Beer Consumption? Yes, It's Declining. (And We Know Why.)

Our man-on-the-beer-beat in St. Louis, Jeremiah McWilliams of Lager Heads reports on declining global beer sales/consumption. No surprise, right?

Of course, twenty years from now, it'll be interesting to learn what an economic historian has to say about production and use of barley, rice, hops, etc., versus the purchase of those reported by brewing companies.

Because we can assume that some of the crops will end up in homemade beer, sake, spirits, and so won't be shown in tallies gathered by industry analysts or reported to taxing authorities. (That's one way that government officials were able to measure the amount of illegal alcohol production during Prohibition: What got planted? What got sold? What got taxed?)

More On Twittering From a Twitterer (Or is it "Tweeter"?)

Okay, back on the subject of Twitter -- which, ahem, some of you are urging me to at least try -- this first-hand account of its use from a fellow skeptic. Pogue's report certainly demystifies the process, because part of what's holding me back is, well, I have no idea how to do it. Or even what it's used for.

Eg, I thought it was designed for use on cell phones, and I only use a cell phone about six times a year. And I thought most people used Twitter when they're out and about: as in "Now I'm in the grocery store." "Now I'm in the check-out line." That kind of thing. And I rarely leave the house, so, ya know.... (Yes, I realize how weird that sounds. What can I say? I can't write a book while running around town, and when I'm not writing a book, I like hanging at home.)

The Day the Muzak Died

I don't wish anyone or anything ill, honestly I don't. Certainly not at this moment, when every bankruptcy affects not just the fat cats, but the employees and stockholders. (It's definitely affecting my family.) But . . . I have to admit: This particular bankruptcy is sweet revenge. My GOD, but I hate the stuff. Hate it. (*1)

___________

*1: My Muzak story: 1971. I was 17 at the time, nearly 18. Working full-time at a restaurant. Working hard: this was an old-line restaurant (normal for the times) where the "waitresses," as they were called then, did everything: Took the orders, brought the food, cleared the tables, set the tables, made part of the food, stocked their own ice, milk, coffee, etc. I worked my ass off. Good way to start adult life, frankly. Everything I know about being organized, responsible, and coordinated, I learned there.

Anyway -- A friend of mine also worked there. She was a year older. She was definitely more sophisticated, hip, and mature than me (god only knows why we were friends.) She'd recently started on sex-drugs-rock-and-roll, which was still a bit unusual for then. (Yes, life has changed since the early '70s.)

There we were, running around like lunatics, waiting on eight or nine tables in a place that always had a line at the door, tired, etc. We were doing something -- making coffee? Getting milk from the small frig? Cutting pie (it was a pie shop with food)? Complete insanity that required every fiber of our being to keep track of what was what and who was where and fifteen orders at a time.

She was leaning over, into the small frig (she was grabbing some milk or cream or something) and she looked up, and then looked at the ceiling, and then looked over at me (frantically making coffee or loading a tray with eight meals or whatever) and said: "My god. Do you hear that? It's the Stones. "Satisfaction." On MUZAK! Can you believe it? God, this is horrible! The STONES? As MUZAK?"

We looked at each other (that was the moment that I realized she was high) (I had not yet wandered into sex-drugs, but I knew it when I saw it) and we listened to the Rolling Fucking Stones as Muzak and we lost it. We both almost fell on the floor, we were laughing so hard.

The Rolling Stones as MUZAK? No wonder our generation was so screwed up and cynical.

Now Playing: Soundtrack from . . .

. . . Planet Earth. If you've not seen it, please do. Fabulous and amazing. And the so is the soundtrack. Equally amazing: Blue Planet, which aired on American television in -- 2000? 2001? -- anyway, prior to "Planet Earth." It's now available on dvd.

Nudging, Traffic, and Other Stuff With Which to Become Distracted

Just what I need: yet another distraction. But this is worth it. First, this from last Sunday's Times, to which I'd been meaning to post a link. And today was reminded to do so by this from Alan Jacobs, one of my favorite bloggers. (Make sure to click through to the Wired story and Vanderbilt's site.)

And all of that reminds of me of the remarkable work of E. O. Wilson . (I had a chance to hear him speak a few years ago. Amazing.)

Huh? Blogging = Money?

I have to say, it never crossed my mind that anyone intentionally tries to make money from blogging. I can't figure who the dim bulb is in this scenario -- but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it's me.