SimplePhrase Blog

Link.

Creamy, with a rich and complex flavor. The origin story at the link above makes it cooler. I would definitely eat this again.

Lo and behold! The Australians know how to make damn good cheddar. Aged three years, this cheese was oh so sharp and extremely tasty. If you like cheddar, that is, and I so do. That said, this would not be my first choice for a knock-your-socks-off gourmet cheese experience. I've been spoiled by the likes of Prairie Breeze, Marieke Gouda, and the BellaVitanos.

Wikipedia.

I watched Zombieland last night. I liked it a lot. There are probably more things I could say, including helpful information that would help you determine whether it was something you wanted to watch, but I just don't have it in me to write a full review today, even a review by my own low standards.

Suffice to say it was a feel-good zombie movie. If that doesn't tell you what you need to know, check the Wikipedia entry.

Q: What's stupider than making the back of a cell phone out of glass?
A: Nothing.

Q: What's stupider than, having bought one of these cell phones, not putting it in some kind of protective case?
A: Also nothing.

I have no sympathy for any of the blog posts I've been seeing that say "Oh noes! I dropped my iPhone 4G!" You knew it was glass, and you didn't have it in a case?

I think I'll go around with a hammer and smash every uncased iPhone 4G I see. They'll stare at me as I brush the flakes of glass off of my sleeve, and I'll say, "What? You didn't have a case on it; you knew this could happen."

Sometimes, I'll experience a thing and enjoy it at the time. Then, later, I'll come to the conclusion that whatever it was is crap. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is an example. Twilight is another. I enjoyed both of these things when I was first exposed to them. When I subsequently concluded that they were both garbage, I became, if not ashamed, then certainly chagrined at my initially favorable impression. But that's stupid. There's little enough pleasure in the world without invalidating past enjoyment based on how I think I "should" have felt.

So, yes, I enjoyed the hell out of Twilight when I read it. I ranked Phantom Menace above Jedi on my way out of the theatre from watching it the first time.

Let's be clear: They both suck. But that doesn't mean they didn't make me a little bit happy for a brief period. There's real value in remembering the happy, regardless of its source.

Wikipedia link.

I found this cheese interesting but ultimately unappetizing.

Amazon link.

I had hoped for some marvy sci-fi with a twist of Heavy Metal. I was completely disappointed. Perhaps it's a bad translation, because a lot of the dialog came out of left field. There were many plot twists that were nonsensical, and most of the character motivations were utterly unfathomable.

The obvious punchline is, "Are you sure it wasn't like Heavy Metal?" To which I respond that I was referring to Heavy Metal's gonzo flavor rather than its typical execution.

If I had it to do over, I'd give this one a miss.

Marieke Gouda is an award-winning cheese out of Wisconsin. It is insanely delicious. I can't really think of anything else to say about it, except that I want more of it.

Just watched this computer animated film. (Amazon link.) It had been sitting on Nora's shelf for, oh, it must be months now, and out of the blue she requested it tonight.

Put simply, I was totally blown away. This movie was awesome. Moody and atmospheric, optimistic but not sugarcoated, sophisticated plot, hilarious, a wonderful fairy tale, amusing and engaging characters. I recommend seeing it.

I'm curious now to check out the book.

Here's what they say about it:

"Our Vintage Canadian Cheddar has been aged over four years! Cheddar is a firmly pressed cheese with a hard, homogenous texture. The cheese begins life with a flexible texture and slightly acidic, buttery sweet taste. The fat, protein, minerals and ashes gradually break down during the fermentation and aging process, which intensifies the flavors and firms and dries the texture. Made in Quebec, this cheddar does not contain food coloring. Instead, it showcases a lovely, off-white color. Enjoy the full-flavored, intense, tanginess of this excellent four year Canadian Cheddar."

Here's what I say:

"Damn, that's some sharp cheddar. It has the "fabulous" turned up to 11."