Man, this sucks. I was just telling someone the other day that the only time I engage in a good bit of enthusiastic nationalism is on behalf of the US in the World Cup. But I just can’t see myself rooting against England. Certain English players, yes. But not England.
Author: MB Page 49 of 227
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3KhZsMXw9I[/youtube]
He says all the right things. And he does . . . nothing.
As some long time readers might recall, I’ve got a special interest in the Airbus A380. Two years after its introduction, I’ve still not managed a flight on one, yet they do regularly turn my head or inspire jealousy as I’m taxiing by (the sting is especially sharp when I’m doing it in some ragged old MD-88 . . . ). So I found this a pretty interesting look at the first and business class offerings of the Emirates version of the A380:
The first class is a bit naff in places – gold trim and starlight mirrors? Yeah, not for me. That aside, though, it looks really well done. I’m impressed with details like the screen that lowers if you’re traveling with someone (most airlines don’t have that capacity). And the bathroom, well . . . yes, please. Some of the features – say, the in-seat refrigerated section for your own selection of drinks – reflect a definite departure from the usual (the idea would normally be that a flight attendant would be available to give you want you wanted the moment you thought about it, so no need for an in-seat selection).Â
I don’t expect I’ll be experiencing it any time soon (just priced a similar flight at US$8500), but I have to say that it looks like it would definitely top my current record holder for transoceanic luxury (a JFK-LHR segment in Virgin’s “Upper Class” – complete with bar (like the video), and not just in-seat gaming (in 1995!), but in-seat massage). The Emirates offering is definitely over the top, but anyone who has flown transglobal segments like Toronto to Dubai, Newark to Hong Kong, etc., has probably experienced that moment about 10 hours into the flight where you think “Yes, I *would* pay several thousand dollars (or 100k+ airline miles) to not be in this particular hell.” Unless you are short (say, 5’8″ and under), the space afforded by business class is absolutely a benefit worth paying for. Thankfully, even if the premium for that space is a more than a reasonable person might pay, all this luxury produces something of a trickle-down effect on Emirates – this was my row in coach a few years back.
My two favorite brewers, Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head, have collaborated to produce a new brew:
It started the way most collaborations do, over a few beers. Which is fitting, since this was a collaboration between two brewers–two of the biggest in the craft brewing world, Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione and Sierra Nevada’s Ken Grossman.
[ . . . ]
The result, released in November, is Life & Limb, a 10 percent ABV ale brewed with maple syrup from Calagione’s family farm in Massachusetts and hops from the Sierra Nevada estate in Chico, California; just for fun, the pair used the mash a second time to brew Limb & Life, a 5 percent ABV “small” beer (so-called because second-run brews have many of the characteristics of the first run, but much less alcohol and character).
I think it’ll be hard to find this in the usual places. But, if you live in the metro DC area, you’re in luck. Dogfish Head operates a brewpub at Seven Corners, and it’s on tap. Please to enjoy.
I present this in honor of the smoking ban that came into effect yesterday:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjgArB7PKTU[/youtube]
I suspect you don’t really need a translation for the piece, but in case you do . . .*
*And really, that’s not an exact translation. If you want one, ask your closest Hindi/Urdu-speaking friend what bhenchod and maderchod means. (You’re welcome.)
I used to bang my head against the wall every time I heard someone say “I’m a social liberal and a fiscal conservative.” And then I realized I was going to need my brain for (hopefully) another 50 years. But silly shit like this is the origin of that problem. There are, in reality, *very* few “fiscal conservatives” (in a literal reading of the phrase) in elected office. Rather, the phrase identifies those that cite spending/deficit/tax concerns as a reason to oppose most any social spending. If you look at the records of the vast majority of these self-proclaimed “fiscal conservatives”, you’ll see that they go in – whole hog – for defense spending, farm subsidies, and tax cuts as if they’ve never encountered the idea of responsibility for balancing the books. There’s no inherent fiscal conservatism there. It’s simply someone who has latched onto a popular phrase to dishonestly explain away his behavior.
Rank stupidity abounds:
Projections based on ballot results suggest Swiss voters have backed a campaign to ban the construction of minarets, local television reported.
[ . . . ]
Rightwing parties led by the nationalist Swiss People’s party, the country’s largest, have labelled minarets symbols of militant Islam.
That’s right, centuries old architectural features are coming for you.  Morons.
Stuck in my head for some reason:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hFvCldX9G4[/youtube]
A horrible no-good entirely forgettable movie. And yet, the soundtrack is memorized.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6fysAU8v3o[/youtube]
(That one’s for you, Katie White & Stacy Sutton)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eK74avTqL4[/youtube]
One day, there will be a mashup with the above and this track . . .
I’m sure Sony/BMG will kill it all soon, so click while you can . . .