What Else I Watched This Week (4/24)

• Entourage (HBO)
• NCAA Tournament 
• Sushi: The Global Catch (Netflix)
• Michigan vs Wofford
• Michigan Vs Texas
• VICE (HBO)
• Community (NBC)
• Parks And Rec (NBC)
• 60 Minutes
• Archer (FXX)
• American Dad (Fox)
• The Simpsons
• Family Guy (Fox)

New 'Star Wars' film to be set 30 years after 'Return of the Jedi'

Star Wars fans can take a breath. J.J Abrams will not be sullying the original Star Wars time line with his new installment in the historic franchise. Episode VII, the first film not directed by creator George Lucas, will be set 30 years after the 1983 Return of the Jedi, fitting since it has been roughly 30 years since the last film was released. 

The Star Wars franchise was aquired last year by Disney for a cool 4.05 billion dollars, to the dismay of many fans. Filming is scheduled to begin in May at London's Pinewood Studios, home of the James Bond films. The film is scheduled to be released December 18, 2015.

The Cavs May Not Be Very Good .... But Their Pregame Projections Are Awesome

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been stuggling to find their way in a post-Lebron world. For some reason the signed Andrew Bynum and promptly traded him, In 2010 they lost a record 26 games in a row on their way to a dismal 19 win season. Dan Gilbert must be looking for ways to keep butts in the seats, unfortunately this awesome projection system can't win games, but might bring a brief moment joy to the unlucky fans who are filling Quicken Loans Arena these days.

This Week on the Internets: Vol. 5 Laser Edition

• Robo-Ping Pong
• The Inside of Your Gun
• Tracking Your Location: Convienint or Creepy
• Israel Arming Commercial Planes with Lasers
• NASA using Lasers to Communicate from the Space Station

What Else I Watched This Week (3/9)

• Band Of Brothers (HBO)
• Entourage (HBO)
• Archer (Netflix)
• Inside: Chipotle(Netflix)
• Arrested Development (FXX)
• South Park (Comedy)
• Parks and Rec (NBC)
• Bob's Burgers (Fox)
• The Simpsons (Fox)
• The Daily Show (Comedy)
• Colbert Report (Comedy)
• True Detective (HBO)
• Real Sports (HBO)
• VICE (HBO)
• Australian Gran Prix

Why Formula 1 is Cooler Than NASCAR

Formula 1 is the pinnacle of racing technology. The tech developed in this sport will find its way onto your cars in the next five years. In a sport where speed is king and races can be decided by hundredths, this years massive rule changes raised some eyebrows, especially with the reduction of the motor to a 1.6L Turbo V6. This video from world champion Infiniti Red Bull, highlights the new rule changes this year as well as showcase some engineering porn

Beer Review: Arbor Brewing Sacred Cow IPA

Brewery: Arbor Brewing Company - Ypsilanti,     Michigan
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.80%
IBU: 80
Color: Copper
Availability: Year Round

Beer Advocate Score: 84

Going to school at Michigan, Arbor Brewing is right down the street. ABC offers a wide variety of beers to suit all tastes. I have always been a fan of IPAs, so naturally I found myself drinking Sacred Cow.

Sacred Cow strikes a nice balance between hops a malt, and tastes darker than it is. Unlike other IPAs, the cascade hops do not overwhelm the beer, but provide a nice floral aroma. I was expecting a kick of citrus but was it never really came through. This copper colored ale finishes with the trademark IPA bitterness, though may not appeal big IPA fans, as it lacks the flavor profile of many other IPAs.

Honky Kong Says: 7.7/10 - Solid

Beer Review: Bell's Amber Ale

Brewery: Bell's Brewery - Comstock, Michigan
Style: American Amber
ABV: 5.80%
Color: Golden
Availability: Year Round

Beer Advocate Score: 86

Reviewed with Tony Franklin.

Bell's rarely disapoints. Their Amber Ale is no exception. In the glass the beer is a nice slightly opaque golden amber color with a white head.

The Amber is a lighter offering that does not lack for flavor. Brewed with toasted grain, the taste slightly sweet with slight caramel notes, and a crisp finish. Bell's Amber is a fine beer but not one I'm gonna fight someone over the last six-pack.

Honkey Kong Says: 7.6/10 - Solid

Glenn Beck Making Tesla-Edison Movie

Glenn Beck and I usually find ourselves on opposite side of an issue.  Interestingly enough, this is not one of those times. Apparently nowadays the oft hyperbolic former Fox News personality, fancies himself a film maker. One of these movies will explore the well know feud between inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. Beck hopes will "expose the truth" about Edison, whom he refers to a "bad man."

From National Review:

 Though remembered as "this nice, kind of, good old Thomas," Beck explains, "he was really a bad man who was electrocuting animals." Edison,"was absolutely on the wrong end, and luckily for him the story ended happily with his name being taken off his own company and given to GE," he says. "And all the people he tried to destroy and screw — he was screwed." 

Beck is referring to the electrocution of Topsy the Elephant, an unwitting victim of Edison's war with Tesla and George Westinghouse over AC current. I have long been a fan of Tesla and have been know to call Edison: "History's Biggest Douche," so I am interested in a Telsa movie, but I don't think I would have chosen Glenn Beck to be his champion.  It is unclear weather Beck will be making this a documentary or some sort of docu-drama, I guess we'll just have to wait and see Beck serves up.

Beer Review: Short's Huma Lupa Licious IPA

Brewery: Short's Brewing Company  - Elk River, Michigan
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.70%
IBU: 140
Color: Golden Cloudy
Availability: Year Round
Beer Advocate Score: 91

Named for the scientific name for hops, Humulus lupulus, this American IPA is not at all devoid of it's namesake ingredient. Packing a hoppy punch this golden colored beer, is noticeably carbonated and has citrusy kick, with a slightly floral aroma which lingers on your tongue for several seconds. It has a nice bitterness and but is surprisingly light for a 7% beer. Huma is a very well rounded IPA, from a good Michigan brewery.

Honkey Kong Says: 8.5/10 - Very Nice

Beer Review: Bell's Special Double Cream Stout

Brewery: Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, Michigan
Style: American Cream Stout
ABV: 6.10%
Color: Dark
Availability: Winter
Beer Advocate Score: 89

Description: Bell's Special Double Cream Stout is exactly what the name implies..... creamy. Ironically the beer is completely dairy free.

In the glass the beer is very dark and retains a copper head. It has a malty, chocolaty, slightly coffee flavor with a smooth finish. For a stout, this beer has a relatively low ABV, so this beer doesn't have much of an bite, which is for the best with this style. The taste is not overpowering, and the taste does not linger too long. Overall this is a very solid cream stout from a brewery that can do no wrong. 

Honkey Kong Says: 8.3/10 - Solid

This Week on the Internets: Vol. 4

• A California Venture Capitalist is trying to split the state into 6 smaller ones.
• Meth is apparent super casual in North Korea
• How Far Off is Your Time Zone
• Putin-O-Meter
• Bugatti is No Longer the Fastest Car in the World
• The Navy's New Deathray

What Else I Watched This Week (2/24-3/7)

• Game of Thrones (HBO)
• The Square (Netflix)
• Band of Brothers (HBO)
• Dexter 
• Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Neflix)
• Dallas Buyers Club (Theaters)
  
  

Harold Ramis Dead at 69

Harold Ramis, of the most influential comedy writers, directors, and actors of the last 40 year has died at the age of 69. Ramis got his start as a writer and performer with The Second City in Chicago, where he performed with comedians like John Belushi and Bill Murray. 

Ramis would go on to have great success in the world of film, his first major film was the 1978 classic National Lampoon's: Animal House which he wrote with Doug Kenney and Chris Miller. Ramis would collaborate with Bill Murray on a six films, including Caddy Shack, which is famous for it wild improvisation. 

Ramis was not limited to just behind the camera. He both wrote and starred in the Ghostbusters films, which was the highest grossing comedy of the 1980's. He would team up with Murray again in 1993's Groundhog Day, which has been considered his masterpiece. Ramis's films have become staples of American culture have a style all their own. His comic voice is one that will be sorely missed.

Review: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Starring: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin
Genre: Cult Comedy
Year: 1975
Run Time: 88 Minutes
How: DVD

Monty Python has come to epitomize the world of irreverent comedy and their 1975 classic Holy Grail is no exception. From the opening credits which consist of a completely unrelated toothpaste ad, some moose related subtitles and a seizure inducing llamas, you know your in for quite a trip.

For the uninitiated, the film is roughly based on the legend of King Arthur (played by Graham Chapman) and the Knights of the Round Table. In true Python fashion each actor plays a number of parts. For example, The incomparable John Cleese plays Sir Lancelot the Brave, Tim the Enchanter, and the Black Knight. The rest of the Knights of the Round Table include Sir Bedevere the Wise (Jones), Sir Galahad the Pure (Michael Palin), and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot (Eric Idle).

This marked the first time any of the Pythons had stepped behind the camera. Directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. Gilliam would go on to direct such films as Fear and Loathing and The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, while Jones would direct the other two Monty films Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.

As many fans know, this film had a notoriously small budget. It was filmed entirely at one castle, just shot from different angles. The crew didn't have enough money for horses and thus those infamous coconuts migrated north.

Every single scene in this film is a classic, full of memorable lines and  that is not an exaggeration. It will remain one of my favorite films, one that never get old no matter how many times you've seen it. Holy Grail is a testament to what can be done with a small budget and will forever leave us wondering about the air speed velocity of various swallows. 

Score: 9.7/10