WE'VE MOVED!

SixPackTech has moved, lock, stock and beer fridge to a new location.

Please point your browsers to the new place, which is...

SixPackTech.com, then bookmark it.

This Blogger site will no longer be updated but will remain "as is" for awhile. Everything at the new place will be the same, only different, almost exactly, but unique, and different. Did I already say "different?"

Click the link above and c'mon over.

New Site News

The new site will go live tonight or tomorrow. A lot of it is ready to go, some stuff still has to be done. Please bear with me through this transition period and forgive my shortcomings.

Once the DNS servers are aimed at the new place, it may take a day or two to propagate through the Web.

For tonight, no new babes here; they're already up over by dair. The Brew Review is here and there. However, the same goofiness, humor, manliness and inanity will continue.

Sunday will have only one post. I'll start fresh on Monday with new posts in a new format.

See you there.

Saturday Night Blue Collar Brew Review

My Friday sojourn to the highly acclaimed, world renowned Morris Beer Store brought me face to face with Gail, the Beer Store Maven. We briefly discussed the Walter Payton Pilsner and we opined on my comments of its lack of carbonation from last week's review. She said she'd call them to see if they perhaps had a bad run.

I mosied to the primo beer shelves and began ogling the stock. Hmm, that looks good. I might try that one, or that one. Then a small axon triggered in the deep recesses of my brain and one beer bore looking into. It was a recommendation from a friend at work who suggested it weeks ago. The price looked ok, so I picked up a sixpack of Smithwick's Imported Irish Ale brewed by the good people at Guinness. Gail remarked, "Oh. You're going to try 'Smittick's.'" Then I remembered the Wiki article I read weeks ago on this beer and this name.

"When pronouncing the name, the 'W' is silent. In Ireland, it is generally pronounced as 'Smithicks', 'Smitticks', 'Smidicks' or 'Smeth-icks'. The variation of pronunciations is mostly due to differing accent and dialects of the Irish. When ordering in the US, 'Smithicks' is the preferred method, while 'Smiddicks' is the most prevalent pronunciation in Canada." - Wikipedia

This is why Gail is the "Maven." She knows her stuff. I happily paid her the 8 bucks it cost and made my way home.

Saturday came all cloudy and cold here in corn country, USA, and I was glad to be inside. Spring? Bah! We're going right into 90 degree weather next week. Typical Illinois climate. When beer reviewin' time came, I snatched a bottle of Smittick's from the fridge, sat down at the Mac, and started enjoying life.

A popped cap and a sniff at the hole in the bottleneck revealed a very slight but pleasant scent that smelled like a well prepared recipe for beer. Not strong, not hoppy, perhaps a slight sweetness. No surprises on the horizon. I poured it into my beer reviewin' mug and the head rose up mighty and very thick like creme froth. The color is a dark amber, not quite brown but definitely reddish. Lots of micro-bubbles rose up from the bottom.

The first taste was almost silky to the palate and the flavor had a tinge of maltiness without being predominant. Successive sips accustomed the palate and initial maltiness blended into the great overall taste of this beer. There was absolutely no bitterness that I could discern. I'm surprised at how smooth this beer is. The second bottle was more pleasurable than the first. It's a downright delight to drink.

This beer has to be on the top ten lists of many beer advocates around the world. It's well rounded, has a thick creamy head which lasts to the bottom of the glass and a taste that just doesn't give up. This is one of the best beers I've had so far.

The SixPackTech ratings for Smithwick's Imported Irish Ale are:

Taste: A - A veritable treat for the tongue.
Smoothness: A - The tinge of malt will win your heart.
Drinkability: A - One round deserves six more.
Bang for the buck: B - A real treat with change back.
Wife's all-encompassing opinion: "I was expecting it to be bitter, but it's not. It actually tastes pretty nice." (Ah. Whatta woman.)

George Carlin and airline announcements

George Carlin has a way with words. He's a great comic and a mesmerizing storyteller. As long as his beliefs don't cloud your judgement.

His routine on airline announcements had me laughing at my computer screen when I first viewed it. If you're like me, one who cringes at the misuse and abuse of English, then you'll enjoy this video.

(It's about 15 minutes. Come back l8r if you don't have time now.)

20 worst foods in America

Before you consider getting that Whopper with cheese check out these delicacies. Guaranteed to make you appreciate your aorta all the much more.

This graphical slide show put together by NBC11 lets you scroll through all 20 dishes. You'll start off thinking, "Yuck. Who would eat that?"

Somewhere along the line you'll think, "Hmm. That doesn't look too bad."

The 20 worst foods are here.

Not quite on the level

This is a very funny British comedy sketch which is a bit long in the tooth but still a classic.

At first you may think the guy is drunk. Not so.

Clever idea and well executed. Oh, and funny.

Classical Metallica

Here's something you don't see every day, Metallica performed by a trio of cellos.

"Cellos? Why are you wasting my time with this tripe?"

No, wait! This is actually quite good. Start the video and wait for the drums to finish. Then it's headbangin' time.

Trust me, this is good.

New Get a Mac ads

The new Mac ad features the same two guys in a bit called, "Office Stress."

Check it out.







Interestingly, the format for the Get a Mac ad has now been emulated with a great ad for the television show Numb3rs. It's quite good, actually. Great pants (cuffs) on the guy on the left.

Japanese commuters

Perhaps you've seen images of Japanese commuters getting assisted sardine packing while boarding the morning train. Yeah, they really pack 'em in there.

The people know that this is a way of life. I would imagine that it's generally accepted. But imagine what happens inside once the doors close. The sounds. The smells. The groping. Yeesh!

Check out this human sardine packing video. Unbelievable.

SixPack o' Comix

The history of the Italian crotch grab

Many of us have seen the gesture of the "horns," where only the index finger and pinky are extended. And the widely known flipping of the bird. The Italians, however, have a history of some the gestures they use and the crotch grab is one of them.

This is not to poke at Italians, as I would never belittle a nationality. However, this is an interesting history of a gesture, somewhat like etymology, or the origin of words.

"'Ey, I gotcher hand gesture right here."

Setting up the space shuttle

I've run across some very interesting pictures of the arrival of the main fuel tank and the preparation of the space shuttle prior to lift-off.

The photos are amazing and gives one a perspective on the overall enormity of the shuttle hangar.

Check it out right here.

Japanese car mods

You ain't never seen nuthin' like dis ever. An' needer have I.

Those whacky Japanese have their own way of modifiying the body styles of their vehicles to make them stand out.

Check out the pictorial right here.

(CrookedBrains)

TV reporters - dangerous jobs

Every channel has them. They're all over the place when news happens.

What happens when it's a slow news day?

Danger rears its ugly head.

Watch below.

(BitsandPieces)

50 greatest comedy sketches

Ernie Kovacs was the first to pioneer comedy over the airwaves, even before Lucy and Desi. Since then there have been many good comedy shows but the great sketches are peppered all over, few and far between.

However, Nerve.com has compiled a list of 50 of the best comedy sketches ever made right here. With videos.

Skim through these and see what's there. Then come back after work and jump on your home computer to spend some more time.

(BoingBoing)

Chain surfing

What in the Wide World of Sports is "chain surfing?"

I didn't know until I spotted this video.

It's unbelievable! Dude starts surfing right after the traffic passes.

Watch this.

Lost in translation

Here's a great take on signs in Engrish. They try so hard to get the message across, but miss by ->| |<- this much. There's a great collection here, three pages worth. 'Tis to laugh.

Troeg's Beer Babe

Troeg's Beer? Never heard of it. But now I have.

And after watching the babe at the left do a sales pitch for this beer, how could I ever forget it?

Watch it below.

The girls of Formula 1

I'm a pushover for a pretty girl. But you knew that already.

With the Indy 500 race just down the road a piece I offer up some pretty faces with tight curves and meandering s-turns.

Check out the F1 girls here.

(Funtasticus)

PT Bruiser

It never fails. At least once or twice a year I'm cruisin' somewhwere and I spot some car modified into a 4-by-4 rock crawler or some such.

I have no idea why people do this, but maybe it's proof that there's a rampant Redneck gene invading peoples' immune systems.

Here's the latest. A modded PT Cruiser which is/was up for sale on eBay. Dubbed the PT Bruiser, its Buy-it-Now price is 10 grand. Pfft!

Autoblog has a picture gallery here.