Category: Uncategorized

JWST will usher in a new age in space exploration

The boys drink and review a sake, then discuss the James Webb Space Telescope.

This magnificent feat of engineering launched on Christmas Day, 2021, and recently deployed flawlessly at Lagrange Point 2. From there it will scan the heavens on the infrared part of the spectrum and send back astonishing pictures.

P&C review the history of the development of this marvel, discuss all the things that had to go right for it to be a success, and wonder about what humanity might learn from this new look into the cosmic past.

Pigweed and Crowhill review how and why they started the podcast, and the innovations and interesting things they’ve brought to “Beer and Conversation” over the years, including skits, Five for Five, Shortcut to the Classics, Nooze and Booze, pretend events that never happened, and reviews of books that don’t exist. They’ve also covered a wide range of topics, including economics, religion, science, culture, politics, entertainment (movies, books, tv), tech, history, logic, grammar, cryptocurrency, science fiction, and a lot more.

The sad story of a man caught between duty, desire, and reality

Along with special guest Longinus, P&C review a winter warmer from Flying Dog, then discuss Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome.

This is a depressing story of a man who is stuck. He’s stuck with a wife he doesn’t love. Stuck in a city he doesn’t particularly like. Stuck in a profession he didn’t choose.

When a spark comes into his life in the person of his wife’s cousin, Maddie, he starts to dream of a better future. But it doesn’t work out.

The story is set in a fictional, very cold town. Wear your wool socks when you read this one.

As a follow-up to our visit to an Evangelical church, we try the other end of the spectrum.

After reviewing Southern Tier’s Irish Cream Stout, P&C discuss their experiences at Mount Calvary church in Baltimore.

With special guest Longinus, the boys review the history of the church, its Anglo-Catholic background, and its recent decision to come into communion with Rome.

They discuss their observations about the building itself, the music, the liturgy, the homily and the participants. There were smells, bells, vestments — the whole deal. And it was a very long mass!

The overall experience was quite interesting.

Does the U.S. spend too much on its military?

P&C drink and review Victory’s Storm King, then Pigweed quizzes Crowhill on military statistics. Who spends the most? Who has the biggest military? Who has the most global firepower?

After reviewing some stats, the boys discuss the politics of it all. Why is the U.S. military all over the world, protecting everyone else? Does NATO pay its fair share? Should we be protecting other countries, or should they shoulder their own burden?

Can freedom and individuality go too far?

P&C drink and review Smoke and Dagger black lager from Jack’s Abby, then discuss expressive individualism. 

On the one hand, individual expression and liberty are part of what we celebrate in America. We want people to be free of unnecessary constraints. 

But even good things can be taken too far, and insisting that everyone should be able to express their psychological core — however they define that, and however they like — is too far. 

The boys discuss. 

The boys open the mailbag and answer three listener questions

P&C drink and review Harpoon’s Winter Warmer, then open the mailbag.

Uncle Billy doesn’t believe Joe Biden will run for president, and that Harris is a disaster for the Democratic Party. The boys review and discuss options.

Red Pill Rick wonders why spokesmodels and actresses are getting chunkier. Pigweed and Crowhill reflect on some possible examples and plausible explanations. And probably get in trouble in the process.

Chaz the Spaz asks why unelected officials are making laws. Pigweed has a relevant person experience with his county council and mask mandates.

Are we flying headlong into a new technology we’re not ready for?

P&C drink and review a Christmas Ale from Great Lakes Brewing, then discuss the metaverse.

The boys define the metaverse, and then discuss its ups and downs.

The metaverse offers very interesting options, like visiting new places, or reviewing a new house on the other side of the country. The primary business application would be better meetings, eliminating the need for travel, and possibly using VR for advanced training. It might also make more opportunities for disabled people to participate in activities.

On the negative side, there are a lot of disappointing, creepy and scary implications. Privacy will almost surely be lost. There will be less parental control, and more stalking, sexual grooming, and other nasty stuff.

Is it a good thing? Does it even matter?

Why do we take them?

P&C drink and review Dirty Bastard by Founders, then discuss drugs.

As a species, we all like a little buzz. Drugs and inebriation have been with us for as long as we have records. Beer production is very ancient, and some of our earliest writings are beer recipes.

But it’s not just beer. Humans have been taking marijuana, peyote — even licking frogs.

Why do we do it?

There are some obvious answers. Distraction, pain management, healing, war (berserkers), sex (to loosen inhibitions), political control (Russians used vodka revenues to support military), religious experience ….

Your guide to the coming year

The boys drink and review Saranac’s S’mores Porter, then put on their futuristic magic glasses and predict major events for 2022. Be sure to write these down and invest appropriately.

P&C gaze into their crystal ball and review the future of culture, politics, technology, Covid, climate, the economy, foreign policy, Facebook’s “Meta,” sex, health, zombies, religion, Jordan Peterson, nature and sports.

If you have a hard time telling when we’re serious and when we’re joking, so did we.

Political parties solidify their power by drawing absurd congressional districts

The boys drink and review Black Ox Rye Porter, then discuss gerrymandering, especially in Maryland.

The Maryland legislature recently proposed a scheme to redraw Congressional districts in the Old Line State. The new districts are ridiculous.

Redistricting makes sense and is necessary as populations move. But it’s come to be a partisan exercise in maximizing the representation of the party in power in the state. Both parties have abused this power.

In deep blue Maryland, this means the Democrats are redrawing the lines to eliminate all Republican representation. When Republican Texas does the same, the Justice Department attacks. Somehow Maryland is getting a pass.

How are the woke like conservative Protestant Christians?

P&C review the latest DuClaw version of the “Pastryarchy,” then discuss woke presuppositionalism.

Crowhill explains what “presuppositionalism” means, and then the boys discuss the sorts of things that we all presuppose.

Context. Goals. Value. Ethics. We can’t even perceive the world without these things. So in some limited sense, the basic concept of “presuppositionalism” is true.

How does this apply to the woke?

First, there are things the woke all assume, which P&C review. But second, the woke don’t seem to believe there’s any common ground between the woke and the un-woke. The un-woke shouldn’t even be allowed to speak, they say.

There is also a component of transformational knowledge — that there are some things you can’t understand until you have experienced them. The boys discuss and review.

Did we win? Did we give up? Are we still fighting it?

The boys review Crowhill’s Dopplebock, then discuss the war on drugs.

This so-called war on drugs has been going on for decades. What has it accomplished? Drug use is up. Deaths by overdose are high and are increasing.

If we’re really fighting a war on drugs, how should that affect our border policy? 

What is the role of Big Pharma and pain management? How did the lockdown affect drug use? What about legalization?

Is this popular personality index of any real use?

P&C drink and review Pigweed’s latest homebrew, then discuss the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

MBTI is an enormously popular and financially successful personality test that categorizes people along four axes: Extroversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving.

Businesses seem to love it, and some people even put their MBTI personality type in their dating app, or their Facebook profile.

But is it scientific? Is it really doing what people think it’s doing?

What makes the Renn Fest so peaceful and fun? The boys discuss.

P&C review Naughty or Nice, an IPA from Devil’s Backbone, then discuss the Renaissance festival.

Pigweed and Crowhill’s experience is entirely with the Maryland Renn Fest, which they hear is one of the better ones.

The Renn Fest is the happiest place on earth. Everyone is there to have a good time. There are no bad attitudes. No arguments. No conflicts.

It can get bawdy, and quite silly, and it’s not always purely “Renaissance.” The periods get a little confused. But it’s a great time.