Mucho Frustrazione!

Yeah yeah, I know, it's a terrible mash-up of language in the title, but I'm going insane here!

I've spent the last three days dealing with a virus infection on my computer, and I have had enough!  The little basterd is called 'Desktop Security 2010' and it has invaded all of the good shit on my machine.  Just when you are happy with the way your pc is running you get infected by this kind of crap!  To whoever is responsible for this program, let it be known:  You are a miserable piece of shit, worthy of none of the good things that life can bring.  FUCK YOU!

Right.  That is partially out of my system.  I have been consoling myself with the counsel of wise friends and enthusiasts, listening to Abbey Road (yep, I have been low!), re-organising my little studio, sampling some of my excellent home-brew, and cursing the little fuckers responsible - you know who you are.

There has been one positive in all this.  If there is one way to get to learn about computers, it's to wreck one and then rebuild/disinfect it!  Not the way I would prefer, of course, but meh.  Now I know slightly more about modern personal computing than I did a week ago.

Another little problem I have encountered is my preamp in my studio is playing up.  I get crackling and signal loss on the right hand channel, particularly when playing at low levels.  I can put up with it (kind of), but it's driving me nuts.  My fixit man told me a while back that this is a common problem with older amps of the NAD brand (it's a 314 integrated amp that I have switched to preamp mode, powered by a great little Proton AA-1150), easily fixed, apparently, but the $$$ just aint there at the mo.  Come on tax return!  Come on lottery win!  Come on new job!!!

I've also got a couple of additions to my Freezing Phoenix blog to do, but I'm unwilling to add any more photos to my system while this Desktop shit is plagueing me.  But regarding The Local's  stout range (especially the offerings from 3 Ravens, Moo Brew and Mountain Goat), and some of the brews from Bridge Road Brewers, James Squire (Malt Runner) and Monteith's, the reviews are coming...

Enough already.   I'm still cranky.

More Attaxas Music

I've gone and put another little ditty up on my Myspace page.  This song is called InTheTrees.  I am continuing with the facade of it all being a collaborative effort, just for kicks, to see who I might fool.  Haven't done any vocals yet as I'm enjoying writing the music too much!  My plan is to continue with a couple more tracks, finish up the remaining 18-odd songs and then concentrate on vocals only.  Hopefully all done by September (I know, I know, it's getting pushed back further all the time!  Hey, I got kids, man.).

You can check it out here at the Attaxas Myspace site.

Logo Competition For The Freezing Phoenix!

I have started a competition for a logo for my beer, details of which can be seen here at the Freezing Phoenix.

First Attaxas Song Up!

I have finally thrown caution (and my ego) to the wind, and put up the first of my ATTAXAS songs up on Myspace.  The title is a little long-winded and pompous (it's Latin, after all!), but it seems to suit the song (what?  am I saying that this song is pompous and long-winded?  Shit, maybe I am...).  Stigmata Tantum Recubo, an instrumental piece, and the one that will open the album.  You can check it out here at http://www.myspace.com/attaxas  If you want a translation, then look it up yourself!

What Would Germaine Greer Do?

"For women, arousal may be necessary for desire but not sufficient. Sometimes, women won't want sex until they've started having it and many enjoy sex without orgasming. Being desired exclusively seems to be key to female libido, which may explain why relationships initially arouse women but cease to do so as time goes on. Indeed, while men tend to find their partners more desirable over time, women often need a new partner to rekindle desire."  Leslie Cannold, Fairfax Media.

Wow!  There are so many things that I could say about this paragraph from Ms Cannold.  Where does one start?  I particularly like the part where she says:  " Sometimes, women won't want sex until they've started having it..."  Er, exactly what are we talking about here?  Is this some kind of suggestion about (dare I say it?) that Freudian idea of the rape fantasy, or the enjoyment of coersion?  A minefield if ever I saw one.  Funny how in the last line Cannold seems to go against the grain  with the suggestion that for sex (for women) to be enjoyable they need new partners to 'rekindle desire'.  Isn't that the male cliche?  Where the hell is Germaine Greer when you really need her?  I want to hear more about the penetration hierarchy, you know, that whole 'those who penetrate and those who are penetrated' schtick!  That I can understand!


I love reading articles like this, purely for total confusion value.  Just when I thought I was starting to get a grip on Life, The Universe and Everything, along comes another writer that completely fucks-up my reality.  The lens of my existence is diffused that little bit more.  Face it people:  sex is complex, desire is complex, people are complex.  Any type of so-called objective stereotyping is wrong wrong wrong!!! 


Now it's time for me to go back to chopping those cucumbers, zucchinis, melons and coconuts...

The Freezing Phoenix

I have started a new blog solely devoted to my passion for beer - the Freezing Phoenix.  You can check it out here.

I realised that the Official Koops Blog was starting to look more like a homebrewers recipe guide than a blog about Yours Truly, so here is the result.  I will be transferring the recipes below over to the TFP , so from now on, if you have been visting to see any of my brewing stuff, start following the Phoenix!

And Whilst On The Subject Of The World Cup...

For all of you so-called 'professional' journalists out there, especially the ones who specialize in sport journalism (an oxymoron if ever there was one) - THE PLURAL OF 'STADIUM' IS 'STADIA', GODDAMIT!!!  NOT 'STADIUMS'!!!  It is driving me fucking mental here!

End of rant.

World Cup Speziell Bock

Well, finally, it's that time of the year.  Brewing season has well and truly begun, and the World Cup is nearly upon us, so to celebrate this momentous occasion I have put together a recipe for a lager to suit.  As our first opponent in this, the greatest of all competitions, is Germany, I have decided to follow the theme with a German-style lager, or strong bock.  The World Cup Speziell Bock has a medium body, complimented with a complex, spicy hoppiness that balances well with the alcohol content.  Having only just started this brew, it's not really going to be ready in time for the great competition, but what the hell, at least we will be able to sample it around the time when Australia qualifies for the group of 16!

Brewed in the style of some of the great European strong lagers (think Paulaner, or even a strong Dortmunder), this little gem is spicy, with a little touch of citrus, with a solid, but not overpowering bitterness.  I'm not usually a fan of the super-malty lagers (the lighter ones, anyway), and even though I'm using a fair amount of malt for this recipe, I'm pretty confident that this will be balanced out with the hop/alcohol combination.

Enjoy brewing!

World Cup Speziell Bock (approx. 7.5% alc.)

Black Rock Bitter
Black Rock light malt extract 1.5kg
500g crystal malt grain
500g Munich malt grain
250g pils malt grain
500g dried light malt extract
250g glucose
250g dried corn syrup
15g Green Bullet hops @ 25 mins
10g Amarillo hops @ 10 mins
10g Belgian Saaz/Motueka hops @ 5 mins
15g Tettnanger finishing hops
11g munich yeast

The Latest Offering From Koopsbrew.

I have put together a wheat beer today for the first time.  After racking my attempt at an American Pale Ale, I got stuck into what I call the "Freiheit Weizenbier", or "Freedom Wheat-beer".  I have decided that after I use up my three remaining malt-extract kits I am going to concentrate on making malt-grain brews only.  I have done the research, and I think ten solid years of kit-based brewing is an apprenticeship enough.  Hold my breath, count to ten, and here we go...

Freiheit Weizenbier (approx. 5.7% alc)

Black Rock Whispering Wheat hopped malt-extract kit
750g glucose
300g dried light malt extract
250g dried corn syrup
250g pils malt grain
500g Munich malt grain
5g Green Bullet hops @ 15 min
15g Hersbrucker hops @ 5 min
20g Saaz hops dry-hopped
11.5g Safbrew WB-06 wheat beer yeast

See below for method.  All grain was steeped at around 66degC for 90 minutes.

Socceroos Squad For 2010 World Cup

Just announced by Koops himself, the following is the 25-man squad Pim Verbeek should take to South Africa...

Goal  

Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor), Brad Jones (Middlesborough).

Defenders  

Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Sasa Ognenovski (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma), Simon Colosimo (Melbourne Heart), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Jade North (Tromso), Scott Chipperfield (Basel).

Midfielders  

Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Dario Vidosic (MSV Duisburg), Tim Cahill (Everton), James Troisi (Kaiserispor), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Vincenzo Grella (Blackburn), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace), Nathan Burns (Kerkyra), Rhys Williams (Middlesborough).

Forwards  

Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Joel Griffiths (Beijing Gouan), Scott MacDonald (Middlesborough), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Danny Allsopp (DC United).

I would also like to see a small selection of young up-and-coming players go to South Africa to train with the main squad, so that they can be part of, and gain from, the experience.  This is a kind of recognition of the young players' talents, and a consolation for not making the squad this time around.  I believe that these young players and the squad itself would benefit with them being there.

Guest Squad Players

 Bruce Djite (Diyarbakirspor), Tommy Oar (Brisbane Roar), Matthew Leckie (Adelaide United), Scott Jamieson (Adelaide United), Mitch Langerak (Melbourne Victory).

Competition for places is always stong, and the standard of players is much better than people often credit.  Apologies for anyone who didn't make the list.

World Cup prediction:  Australia to exit in the Round of 16.

Come on Aussies!!!