[FLV:0037_Wason.flv]

Of course before we do that we will be heading to the Manchester Firing Line to put big holes in paper targets, because what's a beer festival without a little gun slinging first! I might even wear my cowboy hat. Yee Haw!

I will definitely be bringing my camcorder along for some awesome footage!

For starters, don't expect to find this stuff at your local Market Basket. This is sold in select gourmet shops and health food stores, and at $9.95 a bottle, it's not the cheapest margarita mix you'll ever buy. Their claim to fame is the sweetener, derived from the stevia plant. It's sort of like splenda but more natural. Be warned about any sweetener like this though, too much of it at once and you will have a terrible evening in the closest bathroom. Gross, I know, but it had to be said to spare everyone'e insides.

For my test I decided on an "Everyman's tequila" as the alcohol part of this classic drink. I chose Sauza Tequila since it's affordable while still tasting good. I followed the directions on the label for a 6oz margarita, four ounces of Drink Skinny Margarita Mix and two ounces of Sauza tequila. I'm not a big frozen drink fan so I gave my blender the night off and decided on a classic margarita shaken over ice.

My first thoughts are on the appearance once mixed. It looks like a margarita, even though the color is slightly paler than any of the more traditional mixes. It does "froth" when shaken just like a regular mix. I decided to forego any salt or sugar rim so I could focus on the taste of the mix.

Now about the taste. It TASTES like a margarita, but there is that little aftertaste that is typical of any "artificial" sweetener. You can call stevia whatever you want, but it's still a plant extract, and as such someone had to extract it using artificial means. There is also the hint of the fruit juices that are used in the mix as well, but the stevia tends to linger longer on your tongue than the juice.

Of course the point of using natural products is to eat healthier, right? Well Drink Skinny has 6 grams of carbs and is 20 calories per serving. There's no fat or sodium which is awesome, because now you can feel less guilty about throwing some extra salt on the rim which this drink will need to cut the stevia aftertaste. A margarita mixed in accordance with the directions on the Drink Skinny label has 148 calories if mixed with an 80 proof tequila, about the same calories as a beer.

My overall rating would be a 4 out of 5 stars, if I were a professional reviewer. I'm not, but I'll still use it. This is a great way to have a nice end-of-the-day drink without feeling too guilty. Because of the stevia I wouldn't recommend this mix for a party setting where people may be indulging in multiple drinks, unless you bought lots of toilet paper and rented a couple porta-potties.

The Fat has just purchased a local beer and wine shop in Londonderry, NH called The Drinkery. It's all about craft beers and local brews. You'll have a hard time finding a coors light here! Andy and his business partner Alana have been working hard to bring the store up to snuff and having just gone there last night, I can tell you it's FUCKING SWEET. Hell, it was even featured in the Derry News!

If you're an avid follower of TLD.com, you owe it to yourself to stop by The Drinkery and sample some of what Fat has to offer. Just tell him Skind sent you.

[FLV:0038_Battle-LA.flv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU_m5cI87HU

[FLV:0039_TheResident.flv]

[FLV:0040_FatDrunkQueers.flv]

[FLV:0041_Resident-tease.flv]

Ok, who are we fooling, they do it for the money.

I just finished watching Devil, a paranormal thriller about a group of people trapped in an elevator with, well, the Devil. I will let you know that there could be some spoilers ahead, so if you haven't seen the movie and want to be completely surprised, stop reading now.

This movie has an element I love, and pulls it off well; about 85% of the movie takes place in a single room. This is a feat tried by many but only successfully pulled off by few. When you eliminate the on-location shoots that hop all over the country or even the world, you are left with the task of having good characters to keep the viewer entertained. Devil does that and does it well. It's not an over-the-top gore film either for those who want to dabble in horror/suspense but get skeeved out by the sight of blood. (Yes there are people out there like this. It boggles my mind too, but what  can I say?)

Now here comes a spoiler, so don't say I didn't warn you. The story, as told through a few introductory narratives by a PA detective, states that sometimes the Devil takes human form and walks the Earth to torment those who's souls he intends to take before he kills them. So now the story gets set up that certainly once all these people get caught in this elevator, we can reasonably assume that one of them is the Devil, right?

Of course. But who?

Another good point in this film. You think you know who the Devil is, and then the idea gets squashed. And again. And again. Finally as the bodies hit the floor and there are only 2 left standing, you think to yourself, well now I have a 50/50 shot to guess who it is.

I'm not going to answer that part, just go see the movie and you'll get it.

So what am I saying? I'm saying that this is a good flick. It's shot well, and while there are a few shaky acting moments overall this group of not-blockbuster actors pulled it together and made it believable. It's also a great good vs. evil story that doesn't really come out until the very end.

Here's my ratings for Devil (Sorry, no silly rating graphic ready yet):

Cinematics (How's it look?): 4 sheep
Acting (Did I believe?): 3.5 sheep
Story (Who writes this stuff?): 3.5 sheep
Intensity (Did I crap my pants?): 2.5 sheep

Overall (That is my final answer): 3.5 sheep

Final thoughts: If you're not opposed to a little blood, and want a psychological paranormal thriller that will make you jump a couple times, this is for you. If you're expecting epic battles between God and the Devil, go watch FOX News or something.