Security Firms are Demanding that Facebook “Step Up Their Game”

Hard to believe but as the news unfolds about the ultimate demise of OBL reaches the public, there is a growing threat of malware attaching to your computer by your simply looking at websites that report having videos of the terrorist’s death!

As the story is unfolds this post will be updated.  We experienced similar unusual happenings last night while trying to l0ok up some pictures on the net, related to Sunday’s raid!

It is hard to believe that there are no film clips or cellphone segments of the raid, as anyone from older generations remember seeing the clips of Che Guevara and Patrice Lumumba being executed.   These past two days have led to long articles in the major papers and news services about how the raid was pulled off but for obvious security reasons the names of the soldiers involved have been embargoed. 

Were No Strangers to What Malware Can Do to the Family Desktop

We are no strangers to what malware can do; one computer in our house died after trying to write some new funny material by looking what was the latest in the conspiracy theory world.  This computer was found in the garbage and one of our friends got it up and running with an old Nortons 2001 disk!  We saved $400 by not buying a new desktop but sadly it died a few months ago while trying to look up “The End of the “Aztec Calendar”.  Our new laptop was bought for us by Chester that answered an ad in NYC for re-conditioned laptops for $99.  Our new IBM Thinkpad is only about ten years old but is seriously outdated and slow, but for what we need it for she works just fine!  However Chester took it to school one day and the school’s ether-net burned out its  internet card.  Luckily he bought an additional one year maintenance contract and had the old card replaced for free!  Good work Chester!

http://www.computeroverhauls.com/laptops.htm

one of the few outfits we will endorse; cheap cheap chesp.

Sony Thwarts Another Potential Break-In

On going accounts from the national press reveal that Sony is on the war path and close to catching the hackers that did who knows what to their website and possibly stole sensitive consumer information.  All sources are being tight-lipped on the topic but a recent article in the Washington Post noted that the hackers are being closed in on! Stay tuned…  Our best advice is to cancel your cards if you fear personal information was stolen.  Go to the bank branch where you are well-known and worry less.  They will give you a replacement card to cover you until your new one arrives.  No worries.  We had to do that to stop the crazy subscription people from automatically renewing everything we didn’t want…

More Scams Reporting More Scams…

CHESTER BEING OUT OF WORK RESPONDED TO AN E-MAIL ASKING IF HE WANTED “EXTRA” WORK…

The group he called (he got two e-mails probably because he is a broke student) told him he could definitely get bit roles in movies etc because he was in New York already;  just hand over $199. for a two-year membership.  Chester said he had to get permission fr0m his mom and hung up.  He called me and said, “Hey, they want me to play a bit on Jerry Springer!”  Good going, dude!!   However he did look at the internet to see what kind of outfit XYZX Talent was really like.  Well… Chester writes back, “…one girl had money taken out of her account without her permission, there were numerous complaints of having t0 buy business cards and photo prints they didn’t need, the profiles and photos on the agency’s site were really lousy, the casting calls were all stale, etc. etc.”  We looked them up and found one of the silent partners is under indictment for defrauding an American businessman of $40 million, has other businesses we’d rather not talk about.  The biggest complaint was from a celeb that stated they asked her how hard was it to get into the business then edited the clip and tried to make it look like it was an endorsement.  One model said she only got offers to play lesbians.  Hmmm.  She complained, “I’m not a lesbian.  Why should I want to play a lesbian?”  Bottom line is that all these casting calls are broadcast  on Craig’s List for free.  We are leaving out the name of this outfit until certain law suits are resolved.  Sorry Stacey!

Public Radio Pulls the Cover off Google

On public radio today the Leonard Lopate show reported that Google reads everyone’s e-mails,  follows your internet views with cookies, then sends you ads to your screen based on your preferences.  Writer  Scott Cleland is saying that Google is big brother.  Hmm.  Why worry though, if you have no life?  Everyone knows already that I like to drink.  I am considered a snob by some because I shave every day and wear a clean shirt.  I never look at those ads anyway.   When I look at Chester’s computer I get exited at all the girls that want to see me!

 Facebook  Claims that They Fixed Security Breach; Recommends That Everyone Change Their Passwords

The national press reported that the breach that allowed unwanted views without your knowledge has been repaired and recommends that you change your password.  When will it ever end?  Author Scott Cleland had something about all this today on NPR’s Leonard Lopate show.  I like to listen to Lenny while I’m fixing the truck.  Scott talked about this at length which is why I’m relating this all to you.  There have been several spectacular data heists in the last two years– millions of “profiles” have been stolen and  the consumer needs to know about.  Two different financial groups I do business with wrote me short little form letters not to worry, but…  Just what does it mean? was my SSN stolen?  Is that why I get other people’s medical bills sent to me?  What’s the deal?

 To be continued, but at some point we need stronger consumer protections.

Is this a new trend in recognition of old mountain traditions being the new source of  revenues and tourism by allowing new legal distilleries to open?  We hope so!

http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/monroeville-on-the-today-show/

see the Today Show clip on this site

http://www.olesmokymoonshine.com/visit/

Ole Smoky’s Site includes some great vintage photos.

http://www.coppermoonshinestills.com/

looking for the professional grade distiller set up?  We were  impressed with the old world flair of real copper equipment sold at this site and at Ole Smoky.

http://www.smokymountainhomecoming.com/schedule.html

(this is last year’s page; we’ll keep an eye out for this year’s 2011 events as they appear)

Pittsburgh’s Eastern Brewing Company Update

                We visited the web site of this growing community based distillery and we like what we see.  The proprietors’ continue to turn out batches of seasonal ales and stouts.  We look forward to making a visit there some day.  Beer sales are now allowed on Sundays in Pittsburgh. If you live in the area take a look at their community events board for bike runs, benefits, etc.!  Also of note, Pittsburgh now has its own magazine devoted to craft beer brewers!

http://www.eastendbrewing.com/

http://craftpittsburgh.com/

1/28/11: Dr. Oz Says On His Show Today ‘Keep Drinking red Wine For Your Health, But…’

On one of Dr. Oz’s most famous cadaver demonstrations he revealed today how red wine will leave stains on teeth by taking a healthy jaw of beef steer and submerging it into a gallon of red wine.  This g-awful demonstration resulted when he responded to a viewer’s question about why did he have to endure his wife’s habit of sipping her expensive red wine through a straw whenever they dine out.  Dr. Oz pulled out the red stained jaw-bone in front of gasping audience members without mentioning that the jaw, and animal behind it were quite dead.  Teeth are living bones like the rest of the body and will not stain in such a glaring and obvious fashion.  His recommendation after the demonstration was to  take along “wine wipes” when you drink red wine with your meals to prevent staining.  Another safe alternative, Dr. Oz mentioned was to use a sippy straw—which would allow you to enjoy the red wine without the drama of worrying about staining your teeth.  Now I always wondered why girls always used to ask me if I had any straws at my parties… In my day a person would drink beer through a straw thinking he/she would get drunk faster doing this; but my advice as always is when in doubt, stay on the “A List” and have an ample supply and variety of brightly collared sippy straws the next time you throw a bash.

Web sites new web sites new sites etc, etc.

http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/meet-tweeting-bar-the-keg-that-tweets-as-you-pour/

I tried to understand this posting; whenever the bartender drew a draft, the keg tweeted; etc. Please someone write back and explain this to me.

http://askastudent.utoronto.ca/?p=482

Finally, a site for senior bloggers about the sorority scene, all scribbled by bogus students & seniors

http://forums.morebeer.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=34611

beer fans gather trying to understand the issues of beer lines and what type of systems to use. It would help to have a degree in chemistry to keep  your lines clean and your beer tasting great( Read my blog please)

 http://www.collegetips.com/college-parties/keg-stand.php

more seniors…

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=keg%20store

anyone not familiar with the urban dictionary should look up some of their stuff

http://www.6lyrics.com/the_keg_is_bleeding-lyrics-say_anything.aspx

if you must have the lyrics to any song…!!

http://www.thefind.com/kitchen/info-german-beer-keg-coupler

every possible keg tap in existence—here!

http://www.wherescherie.com/newsread.php?newsid=340

see what you’re missing when you skip the ‘Burning Man Festival’.

http://collegeprowler.com/northwestern-university/nightlife/

check this site before you choose to go back to grad school.

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/Beer-Gadgets/The-Portable-Kegerator

newest technology in portable kegerators

http://www.hong-kong-hotels.ws/nightlife/hong-kong-island.htm

Hong Kong Nite Life site; we don’t endorse commercial sites but at least you can see what the interiors of these bars look like.  Anyone ever try any of these bars?  Please report.

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=39819

Vancouver’s restaurants; endorsed by the Canuks team!

Free Song Downloads; Free Wifi, Plus Extra Giveaways

From New York: (visiting Chester)  thekegger Confesses:

After Vodka, Coffee is Still My Favorite Beverage…

Yes folks, after beer, and vodka, there comes coffee!  Coffee is the lifeblood of us that belong to the workaday world.  For years I worked in hectic law firms, international banks, and a short stint in the garment district before taking a break and returning to country ways and a more relaxed life.  I was always tethered to a caffeine drip and was secretly hated behind closed doors for avoiding a nip or two before closing hours.  My stock portfolio stands as evidence– stay sharp during the day hours!  A little Mountain Dew helps as well, if you can find it in cans.  These fond memories brought me to one of my most difficult research projects, to find what are the favorite beverages in America today.  Why? Its time to look at the stock market and while every feature seems to be still in the dumps, some companies stand out and shine.  Among them are the adult beverage companies and they continue to spin handsome profits even in this “bad economy”.  Bu if you think you can just go to the internet and find out how many bottles of a certain favorite bourbon maker sold last year it is not easily found!

Starbucks Attempts to Pull It’s Wall Street Status Out of the Doldrums–

 Hence one of our favorite coffee bars will try to bring in a bit more evening crowd to their stores, and hopefully bring up the stock price as well.  If you invested in their shares you probably made some money in the 90′s.  Alas, this once “bellwether” has taken a beating in the market.  Ah those were the days, when third and fourth year associates quickly rode the wave to millionaire status only to find the “corrections” leaving them with a quarter of their equity!  Some of those great stocks like Microsoft and Starbucks waning in price.  My spin, for what it’s worth?  Starbucks is probably under-rated and a good stock pick for the long run.  Anyone who bought coal, oil, and bank stocks did fairly well in the 80′s through the 00′s; but some bank features tanked while some features like Chase Morgan and AMEX rebounded well.  Why would good ‘ole Starbucks be a good pick?

STARBUCKS, the little shop that keeps reinventing itself…

Starbucks started out when people visiting Vienna and Holland gasped at how good the coffee tasted.  The secret?  The longer the bean is roasted the more concentrated the flavor and caffeine content.  Hence Starbucks went out and looked for a blend that outdid the others.  At that time tops in the country was, and love them donuts we did!  Also good stocks over the years, Dunkin and McDonald’s decided not to be outdone after upstart Starbucks came out with its rarified airs.  They too went to the coffee markets and blended new caffeine and flavor packed dark roasts.  Results?  You can go into almost any American coffee shop today, order a piece of pie and enjoy your pastries with a rich dark Viennese style coffee.   I always liked McDonald’s coffee, their new blend is just a bit better.  Still, I love going to Starbucks because, you have to love the place.  You can always find a copy of the New York Sunday Times, along with staff renowned for their better than average “people skills”.  It may be the place to go now after a long day at the office, but when you still need to look at your blackberry and remember the business world never sleeps.  By the way, both McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts continue to post decent earnings, both good stock picks!

What Was past was Prologue:  Maxwell House always knew the market and had specialty blends before everyone else…

So why pay $8 a pound for coffee?  Maxwell house has always been custom blending strong coffee mixes for restaurants and home use, but always knew that pure Columbian blends were a bit bitter and high in acidity.  Hence if you can find it, Masterblend is probably the best for your home cappuccino maker because it is a blend of mellower beans– takes a bit less of a bite on your stomach when you want some strong coffee.

Overall, Research Shows that Alcohol Brands are Increasing in Sales.  Time to Look at the Stock Prices:

The stats are staggering, wine, beer, imported and domestic, distilled spirits and even champagne are in the millions of gallons each year. One estimate from the wine institute stated that  average consumption yearly of wine is 2.5 gallons per capita.  Knowing that at least 1/3 of the population are tee-totalers stock picks on beverages are looking  better to analysts everyday.  Brand name “superpremium brands sales declined by about 3.5% last year but overall, alcoholic beverage sales increased by .8%.  A one percent increase may not seem like much but people have been hunting for the bargain brands and are entertaining more at home; eating out less and grabbing at the bargains. Although wine sales dipped by 3.2% overall wine sales in US amount to $26.1 Billion in 2009!   Read the “Beverage Dynamics” article listed below by placing your curser on the site and pressing ctrl + left clicking on your mouse

Most consumed beverages in America

Soda/diet soda # 3

(Source: wiki answers)
 Favorites in this order, coke, soda; diet and regular, coffee, then tea.
Mountain Dew #3 or #4
(from various sources; wiki answers, AJC.com)
Yes, the ole dew, or how I got through English class in school, is the fourth favorite beverage in America.  According to varying sources, all so far found from industry sites, indicate that <em>Mountain Dew</em> may have already surpassed <em>Coke</em> and <em>Pepsie</em> and is actually #3 in America.  (I wonder why?)
Beer # 3  

You guessed it, it is one of the favorite American beverages with figures not entirely complete, it looks like the competition between coke and beer is neck in neck.

Vodka/ American #4

Vodka amounts to 30% of all liquor sales in US)  <em>Smirnoff</em> is #1 in all vodka sales, with <em>Absolut</em> behind as #2
(source: highbeam)
Russian/ Polish/ French/ other boutique Vodkas 

“Superpremiums” bottles that cost over $30 are taking America by storm, selling 41.4 million cases in 2003. Super premiums amount to 23 % of overal $1.3 Billion in American sales averaged yearly sales (Forbes).  As we search for newer stats, we go to press noting that Ciroc, the new boys from France are taking on the big boys with a vodka distilled from grapes.  Hmmm!

            Absolut

Absolut sales have risen this year to the 2.9 million case level. Stats differ from source to source, but Absolut now controls about 9% of the American vodka market, with its sales increasing in Eastern Europe. Absolut is number two in America trailing close by to Smirnoff. Skol!  (Source higbeam research)

Barcardi Rum

(keep her happy with fresh Pina Coladas; see recipe below) Rum follows behind vodka with 25.0 million 9 litre cases sold last year.  (source: bevingroup)

Whiskey/ Domestic: US consumption: 20.2 million 9 liter cases last year up .6%.

Whiskey/ Canadian  US sales: 15.65 million cases, up 1.2%  Higher priced brands outpaced US premiums last year.

Champagne

 After Canadian  whiskey, Americans are quaffing almost equal amounts of domestic and foreign champagne for brunch, weddings, and that special date.

Wine/ Domestic

(always keep a bottle in the fridge)  According to the Wine Institute American made sparkling wines out sell the imports!  Total U.S usage: 13,429,000 nine litre cases are consumed here annually! (source: wiki answers)

Tequila # 10

According to “bevinfogroup”, the Mojito is a major selling point for tequilla increasing last years US sales by 1.3%.  Sales amounted to 11.2 million 9 liter cases last year, making it third after vodka, and then rum, as a favorite mixer.

Scotch Whiskeys

Consumption in general fell in the US a skimpy 0.1% last year, while Jameson’s Irish Whiskey sold here 1.2 million cases.  Total US consumption for the catagory is a not so shabby  8.9 million cases last year.  It equals :$$$$

Southern Comfort
Now available in 100 proof, Southern Comfort is becoming a big seller in UK.  
(sales figures at this point are unavailable)

Wild Turkey

 Aat 108 proof it is one of America’s favorites (sales figures so far unavailable)

Johnny Walker

This “Super Premium” brand is one of the comeback kids in sales even though there was a slight decline in the last (2008) year, but Walkers had a hefty 800,000 9 liter case sales in 2009;  up 6.3%

Domestic Wines

Aaccording to the Wine Institute the U.S. is #3 in the world for wine consumption with France #1 and Italy #2 total consumption 670 m gallons in 2009, or 2.5 gallons per person]  Expect lower prices this year as we face a bumper crop of grapes in California and lagging sales of standing stocks.

“Grand Chateau” French Wines
(Sales figures at this point unavailabel)

Italian Wines
Great quality for half the price

Spanish Wines
The best held secret of quality and reasonable priced wine  (sales figures not yet available)

Beer by Brand:

Budweiser #1
Most popular beer in America: Bud light (source: wiki answers)

Heinekin # 2

Second most imported beer in U.S.  (source: various)

Guinness

While Guinness only amounts to 1% of American overall beer sales, it represents 70% of all stout sales in the country.  In 2009 total sales were $127.2 million.

Corona #  1 Imported Beer

According to wiki and other sites including the US dept of Commerce Corona is the #1 imported beer in the US.  However some prefer to differ stating Heneiken is #1. 

Jack Daniels #1 Whiskey in America

(Source: "answerbag")
Jim Beam # 1 Bourbon 
(source:"answerbag")

white lightning ????

Ask boss Hogg.

Kegger – Bacardi Dark Rum Pina Coladas

I never measure; I always overpour,  ignore the measures, but I do it by sight.  For the beginner please follow the directions. Experienced bartenders overpour only for their best customers and lighten up on the alcohol as the party progresses.  [He doesn't want the society crowd rolling drunk.]  For a home blender size mixer you are supposed to throw in 4 oz. Of booze (Bacardi dark or light rum, to your taste both are great) to 4 cups pineapple juice and 1 heaping cup of coconut milk.  One oz of liquor is a full jigger measure.  If you are not used to measures: One oz = a mixed drink at Fridays; where computers track the bottle weights.  Two oz = a better uptown bar’s mixed drink.  Four oz = a normal evening with thekegger’s favorite downtown bartenders.  [Please note he doesn't drive home afterwards and takes a cab. ]

Shake the can of coconut milk well before mixing and have the pineapple juice and coconut milk also cold.  Best held secret: open the can of coconut milk with a can opener, not just punch holes in it.  The coconut milk is watery at the top and the bottom is always concentrated ,thick gooey and sweet.  This is where the flavor is hidden.  Don’t throw any of it out and spoon in to taste.  Fill with 8-12 ice cubes depending on how big they are and spin away.  Serve with marachino cherries, {two for your boo] a slice of orange, or a kiwi, slice of mango to cut the sweetness.  Amaze your guests– they never refuse an re-invite after blender Pina Coladas.  Try to find a blender that will chop up the ice into a slushy slurry, and become the toast of the town.

Please don’t make our readers sick, if you want to serve wine for your dinner, open with sherry and close with liquors and brandy.  Don’t start serving vodka shooters after rum or whisky drinks, please.  (does anybody remember Jerry Lewis’s recipe for a zombie?)remember.  Serve coffee after dinner.  Take the keys away from anyone who can’t recite]: byphenyl butenated phenols.

{Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world}

new sites new sites

http://www.sodastreamusa.com/Home-Soda-Makers-C1.aspx?gclid=COXXipXW6KQCFdJL5QodSnKt3Q

home made soda makers!

http://www.livestrong.com/article/58194-top-consumed-foods-u.s./

coupons!

http://drinkphilly.com/articles/read/160

Philly’s bar-crawl list…

 http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2009/06/29/the-top-10-drinks-only-america-could-have-invented/

nutty new drinks list, and a few conventionals…

 http://www.mfrtech.com/articles/5590.html

if youre in miami this month, see the food & beverage show.  Add Thai chili paste for better wings…

 http://www.thefind.com/food/browse-wild-turkey-american-honey-liqueur

buy liquor on line?  This site shows comparative pricing state to state, door to door. Hmm.

 http://www.kybourbon.com/english/pages/main_frame.html

take the Kentucky bourbon trail tour and visit 6 top distilleries…Decide for yourself which the best is!

 http://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/statistics/article121

straight answers from the wine institute…

 http://hnn.us/articles/126189.html

history network tries to explain Cinco de Mayo to us…

http://startcooking.com/blog/361/Guinness-Stout-Beef-Stew

have her make this for you, stay home Saturday evening…

http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Southern-Comfort

everything you ever wanted to know about Southern Comfort including a “boot rear” 1 oz of sc + 12 oz root beer… yeech!

http://www.bevinfogroup.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&AudID=6150A311BC5647F1A7892E5AC71F2AD9&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=6EECC0FE471F4CA995CE2A3E9A8E4207&tier=4&id=C9D5408DA03B41E5B73571A8DC699589

the delicious proof: alcohol sales are up and “brands” prove to be better stock tips in a sluggish market

http://www.theonion.com/articles/mountain-dew-users-may-go-on-to-use-harder-beverag,369/

hey, I would never gotten through Community College without the ole ‘dew!

http://www.winebusiness.com/wbm/?go=getArticle&dataId=42348

read the list and be surprised, Gallo out produces all domestic wine producers with over 75 million cases annually!  Call my broker!

The Cheepee Entertainer:  look for future recipes as we have to entertain more at home this coming year due to work & social obligations:

Do your guests bring pastries for deserts?  Try simple fare for the meal as your quests will fill up on the sweets after.  Dust off granny’s old fruit compote and serve chilled fresh fruit for desert in season pears, apples and grapes.    A Compote is one of those glass or ceramic stands that granny used to serve fresh fruit in.  A clear glass plate will do.  Serve your coffee with whatever your guests brought.  Make sure there is one very chocolate  item – here less is better.  Kegger’s favorite, canoles dipped in milk chocolate. 

theKegger’s recipe for a genuine 1950′s Zombie

Today the Zombie has morphed into a kinder gentler form: a Long Island Ice Tea. 

“Jerry Lewis” Zombie

{taken from a  Lewis  & Martin Movie]

1 jigger ea:

Scotch (Pinch)

Drambuie

Vodka

7 &7

Wild Turkey

Rum

¼  can Coke

¼  can Pepsie

Dash of 7 Up

Two aspirins

1 tbsp. cherry cough syrup  (can substitute Dr, Pepper, or cherry soda)

Top with 4 marachino cherries for the ladies, slice of lime for business associates, slice of orange for grandma.   Serves 8  Serve with caution.

kegger recomends (this recipe is for display purposes only and thekegger is not responsible for any unresponsible drinking that may occur) a bunch of ice cubes to add a froth mix well, serve in large tumblers, find a copy of the Monster Mash, confiscate all car keys, and start dancing with your dates..

 Recipes Culled from Molecular Archeologist Dr. Patrick McGovern Produce Equivalent Brews From Ancient China and Turkey that Sound Remarkably Alike to Secret Trappist Recipes!

 Our usually stodgy  PBS radio station shocked us this week by doing a summer brewski story about the “out of the box” thinking that has made Dogfish Head one of the leaders in innovative and great tasting new beers.  Food and beverage articles there usually comprise of cupcakes and lemonade.  Is NPR beginning to understand the need for articles people want to read?

 Limited amounts of their highly desired “ancient recipes” include berries, honey and spices along with traditional grains for beer making such as spelt and wheat.  Results, well another surprise as national NPR correspondents Brad Horn & Robert Siegel opened a “wine sized” bottle of one of Dogfish’s ancient recipes Chatea Jiahu who’s recipe was culled from 9000 year old pottery from China, and remarked about how light and tasty the beer was.   “Sort of like an alcoholic cream soda” said Robert Siegel.

 Dogfish’s response, “we’ve built our reputation for brewing extreme, exotic and extraordinary beers by thumbing our noses at the Reinheitsegebot.  [This] antiquated medieval legislation was originally enforced to prevent Bavarian peasant from brewing with grains that their draconian government  preferred them to bake with.”

  Dogfish Head Breweries have always run against the grain of traditional brewing regimens trying to incorporate different and non-traditional beers using chicory, licorice root, maple syrup, honey, pumpkins, raisins and brown sugar.  Intuitively they have recreated some of the ancient Trappist recipes that included dried fruit such  as raisins and apricot and exotic spices from all over the world.  By trying out these recipes we also can get an idea of what early American brews were like when they used what was available locally.  All the extra sugars from pumpkins and dried fruit will create a light high alcohol content – sweet Trappist like ale!

 “Midas Touch” from Asia Minor, “Chatea Jiahu”and “Theobroma” and “Chicha”from South America, “Tei” from Africa and “Chatea Jiahu” from China: recipes culled from kings that couldn’t bear to leave this world without taking some of their favorite beers along with them!

 Two brews resulted from examining carefully two beer containers in ancient tombs. “Midas Touch” from examining tomb pottery in  Turkey and  “Chatea Jiahu” from testing pottery found in a 9000 year old tomb in China.  The Chinese recipe is really a beer that is a combination of grape wine and traditional beer ingredients, including hawthorn berries, honey, rice, and barley.

“Theobroma” is the result at looking at beer vessels found in Honduras resulting in a chocolate-alcohol drink spiced with hot chilies!  Dogfish notes that this brings the date for earliest use of chocolate as a beverage back to 1200 BC.  The recipe includes ground annatto (achiote) seeds, honey and hot chilies. Their “Tei” is brewed with genuine Ethiopian honey and bitters from the Gesho tree.  In high demand, this brew is currently out of stock!  Dogfish notes: “Tei has hints of licorice and star anise.”

Dogfish is the new craft brewery to watch as it  does an “Ancient Ales” dinners on the Road.  We will keep you updated as to the 2010 schedule when we hear more from Dogfish Head’s website.  If you go to Delaware they have regularly scheduled tours and events.

 http://www.dogfish.com/ancientales

 http://www.dogfish.com/community/events/index.htm

 Listen to the NPR Piece:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1053

  New sites new sites new sites new

In search of the funniest new online sites we have a practical winner, “My Los Vegas Mommy” which will among other things lead you to the best discounts and freebies at the casinos.  I found this while Chester tried to find out why his Seven Eleven doesn’t stock the new $6 twelve packs. (because he’s in New York?)  Anyway, I got a flood of sites wanting me to look at their coupons.  There is a “Vegas Mommy” near you when you insert your closest big city into a web search.

 http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=495674&hl=7-11-brand-beer-Yum

while trying to find out what happened to Seven Eleven’s new 12 packs for $6 I found this site…

 http://www.westmichiganmommy.com/

we can’t get enough of coupons…

 http://www.myvegasmommy.com/2010/07/walgreens-711-717.html

same group above checks on Casino coupons and freebies…

 http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvcrime/2009/03/price-of-smokes-is-going-upway.html

these guys are very serious…

 http://www.yelp.com/biz/7-eleven-washington-9

when in DC you can sign up and see what its like to be a spy…

 http://wineeconomist.com/2008/10/04/how-will-the-economic-crisis-affect-wine/

with the recession on, beer producers have quietly lowered their prices to give us a break; we recommend that you now you do the same with your overstocked pricey wine cellars .

 Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione to Star in Discovery Channel TV Show

Just before we went to press we found while searching the net for news that Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione along with Patrick McGovern from the Univ. of PA will be starring in a show called Brewed this fall.  The reporters for Bottoms Up says they like McGovern being involved because he is a well known foodie.  Remember when you used to bring up kegger on the net and found these great pictures of girls sprawled out on top of kegs?  I guess those days (due to lawsuits ?, etc.) are over.  The press release gushes further on about beer being the drink of the masses, etc. — but it appears that Discovery execs looked at Sam’s web-site we just reported on, and decided it would be nice to do a brew-tasting-road show.  Nice idea, just don’t get too serious, please!  The team will fly around, do some reports on the archeology/ recipe hunting  based on Sam’s work and they plan to do a piece about the first tomato based beer being tested in New Zealand.   

This reminds us of the time in the early 80′s when someone had the idea of mixing grapefruit juice with beer.  Hugh Dougherty of the New York Times Business Section back then called it, “Bleech” (a New York aphorism for Yuck) Well, as we say here, tomatoes are for Bloody Maries and pasta sauce, period.  Good Luck guys!

http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2010/06/30/dogfish-heads-sam-calagione-to-star-in-discovery-channel-tv-show/

Alert Consumer Alert: Please Read Carefully: Dirty Pool!!

 Chester writes from New York:

 Out public service here today we tell you all to look up some of the nuisance calls we are constantly getting from 800 call centers on http:800notes.com and see if this is pattern that other people are being harassed with also.  And we urge you to call your state’s representative’s offices and complain about this.  Sometimes we’re getting these calls because our kids are looking at pop-ups that promise a free gift.  The gift never arrives and we end up with headaches and unwanted calls.  Loopholes in the Federal Trade Commission’s rules have allowed call centers to bombard us with unwanted calls all day and night.  More:

Whatever they are up to they are getting consumer’s marketing information in less than ethical means to swamp us with unwanted marketing calls and we urge you to look up these numbers on www.800notes.com and post your complaints, then call your US legislators– State legislation is almost powerless to keep these guys from using up everyone’s minutes!  Read More: 

Chester Writes: I recently filled out an on-line survey and was promised a gift card from a local supermarket.  For a bit of background I was on the “Million Dollar  Mailing List” for years and got free samples, and one time got an invitation to fly to Florida expense paid  and participate in a new TV series “focus group” , but this is no longer the case and I don’t recommend anyone filling out these surveys.   As a provision to get your gift card you have to buy one of their products, usually a cosmetic or some other stuff you don’t want– then they have your credit card number!  Don’t do it!  I saw this and cancelled the survey, but they already had my phone number and started calling me and flooding my school e-mail account with on-line degree nonsense.  After a few yelling sessions on the phone they stopped calling after a week and a few legalese reply e-mails telling them I was going to haul them into court they stopped e-mailing.  However I investigated these people suspecting bigger issues behind them and I urge you all to look up your unwanted and missed phone calls from people or companies you never heard of because some have turned out to be fishing scams and congress has to stop this crap now!

THEY USUALLY SHOW UP AS “MISSED CALLS” OR SOLICITATION CALLS WITHOUT THE COMPANIES NAMES SHOWING  ON YOUR CELL SCREEN.  CAUTION AMERICA THIS IS A NEW SCAM THAT CONGRESS IN IT’S INFINITE WISDOM IS ALLOWING THROUGH A LOOPHOLE IN THE DO NOT CALL LIST LAWS THAT ALLOW TELEMARKETERS TO SOMEHOW SLIP THROUGH.

This new group I responded to sold my number to 8 or more marketing sites, some of which had URL’s in Russia!  I still get free samples from another survey  even though I filled it out years ago, but I don’t recommend anyone fill these things out anymore!  The main way they are getting our numbers is when our kids open pop-ups looking for the free prize and they have to be warned also.  One of these new free offers groups operate outside the US in countries like Canada and Botswana and cannot be regulated by our state’s consumer laws– they just flagrantly disregard the “no solicitation list”/ “DNC” (do not call) laws.  They  use foreign servers that piggyback their calls onto untraceable disconnected telephone lines. 

SEVERAL STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE ON THE ALERT AND ARE INVESTIGATING THESE GROUPS. WE URGE YOU ALL TO FILE COMPLAINTS IF YOU ARE GETTING THE ENDLESS CALLS AND BOGUS E-MAILS FROM THEM!

 Consumer affairs groups are warning not to respond to e-mails that have links you need to click onto to receive whatever free items they are offering.  Some consumers are having their computers infected with spyware and there have been some cases of identity theft where the scammers get into consumer’s bank accounts and charge them up for products they don’t want.  Some of them pose as collection agencies and demand payment for non-existent payday loans .  What to do: look up your 800 calls that have unknown, or no business names on your cell phone’s call record on http:800notes.com and post a complaint if you see other people are getting the same routine.  I got numerous calls but I told them politely to bug off.  If you sound big and mean (and most of my readers are just that)  they back off!  However, looking at the complaints on 800 notes some people needed payday loans and ended up with no cash and a bill for other services… WTF?

            Frankly I love the sites that display industrial strength brewing equipment.  There are new blogs that take on questions from home brewers www.homedistiller.com .  I found this week a forum about a guy asking advise on  turning a fifty liter brew keg into a boiler.  Whew, it somehow reminds me of the time when mom tried to cook mashed potatoes in a pressure cooker!  Anyway, chemistry majors that can’t find work in this economy take note, one of the most successful micro brewers today found himself in the same condition after graduating about 3 years ago and he is doing pretty good  now.  Don’t thing about having to raise at least $1M in capital to start a classy brewpub in your area– that would be buying everything new.  If you are reading my blog regularly I have found a few enterprising guys that started in small towns were there wasn’t too much of anything going on,  got empty buildings at rock bottom prices, and furnished their brewpubs with used equipment.  Results: they brought the action to their new- found  neighborhoods.  The local news media were so happy to have something like this in their town they gave them tons of free publicity, etc., knowing full well  that it would all lead to a new stream of tax revenue!

 NEW Sites:

Supplies– England Anyone?

http://www.boysstuff.co.uk/product.asp?id=15010

keggerators, taps, inflatable beer buckets, the longest list of dirty drinking games so far,  etc.

forums: home brewing questions:

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=14788

What’s it all about, Alfie?

http://www.barfinder.com/?jv=1

thekegger welcomes www.barfinder,com  as an ultimate compendium for people that like to go out. It starts with a poll asking you to vote for the type of new bar you want in your neighborhood, then it steers you to your local area with listings of of your favorite types of bars.  According to barfinder, Philadelphia is the new happening brew-town.  (Psst: dear friend, Philadelphia is about as sleepy a burg as Washington D.C.., where the subways shut down at 10 PM) Find everything there; mix drink recipes and just what’s in that watermellon martini over there?

A welcome aboard to www.beerunner.com   magazine

http://beerrunner.draftmag.com/category/uncategorized/

Just  if you are thinking of going to Potosi , Wisconsin for their annual bike run this summer, I have been to, and through this area near Galena, Il, and it is beautiful country.  Check your AAA map (it is near the Great River Road) and you’ll see it is on the way through one of  America’s great scenic highways.    Boulder and Druango Colorado have new breweries, the Ska and Avery Brewing companies, and this year will be their charity 400 + mile bike run is on for September.  Stay tuned…

http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/state/city/avery-brewing-company/5117.htm

another new brewery brewpub review site, click in your favorites and read lots of stats. Proper glassware?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/avery-brewing-co-boulder

anyone who’s been to Colorado, myself included knows how great the country is.  When I was there last there were still mining towns, and bumping into Jerry Ford in Vale…

http://www.colorado.com/Listing.aspx?did=1226986

All things Colorado

http://www.beer100.com/brewpubs_a_to_k/colorado.htm

new brewpub directory

http://www.potosibrewery.com/

Read up on the Potosi brewery’s resurrection success story, becoming a banner craft beer producer and their annual charity bike run this September.

Block parties block parties block parties

http://thirstyinla.com/2010/06/16/june-16-culver-city-launches-monthly-summer-block-parties/

Downtown Los Angeles revival effort brings block parties to the calendar until October.

http://thesummergroove.com/

This Summer’s NBA charity fundraiser at Miami this summer promises to be fun.

http://chicago.metromix.com/events/article/chicago-festival-guide-2010/339943/content

Chicago is trying to outdo all other cities with its new outdoor park, plenty of free events like evening movies but I don’t see any BBQ + music.

http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/julystreetfairs.htm

If you’re thinking of coming to New York Chester says carry a trunkful of cash and settle for $6 drinks.  If business takes you there this lists up some of the regular street fairs and I hear the sausage and peppers heroes are ok, but no public drinking is allowed.  Fines start at $100. Ouch.

http://www.cambridgemainstreet.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=389&cntnt01returnid=57

This is interesting:  Boston is a bit of a stuffy town and I had to live there years ago.  Expect overpriced everything especially food but Cambridge is trying to overturn its upscale image with these outdoor brew fests. Hmmm.

It’s obvious someone had some good ideas but there is nothing like a webmaster that has fallen asleep at his laptop.  We do a lot of searching the web to find you fun stuff to read, but this summer looks like everyone sold off their stocks and ran off to the Nevada Burning Man to take a break…

http://www.rroarm.com/2009/09/how-to-talk-to-girls-at-parties.html

  How to talk to girls at a party?  This blog entry was an attempt to tell freshman how to approach the girl you like without endless gaggling.  Written by  “Matt”  he gives out advice such as:  “… at parties pull out your cell phone and call yourself.”

http://www.praguenet.com/compass/number_5/culture.html

 Looking for block parties, I found Prague net.  You’ll find info about travel there if you can open any of the links.  Prague  is one of Europe’s best held bargain vacation secrets with affordable hotels, great beer and endless nightlife.  Stay tuned.

 http://www.wherestheride.com/main.php?view=month

Someone had a good idea to list events, but the only thing I could find was from 2005.

 http://www.gardenhoe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2187&start=20&sid=d421f90d337ef24f32c6b882d567886d

How to handle a hangover?  This is a nice set of entries to read if you’re stuck babysitting.  Uncle Chuck notes: “..to end a hangover follow what RAF pilots have known for decades:  take a few quick breaths of your oxygen source and you’ll be ready for a sortie after jerry.”

http://jalapeno.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/hangi_time_in_n.html

I kind of liked this recipe. We suggest building a fire and use a big old cheap 20 gallon or better stock pot and steam the stuff above ground like they do in New England.

 http://www.nybarfly.com/my_weblog/2008/08/index.html

Bad manners, advice for not drinking in Denver, (the altitude + booze may make you look dumb) lots of hangover – remedy ads…

 http://www.steincollectors.org/library/articles/Schuetzenliesl/Schutzenliesl.html

The only site here that thekegger endorses.  Get ready to shell out decent  money for a  stein collection…

 http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2008/04/8573/exactly-where-to-pick-up-the-creepster-youve-always-dreamed-of/

 I wonder if the Dean knows about this article?  Bad advise no. 2:  “look for your  date in the school’s Facebook page and compare SAT scores on your first date…”

 http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=keg&find_loc=Austin%2C+TX

this actually should get an award for informative investigative reporting:  all the best places to buy kegs in Austin.

 http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/blog/rolexroller/6-5-10/where-magic-happens.html

This is a nice site for racing fans.  Our blogger is saving up to go to school from his “keg fund”.  Advice from me:  You already have a good hook photographing winning horses– 

 http://half-cocked.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=289&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1387&hn=half-cocked&he=.com

Hmm.  I almost went to this school.  We have to salute this site, he is making money from ads…

 http://www.nbcchicago.com/around-town/food-drink/Worst-Bars-in-America-Chicagos-Got-Two-63679792.html

See for yourself…

 http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2007/08/republicans_blow_the_illegalal.html

???

 http://www.sloshspot.com/blog/06-20-2008/The-Best-The-Worst-And-The-Dirtiest-Dive-Bars-In-The-United-States–21

????

 http://www.29-95.com/bars-clubs/list/worst-houston-bar-names

?????

 http://copenhagenstreetstyle.dk/block-party/

????

NEW PRODUCTS NEW PRODUCTS NEW PRODUCTS

new websites

  http://www.squidoo.com/kegerator_kits

Kegerators, kegerator kits– convert your old refrigerator into a keg cooler dispenser!!

http://www.homebrewing.org/How-to-Fix-a-Keg-that-Leaks_ep_45-1.html

 how to fix a leaking keg

This site includes tips on home brewing, winemaking and growing your own hops.  This would be helpful if you have a garden patch and considering what hops cost!

http://www.beer-wine.com/

home brewing, distilling, cordial distilling, monthly specials

Professional Brewing Equipment,

Volume Supply, Canning and Distributors:

http://www.nabrewing.com/

new and used microbrew equipment, these folks specialize in brew pubs and microbreweries.  Consult with the experts.

http://www.probrewer.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=6467

People who are interested in opening up their own microbreweries take note: Q&A and some advice on what kind of used equipment is available.

 http://www.probrewer.com/resources/usedtanks/

More Q&A on buying used brewery tanks.  Stainless steel has a tendency towards corrosion after a certain amount of use. Read on!

 http://www.worldclassbeverages.com/

Craft-beer has a growing market and distributors!

http://www.cask.com/main/index.php?page_id=5

Canning advice– most glass ends up in land fills while nearly every aluminum can is recycled

http://www.hopsteiner.com/

Hops, malt, ingredients– serious quality

 http://www.icbd.hw.ac.uk/index.php

Courses in brewing/ distilling anyone?

 http://ballardagency.com/

Insurance brokers specialized in the restaurant and brewing industry

Other interesting sites:

Find  Every Brew-Pub in the Country:

http://www.beer100.com/brewpubs_l_to_n/newyork.htm

 Every brewpub in the US is listed in this site by state

http://www.visitdenmark.com/international/en-gb/menu/turist/inspiration/ungferie/beer-journey-denmark.htm

Denmark has 100 new brew-pubs since year 2000. Summer is really the time to visit Denmark and don’t miss Tivoli in Copenhagen.

Read About An Organic Pesticide Recipe

That You Can Grow in Your Front Yard!

 Nicotiana or as we all know the plant as tobacco is also grown as an ornimental due to their large colorful flowers is also a proven insecticide– more specifically a repellant for most agricultural pests.  While digging about in Granpa’s bookshelf I dug out his copy of Knott’s Vegetable Growing published in 1935. Since organic farming has taken off like lightning I decided to re-read select portions of this text because some old tried and true techniques for organic farming was just known back then as farming.   Knott, who by the way had a PhD and was a research professor at Cornell and Ithaca colleges, talks a bit about plain old tobacco as an effective insecticide.

On page 156 he remarks that “tobacco dust” is an effective repellent for cucumber beetle and aphids.  He also mentions some good advice such as crop rotation to prevent pest from reaching its favorite host.  As well he mentions some things like clearing trash and weeds away from the borders of planting fields to kill off larvae and eggs.  On page 167 he states that  if we allow hogs and chickens to roam on the newly plowed fields, the white grub, cutworm and wireworm populations will be greatly reduced. Autumn plowing helps kill off hibernating cut worms, white grubs  and squash vine-borers.  He also talks about using “trap plants”.  For example, on page 156 he notes that cucumber “pickleworms” prefer white scallop summer pumpkin over cucumbers and when they are scattered in fields among the cucumbers it is a good way to bait and trap worms.  He also suggests using electrical current to sanitize flat beds but I’ve never seen or tried it myself.  In the old days people used to use steam and he describes its applications on page 158.  He mentions another organic pesticide, coming from  “Derris Root”, on page 163.  Ground up, the root has natural rotenone at 4-5% and he recommends mixing it with talc to use as a natural insecticide.  He also mentions the importance of applying the repellents to all surfaces of the plant; under the leaves as well

We  used to mix up old cigarette butts (without the paper or filters) in a water spray bottle until it became a dark black gooey mixture.  What gives us a mild lift is almost lethal to some varieties of garden pests, although everyone warns not to use on “nightshade” varieties such as tomatoes, because the tobacco mosaic tends to transfer to them. 

http://www.heirloomorchardist.com/the_heirloom_orchardist/2008/04/heres-an-affect.html

An orchardist’s advice on preparing tobacco based repellents

 http://www.howtogrowtobacco.com/

How to grow your own tobacco and make your own cigars!

http://www.seedman.com/TobaccoBook.htm

A growers guide, cheap!

 Chester’s Uncle Chuck :  “She was one mad looking chick.”

 While checking out New York’s downtown Greenwich Village, Chester’s Uncle  wandered into a bar that was overflowing with young, “…great looking women.”  Excited by what he saw he probably ignored the obvious and went in.  Inside there was this “huge woman” sitting on a bar stool with a flash light demanding to see Chuck’s ID. “She was built like a fireplug!” exclaimed exasperated Uncle Chuck.  He took out his wallet and flipped it open to his driver’s license thinking that would be enough.  It wasn’t enough, and she insisted on tugging it out of its plastic sleeve and then flashed her special UV lamp onto it to see if it was genuine.  Having had already a few, Phil asked her what was all the fuss?  “I haven’t been carded since 1973!” Chuck gasped.  She gave him the once over and let him in. Once inside he realized he was in New York’s famous Stonewall,  hosting a mixed lesbian party. Chuck’s bouncer friend was probably an off duty NYPD looking for illegal aliens.  “Nice looking girls inside though…”. Chuck said whistfully, and quickly retreated to the exit. 

Kegstands Update:

Sites new sites new sites etc.

http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2010/08/the-50-best-college-bars-in-america/the-keg

some of the comments about these bars are worth the visit

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=keg%20bitch

what exactly is a keg bitch?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=keg%20store

find a definition for a kegstore ?

http://thechive.com/2011/01/11/the-10-best-drunken-moments-in-drunkery-10-photos/drunken-moments-1/

best kegstand pictures

http://www.ehow.com/list_7578435_beer-keg-projects-ideas.html

if you have no life: keg decoration crafts projects

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=224258&page=558

post you technical questions on Canon’s web page

http://www.kegworks.com/products/beer-keg-couplers.html

more stuff you night actually need; new site devoted to beer keg couplers. 

http://www.uncoached.com/2008/10/21/10-keg-stands-by-ladies-worth-taking-a-look-at/

more kegstands

 http://www.badjocks.com/archive/2006/loyola-marymount-swim-team-hazing.htm

more kegstands

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/19/kim-kardashian-keg-stand-_n_825497.html

some celebs will do anything to get publicity

http://sportifi.com/news/CF-Recruiting-Party-Thursday-at-the-Keg-Stand-818152.html

thank me for this post by sending in your events-link

www.japanprobe.com/2010/…/ana-offers-in-flight-draft-beer-service

????

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/what-best-way-remove-o2-keg-227845/

forum for home brewers

http://www.buycostumes.com/Beer-Keg-Plus-Adult-Costume/18968/ProductDetail.aspx

Holloween is just 7 months away

http://www.allislandbeverage.com/kegsspecialneeds.html

New Yorkers check out these prices!

http://collegetimes.us/10-most-hilarious-college-mascots/

Dartmoth wants to be the first to have a keg as their mascot

 Kegger 101

info you need to know about how to uncork and dispense your keg; compliments to Mr. Blind’s beer blog

http://enchiridion.tabulas.com/content/pages/@36615/

 how many gallons are in an American keg, and how many servings does this make?

15.5 = 132 12 oz servings. An average plastic cup is 8-10 oz

 how many servings are there in a Guinness Keg? 

Euro kegs are uniform, all in liters: 50 liters = 13.2 gallons, equalling 105 – 16 oz servings or 84 imperial pints (20 oz)  that’s a lot of Guinness.  Mr. Blind says he gestimates it at 90 servings at 1 pint ea.

 What type of beer tap should you use?

Unless you plan on having a kegger every week you should rent a tap from the store you buy the keg at.   Each brand depending on where it was made has its own tap.  However further in the article Mr. B argues that for better taste and  you should get a tap that has “beer gas” N2 + CO2 .

Beer taps by brand name:

Sankey (most American and Canadian brands

European sankey( Amstel, Heineken, McEwans, Murphy’s, Newcastle, Pilsner Urquell 

Guiness (Guiness, Harp, Smithwick’s)

German “A” type( Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Spaten, Warsteiner)

Two prong ( being phased out)

 how long will an opened keg last?

Two days tops. Mr. Blind remarks:  heat and air are the main enemies of the keg’s contents.  You have to keep it cold to extend the life of the beer, however if you must save some of it for the next day you should get a CO2 dispenser, which is sold in a kit form.

 How many people do you invite?

(I love this question.  My answer:  you just know more people are going to show up, so you put the word out and the rule it everyone brings a bottle of hard liquor as a contribution)

 Where do you find a keg tub?

(Use grandma’s wash basin)  Mr. Blind continues: Walmart, Target and Home Depot have them, you can find them sometimes at the liquor store.  Any place that has plastic trash cans also will likely have a 20 gallon storage or wash tub in the same aisle.

 What is a jockey box?

This is a device that cools the beer as it is being dispensed.  Here Mr. Blind recommends just keeping the keg cold.  Serving warm beer will make the beer taste off.  One thing you could do is to arrange that two of your guests will bring fresh ice as part of their contribution.

 What is “beer gas”?

This is a canister that contains proportionate amounts of N2 and CO2.  Combined with a stout faucet it creates a smaller bubble in the beer along with a foamy head. Some say that for cheaper brands it enhances the taste.

 Mr. Blind continues:

Don’t forget that moonshining is illegal.  Different types of alcohol boil at different temperatures meaning your home distillery could create a toxic product like wood alcohol… Mr. Blind also has advice on how to jerry-rig an old refrigerator into a keg dispenser.  His advise: make sure the refrigerator is working before you start drilling tap holes int

 POST YOUR NON-PROFIT EVENT / Or Community Block Party HERE

FOLKS, if you’re not going to update your web site posts at least post a linkable comment below!  Many of our readers are in the mobile catering business and would also like to attend your events! 

Start Ups/ New Microbreweries

Pittsburg’s East End Brewing Company

http://www.eastendbrewing.com/

check out this list: black strap stout, Monkey Boy Hefeweizen, East End Witte, Pedal pale ale, snow melt spring ale, Smokestack Heritage Porter, Wooden Nickel 5^th Anniversary Saisojust to name a few seasonals that will be avail when you get there.   East end has “big bottles” and a keg ride!

 Abilene TX Cypress Street Station Abilene Brewing Co.

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/mar/16/abilenes-new-microbrewery-is-big-on-taste/

one year old, this bar restaurant microbrewery has a wide selection of Texas beers, Belgian beer, and four home brews; wheat beers, and red ale.

 Market Beer Garden On West 25^th Street Cleveland

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleveland/867275-dogifshhead-brewmaster-set-up-new-microbrewery.html

Located in the West Side Market area, we’ll check to see how they are doing.  They plan to make 20 + varieties of beer when off and running.  Good luck!

  Hill Brewing Co in Ferguson North St. Louis County

http://nocostl.com/2010/03/at-long-last-nocos-first-microbrewery-opens-april-15/

Our proprietor started out in the auto body business, and renovated this building into a restaurant – microbrewery that will have 10 brews.  He bought a lot of the equipment on e-bay!

BEST NEW SITES FOUND IN 2011:

A note from the author of this blog:   Not exactly the techie in the family I still try to find out what sort of views I am getting.  I noticed recently (stuff you can’t see because I don’t accept ads yet) a flood of visits from sites that offer male enhancement medications and other who know’s what from the middle east and now from a host of sites in the far east rim.  As a result I am tagging sites that recognize malware and other “trouble sites” for free.  Keep up the good work guys; we will all meet up in New York for a Stone Street reunion!

http://www.seoheap.com/backlink-checker/geekchoice.com

find out how many hits your advertizing dollars are getting.  Stay tuned to this blog as I find more free sites that are devoted to crunching the numbers and calling out the boggies.

http://www.cubestat.com

find out who those people are that send out all that spam.

http://website.informer.com

trying to find out who these spammers were that daily trty to attach malware to this site I found another gratis stat crunching site.  Carry on!

http://support.clean-mx.de/clean-mx/portals.php?ns4=&sort=ip%20ASC&response=alive

techies take note

https://blog.trendmicro.com/hk-url-downloads-malware/

the malware- hunters list continues as my site show bizarre views from “HK -URL’s”

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://s224.ydsys.com/index/index%3Fpage%3D994&ei=0pOXTZSRCO610QG6rsD-Cw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDcQ7gEwBDgU&prev=/search%3Fq%3Durl:shrunklink.com/hk%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26prmd%3Divns

who’s looking at your web site? 

http://ht3.uni.cc/malicious-attack-hits-a-million-web-pages/

bogus sites abound; watch for bogus programs that are not auhtorized by Microsoft

a new feature: stuff you can do with beer

With the summer approaching we will be posting some new recipes with beer as its main or novelty componnent.  Beer can enhance the flavor of a sauce; ask any restauranter and he will tell you: make anything with beer in it and people will line up outside to get in.  In the last few weeks we saw on TV some top chefs like Lydia Bastianich make roast chicken and braised beef with beer based sauces, and French chef Hubert Keller also from PBS make a beer based frying batter for onion rings!  Lydia’s beer braised beef has chunks of slab bacon and reminds me of beer basted beef ribs I had recently at a NY bistro.  The chef added whole bunches of garlic and herbs de provence leaving a very thick sauce after about 3 hours cookiing.  After testing out these recipes we will dutifully report back.   So far I hear the bubbles in the beer help make a crisper crunchier frying batter.  The secret is to whip up egg whites and add to the beer and flour mix. 

The most unusual  use for beer so far was a recent note from the long running PBS Victory Garden on how to establish a shade moss garden or grow thick moss between stone pavements, etc. at home.  Victory Garden states: place the moss you want to grow into a blender, and then put in about a half can of beer; any old brand will do.  By sight I would say he put a hefty clump of nice green “pillow” moss of about 4 oz. or half a cup of moss into the blender.  (No soil please ! Stones will break the blender blade.) After reducing the moss into something I could only see was a grey looking smoothy the host started to pour the concoction over his slate walkway and said, within a few weeks you will have a great moss garden…!  He also said use moss from a garden nursery supply and not moss collected from field.  Here I think that’s a good idea because it won’t have little stones that can break your blender.  I think it might be better to skip risking messing up your blenders and just chop up the moss with garden tools and such.  But Victory Garden swears that the beer is a great nutrient for getting the moss started in places you want it to grow!

AM New York recently published an article on making home-made beer at home and Chester mailed it to me.  Beer in your apartment? Don’t you need a huge barrel and a cold cellar?  Well grandpa made his own wine and brandy that way but the newfangled stuff you can buy on-line produces

            From the Brooklyn Brew Shop online you can buy one gallon kits for $40.  It includes a large glass jug, grain, dried hops, yeast, lots of plastic tubing, and an easy step by step guide.

 <brooklyn.brewshp.com>

We looked at some other sites, there are a lot of them.  Comparison shopping is recommended, you can buy kits for making wine, beer and root beer! 

 http://www.homebrewtalk.com/

chat rooms for brewers?  Unbelievable you might think, but then you see how many thousand hits this site gets to link you to other brewers discuss their recipes and share technical advise!

 http://www.home-brew.com/mm5/

Professional equipment anyone?  This is a nice site for beginners also, they offer small starter kits and a lot of nice links  Check the events list because their events are free and they sometimes give out free space and supplies to guest brewers to try out their equipment! 

http://www.mrbeer.com/

One stop shopping for things like starter kits, ingredients, bottles, glassware and recipes.  Clubs, books, gifts and a help desk! 

 http://morebeer.com/

 More room in the shed?  Step up to larger volume home brewing and kegging!  Tips and interesting articles, ingredients, cleaning & sanitizing equipment, measuring and testing equipment, and publications.  Recipes for making sake. Thinking of growing your own hops?  Fresh hops will impart extra flavor to your beer!

 http://www.beer100.com/

We put this site on this report because: it has a separate section for bar jokes, it has a section on cooking with beer, and it has a microbrew pub directory. for the entire U.S.!  If you see one that is not listed, send Dave an e-mail.   A nice site from the twin cities, along with some free recipes.  I want to try the Irish fresh ham with gravy!

http://www.salm-austria.com/?gclid=CJ_luZyH4KACFV1-5QoduWHzEQ

Ready to go into production?  Professional, sparkling new brewery equipment will make your facility a must see during the tour!

 http://www.spiegel.de/international/

Just in case someone wants to write in about who has the best Bar-Quiz, we offer for the first entry Der Spiegel’s Pub-Quiz on  its daily English on-line edition..  Start your voting!

 This is just a sampling of the over 400,000 sites devoted to home brewing, kits and supplies on the internet.  Expect to see future updates!

Consumer Alert:

SOME FLAVORING INGREDIENTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET FOR SALE ARE POTENTIALLY TOXIC

TO HUMANS and WILDLIFE!!

Read This Advisory Carefully Before Starting On Your Own Home Liqueurs!!

Some links for sweet liqueurs, vermouth and bitters recipes, “fortified wines” and such have a few flavoring agents that should not be used in your home brews altogether!    

***Repeated Exposure to Wormwood is Potentially Toxic to The Brain and Liver***

 ***Angelica Root is A Skin and Eye Irritant***

 ***There are Advisories to Women Who are Pregnant or Nursing Not to Use Angelica Root***

Angelica Root, Used in Chinese Herbal Medicines, is Being Studied for Its Negative Affects

Upon Chemotherapy Patients

There are some questionable recipes on the Internet!  Read this Caution Carefully: The Kegger’s Blog in no way endorses the use of substances that are on the Federal Narcotics Registry, or are generally known for their toxicity  to be used in home brewing or distilling. 

Chartreuse and Wormwood containing recipes are potentially hazardous and addictive.  Angelica root is a toxic substance that can cause skin and eye irritations, along with other potential health hazards.  It is commonly available as an oil and is sometimes used as a perfume ingredient, and is also a fire hazard as it is highly flammable.  It is also potentially hazardous to the environment.  Its its ability to degrade easily into the environment has not been established, and is currently being studied for it is potential hazard to fish populations. 

The EPA and DEA have not classified Angelica as a controlled substance yet, but we still don’t recommend anyone using it as a flavoring agent.  Although it has not been certified as a carcinogen, Angelica root is listed in the TSCA registry.  There are also advisories to women who are pregnant or nursing not to use Angelica Root.    St. Johns Wort is well-known to be toxic and a potential  health risk to even casual users.  If there are any questions you should consult your Cooperative Extension when using local varieties of wild flowers or herbs as  flavoring agents.

 Next Week:

 Cooking With Beer.  Did you know that one of America’s Favorite Ball Park Mustards is Made with Beer? we’ll have some Old Favorites and Some New!

 The Secret is the Olive Oil Before Roasting!  

       Hams weren’t the holiday tradition until Chester and I were shipped off to boarding school, and Sunday dinner consisted frequently of a ham sort of substance that was baked in a red sort of plastic wrapper by our two earnest school chefs that at one time cooked for the Navy.  It came out stiff and hard as shoe leather; but with the pineapple sauce it was palatable.  I was never able to find where the ham like substance was made, but we always had to peel off the red plastic wrapping before we could eat a slice!

        Once I got out of the house the first priority was to find a decent recipe for baked hams and fresh corn bread.  We just didn’t eat things like that in the house– Mom was always dieting and there was only a half head of lettuce and some old tomatoes in the fridge.   Here much of the fat is reduced into the sauce at the end of the day from all that slow baking, so once or twice a year or so this recipe won’t spike your cholesterol too much.  Save the excess sauce, chill it and skim off the fat, as you will see in future editions you can make great things with this sauce– it is thick flavorful culinary gold!

         We don’t blanch our hams before we cook them.  We mentioned before that we were going to divulge in some of our best cooking secrets and this is one of them; the shank cut tends to come out of the oven moist and tender with a thick baked crust on the outer parts of the ham imparting a great juicy flavor inside.  The rump cut brings out more meat and the traditional type of ham everyone is used to but it tends to dry out with slow roasting,  even with liberal basting.

 Secrets 101

      This recipe partly comes from a Polish friend that immediately scolded me when I was trading recipes– she said you have to use a lot of chopped garlic.  How much?  Unbelievable, but at least one whole head, minced garlic.  For this recipe a ten pound ham calles for at least three heads of garlic!  We don’t any need salt for a cured,  partially cooked ham, this has plenty of salt and roasting will leach some of it out into the gravy.

 Secret # 2

Baste, baste and more basting.  The sugar and orange marmalade mixture will create a rich sauce and frequent basting will give a dark delicious crust.

 Secret # 3

     Turn the ham on side to other side, then bottom to top every other hour so it will bake evenly.

 Secret # 4

    You will be able to open a restaurant with this one:  the olive slathered liberally over every inch of the ham keeps the meat moist and flavorful throughout the baking

Ingredients:

10 lb or better precooked packaged ham- Preferably a shank cut.

dark brown or light brown sugar; at least 1/2 – 3/4 cup

orange marmalade 

1/4 cup all spice, or cloves or both

three whole heads or more of  garlic, coarsely chopped

What you need :

      A high walled baking pan or # 6342 disposable aluminum pan– the ones I use are 10” x 12 1/2” that I buy at the dollar store around the corner for about $.50 each.  They have high walls; about 4” high and you want this feature if you want the ham to have a nice crusty finish.  You can also use and ironstone pan you want the top of the ham to just peek out at you and the iron stone will help cook the ham evenly.  I use the disposable pan which I put on top of an aluminum cookie sheet so I can take the ham out without spilling everything all over the place.

   Prep Couldn’t be Easier:  350 degrees for 6 hours or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees

      Prehead oven at 350 degrees and keep it there for the duration of baking the ham.  Open the packaged ham and rinse well with water, place in pan with all spice and brush olive oil over all parts of the ham, leaving a nice amount on the bottom of the pan to begin the sauce.  Be liberal with your oil.  Our experience is olive oil gives the ham the best flavor.  Try making eggs or omelets with it and find a brand you like, you can’t go wrong with good quality olive oil.  Place in oven covered with tin foil for one hour, then remove the foil, every hour switch the position of the ham so that it bakes faster and evenly.  I used to start this by setting everything up right before Macy’s parade started (at 6 AM) and was always done by 1:00 PM so long as the ham was moved from one position to the other. Whew all that basting!

 Serve with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, salad and seasonal cooked fresh veggies.  At our holiday gatherings it is served alongside roast turkey with stuffing, or roast ducks with stuffing, or roast leg of lamb.

 What sort of wine or beer to serve? 

We try to have two or more lager type beers; one regular like Budweiser, or Coors,  and one “artisanal” like Sam Adams.  I started drinking Rolling Rock when I was in rural Pennsylvania and it is still one of my favorites.  I serve also a chilled Italian red wine like an Abruzzi,  and also a chilled red French “table wine” for the table.  These are not château  wines and cost about $9 per bottle.  They average about three years old and that’s fine for us; it means the wine is fresh and full of flavor, low on tannins.  This translates into tartness –- that wine buffs  gush about– from sitting in bottles for years.  Friends like to bring bottles of rose– Beringers makes a nice inexpensive rose for under $10.  We also have chilled bottles of “Hard Lemonade” on hand. 

What about Carlo Rossi Wines?  Take Notes!!

      If you don’t know Carlo Rossi by now, stop by the local wine outlet and buy one of these jugs for your next gathering.  Jug wine never tasted so good unless you decide to make your own one year.    Honestly, this is high quality wine, that wine buffs generally agree that this one of the best quality and inexpensive brands made in the U.S. – when they don’t have their noses in the air.  It is a great value but don’t bother to re-bottle this wine, everyone will come back asking what brand it is! 

      For desert we will often have as many as 8 different pies (about how many that show up),  I bring a chocolate swirl cheesecake along with the ham, a fresh pie, and some wine and my own corkscrew.  It comes from Italy   and frankly, others don’t seem to make the grade and mash up the cork!

Some of the links on this site will give you a few minutes free advise on what the laws are state to state.              Remember that in Kentucky the local folks think their home distilled whiskey is far superior than any commercial brand; but unfortunately their State and Federal governments don’t think much of this cultural heritage!  In some states we have “dry counties” and “quota licenses”.  Trust your lawyer and start looking at business opportunities!

            Home  distilling is a potentially dangerous process and should be done with some professional equipment – preferably in a separate building set apart from your house just as a fire hazard prevention.  If on the other hand you want to start your own business I would encourage you to  go for it and talk to a local lawyer that knows the regulations.  Start small, throw a party, let the locals come over and sample your product; hire a band and have some barbecue, and don’t forget let’s hear from you on how you’re doing and I’ll hop on a bus to come visit!

 http://www.legalbrewing.com/?gclid=COuC1c_lyJ8CFag65QodpzQnzg

 For Florida and Alabama, reasonably priced manuals on getting started and business regulations.  One book on how to start a brewery legally is on my shopping cart right now!

 http://www.chow.com/stories/10475

Home distilling conferences at your local Cooperative Extension?  Yup!  Consider contacting them and think about all the family farmers you’re going to help out!

 http://www.stillcooker.com/thelaw.html

We’re putting this link up for entertainment purposes only.  In no way does “thekegger” endorse making your own equipment out of old rain barrels and lawn hoses — but this site is a hoot!  Everything you need to know about home distilling but “thekegger” reminds you all: avoid complications and comply with local and Federal laws.

 http://www.puredistilling.com/

Hoy!  From Australia, kits and stuff. Check your local laws first.

 http://community.livejournal.com/homedistilling/profile

 A community of international home distillers?  A site from Finland and we hope to hear from them soon, Chester has couch space if they want to come visit New York!

 http://www.home-distilling.com/store/pc/The-Compleat-Distiller-42p327.htm

 We’ve heard from Smiley before; he left us a hyperlink when he published his book “The Compleat Distiller”.  Smiley also offers “flavoring essenses” but we haven’t tested them out.  How you doin?  Hope the book’s selling good!

http://www.imbibemagazine.com/Modern-Moonshiners-New-Moon-Rising

This is a nice article about what’s legal and what’s illegal. Imbibe is a nice new magazine devoted to our type of stuff, and it is a nice site for browsing.   Note that the writer of this article tasted some home distilled apple brandy that just smelled like walking through an apple orchard during spring!

http://www.ask.com/web?l=dis&qsrc=999&siteid=15140&o=15140&q=home+distilling+%2B+local+laws&sq=1&ifr=1

How to, legal equipment and a lawyer service by hyperlink.  These are not free services; if you contact the lawyers they will charge you an hourly fee; but in the long run,  a legal  review of your business plan will save you dollars in the long run. (don’t forget to invite us to your launch and we’ll bring some barbecue)

 http://homedistiller.org/

            This is the grandaddy of the web sites for methods and recipes but caution must be exercised here in the grey area of moonshine production.  In now way do we endorse building your own equipment or distilling without local state and county regulations!  By all means consult your cooperative extension and find out that home wine and beer making can become a profitable business down the road.  I’m even thinking of starting my own barbecue-stand and -dive-bar after writing this piece. 

            Herein: Flavorings guides, recipes and diagrams; this site is comprehensive.  You might even want to contact these folks with some advice on getting started.  The  Limoncello recipe is something you can do in your apartment but again this just involves infusing vodka with lemon zest and other spices without any heating.  I must stress that home distilling is not something we can do in our apartments.  The fire marshal and revenuers will come knocking at the door.

            There is also the question of methanol accumulating at the top of your distilled product.  What?  I’m not a chemist here, how the heck did that come about?  You need to discard this or face a tremendous hangover or worse!  Hopefully care will be taken and  have a product safe for human consumption. 

            You might even have to check local zoning regulations because of the potential fire hazard involved in distilling, but hey, they do it without too much trouble in Ireland and Scotland, so …?  

 http://nymag.com/listings/bar/brooklyn_brewery/

             Again your best bet is consulting the local cooperative extension agent.  Modest starts like this ended up with one of the biggest new breweries opening in Brooklyn by a local guy that basically took over decaying industrial space and creating a multi-million dollar enterprise.  His new brewery started on not that much initial capital either.  Chester quotes, “…from tiny acorns mighty oaks grow.”