Beer and Conversation Podcast

With special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Everyday Amber, then discuss the development, history, and significance of the suburbs.

Crowhill mentions his conflict between his preference for free-market solutions, and the reality that some level of governemnt planning is necessary for reasonable civil life.

Longinus gives some historical context for cities and suburbs, and ties the big suburbs — like Levittown — to the ability to construct houses in an assembly-like manner, effective transportation, and the GI bill, which made financing possible.

* Why do we have front lawns?
* How did the suburbs hurt the cities?
* When and why did malls and strip malls develop?
* The relationship between cities and counties.

With special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Citrus Squall double golden ale from Dogfish Head brewery, then discuss several short stories by John Cheever.

“The Chaste Clarissa” is about a young married woman who vacations on Martha’s Vineyard and catches the eye of the local Cassanova. Try as he might, he can’t break down her defenses, until the very end, when he discovers her weak spot.

“The Housebreaker of Shady Hill” is an interesting morality tale about a man who finds himself on hard times after leaving a stable but boring job. He tries to make it on his own, but isn’t making it, and he ends up stealing from a neighbor to cover expenses. From there his life becomes a moral slippery slope, and everything in life seems dirty and disgusting. He’s tortured by what he has done, and his life starts to fall apart.

In “A Worm in the Apple” the narrator is trying to find the inner rot in everything, but finds a family where things actually are what they seem to be. Happy. Content.

“The Country Husband” has become a bit player in his own story. His life isn’t important. It has to take a back seat to the boring circumstances of daily life. He wakes up to the meaninglessness of his own life and tries to find some solace in an affair with the babysitter.

“The Swimmer” is among Cheever’s most famous stories. A man decides to go home by a route that takes him through every pool in the neighborhood. But his journey takes on a surrealistic quality, and may not be what it seems to be.

The boys drink and review three malt liquors, then discuss Canada.

It’s a beautiful place with very nice people, but politically it’s the worst country in the western world.

Aside from Canada ruining our weather in Maryland with their forest fires, we’ve been hearing too many ultra woke stories from our neighbors to the north.

There’s the case of the father who was fined $30,000 for “misgendering his daughter” and is currently out on bail.

Canada also has a horrifying program that allows people to commit medically assisted suicide. It started with hard cases, but of course it expanded to allow people who are depressed. And now the state can euthanize a child without the parent’s permission. It’s a complete horror show.

Remember the way the Canadians treated the truckers? The government-controlled media flagrantly lied about the truckers, called them racists — all the standard liberal playbook. Then the government shut down the trucker’s ability to speak, they froze their bank accounts, then stole money people donated to their cause (from a GoFundMe account). This is straight-forward totalitarianism.

Canada also banned conversion therapy. If a Christian pastor says that homosexuals can reform, he goes to jail. The modern perspective is that you have to be affirmed in whatever crazy thing you say — unless you say that you don’t want to be gay.

And then there’s Neil Young — that whiny, annoying liberal. He’s Canadian.

There’s also been a rash of vandalism against Catholic Churches in Canada.

The Canadian military is having a hard time recruiting because of the use of “gender analysis.”

The Canadian screen awards are even more woke than Hollywood.

The country is going down the tubes. Wake up people!

The boys drink and review 41 Year Lapse American Pale Ale from Mobtown Brewery then discuss the presidential campaign of Vivek Ramaswamy.

Vivek is a 2nd generation Indian with an impressive record of educational, personal, and professional accomplishments. P&C had previously reviewed Vivek’s perspective on wokeness, and are pleased to see him on the stump for president.

The boys spend some time commenting on his character and style, and do a quick review of his policies.

Vivek wants to shut down the administrative state, which is a great goal, but it’s unlikely he’d be able to do it.

The boys drink and review Torpedo extra IPA, then discuss El Salvador and their new president, Nayib Bukele.

El Salvador has been a basket case for decades. It was one of the most violent places on earth, corruption was rampant, and the drug cartels ran everything.

Mr. Bukele started his political career in a small town, not far from the capitol, and quickly became very popular. But he didn’t fit with either of the existing majority political parties, so he joined and essentially took over one of the smaller political parties. His career skyrocketed, and he eventually became the incredibly popular president of the country.

His reforms have make life more livable for most of the country, but it hasn’t been a completely smooth ride. Some of his “reforms” seem more like dictatorship, and he’s been criticized internationally for his crackdowns on the cartels.

The boys try to evaluate this career. On the one hand, they prefer the rule of law, and politicians who stay within their designated powers. On the other hand, hard times call for hard measures.

The boys drink and review Crispy Boy Vienna Lager from Black Flag brewing, then celebrate some fantastic recent decisions from the Supreme Court.

The cases involved affirmative action, freedom of religion, student debt, and freedom of speech.

Affirmative action is blatantly unconstitutional. It was passed by a liberal court that knew it was bad law, but hoped it would be a temporary fix to race issues. The Court found that things have gotten worse, not better, so it’s time to be done with it.

In the freedom of religion case, the Court corrected a misinterpretation of previous precent. People thought that an employer could refuse an accommodation if it caused a “de minimis” hardship. In Groff vs. Dejoy, the Postal Service failed to accommodate a postal worker whose religion prevented him from working on Sunday. The Court ruled that employers have to make religious accommodations unless doing so would cause substantial harm.

The Court also shot down Biden’s over-reach on student debt, which even Nancy Pelosi said the president didn’t have the authority to do.

In the final case, the Court ruled that a person can’t be forced to speak — that is, to express a message they disagree with. You can’t make the Jewish t-shirt vendor create a shirt that hates on Jews, and you can’t require the atheist baker to make a person who is against the death penalty to design a flyer that celebrates executions. The important thing about this case is that it’s not limited to religion or religious expression. It’s about free speech in general.

The boys drink and review 395 Rye from Checkerspot Brewing, then discuss the changing expectations in dating, courtship, and marriage.

The traditional formula is first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.

The new formula is something like first comes sex, then comes dating, then you move in together, then you get a dog, then maybe you finally get married.

What happened to “take me down to the little white church,” “no huggie no kissie until you make me your wife,” or “if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.”

The problem is that the elite have adopted “luxury ideas” — idiotic, fashionable beliefs that don’t harm them, with their flock and nannies in their gated neighborhoods, but destroy the lives of the middle and lower classes.

Traditional dating and marriage rules spread the wealth, so to speak, in a way that the modern rules don’t. It results in a lot of men and women who have no life partner, and no prospect of getting one.

The boys drink and review a Maryland kolsch, then discuss China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

They start with a quick review of the Persian Royal Road and the Silk Road, then bring things into the modern era with China’s desire to control worldwide commerce.

In the hopes it would lead China towards freedom, the west brought China into the modern world by giving them favored trading status. That pumped cheap goods into the west and revitalized China’s economy.

But China isn’t content with being the cheap labor force for the world, and is trying to become the main superpower. But they’re not following the “cooperation with competition” model we see in the west. They’re bullies. They elbow their way in and take over.

China is threatening to control world commerce with a long-term plan. Our leaders argue about bathrooms and pronouns.

With special guest Longinus, Pigweed and Crowhill drink and review Pigweed’s homebrewed version of Monument’s Steady Eddie IPA, then discuss famous people who are from or have a strong connection with Baltimore, including …

John Aston
Jada Pinkett Smith
Barry Levitson
David Hasselhoff
Oprah started off in Baltimore
Anna Farris
Elmer Snowden
Billie Holiday
Michael Phelps
Julie Bowen
John Waters
Thurgood Marshall
Toni Braxton
Tori Amos
Tupac Shakur
Mike Rowe
Del McCoury

… and many more!

With special guest Longinus, P&C drink and review Ruby Redbird, by Shiner, then discuss William Faulkner.

They start with some brief biographical info on Faulkner, then discuss three of his most famous short stories. Two features that are common in all of Faulkner’s work are (1) a lack of chronological time, and (2) concealing things from the reader.

“A Rose for Emily” is a disturbing story about an old woman in a fictional southern town. It starts with her death, and then jumps back and forth in time, exploring different aspects of her life. The surprise ending is not to be missed.

“Barn Burning” is a very different tale. It starts with a trial of Abner Snopes for allegedly burning down a neighbor’s barn. Snopes is forced to leave town, but continues his reprobate behavior in the next town and gets his family trouble. The story is mostly about the trials of Sarty, his young son, who has to deal with the disreputable conduct of his father.

“Red Leaves” is the strangest of the three. It’s set in Chickasaw territory, and relates how they dealt with succession of leadership in their tribe, and how to honor their dead leader. The slave of the dead leader tries to run away, but is eventually captured. It’s not a story for children.

Are Aliens going mainstream?

The boys drink and review Crowhill’s latest homebrew concoction, then discuss the recent phenomenon of aliens moving from nerd world to mainstream.

Why has this happened? Is there new evidence?

Some videos have surfaced that allegedly show strange craft doing impossible things. The military seems to have changed its tune in their responses to these reports. Military aviators report regular contact with strange objects.

We also have high-level, credible whistleblowers who have given remarkable testimony that the U.S. government has alien spacecrafts.

But there are still no bodies, no spaceships, no x-rays, no blood samples.

It’s hard to say that we have new “evidence” now that we haven’t had for decades. It always seems to reduce down to the same thing. Seemingly sincere people can’t produce any tangible evidence.

Also, the underlying story doesn’t make any sense. These creatures have the tech to get here from light years away, but when they get here they just fly around, and occasionally crash in a back yard in Las Vegas.

P&C drink and review Wexford Irish syle cream ale, then discuss the need for men to go into the trades, and one particular school that trains them.

Our culture tends to look down on people who don’t go to college, and on blue-collar work in general. But those are the guys who have practical knowledge and know how things work.

Pigweed’s son recently played a lacrosse game against a team from the Williamson College of the Trades, which has a very interesting program. It’s like a college, but to train people in practical trades, with a focus on craftsmanship.

They provide scholarships for the needy. There’s zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol. The place is run like a monastery, with a strict daily schedule.

The boys also discuss local boy Mike Rowe and his efforts to promote trade work.

The boys drink a Gold Rush cocktail, then discuss the Trump indictment.

We clearly have a problem with classified documents in this country. Biden, Pence, Hillary, and Trump have all been found to behave recklessly with classified documents.

There’s no question Trump was very reckless. If Capt. Crowhill did any of this, she’d be in jail — no question.

Trump claims that he declassified all the documents before he took them home, but later evidence shows that’s not true.

Was Trump uniquely reckless? That’s hard to say. Hillary’s actions were pretty reckless as well, and Biden stored documents all over the place.

It looks like selective prosecution, and it’s hard not to see this as weaponization of the Justice department.

Biden is on record as saying that he would use whatever legal means necessary to keep Trump from becoming president again.

There are some outliers. We’re not sure how the Presidential Records Act applies, but generally speaking it looks very bad for Trump.

P&C drink and review Troeg’s Hop Horizon IPA, then discuss the need for strong men.

One side of the culture war wants to tell boys they’re toxic, potential rapists, and the best they can do is sit quietly and not get in the girls’ way, because the future is female. And if you won’t sit quietly, we’ll give you drugs to make sure you do.

On the other side of the culture war, Sen. Josh Hawley recently wrote a book to encourage boys to grow in the manly virtues.

From a Roman perspective, these are the classical virtues.

1. Virtus (Manliness) encompasses bravery, courage, and strength. A Roman man was expected to display valor on the battlefield and face adversity with resilience.

2. Pietas (Piety) referred to a sense of duty, devotion, and loyalty. A Roman man was expected to fulfill his obligations to the gods, his family, and the state.

3. Fides (Good Faith) was the virtue of trustworthiness, reliability, and honesty. A Roman man was expected to keep his promises, be true to his word, and honor his commitments.

4. Gravitas (Dignity) denoted a sense of seriousness, self-control, and responsibility. A Roman man was expected to conduct himself with dignity, maintain composure in challenging situations, and exercise self-discipline.

5. Industria (Industriousness) represented diligence, hard work, and perseverance. A Roman man was expected to be productive, industrious, and committed to achieving his goals.

6. Clementia (Mercy) referred to the virtue of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. A Roman man was encouraged to show leniency and kindness, particularly in positions of power and authority.335

7. Honestas (Respectability) encompassed moral integrity, honor, and a respectable reputation. A Roman man was expected to lead a virtuous life, maintain his family’s honor, and contribute positively to society.

The cardinal virtues, according to Roman Catholicism are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.

What’s wrong with these things?

The boys also review a horrible article by Silva Neves from Psychology Today.

The boys drink and review Old Blarney Barley Wine, then discuss pride month.

During pride month, everyone on the planet is invited — or rather, compelled — to celebrate the sexual proclivities of a small minority.

“It’s a month that vomits rainbows, glitter, and dildos,” Pigweed says.

Sexuality is usually considered a private thing. It seems odd for it to be a gaudy parade. Something doesn’t fit here.

At first, the LGB movement was about allowing homosexuals to share health insurance and hospital visitation rights. Now, if you don’t allow gay porn in public schools and celebrate when a trans person does a pole dance at the library in front of children, you’re a bigot.

We have lost the distinction between tolerating and celebrating. Tolerating wasn’t enough. Now we have to have parades, because “silence is violence.”

Americans need to decide that they will no longer participate in the lies.