yada yada, Starbucks, Indians, Pudding Lane and Pumpkins

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I was asked this morning if I was going to make a pumpkin ale for Halloween. It's all the talk on the Homebrew forums with recipes and suggestions and so forth.

To be honest I've never had a pumpkin ale I've liked enough to drink 5 gallons of, so I think I'll pass. Same with a Holiday ale. I could make a really nice one but then I have 2 cases of holiday ale.
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Speaking of beer. The West Side of Madison is getting a new pub/restaurant called Sprecher Pub Restaurant where Houlihan's use to be. No big details but it sounds like a bar/restaurant with lots of Sprecher on tap.
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And you know that machine at the health clubs where you squeeze your legs together? In Louisiana a woman tried to steal a CASE of beer under her dress and between her legs and waddling out the door.

She was caught! Go figure!
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Anybody find it odd that BOTH Miller and Bud are raising the price of beer at the same time? While BIG beer sales are hurting both feel the need to raise their price. It's not unusual to raise prices as both companies, once a year, will readjust their prices. But since combined they own 80% of the beer market I guess they talked it out and are raising prices at the same time.

Seems to me this is an antitrust issue?
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Check out Starbucks on the Square. I have 8 canvas images on the wall this month. From reports they are creating a distraction. I think one of them is an image of a statue from inside the Capitol and she has a boob showing. PETA is protesting.

Here is an artists rendition of me and the wall, or I SHOULD say, the wall and I

(taken by my assistant).

I'm sipping on a 13 shot venti soy hazelnut vanilla cinnamon white mocha with extra white mocha and caramel light. Or was this the iced venti 6 pumps apiece pumpkin spice cinnamon dolce vanilla toffee nut organic with whip and cinnamon powder chai.

They actually taste basically the same.

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On this day in 1944 George H.W.Bush was forced to bail out of his torpedo bomber as the engine was hit by anti-aircraft shells over Japan. The plane was hit by shells but he managed to still make the successful run and aimed back towards the carrier.

Three members of the craft were killed and he bailed out and was picked up by a submarine 4 hours later. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This was the second time he had an indecent as the previous June he crashed his plane into the ocean after being hit.

His squadron suffered a 300 percent casualty rate among its pilots but he flew 58 combat missions. He was awarded three Air Medals as well as a Presidential Unit Citation for his courage in WWII. A real American hero.

And then there was his son, a different story.
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In 1969 the first ATM opened up. Remember when each key had a different sound? That didn't last long. Banks did not start charging until 1990.
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In 1666 The Great Fire of London started (does everyone have a great fire, sort of trendy isn't it?). It started at King Charles II's baker on Pudding Lane (that's so cute) near the London Bridge. The fire spread to a warehouse and with the help of strong winds it became an inferno. 80% of London was destroyed but only 16 people were killed. (wait . . . how big WAS London at that time).
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And OF COURSE, in 1923 we are having The Great Tokyo Fire (oh good grief people). This fire was started by an magnitude 8.3 earthquake and 30,000 people died from fire tornado's! Of course the earthquake and fire were blamed on Korean immigrants (it only makes sense right?) and hundreds were killed in retaliation for the earthquake that they caused.

What a big day today was in history.

Star Trek had it's final episode. Only 3 years on TV and never rated above 52.
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And - it's VJ day. Victory over Japan. On the USS Missouri Japanese foreign minister, Mamoru Shigemitsu signed the "instrument of surrender." He would be found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to seven years in prison subsequent to the surrender.

The odd thing was that he was the one fighting for concessions on the Japanese side in order to secure an early peace.
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In Wisconsin in 1862 the Great Indian Scare started on this day. Tonight 147 years ago, Manitowoc settlers were awakened to the cry of "Indians are coming."

Church bells gave warnings to frightened residents. Over the next few days, people from the surrounding areas fled to Manitowoc and other city centers. Ox carts were loaded with women and children carrying their most valuable belongings. Men arrived with guns, axes, and pitchforks, anything with which to defend themselves and their community.

What caused the panic? It seemed 12 Indians were fishing and had gotten a little drunk and set fire to an abandoned mill. Someone saw them and freaked out.

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This is the 11th coldest summer on record, 2004 was the 8th coldest. So in the last 5 years we have had 2 of the coldest summers in the last 150 years.
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Nobody noticed me in the photo of the Survivor contestants yesterday?

Have a great Wednesday!

Rod