Fritz, Fritz, Fritz . . .

What am I gonna do with you? We sit there for three hours watching the sun set over Des Moines, eating Chef Bailey's astonishing Iowa-based meal. We drink that amazing bottle of '82 wine, while dissecting the world's problems -- and you never mention that you've just received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the James Beard Foundation.

WHAT am I gonna do with you??

P.S.: Congratulations!

Detour From Beer: Micro-Distillers

Nice article in the LA Times about west coast brewers who are exploring the joys of microdistilling.

I am a huge fan of the craft distillery movement, although, sadly, I can't find much of the good stuff here in Iowa, thanks mainly to dumbass liquor laws.... As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, Bill Owens, who founded one of the first brewpubs, is also the guy behind the American Distilling Institute.

Thanks and a tip o' the mug to my pal David Fahey, who maintains the Daily Register at the Alcohol & Drugs History Society website.

"BigDog" and Robotics

My husband is a philosopher who specializes in "mind." He sits around reading books about neurophysiology and AI and other stuff, including robotics. He's up on the latest work in all that stuff.

So when he says something is groundbreaking and revolutionary, I take his word for it. And he says this is a spectacular breakthrough in robotics research.

Apparently leg motion is the hardest part of the human anatomy to re-create mechanically. (Well, aside from the brain itself...)

In this case, for example, watch the guy try to knock over BigDog. BigDog is able to keep "his" balance. Amazing. Even more amazing is seeing BigDog keep "his" balance on snow and ice. Anyway, a friend sent him this, and I pass it on to all of you.

I was totally, and I mean totally, creeped out the first time I saw it. I kept thinking that it must all be computer graphics. But no, it's a real, three-dimensional device operating in the "real" world. The Cylons have nuthin' on BigDog. Well, okay, I guess they're better looking. And they wear great clothes. But otherwise.........

History On the Radio

Now here's something I can get behind (or, as the case may be, in front of): a radio program devoted to American history. Check it out. This week the topic is alcohol! (Historically speaking, that is.)

Cool Blog About Hops Farming

This is quite cool: a new blog about hops farming. VERY interesting with lots of great photos. Check it out. Thanks and a tip o' the mug to pb_rick at The Confrontation Board, the forum at The Beer Report.

Pints for Prostates

Beer writer/journalist Rick Lyke is one of the nicest guys I know. So I'm glad to support -- and hope you will, too -- Pints for Prostates. Nope, that's not a joke. It's (deadly) serious, and you can read about it at Rick's blog and here. Is there a man in your life? Show your love by urging him to have regular prostate exams.