"Up" The Movie

I recently saw the movie "Up". It was a great adventure for the whole family. I am sure your kids will enjoy it and adults will also find it entertaining. The movie tells a story of the life of a man that is infatuated with an explore named Charles F. Muntz. The main character, Carl Fredricksen has a dream to travel to South American to meet the explorer and have adventures of his own.

Carl falls in love with a girl that has the same dreams of being an explorer. Unfortunately his wife dies before the film really gets going but this inspires Carl to live out his dream. The inspiration is also forced upon him when a judge orders him to move to a nursing home by the name of "Shady Oaks Retirement Home", because of his refusal to sell his home to allow for new construction.

Carl's adventure starts when he uses helium filled balloons to lift his house "Up" and above the city to fly to South America. He unwillingly ends up with a great companion, Russell, that is part of the local Wilderness Explorers. Russell is pictured above.

The only reason I wrote this was so I could post the picture. I think it is one of the best photos I have ever seen.

How to Lose Friends and Alienating People

Are you sick of people bothering you? Do you just want to be left alone? Are you sick of having people care about you? I can help!

As a service to my readers...if there are any. I am offering each user a free consolation on how to lose friends and alienate people. Over the years I have learned what most of everyone hates and how to use this to alienate yourself. I promise I can help get rid of unwanted people in your life. It may seem rather easy to the common idiot but your wrong. Losing friends and alienating people can be harder than you think.

My service can guarantee that your phone will stop ringing and people at work will not even what to come near the water when cooler if you are around.

Contact me for more details.

Beer; It's whats for Dinner

I-What is Beer?
1. An alcoholic beverage usually made from malted cereal grain (as barley), flavored with hops, and brewed by slow fermentation
2. A carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plants
3. Fermented mash
4. a drink of beerII-How Beer is made?1. Barley is malted by dampening to encourage it to sprout then dried and roasted. The sprout causes the starch to turn to sugar.2. Barley is steeped in very hot water just below boiling point. Similar to tea. This extracts the fermentable sugars. The barley is strained away and what is left is called wort.
3. The wort is then boiled. Then hops are added. The amount depends on what kind of beer it is and what flavor profile the brewer is trying to achieve.
4. The mixture is transferred to fermentation tanks where yeast is pitched or added to convert the sugars to alcohol. After the beer has aged the approximate time it is bottled.

III-GermansThe Germans considered drinking beer a sacrifice to the gods. One example of how much the culture loved beer was a written in a poetic saga where the author wrote 400 versus about beer and only 200 about the creation of earth. In 1500, Hamburg had over 600 breweries.

IV-Middle AgesIn the middle ages brewing was taken over by the monasteries. The beverage was widely drank during the periods of fasting because of its high nutrient content. Monks were allowed to drink 5 liters of beer a day.V-Present day GermansGermans today follow the 1516 Beer purity law that was started by Wilhelm IV Duke of Bavaria. It said that only hops, barley and pure water could be used to make beer. In 1493, the Duke of Bayers-Landshut Stated:
"Herewith shall beer brewers and others not use anything other than malt, hops and water. These same brewers also shall not add anything when serving or otherwise handling beer, upon penalty to body and chattels."It was not until the EU was founded and a law passed allowing beer to enter Germany that did not conform to the 1516 purity law.VI-Ingredients1. Malted Barley-Barley seed that has sprouted and dried. The darkness of the barley roast depends on the type of beer the brewer plans to make. A pale roast is used to make pilsners and a dark roast to make stouts. Flavor: Gives the beer its mouth feel and sweetness.2. Hops-A member of the cannabis family. Flavor: Gives the beer a floral nose and bitterness. Bitterness is measured in IBU (International Bitterness Units) Greally the hopper the beer the more intense the bitter flavor. There are many varieties of hops which all add a unique flavor to the beer.3. Water-Water plays a major rule in the brewing process. The mineral content can change the flavor of the beer. Soft water gives a softwer character while hard water gives beer a more aggressive character.4. Yeast-The agent that converts the sugar into alcohol. Also the producer of carbonation. Yeasts plays a major role in flavor. Every brewery has a house strain of yeast that they guard because it adds the unique flavor to their beer. The one exception is Lambics. A fruity beer that is spontaneously fermented with airbore yeast.
5. Other Ingredients: Oats, Ginger, Coriander, Orange peel, Pumpkin, Apples, Raspberries, Lemons and many other frutis, spices and vegetables.
VII-Types of Beer

1. Ales-Top fermented
2. Lagers-Bottom fermented--Ales--
Trappist Ale
Pale Ale
TrippleStrong Ale
Flemish Red Ale
GueuzeFruit LambicAntwerpen/Brabant AleSaison
Spiced Ale
English Pale Ale
India Pale Ale
American Pale AleAmerican Amber Ale
English BittersScottish Heavy
White/Wit
English Brown Ale
American Brown AleGerman Style Alt Bier
German Berliner Weisse
Hefe Weiss BierDunkel Weiss Bier
Weixenbock
Buckwheat
Porter
Dry Stout
Sweet Stout
Imperial Stout
Scottish Export
Old
Barleywine AleRussian Imperial Stout

--Lagers--

Pilsner
American Pilsner
Helles
American Light Lager
American Amber Lager
Munchener DunkelSteam Beer
German Dark Lager
American Dark Lager
Bock
Triple Bock

Beer has been integrated into our society for thousands of years and has many other uses than just getting drunk and is not just for the roid raged jock. Beer has come along way since it was first brewed and is now more refined. Beer is a wonderful drink. It is something different for everyone. It can be a luxury of flavor and good times or a vice to another person. Beer has four main ingredients; water, yeast, barley and hops. But now anything goes. A brewer can be creative just like any other art and add their own touch. There are many types of beer so start drinking and try to enjoy them all.

Remember now matter where you are you can find a local brewery that has a beer with more character and taste than all the nationally produced beers.

Unhappy Tymes Fun Center

Who doesn't love a beautiful summer evening playing mini-golf. This is one of America's favorite summer activities. I have always dreamed about designing my own mini golf course. It seems so easy to make a great course. I spent entire summer one year doing a mini golf circuit and playing a new course every few days. If I remember correctly we made it to at least a dozen. Considering the proximity of mini golf courses in a non resort area this is a rather large number. I feel this has given me the experience to be considered a novice critic of the game including quality and course layout.

My recent excursion to a local family fun center that had a course on site was a complete disaster. This place takes the cake for the most pathetic and downright crappiest course I have ever played. I would even venture to say this could be the worst course in North America. My friend and colleague made the comment that he would rather be standing in line at the DMV than playing the course. My impression is they put some Astroturf and holes on a gravel flea market lot. Hole 1 all the way through 18 were viratually the same. No obstatcles other than a few gravel pits and hills. No windmills or animals. Pretty much nothing but the Astroturf, gravel sandtraps lined with red bricks they were missing or loose. The course had not trash cans which lead to litter on every hole and not a single bench to sit on when waiting for the family of 17 in front to finish the hole.

A bunch of retarded drunks could have constructed a better course in a weekend than this one. It is in need of major repair, both of us almost sprained an ankle stepping on one of the numberous loose bordering bricks. I even overheard a young child complaining to his parents that the course "sucked" and he wanted to go to a real mini golf course. The one major component that seemed to be missing was the flea market stalls. I keep expecting to turn around and have someone offer me a used vaccuum cleaner or a stamp collection. There was a number of beautiful water attractions (see photo above) the only problem was they were missing water. I guess water isn't needed for a pond or stream, maybe it's the new "GREEN" mini golf course where they use imaginary water to have save the environment. The company doesn't go cheap when it comes to advertising. They have the money to put the fun center logo on a car but they can't find the money to fill the baren concrete pits with water. What a joke! Don't waste your time at this one, find a real course!

Wow: Original Pac-Man sketches shown by creator – like pencil on graph paper sketches

Wow: Original Pac-Man sketches shown by creator – like pencil on graph paper sketches

I read this article and could not stop laughing. The writer makes the commet "remember when you could draw entire video game on graph paper"

Check out the Movie:

PACMAN: THE MOVIE TRAILER from Therefore Productions on Vimeo.

Poor Old Benny Franklin

I recently visited the Franklin Institute and thought the trip warranted a review. The building is still beautiful with polished marble and real open feel. Can't forget the museums center piece a grand statue of good ol' Ben Franklin. Here is a random photo of it I found online of some family not looking very happy. I don't know why the entrance is one of my personal favorites, maybe they were on their way out which could explain it. Keep reading to understand.

I was disappointed to discover that a large number of the exhibits are just computer screens with some kind of activity. Most don't even have a keyboards just a super sweet trackball. I don't remember this as a child. Not only were the computer exhibits something most of us could do from home but a handful have the windows blue screen of death or some kind of error causing them to be useless.

The exhibits that were not one computers were missing components or broken. My expectations that it would be maintaned are not unrealistic with the cost ($50 for two adults, includes grearal admission and a IMAX film, temporary exhibit not included "Cleopatra") and volume of foot traffic. The lack of maintenance is really kind of sad. I can only guess that there is a very massive amount of foot traffic that travels via The Franklin Institute every year.

One of my favorites is the train exhibit. They have a huge Baldwin locomotive named the 60,000 because it was the 60,000 locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive works in Eddystone, pa. This train used to work even while it sat at the institute but unfortunately it was broken during my visit. They also have a mini track with various wheels so kids can see what trains use the wheels they use today. They only had a pile of wheels, making me wonder whether there should have been a train to test them on. If this was the case no mini train was present. This is just a sampling of exhibits that were unmaintained.

The IMAX theater was just as great as I remember with spectacular sound. The screen enables the viewer to be totally immersed in the film. I saw "Hubble" with amazing shots of the earth and other planetary bodies from over own planets orbit. The film also included various galaxies that appear like some futuristic artwork.

Don't take my word for it and go see for yourself.

Best invention Ever

This is something I love for once. What women would want to live without one of these? No more compliants about having to find a bathroom while on the road or tailgating. This is as much a pleasure for the man as women. You have to check it out for yourself.

http://www.astonixlife.com/products_whiz.asp

I can say no more. Login and buy one today!!

You call this PIZZA?

There is a new pizza location in Horsham. The chain started in Florida and offers coal fired pizza. Well they should have stayed their, the menu is extremely limited and they don't even offer fountain soda or draft beer. The restaurant is your basic chain eatery with dim lighting to have the perception of classy.

Menu items offered & tasted:

1) Meatballs, yep that's it, just meatballs. No pasta, no roll just meatballs. I am just as confused as you. The taste was pretty good but I am not usually in the mood to eat meatballs right off my plate without any carbs. The two meatball order did come with a a lump of ricotta and a wedge of bread.

2) Pizza, which holds an interesting part of this review/story. We attempted to order a calzone and requested the sauce be placed on the inside. The answer was "NO, that would be considered a Stromboli and the company does not allow it". This begs to question does the company really no allow it or does everything just come from a freezer already made. Why would the company not allow us to order something that was no on the menu? How hard is it to put a little sauce in the thing before they sealed it up? The waiter was very courteous unfortuately for him he works in a bad restuarant.

Take my advice don't waste your money at this joint.

Chicago Sun Times

I recently Started a subscription to this worthless newspaper. I don't reside in the Chicago area so I expected a few days of lag time on delivery since it was being sent via USPS. The service I received was worse than the midnight shift at your local Taco Bell. My subscription has been active for the last three (3) weeks and I have only seen 2 papers.

I decided it was time to cancel and called their wonderful toll free line. The wait was estimated at 15-20 minutes. In this amount of time I could write my own newspaper, publish it and have it delivered to most homes in the United States.

Finally after 25 minutes, YES that's right it took 25 minutes, one of the Sun Time's Finest answered. She was mostly brain dead. She asked for my phone number to look up the account and to my surprise the delivery problems were related to the fact that the company was using Pennsylvania as the CITY and Horsham as the STATE. Is this even possible? Most of us know that when we are prompted to enter our State in any address field a drop down box is always present.

What kind of cheapo crooked crap newspaper is this?

Included in my pay subscription is access to their online paper, while this may be appealing to some this feature is available free to anyone willing to read their garbage @ http://www.suntimes.com/index.html

The paper cost a staggering $94.25 for three months. The Wall Street Journal & Financial times offer 1 YEAR for $5 more and the articles are not written by monkeys and drunken turtles. The Chicago Sun Times is to Chicago as the Philly Daily news is to Philadelphia. Both papers are written for people on the lower end of mental capacity or retards if that does not make sense to you.

Back to the slow person that answered the phone, I asked her to cancel my subscription and refund my money. She responded by saying that she would credit all days that were considered missed deliveries and put in a request for a refund. I responded by telling her a request for a refund was not acceptable, I expect a refund not a request for one. I also asked her to provide the amount that would be returned to my credit card. After approximately 3 1/2 minutes she figured that (1) one missed paper would give me 77 cents in credit but (5) missed papers would yield $8 and the remaining time not included in the first two time periods would be around $12", I responded that an estimate is not good enough and "all I want is the exact amount that will be refunded to my credit card". This seemed to puzzle her. I was under the impression that a ridiculous request such as this had never been made upon her before.

The end result was she could not figure it out in the amount of time I was willing to waste and tolerate on this simple matter, so I told her to just get it done and hung up on her.

I have no tolerance for slow stupid people.