Secretary Vilsack's First Hundred Days (Since, Ya Know, We're Counting)

Back in December, I commented on President Obama's choice of Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture, a job that, we all realize, has become an excruciatingly important. My immediate, knee-jerk reaction at the time was "Huh?" And then I expressed a different (and I hope more thoughtful) response.

That's all by way of saying that there was a good piece in today's Des Moines Register about Vilsack's first hundred days (since, ya know, we're all hell-bent now on critiquing and assessing leaders before they've even had time to figure out where their parking spaces and the nearest bathroom are . . . ) Worth reading.

Steve Jobs to the Rescue? Kindle as Kindling? [Updated]

[I spaced out and forgot the relevant link when I first posted this entry. It now includes a link to the news about an Apple reader.]

About a year ago, Steve Jobs commented that "no one reads anymore." That was immediately interpreted as either Jobs-is-a-moron (which no one seriously believes); or Jobs-is-working-on-a-reader. He is apparently notorious for throwing people off the scent of his company's research by belittling the concept/idea behind that research. (Which means he's not exactly throwing people off the scent, eh? I mean if people know this is his pattern, and he throws off a "no one reads" line, well, it was safe to assume he was, ya know, working on a e-reading device.)

I hoped that meant he was working on precisely that, and so I didn't race out and buy a Kindle. And yup, turns out he is. (Or, more accurately, his company is doing so.)

Stephen Fry's Letter to Himself

I'm a big fan of Stephen Fry, and so was delighted to read this. Lovely way to start the day.

New York Craft Distillers Organize --- In Hopes of Surviving

Craft distillers in New York state have organized a Craft Distillers Guild. Frankly, they have to do something, because that state's legislators are hell-bent on preventing them from doing business. Ralph Erenzo of Tuthilltown Spirits passed along the press released quoted below. I've mentioned him here before because of Tuthilltown's struggles to build a business within the confines of the nearly lunatic alcohol regulations in New York state.

Albany, New York New York craft distillers met at the offices of the NEW YORK FARM BUREAU  on April 21st to organize and launch the NEW YORK CRAFT DISTILLERS GUILD.   The first Guild meeting was organized by the Hudson Valley Agri-Business  Development Corporation. The location of the meeting at the offices of the  NY FARM BUREAU is no accident. We want to make the firm statement  that spirits production in New York is an agricultural undertaking," says Todd Erling, Executive Director of HVADC. Distillers use agricultural products, and craft distilleries have the potential to create  new markets for New York grown fruits and grain while also creating a new  tax source for the State. New York has a long tradition of spirits production, dating back to colonial times. Prohibition killed off the distilled spirits industry in New York and it only recently returned. Changes in the State's Alcohol Beverage Control Law have made it possible in recent years for small agriculture-based distillers to develop and flourish. There are currently thirteen licensed craft distillers in New York and that number is expected to double over the next five years. According to Ralph Erenzo, owner of Tuthilltown Spirits in Gardiner, "A small distillery operating at the limit of production allowed by their license can generate up to $1 million in annual Excise and Sales Taxes to the State; not including the multiplier effect." Nationally, small distilleries are now producing a wide range of high quality hand-crafted spirits of almost every type, from bourbon, to brandies, rum, gin, and vodka. Craft distilleries offer significant economic value to the state. They hire locally, buy local raw materials, and draw tourism dollars to New York. The newly-formed New York Craft Distillers Guild will focus on  advocating for regulations that are responsive to the needs of craft distilleries and on branding and promoting New York-made spirits.

For more information on craft distillers, who, in my opinion, are creating truly astounding spirits, see the American Distilling Institute's homepage. And big tip o' the snifter to Ralph for fighting the good fight, and for keeping me posted on it.

Congratulations, Jay!

Big congrats to the amazing Jay Brooks: Starting Wednesday, he'll be writing the beer column for Oakland Tribune. This was the gig held down by Bill Brand, who died recently. 

This is terrific news for a terrific person. It affirms his chops as a serious journalist and beer writer (not, mind you, that I think he needed additional affirmation). I suspect it's also a bittersweet moment: he was a good friend of Bill Brand, and I'm sure Jay never dreamed he'd be taking on this job under these circumstances.

Again, congratulations and best wishes to Jay.

Why Am I Always the Last to Know; Or, Alan McLeod Has A "General" Blog

Why, I want to know, did no one tell me this sooner? I've long been a fan of Alan McLeod's mind, and have long wished that he wrote about things other than beer. Well! Turns out he does. Here. Who knew? [All I've done today is mutter "Who knew?" Why oh why am I always the last to know the good stuff? (Answer: am perpetually and no doubt terminally out-of-it.)]