Archive by Author

Amis – Dead Babies

24 Aug

Dead Babies by Martin Amis (1975)

Those books.

Martin Amis is a master of debauchery, depravity and douchebaggery.  Amis’ second novel, Dead Babies, is well-written, dark and hysterical at times.  That being said, his novels often contain characters that though wildly entertaining, elicit little or no sympathy from the reader.  Dead Babies is no exception.

Perhaps Lucy Littlejohn, the “golden-hearted whore” as we are told even before the novel starts, is deserving of sympathy.  She at least has a heart as evidenced by her Continue reading →

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Nabokov – Pale Fire

23 Aug

Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov (1962)

Though Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire could be challenging and indeed trying at times with its intentional incoherence, I found it to be absolutely fascinating.  It is a novel strewn with endless Easter eggs of clarity left for the reader to tinker with.  And “novel” is a term to be used loosely; the reader is given a forward by a fictional scholar to a 999-line poem by another fictional poet, followed by notes and a corresponding index by said scholar.  Not to mention the fact that he is insane.  The story is constantly jumping from forward to poem, note to poem, note to note.  I’m fairly certain that the unabridged version of Pale Fire would be well over 999 pages…or index cards.

Pale Fire is only the second Nabokov novel that I’ve read, Continue reading →

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Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale

22 Aug

Rating: A-

Poured from bottle to pint glass.

Copper with slightly cloudy consistency.  Thin, off-white head, though definite lacing.  Malty apple aroma with hints of berry.  Creamy medium body with med-high bitterness.  Malty, caramel taste, slightly toasty with a refreshing finish.  Nice representation of an ESB.

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Ruddles County Review

22 Aug

Ruddles County

English Bitter

Rating: A-

Poured from bottle to pint glass.

Copper in color and cloudy.  Off-white head with very small bubbles that leave no lacing.  Strong, toasty aroma (almost burnt) with a hint of grape.  Smooth, light-medium body with low carbonation; a little thin, but not watery.  Taste is sweet, but not overpowering, with caramel and malt.  Aftertaste is peppery and bready and lingers pleasantly around the tonsils.  Very satisfying.

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Old Speckled Hen Review

22 Aug

Old Speckled Hen

English Pale Ale

Rating: B+

Poured from bottle to pint glass.

Orangey copper in color.  Small-bubbled, white, foamy head diminishes quickly.  Very mild aroma.  Medium body and buttery on the tip of the tongue.  Seems slightly less carbonated out of the bottle.  Taste is earthy, piney, a bit toasty; there are slight hints of citrus, champagne and biscuit.  The flavor is surprisingly strong and complex considering the lack of aroma.  Very drinkable.

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Fuller’s London Pride Review

22 Aug

Fuller’s London Pride

English Pale Ale

Rating: B

Poured from bottle to pint glass.

Amber/copper in color, clean and sparkling.  Strong whiskey and toffee aroma.  Pours a large-bubbled off-white head which diminishes quickly leaving behind light lacing.  Medium bodied with low-medium carbonation.  The consistency is thin but almost buttery; the flavor coats the tongue and allows the aftertaste to sit back towards the taste buds.  Taste is minerally, not terribly bitter and slightly warming. Balance is above average.

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The Socratic Hipster

19 Aug

This blog is intended to be a creative outlet for what I have deemed the Socratic Hipster: one who knows that the hippest one can possibly be is by knowing that they are not hip.  “Hip” as an ideal no longer exists.  Today, we have a Hipster Spectrum ranging from the high pH hipsters that have not one but four bicycle caps (for accessorizing purposes) and listen only to obscure Japanese jangle pop  to your basic, eclectic, relatively harmless pop culture snob.  It is an important distinction to make.  I want this blog to serve as a way to broaden the hipster horizon through pop culture enlightenment, not a venue for one-upping and condescension.  Unless of course somebody really deserves it.  That being said, no Nickelback album reviews (unless it’s done in jest…and even then).

Encouraged Posts 

Slices of Hipster Life

Music Reviews (Album/Artist/Genre)

Concert Reviews

mp3 posts

Movie Reviews

Television Series Reviews (No Spoilers)

Book Reviews (Poetry Included)

Post your own short fiction, poetry if you’re not too bashful (Critics Welcome)

Video Game Reviews (the Dorkier the Better)

Art/Art Show Reviews

Comics

Sketches

Should-be Viral Videos

post your own visual art

Sports Special Interest Articles

MMA Card Analysis (Seriously No Spoilers)

Beer, Whiskey and Wine Reviews

Restaurant/Cafe Reviews

Favorite Hot Spots – Dives/Clubs

Collections (for bragging rights)

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