So --- I'm Not A Complete Idiot

This is a completely self-indulgent post, so by all means: ignore. (Well, who am I kidding. Writing blog posts or anything else is, by definition, an exercise in self-indulgence....)

I spend much of my time expounding on this, that, and the other thing. Journalists regularly interview me, mostly about beer, but sometimes about plumbing or Key West. I write op-ed pieces. I appear more-or-less regularly on Fox Business Network. In short, I put myself out there as Someone Who Knows Something. But -- I sometimes experience self-doubt (although I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person who does)

I mean, okay, so I’ve got a PhD in history. So I spent five years working on a book about beer and two years writing one about Key West and four years writing a thesis, dissertation, and then a book about plumbing. Do I know anything? Have I learned anything from my years of training and practice? When I’m sitting there on-camera or talking a reporter, do I REALLY know what the hell I’m talking about?

Apparently I do.

I learned this week when Pete Reid, the editor of Modern Brewery Age, interviewed Robert Weinberg. (Sorry, the MBA weekly is subscription-only). Weinberg was, during his long career (he’s in his eighties and at least semi-retired), the nation’s leading brewing industry analyst. Whatever there is to know or understand about American brewing, Bob Weinberg has it in his brain. I got a chance to meet and talk to him two years ago, and I assure you: He’s smart. Ultra smart.

Anyway, Pete asked Weinberg about the InBev acquisition of A-B, and what that event and the failing economy mean to A-B InBev and the rest of the industry. And according to Weinberg -- it means just about what I’ve been saying in print, at this blog, and on television for the past six months. (For any or all of it, see in particular my various related blog series. Links are on left side of your screen.)

Again, I can’t direct you to the interview, but it’s probably okay if I share a couple of quotes (it IS okay, isn’t it, Pete?) Said Weinberg regarding the InBev purchase:

I think we will see a level of competition now that the industry has not seen before. It will be a true battle of the titans.

He also said that InBev’s takeover “will likely change the corporate culture of A-B,” which would be, in his words,

a shame. . . . There was a human element to A-B, that had to do with the family ownership. There was a genuine pride, and they cared so much about the beer they made. If it just comes down to dollars and cents, some of that pride will evaporate.

There was more, the drift was -- Weinberg and I are on the same page. Apparently I’m not a complete idiot. Good to know. I’m thinking of this as Mr. Weinberg’s solstice-season gift to me.

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All quotes from “Analyst Weinberg says ABI has big opportunities,” Modern Brewery Age 59, no. 50 (December 15, 2008): 5.

Huh? Vilsack? VILSACK??

I think Obama finally did something to disappoint me. Vilsack for Ag Secretary? Huh? What am I missing? Don't get me wrong. Vilsack was a good governor here in Iowa. And he's a decent, honest human being. (Hmmmm. Maybe that's good enough for a federal official?? It would be a switch anyway.)

But -- I can't say he's the most out-of-the box guy. Certainly he's not the first person I'd think of to bring creative, out-of-the-box thinking to what is a post that badly needs some out-of-the-box thinking. (At the very least, I sure as hell hope he now knows how to use email, something that, as governor, he said he didn't know anything about....) I agree completely with Michael Pollan's assessment of the job of Ag Secretary

. Somehow, however, I can't quite see Vilsack in the role. On the other hand, maybe I'm missing something. Maybe there's more to Tom V. than he showed during his time as governor.

After all, we Iowans did dig (no pun intended) into organic and wind farming while he was governor. And hey, even Almost-President Obama is entitled to screw up once in awhile.

Oldsters (Yes, I'm One) And Alcohol

Hmmmmmm........ alcohol and "old" people. Good? Bad? You (apparently) be the judge. Worth reading.(*1)

While you're there, take a look at the rather horrifying story about why colonoscopies aren't what they're cracked up to be. (Odd coincidence that story: my husband just had one two weeks ago and I just scheduled my next one. Ugh.)

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*1: I love how the researchers and reporter define "older people" as over fifty. Hasn't anyone told them that fifty is the new thirty? I mean, do I look like an "old" person???? Don't answer that. (I'm fifty-five.)

Speaking of Christmas: Movies and Music

Speaking of Christmas (which I was just doing). (Okay, not speaking; writing): I am a sucker for Christmas movies and music. Annual must-watch movies: "A Christmas Carol" (I rotate between the Alistair Sim and George C. Scott versions) "White Christmas" (I confess: it's my holiday highlight. Well, except for the cinnamon rolls) "It's A Wonderful Life" "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" (the animated version from 1966) "Miracle on 34th Street" (black-and-white only, please!)

And I love the music, especially the standard stuff: Doris Day singing "Toyland"; Johnny Mathis and "The Christmas Song." (Although I can do without "Away in the Manger.") We always listen to Handel's "Messiah." On Christmas eve, my husband puts on Eartha Kitt signing "Santa Baby." (When my son-in-law is there, it's fun to watch him try not to swoon.)

On Christmas morning, hubby rolls out of bed, trots out to the living room, puts on Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and turns up the volume.(*1) Loud. That's the signal to everyone else: up and at 'em. Cinnamon rolls await.

In recent years, I've also developed a fondness for some new "classics."

--- The Chieftains, "The Bells of Dublin."

--- Linda Ronstadt, "A Merry Little Christmas." It's half sacred music, half secular. Totally worth it for her version of "River" and "Xicochi, Xicochi," as well as her "White Christmas" duet with the late, great Rosemary Clooney. (*2)

--- Chanticleer and guest singer Dawn Upshaw: "Christmas With Chanticleer." Hands-down the best version ever of "Coventry Carol." (Every year I listen to it and think "how the hell do they DO that?" You have to hear it to know what I mean.) It also includes a stunning sacred harp (aka shape notes) song called "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem."

So: what are your aural and visual end-of-year traditions? (Please don't tell me I'm the only one who indulges in this stuff every year.)

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*1: I've included a link to a fairly recent YouTube version. The one we listen to was recorded years ago -- we listen on a 45, if you can believe it!

*2: Clooney also stars in the film "White Christmas," and every year I'm amazed all over again by the scene in which she sings "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me." Oh that dress!!

Surrealism and Christmas Trees

Does anyone besides me think Christmas trees are an exercise in surrealism? I mean, think about it: There it stands. A dying fir tree, in your living room, adorned with all kinds of --- objects. Whatever connection the idea/activity once had to the winter-season-solstice-whatever is long gone. Now it's just, well, surrealism

. Especially at our house. No one in my family is a Christian, so for us "Christmas" is just an excuse to have family gatherings, eat some delicious food (homemade cinnamon rolls! YUM. Chicken pot pie from scratch! Double YUM.), and take time away from the daily grind.

And every year, part of the routine includes a drive to the tree farm, where we try not to fall down on the ice, and freeze our butts off while we wrangle about which tree we want to have die in our house.

What's on our tree runs the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime: A plastic E.T. action figure hangs next to a hand-blown glass sugarplum. Batman on a ten-inch rope dangles next to a lovely ceramic Father Christmas (hand-painted in Germany), which is itself a neighbor to the one-eyed character from "Monsters, Inc.", which in turn hangs just beneath a lace star made for me many years ago by a friend

. Wierd. All of it. But there it is: A nine-foot dying tree, draped in white lights, and "decorated" with stuff. Who needs art history textbooks when you've got a Christmas tree?

No Green In Going Green

Yikes! So much for all that recycling we're being urged to do. Now I don't feel quite so dumb-out-of-it-whatever about my household's decision to dispose of much of our waste by putting out for the garbage guys:

The town where I live has a coal-fired power plant, but about 15% of the coal is replaced by burning residents' wastes. The newspapers I toss end up as electricity for my house. Yes, I know there are objections to coal-fired power plants, but the one in our city has a remarkably low pollution rate. Indeed, if you didn't know what the plant was burning, you'd never guess it was coal.

Anyway -- going green ain't gonna be easy. But then: we knew that, right?