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Timothy Lavelle

Did you know that the Pacific Northwest has beer that is certified to be better than yours in every way? There are exceptions of course because one has to take into account people who prefer...pre-effing-fer drinks like Miller, Coors or maybe that favorite of dogs everywhere, Bud Lite. I can only equate those with Kols that sold for 87 cents a six pack in Cols back in the day. Water with a tiny bit of caramel coloring. 

I was drinking my way, way back when, through a hoppless existence. After wandering around Ireland buying pints for squinty eyed, story telling town drunks, I did fall under the spell of Guiness. For an growing white boy, the pull to the dark luxurious brew was strong. BUT...fresh Guiness is a must if you love the brew. And REALLY fresh stout does not come in a can or a keg that has sat for weeks. Why? Because a pint of fresh Guiness is like a combination ploughman's sandwiche, an apple, and a glass of orange juice all in one. A pint of the brew that is not fresh loses the bite, the snap on your tongue. 

But 'Murica doesn't have fresh Guiness outside of maybe NYC, Boston or Frisco. My go-to here in the heartland had to change. I searched, drank..swilled some might think. Sam Adams, their standard Boston Lager, was the best I could do for taste for a long while.

Then we moved to the upper left. Visited Yakima and saw major fields of hops. Tried this northwest version of India Pale Ale. Found that the use of hops in the beer here has been amped to add depth and in my opinion, greatness. Hops of many varities are used. Some brewers get carried away with too much of a good thing and go hop nuts but most stop at some form of "double hopped" as the extreme. The right amount of hops is as individual as how much mustard is the perfect amount on a hamburger.

If you have time on your hands, and maybe just a tiny bit of election fever, you can pass some enjoyable hours trying different brands of IPA until you find your love or fall out of your chair. Make a new hobby out of it...likely to be more accepted than sitting in a small dark room trying to catch a shortwave signal from Cuba by people who say they love you but...sorry, I digress...you'll likely make new friends in the same Kroger's aisle where all that cold beer "from around the world" lives. Get creative. 

As a point of goodwill, might I especially suggest getting beer happy to anyone who thinks Trump has a chance. Might as well begin drowning your sorrows now. The rest of us have had four years practice. 

Beer Party On.

PS Joe, coming from business, I enjoyed the tax investigation story a lot. More?

James Hamilton, M. D.

Tim,

 I am no beer expert but I do like the dark beers and always keep some cans of Guiness in the fridge. Alaska Amber Ale is one I like also which they serve at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post eating area. Last night we stopped by our favorite Italian Deli and I had a Sam Adams Octoberfest beer which was quite good. Not real dark but a beautiful autumn color. Went well with an Italian sausage sandwich and a cup of pasta salad. 🍻 

Jim 

Timothy Lavelle

Jim,

Just sitting here outside the doctor's office...now drooling!

I drank Alaska Amber for a few weeks and liked it A lot but it gave me a headache. That is another differentiator isn't it? We are all so different chemically and some ber gives some headaches and others, not.

I think Colorado is very like Washington in big numbers of smaller breweries. A guy could have a worse hobby than trying all the Belgians...then the APAs...then the IPAs...moving on to Pilsners...over the years.

AND, the names! Irish Death is a favorite of mine. 

Tim

David Mitchell

Now we are finally onto an interesting subject. 

I grew up in a non-alcholic home. Mom was Methodist and dad had an ulcer that would punish him severely everytime he even breathed near an open container of alcohol. But once in a blue-moon, he would pour "one finger" of something that claimed was "nectar of the gods", Wild Turkey - neat.

He would sip it slowly like it was sweet candy gold and then lt let an "ahhh" as he enjoyed swallowing. But then he would pay dearly for his sins later that night in the bathroom. It burned his stomach lining so bad he could hardly take the pain. 

I did not drink any more than a sip or two of Budweiser, (which Mom kept in the garage for when "company" came), until I went to Salzbburg, Austria for a summer language program in 1965. A plane load of students (college and high school) arrived in Munich, and before making the two hour trip to Salzburg, they bussed us all into downtown Munich for lunch at the famous "Hofbrauhaus" - sight of a 400, or maybe 600 year-old brewey and tourist restauant. Quite a palce - and one I have re-visited several times over the years.

(also famous for being the site of a young Austrain who would get up on the tables in the street level first floor and speak to the studnets about his highly controversial political ideas)

We figured out ehthemenu and lunch came with lots of the local beer. Served by ladies in those bosom enhancing "dirndles" - the traditional local country dress (and guys in their "lederhosen"). I ordered "ein bier" - a one liter glass mugs of the fresh brew. And the ladies delivered 5 huge mugs in each hand - as they pushed their way through the crowd with one liter glass mugs.      

I only did this because I did not know how to order "ein halb" (a half), or "ein dritte" (a third), or even "ein viertal" (a quarter), and because I did not want to embarrass myself amongst all these new "clasmates". As we waited, I was learning that this was not like Ameican beer. It was NOT 6%, but closer to 12 or 14%, and also not pasturized, leaving the raw delicious taste to an unprepaired "rookie". It was delicous! 

I got about one third of the way through my "liter" when I realized someone had switched on the "merry-go-round" and I had to stop eating so I could grab both sides of my seat to avoid being thrown off while the spinning grew more intense. On the bus ride down to Salzburg, two of the older guys (college) got sick in the back of the bus.

As that summer wore on, my roomate and I learned some of the specai places in Salzburg and fell in love  with one Austrian beer called Gosser (with an "umlaut" over the "O", which I cannot type - making the pronunication more like "Gesser").

We had grown fed up with the food at our studnet dinning hall and found a local tavern nearby that was a half-flight of steps down into a very "locals only" type of place, with great food. Wwe would go there about once a week. One night we went in and the only table they had was the "stamtish", the table reserved in many Europena-culterd restaurant for the owners family. We were seated in this raised platform table near the center of the room. It was a booth with a wall on one side but we were a bit obvious to the guests on the main side of the rroom.

We ordered a liter of "Gesser" and a favorite dish. We gulped down the beer and our "Cordon blue" (double Weiner Snitzel wrapped around gruyere cheese). We were getting sloshed and still hungry when the waiteress came to ask if we wanted dessert. We told (maybe yelled was more like it) in our drunken, broken German that it was the "bestest Cordon Blue in dem ganzen welt". (best Cordon blue in the whole world!) and we ordered a second dinner and a second liter. She thought we were joking at first, and it started the whole place laughing. They must have been thinking, "look at those two drunken American kids!" 

We finished and stumbled up the stairway to the street and leaned on each other the entire way back to our apartment. I have never become a huge beer drinker, but to this day I have never tasted anything quite as good as that.  

David Mitchell

P.s. Tim,

What about your legendary Northwest brews? 

OLYMPIA ("It's the Water,,,,, and a Lot More")

and   "R - A - I - N - I - E - R  Beer" (spoken to the sound of the motorcycle ripping bye.

David Mitchell

One more thing.

If it wins me any points, my son managed the warehouse and loading dock at Flying Dog Ale Brewery in lower downtown Denver for a few years.

The owner, John Hickenlooper later became mayor or Denver and then Governor. He used to take employees to varous Denver sports games - Avs Hockey, Rockies Baseball, Nuggets Basketball, and a few other things (NOT Bronco games - those were just for the family). On one of many occasions, he took Kevin and two others guys to a final series Stanley Cup hockey game for the Colorado "Avs" (Avalanche). They sat on the end line that runs across the goal about four rows back frrom the front. The got to see Joe Sakic score the winning goal, in overtime, while lying on his stomach and partly behind the goal. Kevin said it was the most exciting sports moment he has ever enjoyed!

Later, Kevin got to have his picture taken with the Stanley Cup standing on the loading dock behind the brewery.

John Jackson

I should respond to MM’s last post, but I’m sure it would only elicit groans after all this beer talk.  So she gets the last word.  

And I’m drinking a County Line IPA from Neshaminy Creek Brewers in nearby Croydon, PA as I write this.  A few years ago I made the life–changing discovery of  Ballast  Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA, but I like the Neshaminy one even better.  The problem with IPA’s is that their alcoholic content is really high (starting at 6% and ranging up to 10% for double IPA’s) but this one comes in at the low end of the range at 6.2% (a fig leaf if ever there was one).

And, best of all, I’m not subjected  to any annoying affectations about the purity of the water used in the brewing process since the brewery is just a stone’s throw from the mighty Delaware River as it wends it way from Trenton to Philadelphia.

Timothy Lavelle

John, 

Water from the Delaware River. 

Does it glow? 

National Catholic Reporter just dumped on Amy Coney Barrett. Just another commy plot.

And the pope thinks same sex marriages deserve civil protection. Just another commy plot. 

Those commies sure get around. 

David Mitchell

John, Jim and Tim,

I think I must confess that I am not really much of a beer drinker. My three kids think anything that is thick and dark and heavy tasting, or is brewed in Ireland, Belgium, Denver or Portland (or cost three times what a domestic beer would cost) is high culture. 

Along the way, I have enjoyed Colorado Cool-aide (Coors - the "Banquet Beer), Hamm's ("from the land of sky blue wa-a-ter" (to the beat of Minnesota indian tom-toms), and Army stops in Texas with JAX and Lone Star.

So judge me as an amatuer, but I actually have a favorite beer that ifts the "none of the above" catgory. It is simple and comes in a clear glass bottle. It is the Champaign of Bottled Beers - Miller High Life. Oh, and I adhere strickly to the 10 commandments of food - only Pacifico, Sol, or Negro Modello with Mexican food. Corona will do in a pinch.

Truth be known, I'd prefer a cool glass of Pinot Grigio or a nice Sangiovese. 

Salud !

Michael McLeod

the pope rocks. love is love. 

Also: it is just as hard for me to comprehend anybody who drinks ipa's as it is to fathom folks who favor the donald.If them's fightin' words so be it. 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/letter-to-the-bishops-of-the-catholic-church-on-the-pastoral-care-of-homosexual-persons-2081

Mike,  it is just as hard for some of us to fathom those of you who believe the Biden/Harris agenda will uphold the Constituion to "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity".

Timothy Lavelle

Expect an e-mail from the Tehran Chapter, Proud Boys for IPA United. Pretty sure IPA is in the constitution. Yeah, second remembrant , that's where, you pinko commies.

Only socialust drink Miller. Hell it was even named after a dirty story by Chaucer...who drank only stout, or double hopped mead by the way.

Michael McLeod

MM:

I'll drink to that.

Love to talk about noble sentiments but in the meantime I'm far more concerned with practical matters than ideology. I'll not go into the details, but that's what this election is about. The design of the boat itself isn't gonna matter much if we don't attend to bailing out the water and keeping it afloat.  It will help immensely to have a certain wackadoodle captain walk the plank. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlmanKoPLyo

On the Covid front - and I'll defer to my esteemed colleague, the good Dr. J., on this - but I was happy to see this in the news today. I've alway thought the emphasis on this very oblique method of transmission was misplaced, and took attention away from the best-practice fundamentals: washing your hands, wearing your mask, avoiding crowds, maintaining your health with exercise and good nutrition. Having said that: You want to wipe down your doornobs, sure. It could help. But I hate thinking people might ignore the other more important step that you can take to be safe. I can't believe the cdc is just now catching on to this.

"Although studies continue to show that the novel coronavirus can be detected on contaminated objects after days or weeks, a consensus has emerged among scientists that the virus is rarely transmitted through contact with tainted surfaces and that it’s safe to stop taking such extreme measures as quarantining your mail and wiping down your groceries.

“To the best of my knowledge, in real life, scientists like me — an epidemiologist and a physician — and virologists basically don’t worry too much about these things,” said David Morens, a senior adviser to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony S. Fauci.

That’s in line with advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has updated its “How Covid-19 Spreads” Web page to say that “spread from touching surfaces is not thought to be a common way” the virus is transmitted."

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike McL., 

I tend to agree that the virus is not often transmitted from surfaces. That being said, not all surfaces are alike and some are more likely to retain viable viruses for longer times than others, such as wet ones and perhaps fabrics as opposed to steel and non-porous surfaces. My wife and I have not been overly cautious with things like doorknobs but are more attentive to kitchen countertops after placing sacks of groceries or our mail on them. Books, magazines and newspapers in places like libraries as well as clothing in department stores and second hand stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army,etc.) are of concern and some such places have instituted UV light treatments for "sanitizing". I know of no studies on this but UV is used in health care facilities and has been for some time even before the pandemic. UV light can kill many bacteria and viruses.

Viruses need cells in which to live and replicate and once out of that environment cannot survive forever. I still think it is up in the air (yes, a pun!) as to how long SARS-CoV-2 can live on various surfaces under various conditions (heat, cold, humidity, etc.) but, as I have often mentioned, this is a very strange virus. Another thought is what people are measuring when they talk about finding the virus on a surface. Is it a whole infectious virion particle or just a part of the virion that is not infectious?

Certainly, the basics of hygiene, distance and masks seem to have recurrently been shown to help prevent the spread of this pathogen. Ventilation systems also are an important factor in public buildings and gathering spaces.

Just recently some literature suggested that humans can infect cats and dogs with the virus but I think it is unsure whether the reverse is possible. More studies are needed. In the meantime, don't cough on your kittie or sneeze on your schnauzer!

Jim

David Mitchell

Looks to me like the Forum posting updates are falling behind again????

Timothy Lavelle

Anyone excited about Buckeye football?

Naahhh, pro'lly not...

Michael McLeod

Thanks Jim.

I meant to tell you I read an extensive story about the corona virus a couple of weeks ago that was just so far beyond my ken it reminded me of my occasional fruitless forays into astrophysics. I gave up on particle physics long ago. 

What stunned me was the multiple strategies unleashed by the virus once inside the body.

It was hard not to see it as the efforts of a conscious calculation.

It was hard enough for me just to understand the mechanism it uses to latch onto healthy cells. But the chain of events from that point on - how the hell does something that minute operate in so many ways?

That's a rhetorical question. I don't expect you to answer it. I just want to say "golly gee" to somebody who might understand why I was sitting there mouth-breathing while I read things I just absolutely could not fathom.

Michael McLeod

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike McL.,

 That's it! Now we know why SARS-CoV-2 preferentially attaks us old folks. We have the most productive cells for them to invade 👴!

Jim 

​​​​​

David Mitchell

ELEVEN

Today marks 11 days before the election. God help us! I cannot wait for this torture to be over. At least we can be grateful that we are allowed the right to participate in the process.

Today I learned that the nation of Columbia has had 11 Constititions. And not once have they granted indgenous people their rights to participate in the political process, unti the last one in 1991.

Today my State of South Carolina "celebrated" it's 11th time that a county sherriff was convicted of criminal behavior. Beating his girlfriend and mis-use of county funds. 

(and I have an 11 year-old grandson in Portland, Oregon that I miss very much)

Speaking of 11, did somebody say football? How about those "Eleven Scarlet Warriors"? Could it be true? Will there really be a game? 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

David Mitchell

With no explanation whatsoever, the information on the sign seems pretty useless. 

If I read the last line   "....Scenario 5  Current Best Estimate", I must assume there was a "Scenario 1, 2, 3, and 4 also. And what did they indicate?          And when was this "current"?

Mark Schweickart

Dave -- Very cool, your posting of the socially distanced Buckeye Battle Cry.  And speaking of sports, how about my hometown Dodgers taking it to the Tampa Bay Rays so far in the World Series? The boys in blue are looking quite formidable. 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

https://off-guardian.org/2020/10/08/who-accidentally-confirms-covid-is-no-more-dangerous-than-flu/?fbclid=IwAR0eK02Z_sTfpyuVxyUR7-28R0UzW_6onkXzxwVtVO8bWE5YM0huiTnuEBc

David Mitchell

Just 1,344 fans in the "Shoe" today (and they were relatives only) - smallest crowd ever in the "new" Ohio Stadium since it was built in 1922 - with the help of my then 11 year-old dad and his buddy Howard, who rode their bikes down from 10th or 11th Ave(?) to play in the construction site.

Imagine, good little Catholic boys disobeying the "No Entry" constrution fencing signs. 

I wonder how that compares to thee very first game ever, played - in a field next to the campus at Ohio Weslyan University (where Univesrity officials gave "special permission" for co-eds to attend - ahem!

Can you just hear the roar of the crowd?

Go Buckeyes!  

Fight on you Battling Bishops!

(give this 20 seconds till the content begins)