This is the first in a series I'd like to keep doing every week.  In this blog, I will discuss a single beer, taste it, and give my opinion on it.  I have tons of beers to choose from locally, so I probably won't run out of beers to review.  Even so, if there is a beer you want me to review, I'll review it if I can find it.  Also, at least according to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243754/Why-beer-latest-hope-f... drinking certain kinds of beer can help fight against prostate and breast cancer.

Now that we've talked about what this blog is about, let me introduce the very first beer in this series:

Quilter's Irish Death by the Iron Horse Brewery

Irish Death was recommended to me by a gentleman I met at a Taco Del Mar in Ellensburg Washinton.  I mentioned I liked a good beer, and he suggested a local brewery; Iron Horse.  This is the darker of the two I was suggested.  I'm not normally into dark beers, but I was willing to give it a try.

When you first start pouring it from it's bottle, you notice that flows out thicker than most beers.  This is likely because of it's stout background.  Featuring a 7.8 ABV, this thing has a kick to it.  With a malty flavor, with some coffee tangibles, this beer has a very nice aroma.  And like a WoW player, it doesn't get much head either.

Here is what the Iron Horse Brewery has to say about their own beer:  "Created by the brewery's founder, Quilter's Irish Death is what we call
a dark, smooth, ale. Any attempt at classifying it just ends up sending
beer geeks into a style guidelines diatribe. So forget style
guidelines. Is your pursuit of micro beer about tasting copies of a
style that fit guidelines anyways? (Neither is ours) Irish Death is a
malt bomb. We lovingly refer to it as beer candy. We heart our candy
store. While tempting to session this beer, the name is a necessary
reminder that despite the surprising approachability, this beer weighs
in at a hefty 7.8% ABV."

For more information on the Brewery itself, you can visit http://www.iron-horse-brewery.com/brewery.asp

As for me, Irish Death has become my new favorite dark ale.  If you can find it, it's worth a try.

I know I'm hardly in-game any more (most recent adventure:  after buying fancy new hardware to upgrade our computer, managed to kill the hard drive that had wow and all my tediously configured addons installed on it...).

However, I have been a part of the larger Downfall community for years now, and this is one of my most prominent internet-based social networks to which I belong.  And it is also unique, because it blends many of the facets of the internet into one community; video games, websites, IRC, blogging, etc etc.

I'm taking this brand new course at PSU (just started back at school this week!) called "The Internet Age".  I'm very excited about integrating this in to my other academic and eventually career pursuits, as more than ever, the Internet is going to have a significant impact on every aspect of businesses and communication at a fundamental level.

I am doing a half hour presentation on the following topic, and I welcome any and all comments on this topic for integration in to my assignment:

Describe the web as a social phenomenon. What are all of the mechanisms available for people to communicate with each other? How are they different? How are they the same? In particular, focus on the history of e-mail, NetNews, IRC, instant messaging, social networks, wikis, microblogging (i.e. twitter), blogs, and on-line games. Compare the functions of these services and the kinds of communication they are good for (i.e. small group, large group). Can one mechanism completely replace another one?

Obviously I'll be drawing on a lot of my own experience, both personally and professionally, but I'd like to incorporate your thoughts on this subject as well.  Considering <Downfall> has managed to utilize the internet to create something BEYOND a virtual community, I figured it would be a great place to start =).

Cheers,

-Karli

2009 has been a tough year for my family.  We've felt a large hurt from our declining economy, we've moved out of our house back to an apartment, I was laid off from my job, Grasen and I decided to part ways (as a couple, though he's still my best friend), Christmas theives decided to destroy my truck...all in all we were prepared for a pretty crappy Christmas.

This year, I felt the Christmas spirit like no other.  My friends and family all banned together to ensure that the kids didn't feel the same hurt as we were feeling.  The love and thoughtfulness that the Downfall community showed us will never be forgotten.  Words can never express how grateful I am to those of you who found it in your hearts to lend a hand.

The kids had a fantastic day, thanks to the love of others.  I've put together some pictures from our Christmas that DF helped make happen.

To each of you who sent money, or went shopping for the kids, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I hope your Christmas was full of as much joy and love as you filled ours with.

With much love,
Christine

******************************************

First a  BIG THANK YOU to all the downfall members who helped make this christmas one of..... NO THE BEST christmas ever lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!! With all the money yall sent helped give me new school and out of school clothes ! I love all the clothes
and all the stuff i have.!!!Again thank you for all your support at a
time we needed it!!!!

love to you all,

Maliah

So Battleforge is (now) a free to play game, its basically a mix between a RTS and TCG (trading card game).

It released as a regular game but now became a f2p, you start as a demo and can unlock the game after 2-4 hours of play. However, buying the game still reaks its benefits,

Anyways, they came out with a referral system today so I gotta post.

You can download the game through steam, look for battleforge demo, or go to www.battleforge.com

The game is distributed by EA but is not made by them, made by Phenomic.

Basically the game is like an RTS in general, however your units are dependant on a deck of 20 cards you made before each game. There are about 40 scenario games each with 3 difficulties and random games woth a slider scale of difficulties. There are several haundred cards, and 2 PvP dueling systems (one costs $9 for 6 weeks or months, not sure)

So if you decide you play hit me up, we have to play at least 1 game together, you gotta enter my email when you make your character, bikersbattleforge@yahoo.com  and you have to get to lvl 4 (about 2-4 hours of play).

I'll gather some youtube vids of the game.

Trailor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhMZbpcDp8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B75Icif56RU

Hit me up on steam or xfire @ BigBiker05

Peace~