Hopstretch

Catching up on my Culture novels. Read Look To Windward and Matter on the plane, then Surface Detail last night when I couldn't sleep. Suffering a bit of Banks bloat.

Who's writing their copy, Ray?

Yes. But I've had it for, like, ages and the harmonicules are almost all used up.

Getting USB DAC urges again. Some cool-looking stuff on the way. http://www.playbackdesigns.com/mpd3.html http://www.meitner.com/beta/index.html http://resonessencelabs.com/ (PS: That last one, no idea if they're blowing smoke or not about their unit, but that's a fucking user manual right there. At least 30 pages of measurements and various digressions on audio engineering theory and practice.)

First hither, then thither. Say that after a day of drunk baking (or baked drinking, for that matter).

I sat on planes for 22 hours between a 5-year old and a 6-year old and now know more or less how Cleverbot feels.

Brewdog Punk IPA. Back to the land of adjunct lagers tomorrow. Oh well, I had more than my fair share of the good stuff in the last week.

Founders Centennial IPA. I love this one. OK, four.

La Chouffe. Maredsous. Gouden Carolus. Torbreck Pict. Schubert Goose Yard Block. Solid lunch! Now, open whisky or hit the sack?

Saw that on Audiogon yesterday and bet myself $20 you'd buy it. Off to spend winnings on beer.

La Fin Du Monde.

Spent 22 hours on planes getting from Cape Town to Boston. Lot of time to have to entertain two kids, let me tell you. But yesterday evening I raided Julios craft beer section and today I get to see my dog for the first time in a year, so it was worth it!

Bit naughty of them to make it look so French. Actually comes from Wellington, about an hour NorthEast of Cape Town. Nice spot. The distillers are quite a trip, too. Bought a bottle of their absinthe last time we passed through, but have yet to open it. http://www.jd7.co.za/

The Jesus & Mary Chain -- Stoned & Dethroned

Steenberg Shiraz 2009. New release from the estate we live on here in Cape Town and I think their best yet. I'm a cool-climate convert! Steenberg Shiraz 2009

I bet you no one at Apple who ever even ate lunch with some one who once worked on MobileMess is allowed anywhere near Steve's scary, gas-mask-face, motherfucking datacenter OF THE FUTURE!

No problem. I can do that. PM me an address and I'll send you a few bottles. It's pretty much compulsory here to have a Steelworks (Cola tonic, bitters, ginger beer & soda water) after walking off the golf course.

Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky. It would be hard to review this spirit without the use of at least some phrases like "cheap", "local" and "extremely intoxicating", so I won't try.

Thought some of our legal brethren might enjoy this. "Your mother's c**t!" Advocate tells High Court judge.

Happy Belated Birthday Al and all the very best to your Mom.

iPad 2! Now with the power to beam me a chubby all the way from Yerba Buena to the lower middle of butt fuck nowhere. Technology is amazing.

Golf. Booze. Ennui.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIQmrsA0T-I