Jolly Beer

This is my sister showing off a pint of Nightwatch from the Jolly Roger last night.


In continuing our exploration of Northwest Microbrews with my friend from Utah we went the the Jolly Roger. This little pub in Ballard is next to Marine Time Brewery and always has lots of seasonal and special brews on tap. Along with the Nightwatch my sister is sporting above we consumed quite a bit of Jolly (their winter brew). Now not only does the beer taste excellent it is 9% so pace yourself. I don't know how much longer they will have it on tap so check it out for your self soon.

Beer

One of my good friends is in town for a couple days. Since we are both beer fans, and he has moved out of the microbeer-rich Northwest, we headed to Scuddlebutt for lunch. We had intended to take a brewery tour but all the locals (except Redhook, which we have already been toured a few times) don't offer any in the afternoon.

So on to Scuttlebutt...The food and service were excellent and the beer was even better. We both tackled a sampler (though I was driving and didn't finish mine). While all the beers offered were very good a few rose to the top. The extremely smooth Amber and an off pace Red were my two favorites. I am excited to head back soon and get a second tasting.

When we got home however it was nap time. All the food was deep fried and very filling. In my book that ='s nap time.

If you are near the Port of Everett check them out.

Sports

I have moved most if not all of my future sports chatter to this site.

This is a poor photograph, but my wife and I love this painting my parents bought for us. It is a water color looking in at Deception Pass.

My wife's home made Christmas present from me. (The holder not the earings.)

Christmas Morning Stockings.

Christmas Eve Service

For the first time in 20 years I attended a different Christmas Eve service, being the first Christmas my wife and I have spent together.

We decided to stay on this side of the state. But back to the point.....

After the service my mother-in-law and I were discussing the differences between the service tonight and the service I grew up attending.

The United Church of Christ I attended tonight was a very nice service. It opened with Joy to the World and slowed down through scriptures, music, and poems until the lighting of the Christ Candle and a peaceful walkout to Silent Night. My mother-in-law has been attending that church through many pastors since she was in high school and says the service has always been structured in the same basic format.

I contrast that with the United Methodist Church I grew up at. Again through many pastors the Christmas Eve service has not changed. The service usually opens with the Choir and slowly builds up through music, scripture, and the lighting of the Christ candle. At midnight a senior in the bell choir "rings in Christmas" with a large bass bell. After the 12th ring, Carol of the Bells starts from all around and builds up to Joy to the World. Everyone then leaves in excitement for the coming King.

What makes this so interesting is two fold. First the services are almost opposites. One builds up and one slows to a calm peace. Second is how in both of our cases the services never really change. The readings are standard and while the musics varies from year to year it is the same songs at the same times in the service.

If you have the time let me know about your Christmas Eve or holiday service of choice.

Merry Christmas all........

Our first Christmas tree together. 

My wife's little villiage above our fire. Plus Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty from when I was little. Can you pick them out? 

NBA rejects EA empire

Looks like the NBA video game market won't be monoplized like the NFL market. After disturbing news last week that Madden will be the only option next year for football fans the NBA has rejected EA's bid to own exclusive rights to the NBA names and players.

Next up is baseball. While baseball video games are not nearly as entertaining as Football or Basketball lets hope we still have options.

Science of Baseball

This is a cool Baseball site explaining why baseballs do what they do.

Water on Mars?

Check out this picture.

Reality Based Enviroment

If I wish problems would just go away or refuse to believe they exist will they?

Zags/Sonics Weekend

The Zags played GT on Saturday night. It was an impressive win. Morrison poured in 24 points and has quickly become the "go to guy" on the team. Raivio also had a strong game scoring 21 points. Raivio's on the ball strength is night and day compared to the Illinois game. The anchor of the Zags is of course Turiaf, although he is still slowed by an ankle sprain.

GT was the 3rd ranked team in the country. They are also an east coast team. The game was in Las Vegas and did not get over to midnight West Coast time. That means the Georgia Tech players body was telling them it was 3 AM. Those are tough conditions. Either way it is a great win for the Zags and should help their RPI this year.

The Zags have Oklahoma State coming up on Dec 28th and Mizzou on the 30th. Both are away games. A split would be excellent. Before these two however they play the EWU Eagles (part of the field of 65 last year).

Sonics only played one game this weekend. A Friday night show down with the Suns. The game didn't disappoint. It was entertaining, fast paced, and well played. The Suns came out on top by using and excellent DEFENSIVE run to start the 4th period. All and all we can only hope that this playoff year offers us a 7 game series between these two teams.

Flip does not fit with the Sonics offense. While it is nice to give Allen some rest during the game. His dribble, dribble, dribble, shoot offense really takes the Sonics out of offensive rhythm. I say it is time to explore trade options with Flip. Just Flip. Trade him for a conditional 1st rounder.

Beltre a Mariner?

ESPN is reporting Beltre is now a Mariner. Reportedly the Mariners shelled out 65 million for 5 years. Beltre is only 25 years old which is a plus, but has only had one All-start season. Lets hope he has figured "it" out and will continue to produce for the next 5 years.

The Mariners line up now looks like this:

Ichiro(L) - RF
Winn(S) - CF
Beltre(R) - 3B
Sexson(R) - 1B
Ibanez(L) - LF
Boone(R) - 2B
Bucky(R) - DH
Olivio(R) - C
Lopez(R) - SS

Bench:
Wilson(R)
Spiezio(S)
Reed(L)
Cabrera(R)
Bloomquist(R)

Clearly the combination of Sexson and Beltre makes the Mariners line-up respectable and very right handed. With Ichiro's OBP of .414 and Winn's .346 the Mariners are primed to score runs. Interestingly Reeds OBP (in only 18 games) was a huge .470.

The Mariners still have holes to fill. I see them making atleast one more deal before spring training. Winn is available and coming off a strong season. With the signing of Beltre, Leone and Dobbs can also easily be moved.

The Mariners could upgrade at short. Lopez is probably still a year away from being a solid major league player, but more importantly they must look at their pitching staff. As it stands now the Mariners have a solid #2 starter and some nice inning eaters.

Pineiro(R)
Moyer(L)
Meche(R)
Madritsch(L)
Franklin(R)

Over the last 5 years the starters have been the strength. Going into 2005 however the starting five have serious questions. Is Pineiro healthy? Does Moyer have one more year? Does Meche have his control back? Can Madritsch continue what he started last year and keep his elbow healthy?

Many questions, but now the questions are worth asking because this spring again brings hope of finally making it to the Series.

Win 100k

Come on this should be easy for an engineering student shouldn't it?

FireFox

I am a huge fan of Firefox. For those of you who don't know Firefox is an open source web browsing alternative to IE. It has automatic pop-up blocking and very useful tab features to name a few of the benefits. I have been using Firefox, since it was called Phoenix. Anyway back to the point it appears FireFox is about to go even larger scale, with an ad in the NYT.

More Global Warming Research

Gonzaga's Dickau has career night

Dan Dickau had a career high 23 points for the Hornets Wednesday night. It is great seeing Zags (other then Mr. Jazz) do well in the NBA. Dickau has had a long road to playing time. In his third year of NBA action he has been traded 4 times.

Frahm had a cup of tea with the Sonics last year and is currently with the Blazers.

D.C. Baseball

I for one am glad to hear D.C. is requiring the new owners of the nationals to pay for part of the stadium.

New stadiums don't help the towns economy. They simply get people excited to come to the park. They put money in the owners pocket. What the owners do with the money is up to them, but part of it should be to pay for the stadium. Baseball teams are privately owned. Why should their toys be publicly funded.

Mariners land Sexson

The Mariners have landed their first major free agent...well...ever. Sexson apparently passed his physical (the impossible Omar physical) and is clear to start bombing balls out of Safeco Field. He will be the first to hit a ball out of the stadium.

I have mixed feeling about this deal. Four years at 50 million seems rather high for someone coming off major injury. The Mariners however were able to land another "home town guy". Sexson will pick up the flame Ole left behind. He will sell tickets and if healthy will be a rock in the 4th spot in the order. Until last year he played nearly everyday. As of today the lineup looks like this:

Ichiro - RF
Winn - CF
Boone - 2B
Sexson - 1B
Bucky - DH
Raul - LF
??? - 3B
Lopez - SS
Olivio - C

This lineup still needs help. Boone is no longer a 3rd hitter and while Winn is a very good 2nd hitter he is below average in the field. I believe the answer to CF is center field is Jeremy Reed. Better defense and his bat is designed for the 2 spot.

Where do the Mariners go from here? Rumors hint at Delgado or Beltre. I still don't believe the Mariners will spend enough for Beltre (nor should they at the price he wants) but 3B is their biggest need. Delgado crowds things by moving Sexson to the outfield. The lefty bat however could be ideal. Remember Safeco was designed to allow Griffey a shot at Aarons HR mark.

Sharks

Sharks use magnetic fields to navigate.

Some time in the near future the earths magnetic pole is supposed to flip. Looks like sharks along with birds and man will be in some trouble.

Mt St Helens

Looks like Helens is still very active.

Sonics vs Lakers

The game turned out to be entertaining. While the Sonics lead after the first quarter the Lakers were always just within striking distance, or atleast that is how it felt. The Sonics won the game with depth. Allen had his typical game and Lewis went off pouring in 37 points (7 treys). In all the Sonics had 4 players with double digit scoring efforts.

The most telling stat however was assists. At half time Kobe had 0. Not one assist. Watching the Lakers play it is very hard to believe that the person who dominates the ball as much as Kobe and scores 21 points at half also has zero assists. In the end the Sonics had 28 team assists lead by Luke with 11. The Lakers had 12 team assists. Yes one more assist as a team then Luke in his 23 minutes on the court.

Team Basketball is a beautiful thing. For all those of you who love the TEAM game I encourage you to watch the game Friday night. The Suns will be in town. With any luck the game will end with each team scoring in the 120's.

Dolphin Guards

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200411/s1249440.htm

This is pretty incredible.

More pro-sport sellouts

Madden football now has a monopoly. I have been a big fan of madden in the past (the game not the commentator), but this year I switched to NFL 2k5. The game play was similar, graphics were better, and you couldn't beat the price ($20). Madden still had a better franchise mode but for 30 bucks I went with 2k5.

Next year however we won't have choice. EA bought the rights to NFL films, player names, and teams. So, lessen for everyone, if a competator develops a product you don't feel you can compete with at a price you don't want to sell at simply by the rights to be the sole distributor. I have a feeling madden will be more then 50 dollars next year. I for one will now take my 40 hours of life and spend it doing something else.

Sonics/Zags

While I will be the first to admit I am a bigger Baseball fan then Basketball I still love a well played game in either sport. This brings me to my two favorite basketball teams the Sonics and the Zags. Both have started very well this year.

Tomorrow should be an excellent game with the team driven Sonics facing the Kobe + 4 lakers. Look for Kobe to put up huge stats and the Sonics to win in the end.

Dec 19th is the next Zags game. Will be facing their biggest challenge since the ugly loss in Illinois.

Sexson/Delgado/Beltre

It looks like the M's are close to signing Sexson. Bad shoulder and all. However his agent is still trying to drive up the price by including the Orioles in the discussion. As a side note the Orioles need pitching bad. Why are their two biggest targets hitters? Maybe if their owner put a winning team on the field he would have to worry so much about the Capitals taking revenue away. Back to the Mariners. It is obviously too early to count Sexson in, but if he does sign it brings up very interesting lineups for the new year.

The most interesting trade I read today was Kaz Matusi of the Mets for Winn of the Mariners.

Now the question looms are we still in the running for Delgado? Can we ever sign a Boras client (Beltre)?

Starting up

So I am new to the Blog world. Hopefully it will be interesting. Hopefully I will have intersting things to say.

The topics I will probably cover. Though who really knows how it will end up:

Backpacking in the Northwest Spring and Summer (I guess I am not that hard core)
Mariners
Sonics
Zags
Mountain Biking
Manufacturing
Whatever I feel like. I guess that is the great part of Blogs.