Must-Reads
/This by Tyler Cowan. (And now: back to work.)
Mike Wallace Interviews Aldous Huxley, 1958 [Update]
/From Terry Teachout's blog. This is seriously amazing. Give it a listen. (Okay, maybe it's only amazing to me because a) I'm old; and b) I'm a historian....)
This just in: Loyal Reader Dave posted a comment about this, noting that there are actually three parts to the interview. I completely missed that. When the interview ends, look at the small screens at the base of the large, main screen. You'll see links to the rest of Wallace's interview. (There's also a link to an interview with Frank Lloyd Wright, which I think is the "bubblegum for the eyes" interview.)
Tip o' the mug to Dave for this tip.
Oh, Those Wacky Beermakers . . .
/I was vaguely aware of Sam Calagione's latest foray into beer weirdness, but today Lex from Scholars & Rogues sent me a link to this article that has more detail. In this case, Sam is working with Patrick McGovern, an archaeologist whose name is well-known to alcohol scholars.
For more on the beers the duo created, see this. The beers are available to the public, but in limited editions (translation: move quickly if you want to try one.) McGovern has a new book out that sounds fascinating. I have not read it yet, but plan to. If nothing else, I'm looking forward to finding out what's new in alcohol archaeology since I first investigated it for my book seven years ago. (*1)
Anyway, all worth reading. And thanks again to Lex at Scholars & Rogues for the tip.
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*1: (I had this screwball idea that I would open my beer book by looking back --- waaaay back --- beer's ancient history. I spent months wading through archaeological studies. In the end, I opted for a different tack with the book, but I still have the chapter I wrote. One of these days, I plan to post it as a PDF file --- once I figure out how to create an online PDF file.)
Speaking of Hawaii and Beer . . .
/You-Know-Who (yes, Dexter) sent me a bunch of links about a certain Hawaiian beer. I accidentally deleted the email, but here are two mentions of the beer to which Dexter referred: From Jack Curtain's Liquid Diet, and this from The Full Pint. I gotta say --- I wouldn't turn down a glass of the stuff.
Skyscapes, Hawaiian-Style
/Have I ever mentioned that I am a serious fan of the sky? I am. I try to spend an hour a day watching the sky: clouds; the various shades of blue, grey, black; the stars. (Yes, slightly more pleasant in warm weather than in cold.) (And, yes, this is why I never get anything done. But I figure it's good for my soul.) Anyway, now I know why I don't live in Hawaii: I'd really never get anything done because I'd be spending all my time staring up. Astute Reader Dexter, who's been on a roll lately, sent me a link to these photos of Hawaii (Kaaawa, to be precise) at dawn, courtesy of blogger Ian Lind. Enjoy!