tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12980020246430373312024-02-20T20:21:00.790-08:00Guns, Beer, FreedomGunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-57438218829857825742014-12-01T00:06:00.000-08:002014-12-01T00:06:29.370-08:00Beer Review: Alaskan Pumpkin PorterSo much beer, so little time. And guns. And all this freedom, that the world is learning and unlearning at the same time. It's pretty much the opposite of writers block for me; to have so many topics and interests that I don't want to exclude any particular one so in the end I exclude them all.<br />
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But after I received a package from a dear friend in Alaska, I could no longer put off reviewing at least some of the items I received. There was another beer included that I'll be reviewing soon, but for tonight we'll stay focused on the Alaskan Pumpkin Porter, which may no longer be available as it's a seasonally run beer.<br />
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Before I taste I should confess that I'm getting over a seasonal
affliction of some sort, so anyone who reads this should be aware that I
MAY not be able to fully articulate the flavor profile. But who knows,
maybe I will. <br />
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Appearance: Black. Even for a porter it's particularly dark, with only a faint orangish hue around the edges of the glass. Head is small thought firm, about 1 finger in height, and a pleasing off-white color. I know for myself it's typical to expect pumpkin flavored things to be orange in color but that's not the case here, nor should it be. Head retention is low, save for a nice foamy ring around the edge of the glass.<br />
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Nose: Immediately after pouring the smell of brown sugar and pumpkin spice filled my nostrils, almost like a scented candle. Upon closer inspection there is a distinct presence of hops, though they seem to be the more citrus based ones. The blend of pumpkin and hops is a pleasant one on the nose and even before I taste I can tell this is one of the beers best qualities. Malt presence seems subdued and the lack of roast here is somewhat, though not completely, unusual for a porter. Alcohol is not present here in the nose.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably should have taken this BEFORE drinking some.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Taste: Semi-sweet notes with just a hint of nutmeg in the after taste. Despite lacking in the nose the malt flavors are upfront and certainly noticeable in this beer, balancing out the hops nicely. As I drink on the hops come forward more, though not so much as to overpower the other flavors. Unlike some pumpkins beers I've had in the past, the brewers up in Alaska get it right and make the flavor simply an addition to a good beer, rather than trying to overpower ones taste buds with pumpkin spice. Again, alcohol isn't noticeable, and at 7.0% that's slightly surprising<br />
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Mouth Feel: A standard porter body, moderate in the mouth but heavy in the stomach. The carbonation is minor but just enough to make the flavors come alive long after the beer itself is swallowed. As I dive deeper into my glass the alcohol does become more noticeable here, though it's not to the point of being intolerable. Absolutely one of the smoothest beers I've tried yet and though my sips are measured, they are all equally enthralling.<br />
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Drinkability: Low to medium. For most people (I know of at least one exception) porters in general are not highly drinkable beers. Their rich flavor, heavy bodies, and smoky or roasted nature is often too much for many people to drink a lot of and enjoy. Combined with the rather high 7.0% ABV and this is relegated to at most a 6 pack in one session, and more likely stopping at 3 beers.<br />
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Overall a fantastic gift and one that makes me eager to try more Alaskan beer. Additionally my friend sent me some smoked salmon jerky, which pairs very well with this beer for a lovely desert or evening snack. I'd highly recommend this beer not only for those who enjoy pumpkin flavorings but to those who are looking to start drinking darker beers, as this is a great starter and very balanced in every aspect.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-8195383091758705952014-08-25T04:36:00.001-07:002014-08-25T04:36:05.051-07:00Beer Review: Yuengling PorterI've had this on the docket for almost a year now. But between work and laziness I haven't gotten around to writing...well anything. But it's time to change that (as if I haven't said that more than a few times). For those on the West Coast or outside America entirely, the Yuengling Brewery is a bit different than most of the others that I've talked about before. For starters they're the oldest brewery in operation here in America. For another, they are, by and large, a macro brewer with fairly limited offerings and a large market that spans much of the country. But what they do offer is often a cut above anything offered by other macro breweries, and indicative of the old world quality that I'm so fond of.<br />
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Appearance: Very dark though some light does pass through it, leaving a faint oily hue of brown and deep red. Head is off white with nice, small tightly packed bubbles that sadly dissipate quickly, leaving only a few traces of lacing and a nice ring around the glass itself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://whosisbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/DSC_202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://whosisbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/DSC_202.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Whoisbrew.com</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Nose: For a porter the hops are rather prevalent in the nose, along with the typical smells of roasted malt and toffee. Not noticeable alcohol here, as is typical for porters.<br />
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Taste: Some mild citrus hoppiness that is accompanied by a light sweetness from the roasted malt. A hint of toffee, as indicated by the nose and just a touch of brewers chocolate. The flavors all balance each other well and while the malt sweetness is dominate, it's not overpowering leaving a subtle blend on the tongue and roof of the mouth. Alcohol isn't found here either.<br />
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Mouth Feel: Moderate body with low carbonation. The bitterness of the hops is mild and washes away quickly, though the malt flavor tends to linger along with a smooth, almost milky, feeling along the roof of the mouth. It's almost as if someone made chocolate milk with heavy whipping cream. No noticeable alcohol here either.<br />
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Drinkablity: For a porter it's pretty high. I could easily see myself going through a 12 pack or more in a long evening, though the beer is just as suitable for a glass or two if one isn't into heavy drinking. The low alcohol, mild subtleness of flavor, and smooth mouth feel all make for a wonderful drinking experience.<br />
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Overall a fine beer for nearly any occasion and one I would highly recommend as a starter for those who want to try dark beer. If only I didn't have to drive to another state to get it.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-14786287684834896802014-06-30T07:12:00.000-07:002014-06-30T07:12:00.372-07:00Beer Review: Dogfish Head Noble RotBought this a couple months ago and just now getting around to trying it out. Yet another of the Dogfish Head 750ml bottles, I'm not going to lie I bought this just to fill out my collection of bottles. But DFH has some outstanding beers and so I'm hoping this continues in that tradition. Supposedly this is brewed similarly to a Saison type Belgian ale with grapes and grape must added into the brewing process. So let's get started.<br />
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<a href="http://lefthandhorror.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dfhnoblerot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lefthandhorror.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dfhnoblerot.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>Appearance: Bright golden yellow and very transparent. Head is about 1/2 inch high with nice densely packed white foam. Carbonation is very high and head retention is high. Appears almost like a golden champagne or soda instead of a beer and is very pleasing to the eye.<br />
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Nose: Grape is noticeable, along with citric hops. No alcohol to note in the nose, which at 9% is somewhat impressive. No noticeable malts or other aromas though.<br />
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Taste: Similar to a white wine, the grapes are at the forefront of the taste, though they're not overpowering. No malt flavor but the hops are very mild and not overtly bitter so the malt profile does balance it out very well. Slight taste of alcohol at the front but quickly dissipates.<br />
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Mouth Feel: Rather light bodied. Somewhat drier than other beers I've had recently but certainly not terrible. The carbonation doesn't stand out here however, and the beer leave a small but lasting impression after each sip, coating the tongue and and throat as it goes down. Again, feels more like a white wine than a beer.<br />
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Drinkability: Low. The 750 bottle would be best split between myself and someone else, or corked and saved again for later. The 14oz I poured is about all I can handle in a single sitting. The combination of the alcohol and wine like taste is too much for high volume drinking. But if you like white wines (I do not), you may be able to polish off the bottle yourself.<br />
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Overall this isn't a bad beer, but I'm not personally a fan. DFH is always trying to create new brews and experiences, so I won't fault them if I don't enjoy as much as some of their other offerings. This beer would pair well with any Italian or seafood dish, or maybe as a night cap to a mild fall evening. Just be sure to keep an eye on your drinking, as the fact that the beer is 9% ABV isn't readily discernible from the taste.<br />
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If you have any suggestions for my next tasting, be sure to email me at wmballew87@gmail.com and let me know.<br />
<br />GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-54418969932339448952014-05-08T06:24:00.000-07:002014-05-08T06:24:09.431-07:00Beer Review: Shorts Soft ParadeAh, it's good to be back. I honestly miss tasting beers. But with my current schedule, I've had precious little time to do so.<br />
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Anyways, Soft Parade has been on my docket for quite some time now. I first got a taste of this unique brew back in 2012 at a beer tasting (that I never wrote about). I fell in love with it at the time and couldn't wait to do a more in depth and detailed review. Today I can finally cross it off the list.<br />
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Shorts is a Michigan brewing company of whom I have little knowledge or experience with, but they have a good number of offerings that I've been meaning to try, and if Short Parade is any indication they may be one of the best brewers in the nation. Poured into my 16oz Goose Island Pilsner glass.<br />
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Appearance: Brownish red with a slight cloudiness. Head is non-existent, save for some very light lacing around the edges. No hints of yeast or unfiltered particles either. Gives the appearance more of a sparkling wine than a beer.<br />
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Nose: Immediately hit by the aroma of cherries and raspberries, along with other light fruity touches. Hop character is minimal and citrus in nature, so as to balance out the fruits and malt. No noticeable alcohol here.<br />
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Taste: Mild tartness of blue berries mixed with mild citrus like hops and strawberry notes. Malt isn't overpowering, but does lightly dull the fruity nature of the beer. Only a light hint of sweetness remains for a moment after swallowing. Despite the brewery noting the use of rye, I've been unable to detect any. No noticeable alcohol here either.<br />
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Mouth Feel: Light bodied and somewhat bubbly. Again, somewhat akin to a wine, though nowhere near as dry. The carbonation is just enough to open the taste buds to the unique flavors of brew. Goes down smoothly without any hint of an alcoholic burn and finishes nicely.<br />
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Drinkability: High. Disturbingly high in fact, considering it's 7.5% ABV, yet the alcohol is completely undetectable. Combine with the very low IBUs (15) and the unique and very appealing taste, and I could see getting drunk off this in short order. A perfect drink with brunch or on a nice summers day, and should pair well with most foods, though I might avoid dark meats with it, or heavier dessert items.<br />
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Overall this is a fantastic offering from a great Michigan brewer, and I would highly recommend it to anyone, but especially people new to beer or the craft beer scene as its high drinkability and amazing flavors are conducive to a enjoyable time for all. It is certainly a must try for any beer drinker though.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-58060688710466516202014-04-15T01:04:00.000-07:002014-04-15T01:04:17.065-07:00UpdatesSo in case anyone has been wondering just where I've gone, I feel I should give a status update to assure everyone that I haven't been taken off or died or given up interest. Because I haven't. GunsBeerFreedom isn't dead yet.<br />
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There are some changes in the works however. The biggest change on the horizon is GunsBeerFreedom; The Podcast. That's right, shortly after this you loyal readers will become (if you so choose) loyal listeners, as my honeyed words shine forth across the internet like a shining beacon of truth and enlightenment. I don't have much (read; ANY) experience with broadcast media or podcasting, so this will certainly be a learning experience, but I'm confident it'll be a fun one. For those wondering just what the hell I'm going to be talking about, the current plan is for the show to be like an internet bar of sorts. Lighthearted conversations over the course of several beers between myself and guests. Beyond that...well the show will be organic so the production and goals might as well be organic as well.<br />
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But the podcast isn't the only thing coming up. There are several beer reviews on the docket, as well as brewery reviews (did a few tours during my absence from the site). And of COURSE I've got plenty to say about guns and our freedom as Americans (for the non-Americans who read this site, you may gain a window into our madness. Or you might not care. Whichever). Rest assured though good people, that GBF is not done. Not by a long shot.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-68251875051536183352013-09-22T00:54:00.001-07:002013-09-22T00:54:46.999-07:00Confusing Stability and SecurityWelcome back. Been quite a while hasn't it? No need to worry, the NSA hasn't taken me down yet loyal readers.<br />
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Speaking of the NSA, that's something I wanted to talk about. It should come as no surprise to you all that I'm rather supportive of Edward Snowden and his efforts for a more transparent (and therefore hopefully much less powerful) government. After all, this is guns,beer, and FREEDOM. But instead of looking at the NSA or the government surveillance programs themselves, I think it's more important to look deeper. To look at our nature as human beings. I think this would give a far greater insight into why, especially as of late, we are having all these conflicts of interests between freedom and so called 'security'. <br />
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Now I say so called 'security' instead of regular security (thought there is a great overlap here) because in these instances the primary goal isn't actually being safe, but FEELING safe. That's one reason why the TSA spends so much time dealing with airports, but sea ports receive almost no attention. Not many people deal with commerce shipping, so they don't notice the gaping holes in our security there. But people fly thousands of miles every day, and so very overt changes are made. <br />
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So we can gather that REAL security isn't the issue. So what is then? The concept of STABILITY. The FEELING of being more secure makes you more likely to go about your daily business. And we know this is true. Humans are creatures of habit aren't we? We love to fall into patterns of predictability and normalcy. We want, generally speaking, to tend towards order. But the problem is is that freedom isn't orderly. It is inherently chaotic and destabilizing.<br />
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While I was between writing this, I saw a George Carlin about this very subject. And in it he points out exactly what I'm stating now; that most of these 'security measures' are designed to make people FEEL safe. And I can understand why. People are creatures of habit, and we form these habits because we feel secure in doing so. I mean, if we actively thought that there was a chance we'd die in some way going to get milk and cheese, we'd be a lot more reluctant to do so. It's self preservation. But it's all an illusion. We face death no matter where we are, or what we do. We can NEVER eliminate the risk.<br />
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Now if we really think about it, we know this. So we try to mitigate risk. But at a societal level this is much much harder, because it involves an incalculable number of variables because it deals with people. And people are, sadly, often irrational and unpredictable. So ultimately risk mitigation becomes a very personal factor. It's not something that can be done well at a national level.<br />
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So where am I going with this? Well the point I'm trying to get to is that because we cannot eliminate risk and because it's so difficult to mitigate at a national/societal level, we should therefore push on the side of freedom. Yes, it comes with more risk and potential for instability, but it allows people to better face their own personal risks in a way that suits them best. It allows them to succeed (or fail) as individuals, rather than as mass segments. ESPECIALLY when we see that the 'threats' we're all told to be so afraid of are unlikely at best. GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-38492563704533658482013-04-16T17:02:00.001-07:002013-04-16T17:02:13.312-07:00Gun Review: SAR B6PMan, despite the fact that I've written very few gun reviews, they're the biggest draws to my sight. So since I've been writing for a year now, I figured it'd be fair to do another.<br />
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The Cz-75 is a very popular pistol, both in its original form and in its many copies. While I'd like to review an actual Cz at some point, I don't have one. I do however, have a new copy from Turkey, Imported by EAA but made by Sarsilmaz, these are very nice, low cost, pistols. Initially I wasn't too interested in a 9mm when I went shopping, but for $280 I couldn't turn it down. So let's start the review.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great tastes go together</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The first thing I noticed when picking up the pistol is the weight distribution. It's a polymer frame, so the weight is very...top heavy. The slide doesn't have much in the way of weight saving, which helps with recoil. On the flip side, the slide is a low profile one, and that can make it a bit hard for my hands to get a grip. Not a major issue, but it does deduct a few points in my mind.<br />
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The sights are nice and clear, with white dots to aid low light shooting. The sights aren't particularly high or sharp so I wouldn't worry about them snagging on clothes in a CC situation (though the size kinda precludes it from this).<br />
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It's a pretty standard, non-ambi control layout. The magazine release is easily reached without having to adjust my hand, as well as the safety. Also a nice beaver tail to prevent hammer bite, though this was never a problem for me to begin with.<br />
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As far as function goes, the pistol preforms flawlessly. I've put about 300 rounds through it since purchase without any malfunctions. Accuracy is also acceptable, though not stellar. I can manage a 10rnd group of about 2.5in at 25 yards, though this is with cheap Wolf and Tula ammo. It might improve drastically if I used decent ammo, but in this market I shoot what I can buy.<br />
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Recoil is manageable and it should be. It's a full sized pistol in 9mm chambering, it shouldn't be that bad. That said it still points well and comes back on target quickly.<br />
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Other than the low profile slide, the only other 'complaint' I have is that I don't know if regular Cz-75 mags will work. I mean, they SHOULD, but I'm not spending that kind of money on mags (again, fuck you panic buyers for ruining the market) that might not work. Oh and the case that the pistol came in is fucking atrocious. The plastic injection feels weird and in mine was broke in several places. Still, that's a minor issue at best.<br />
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One last point I feel should mention is the fit and finish on this gun is FAR better than I'd expect for the price. Honestly I would expect this to be a $500-600 gun anywhere else. It's a very lovely gun honestly.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-76897685508072622972013-03-22T15:07:00.001-07:002013-03-22T15:20:22.612-07:00Beer Review: Detroit Brewing Co. BohemianAlright, sorry about the delay. Writing comes and goes in spurts for me. Anyways here is one of the beers I've been meaning to review. With the approach of spring (somewhere anyways), pilsners are gonna become more popular. So here's a local one I thought would be good to try.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of BeerAdvocate</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Appearance: Amber colors with a creamy white head, about 1/2 fingers in hieght. It quickly dissipates but does leave a nice ring around the edge of the glass. This is about as perfect as a beer can look, if it would retain the head longer. Of course that may be my fault, but we'll see.<br />
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Nose: Nice fruity hops, no noticeable alcohol, and just a hint of malt sweetness.<br />
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Taste: A very well balanced flavor. The hops are present but not especially bitter, more fruity. The malt isn't especially sweet either, but just pronounced enough to balance out the hops. Alcohol isn't detectable here, thought a slight bitterness is found in the after taste, which is honestly enjoyable.<br />
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Mouth Feel: Light bodied and smooth, it's just carbonated enough to tickle the tongue slightly, but not the throat. Goes down and stays down very easy, and again, no detectable alcohol found here either. Very crisp and refreshing through the entire sip.<br />
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Drinkablity: High. It's a light bodied pilsner with standard ABV. The low IBUs (35 in this case) also make it a very easy drinking beer that would be GREAT on a warmer day, or as a general session beer.<br />
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Overall, I'd highly suggest picking this up, and it would easily surpass most macro-brewed beers. I can't wait for spring/summer so I can truly enjoy this beer the way it was meant to be. With a lot more of them, good friends around, and some barbeque.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-86745524742513235932013-02-09T20:36:00.000-08:002013-02-09T20:36:18.095-08:00Beer Review: Atwater D-Light KolschBefore I begin this review I want to make special mention to all my SE Michigan reader about the store I bought this beer in. It's called Champane, located on 13 Mile road between Ryan and Van Dyke. First time customer there today but I cannot say enough good about them. Staff was knowledgeable and helpful, the selection was amazing (ESPECIALLY if you like wine), and the prices were more than fair. I hope that everyone has the chance to check them out at least.<br />
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Ok, now to the actual beer itself. As my regular readers should know I've grown quite fond of the Atwater Brewery. And I've always wanted to try a actual Kolsch style beer, as they're rather rare on this side of the world. So when I saw this available, I knew I had to pick it up. Kolsch's in general are what American Macro lagers try to be. Let's see how this one holds up.<br />
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Poured into a 16oz pint glass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIURa7KvH1MVzFq0zd1QMi8ezU5paUBx9URKEIVgE1CF3_ZRvAXgnokm11CWST-RHijxOpjO_4MvQ0JST1X869kUQbYyjpdD80NCN6FQGBmNB_9q2HbSD-HCu8ZmmxNaUrvFed44nnnf4/s1600/kolsch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIURa7KvH1MVzFq0zd1QMi8ezU5paUBx9URKEIVgE1CF3_ZRvAXgnokm11CWST-RHijxOpjO_4MvQ0JST1X869kUQbYyjpdD80NCN6FQGBmNB_9q2HbSD-HCu8ZmmxNaUrvFed44nnnf4/s320/kolsch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Appearance: Nice golden straw color. Head is cream colored and very light, dissipating rather quickly except around the rim of the glass. Beer itself is pretty transparent and appears to be rather carbonated.<br />
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Nose: When I popped the cap, I immediately noticed the sweet smell of malts. A great sign of things to come. No noticeable alcohol, and hops is just enough to balance the malt. The key to Kolschs is subtlety, so everything is right but nothing REALLY stands out.<br />
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Taste: Interesting at first. Certainly stronger in flavor than the macro lagers it looks like. Hops and malt balance out well. Something else is present, but I just can't quite place it. Don't get me wrong, the taste is excellent, I just can't quite explain what it is. Clearly I need to taste more beers. In fact, upon several tastes, I think that flavor IS the malt, and it's just a different malt than I typically taste. Whatever it is, it's a great change.<br />
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Mouth Feel: Light bodied, naturally. Rather well carbonated as well, but not like a macro lager. Body is smooth, but not overtly so. Honestly the mouth feel is subdued. Nothing overtly present, but anyone who has drank a beer will immediately recognize it as such.<br />
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Drinkability: Very high. The body itself is almost as light as a macro lager, and the flavor isn't too far off from that as well. This, combined with its low price, means that I could (and this summer almost certainly WILL) drink a case or so of it in the day.<br />
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Honestly the only bad part about this tasting and selection is the time of year. This is a summer/fall beer. The gloomy winter and fact that I'm drinking this alone is the only thing that mars the tasting. And that's the fault of me, the taster, not the beer. Anyone who has access to this should immediately switch to it in lieu of the macro lagers they almost certainly drink now. The difference is slight and subtle, but just enough to make the difference between a mediocre beer and a great beer. I'm looking forward to drinking this again.<br />
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If you have any suggestions for future tastings, or beer questions in general, feel free to contact me at wmballew87@gmail.comGunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-74393291934685540592013-02-07T14:17:00.001-08:002013-02-07T14:17:04.244-08:00Thoughts on Guns (Part 1)Lately I've felt an urge to write. The problem however, at least for me, is that I don't know what exactly to write about at the moment. I have several ideas in the works, and of course there is the Manifesto to finish, but instead today I thought I would just put my random thoughts about guns to paper. Or print, whatever.<br />
<br />
So in no order of importance or relevance, here are my Gun Thoughts (Part 1)<br />
<br />
Being shot at sucks, regardless of caliber. Being hit would suck even more, again regardless of caliber. Therefore, when deciding on what you want a gun chambered in, decide on the gun first, chambering second. The man (or woman) makes the tool, not the other way around. <br />
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The M1 Garand is overrated. There, I said it. It was a good gun in its day, and it's great to own and shoot for fun, but it's outclassed by others of its era, specifically the FN49.<br />
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People often get a lot of flak for modifying military rifles from their original configuration. I see the point people are trying to make, that it alters the history of the gun, but that assumes that the history of said gun ends with the modifier. It doesn't. It simply adds a new chapter to it. That said, be at least tasteful in how you modify stuff.<br />
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I think the 5.7 is the new 7.62x25 Tok round, but worse. Maybe it's because I'm a Rusophile, maybe it's because I'm right. Either way.<br />
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They need to make the XD in a 10mm. Glock does it, why not Springfield? <br />
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Speaking of things that should be made, Hoppes #9 should be a fragrence. And deoderant. And air spray. Basiclly, it should be used to make everything smell awesome.<br />
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How am I, the youngest member of a veterans group, the only member who knows to clean and disassmeble an M1 Garand?<br />
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On pointed bullets in tube mags; I've heard for ages that the reason you shouldn't do this is the bullet point will strike the primer, effectively causing your gun to blow up. But has that ever actually happened? Pointed bullets didn't come into vogue until about 1905, the same time as bolt action rifles. Now, this is just a crazy conspiracy theory, but I think that the pointed bullets in tubular mags story was made so that gun makers could sell more 'modern' guns that the military was slow to adopt. I have nothing to back up this statement, but I've also never seen anything to suspect otherwise.<br />
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America hasn't had a really good gun designer since Browning. Stoner is probably the next best, and he's leagues behind. Pederson and Garand are both Canadian and don't count. Kellgren is a Swede and certainly innovative, but only time will tell if he's in the pantheon of great designers.<br />
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Wood grips are so much sexier than polymer. That's not opinion by the way, that's fact.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/mdorbust/collection/cz75stainless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/mdorbust/collection/cz75stainless.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tell me that's not sexy. </td></tr>
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Hi Points are ugly, bulky, and cheap. But the warranty is awesome and they're really accurate. I think they're a great value honestly.</div>
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What happened to the big .50 cal craze of a couple years back? Did the recession really hurt people that bad (meaning .50 cal shooters)?</div>
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That's all for now. If you have gun related questions, or beer related questions, feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:wmballew87@gmail.com">wmballew87@gmail.com</a>GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-29903044679872505842013-02-02T18:31:00.001-08:002013-02-02T18:32:06.371-08:00Trimming the FatOk. Merry holidays, and happy feast of madness and all that jazz. Holidays are over, and it's a new year. It'd be timely to speak about certain current events, but I said I would finish the Manifesto before anything else and I'll be damned if I don't. So, to recap where we are, I've reformed both houses of Congress and the presidency. But now on to the nitty gritty of what departments we need to keep, and what ones we need to get rid of, as well as some executive powers that would be changed. Like I said in the beginning, this is a revolution; plenty of things are going to change.<br />
<br />
First things first, we need to reduce the Cabinet. I know it's popular to say this or that department of cabinet isn't needed, and in some cases that's true. First and foremost, the Department of Homeland Security. They need to go. Next, the Department of Veteran Affairs. It's a important department, no question, but it should be merged with the Department of Defense (which means the DoD can stay). This will make it easier to keep track of information that needs to be shared between departments right now and increase efficiency, something the current VA isn't exactly good with. Health and Human services would also be merged with Housing and Urban development.<br />
<br />
Ok, so that's about it for the cabinet that's being eliminated or merged. Now onto the downsizing. Justice will have several agencies removed, namely the DEA and ATF. Education will be downsized and focus more on promoting states to follow certain guide lines and areas of education rather than having a direct hand in the matter.<br />
<br />
While we're at it, might as well specify what should be cut from the military. All overseas bases except Diego Garcia should be shut down and sold off as surplus. In fact, we should surplus off everything we don't use or have an interest in using. Great way to boost revenues. Active duty Army gets cut down to a lean 250,000 over 12 years, with 750,000 as active reserves. Air Force can get rid of the F-35 disaster and drop about 25% of their combat air craft total. The Navy would receive the fewest cuts, but still I'd chop off 3 whole carrier groups and put another into reserve status. The Marine Corps would be dropped to about 75,000 active duty with another 175,000 as active reserves.<br />
<br />
These are the big sweeping cuts that should be made. Obviously there is a great deal more when one delves into the minutia of it all, and plenty more to cut from everything. But even just ONE of these changes would show serious interest in a better, leaner, more efficient government.<br />
<br />
NOTE: I apologize for the lateness of this update, I've very busy and not the least bit burnt out on writing and creating. I've decided to take a different approach to the rest of the manifesto. In short, updates will now be a mix of whatever I feel like writing about again. GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-7209811575606248042013-01-22T19:57:00.000-08:002013-01-22T19:57:00.181-08:00Beer Review: Courage Russian Imperial StoutOk, I'm writing this in advance of my executive conclusion, and we still have the Judiciary and other stuff to fix, but in the mean time I wanted to do another beer review. It's winter time and as such there are a lot of RIS's out there, and I, being a fan of them, decided to pick one up. Despite the name courage, its from the Youngs Brewery in England. I don't have much experience with Youngs, but if the price is any indication (and I certainly hope it is at $8 a bottle), it'll be good. Only one way to find out though, so let's get down to it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brewgene.com/sites/default/files/beer_images/user9610_116532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.brewgene.com/sites/default/files/beer_images/user9610_116532.jpg" width="238" /></a>Appearance: Black, as typical, with light unable to penetrate. Head is about half a finger high and a mixture of tight brown bubbles with a ring of larger, more loosely packed bubbles near the edge. Head dissipates slowly, leaving a nice lacy ring around the edge.<br />
<br />
Nose: Roasted malts, a slight hint of toffee, chocolate, and coffee. Alcohol noticeable, which it should be at 10%. Possibly a hint of hops as well, though it's very faint and hard to tell.<br />
<br />
Taste: Chocolate is front and center. Some other sweet flavors, such as the coffee and toffee compliment the chocolate as well. Despite being prominent in the nose, the roast of the malt is far more subdued in the taste. Alcohol is also near unnoticeable in the taste. Just enough hops to balance the taste. All the flavor notes are all wonderfully blended and yet very subtle at the same time.<br />
<br />
Mouth Feel: Rather light bodied for a RIS, though still by no means light. Carbonation is sufficient to keep the mouth feeling alive with each sip. Honestly I'm surprised the alcohol isn't more noticeable, as again, it's 10% ABV. Still, I'm not complaining that it's subtle here as well as in the taste.<br />
<br />
Drinkability: For an RIS it's high, but as a beer in general I'd have to say it's a medium drinker. I could probably do a 6 pack in a night, but it wouldn't be easy, so maybe it's on the low side still. Even still, it's a very easy drinking beer and I'm sure if I'm careful it could mess me up something fierce.<br />
<br />
Overall it's a great beer and well worth the price I paid. It pairs well with any dessert and in the right setting some of the red meats such as ribs or steak (yes I know ribs technically aren't red meat). I wish there was more to extrapolate on, but honestly there isn't. Great flavor, sadly high price, and a very well made beer. Pick it up if you don't mind the price.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-20181746071871484492013-01-18T21:58:00.003-08:002013-01-18T21:58:30.702-08:00A Special Post on Our RightsTomorrow, January 19th 2013, is, for those in America (or abroad and concerned) that do not know, Gun Rights Appreciation Day. I wanted to finish up at least my ideas about reforming the executive branch before veering off course (again) but the current climate simply will not allow it. <br />
<br />
I could spend this time talking about how we got to where we are, and why this struggle for gun rights is incredibly important (far more so than most know), but I won't. Instead I would ask that for those that support ALL rights, not just gun rights, contact your elected officials tomorrow. Email, phone call, letters, and if possible arranged meetings, should all be employed to remind the people that we put into office that they ARE accountable for their actions. Their careers depend on us.<br />
<br />
I'm going to admit I've been burned out as of late. I'm tired. For those readers who aren't members themselves, in addition to running the greatest website ever made, I'm also an admin at a political message board. And I'm simply tired of dealing with the vast majority of fools that infest every facet of the internet. People who willfully and gleefully ignore facts, reason, and logic. They prefer instead to argue based solely on emotion and feelings, which as anyone who's read GBF before knows, I am firmly against.<br />
<br />
So bearing this in mind, that I am tired, that this constant fight weights heavily on me, so much that it makes even my fingers seem burdened by lead, I say we must not give in to the temptation to cloister ourselves and simply attempt to weather this storm as we have in the past. We MUST fight on. The war for our rights, ALL our rights as Americans and as human beings, will not be won by the sunshine soldier and the summer patriot. And more than anything else, this is a fight we must win.<br />
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That is all for now. Be sure to contact your reps. I know I will.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-21955700496936356102012-12-25T18:35:00.000-08:002012-12-25T18:35:01.002-08:00Beer Review: Dogfish Head Sah'TeaOk, I know I'm supposed to be working on the Manifesto for a Better America, but this is a Christmas update and this is probably my absolute favorite beer of all time, so deal with it.<br />
<br />
Sahtis are a traditional brew of Finland, a nation that knows a thing or two about alcohol. I've read varying accounts that date them as far back as the 700s AD or as recent as the 16th century. Either way, they're an old style of beer. And because of that they don't resemble what most people thing of beers. This is pretty common of DFH big bottled beers, but especially so with Sah'Tea. Sahtis are like lambics that use wild yeasts and open fermentation, and like gin in the use of juniper as a filtration device. Like I said, not a normal beer by any strech. Outside of Finland they're VERY rare, this being the only one I've tried (though there is a Sam Adams that I'm currently looking for). It's been almost 4 years since I had Sah'Tea, let's see if I still enjoy it.<br />
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Appearance: Orange in color, and rather murky orange at that. Head starts off at about 1 finger in height and hold steady, then drops suddenly to nice lacing. Bubbles are tightly packed and very white and creamy. A small ring of bubbles is left around the edge of the glass. Some yeast is noticeable in the brew.<br />
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Nose: As soon as I popped the cap off a warm orange, citrus smell wafted up to my nose. Upon closer inspection there are a wide variety of aromas. Citrus, honey, tea, cinnamon, cloves, and a little bit of alcohol. Even on the nose there is a buttery spiciness that I haven't ever encountered before. No trace of hops in the nose, but Sahtis aren't known for a hoppy character.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by beercookpairjoy.com</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Taste: Ok....where to begin? First is a sweetness, with a slight peppery spice that coats the whole mouth and throat as it goes down. After a moment it settles in your stomach, and this is replaced by a mild bitterness. Perhaps, this is the hopes. The taste is both citrus and butter, but while this sounds terrible, it's very delicious. The juniper piney taste is there, and noticeable, but not overpowering like some gins. Honestly this is one of the first craft beers I've ever tried, and trying it now makes me think that my pallet is still too novice to appreciate all the flavors. It's unqiue, and not a little bit weird, but it's damned good all the same. Also there is just a slight hint of alcohol here, which at 9% ABV, is impressive<br />
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Mouth Feel: I've never had Heavy Water before, but to that's the best way to describe the weight of the beer in my mouth as I drink it. Even a small sip is filling, and while smooth and silky, it feels almost as heavy as mercury. The alcohol burn doesn't hit until it's in your stomach, like premium vodka or moonshine. The lack of carbonation is made up for by the zest of the citrus and juniper in the beer, making ones mouth feel alive and excited with every sip.<br />
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Drinkability: Low. Don't get me wrong, this is a magnificant beer, but it's high alcohol, incredibly unusual flavors, and sheer weight mean that 1 glass is about all I can handle. Which means that the 750mml bottle is best split between friends/couples, or used during a more upscale party. It's such an unusual flavor that I would hesitate to say what would be a good food pairing. Off the top of my head, any fish or seafood seems good, and some of your sharper (read: INCREDIBLY SHARP) cheeses.<br />
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Overall this beer is probably the reason I started enjoying craft beers and exotic beverages in the first place. It's a weird brew, no question, and it may not appeal to those of more conservative tastes, but honestly I think everyone should at least take a sip or two in their life times. Who knows, you might just love it as much as I do.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-51577910340386906272012-12-19T17:57:00.004-08:002012-12-19T17:57:43.447-08:00And then there were two...Alright, with a nice healthy break after the legislative changes, it's time to get on to the executive.<br />
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The office of president is, or at least WAS, supposed to be an office of limited power domestically. But two presidents, Lincoln and FDR, fundamentally changed that. It couldn't be helped I suppose. Both came about in times of extraordinary crisis and turmoil. And it's typical of people to want to rally behind a strong decisive and autocratic leader during those times. I could speculate that it goes back to our tribal days, but since I'm not an anthropologist, I can't say with any certainty. What I can say though is that power, once given, is very difficult to take away.<br />
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Today we have a presidency that is often termed as the most powerful position in the world. There is a great degree of truth in that. Our president has, theoretically, the power to destroy the entire planet. But on a much more practical level the president, and the offices under the president, have the power to do all of the following things;<br />
<br />
Kill American citizens without trial<br />
Kill non-American citizens by remote control<br />
Indefinitely detain both American citizens and non-Americans without trial or appeal<br />
Enter your home without warrant<br />
Trace/tap your phones without warrant<br />
Frame you for crimes without fear of punishment<br />
<br />
There are far more exercises of power that the president has, but these are some of the most egregious violations. Congress isn't absolved from blame in these instance either, as many times Congress has abdicated its own power to that of the executive. Declarations of war and the non-defensive use of military force is a power reserved for Congress alone and yet so often do presidents ignore the Congress that it doesn't even illicit a response.<br />
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Bearing all this in mind, what I propose doesn't seem that radical. In fact it may be rather benign after the shock of such an idea wears off. But I propose it none the less; Instead of one president we should have two. Equal in nearly all power (with one exception I'll get to in a minute). The office of vice president was supposed to fill this slot by being the runner up in the presidential elections. Of course it then changed to allow the president to choose his or her own running mate. The office of vice president was supposed to be a check on presidential power, to force the executive to cooperate on issues. So in that sense I am simply reviving an old idea.<br />
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Of course those who are familiar with Roman history know this sounds exactly like the consulships of the republican era, and to a great degree that's intended. No one man should have the degree of power our current presidents do. By limiting both the powers of office and the ability of one man to abuse those powers with a equal who is of different political insight, we can therefore reduce the power of the president and return it where it belongs; to the legislature.<br />
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There are practical considerations for this change as well. For example, with twice as many chief executives, twice as many tasks can be accomplished in same amount of time. Half as likely for an assassination to be devastating to our government.<br />
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Now, for practical purposes, there would not be two presidents elected at the same time. Our presidential elections would take place every 4 years like normal, but each person elected would serve a term of 8 years. 4 years as the junior, and 4 years as the senior.<br />
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Now the next limitation shouldn't be a surprise, given that I am a huge opponent of the two party system. The candidates submitted each year <u><b>CANNOT</b></u> be from the same party as the senior president. This will keep one party from being dominant in the executive branch. And because it will obviously require at least two candidates (who cannot be from the same party), this will encourage the growth of other parties, or the destruction of the party system for executives completely. Already Representatives from the HoR would not likely make it to the office of president, as they were elected by lottery. Senators would only be eligible if they had not served their allotment of terms. This increases the pool of individuals to pick a president from, allowing for greater democracy.<br />
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"But what of the Cabinet?" Well, aside from the offices I'd eliminate (more on those later), the cabinet would be nominated by the senior president, who will have had experience prior with members of the previous senior cabinet. This will give the new senior president good insight into both compromise and cooperation, and help them determine the characteristics that are best suited to cabinet members. The people would, hopefully, choose a president that can accomplish the goals the public wants while at the same time working and compromising with the current establishment. In short it makes change slower and more deliberate, allowing reason, evidence, and logic to cool emotions, and hopefully force the voting masses to be more deliberate and thoughtful when they cast their ballot.<br />
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As far as powers of office being divided, the presidents could block each other via vetos, though only one signature would be required for a law to pass. Other nominations for non-cabinet positions would be handled the same way, where both presidents would select candidates and the legislature would confirm or deny them as they do now. The use of military force beyond our own national borders, would require explicit orders from both presidents in order to be constitutionally valid. Presidents would not be able to testify against one another in impeachment cases, save for cases of treason.<br />
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So to wrap this up, we would have two presidents. Every 4 years we would elect 1 for a single 8 year term. After the 1st 4 years, the sitting president would move from junior to senior. With the exception of cabinet appointments, both presidents would be equal in power and responsibility. Neither of the presidents would be of the same party affiliation. Beyond this, and the requirement for natural born citizenship, there would be no other qualification to run for the office.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-21044184744078626592012-11-16T19:37:00.002-08:002012-11-16T19:37:39.026-08:00Beer Review: Sam Adams Thirteenth HourI know this is breaking from the multi-part update on how to save and reform the republic, but revolution is thirsty work. And it's been a while since I did any good reviewing. So here is a beer from the Sam Adams Barrel Room collection. Picked it up at my local watering hole.<br />
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Now this is supposed to be a dark Belgian stout, a style I'm unfamiliar with to be honest. I know the Belgians know a thing or two about beer, but I'm.....very particular about Belgian beers. So we'll see if this will make me try more of them or not. Poured into a nonic pint glass.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://beercraving.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/beer_full/samueladams13thhour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://beercraving.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/beer_full/samueladams13thhour.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Beercraving.com</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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A: Black, or at least near black, with a dark brown hue near the bottom. Head is only about 1/8 high but a nice creamy color. The head is very tight and firm, and dissipates slowly, leaving a ring around the glass and some nice lacing. This is a very, very dark beer that light will almost doesn't penetrate.<br />
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N: Chocolate with a slightly roastiness to malt profile. Alcohol is noticeable but not overtly so. A slight spiciness, almost a cinnamon like aroma, is also detected. No trace of hops in the nose, which for a dark stout like this is the norm. On to taste...<br />
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T: Despite not being present in the nose there is a nice hoppy citrus in the front of the sip. Not overpowering mind you, but noticeable, probably accented by the 9% alcohol. Malt roastiness is noticeable, but again not over powering, with a hint of brewers chocolate on the back of the sip. This beer has a lot of flavor notes so multiple tastes are required. However, they are all nicely balanced together and the beer, while certainly unique, is pretty mild in terms of taste. In short though, it is delicious.<br />
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M: Light bodied, which is surprising for being such a dark stout. Zesty in the front with a mild chocolate bitter twinge in the back. Alcohol is just noticeable enough to give a mild warmth as it goes down. Honestly this beer has a nice warmth to it and is silky smooth to boot.The light body betrays how this beer feels in the stomach though, as it isn't something you would enjoy (or probably even be able to) chugging down. It's a sipping beer for sure.<br />
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D: Moderate. It comes in a 25.4oz bottle, which is probably the most I'd enjoy drinking in any night. It's great in this cold weather, especially after dinner. It would go great with anything chocolate or really any dessert at all. Ultimately I would suggest picking up a couple bottles for the holidays.<br />
<br />
Overall this is another great offering from Sam Adams. It's not a strong beer in any way (except maybe in alcohol) but the flavor is certainly unique and enjoyable. And with any luck it's a great representation of Belgian stouts, because I plan on trying quite a few more.<span id="goog_480486668"></span><span id="goog_480486669"></span> GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-3116458989006393372012-11-06T22:31:00.001-08:002012-11-06T22:31:34.231-08:00Senatorial SelectionThis is part 2 in the massive multi-part update that holds in it the secrets to keeping and revitalizing our great republic. Last time, for those that did not read, I discussed the House of Representatives and how they should be chosen by a lottery. This update we will be focusing on the Senate.<br />
<br />
Now if you're anything like me, and chances are you're not, you'd be a big fan of ancient Roman history. Watching the decline of the Roman Republic I can see a lot of those elements within our own American Republic. And the greatest embodiment of republican virtue was, and should be, the Senate. Now unlike the Romans we do not determine senators based on birth or social class. We do it by democracy. And in this, unlike the House, I have no problem. The Senate shouldn't necessarily be a representation of the people but be a body to represent the whole of the nation. The people and the nation itself do not always share the same interests, which is part of the reason for distinction between the two houses. The Senate is also supposed to be a more enlightened, impassioned body of legislature, where cooler heads reside.<br />
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The problem with the Senate arises however, where much like the House, it has essentially become a social class of its own. This promotes two equally bad qualities in senators; legislative stagnation where senators are relatively the same across the board and seek only to maintain their opulent lifestyles, and to combat this, it increases radicalism in new candidates seeking to differentiate themselves from the incumbent they run against. Simply put, power stays in too few hands for too long. This is never good for a modern government. But to combat this I do not propose a radical new system of democracy. No, what I propose is much more mundane and established; term limits.<br />
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The basic system of senatorial elections is, for the most part fine. But with term limits it forces new people into the system, which decrease incentives for senators to promote a self sustaining power system. After all, Senators are going to be back in the civilian system after a period of time, it's unlikely they're going to support a opulent lifestyle that they won't get to enjoy for very long.<br />
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Keep in mind, I think a large portion of senators aren't the problem. The problem is the party system. It subverts actual change to the APPEARANCE of TRYING to change or accomplish something. Senators are forced to rely on the party to continue to be reelected, and as such they aren't going to try and dynamically change things if the situation calls for it. Which means we as a nation stagnate. Ensuring that senators only have 2 possible reelections to worry about, weakens party controls but it frees senators up to worry about things other than themselves. <br />
<br />
But what should the limits be? Well, to be it's fairly simple. No more than 3 terms of 6 years apiece (grand total of 18 years) with no more than 2 consecutive terms to be served. In simple terms it means that any senator cannot serve more than 18 years in a life time with at least 6 years of a break somewhere between terms.<br />
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Now, this won't have the drastic change on the Senate that the lottery would have on the House, and in truth it's not supposed to. The goal is to keep the Senate from becoming a social club for its members and increase the pool of people who have experience in government. The only radical change I'm suggesting is that the vice president, who presides over the Senate, would be a new position; one that is not tied to political parties. The sole duty would be leading the Senate and casting tie votes. This ties in with my suggestions for Presidential changes but I won't give those away until the next update.<br />
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To me the Senate should be the primary means of governing our nation. Not the House, even though it is a more direct representative of the people, nor the President, because that is an office more for representing our nation to other nations. Which means we need to promote the best and brightest to the senatorial ranks and we need to keep forcing the best and brightest into it. Let someone younger, hungrier, more driven, into the ranks. GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-51471970088376708232012-10-29T23:27:00.000-07:002012-10-29T23:27:16.571-07:002-4-23-38-46The numbers in the title, for those unaware, were the winning numbers to the largest lottery jackpot in American history, a grand total of over $650,000,000. That's a lot of money, even after taxes. But what if there were a lottery that gave away something even grander? And what if they gave it away every few years. The same immense prize every 4 years or so? Sounds pretty crazy to say the least right? And I haven't even mentioned what the prize is. Because what could be a bigger prize than $650,000,000? A billion? A trillion? No, the prize I'm talking about isn't money at all. It's power.<br />
<br />
This being an election year, we as Americans are being inundated with ads from political parties and PACs and super PACs and telemarketers and special interests and every other manner of cog in the vast political machine that we have in this country. And maybe it's just me, but it seems we're getting more....disenchanted with it. Now it might be easy to understand. Democracy is a relatively new thing for most of the world but it's here as our nation itself. We've always been a form of democracy. Or at least styled ourselves as such. I'll get to why I say 'styled' in a moment but let's focus on the disenchantment of elections in America. I think we're becoming more disenchanted with elections because we're losing our faith in the ability of elections to really change things. More and more national politics is taking on the role of being one side with two slight variations. I've talked before about elections based on two choices with very littler variation before and this is in the same vein. Because we are so entrenched in a 'two party' system, the parties themselves have been drawing closer and closer together. Sure they might differ on an issue here or there, but by an large they're the same group. Which means that significant change cannot occur. It's no longer built into the system. And if you cannot change things in an election, well how is that really a democracy?<br />
<br />
We call ourselves a democracy because we are under the impression that each election brings about choices. But when the choices you're given have the same net effect, it isn't choice at all. Instead democracy should be about the ability of the governed to affect the government. And the easiest way to do that is to get elected. And we all know that the chances of any particular person trying to enter the system against an incumbent are essentially nonexistent. So then how are we to change things? Well I'm glad you asked, because that's the grand prize I was talking about. The Lottery.<br />
<br />
The House of Representatives is supposed to be the legislative body that represents the whole of the people. To me it would seem best if the representatives came from that body. And the best way to get new people into the House is a lottery for office. The rules would be simple. You have to be a citizen of at least 5 years in your district, and you have to have filed a tax return in the year prior to the election. We could still even include direct democracy in the process by selecting four eligible candidates from each district, and having them campaign against each other 3-5 months prior to election day. Now in my version of things the term of a House Representative is extended from 2 years to 4 years, so they have a bit more time to settle into things and get used to working as a public servant, but otherwise the position would be the same as today.<br />
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What advantages does my system have? Well first and foremost it breaks the power of special interests in elections. No smart business would invest very much into someone who they don't have time to build a relationship with, whose position itself is based primarily on luck, and who won't be holding the position for more than one term. It also would remove the pressure of reelection from the minds of House Representatives. If their position is determined based on luck, then they have no incentive to worry about maintaining it. Instead they can focus their efforts on getting things done. Additionally, because the political makeup of the House would be changing so massively (in theory) every 4 years, you wouldn't have safe votes. And House Representatives would actually have to compromise and cooperate with one another to get something accomplished. Possibly even with people the disagree with on a number of issues. A shocking concept to be sure. Plus there is the added advantage of people who best represent the demographic of the district would most likely be selected in the lottery drawing. Now a good number of districts would need their lines redrawn, because years of gerrymandering has made them far from logical or practical, but the lottery would do away with that too. No point in redistricting to maintain power for one party when the lottery leaves it all up to luck and chance.<br />
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Now some might say that this is a pretty severe and arbitrary change. Well, yes it is severe, but its hardly arbitrary. We already use a similar concept for jury duty. And we have a similar concept again for the selective service. We often view the draft as a duty to the state, but why should we not view public office in the same way? Something that some are chosen for, at random, for a term to help serve their country. Same concept. And because of this, it is my hope and belief that we would affect actual cultural change in our country. We would be far more critical of politicians and the political process, because after all, we might have to be a part of it in a couple years. It would, hopefully, drive us to be better citizens in general. <br />
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There are of course disadvantages to this system as well. The largest being the possibility of a bad representative being chosen at random. That's certainly cause for concern, don't get me wrong, but we've survived avowed racists, the technologically challenged, the religiously guided, the war mongerers, and a whole slew of other undesirables as representatives, and they had the benefit of being able to be elected again and again and again. With the lottery the longest any district would have to suffer under a bad representative is 1 term. Still a flaw yes, but a mitigated one.<br />
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There is also the flaw that people entering office would be inexperienced in a great number of things. This sounds bad, but it's again not as much a problem as one might think. Public officials of the olden days were expected to be the best of us, the most fit to lead based on their merits and their intelligence. But the world was, and this is a very simplistic statement, a smaller place. 200 years ago House Representatives did not need to know the benefits and problems associated with nuclear waste or the reclamation of such waste. They didn't need to concern themselves with 300,000,000 people, or terrorists from across the Atlantic, or copyright protection on the internet. It was easier to be informed and experienced because there was less to be concerned about. We don't have that luxury today and it's a problem that we expect our elected officials to be THAT much smarter than we are. A little smarter, yes. But the information of the world is far too vast for any one government body to be even passingly familiar with all of it. That's where special interests come in. I'll discuss them more later though, as I'm certain that this is the limit of what most of my readers want to hear.<br />
<br />
So with that thought in mind, here are the cliff notes. We should embrace the idea of a real democracy where the governed stand a legitimate chance of changing the system and being able to participate in it. To that end the House of Representatives should be determined by a lottery for candidates for each district, so that they may better represent the district as a whole, and to help foster a change in the way we as Americans view the political system. Additionally it would improve our democracy because it would put greater power in the hands of the people.<br />
<br />
In my next update I'll move on to the OTHER body in our national legislature; the Senate.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-58392928469699662192012-09-29T03:05:00.001-07:002012-09-29T03:05:31.721-07:00Gun Review: Kel-Tec PMR 30Holy flying hell it's been forever since I did an update. But between my new semester and work I'm lucky to get a shower in these days. This means I haven't had time for a beer and certainly haven't had time to expend some lead at the range. However GBF cannot be stopped, only slightly slowed down. So here is another review of a gun, much sought after, but little owned.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn5.thefirearmsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/kel_tec_pmr_30_2-tfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://cdn5.thefirearmsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/kel_tec_pmr_30_2-tfb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Kel-Tec</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first thing you'll notice about the PMR is the weight. With 30 rounds in the mag it feels like a very light squirt gun. Supposedly it weighs just 19oz loaded, but I never felt the need to put in on a scale. Either way it's ridiculously light weight. Ordinarily this would be a problem with recoil, but the grip angle (more on that later) and the fact that it's still only a .22 make recoil negligible, though slightly snappy.<br />
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The trigger on the PMR is nothing special. Breaks around 5lbs, with little creep, it's not bad and probably the biggest complaint about the gun. The sights are very nice, clear and visible even in low light settings. Sadly they're not adjustable, but that's pretty typical of most of my pistols.<br />
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The magazine release is a European, or heel catch style as opposed to having a button near the trigger guard. Not a flaw but it takes some getting used to, and speaking of getting used to things...there is the grip angle. It's much more straight lined than your average pistol and takes some getting used to. Once you do get used to the grip angle, it points very quickly and naturally.<br />
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All of this makes the PMR 30 a rather accurate little pistol. I never did much formal accuracy testing, but at 25 yards I can hit shotgun shells all day long. Even with rapid fire, it's pretty accurate. Many a pop bottle has been slain in little time.<br />
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Now, on to utility. I've heard a lot of conjecture about using this as a CCW gun. While it's better than nothing, I wouldn't recommend it. It's still a rimfire magazine fed gun. It's been relatively reliable for me so far, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Also, it's a .22mag. Yes it can kill, and is not a toy by any means, but I wouldn't choose it over a purpose built defense cartridge. And while it's very light weight, it's not the smallest gun around, making carrying a problem.<br />
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But what it WOULD be good for is a nice varmint/bird pistol. Great for squirrels, rabbits, starlings, etc. Also would be a great trail gun because it can be carried openly and it's accurate enough for snakes and other little trail hazards. And it's just plain fun, which is reason enough to buy a gun in my book.<br />
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One last thing, for those who are lucky enough to find one to purchase, make sure you read the manual on reloading the magazines. It'll be a bitch otherwise and they won't work reliably.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-37722145018817839922012-08-27T21:43:00.001-07:002012-08-27T21:43:18.317-07:00Should I join?Perhaps it's the circles I run in these days (or type in as the case may be) but I notice a lot of people in my generation are thinking of military service. Now, being that I'm not an immortal, I don't know if this is historically unique here in America. I DO know that since 9/11 military pride and enlistments have been higher than before. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but many people fail to remember a couple crucial points;<br />
#1.Recruiters are there to fill quotas. They WILL lie to you. That's their job.<br />
#2. Service life is not for everyone.<br />
<br />Now, I'm not knocking the military. It did great things for me as a person. But I joined with a sense of altruism in the beginning and knew that it would suck, many others in my generation did/do not. So if you read this and are considering the military, ask one very important question;<br />
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WHY?<br />
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Is it because you were a poor student or don't have college prospects? That will not make the military, which is increasingly looking for better educated people, a good option. It also is a good indicator (though certainly not universal) that you have a problem with certain authority. That will absolutely be a detriment to you in the military.<br />
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Or is it perhaps because you want good benefits/the G.I. Bill. While the new G.I. Bill is probably the greatest benefit anyone in this country can get, the others are not so good. VA medical care is poor in most areas. You will almost certainly be physically older (I.E. more worn and injured), and mental health may deteriorate as well (PTSD for example).<br />
<br />
But what about the job market? Well, think of it this way. If you are having trouble finding a job now, how will you fair when you are 4 years older, have no college education, and no real transferable skills. The last part isn't universal and there are several military skills that are highly desirable in the current job market, but by and large it isn't transferable or isn't skilled labor. You WILL have to get out of the military at some point, whether after 4 years or 30. It will happen. And honestly with the huge group of returning vets we have today, saying you served honorably is worth at most a handshake when you go for a job interview. It looks nice, but it means little. Companies want someone with skills.<br />
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I'm saying all of this because so many of my fellow vets are unaware of the outside world until it comes and bites them square in the ass. At least 25% of the people I EASed with are trying to get back in. They got out and were unprepared for reality.<br />
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Now, with all that being said, there are upsides to service. You will experience things that very few other people will. You will, if you let yourself, learn about other people from our very vast and diverse country. You will make friends that you never would have made anywhere else and some of them will be the best friends you could possibly have. People that you would love unconditionally and fight and die for if needed. You will, if you do your service honorably, live for the rest of your life knowing that you have a reason to be proud of yourself. And you might get some sweet tattoos too.<br />
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But all of these are intangible things. They won't make the rest of your life easier. Indeed, in some instances it will make your life much harder. You have to go in knowing WHY you want to, and knowing that it most likely will suck. And whatever you do, if you enlist, get an education. A valuable skill or trade. Something to show for your time.<br />
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Well, that's the end of my rant.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-86003685857408710942012-08-11T16:14:00.001-07:002012-08-11T16:16:20.296-07:00Beer Review: Dogfish Head NamasteWell, here is the review I promised. To commemorate GBF breaking 300 views, I chose to review anotehr big bottle (750ml) from Dogfish Head. And apparently it's a good choice. The name Namaste, according to Dogfish Head, means a celebration of ones on spirit and self. Good way to celebrate GBF in my mind. So without further ado, let's begin.<br />
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Poured into a 14oz stout glass. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dogfish-head-namaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dogfish-head-namaste.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Blogaboutbeer</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A: Head. LOTS. OF. HEAD. Very creamy tightly knit white bubbles. Be careful pouring actually, the head is massive. Color is slightly opaque and orangish yellow, like a molten gold almost. Head retention is also very high. The pouring actually takes a good amount of time to fill the 14oz glass I have prepared because the head is so prominent. Carbonation is incredibly high as well, I can tell by constant stream of bubbles flowing from the bottom of the glass.Lacing is high as well.<br />
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N: Typical mild hops with a slight hint of lemon and maybe some wheat sweetness in the background. No noticeable alcohol in the nose, which makes sense at 5%. Nose is pretty tame and uninspiring to be honest.<br />
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T: While the nose isn't terrible complex or inspiring, the taste is another matter. Sweetness upfront with a hint of lemon bitterness, followed by some citrus zest, and then closing with a mild hops bitterness. It's honestly like a flavor roller coaster. The coriander doesn't make much of an appearance, and while I normally like it in beer, I think it harms the flavor of this one. While by no means bad, this isn't what I was expecting. It does follow the typical style poitns of Belgian Whites though, which were never my favorite type of beer to begin with.<br />
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M: For as carbonated as the beer is, mouth feel doesn't represent that. It feels flatter than it is. The body is moderate, heavier than a typical lager. Alcohol isn't noticeable, and the only real zest comes from the lemongrass. The intense head does give a soothing effect towards the end of each sip, which is unique in my experience tasting.<br />
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D: Moderate. Body and flavor are the biggest limiting factors here, and the 750ml bottle is probably all you'd want to do in a sitting. Would pair well with some pasta dishes, or duck. I'd avoid it with red meat though.<br />
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Overall this isn't what I was expecting, especially with the last big bottle from Dogfish Head that I tried. That being said it's not a bad beer. Not my style personally but if you enjoy Belgian Whites this is certainly worth taking a look at. I might pick it up again if I'm having a beer tasting party or want to introduce some friends to it, as it is certainly unique in how the flavor and mouth feel present themselves.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-58385503157972989992012-08-10T18:03:00.000-07:002012-08-10T18:03:03.493-07:00300300 views as of today. Never thought I'd get 1/10 that many. Thanks to all those who read. I'll do a special review for the site tomorrow to commemorate it.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-68481684985836139952012-08-10T13:49:00.002-07:002012-08-10T13:49:30.308-07:00A generation at warWith all the buzz about the election and gays this and mass shootings that (more on the latter later), I've been thinking more about the state of war we as a nation are in. Historically this is a unique time for us. We've been at war and afraid for 12 years now. That's an entire generation of children born into war, and knowing about it for 12 years. It's around 12 that I started to become politically conscious, and I imagine many others are becoming aware of government and politics as well. And for them, they've never known peace. They haven't personally experienced a time when you could fly without the fear of having a hand in your ass. They never knew a world where police have the power to tap your phones based solely on your interests in islam or firearms or anything that someone in power might see as dangerous. They've lived like that their entire lives and such things are now NORMAL to them. And my generation isn't much better off. Our whole adult lives have been consumed by the same. While we may remember a different childhood, our transition to adulthood has cemented these ideas, that are patently against the founding ideas of our nations.<br />
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So before I close I just wanted to say, when you go to vote, make it a vote that you can tell your children about. Make it one where they have the chance to grow up and live in a world where war and fear aren't the prevailing ideologies.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-81133976882516203072012-07-27T13:13:00.000-07:002012-07-27T13:13:58.892-07:00Beer Review: Bells Oberon AleNow unlike most beers I review, I've had Oberon before. Many many times in fact. So I'll start off by saying it's a great beer, and probably Bells most famous offering (the Two Hearted Ale is probably their 2nd). It's pretty much what American beer should be, and everyone I've introduced it to agrees that it's pretty damn good. But the reason I'm finally reviewing it is that I actually had a bottle left over from a recent camping trip. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy.<br />
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<a href="http://thetop5five.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/bell-s-oberon-ale_great-summer-beers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thetop5five.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/bell-s-oberon-ale_great-summer-beers.jpg" width="267" /></a>Appearance: Creamy orange in color, with a strong opacity to it. Head is thick and creamy white, with tight knit bubbles about 1 fingers width high. Head retention is excellent and so far it has only dissipated slightly, with heavy lacing around the edges of the glass. Towards the bottom of the glass the coolor changes to a more yellowish due to the unfiltered yeast and malt. A great sign.<br />
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Nose: The nose is slightly creamy and with a heavy wheat presence. Hops are mild but noticeable, and seek to balance out the malt presence. Though malt is stronger in the nose, it's not over powering in anyway like would be the case with a stout. Alcohol isn't present in the nose, and at 5.8% it really shouldn't be.<br />
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Taste: Slight bitterness of the hops up front followed by a mellowing of the malt character in back. I typically used to the reverse with hops in back and malt upfront, but this is a welcome change of pace, and something I haven't noticed until this tasting. No unusual flavors here, just good use of wheat and hops. Again, no alcohol in the taste.<br />
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Mouth Feel: Moderate body, very silky and creamy. Though unfiltered, the body is smooth and goes down easy. No burn from alcohol, and just enough body to make you sip the beer more slowly than a light beer. Still, it's light enough that you can enjoy it in large quantities.<br />
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Drinkability: High. Very, very high. I drank these in a rather large quantity over my little trip and even though it was one of the heavier beer I've drink during my time away, it went down smooth and easy and combined well with anything I happened to be eating at the time.<br />
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Overall this is probably one of the best beers I've ever had. This is a beer that gets everything right. It doesn't have any showy flavors or intense alcohol or IBU profile. It's just damned good. It's not expensive (a 12 pack is $15), it's not rare (at least in MI), it goes great with most any food (though it's paired best with a burger and bratwurst), and if I wanted to drink a lot of it, I can. And before I forget, it's also available in mini-kegs.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1298002024643037331.post-85566765941480436882012-07-26T13:22:00.003-07:002012-07-26T13:22:30.528-07:00Voting for the candidate I want is never wastedI was reading around, as I so often do, and noticed this article. While I'm not a fan of copy+paste arguments, it makes several very salient points that I don't think I could say better myself.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
he most frequent objection to voting for a third party candidate is the
"wasted vote" argument -- the idea that if you vote for someone who will
not win, then your vote does not count. <br />
<br />
Merely suggest that a friend or family member consider voting for a
third party candidate and you will often hear the statement, "I don't
want to waste my vote."<br />
<br />
Before delving into the extent of the wasted vote myth, some other myths must be addressed first:<br />
<br />
<b>Myth #1: Third party candidates are never elected.</b><br />
<br />
Ross Perot out-polled George Bush in Maine in 1992 and out-polled Bill Clinton in Utah in 1992. Perot polled
<br />
Minor parties won gubernatorial elections in Alaska, Connecticut, Maine,
and Minnesota during the 1990s, and Lincoln Chafee was elected as an
Independent to Rhode Island's governorship in 2010. In the 1990s,
Independents were elected to Congress in Missouri, Vermont and Virginia.
In the 2000s, Independents were elected to Congress in Connecticut and
Vermont.<br />
<br />
Independents are elected to state legislatures in almost every election
cycle. Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and current New York City Mayor
Michael Bloomberg were both elected as Independents.<br />
<br />
The dominant party in Mexico between 1929 and 2000 lost the presidential election there in 2000. <br />
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New things are constantly happening in the world of politics. Overwhelming evidence <a href="http://chelm.freeyellow.com/reason.com/archives/2012/03/14/independents-will-decide-the-2012-electi">suggests</a> that voters not affiliated with either major party will decide the 2012 presidential race.</blockquote>
http://chelm.freeyellow.com/wastedvote.html <br />
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There is more to the article, but this should give you the jist of its points. Voting for the candidate that actually supports what you support is never wasting a vote. If the only measure of import for voting was whether a candidate/ballot initiative won or not, then most everyones vote is wasted. If you reward a shitty candidate with your vote, why would you be surprised when another shitty candidate comes around? You've proven that you're not basing your vote on what you want but what you think will win. That's what gamblers do, and any serious gambler will tell you they lose a lot more than they win.GunsBeerFreedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326253290888362690noreply@blogger.com