tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52050772012-02-16T14:46:25.819-05:00<strong>Intemperate ruminations, served with beer</strong> <br><br><br> <em>"You can't fool a bar mirror."</em> &#151;Ernest HemingwayDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.comBlogger8511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-74634919649679427802009-05-19T19:49:00.006-04:002009-05-19T20:53:13.968-04:00

Dear Devoted Reader of Suds & Soliloquies,I apologize. This note should have been written earlier. You deserved better. But, on the other hand, if you are a reader of this site, you've had plenty of reason to expect you would be treated shabbily, right?Anyway, this post is simply to inform you that S&S is no more. Toast. Dead. Kaput.In other words, I will no longer be updating this blog, in

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-3292261530242385392009-03-26T22:27:00.007-04:002009-05-15T12:20:05.048-04:00

I just got my hair cut and a new pair of glasses (before my vision insurance dies on Tuesday). And then it occurred to me I now look kind of like a fatter version of Cory Doctorow. See for yourself.And today I even went to a panel on copyright and fair use. (I'll blather about that in another post.) Next thing you know I'll start writing wacky sci-fi stories and pimping them on Boing Boing.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-29291088575675345542009-03-09T04:02:00.004-04:002009-03-09T04:17:37.997-04:00

Give me a job, give me securityGive me a chance to surviveI'm just a poor soul in the unemployment lineMy God, I'm hardly aliveMy mother and father,My wife and my friends,I see them laugh in my faceBut I've got the powerAnd I've got the will,I'm not a charity caseI'll take those(Long nights, impossible odds)Keeping my eye to the keyhole, if it takes(All that to be just what I am)Well I'm gonna be

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-14306506302483357482009-02-19T13:56:00.003-05:002009-02-19T14:01:32.641-05:00

So, yeah, it finally happened. As of 9:30 this morning, I don't have a job. It isn't all bad. I didn't much care for my job anymore because it had changed into something I wasn't hired to do nor much interested in (cutting and pasting bits of HTML code into the most user unfriendly web content software ever devised by man or demon). After months of the Bobs prowling the hallways, the work

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-30867246332369732252009-02-18T12:18:00.005-05:002009-02-18T12:42:16.708-05:00

File under "Hasn't Our State Suffered Enough?":Company brews up Kid Rock beer, nearly 400 future Michigan jobsThe Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved Tuesday a state tax credit valued at $722,957 so that the Michigan Brewing Company, a Webberville-based brewer of craft beers, can produce a new product line: a craft beer for musician Kid Rock. Of course, the idea that MEGA somehow helps

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-36517678486421272022009-02-17T18:00:00.000-05:002009-02-17T18:00:32.772-05:00

As I wait to find out whether I've still got a job -- the current rumor is this Thursday is D-Day -- preparations for the annual Mardi Gras party continue apace. Job or not, I see no reason not to laissez les bons temps rouler as usual.Yes, the auto industry is moribund, resulting in a rising tide of unemployment around these parts; the stupid and evil federal government is taking over what's

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-32939163210385229172009-02-13T12:01:00.003-05:002009-02-13T12:06:47.380-05:00

Down with war. Down with torture. Down with inflation and funny money. Down with the police state. Down with the American empire.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-89582004081422495712009-02-09T12:39:00.001-05:002009-02-09T12:45:13.669-05:00

Last week a number of bigwigs were let go from the home office, management responsibilities were shuffled around, and it was announced that layoffs of littlewigs would be forthcoming within the next 30 days. So while I'm still employed for the moment, it's only because the axe has yet to fall. It's theoretically possible I'll survive, but as noted in the first installment of "Live-Blogging the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-78344350356864533462009-01-30T10:23:00.003-05:002009-01-30T10:27:04.863-05:00

Super Bowl. Super. Bowl. SUPER BOWL!SUPERBOWLSUPERBOWLSUPERBOWLSUPERBOWL.Super Bowl.Sorry, I just had the sudden urge to steal some intellectual property©®™.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-78420263392648547302009-01-21T11:30:00.000-05:002009-01-21T11:31:08.321-05:00

Recently my girlfriend asked me what the definition of a depression is. I told her there isn't one, which is true, but now I'm thinking of the old line that says a recession is when your neighbor loses his job; a depression is when you lose your job.Based on my reading of the tea leaves, I put it at 90% that I will be involuntarily unemployed around this time next week.The tea leaves include

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-66342279140661892262009-01-18T23:47:00.001-05:002009-01-19T01:36:11.492-05:00

I finally have a little time to write something about my recent trip to L.A. To summarize my impressions:The weather was relatively cool for L.A., but it was much better than Michigan's recent subzero temps (file under: duh)People for the most part were surprisingly friendly.The place is the very definition of "sprawl" -- mile after mile after mile of "stuff."The geography was confusing (to me,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-11571762100842645032009-01-13T16:42:00.000-05:002009-01-13T16:44:01.966-05:00

WASHINGTON -- President-Elect Barack Obama called on Congress to quickly pass a new fiscal stimulus package that would provide nearly $100,000 trazillion gaquillion frijillion in an effort to revive the U.S. economy, which some experts believe has entered a recession."Every economist I've ever heard of agrees what we need now is significantly more government investment to offset the negative

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-37548440567885492892009-01-03T13:43:00.003-05:002009-01-03T13:49:53.902-05:00

Internet access has been more difficult than I anticipated, possibly because of my ancient network card, but I've been uploading some pics of L.A. exploits on Facebook, for anyone who gives a damn. Dive bars, cowboy guys, the (postgame) Rose Bowl, and other incidents and accidents are there. More to come, no doubt.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-48744934736742283542008-12-31T00:37:00.000-05:002008-12-31T00:37:36.341-05:00

I'm heading off to Los Angeles for the next week, where I'm hoping for somewhat better weather and the chance to visit some fine Hollywood dive bars. I'll have the laptop, so if I have the time and opportunity I'll do a little blogging. In the meantime:Catch you in '09.(Thanks to Verd.)

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-50276491904733239452008-12-29T23:14:00.001-05:002008-12-29T23:14:09.319-05:00

On the night of December 20, hundreds of Santa Clauses descended on the Motor City to bring Christmas cheer, excessive alcohol consumption, and public urination to a downtrodden city sorely in need of a pick-me-up... or at least some "economic stimulation."It was my first year as part of this disparate crowd, united only by the fact we were all wearing Santa suits (or reasonable approximations

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-70684062665347150792008-12-21T15:31:00.002-05:002008-12-23T11:12:14.608-05:00

Layoffs. Bankruptcies. Bailouts. 2008 has been a pretty rough year. And now on top of all the bad economic news, you're supposed to buy Christmas presents for your friends and family? Yeah, right!Luckily, with all the carnage going on around us, it has somehow actually become cool to save money. So to make sure you stay hip and with it, Suds & Soliloquies is happy to present: The Cheap Bastard's

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-38363082962571599272008-12-12T14:12:00.003-05:002008-12-12T15:03:09.806-05:00

Scene: The Fleetwood, sometime around 2am.Me (wearing a dashiki and Santa hat): You know what you should see is on iTunes? That Cat Power cover of "Space Oddity." It sounds awesome.Matt: Yeah, it's not on any of her albums. Maybe iTunes...Random Dude From The Next Table (turning around): You can't get it anywhere. She's coming out with a new album or EP in January and it's supposed to be on there

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-77183356975395169292008-12-09T16:06:00.001-05:002008-12-09T16:08:08.635-05:00

The office Christmas party is a potluck lunch. On a Thursday.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-27348164616546650762008-12-02T21:57:00.001-05:002008-12-02T22:13:06.415-05:00

A bucket of 20 breaded chicken wings is now $6.99 with my Kroger card, instead of the $5.99 it used to be.That's it. I'm working on my bailout plan to take to Congress.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-8184364759822329942008-11-26T16:40:00.003-05:002008-11-26T16:43:54.382-05:00

I don't know about you, but it's a traditional Thanksgiving around here: turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie, beer, and, of course, the Detroit Lions getting murdered on national TV.Happy Thankgiving to my many, many readers. Don't eat too much, don't get too drunk, and... ah, hell with it, it's a holiday. Stuff yourself and get wasted. I'm going to.Then get ready to pick up some Christmas

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-9038770584478841222008-11-21T16:24:00.001-05:002008-11-21T16:25:12.493-05:00

"When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing." --Bo SchembechlerGo Blue! * Thanks to whoever uploaded this pic to the Big Ten Network, where I stole it from. Your cat is cute and it's completely awesome you named him "Hemingway."

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-81917025286443657442008-11-20T17:15:00.000-05:002008-11-20T17:15:25.288-05:00

It's well known that Ann Arbor is, well, environmentally conscious. In fact, there are more Earth worshippers here than Christians, Jews, and Muslims put together, I think. So it is in that spirit that I present... your 2008 edition of Recycled Ohio State Jokes. Enjoy!Brought to you, as always, by Neal and BobQ: Two third graders were standing next to each other. One was an Ohio State fan and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-7911149076396724512008-11-20T11:31:00.003-05:002008-11-20T11:57:30.559-05:00

T-minus... what, something like three months? Then Lost returns to ABC for its fifth season. Official trailer below:Season 4 comes out on DVD December 9, which is good since I can't remember what the hell happened six months ago or whenever it was when the season ended. On an unrelated note, here's a 25% off of something coupon for Borders. And a 30% off of something coupon, but you need to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-53100532221315718682008-11-20T10:46:00.000-05:002008-11-20T10:46:30.015-05:00

OK, who wouldn't love to tee off all Jedi-style on Darth Tressel, only without the virtuous, sissy Skywalker act of mercy at the end?Aw, c'mon! Cut off his other hand, Luke! And his legs! Go go go hate hate hate killkillkill! More like this:Alas, it's the Michigan Wolverines who are more like the Black Knight this year, and so all I'm hoping for Saturday is a chance for the team to bleed all over

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-16232854851661942442008-11-04T14:18:00.006-05:002008-11-04T14:41:29.670-05:00

Being a principled nonvoter on Election Day is a little like being a turd in the punchbowl. At least that's how all the people running around today blissfully participating in the American civic religion of statism view it: I'm a downer, a loonie, a crank, a jerk.They may have a point, in my case. I readily admit to the personality flaws of impatience and irritability, particularly concerning

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-66402149394502447052008-10-30T01:30:00.000-04:002008-10-30T01:31:38.977-04:00

Forget Christmas. It's certainly nothing against Jesus, but All Hallows Eve, aka Halloween, is my favorite holiday. It's not even close.A big reason, of course, is because of when Halloween is. I love this time of year. Everything is dying, but it looks beautiful as it dies. It reminds me of our mortality, but also of our life after death. It makes me aware of the supernatural: of the snares of

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-81259130460386582482008-10-24T14:11:00.005-04:002008-10-24T14:37:48.673-04:00

It's Little Brother! And with his older sibling drunk and passed out on pain medication, this just could be the year for Li'l Bro to squirt mustard in big brother's mouth and maybe shave one of his eyebrows off for good measure.Or not. Let's definitely hope not. Please, God.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-91659551339271289962008-10-23T18:59:00.005-04:002008-10-23T19:48:00.395-04:00

At work today a bunch of us thirtysomethings gathered to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. As invariably happens in such situations, we started talking about being old and remembering stuff from our youth. Someone mentioned "The Faygo Song," and someone else even started singing it but trailed off. It stirred a long dormant memory in my head, and I said, "Well, I bet it's on YouTube. Everything

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-43597608918895239042008-10-22T21:46:00.001-04:002008-10-22T21:48:13.010-04:00

Fall at the Farmers Market

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-8542534631550479932008-10-22T12:38:00.004-04:002008-10-22T13:32:14.152-04:00

I normally don't remember my dreams, but one I had last night (actually more like early this morning) was so awesome it stayed with me. The world was suffering from a flesh-eating zombie plague, but these zombies were a little different than usual: They only came out at night. So during the day things went on pretty much as normal, but as it got dark people ran to board themselves up in homes

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-47508530445818583832008-10-20T21:27:00.003-04:002008-10-20T21:50:27.643-04:00

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-61088967057250371152008-10-01T21:34:00.002-04:002008-10-01T23:22:48.489-04:00

Last week I wrote that the regime in Washington that rules over us is illegitimate. I've thought this for many years, actually, but I'm still sometimes surprised at how brazen the government has become, to the point where if anyone still thinks we live in some sort of representative democracy or constitutional republic -- well, that person is terminally naive.The current wrangling over the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-66788798677972102502008-09-30T21:59:00.002-04:002008-09-30T22:16:43.134-04:00

More pictures from a great Saturday are here.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-68214049126900974512008-09-12T13:26:00.003-04:002008-09-12T13:50:57.097-04:00

I'm feeling lazy today, so just a picture:That pretty much says it all. Or maybe not: Anyone got any good caption suggestions?

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-57527511834172832092008-09-05T15:33:00.000-04:002008-09-05T15:33:41.429-04:00

OK, so the thing with the Mormons didn't go so well last week. Half of Tree Town converted from the religion of environmentalism and became full-fledged Latter Day Saints. It was ugly, and the ensuing demand for chocolate milk and 8pm curfews wreaked havoc on local bars and restaurants. But now it's time to get ready for Miami. They're bringing their cocaine, guns, bling, and hoochie mamas up to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-90558896356201437502008-09-01T11:58:00.007-04:002008-09-05T12:31:40.180-04:00

Get your hurricane on at this page, which has four local streams -- better than watching the crappy national media.Link via NOLA blogger extraordinaire Maitri, who has evacuated but is updating her Twitter feed.Bonne chance, Nouvelle-Orleans et Louisiana!Update 9/5: Mother Nature is serving up the leftovers of Gustav to us up here today. And Maitri is back home and surveying the damage to her

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-17738621807198565012008-08-29T11:07:00.002-04:002008-09-05T16:00:00.255-04:00

When I heard who Michigan's first opponent in the Glorious New Rodriguez Era (GNRE) would be, I reacted much like Fred "Herman Munster" Gwynne:The Utah hwhut?That's right, it's the Utah Utes, a name I would openly mock except it's derived from an Indian tribe, and I don't want to piss those people off. Haven't they suffered enough?But I will make fun of Mormons, because I have to make fun of

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-31441675079348757642008-08-17T22:29:00.002-04:002008-08-29T11:47:08.033-04:00

Some afflictions start small. A scratchy feeling at the back of the throat. A mild rash. A burning sensation when -- wait, never mind. From there, the symptoms get more serious, building into an acute attack that leaves no doubt that your very well-being has been compromised. A stuffy, runny nose. Red, itchy skin. The burning! Ugh, I don't want to talk about it.College football mania is similar.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-4332980697990737112008-08-12T19:40:00.004-04:002008-08-12T20:43:38.629-04:00

No, not the economy (yet). The hard drive on my ancient desktop computer. It died. Or, anyway, it makes either a series of clicks or else a loud shrieking noise, neither of which I believe to be indicative of proper functioning.What this means is I've lost all of my MP3s, even the ones that weren't Stolen Pirated (ARRR!) Intellectual Property©®™, as well as years of awesome digital pics of my

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-57145515453369039002008-08-07T17:20:00.004-04:002008-08-07T17:36:56.775-04:00

Q: What Would Papa Drink?A: Everything, you sissy! Including some fine Ballantine Ale:The image is too small to read, but here's the text of this lost Hemingway masterpiece:Bob Benchley first introduced me to Ballantine Ale. It has been a good companion to me ever since. You have to work hard to deserve to drink it. But I would rather have a bottle of Ballantine Ale than any other drink after

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-90519758366303760582008-08-07T01:49:00.000-04:002008-08-07T01:49:35.450-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- In an unexpected move, Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, announced today they were choosing each other as their respective running mates."With both the current Republican president and Democrat-majority Congress sporting record low approval ratings, we figured it's just one more sign that the American people have

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-41041754422529467512008-07-30T22:04:00.000-04:002008-07-30T22:04:32.526-04:00

SBN back in the house! Yo yo yo!Stupid Beer News correspondent Verd sent this one in a while ago, and it's awesome: Woman crashes into store then tries to buy beer.X-treme craft beers are gaining market share. Word!Pennsylvania, which has some of the absolutely most retarded alcohol laws in the country, is considering making one beer law slightly less retarded.And speaking of stupid laws, statism

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-80064926602995508122008-07-22T23:24:00.003-04:002008-07-23T01:04:44.938-04:00

Four pilgrims. Two days. Five cities. Eleven (or so) drinking establishments.Yes, friends, that was Beer Quest 2008, an effort your humble blogger took part in on the weekend of July 12. The quest began in Detroit-Ann Arbor with stops in Webberville, Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. Beer was consumed.Exciting pictures are here.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-83936831575079069722008-07-05T01:12:00.001-04:002008-07-05T01:14:37.847-04:00

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-74744074601138172372008-07-04T22:27:00.004-04:002008-07-05T01:07:56.960-04:00

Cool fireworks have, as long as I can remember, been illegal in Michigan. By "cool," I mean anything that leaves the ground or explodes, which pretty much rules out anything but sparklers and "fountain" style fireworks. Nevertheless, when I was a kid, it was very easy to get your hands on many of the verboten things-that-went-boom. Why, right on the counter at the local party store, displayed

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-56560425400653883942008-06-25T20:50:00.001-04:002008-06-25T20:53:42.484-04:00

(HT: Verd.)

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-76340201268386855452008-06-24T00:43:00.002-04:002008-06-24T00:47:06.260-04:00

I didn't agree with his take on religion, but the dude was right on more often than not.YouTube CarlinFest.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-9184955783396498872008-06-23T23:43:00.002-04:002008-06-23T23:46:20.076-04:00

It's not a reference to the just-passed Father's Day but to a letter Ernest Hemingway wrote to Esquire in 1935 on the coming world war. It's perceptive in a way that you don't tend to see today, when all of our major media outlets are owned, or at least controlled, by the same network of people and corporations who profit handsomely from wars and inflation. Highlights:Not this August, nor this

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-52685592794006693272008-06-11T19:06:00.002-04:002008-06-11T19:11:57.484-04:00

As if any more were needed.(HT: Verd.)

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-11503772889407457212008-04-29T00:36:00.000-04:002008-04-29T00:39:01.606-04:00

I've bopped around libertarian and conservative circles since 1994, and to be honest, my enthusiasm for the whole ball of wax has been pretty much tapped out for the past few years. Even last year, when I first heard legendary libertarian congressman Ron Paul was running for president as a Republican, I wasn't much interested. He'll just be marginalized and ignored, if he’s not outright

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-67877061723525889522008-04-17T22:27:00.004-04:002008-04-17T23:03:19.725-04:00

I just finished journalist/adventurer Richard Grant's account of his travels in Mexico called God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre. Here is the back-cover copy:Twenty miles south of the Arizona-Mexico border, the rugged, beautiful Sierra Madre mountains begin their dramatic ascent. Almost 900 miles long, the range climbs to nearly 11,000 feet and boasts several canyons

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-26712234194660311322008-04-17T16:22:00.000-04:002008-04-17T16:22:31.075-04:00

Oh my. In the year of Our Lord 2008, many poor, oppressed American wives are apparently still taking care of their homes. It's true! Thanks to some federally funded (Constitution? What's that?) busybodies researchers at the University of Michigan, we have the (latest) answer to the not-at-all-biased-toward-feminist-dogma question, "Exactly how much housework does a husband create?"I know I

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-88144923031350096162008-03-31T23:21:00.004-04:002008-04-01T10:14:54.758-04:00

March 2008 is poised to enter the history books, and I would be remiss if I didn't stop to take note of the fifth anniversary this month of something rather momentous in the history of the world.The U.S. invasion of Iraq? Well, no, I meant the establishment of this blog. Five years of Excellence in Bloviating – where does the time go? But while I'm at it, there is the matter of the five-year-old

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-59428566397896679522008-03-30T16:24:00.002-04:002008-03-30T16:47:02.812-04:00

Here's a little story about how not to run a credit card company. I've had a Discover card since 1992. It was the first credit card I ever got -- I remember filling out an application at school, actually -- and it was all fun and exciting to have a new way to buy used CDs and whatever other crap a college student of 1992 bought.Prior to this past summer, I hadn't even used my Discover card in

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-61123654226088035762008-03-29T00:28:00.001-04:002008-03-29T00:30:30.117-04:00

I thought spring was here. My calendar says it is. Guess we're both wrong.God, I hate this fucking weather.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-87754851719094133042008-03-16T16:48:00.001-04:002008-03-16T16:49:46.663-04:00

St. Patrick's Day is St. Patrick's Weekend this year, and the signs of spring are everywhere as Ann Arbor comes back to life. On central campus, the fratholes were out in force, already falling-down drunk by 1pm.The diag was busy with another Iraq War protest.After getting my hippie mop cut short for the heat wave, I stopped in to Bar Louie for lunch and a pint.Then it was time for some downtown

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-41188380662538000712008-03-14T16:05:00.001-04:002008-03-14T16:06:59.380-04:00

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. –Oscar WildeI surrender. I've given up on Lent. It should have been obvious this year would not go well when, on Ash Wednesday, the Lord sent a snowstorm, ensuring I would, instead of going to church, stay huddled inside my warm apartment. With a half-full keg of Stone pale ale on tap in my kitchen. Yeah, guess how that turned out.The way

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-61264800637843180892008-03-04T16:31:00.003-05:002008-03-04T18:01:07.131-05:00

Of the three times I've seen him, Tom Russell's concert at The Ark last night may have been the best one yet. He played for nearly two hours, accompanied by his guitarist/mandolinist Michael Martin, to a sadly not-even-half-full ampitheatre. But those of us who were there -- members of a secret, ultra-cool club -- made up for the rest of the world's lack of wisdom and taste by giving him a

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-45097968511872752532008-02-28T15:34:00.001-05:002008-02-28T15:40:33.074-05:00

Due to a large freelance project and a looming deadline, the next installment in my series on curmudgeonry will be delayed. I can sense the disappointment.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-3119204010317991702008-02-28T12:32:00.003-05:002008-02-28T15:32:48.417-05:00

Good news! Over at CBS's web site, you can watch entire episodes of The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and other selected old shows online. Now I can fall asleep drooling in bed, in front of my laptop, instead of in the La-Z-Boy, in front of the TV. Technology rocks!(HT: Mark Maynard.)

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-35083034176339455432008-02-28T09:42:00.001-05:002008-02-28T13:12:11.519-05:00

William F. Buckley Jr., writer, editor, founder of National Review, TV host, public intellectual, one-time mayoral candidate, wealthy dude, and baptized Catholic has gone to meet his Maker at the age of 82. The tributes are pouring in from friends, foes, and posers far and wide. Neoconservatives are weeping as they prepare lengthy encomia. Even writers I admire are eulogizing him. I must say I'm

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-20483180932284267032008-02-26T11:32:00.000-05:002008-02-26T11:32:46.364-05:00

Leave it to The Onion to get much closer to the truth about presidential elections than any "serious" media source.Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election EarlyOf course, none of that matters, since presidential elections are to American politics what the Oscars are to Hollywood, with essentially the same audience.Poll: Bullshit Is Most Important Issue For 2008 VotersBut at least

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-1281456555748597002008-02-20T23:45:00.000-05:002008-02-21T00:11:04.699-05:00

It's week two of Lent, and the usual vow of no drinking is going fairly swimmingly. I still have the Mardi Gras party keg with beer left in it sitting in my kitchen, but here I am sipping on my Coke Zero. Of course, it would be nice to return the keg to its rightful owner -- gee, can someone come over and drink the rest of this beer and help a fella out?Naturally, I'll be taking St. Patty's Day

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-87039664128003738502008-02-19T17:07:00.001-05:002008-02-19T18:07:06.877-05:00

Note: Encouraged by the positive response to my essay about the Ron Paul movement, "The Conscience of a Curmudgeon," I've decided to expand upon the idea of political (or nonpolitical, as the case may be) curmudgeonry with the idea that it might make a fine little booklet unto itself. Below is a preface of sorts. I'm working on Chapter 1 with the hope of posting it later this week.The Conscience

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-47146241062549015582008-02-15T19:49:00.003-05:002008-02-15T21:07:06.488-05:00

Antiwar columnist Arthur Silber, in a, um, forthright essay entitled "Most of You Will Eat Shit Until the Day You Die," succinctly explains the reason I won't be one of the dumbasses voting for U.S. emperor this or any other year:I'll be blunt, even rude: You can call it Republican shit. You can call it Democratic shit. You can call it progressive shit. It's still shit. It's still murder, and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-18754196631461143192008-02-14T16:30:00.002-05:002008-02-14T16:29:37.174-05:00

It's Valentine's Day, and in lieu of the usual cynicism and bitterness found in this space, I'd like to present a thoughtful essay, just to see if anyone's paying attention.A topic that's always fascinated -- and frustrated -- me is that of relationships between the sexes. My interest has often been personal, as I've chronicled my longstanding and not always voluntary bachelorhood on this blog

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-70798106889211441042008-02-08T03:11:00.000-05:002008-02-09T02:13:10.985-05:00

I said I'd write more about Ron Paul, and so I did at LewRockwell.com.Update 2/9/08: There's been quite a response to my latest rant. I've received more email regarding this column than anything else I've ever written, almost all of it of the "You said what I think!" variety. You know what this means. I'm going to have to start my own messianic cult. Stay tuned for details on how you can join.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-42306888547793708662008-02-08T02:52:00.000-05:002008-02-08T02:54:58.250-05:00

Another Mardi Gras party is in the books -- thanks to everyone who came and made it a successful night of stupid fun. And for those who didn't come: You suck and you know you suck.Pictures to come when I figure out why I can't get them on to Flickr from my laptop after I've had seven beers from the still very full party keg.Update: A few pictures -- totally lame -- are up on Flickr.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-15651751771839564102008-01-31T12:54:00.000-05:002008-01-31T12:55:39.605-05:00

So there seems to be a big presidential campaign going on or something. I just recently paid a little attention to the "debates," and now I feel qualified and confident enough to sum up all of this sturm und drang in one sentence: If anyone can get Hillary fucking Clinton elected as president, it's the Republican party.The Republicans have such a strong impulse for suicide they ought to rename

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-11212048907453617552008-01-24T00:00:00.000-05:002008-01-24T00:21:29.422-05:00

File under: Things to do when you have too much time on your hands. It's the three-step "Albums That Don't Exist" game:1. Go to Wikipedia's random article page and grab the name of your band.2. Go to a random quotations page and get the name of your album.3. Go to Flickr's interesting photos page for your album cover.Here's mine:Makes me miss the late, lamented Rockstar Game web page. NUWM would

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-42183321086356647262008-01-18T20:05:00.000-05:002008-01-18T20:04:38.060-05:00

OK, in my review of Cloverfield, below, I inserted a pre-emptive strike against the type of nearsighted critic who would see this movie and write a review that swings and misses the mark so badly it would make Brandon Inge look like the Home Run King. I've since read a few such reviews, but by far the worst one I've seen is from one Richard Corliss, writing in Time magazine. It's so dreadful

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-31615433906224537582008-01-17T23:20:00.000-05:002008-01-18T02:16:57.065-05:00

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. –H.P. LovecraftTonight I managed to snag free passes to a preview screening of the first movie on my list of upcoming "wanna-sees," Cloverfield.Here's the short-form review: Go. See. It.Here's the slightly longer version:Yes, it is Godzilla meets The Blair Witch Project. But

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-9754522958753992952008-01-16T19:10:00.000-05:002008-01-16T19:10:19.241-05:00

There is the movie as art form: "cinema," as film snobs might say, that challenges our most deeply held notions of God or Love or Truth or Beauty or some other Capitalized Important Concept. Then there's the stuff I want to go see, movies that challenge our deeply held notions of giant monsters, zombies, gunfire and explosions, mummies, commies, and cannibalism. Ladies and gentlemen, 2008 is

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-870238506828757012008-01-14T13:41:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:47:47.499-05:00

As has been reported on numerous web sites devoted to schlock and B-movies, the world's first TV horror movie host, Maila Nurmi, aka Vampira, has gone to the grave at age 86. She made a splash in the mid-1950s with her Los Angeles-area show, but she's best known to those of us who were born later and live somewhere other than L.A. for her epic role as "Vampire Girl" in Ed Wood's magnum opus, Plan

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-47342112632937903562008-01-07T16:00:00.000-05:002008-01-07T16:17:17.948-05:00

Anthony Bourdain. I want this dude's life. Traveling to exotic places, eating great food, getting drunk on the local firewater, and dispensing smartass commentary about what I'm doing and on life in general -- all on someone else's dime. Yes. Yes, I think I could do this.For anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about, Bourdain is the star of No Reservations, airing on the Travel Channel

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-23346684758920937692008-01-06T15:11:00.000-05:002008-01-06T16:56:17.463-05:00

Hola, amigos. I know it's been a long time since I rapped at ya, but I've had my hands full the past few weeks. The quick recap:Shit! It's Christmas! Frantic list-making, shopping, traffic jams, crowds, hair-pulling, elbow-throwing, present-buying, Munch-style screaming, wrapping. Panic, stress, chaos.Yay! It's Christmas! Nice visits with girlfriend's parents and my parents. Cool gifts from the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-84002807104796820832007-12-16T20:32:00.000-05:002007-12-16T20:31:25.357-05:00

SBN beat reporter Verd sent in some good stories last month, worthy of sending 2007 off in proper drunken dumbass style.Beer and underage cheerleaders. You're already interested.A Connecticut guy runs out of beer and calls 911 for help with his emergency.The Boston Beer Company is upset that a candidate for mayor of Portland, Ore., used his own name in his campaign.And, finally... I'll just use

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-59767229729139972312007-12-16T12:36:00.000-05:002007-12-16T00:36:21.353-05:00

For your Christmas consumption pleasure:40% off a book (valid 12/16-12/17)40% off a CD box set (valid 12/16-12/17)40% off a DVD box set (valid 12/18-12/19)Have fun.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-61627190696018292082007-12-10T20:08:00.000-05:002007-12-13T16:20:54.744-05:00

Yes, I still exist. Sorry for the lack of posting lately. I've been overtaken by Christmas mania, and it's going to obviously continue for the next few weeks, particularly as I have yet to begin, you know, shopping and all that.But more exciting blog crap will be coming soon. In the meantime I thought I'd take a moment to talk about my girlfriend. (I'm pretty sure I previously noted she's not

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-42729165889698199472007-11-30T16:35:00.000-05:002007-11-30T16:48:20.311-05:00

According to sources close to the athletic department... Tanned, rested, ready:"I'm happy to be the new coach for the foosball team of Minn... uh, Missou... is it Michigan? Yeah. South Michigan. Let's go out and get some 'W's. Get it? Like my middle initial? Also stands for winning. And that's what we plan to do here. Get some Ws over our rivals. Like those bastards in the Upper Penicillin and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-70863732530769753322007-11-26T22:44:00.000-05:002007-11-26T23:01:41.916-05:00

Astute readers of this blog will have noticed a number of post series that have yet to be concluded (Michigan vs. Ohio, Dr. Cheese's Scary Movie Guide, etc.). I'll get to them eventually, even if the "news pegs" for them (UM vs. OSU, Halloween) have passed. I mean, Michigan's superiority to Ohio and the awesomeness of cheeseball horror movies are timeless topics anyway.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-90560565523557719592007-11-18T17:23:00.002-05:002007-11-18T18:08:57.848-05:00

I've been attending Michigan football games since 1990 and watching them on TV even longer and I think I can safely say, whether in person or viewing the tube, I have never been witness to a more dickless performance from a Michigan team than the one I was subjected to on Saturday.The second-largest crowd ever to watch a game at Michigan Stadium? A chance to win the Big Ten title, go to the Rose

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-63382547567009292352007-11-17T03:10:00.000-05:002007-11-17T03:10:34.518-05:00

There are plenty of famous people from both Michigan and Ohio (but probably more from Michigan), but since this is Ohio State Hate Week and we are talking about college football, this section of ITJASP's scientific research is focused only on famous fans of the University of Michigan and THE! Ohio State University's football teams. Michigan. Let's cut right to the chase. Michigan can count

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-84979232212797722552007-11-16T17:41:00.000-05:002007-11-16T17:42:53.365-05:00

Ronald Reagan famously quipped that politics is the world's second-oldest profession, yet it bears a striking similarity to the first.And who can doubt the Gipper? Not the world of science, which is the world that ITJASP and this blog live in. Again, extensive research went into the findings of this report, so let's just move straight into Michigan vs. Ohio, Round 2: Which state is politically

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-61030651563533382582007-11-15T15:05:00.000-05:002007-11-15T15:21:46.652-05:00

Music uplifts, inspires, commiserates, and comforts. In fact, the ability to create -- and enjoy -- music is one of the supreme marks of our humanity, setting us firmly in a special place above the rest of the animal kingdom. Music has charms to soothe a savage breast. If music be the food of love, play on. Let's face the music and dance. Blah blah blah high-toned introduction blah blah

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-71281323193446414292007-11-13T19:22:00.000-05:002007-11-13T19:22:11.213-05:00

It's Ohio State Hate Week again at S&S, and this year I have a real treat for both of my readers. In conjunction with the Institute for Truth, Justice, America, Sunshine, and Puppies (ITJASP), I've done some half-assed Googling extensive scientific research in order to scientifically determine (with science) once and for all which state is superior: Michigan or Ohio. The extensive research (did I

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-45500170839024930602007-11-13T13:06:00.000-05:002007-11-13T19:23:55.679-05:00

I dubbed the 2007 Michigan Wolverines season "The Season of Schadenfreude" soon after witnessing what was probably the most embarrassing loss in 128 years of Michigan football. Apart from winning the Big Ten (a goal that is still possible), the mission of the team became clear: Spread Transitive Property Football Herpes to all rivals and haters, including Notre Dame (check), Penn State (check),

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-77162651536186079402007-11-12T14:39:00.000-05:002007-11-12T14:41:03.275-05:00

Once again a literary figure of note (or notoriety, anyway) passes and I'm forced to admit I really haven't read anything by him, save the spare excerpt here or interview there. But is that really so surprising? Norman Mailer is one of those writers most everyone has read about without having actually sampled any of his wares firsthand. He came close to the literary equivalent of "famous for

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-55856641525428000362007-11-02T15:36:00.000-04:002007-11-02T18:22:50.854-04:00

It's true; the Spartans did indeed engage in homosexual activity. Just ask Prof. H. Lowell Lindemann.Schadenfreude heads into the home stretch tomorrow with the 100th meeting of Michigan and Michigan State. As usual, Michigan is the favorite to win, even at East Lansing. Because this year's game is being played later in the year than it usually is, the Spartans have already begun their death

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-56280846736138282032007-10-29T17:15:00.000-04:002007-10-29T23:26:30.524-04:00

President Bush answers questions about his proposal to deal with the scourge of the undead now facing America:I feel safer already. In other news, while waiting for part 2 of Dr. Cheese's Scary Movie Guide, you can go to Bmovies.com and watch all sorts of crappy horror movies right over the Intarwebs! At least as long as the not-exactly-intellectual property police permit the site to exist. (HT:

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-88841184595692678642007-10-23T19:18:00.000-04:002007-10-23T19:18:20.433-04:00

It's that time of year again: time for sweaters, rakes, cider, donuts, and jack-o-lanterns. Also time for movies that are scary, cheesy, gory, suspenseful, or some combination of all four. So who better to help welcome Halloween 2007 than Dr. Cheese, that aficionado of awful, that connoisseur of crap, that maven of merde? I asked the Good Doctor if he would like to come up with a list of

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-81763633003833980212007-10-22T13:39:00.000-04:002007-10-23T17:10:59.341-04:00

I hate to take the blame for a catastrophe, but the other day I had a sudden, random urge to listen to "Los Angeles Is Burning" by Bad Religion and so I did, about six times in a row, because it's a totally awesome song. The lyrics:Somewhere high in the desert near a curtain of a blue St. Anne's skirts are billowingBut down here in the city of limelight The fans of Santa Ana are witheringAnd you

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-9424586072007694722007-10-17T10:31:00.000-04:002007-10-17T10:52:26.420-04:00

You know your season's really in the crapper when even Saturday Night Live is making fun of you.This Bud Light "Real Men of Genius" parody is pretty funny, too:Yes, Michigan fans feel shameful and dirty from a certain, uh, event that occurred in September. But man, am I glad we aren't Notre Dame. Ha ha!

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-31211369908870956182007-10-10T17:57:00.000-04:002007-10-10T18:09:54.635-04:00

Craig's List is pretty awesome. It's free, it's easy, it's local. I've been using it a lot lately to look for furniture for my girlfriend's house. We haven't had a ton of success yet, but I feel with some patience we will be able to come up with some excellent deals in time.However, my browsing experience suggests that there is a huge number of boneheads out there who just don't seem to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-54473868471613553502007-10-05T15:22:00.000-04:002007-10-05T15:22:30.884-04:00

The MixologistDescription: If pessimists think the glass is half empty, then this guy casts his lot in with the Gloomy Guses and Debbie Downers of the world. To all outward appearances, however, his glass is still half full with his last beer. Never you mind, he doesn't care -- he just wants you to top him off with some of whatever it is you're holding. So what if there's pilsner in his glass and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-21831675955408906192007-10-04T17:17:00.000-04:002007-10-05T10:49:44.277-04:00

Note: As I grow older, it becomes more apparent to me that the way I think and the way I see things are, how shall I say it, out of step with the modern, respectable zeitgeist. About six months ago, when I was still actually 35, I began jotting down sentences in a "This I Believe" sort of way with the intention of creating -- and clarifying in my own mind -- a summary of my gradually maturing (or

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-19410799502520069942007-10-03T15:47:00.000-04:002007-10-03T15:47:24.851-04:00

Ready? Let's roll.In England, a guy is banned from all pubs for two years after punching and biting a fellow bar patron. In court, the jury heard of how the guy "was a dramatic and major alcoholic who had behaved in a disgusting way." And that was his defense attorney speaking! Also in the UK, researchers have discovered a phenomenon similar to beer googles: We'll call it "beer earmuffs." Closer

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-57509166294831391092007-10-03T11:53:00.000-04:002007-10-03T12:02:31.335-04:00

Where can you see lions? Only in Kenya.Well, and Tanzania, too. And I did. In other words, pictures from my safari trip are finally up on Flickr.Many friends have asked me if the trip was worth it. Honestly, I don't know. It was fun and cool and all of that, but I'm pretty much bankrupt now and for the forseeable future. A zoo would have been cheaper, albeit nowhere near as awe-inspiring.But I do

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-58227600808961261682007-10-02T17:10:00.000-04:002007-10-02T17:45:17.501-04:00

Oh, how awesome it must be to vote to steal money from other people when you find yourself in a tight financial spot. I'll be honest -- right now, I'm living paycheck to paycheck and need money for a long list of things:To fix my laptop, the hard drive of which died back in JuneTo fix or replace my vacuum cleaner, which now refuses to pick up all the cat hairTo fix or replace my DVD player, which

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5205077.post-46154359041297451362007-09-24T23:11:00.000-04:002007-09-24T23:17:58.211-04:00

SBN, like the rest of the blog, had the summer off, but now it's back and ready to rock.In Vienna, Austria, the first Oktoberfest for dogs was held September 20 at a local cafe. Free beer? For dogs? No mention on if the cafe staff actually had to witness the dog drink the beer. "Ja, I... my dog vants another, herr bartender..."Vermont's Magic Hat brewery has released a "Night of the Living Dead"

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306707217543025042noreply@blogger.com0