Five Senses

After more than a year, let's reinvent this thing. Here are five things dominating my senses at the moment.

Taste: North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout.
I love me a good stout (ie: studying abroad + Guinness = amazing). But this stout is outstanding. It's full of rich, malty flavor and packs a 9-percent alcohol punch. Plus, the history is bitchin'. In the late 1700s/early 1800s, the Russian Czar fell in love with the dark British beer on a trip to the UK, so he asked them to send him some. The first batch spoiled on the boat. So brewers added more hops and more alcohol -- natural preservatives that in turn boosted the flavor and zing. Both mellowed on the boat and tasted great when it got to Russia. North Coast honors that style but doesn't allow all that mellowing time, so you get a big ol' beer that's awesome.

Touch: Lux Touch.
Talking iPod Touch here. I got the sweet gadget in November. I've loaded it with applications and games, but Lux Touch still takes the cake. Lux is like Risk, the game of world domination. It's fun, often quick and -- best of all -- it's free. If you get a Touch or an iPhone, make Lux Touch the first addition.

Smell: Car exhaust.
It's been so ridiculously cold here (try -16 actual temperature a week ago) that you have to warm up your car. I hate that. That choking exhaust mingling with freeze-your-face cold makes for evil winter days. And trust me, this winter has been downright evil in many respects.

Hear: Fleet Foxes.
Hands down the Seattle band's self-titled release was the best of 2008. Great harmonies. Haunting melodies. Way laid-back. A friend described them as like the Beach Boys but awesome. You may have seen them on "SNL" this weekend. The successive tracks of "White Winter Hymnal," "Ragged Wood" and "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" are as good as any three successive tracks on an album ever. Maybe.

See: "Lost."
Easily my favorite TV show ever returns for its fifth and penultimate season on Wednesday. My media credentials scored me an early look at the first two hours, which were quite good. The show is a mind-twister but in such a wonderful way.