Now that we're done talking about hot people (at least for awhile), the conversation in the editorial office turns to more conventional matters such as delicious beer, tasty cookies, a thrilling movie, an old CD and ways to protect your iPhone from damage and yourself from the common cold.
Rush River Brewing Co. -- I'm a craft beer lover, and when I find a new brew that excites me, I like to blab about it. My favorite beer du jour is made from Rush River Brewing Co., in River Falls, Wis. They brew several varieties, including an amber ale, a porter and a golden ale, but the one making my taste buds the happiest is their BubbleJack IPA. When they describe it as a "hop explosion," they're not exaggerating, but it's still gentle enough on the tongue to enjoy the night through -- no need to switch it up to something lighter. In Milwaukee, I've found it in the "build your own six-pack" cooler at the new Blatz Market and Liquor, 1121 N. Broadway. The brewery is also gearing up for another Wisconsin winter with its seasonal Winter Warmer, a Scotch ale with a 6.5 percent ABV. --Julie Lawrence
"Iron Man" -- There are few movies that leave me yearning for a sequel, but "Iron Man" is one. Put simply, it's the most entertaining movie I've seen this year. Tight performances from Robert Downey, Jeff Bridges and even Gwyneth Paltrow make this comic book beauty stand out. It's smart and fun, and I can't wait for the next one in 2010. --Jeff Sherman
An Emergen-C a day -- My friend, Renee, rarely, rarely gets sick. I find this particularly amazing during "cold and flu" season. She believes part of her good health is from drinking a bottle of water mixed with an Emergen-C packet every day. I decided to try this as well, and after a month -- so far so good. The trick it to buy boxes of Emergen-C packets -- instead of individual packets -- to cut down on cost. Emergen-C, by the way, is a vitamin drink mix with 1,000 mg of vitamin C and other vitamins depending on the packet. Emergen-C comes in a variety of flavors, and retails for about $1.69 per packet or $10 a box. (They are even cheaper at WalMart.) If you decide to give the Emergen-C Daily Ingestion Plan a whirl, let us know at the end of the season how it went. --Molly Snyder Edler
"Graceland" -- The death this week of South African singer Miriam Makeba prompted me to dig into the iPod for Paul Simon's 1986 album, "Graceland." I caught a show on Simon's supporting tour and was impressed by the musician ship and the life breathed into the songs, which were pretty good on CD, too. Simon, who was in need of a career boost at the time, tapped an eclectic mixture of styles and talented people like Makeba and fellow exile Hugh Masekela as well as Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Though there were some apartheid ramifications at the time, I thought it was great that Simon spotlighted artists like that, even though he got pretty rich in the process. "Graceland" still sounds fresh and vibrant today, but if I never see Chevy Chase in that "You Can Call Me Al" video again ... well, let's just say I'd expect to lead a full and happy life. --Drew Olson
"Cesare Pavese and America: Life, Love and Literature" by Lawrence G. Smith (University of Massachusetts Press) -- More than a half-century after his tragic suicide in Turin hotel room, Cesare Pavese remains the literary voice of the Piedmont region. But although his books are rooted in the soil of the Langhe and Monferrato areas of Piedmont, Pavese devoured, loved and translated American fiction. This new book by American author Smith -- who taught at Harvard and lived in Italy for four years -- is the first in-depth look at the author in English in decades, and it is perhaps the first time an American author has investigated Pavese's passion for America. There are some great photos and Smith re-introduces Pavese to readers in the country he loved, but never visited. Learn more about Pavese in this recent article in the International Herald Tribune. --Bobby Tanzilo
Back to Nature Crispy Oatmeal cookies -- Packaged cookies usually can't hold a candle to the fresh baked variety. But, Madison-based Back to Nature bakes and packages a good oatmeal cookie. Crunchy and crispy on the outside, they are made with rolled oats, real honey and cinnamon. Very tasty. Plus, through Nov. 30, the company is plugging its "Total Taste Promise." You get your money back if you "don't love our products." Low risk, high reward. --J.S.
Otterbox iPhone case -- The tough thing about many iPhone cases is that they make it tough to slip the thing out of your pocket when you're hurrying to answer a call. The Impact Series model from Otterbox utilizes a slim-fit Silicone layer that has ergonomic contours that make it less "sticky" than other brands. All the buttons, ports and functions on this $19.99 model are accessible, and I'm pretty sure it's a bit more durable than going "naked." Check out the company Web site for other protective gear. It's good stuff. --D.O.
