BMW Z4 ::: 2007 - 2010

I don't remember exactly what sparked the initial interest in this car... I think it was actually just the TV spots. The ones where a guy hears a knock on his front door, he opens it to find a Z4 parked on his porch, and it says "Land Shark!" From then on, whenever I would see them on the road I would say "land shark" to my wife, if she was in the car. (If a maniac says "land shark" and no one is around to hear it, does he make a sound?)





After a while, I began to fall in love with the striking lines of this car, it's overall shape, and the way it sits on the ground... but it's styling really isn't for everyone... it is almost an acquired taste. It snags your gaze as it drives by, but in a quiet and surgical manner... like a hot nurse cutting shapes out of your chest with a very clean scalpel. Which is different from the Porsche or Ferrari method in which a Patrick Bateman type hacks at you with an axe and shouts "LOOK AT ME" just before stealing your wallet.



Now to the serious stuff. What actually draws me to this car? I said in the first post on this blog that I wouldn't post about old obsessions... but one forever ongoing obsession is the MG Midget. It is my dream car. No, it isn't fast, it isn't expensive. It is just a small, simple, 2-seat, British sports car. That is what I love. I had the chance to buy an Austin Healey Sprite, which is 99% the same as the MG Midget (Think GM/GMC cars), so I jumped on it. The basic, high-level similarities between the Z4 and the Sprite are what keep me attached to the BMW. Two seats, rear wheel drive, the abruptly flat shape of the bottom of the car, and the driving position just in front of the rear wheels. The Sprite also has a bigger sister, called the 3000, which loans a few other identity traits to the Z4 such as the sweeping lines pouring over the front fender, and arching over the rear wheel well.





Simple math time: Two seats + front mounted engine + rear wheel drive = Fun!



I am pretty ridiculous about minute details... so when I find something that checks all the important boxes, and has additional features that add to the overall pourage... that's when the obsession is created. For example: the BMW badge on the side of the Z4... it's raised off the car, like a hockey puck that's been glued on, but also doubles as the turn indicator! I think that's very clever. And on top of that, the placement of that badge intersects a line in the body work... which is aligned with the angle of the windshield. Minutia... but it didn't go unnoticed.





The Audi TT was a car I had my eye on for a while. The Mk I TT had very peculiar intersecting body lines as well... but they also had purpose, and made sense in the design of the car. I liked the TT for a long time, but I always felt like two different people designed that car, one in front, one on the back. It never felt cohesive. One day I decided to think about what "new" car I'd like to drive if I had the money to put to it. I had a short list, and the TT kept coming up, mainly because the Z4 seemed so far out of my price range. But after a very positive trip to Carmax, I decided to go window shopping, and saw that a used Z4 was the same price as most of the cars on my list. That did it. Now, no other car exists on my radar. The fever has just gotten worse as time goes by. Time to study!





The ultimate car has since been whittled down to the ultimate version of the ultimate car: BMW Z4 3.0si, model years 2006-2008, 6-speed manual transmission, silver or grey exterior, silver and black interior. The 3.0si is a 3-litre inline six cylinder motor... the "s" means it has been tuned to have a higher output than the stock 3.0i engine. It produces 255 horse power, 220ft-lbs of torque, and deals with 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. Traction control is also available, which lets you select how rigid the chassis is: "sport" or "comfort". Bluetooth connectivity and sat-nav is also available. I think it goes without saying that I want the convertible version, but the coupe is also a hell of a looker!





The changes through the years to the Z4 were pretty minimal, until 2009... when I believe they killed the aesthetic. It seems they turned it into a bloated "luxury convertible" for retired fat men... but I am just one person.



The price.

Well, that’s tricky, since they are all used at this point. But a reasonable price for all the options I want is between $20k - $27k. I'd imagine a fair bit of haggling would bring that top end down. I think that's very reasonable for what I'd be getting. I've never aspired to own a Lamborghini or a Bugatti... so my dream cars are much more within my reach. Which makes the game that much more maddening, but if you don't play, you'll never win. Or something. Hey, can I borrow some money?

iPad ::: 01.27.10 - 05.06.10

The Seed :::

I didn't really know anything about the iPad until I saw the official announcement. I heard people talking about it, but I didn't even take the time to look into it. Then a friend on Facebook posted "It's a giant iPhone, I want one!"... I went to Apple.com and saw the announcement video, and shortly after I watched the introduction video... and that was it!



The Purchase :::

Fast forward to April 30th at 2:30pm... I'm standing in line with my wife at the Mac store at Arrowhead mall. Only about 15 people are ahead of us, the guy first in line got there at 7:00am! The line grew quickly behind us and the anticipation grew with it. When five o'clock finally made it's way to us, they opened the doors, people applauded, and we moved forward. Each iPad purchaser was assigned their very own Mac specialist, and by the time we got to the door we were told to wait! D'oh! We weren't in that group of happy few who were the "first ones"... but about 2 minutes later we were let in. We were handed an iPad box, shown the accessories wall, and then asked for a credit card. Transaction done, receipt emailed, and we were placed with a tech at the genius bar for iTunes set up. (Necessary to be able play with it on the way home) The tech opened the box and placed it in front of me... "Go ahead and remove your iPad from the box" he said. I felt like I was being knighted. I removed the cellophane as he opened the Mac case we purchased, handed back the iPad, and he slid it into the case... it's safe, warm, new home. He plugged into a MacBook Pro, clicked iTunes... "bong"... unplug... done. "There you go, here's your new iPad." Totally satisfied, we exited the store.

Sitting in our car in the parking lot, we set up our new AT&T 3G iPad service... which consisted of inputting basic contact info and a credit card number directly on the iPad itself. Pick your plan ($15 for 250megs, or $30 for unlimited)... click done... reboot, and we're online! Before we even left the mall, we were online and iPadding! It wasn't even 5:30 yet!



The Addiction :::

"I don't get why the iPad is so popular"... "It wont replace a laptop"... "This isn't anything revolutionary"... "It's just a fad"... "Sir, put your clothes back on"... all things I've heard in the past month.

So, why is it cool? What's the big deal? Is it JUST a giant iPhone? Even it if it was JUST a giant iPhone... the iPhone is amazing! And now it's like having SIX iPhones! Having the ability to check mail, GPS my location for directions, surf the interweb, and upload pictures of my favorite food to my Facebook friends all from my telephone... Still has not lost any of it's initial wonderment for me. The iPhone is an amazing achievement, and with the iPad I believe Apple has done it again.

The Brass Tacks :::

The most alluring feature, to me, is the screen. It is spectacularly vivid. Music videos look ridiculous... And even the text on my blog pops out from the screen... It really is like they say, it truly does feel like I'm "holding the Internet in my hands." I've heard mention of glare being an issue for some people. I live in Phoenix, AZ... birthplace of the sun, and I'm currently a passenger in a truck typing on the iPad with no problem. The sun is setting, and currently blinding me as we drive into it, but iPad's screen is still bright enough to see perfectly fine.



The keyboard is easy to use... Within 5 or 10 minutes of actually typing on it, it becomes almost second nature. It's basically the same set up as on the iPhone, there are some tricks to get used to, and there are shortcuts that can be utilized... Such as holding down the keypad button and then just sliding your finger to the key you want to hit and releasing. Saving one extra keystroke could mean the difference between life and death in certain situations. As for the size of it, when you position the iPad 'landscape', the keyboard is nearly the same size as a laptop keyboard. While you can't rest your fingers on the keys in 'home position'... because that will just mash all the keys at the same time... this is a touch screen... it is pretty simple to pick up.

Also, I should note, I am very used to typing on my iPhone by pecking at it with one finger while my other hand holds it... this has become the standard for me. Most laptop users I talk to about the iPad complain that it seems "cumbersome" or "boring" to waste an entire hand on HOLDING the iPad. I think it should be stated that this is an OPTION... but it's also an option that really doesn't exist it the laptop world. The only way to walk around with a laptop and type is if you hold it like a waiter carries a serving tray... how stupid do you feel now? If pecking isn't comfortable for you, you can just lay it down on your lap... and it becomes a laptop. Sure, the screen is flat... but if you purchase the Mac case, the iPad can be propped up slightly. I've found this to be just enough.



The comparison for the iPad VS laptop VS iPhone is tricky. Technically, there is ONE iPad. You have hard drive size options, and 3G or no 3G, and that's it. Laptops run the gamut... from annoying-shitbox-that-drives-you-insane-every-time-you-use-it, to amazing portable computing station. (see MacBook Pro) The iPhone is amazing, but much smaller than a laptop. Currently, in my house lives a MacBook Pro, an HP laptop with decent and up-to-date hardware, the iPad, the iPhone, and a host of old cell phones... including Palm's, a Moto Q, and various texting based phones. I feel I have a pretty firm grasp on what sets each one apart from the other. With the HP laptop, our biggest complaints are: (1) the time it takes to boot from sleep mode (ESTIMATE: 30 seconds - 2 minutes VS 3 seconds on the MacBook) (2) how easy it looses internet connectivity over wi-fi, and how long it takes to reconnect (3) the built-in mouse pad is a PAIN!! (4) it's Windows-based, and after using a Mac, there really is no going back.

I don't really even use the HP to compare the iPad... For sake of "best possible scenario" I'll use the MacBook Pro VS the iPad VS the iPhone. The MacBook Pro really IS top of the class. I have never used a nicer, faster, better computer in my life. The iPhone takes a lot of that same joy and puts it in a smaller package. It's intuitive, it does a lot of things 'normal' mobile phones don't do (such as FULL web site view, GPS, it's an IPOD!, the App Store, and a text layout that is easier to use, and sleeker than any other mobile device I've used)... however, it's NOT a computer. For some people, it HAS replaced their computers for web browsing though. Hell, I use it all the time... it has taken some 'strain' off my MacBook Pro in that regard. And then there is the iPad. It does everything the iPhone does, and it's also bigger. While that doesn't sound amazing, it is. Being able to view full size documents, not having to zoom in to read websites, watching large format movies and videos, and reading books with no strain on your eyes are just a few 'upgrades' from the iPhone. One major optional extra that I didn't know existed... which I thought would really set it back from a laptop... is word processing. No one can deny that Microsoft Office IS the norm for business. If you want to use your iPad for business, this is a must. I have since found out that you CAN do all the word processing you need to on the iPad, via programs from the App Store. "Pages" (a Mac clone of Word, which can open, edit, and save as word docs), "Numbers" (a Mac clone of Excel, which can open, edit, and save as excel docs), and "Keynote" (a Mac clone of PowerPoint, which can open, edit, and save as PowerPoint docs). Already, the email ap allows you to open and view Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDFs.



As for battery life, it's rated at up to 10 hours for surfing, watching video, and listening to music. From mine and my wife's personal usage with the iPad, we tend to charge it every night, or every other night. The first day we got it, at 5:00pm, we used it all night up until 1:00am, and it still wasn't dead.

3G... I don't think I can recommend the 3G model enough. It just turns something really cool into something really cool, and really practical. Having the iPad on day trips to help you navigate is just such a weight lifted. And if you don’t have an iPhone, or another internet ready phone, browsing the web while you're out is such a breeze.

So what CAN'T it do, fella? :::

I'll try to list off the main complaints, and discuss what I think about them.

Flash - It doesn't do flash... how big of a draw back is that? Some websites still use flash, yes... like my photo page... but MOST websites have updated, and offer flash and HTML5 versions of their page. I haven't come across many pages that don't support the iPad/mobile devices. Youtube and Vimeo both now offer videos that the iPad can view. So how big of a deal is it really?

Built in camera - There is no built in camera, which would have been "cool", but again... HOW necessary is it? I remember thinking it would fun to walk around with the iPad and have video calls... but now I think... I don't do that NOW with the camera in my MacBook. So not a priority, to me.

No USB - Your iPhone doesn't have USB either! Get over it!

It's too heavy - It weighs 1.5 pounds. The lens on my camera weighs more than this. Put down the marshmallow pie and pick up some weights, fatty! And comb that scraggly hair while you're at it!

Calendar - The only actual real "complaint" we've had with it so far is that the calendar doesn't display EXACTLY how we thought it would. But it's still very good. My wife wanted to be able to put a list of items in each day of the week, and be able to read them on the month-view or week-view, and it condenses the list to just the first few. Really minor issue... and there is probably an App for that.



The Verdict then, sir? :::

Go buy one already! Our HP laptop is going in the trash... or on Craigslist. My wife is rarely seen nowadays without her iPad... where I used to see her yelling at her laptop and fiddling with the wi-fi connection.

The iPad is a great investment in fun and easy going computing. It will make you more attractive to the opposite sex, your hair line will stop receding, and your friends will respect your tech savvy new way of thinking. It's the best $499 - $829 you'll spend all week! Get a case with it tho sport, you don't want to damage it do you?

1000100101 ::: 2006/2007 - 04.19.2010

In case the title of this blog is vague... the obsession in question is a Japanese watch that is no longer in production. It is a watch based on the binary system to tell the time, using LEDs instead of arms or an LCD screen.



In truth, I found this watch on accident, as one does. It was back in 2007 or possibly even 2006, when the watch was still in production, and available through the maker's website. I was actually looking for a replica of the Dick Tracy radio wristwatch. (This could be a post all it's own) I really liked the Dick Tracy movie when it came out, and that watch really caught my eye and stuck with me. It's interesting to me how much of an effect cool stuff from movies can have on an impressionable mind. Merchandising is big business... and as far as I can tell, the Dick Tracy movie missed that boat. They released plastic toy versions of the watch, but no "replica" metal version, with a working watch face. I'd have been ok with that, I didn't NEED it to also be a walky talky. After some searching, I did find ONE copy of the watch. Apparently it was released in extremely low numbers, and the one I found was not for sale.



Aesthetically, I liked the look of it... it very plain... a big slab of metal with a watch face and a mesh covered speaker. While searching for the Dick Tracy watch, I found a few blogs of other people who compared different new watches to the Dick Tracy watch. Most of them were compared on the basis of the audio/video angle, and only a few on the look/style side of the watch. One was the Nixon "Dictator" watch. It looked very similar, with a modern update. It has an LCD screen to tell the time, and a speaker... that actually WORKS! But just as a voice recorder, for notes apparently... hence "Dictator". I started thinking this would suffice my obsession.



Then, I saw it! The coolest watch I've seen before or since. It was made by a company in Japan called Tokyoflash... and it's called "1000100101". Not just a clever name... it actually uses a binary system of sorts to display the time. There is a grid of different colored LEDs for each increment of time. Check out the instructions below.



In a nut shell, on the lower section of the watch, the 10 red LEDs stand for "hours"... if the first LED is lit you add 10 to the number of reds lit up. The green LEDs stand for "10 minutes"... each green LED is ten minutes added to the hour. The yellow LEDs stand for "minutes"... each is a single minute. So in the photo below, the time is reading 5:36. The top section of the watch is the day of the week. To see the time, you press the button on the side of the watch, and you are treated to a light show before it displays the current time. There are apparently 5 different light shows... they are set randomly as you press the button. If you press the button again, it displays the date as well! Using the same LEDs, the hours become the month, and the minutes become the day. Very cool. The case is brushed steel, and the band is carbon fibre with a leather backing.



This watch is very much aesthetically pleasing to my eye, and I think it suits me perfectly. I hesitated on buying it originally, and by the time I went back to purchase it... it was gone! Discontinued! I freaked out and started looking for third party sellers to no avail. Ever since then, I look for the watch every few weeks, hoping one will resurface on Ebay or Craigslist. I even wrote a haiku for the watch. I think the poetry form is apt for a Japanese watch.

This colorful watch
A Japanese masterpiece
Obsession of late



This past weekend, my wife was on a watch buying tear. She had spotted a Fossil watch that caught her eye while shopping for something else... and she had to go back and get it. But instead of just going to get it, we researched it, and looked at other watches before deciding to go buy one. We ended up going to every department store, watch kiosk, and hipster store in the mall looking at all the watches. She was pretty set on Fossil, but not one in particular. Later, we went to the actual Fossil store and picked one out. These trips are what sparked up my "J" watch obsession again. I got online that night and scoured the interweb looking for my 1000100101. It was after 1am when my wife finally said to give it up. Apparently, she doubted the lengths of my obsession.



I had an idea to search for PEOPLE who already owned the watch. I got on Flickr and Youtube looking for people who might have posted photos or video of their own watch. Bingo! I found a dude on Youtube that got the watch as a birthday present or something, and he just filmed it on his wrist for 10 seconds or so. It was an old video... and I went out on a limb and contacted the guy... asked if he still had it and would like to sell it. I sent the email and went to bed. 10 minutes later... my iPhone told me I had an email... it was the dude from Youtube! And YES, he was willing to sell! Science be praised! I am currently waiting on photos of the actual watch, so I can see the condition... like it matters... and then we're going to work out a Paypal/private Ebay auction for the sale... then it will be mine! Brew ha ha ha ha!!

Shoulder Camera Mount Rig ::: 03.07.10 - 03.15.10

Yes, that's a DSLR in there!

This is one that has been brewing. It's just sort of "on the list". But, more recently it has gnawed it's way to the front of my brain for two reasons: 1. Necessity of late and 2. my friend bought one. :)

To explain in short, this is simply a unit that a video camera or DSLR (digital single lens reflex... high end digital camera to you and me) attaches to, and allows for steadier shooting. An added benefit is that it also makes it possible to add accessories that would otherwise be overtly cumbersome.

This is a "rail-based system". Once you make the leap into professional or now even semi-professional camera gear, things become slightly universal. For example, a common device known as a "follow focus" attaches to the rails and allows for smooth focusing... off to the side of the camera at a more ergonomic position, and can even been lengthened using a "whip" to make focusing possible by another person standing a few feet away from the camera. This makes it easier for the camera operator to follow the subject, keep the camera steady, and construct the shot, without having to use one hand soley on the focus wheel the whole time.



In addition to a follow focus, matte boxes, LCD monitors, lights, batteries, hard drives, and any thing else you can think of can be added to the rail system. But which system do you buy? Recently, I've been investigating a few different companies and it's come down to RedRock Micro and Proaim. Redrock makes incredibly nice gear. It works amazingly, and looks amazing to the eye... but the strain on your wallet can be amazing too. On the other end of the spectrum, Proaim makes gear that will basically suit all your needs, is cheaper by half the price or more in some cases... but it also looks pretty cheap. See the example below. (Redrock is first, Proaim second)





I think by this point I have resolved in my head to go with Redrock. But I think I'm going to have a custom order. I want the stability of 2 handles and the positioning of the offset double rail system. (see below for the minute differences) But to get both, the price goes up. Slightly. If you know what to look for. I've got an email in to Redrock, and I'm trying to work out the details on what I want. In the end, it should be able to fit me well, be positioned how I like it, and be able to be expanded upon as I buy more gear.





The bottom line is... after really researching, and determining that it's best to buy the right thing first, then to learn from mistakes... I've resolved that somewhere around $600 is "reasonable" for what I want. To illustrate my sacrifice by going with Redrock... I'll be able to get the 2 handle rig with the offset camera mount. If I went with Proaim, I'd be able to get the "same" idea for the rig, with the added bonuses of a chest stabilizer, a follow focus, 6 adapter rings for various lens sizes, a focus whip, and a focus speed crank. To give you some idea... the Redrock equivalent for JUST the follow focus is $545!! Wow.

Thanks for visiting my madness. Come again.

The Dark Side (Aldo boots) ::: 01.25.10 - 03.11.10

Yes, the dark side of obsession. Sometimes obsession plants a seed in your brain for things it knows you will want... but waits until the most (or least) opportune times to sprout. This is the story of the Aldo Shoe brand "Benyo" boot.

Many weeks ago, on a trip to enjoy some of my favorite food of all time, Golden Wok, I stopped into Paradise Valley Mall. I made my way to this fairly unassuming store that carried some peculiar looking shoes, and my wife was drawn in by the purses, so we went in. After glancing at all the shoes in the store I saw this one boot that stuck out from all the rest... it was called, "Benyo". It seemed, to me, to fit the steampunk aesthetic I've been intrigued by lately... and for the pair, I was looking at a $140 price tag.

I quickly set the shoe down, and we made our way out. Later on that week, a root shot out from the seed in my brain, and I thought about those boots again. I looked online for them, trying to find a discount or a sale... no luck. I tried to let it go. But then, dun dun dun... tax return! I had a small pile of money to spend and I headed back to the Aldo store. Of course, they didn't have my size... so we ordered them. 3 days shipping time.



The thing about mixing obsession with impulse is that patience flies out the window. So NOW I'm on edge waiting for these boots in the mail. I'm checking the tracking number every day to see if maybe they've scooted my way a little sooner than expected. But shortly, they arrive... I tear open the box... look them over, and before I put the first boot on, I see it... the first sign of terrible craftsmanship... a long thread that completely missed the holes where it was supposed to stitch two parts of the boot together.



Then after more review, I notice lots of nicks and dents in the leather. Then I see that parts of the boot material aren't straight or symmetrical. It just seems very thrown together. The heel is held on with 3 nails... and you can see the heads sticking out from the bottom. The laces felt like spun paper, and after the first time I tied them, they felt creased and ready to break.



The boots were made in Portugal... now... if I was in Portugal, and there was a quaint market place that was selling these boots for say $60 - $70, I would buy them for the novelty of it. But after spending close to $150 after taxes... I'm having a hard time justifying them. I didn't wear them today, because I'm considering taking them back. I'm not sure what my final judgment will be... however, my next post is going to be about my current obsession with camera equipment... I could see the money going there instead! What do you think?

Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy ::: 2010.01.15 - 2010.01.20

Background:

My love for Hitchhikers Guide started with the movie. I'll say that up front... I'm not a clever bookworm that had a love for these books before the movie came out. That said, the first time I saw the movie, at the drive-in, I didn't love it. But when it came out on video, I gave it another shot... I liked it a little more. But by the third viewing, I was pretty hooked in to the quirky British humor and the amazing cast. My wife was actually in to it too... probably more than I was initially. I got online, did some more research... in the meantime, we had bought her a copy of the leather-bound "Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide" containing all five books and Douglas Adam's final short story in the series. Soon after, I bought myself a copy.

Next, after repeat viewings, I bought a copy of the DVD. To clarify a point, I buy very few DVD's... only things I think I can't live without, especially when you consider any movie's relative proximity with the glory of Netflix.

Opportunity:

All this purchasing went on over a year ago, but I pull the movie out every once in a while. Last weekend however, I was sick in bed. So sick, that I actually STAYED in bed. I decided to watch Hitchhiker's Guide. Once it was over, instead of getting out of bed to grab another movie, I watched all the special features. Then, I decided to watch the first of two commentary tracks, with Director Garth Jennings, Martin Freeman, who plays Arthur Dent, Bill Nighy, who plays Slartibartfast, and producer Nick Goldsmith. This was so much fun! So many funny little anecdotes about filming... little spotlights on all the quirky tributes to Douglas... and insight into the production and acting process. It explained a lot, and pointed out many little details... which always make me more interested in something. God is in the details.

After the first commentary track finished, I watched the other one. This one was by producer Robbie Stamp and Sean Solle, a colleague and close friend of Douglas Adams. This track also pointed out many of the little intricacies of filming, but also had a lot of background as to the story telling style and creative method of Douglas thanks to Sean. This was very educational, and highly entertaining to any HHGTTG fan.

What makes this so special?:



The words that always come to mind when I think of Hitchhiker's Guide are clever, brilliant, random, quirky, and bizarre. It's just such a great collection of ideas, humor, and wit. Think of a sci-fi, British comedy, love story. The movie captures it so perfectly, and the actors are SO in tune with the feel of the stories. Sam Rockwell who plays Zaphod Beeblebrox is just amazing. It has to be one of my favorite performances of a character ever. He just completely throws himself at this role and it turns out so ridiculously hilarious, whilst also taking on a slightly new form different from the books or radio shows. Martin Freeman portrays Arthur Dent in that perfect, slightly flawed British every-man. Just reading the rest of the cast should make anyone want to see this movie: Zooey Deschanel, Alan Rickman, John Malkovich, Mos Def, Bill Nighy, Stephen Fry, and Helen Mirren!

I'd be surprised if you've never been told the answer to life is "42". A seemingly insignificant joke, that has somehow become a piece of comic and sci-fi history. It's just one of many set pieces from Hitchhiker's guide. The Babel Fish, the importance of a towel, "Don't Panic... There are just too many little tidbits to list that make these stories, and this movie unique.

Motive:

With the recent refresh of movies put on Blu-ray, the movie is back in my brain again. It's on my short list of movies to buy, and an even shorter list of movies to re-buy. But how it goes beyond just that... while looking around online for the best prices for a Blu-ray copy, I couldn't help but uncover props and memorabilia. It took a lot for me to not just order a Point Of View Gun from Amazon, or a first edition copy of the first book.

Final word:




So, I guess what I'm getting around to... is that I love this movie, this book, this story. During the date range listed in the title, I could have been seen posting quotes on my Facebook, answering people's questions with "42", or downloading wallpapers of Marvin, the Paranoid Android.

Recommendation:

Of course! It's very easy to recommend a movie... it's only an hour and a half obligation. A book, a little more so. But it is a great read, and very fast. I did stop in the middle of the third book... and need to start up again. But do yourself a favor and add this to your Netflix queue... it is AMAMZING on Blu-ray... unlike those crappy Warner Brother's releases.

Absinthe ::: 2009.12.31 - 2010.01.06

Background:

Right of the bat... I am not a heavy drinker. Honestly, up until a month or two ago I would say "I don't drink" when asked. But I have been gently coaxed and interested enough to delve slightly. First it was a bottle of Jack Daniels that caught my eye... but that was less of an obsession, and more of a curiosity with a less-than-negative reaction.

Come New Years Eve, my wife and I decided to try a few new cocktail recipes, but needed some obscure alcoholic titles. (Eg. Castries Peanut Rum Creme) This was also an excuse to go into BevMo for the first time. To prove my level of alcoholic obsession at this point... as soon as we went in, I headed for the soda section.

Opportunity:

On our way out, literally, as we were making our way to the cashiers... my wife pointed and said "Check it out, Absinthe." I think my face may have gone slightly expressionless and a bit white when I saw the display. "I need to try this" was all I was thinking.

Motive:

Let me explain the intrigue behind Absinthe... to me, at least.

First, it's sordid history::: It was a drink popularized in the late 1800's by many artists and poets, then demonized in the early 1900's for it's "Hallucinogenic properties" and multiple cases of "Madness" tied to it. Think Van Gogh cutting off his ear after a large dose. In 1915, Absinthe was banned in the U.S.

Second, the ceremony::: The mixing of a cocktail or the stirring of a martini has never held me in awe, but something about the procedure to prepare Absinthe just seemed overly intricate to me. Traditionally, one ounce is poured into an Absinthe glass, which contains a small chamber at the bottom for easy measuring... then a wonderfully extravagant slotted spoon is placed atop the glass... and lastly a sugar cube positioned in the middle of the Absinthe spoon. Ice cold water is dripped over the sugar cube, either by an especially made fountain, or just slowly poured from a second glass. This process dilutes the generally higher proof spirit, adds a little sweetness to the taste, but also creates the "Louche"... which is the spectacle that unravels in the glass by which the cold water mixes with the Absinthe thus separating the herb oils from the alcohol in the form of a cloudy underwater ballet. The Louche process also releases the fragrances from the herbs involved (Green Anise, Grande Wormwood, and Fennel) and thickens up the mouth feel of the drink. Think water to milk.

This just seemed so overly involved that I had to try it.

Where it all falls down:

Initially I past on buying a bottle, not only because of the staggering price, but I wanted a bit more information... research. I soon satisfied my questions, and returned to BevMo for a bottle. Actually, on the first go I just bought a tester bottle of the brand Absente for $8.99. But on this trip were many stops... and I ended up near another BevMo... so I went in, and ended up buying the Absinthe glass ($16), slotted spoon ($12), sugar cubes, and a bottle of Le Tourment Vert for $39.99. Prepared, I returned home eager to try.

The color, in traditional "verte" or green Absinthe, is a very clear emerald green. Some liken it to a peridot. Tho, there can also be clear, or whites, or "blanche", or "bleue". The first bottle I tried was the tester of Absente. This was very green, I was happy. I set up my spoon and sugar and poured my water. The Louche was over quickly, but the drink turned from emerald green to a foggy and creamy light moss color. Upon tasting, I was expecting something very strong and unrefined... something that would send my uneducated alcoholic pallet reeling, and my head spinning... but instead it was very herbal, and sort of anticlimactic. I wouldn't say "licorice-y"... but the taste of the anise was strong. I moved on to the second bottle, the Le Tourment Vert, which basically looked exactly like mouthwash in the glass. Pretty unexcited, I tried the drink. It was very similar to the Absente... no real Louche to speak of... and nothing really complex happening in my mouth. To be honest, I was a little let down. Nothing a little research cant cure!

Compounding the issue:

After a couple days of reading up on Absinthe, and the old methods VS new methods... I found more interesting info. Grande Wormwood, one of three main ingredients in Absinthe, when distilled releases a drug called Thujone. This was said to be the mind-altering component in Absinthe, which is also the basis of it's banning. In 2005, the U.S. lifted the ban on manufacturing Absinthe, as long as there was no wormwood included in the process. However, tests have proven that the amount of Thujone in Absinthe was so minute that one would have to drink such an exorbitant amount that one would be dead of alcohol poisoning long before feeling strongly the effects of Thujone... so in 2007, the ban on wormwood was lifted, with a 10 parts per million limit in each bottle.

I read that the Absente brand bottle originally had no wormwood, since it was pre-ban... but now HAS wormwood... but Southern wormwood instead of Grande wormwood... which is an all together different species which produces an altogether different 'drug'. Le Tourment Verte also apparently hardly adds in any of the "holy trinity" of ingredients... and instead has an overwhelming amount of eucalyptus instead. So the two bottles I bought are not even REAL Absinthe.

Lets get the facts straight now:

I found a few Absinthe review pages on the interweb and made a decision on my next purchase. I just had to try the real deal before I cut my losses. I gave myself two options, a domestically available bottle of Suisse Absinthe called Kubler for $45, or order online the big daddy... the French made Jade Edouard 72 for $100 plus shipping. Since I wasn't sure if I'd really even like it... I bought the Kubler. It's a clear Absinthe, but appears to meet all the important requirements: the trinity... proper Louche... and traditional taste.

Final judgment:

Ok. I've got a proper Absinthe now... it is quite amazingly different from the others. The singular taste that showed up in the others is here in the Kubler (Anise)... but the Kubler appears to have much more going on. Much more "complex"... I can see the difference. My tongue went slightly numb when tasting it... a good sign I'm told. It is strong, but in a different way from traditional alcohol... there is no real "heat" from the alcohol... but it can be hard to swallow. I'm sure the die hard Absinthe drinkers may think this sacrilege, but it's actually a bit "medicine-y". It's very herby. I've since began to chase it with Squirt, which sounds so unsophisticated, but I needed something to help it down.

UPDATE: Since posting this blog, I have taken a straight, undiluted shot of the Kubler Absinthe... what a rush of flavors and heat! Different from say the acidic melting burn of Bacardi 151. It was very flavorful... very herby, but in a good way. I wasn't exactly ready to take another shot, but it was pleasant.

The after effects are interesting. It's not quite a "drunk", it's more of a "buzz". My body felt loose and pain free. (Maybe the reason it started life as medicine) My head was clear too... not muddied up and disjointed like a rough drunk. I felt pretty good. I can see the appeal. Sadly, I had no hallucinations or weird visions... however I really enjoyed the entire novelty of the drink. But I think the jury is still out on taste. I haven't given up... but my obsession towards knowing everything about it and collecting all the parts has definitely waned a bit.

Total cost:

Three bottles, one spoon, one glass, and a box of sugar cubes ::: $136

Recommendation:

I definitely recommend it. It's a new experience, and what is more fun than that! Lots of bars serve one brand or another, posh or dive, the like. But I would say stay away from Le Tourment Vert, which appears to be the most popular brand. Go forth, chase the green fairy!