'm enjoying this though, not so much that I'd stock the fridge with it, but it is consistent on the tounge and is holding it's flavors. I was worried that I had two of these, but I think I'll manage it ok. It is however a "with food" beer and not a stand at the bar and quaff beer for my money, and it's stand up to some robust counterpoint tastes.
The arbitrary pdubyah-o-meter for some arbitrary numbers from an arbitrary number then, and this has pleased me because it's more palatable than I was expecting. So for that it's a 4 from 5 arbitrary things from a thing.
oh the two opinions I mentioned at the top were at either end of the scale, one loved it the other couldn't finish it. I'd say that the latter might have been because they were having a mini beer-fest in their lounge, and I'd pick that the Smoky Ale would clash with pretty much any other beer that you'd have had before.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Beer – #32 – Harrington's - Belgium Tempest
Harrington's Belgium Tempest a Strong Ale of 8% ABV in a 500ml bottle. Not a flash bottle, not a flash label.
Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the Abbey Tripel style the interwebtubes seems to be divided on this.
For me it poured flat and without head, and it doesn't carry the same aroma of a Belgium style beer, For me it's a bit hoppy. The label says "moderate" I'm not sure that means what they think it means.
It carries a citrus flavor that is noticeable, and an unerlying bitterness and a dash of caramel that kind of peeks in for a sneaky look but doesn't hang around. All a bit soft really.
But the taste is close to what is expected. Close but not close. Something with the malt that didn't quite turn up perhaps.
It's very very flat in the glass, no head, no lacing, but it's being brave with it's somewhat faintly pleasing aroma,
Overall though I think that this is a beer that is confused as to what it is and what it's supposed to be.
On the pdubyah-o-meter this is going to be arbitrarily disappointing at about 2 from 5. Like the bottle and the label this then isn't flash. It's not even solid, and it's not a welcoming taste or aroma that you'd get from other Belgium style beers that are styled as a Tripel.
I'd like to be kinder to this, and I should if I could, you know I'm easily impressed, equally I'm easily disappointed and I am disappointed in this.
Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) in the Abbey Tripel style the interwebtubes seems to be divided on this.For me it poured flat and without head, and it doesn't carry the same aroma of a Belgium style beer, For me it's a bit hoppy. The label says "moderate" I'm not sure that means what they think it means.
It carries a citrus flavor that is noticeable, and an unerlying bitterness and a dash of caramel that kind of peeks in for a sneaky look but doesn't hang around. All a bit soft really.
But the taste is close to what is expected. Close but not close. Something with the malt that didn't quite turn up perhaps.
It's very very flat in the glass, no head, no lacing, but it's being brave with it's somewhat faintly pleasing aroma,
Overall though I think that this is a beer that is confused as to what it is and what it's supposed to be.
On the pdubyah-o-meter this is going to be arbitrarily disappointing at about 2 from 5. Like the bottle and the label this then isn't flash. It's not even solid, and it's not a welcoming taste or aroma that you'd get from other Belgium style beers that are styled as a Tripel.
I'd like to be kinder to this, and I should if I could, you know I'm easily impressed, equally I'm easily disappointed and I am disappointed in this.
Related articles
- What I Drank Saturday: La Fin Du Monde Tripel Style Beer aka My 1st Canadian Erection (aspoonfulofsuga.wordpress.com)
- On Tap: RJ Rockers Fish Paralyzer (independentmail.com)
- BeerAdvocate Magazine Gives High Marks to Bridge Brew Works (prweb.com)
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