MaNiFeX.net

Next year will be a rager, I’m sure.

So… Tumblr is pretty rad. Chicks with Steve Buscemi Eyes and some choice other few Tumblr pages have convinced me to start one myself. Check out Just Goofus and follow me if you like it!

So, It’s been a long while, but I’ve finally decided to start printing again. I was doing some research into Portland area print shops and community groups… I’m posting a list of them here so I don’t lose them, but maybe someone else will find them useful.

Print Shops in Portland:

• Green Grass Press
• Zhu Lin Press
• Tiger Food Press
• Fortress Press
• Ruby Press
• Red Bat Press
• Studio Olivine
• Satsuma Press
• Lark Press
• Textura Printing

Other Printing Resources:

• Briar Press
• Beaver Engraving
• Independent Publishing Resource Center
• C.C. Stern Type Foundry

As I was working on implementing a Google Map for my Portland, OR based posts, I came across my bike route to work I had loaded into Google Maps… It’s about 12 miles from N Portland to Lewis & Clark College. A great ride featuring views of all the mountains around us, the river, bridges, Mt. Hood views galore. So as a test post, I thought I would put up my bike map. Here we go:

View PDX – Matthew West’s Bike Commute in a larger map

My first attempt at a jungle song… It actually turned out quite like I intended, but listening to it years later, I definitely would have changed a few things… Hmm. Maybe a remix will be on it’s way? Enjoy!

1. I Have the Power

Tha Joint mix was created the summer after I graduated college. My brain was still fried with 4 years of hardcore studying, growing up, getting laid, and abusing substances. I had a part time job, a computer, and some time. These were the fifteen songs me and my then fiancée were listening to all that summer. If you burn this to CD, do so without gaps between songs. Enjoy!

1. Music Plus 1 – Cornershop
2. Weapon of Choice – Fatboy Slim
3. Alive – Beastie Boys
4. Get Your Freak On _ Ugly – Missy Elliot _ Bubba Sparks
5. What About Us – Brandy
6. Without Me – Eminem
7. Aww Naww – Nappy Roots
8. McDonald’s Rap – Tai Mai Shu
9. Long Island Wildin’ – De La Soul
10. Multiples – Atmosphere
11. Acapella – Young MC _ Toxicity – System of a Down
12. Building a Religion – Cake
13. Heavy Metal Drummer – Wilco
14. Sexy Boy – Air
15. Justify My Love – Madonna

Last night, my wife and I were out and about on the town and she proposed we stop by her friend’s new tattoo shop in Portland to spec out her new tattoo. Lo and behold, there was a seat open, and I asked about walk-ins. I ended up getting the tattoo to the right in memory of my Aunt Eleanor, who passed recently. Jacob Neumann of Sovereign Tattoo did the work in about an hour and a half. He did an amazing job combining traditional Americana tattoo elements to help symbolize the life of my great aunt.

I’m stoked to have met a couple tattoo artists new to town. Hawk Chaite of 932 Tattoo (Bend, OR) recently opened Sovereign Tattoo on SE Division street. One of the many new Divsion/Clinton businesses popping up in the neighborhood. It made my night to meet some great guys and get a sick tattoo. That and finishing up the night at The Dancing Bare with my rad wife.

• Style: Specialty Beer
• Volume: 5 gallons
• Brew Date: August 22nd, 2010
• Bottle Date: November 2nd, 2010
• Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/398939/specialty-beer-recipes/xxx-malt-liquor

My attempt at a very high alcohol content “light” beer. It turned out to be more like a barley wine, but I left it in secondary a long time. Inspired by my 30th birthday, I wanted a very alcoholic beer to help me into my 30 somethings.

Very similar to a barley wine. Strong malt tones, sweet, and very warm on the tongue. One 22oz gets you warm and toasty.

• Style: American Pale Ale
• Volume: 5 gallons
• Brew Date: August 14th, 2010
• Bottle Date: September 12th, 2010
• Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/397612/old-ale-recipes/dirty-man-old-ale

Brewed for my 30th birthday, Dirty Man Old Ale is my first attempt at a higher alcohol content style. Old ales have always been a favorite, so I thought I would give it a shot. My wife preferred the name Dirty Old Man Ale, but since it’s an Old Ale, I thought I would give the saying a twist.

Sweet and balanced. Rich, strong, and complex earthy tones of both hops and malts. Long finish, leaving the tongue tingly warm from the high alcohol content.

• Style: American Pale Ale
• Volume: 5 gallons
• Brew Date: July 11th, 2010
• Bottle Date: July 27th, 2010
• Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/397555/american-pale-ale-recipes/love-potion-pale-ale

Brewed during the end of raspberry season and during a time in my life where there was a _lot_ of love going around. My experiment with fresh fruit in the secondary imparted a lot of scent and a little tartness, it also made for over carbonated bottles. That being said, the result was great, nice taste, great pink color. If I brew again with raspberries, I’d drop them in at the last five minutes of the boil instead.

Crisp, tart, solid hop flavor with a nice clean finish, leaving a hint of raspberry flavor in the decay. Very tasty. I was afraid of the tart raspberry flavor conflicting with my hop choice, but it worked out really well.