oh boy did i feast my heart out at reno. food there was A-MA-ZING.
i also tried my luck on the slot machines. alas, i lost $2.50.
i dont think i could ever get enough of seafood.

and while i’m on that note, watching pirates of the caribbean 2 makes me think of, once again, seafood. as if i hadnt eaten enough already these past 2 days. the kraken in this movie also makes me wish there were an equally obnoxious song about it like the narwhal song.

LOL just saw the part in the movie where jack sparrow looks absolutely appalled at the idea of marriage (“mar-ee-ahj”). lovely.

and now, i shall leave you all with yet another short clip from community. (wait what? does antonio banderas really have a child with a brain tumor?–just saw on a commercial for st. jude’s hospital or whatever…)

yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
i do so love rum.

Everyone in Washington DC is indoors today because of the season’s first snow, or venturing only within an easy snow-shovel’s carry from the front door. DC always comes to a near-halt with even a dusting of snow, so with a foot or more last night and today, folks are immobile.  Here are my photos of our snow fun today, and below to entertain the snowbound I have three separate videos of innovation from Intel, Microsoft, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

In colder climates more accustomed to snowy weather, they’re used to those long days and nights indoors… and there they hatch some of the craziest ideas. Look what several folks from Intel’s Finland operation came up with: shooting themselves out of cannons in a coordinated pattern to create the world’s largest “Intel Chime” effect! Nutty, ingenious, and hilarious at the same time:

I think it’s funny that so many of the youTube comments on the video believe it was faked. In fact, Intel engineers are rewarded for thinking outside the box, like Intel Finland’s Martti Roth, whose grandfather lost his life in a human-cannonball venture and who came up with the cannon-chimes idea in a neat way

I wanted to put Intel Finland on the map. And I knew that everyone recognised the Intel chime. So one night I thought about the biggest, most exciting way we could create those five notes. And the longer I stayed in the bar, the more sense it made.” – Intel Field Engineer Martti Roth

By the way, Intel is now facing an FTC antitrust suit (see Washington Post, “U.S. files antitrust suit against Intel, alleges unfair tactics used against rivals“). Intel denies it, saying it has “competed fairly and lawfully” with its competitors, like AMD and Nvidia. The FTC might cite last month’s decision by Intel to pay $1.25 billion to rival AMD to drop antitrust and patent lawsuits. In any event, it’s one to follow; as the Post says, “the case could become a key test of antitrust law.”

Microsoft has long worked with Intel, among other chip manufacturers, and we continue to do that in new ways. Today, supercomputers and mega-data centers are made up of modular components. At Microsoft we already do it with large-scale data centers composed of modularized shipping containers, but at the low-power end our Cloud Computing Futures group within Microsoft Research has been experimenting with a small cloud computing server farm using arrays of low-power Intel Atom processors originally designed for use in netbooks. I saw these running at our internal TechFest earlier this year, and according to Microsoft Research, “These processors offer substantial fractions 33 percent to 50 percent of the performance of the high-performance processors used in Microsoft’s data centers but consume a disproportionally smaller amount of power, 5 percent to 10 percent.” They make for a greener data center. Here’s a quick intro to that approach:

But just to be fair, I’ll highlight an AMD innovation below. I don’t want my blog to come under antitrust scrutiny.    My friend and prolific blogger Bob Gourley worries about that happening to him.

Lobotomizing a Supercomputer to Upgrade It

One of my favorite films of all time is Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. You’ll recall the scene near the end when astronaut Dave Bowman finally has to disable the HAL 9000, he goes right into HAL’s Logic Memory Center, and removes modular memory units one by one. As he does so, HAL spookily says, “My mind is going… it’s going….”

A recent article in Data Center Knowledge highlights a similar approach by Oak Ridge National Laboratory on their Kraken supercomputer – but with a different, more positive rationale.  Kraken is a phenomenal machine resulting from great work by Cray, AMD, and Department of Energy Oak Ridge engineers, and ranks at #3 in the latest Top 500 list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. By design, its modular architecture  takes advantage of multi-core processors, originally using quad-core AMD Opteron chips.

This final video shows (and explains) the upgrade process to implant new six-core Opterons, and features Al Enger from Cray, actually performing the HAL-like lobotomies and brain transplants:

All neat stuff, from Intel and AMD.  Their robust competition is driving this unconventional thinking (take note, FTC lawyers).  Expect more innovative work from those guys (and Microsoft).

One final quote from the nutty helmeted Intel Finland engineer Martti Roth, when asked if he had another crazy idea up his sleeve: “Well it’s early days, but I’ve been working on something. Another way of making the Intel chime! This time even bigger! It’s going to be pretty special if we get the insurance.” 

Gotta admit I love it!

Share this post on Twitter

Email this post to a friend

Clash of the Titans

The first movie was a huge deal at least in the cereal isle way back meny years ago. It was impressive, stop motion and all. This should be should be even more so. the tone as would be expected is dark and gritty sorry Harry no pretty boys need apply Sam will take it from here

Hey if you check out this link here at BloodyDisgusting.com you can see the new trailer (it’s not on youtube yet) for the Upcoming Clash of the Titans remake. Better yet you can finally see exactly what the legendary Kraken looks like! This movie is looking pretty amazing and this new footage keeps the hype level pretty high! Oh yeah and speaking of the Kraken and Clash of the Titans let’s not forget the awesome toy line that came out in 1980! This is on ebay right now too and if I had an extra $300 laying around I’d bid !  Amazing!!!

“RELEASE THE KRAKEN!”  …  one word…  EPICCCCCCCCCC

Let me make a bold prediction… Sam Worthington will be the It Man of 2010… From Terminator Salvation, to Avatar and now Clash of the Titans!  Oh… & he’s kinda attractive… I mean just a little…

Insert gratuitous photo of Sam Worthington here-

GQ Photo by: Nathaniel Goldberg

photos by Lena Watanabe

Last Thursday, cocktail enthusiasts braved the rain to attend ‘Twas the Punch Before Christmas, a punch contest presented by Matt Robold (RumDood) and sponsored by Kraken Rum. It all took place in the upstairs area at Malo.

Blair Reynolds, ready to serve.

The contest entries were whittled down to five (initially six) finalists, a formidable lineup of mixology talent: Chris Bostick (The Varnish), Zach Patterson (STK), Blair Reynolds (Trader Tiki), Jason Schiffer (320 Main), and Chuck Taggart (Looka!). The judges were Marleigh Riggins (SLOSHED!), Joe Keeper (Bar Keeper), and Joe Brooke (Copa d’Oro), recently named America’s Top Bartender.

Each contestant had their own station to prepare and serve their respective punches for the judges and the eager crowd. Because of work commitments, Chris Bostick’s entry was mixed and served by Forrest Cokely. All the contestants chatted amiably with guests as the punches were served, explaining the ingredients and sharing their experiences in creating their punches. The array of ingredients and hours spent on recipe creation were impressive, and the complex, unique flavor profiles meant there was a punch for everyone. Presentation ranged from Chris’ minimalist approach to Jason’s elaborate orange peel tendrils.

Besides sampling the punches, guests could nibble on snacks provided by Malo. The butternut squash soup was especially good, and welcomed on a cold and rainy night. Even better was the Hot Buttered Rum with the Kracken Black Spiced Rum. Mine was nice and hot, but my friends had drinks that were either lukewarm or cold. It’s all in the timing, I guess…

After everyone had a chance to taste the entries, the judges picked Chuck’s Ponche Relajante (“Relaxing Punch”) as the winner. Chuck was genuinely surprised and humbly accepted the $500 prize with a resounding “WHO DAT?” Chuck’s punch will be featured on Malo’s menu the rest of the month, another pleasant surprise for Chuck and a chance for Angelenos to taste the winner.

Guests could participate in the judging by voting for the People’s Favorite, which turned out to be Zach’s Port of Portland Punch.

A fun time was had by all, thanks to everyone who put together a great event. Here’s hoping the punch contest becomes a new holiday tradition for L.A. cocktail enthusiasts!

Update 12/15: For all the recipes and additional pics, check out this recap from the RumDood.

~

And the winner is...Ponche Relajante!

Below are the five finalists and their punch ingredients. For the full recipe and insight into the creative process behind his winning punch, be sure to check out Chuck’s blog post, “Una Noche de Ponche.”

Who dat? It's the winner, Chuck Taggart!

Ponche Relajante by Chuck Taggart (Judges’ Favorite)

• Gran Centenario Rosangel Tequila
• Del Maguey Mezcal Minero
• Fino Sherry
• Licor 43
• Guayera Liqueur de Damiana
• Demerara sugar
• “Seven Blossoms” Tea
• Lemon & lime juice
• Fee Bros. Whiskey Barrel Bitters
• Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Port of Portland Punch.

The amiable Zach Patterson, a man of the people.

Port of Portland Punch by Zach Patterson (People’s Favorite)

• Kracken Black Spiced Rum
• Canton Ginger Liqueur
• Benedictine
• Green Tea
• Lemon
• Gum Syrup & Vanilla Citrus Blend
• Topped with Prosecco

Forrest grates lemon zest for each serving.

Punch You in the Eye Punch by Chris Bostick

• Green tea-infused El Tesoro Silver Tequila
• Scarlet Ibis Rum
• Aperol
• Benedictine
• Cucumber Demerara Syrup
• Lemon & grapefruit juice
• Topped with Ting soda

Blackheart Punch.

Blackheart Punch by Blair Reynolds

• Cruzan Black and Amber Rum
• Iced black tea
• Cinnamon syrup
• Lemon & lime juice

Tonjok Punch.

Jason serves his Tonjok Punch.

Tonjok Punch by Jason Schiffer

• Bols Genever
• Batavia Arrack
• ROOT
• Depaz Cane Syrup
• Simple Syrup
• Lemon juice
• Peychaud’s Bitters
• Topped with Chandon Brut

The second trailer for Clash Of The Titans is available for viewing on the Internet and it looks INSANE!!! I cannot wait to see this re-imaging. I wanted to say Remake, but judging by the trailer, I have a feeling that the movie will be following the general story line of the original and taking a few liberties with some of the plot. At first, I was hesitant about the change, but after watching the trailer, I’m all about the new film. The effects look crazy, especially the giant scorpions, Medusa and the Kraken. The Kraken!!!! Who ever came up with the design of the Kraken better give themselves a nice pat on the back. It completely shows up the Kraken from the original movie and I’m totally OK with it. This is a great follow-up movie for Sam Worthington. Terminator: Salvation gave him some buzz, but Avatar will just catapult him into stardom, which will help get people to see Clash Of The Titans.

Clash Of The Titans opens in theaters on March 26, 2010.

The Yeti Crab closes in on a victim

Rumors are swirling throughout the greater cryptozoological community about a dynamic new investigative organization focusing its attentions on undersea cryptids.

One source claimed that the new organization would deliver unheard of insights into famous creatures like the Kraken and  Loch Ness Monster.

“This is going to be huge,” says the anonymous source. ” These guys may be under wraps now, but get ready for some pretty explosive findings in the near future.”

Another anonymous source tipped us off to just how serious the new group is.

“Somebody driving a Subaru Forrester left their lights on in the back parking lot.”

You may be wondering how The Beer Yeti knows about a new cryptozoological organization hitting the scene.

Really? You’re wondering how a website that breaks stories about “shape-shifter infiltration” found out about a new undersea crypto- group?

If you are plugged in to the right circles, this kind of word gets around.

In fact, a lot of word gets around The Beer Yeti compound. Mainly because Rick in Accounting can’t keep his mouth shut about any of the emails he reads over the shoulders of his now-very-pissed-off coworkers.

What’s worse is that we can’t fire him this close to Christmas for legal reasons.

We look forward to bringing you more news as we get it.

I love them. I can’t explain it, just always have. I suppose this affinity would be less if I were a Portuguese mariner circa 1639 who had seen countless compatriots pulled from the deck of his seafaring vessel by the merciless tentacles of a Kraken, but alas, I am a creature of circumstance, and having never encountered a seamonster at all, much less under adverse circumstances, I have only positive feelings towards both seamonsters themselves and anything related to the subject matter. Consider, if you will, the following commercial, which I fell in love with upon first viewing.

Jameson Octopus Commercial

I hope you feel the same. If not, get the f*** off my blog.

Hey everybody! Just posting up a piece that just got released from Dragon magazine #381. Don’t really like this one… Lots of stuff wrong but I’ll try and fix those problems in my later pieces!

Started working straight color after I did this and have had a much better time… So hopefully the next few will sit better with me D:.

Metal! Kraken – ‘The Curse’

Been away for a while…time to get back on the case with the blog so here’s one of my favorite poems…it’s about a big monster…

The Kraken

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Below the thunders of the upper deep,
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides: above him swell
Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;
And far away into the sickly light,
From many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumbered and enormous polypi
Winnow with giant fins the slumbering green.
There hath he lain for ages and will lie
Battering upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by men and angels to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.

Below the thunders of the upper deep,
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides: above him swell
Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;
And far away into the sickly light,
From many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumbered and enormous polypi
Winnow with giant fins the slumbering green.
There hath he lain for ages and will lie
Battering upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by men and angels to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.

Con el objetivo de incentivar a los consumidores a invertir y estirar su dinero lo más que se pueda, los parques tematicos en Orlando y Tampa han formulado unas interesantes promociones de tiquetes que incrementarán los ahorros entre los Residentes de Florida.  Vea a continuación estas 3 atractivas promociones  que además de darle la opción de visitar los parques multiples veces, también le dan la oportunidad de celebrar la Navidad en ellos.

1.   Universal Studios Orlando

Ofrece un pase Navideño (Holiday Pass) de  $79.99 (más impuestos) para ambos parques tematicos, Universal Studios Orlando y Islands of Adventure sin límite de uso por 2 meses, de Diciembre 2009 a Enero 31, 2010. El precio normal es de $89.99 más impuestos, pero al presentar el código de barra de cualquier producto de Coca Cola o Sprite obtendrá $10 de descuento.

La Navidad en Universal Studios Resort es un experiencia única. De Diciembre 5 al primero de Enero,  unase a la diversión en Islands of Adventure con Grinchmas y goce de una versión en vivo de “Como el Grinch se Robó la Navidad. ” Además en Universal Studios disfrute del Desfíle Navideño de Macy’s (Macy’s Holiday Parade), el cual sale a la calle con nuevos globos  y carrozas, bandas marchando, coloridos artistas y mucho más!  Y si no fuese suficiente disfrute de una Serie de Conciertos Navideños celebrados en el Universal Music Plaza con artistas como Mannheim Steamroller en Diciembre 5; Chris Isaak en Diciembre 12; y Natalie Cole en Diciembre 19, 2009.

Recuerde que tiene hasta el 31 de Enero 2010 para regresar a disfrutar con más calma sus atracciones favoritas como la nueva Rip, Ride and Rock It, Jurassic Park River Adventure y The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man.

2.   SeaWorld Orlando

Pone a su disposición una entrada de $69.95 más impuestos, que es más economica que una entrada de precio regular y que podrá usar sin límite hasta Diciembre 2010. En esta temporada Navideña, usted podrá disfrutar de The Polar Express Experience desde Noviembre 13 hasta Enero 3, 2010; el solemne show de Shamu Christmas Miracles de 22 minutos de duración y Reflections, el íncreible show pirotecnico y de fuentes de agua.  Tendrá hasta la Navidad 2010 para visitar el parque y disfrutar de Believe, Clyde and Seamore y Kraken.

3.   Busch Gardens Tampa

También ofrece una entrada de $69.95 más impuestos de uso ilimitado hasta Diciembre 2010. Con su nuevo pase anual podrá disfrutar de Holidays at Busch Gardens de Noviembre 21 a Enero 3, 2010 y New Year’s Eve at Busch Gardens de Diciembre 26-31, 2009. De Enero en adelante podrá regresar al parque al disfrutar con más tiempo de sus atracciones favoritas como Sheikra, Congo River Rapids y Katonga.

Orlando, Florida Guide, la guía más completa en línea de Orlando, le ofrece información  de tiquetes a Disney World, tiquetes a Universal Orlando, y tiquetes a Sea World Orlando.

Aftermath Kraken AK-47 Airsoft Rifle airsoft gun

Comes with: 8.4v 1200mah NiCAD battery pack and 250mah trickle charger. WARNING: Battery charge time is 5 hours with the included charger. Do not overcharge your battery or you will damage it. You may receive an incorrect manual. We will upload the correct manual to our site soon. 1000 ct .20g bb’s included! AfterMath Kraken AK-47. Professional training and competition-model machine gun fires semi or full auto, at a wild 370 fps. Solid design features a steel barrel, steel body, frame and steel gearbox. Adjustable Hop-Up system. Includes a NiCAD battery and charger, 1000 rounds of ammo and a detachable magazine that holds 600 rounds…. Adjustable Flip-up Front & Rear Sights… Aftermath Kraken AK-47, Black. Metal Gear Box System, High Torque Motor, Adjustable Hop-up System…

Reviews from Customers

“Great Aeg”
This gun is a powerful weapon. Anyone who wants a solid AEG around $100 should buy this gun.It is insanly accurate. The only problem is the smallish clip, but its still a great gun!!!!!!!! You can buy an extra clip from the aftermath website

P.S. I do not work for Aftermath or Gameo

“Amazing gun”
This is a great gun for any experience of player. I got this gun at Big 5 for $119 on sale. This gun is worth all 119 of those dollars. The box says 370 fps and it is actually very close to that. It is also very accurate. If you take a little time to adjust the Hop-up You can easially hit a target from 100 to 150 feet away. All the internals are metal and the outside is a very high quality plastic. This gun is not going to break. It is a pretty big gun, around 34 inches, so make sure you have a good place to store this when not in use. It also weighs about 7 Lbs. Finally, The gun comes with a 600 round magazine. It’s Probably the best Hi-cap i have used. It feeds well and you do not have to wind the wheel too often. I wind it every 100 shots or so.

If you were going to buy this gun, you should really go to Big 5. Sports Authority also carries some aftermath guns. So if you are looking for a great gun, but not wanting to pay for shipping, or risk the gun breaking the gun durring shipping, you should definately go with an aftermath.

” Best AK-47 Yet”
This is a great gun. I am 100% satisfied. I bought this weaapon and it out performs my JG AK47, CSI AK47, and my UTG AK47. The Aftermath AK47 blows thenm out of the water. This gun shoots around 380fps, and is acurate up to about 150ft. Unlike my JG, and CSI ak’s this gun has a metal gearbox. highley acurate. This gun features metal upper reciver, one peice nylon lower reciver, metal inner/outer barrel, metal gas chamber and tube wich is the part above the barrel on the front of the gun, metal trigger and trigger guard, metal mag catch and release, metal sling mounts, metal dummy cleaning rod, metal sights, metal front sight housing, metal slector switch, metal [...] plate, metal stock clamps, nylon OD green foregrip, pistol grip, and stock, od green sling,ABS magazine wich is the only disadvantage. very solid gun it looks just like my real AK. It weighs about 11 pounds with battery in the stock. this gun is also tokyo marui compatable. Super buy for [...] dollars

See all detials of Aftermath Kraken AK-47 Airsoft Rifle airsoft gun

Another epic mythological spectacle coming to a cinema near you soon. Clash of the Titans is a remake of the 1981 original of this movie (with some added CGI I guess) in which Perseus has to defeat both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save his beloved prinsess Andromeda. Perseus is played by Sam Worthington. The movie further stars Gemma Arterton, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. Check out the trailer below:

Looks quite alright to me! Hitting the cinema’s around the world from March 2010.

De herfst verloopt, qua maatschappelijk protest, tot nu toe minder heet dan ik had gehoop en ook wel verwacht. Na de demonstratieve omsingeling van de Nederlandsche Bank op 26 september, en de grote actiedag die de FNV op  7 oktober tegen de hogere pensioenleeftijd  hield, is het op het AOW-front wat rustiger geworden. Al was het fluitconcert dat een paar honderd actievoerders vanuit FNV en CNV gisteren hielden bij de bespreking het kabinetsplan in de Tweede Kamer natuurlijk een welkome doorbreking van die relatieve rust.

Intussen was er wel vrij groot protest op andere punten, onder meer tegen andere asociale wetgeving. Het kraakverbod bracht meermalen flinke aantallen actievoerders – krakers en sympathisanten – op de been. Zo was er op  15 oktoberde dag van de stemming in de Tweede Kamer, een manifestatie met een demonstratief tentenkamp – en een hard politie-optreden. Op 24 oktober vond een vrij forse demonstratie vóór kraken plaats in Utrecht, en van 28 oktober tot en met 1 november waren er allerlei kraakactiviteiten onder het motto “Landelijke kraakactiedagen”. Op 2 november was er ook nog een goede fakkeltocht tegen Wilders en zijn PVV, met meerdere honderden deelnemers, in Arnhem.

Er gebeurt dus van alles en nog wat ter linkerzijde, maar nogal versnipperd en met te weinig onderlinge dwarsverbanden. Er is echter binnenkort weer een goede gelegenheid om in de volle breedte  protest te laten horen, en wel tegen de meest opvallende aanval vanuit het kabinet: de hogere pensioenleeftijd. Op 21 november houdt de FNV een viertal actiebijeenkomsten, met voorzitter Agnes Jongerius en CAO-coördinator Henk van der Kolk als sprekers, en met muziek. De bijeenkomsten vinden plaats in Assen, Eindhoven, Rotterdam en Deventer, van 11.00 tot 13.00. De SP roept nadrukkelijk tot deelname op, gelukkig. 

Want het is zaak dat hieraan veel mensen deelnemen, van de FNV maar  ook van buiten die vakbondsfederatie zelf. Als we met veel tegelijk onze boosheid uiten, laten we aan de regering zien dat ze met vuur spelen. Tegelijk laten we dan ook aan de FNV-top zien dat we willen datde strijd tegen de hogere AOW-leeftijd ook echt gevoerd wordt, en niet – zoals te vaak – door vakbondsbestuurders wordt afgebroken terwille van een vaag compromis. De herfst is tot nu toe hooguit lauw-warm - maar voor een verhoging van de temeratuur is het nog niet te laat.

It looks like the Kraken has dumped the giant squid as its BFF and has been hanging out  with the giant normura jellyfish.

Nomura Jellyfish

There are more than 200 species of nomura jellyfish and get this, they grow up to 500 pounds!

Just last week one got caught in a net of a Japanese trawler and brought that boat down! Don’t worry the three crew members were rescued.

Could this be nature’s ultimate revenge?

Image by Pierre Denys de Montfo

Probably not because jellyfish don’t have eyes and don’t really know where they’re floating. So a collision with a net is probably an accident.

But, the loss of nets to these creatures can have a devastating financial blow to fisherman. And even if the nets aren’t destroyed the catch are often poisoned thanks to the jellyfish’s stings. (Sabotage!)

Some researchers believe that the jellyfish are showing up in hordes in the Sea of Japan due to -but of course- global warming.

The fish that young jellyfish polyps eat are growing scarce, causing these jellyfish to take things into their own-tentacles.

There’s also word of a new warning system being developed so that nets can be pulled before ships are sunk. The system is probably someone telling someone else that they see a group of MASSIVE jellyfish.

Not that any of us support the economic downfall of a local industry, but there is something raw, dangerous and intriguing about nature accidentally fighting back.

Check out more jellyfish at National Geographic.