Beer and Conversation with Pigweed and Crowhill

463: Why are public schools failing so miserably? Nov 19, 2024

Broadcasting from the Royal Oak pub, the boys drink and review Crowhill's homebrewed porter then discuss the failure of our government-run schools and the American education system.

Over the last 40 years we've had an increased role in education by both governments and unions, we've spent more and more on education, but results are worse and worse. Why?

Private schools that spend far less per student get better educational outcomes, and homeschoolers -- who spend very little -- frequently outperform private schools.

At the same time, we keep hearing that teachers aren't being payed enough.

Okay, so where is all this money going? It's going to administrators.

The boys review some statistics and discuss possible remedies.

462: Trump wins just as P&C predicted. What now? Nov 11, 2024

Pigweed and Crowhill enjoy a celebratory bottle of champaign as they review the 2024 election.

Which is the more important victory: that Donald Trump won, or that Harris lost?

The first time around, Trump didn't have a "Trump Team." He had to cobble together an administration through recommendations from people who didn't agree with his policies and approach. That will be entirely different this time.

Once again, the pollsters have egg on their faces. Trump overperformed by a wide margin.

Why did this go wrong for the Democrats?

* Kamala was a horrible candidate who ran a horrible campaign

* She was never selected by any democratic vote

* She has been completely incompetent as vice president

* Her policies, such as they were, were completely out of touch with the country

* She did nothing but call names and alienate people

* Walz was super weird

With hope, we can look forward to these things from DJT:

* The end of trans madness

* Get rid of the men in dresses in the military

* Stand up to China

* A better team with good ideas

* The end of DEI, "equity" and racial grievance

* Close the borders, amnesty over

* End of entitlement benefits for illegals

* Money for foreign wars we don't care about

* Clean up the deep state: DOJ, HHS, DOE, DOT, etc.

* No pride flags on any buildings or embassies

* JD Vance tearing up the idiots in the media

461: Why are the Vikings and paganism so interesting to modern people? Nov 09, 2024

The boys drink and review Fireside Chat winter ale by 21st Amendment Brewery, then discuss The Northman, paganism, and Rod Dreher's take on how paganism presents an enchanted view of life.

"The Northman" is basically the story of Hamlet set among the Vikings. Amleth witnesses his uncle murdering his father and carrying off his mother. He vows to avenge his father and rescue his mother.

Years later, Amleth becomes a fierce warrior, but sells himself into slavery so he can be in the town of his uncle and get his revenge.

It's an interesting movie, but the larger question addressed in the podcast is how this relates to modern man's lack of a sense of meaning and purpose, and the longing for enchantment.

Modern secular, technological society is a fantastic thing. It's given us antibiotics and labor-saving technologies that are simply amazing. But there's no dispute that it's come at a cost. Secular society reduces life to the material, emphasizing logic, technology, and efficiency over mystery and meaning. While these advancements offer many benefits, Dreher argues that they leave a void, creating a sense of disconnection from life’s deeper meaning.

In stark contrast, the symbolic, hero-driven narrative of "The Northman" shows characters motivated by a sense of duty and destiny that transcends self-interest. It's an appeal to something timeless and heroic. But beyond that, there's a constant sense of immanent spiritual reality. The gods are as real in The Northman as the sky and the land.

Dreher’s analysis suggests that this type of worldview, which modernity often overlooks, fulfills a deep-rooted human desire to connect with the divine, the sacred, and the transcendent.

460: George Soros and his political philosophy Nov 08, 2024

The boys drink and review "Beast of Both Worlds," a "Bi-Coastal IPA" from Lagunitas.

George Soros has become a whipping boy for the right. The man was born a Hungarian Jew and lived through both Naziism and communism, but made his respectable pile of money in the United States. P&C start off with a brief biography, but move on to speak about his underlying philosophy and the causes he promotes.

Soros was deeply influenced by the philosophy of Karl Popper and his concept of open and closed societies. In an open society individuals are free to think and act independently with minimal government control. An open society has pluralism and tolerance, democratic governance, change and reform (because no one holds the ultimate truth), and a commitment to our own limitations (fallibilism).

If giving to political causes qualifies a person as a philanthropist, Soros is a big one. His foundation supports ...

* Democracy and human rights

* Education

* Criminal justice reform

* Public health

* LGBTQIDYSDLKSDH rights

* Immigration and refugee support

* Racial and social justice

* Economic equity

* Media freedom

* Climate change and environmental protection

All of these flow logically from his commitment to the "open society" concept, and Soros takes a very liberal stance on all these issues.

459: Woke yard signs and what they really mean Nov 07, 2024

You've seen the sign.

Science is real

Black Lives matter

Love is love

No human is illegal

Climate change is real

Women's rights are human rights

Kindness is everything

What does that sign really mean? P&C break it down, line by line.

But there are other versions, like this, from a public school (if you can believe it).

The American dream is a scan

Policing originates from runaway slave patrols

Capitalism exploits

Colonialism is evil

The founding fathers were racist

American imperialism must end

America was built on genocide and slavery

This country is on stolen, indigenous land

458: The D.C. tour -- thoughts on architecture and its meaning Nov 01, 2024

With special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Slightly Mighty IPA by Dogfish Head brewing, then discuss their recent jaunt down to Washington, D.C., to review the architecture on some key buildings.

Their trip took them to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, St. Matthews cathedral, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Capitol.

Longinus was able to give Pigweed and Crowhill some insights into the history and architecture of these amazing buildings.

The boys discuss the psychological effect and message of these buildings, but the show isn't only about architecture. They discuss issues related to the freemasons, the Catholics, and the U.S. government.

457: 5 Short Stories from Stephen King Oct 31, 2024

With special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Southern Tier's Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale, then discuss five stories by the master of horror.

After a brief bio on King, they review ...

The Jaunt -- King presents a futuristic story where teleportation, or "jaunting," allows instant travel but comes with a terrifying caveat: while the physical body arrives safely, the mind remains conscious in a timeless, endless void during the journey. When a young boy defies the rules and jaunts while awake, the horrifying consequences reveal the true nightmare of experiencing eternity alone.

The Raft -- Four college students, two men and two women, take a late-year visit to a lake where they hope to swim out to the raft that's used by the summer visitors. They run into an unexpected visitor.

Survivor Type -- a disgraced surgeon stranded on a deserted island resorts to extreme measures to survive, including self-amputation and cannibalism. The story, presented through the character's journal entries, reveals a descent into madness as he makes horrifying sacrifices in a desperate struggle for life.

Gramma -- a young boy named George is left alone to care for his ailing, bedridden grandmother, whose dark and supernatural powers begin to reveal themselves in terrifying ways. As the night progresses, George’s fear escalates as he realizes his grandmother harbors a sinister secret that threatens his safety.

The Reach -- elderly Stella Flanders faces her fear of crossing the frozen stretch of water separating her island home from the mainland, drawn by visions of deceased loved ones calling her to the other side. As she traverses the ice, Stella experiences a haunting journey that blends life and death, ultimately finding peace in accepting her fate.

456: Halloween and its pagan origins. Plus, what is paganism anyway? Oct 23, 2024

The boys drink and review a pumpkin beer from Sam Adams, then discuss the origins of Halloween and paganism in general.

Halloween came from something called Samhain, which was a pagan feast for the end of the year. In the years before capitalism and industrial food production, this was a time of year where you desperately hope and your family won't starve over the winter.

At Samhain, ghosts and spirits walk around on earth. The veil between this world and the world of the dead gets thin. To scare away the spirits our ancestors would dress up as scary characters. They'd also carve vegetables with scary faces.

When the Scots and other Europeans came to America they brought some of these customs with them. It wasn't until the middle of the 20th century that we got full-blown Halloween in the United States. So we'd buy candy and costumes and such.

They then review paganism in general. Its history. What the word means? Who are the pagans? What did they believe? And so on.

Unfortunately, we don't know much. Even the Druids and the cult of Mithra -- both very influential in their time -- are not well known.

455: Election Preview. Will it be Trump or Harris? Oct 23, 2024

The boys drink and review Lord Maltimore, a Marzen from Key Brewing Company, then discuss the state of the election and their predictions.

Pigweed starts off ripping Kamala as a phony with no talent and little brains. Crowhill says she's mean and vapid. She slept her way to the top and has no idea what she's doing.

No one is voting for Harris. They're voting against Trump.

Harris gets three groups. (1) The "not Trump" vote. (2) The "it's time for a black woman" vote. (3) The "pull the D lever" vote. In addition, Harris has the media, Hollywood, the arts, academia, and the entrenched bureaucrats all pulling for her.

Is that enough to win?

The polls don't look that way. Trump has a slight edge nationally and seems to be winning in enough states to become president.

P&C recount some of Trump's failings, but believe he's still the man for the hour.

454: Columbus Day vs. Indigenous People's Day Oct 18, 2024

The boys drink a shandy and talk about Indigenous People's Day.

Pigweed suggests various ways to celebrate the holiday, observing some of the customs of the indigenous people.

The boys review some of the negative aspects of indigenous cultures -- such as human sacrifice -- and point out how silly it is to measure people in the past by modern moral standards. If we're going to hold Columbus to modern standards, why not the indigenous people too?

Columbus had his faults, but he also brought about an incredible sequence of events that led to functional, modern societies in the western hemisphere.

Trigger warning: This is a very politically incorrect episode.

453: P&C rank popular conspiracy theories Oct 18, 2024

The boys compare Crowhill's homebrewed dopplebock against Paulaner's Salvator, then discuss conspiracy theories.

Pigweed found a chart that characterized conspiracy theories in ascending order of craziness, from actually true, to you have left the world of sanity. Pigweed and Crowhill go through a list and rank them from true to impossible.

Some conspiracies actually happened, like the Tuskegee experiment, MK Ultra, the FBI spying on Martin Luther King, etc.

Then there's completely nutty things. Like chemtrails. Is the white trail behind jets really condensation, or is it a chemical the government is using on us to manipulate our behavior?

The boys go through a long list of conspiracies, including ...

* Did the government aim the hurricane at Trump voters?

* Was Maui a controlled burn so Oprah could buy cheap land in Hawaii?

* Did Epstein kill himself?

* Did the Titanic really sink?

* Is Joe Biden a robot?

* Are white people being replaced?

This is a fun and somewhat silly show. Enjoy.

452: Are your devices spying on you? Oct 12, 2024

The boys drink and review Flannel Fest, a dunkel from Sam Adams, then wonder whether our electronic devices are spying on us.

There are levels of spying. A pixel phone is always listening to you because it has to be ready to respond when you say "Okay Google." The question is not whether it's listening, but whether it's recording what you say.

A lot of people their phones are spying on them because they talk with friends about some topic, they then see ads on that topic. Is that confirmation bias in action, or is it actually happening?

The tech platforms claim they are not doing this, but there are companies that claim they are doing it, and are trying to sell that service to advertisers.

It's not just the phones. Video doorbells are spying on us. The maps we use in our cars are spying on us. Health devices are spying on us.

The boys discuss the positives and negatives of these services.

For some other treatments of the same topic, try these.

Mark Hurst: "Even more devices are spying on you."

https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/143859

Skeptoid: "How Your Driving Is Being Tracked"

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4947

Joseph Cox: "Here's the Pitch Deck for 'Active Listening' Ad Targeting

https://www.404media.co/heres-the-pitch-deck-for-active-listening-ad-targeting/

451: Oktoberfest and Oktoberfest beers: a quick explanation Oct 11, 2024

The boys discuss the origins of the Oktoberfest custom, then drink and review a couple Oktoberfest beers. They discuss and explain the differences between three different styles: Marzen, Oktoberfest, and Festbier.

In Germany, only 6 breweries are allowed to brew authentic Oktoberfest beer. The boys drink an authentic Oktoberfest beer from Hacker-Pschorr and an American Oktoberfest beer from Sam Adams.

The German Oktoberfest beers have moved more towards the "festbier" style, which is less intense and less malty than a Marzen. American Oktoberfest beers generally stick with the Marzen style.

In general, the German Oktoberfest beers are going to be a little lighter in body and alcohol than the American versions.

450: Animal Farm by George Orwell Oct 03, 2024

With special guest Longinus the boys drink and review a "cold IPA" by Jailbreak Brewing, then discuss a short novella.

Crowhill starts with a brief bio of the author, then the boys review the structure and plot of the book.

The book was written at a time when large numbers of the so-called intellectual elites were enamoured of communism.

The novel starts on Mr. Jones' farm. He's not the best or kindest of farmers, and the animals decide to rebel. They take over the farm with some high ideals.

All animals are equal, and they don't serve humans.

One of the big themes in the book is the appeal to "equality," but that doesn't last. (It never does.) The pigs quickly take over leadership and become "more equal than others."

The pigs go on to break all the original commandments of the commune, but they maintain their authority.

It's an interesting allegory for the Soviet Union and other communist states, which pretend to believe in equality, but never practice it.

448: "Am I Racist?" by Matt Walsh Oct 02, 2024

P&C drink and review an English pale ale from Guilford Brewing, then discuss Matt Walsh's new comedy, "Am I Racist?"

The movie is a combination of a documentary and a comedy -- if you consider Walsh's incredibly dry humor funny. It's often Office-style cringe humor. Walsh has a gift for allowing situations to get incredibly awkward and letting them play out.

Here's the premise: Walsh goes on a journey to discover if he's as racist as the race experts claim. In the process he gets certified as a DEI expert!

He also sneaks his way into a "Race to Dinner" event, where "DEI experts" help white women deal with their racism.

Walsh has several interviews with leading DEI "experts," exposing the wackiness of the whole race-hustling, DEI-grifter, "anti-racist" perspective.

After talking to the DEI "experts," he asks some ordinary folk about race. The responses are quite illuminating.

The movie is definitely worth seeing. Don't expect too much humor, but it does a very good job at deflating the whole racist, race-hustling industry. You'll never think of "DEI" the same way again.

447: Censorship in America and around the world Oct 02, 2024

The boys drink and review one of Pigweed's homebrews then discuss censorship (starting about 4:25). There seems to be an increase in censorship around the world. We seem to have lost our understanding of why free speech is important. P&C review. - In the sciences, if people can't bring up new ideas, you get stuck. You need a free marketplace of ideas. - Free speech acts as a restraint on government power. The governor of California recently signed a bill outlawing "deep fake" videos that "misinform." Since when do we trust the government to decide what is true and false information? In the UK, Scotland Yard is going after citizens (maybe even American citizens!) who say things the government doesn't like. The censorship industrial complex has evolved to the extend that they now have new words for us. Misinformation. Disinformation. Malinformation. Some legislation wants to stop the spread of "hate." But who defines what hate is? What has happened to make censorship such an issue today? - Technology allows it to spread faster. - Government has access to new tools. P&C review all the issues and come to some clear conclusions. Take a listen.

449: The Communist Manifesto Oct 02, 2024

The boys drink and review an IPA from Cigar City, then discuss the communist manifesto.

With special guest Longinus, Pigweed and Crowhill review the famous manifesto, starting with a brief bio of Marx and Engels.

In order to understand Marx and Engels, you have to think about the context -- the industrial revolution and the horrible circumstances of workers in those days.

The boys start with giving the manifesto an honest shot. What does it say, and what does it mean?

Marx says that all of history is the story of class struggle: the oppressor vs. the oppressed. There are two groups: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. There is no bond between men but naked self interest. Capitalism is about profit at any cost.

After giving the document the fairest reading they can, the boys move into criticism.

Longinus and Pigweed have a few points they want to defend. Crowhill despises the whole thing.

The boys work through the main premises of the manifesto and tear them to shreds.

445: Can you fall in love with AI? Sep 18, 2024

The boys drink and review Troegs Graffiti Highway IPA, then discuss the movie "Her" and the idea of having a romantic, emotional relationship with AI.

"Her" was made in 2013, but many of the concepts are still applicable today -- even more than they were in 2013!

Joaquin Phoenix plays the lead character (Theodore Twombly), who decides to use a new AI-powered operating system, which allows him to organize his life, but also becomes a daily companion and confidante. The AI (Samantha) becomes part of his life, and he slowly falls in love with her/it -- and, if you can believe it, she/it with him.

The movie challenges our concepts of love and personality at a fundamental level.

Eventually, Theodore finds out that Samantha (the AI) is having a similar relationship with 8,000 other people. He's heartbroken, because one element of human love is exclusive.

The movie is worth watching, but P&C evaluate how the insights from "Her" apply to modern technology, and where we seem to be going with sexbots and AI agents and so on.

Ex Machina is another film that addresses some of the same themes.

So ... Can you fall in love with AI? You'd better watch out, because yes, you can.

444: How Woke Took Over Corporate America. Including Harley Davidson? Sep 17, 2024

The boys drink and review an English trappist ale, then discuss some strange news in the world of woke.

It used to be that corporations were Republican, buttoned-up, and conservative. Recently, corporations are at the forefront of woke stupidity.

About the time of Obama's presidency, there was a huge switch. The Democrats used to be the part of the poor and the working class. They were the party of peace. Republicans were the darling of the corporations.

Now it's the opposite.

After FLOVID, DEI and woke BS went into overdrive in the corporate world. Inclusive advertising, pronoun policies, LGBYIOASDF parades, an over-emphasis on climate issues, ....

It goes beyond the individual corporations. Blackrock and other investment firms sometimes set the agenda and corporations have to say "yes sir," and do as they're told.

It makes sense that Starbucks would go woke. How did Harley Davidson, John Deere, Tractor Supply Company, Jack Daniels, and Lowes fall for this nonsense?

Do they know who their customer are?

443: The Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot Sep 10, 2024

The boys drink and review Snakeden Saison by 7 Locks Brewing, then review their impressions of The Sound of Hope.

The story starts in Possum Trot, Texas, when Donna Martin is grieving the death of her mother. She feels a calling from God to help some of the children in the foster care system. Her husband, Bishop Martin, reluctantly comes along, but then he decides they're not only going to adopt -- they're going to take the hardest cases.

Bishop Martin does a deep study on what the Bible says about adoption, and starts preaching on it. This starts a movement in the church and this small church eventually adopts all 77 of the kids out of the foster care system.

This is a heart-warming, inspirational movie, and the best part of it is that it's based on a true story.

442: The fall of England. We'll miss you. Aug 31, 2024

The boys drink and review Founders Vanilla Porter, then discuss the slow-motion self-immolation of England as the island cowtows to woke nonsense.

Why is this happening? How did the west get to a spot where we're so sold on multiculturalism that we excuse migrant crimes and crack down on the people who point them out?

When a violent, disrespectful Syrian boy threatens to rape two young girls, he's the good guy, and the older brother who stood up for his sisters is the bad guy.

When the police cover up grooming gangs, that's good and right, but the people who don't want their wives, sisters, and daughters to get raped are the bad guys.

The idea that the government cares about and respects the will of the people has been revealed as a total farce. The agenda of the elite prevails and the people need to suck it up and go along with it.

There's a conspiracy against the will of the people. An unholy alliance of the government, media, courts, police, celebrities, entertainment .... They collectively gaslight, intimidate, and insult the people to push their agenda.

If you criticize their agenda, you go to jail.

If Hamas has a violent demonstration, that's okay. If English patriots have a rally, they're right-wing extremists who should be hunted down, fined, jailed, and destroyed.

The media won't report on it. It's only the alternative media that tells us what's going on.

441: "The soundtrack of your life" playlists Aug 28, 2024

P&C review Country Ride Pale Ale from RAR, then invite special guest Longinus to the show to discuss "celebration of life playlists."

Longinus' playlist includes ...

* A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

* Sometime Ago/La Feista by Chick Corea

* All Blues by Miles Davis

* Song of Loving Kindness by Gary Bartz

* Boogie Nights by Heatwave

* September by Earth, Wind, and Fire

* Brick House by the Commodores

* Staying Alive by the Beegees

* Red Barchetta by RUSH

* Closer to the Heart by the TREES

* Wait until Tomorrow by Jimi Hendrix

* Magis Bus by the Who

* Goodtimes by Led Zeppelin

* Blue Sky by the Allman Brothers

* Waiting in the Van by Bob Marley

* Sugar Mountain by Neil Young

* Judy Blue Eyes by CSN

* Bad Moon Rising by Credence

* Ventura Highway by America

* Dixie Chicken by Little Feat

* That isn't funny anymore by the Smiths

* Heard Through the Wall by Del Amitri

* After the Rain by Cockburn

* Block Cow by Steely Dan

* Weary Kind by Ryan Bingham

Crowhill organized his playlist by phases of his life.

Youth

- Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert – first trumpet solo

Young adult / high school / swim team

– Theme: arrogance, trumpet, going my own way. Anything by Maynard Ferguson

College

– Theme: Agony / struggle. Jethro Tull (maybe Mother Goose of Up to Me), Keith Green (Make My Life a Prayer to You), John Michael Talbott (He is Risen)

Marriage and kids

– Theme: joyful responsibility. “Front porch looking in” and “God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.”

– Theme: fun and silliness. “The Fox” by Nickel Creek

Middle age

– Maybe Calliandra Shade by Ian Anderson to signify watching the world go by

– Dust in the Wind by Kansas to signify my lack of understanding of what the hell is going on

– Grow Old with Me by Sunny Sweeney to signify my lifetime connection to my wife

– Beautiful by Gordon Lightfoot

Pigweed's soundtrack includes ...

* McCartney & Wings - Band on the Run

* BTO - Aint Seen Nothin Yet

* George Thorogood - Move it on Over

* Queen News of the World - not we will rock you

* Elton John - Your Song

High School

* Rod Stewart - Maggie May

* Eric Clapton - Slow Hand

* Randy Newman

* Tom Waits

* Elvis Costello - Allison

PUNK PHASE - not at the celebration.

* Maybe one Clash Tune.

* Bruce Springsteen

* Who

OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL

* Lloyd Cole

* Smiths

* Prefab Sprout

* Iggy Pop - The Passenger

* Lou Reed - Who Loves the Sun

MEXICO

* Jose Alfredo Jimenez

* Mariachi - Guadalajara

Got a Pick Up Truck

* 90s-Early2000s radio Country Music

* Kenny Chesney - I go back

* Toby Keith - Beer for my Horses

OUTLAW COUNTRY

* Hayes Carl

* Ryan Bingham

* Steve Earl

* Robert Earle Keen

* Morgan Wallen

* Johnny Cash - When The Man Comes to Town

440: Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo -- shortcut to the classics Aug 23, 2024

The boys drink and review 2 award-winning beers from Heavy Seas, then special guest Longinus joins them at the bar to review Pedro Paramo, a Mexican novella. This is part of the P&C "shortcut to the classics" series.

Pedro Paramo is a confusing book. The structure, timing, the use of punctuation, who's speaking, and even whether people are alive or dead is never quite certain.

The book is named after the central character, Pedro Paramo, who is a powerful and tyrannical landowner in the town of Comala. He's also the father of Juan Preciado, the novel's primary protagonist, who is sent to Comala by Dolores Preciado, his dying mother, to get what they're owed.

On his way to find Comala, Juan meets Abundio Martinez, another of Pedro's illegitimate sons.

Comala is a ghost town in two senses. Not only is there almost no one there, it's full of ghosts.

Rulfo's work is an example of magical realism, where seemingly impossible things happen and are accepted by the characters as if nothing special is happening.

The story pursues themes like death and the supernatural, memory and time, despair and hoplelessness, power and corruption, religion and guilt, isolation and loneliness. The themes combine to create a haunting exploration of human existence, where the boundaries between life and death, past and present, are fluid.

This is an interesting but difficult book. If you give it a try, plan to read it twice.

SE1: Did Democrats provoke the Trump assassination attempt? Aug 21, 2024

Did the Democrats provoke the assassination attempt against Donald Trump with their over-the-top language? They repeatedly called him Hitler, a threat to democracy, a dictator, that this will be the last election, etc.? Did that inspire the Trump shooter?

It's easy to imagine. Everyone has had the sophomoric argument about going back in time and killing Hitler before he took power. If you're faced with an actual Hitler -- right here and now -- what are you going to do?

Aside from that, how could this have possibly happened? Why did the Secret Service fall down on the job?

The level of incompetence demonstrated by the Secret Service is almost unbelievable. Was it all just a big cluster frack, or was the Secret Service in on it?

What's the role of DEI in this disaster? Was the Secret Service encumbered by a bunch of unqualified DEI hires?

The head of the Secret Service had a mission to promote women. That was the chip on her shoulder. Did that become more important than fulfilling the actual mission of the Secret Service?

This level of buffoonery and clown-town behavior is close to impossible. It's almost necessary to believe it was a setup.

But then there's Hanlon's razor: never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity and incompetence.

439: Julian Assange -- love him or hate him? Aug 16, 2024

P&C drink and review Crabtown Classic, a local Vienna Lager from Jailbreak Brewing, then discuss Julian Assange.

The Assange case brings out the contrast between freedom of the press and national security.

Assange had a libertarian streak and was suspicious of authority -- especially governmental authority. He believed information should be free, particularly when it exposes the misdeeds of governments.

Many believe Assange was supporting whistleblowers, and that his case was a test case for freedom of the press.

Some of the things Assange revealed allegedly betrayed "sources and methods" and compromised national security.

Assange's prolonged legal battle over extradition from the UK to the US raises concerns about fair trial standards, the potential for politically motivated charges, and the treatment of whistleblowers and journalists under international law.

Is Assange a whistleblower deserving of protection, or a criminal who recklessly endangered lives? The debate is central to the case and reflects broader societal questions about the ethics of leaking classified information.

438: The old left vs. the new left Aug 14, 2024

P&C drink and review a Pretzel Wheat Beer from Aldus Brewery, then discuss how "the left" has changed over the last few decades.

In many areas, the left of the 60s and 70s has been turned on its head by the modern, woke left.

The contrasts become clear when you think about the attitude towards ...

* Authority and government

* War

* Drugs

* Free speech

* Multinational corporations

* The working class

* Individual rights

* The rule of law

* Civil liberties

* Free markets

* Individualism

Wokeism has replaced the liberalism of the 60s. The woke require lockstep conformity to a far-left perspective on race, gender, sexuality (and maybe climate, and vaccines), or we'll ruin your life. There's no individual rights. There's no free speech. You must comply.

437: 20 other "existential threats" to the human race Aug 07, 2024

The boys drink and review Phantasm Double IPA from Elder Pine brewery, then discuss all the other ways humanity might come to an end -- other than global warming.

Here's a list of other ways the world might come to an end, starting with natural causes.

* Asteroid Impact

* Supervolcanic Eruption

* Gamma-Ray Burst

* Magnetic Pole Reversal

* Global Pandemic

* Solar Superflare

* Going back into the ice age

* Loss of pollinators or other essential critters

* Methane Clathrate Release

But that's not all. There are also human causes.

* Nuclear War

* Artificial Intelligence

* Biological or Chemical Warfare

* Environmental Collapse

* Technological Catastrophe

* Economic Collapse

* Resource Wars

* Cyber Warfare

* Collapse in human fertility

* Lack of confidence in the system

* Universal Islam or Liberalism

436: The GOP is the natural home for black Americans Aug 06, 2024

The boys drink and review White Chocolate Dream Blonde Stout by Black Beauty Brewery, then (starting at 3:43) discuss the history of blacks and the GOP.

The Republican Party (GOP) started with the explicit intention of stopping the spread of slavery in America. The first Republican president was Abraham Lincoln, who freed the slaves.

Democrats have a horrible record on votes that affect black people. Most Democrats votes against the 13th amendment (to free slaves). No Democrats voted for the 14th amendment (making freed slaves citizens). No Democrats voted for the 15th amendment (giving slaves the right to vote).

The first black Senators (in 1870) were Republicans. The first black Representatives (in 1871) were Republicans. The first 23 black Representatives were Republicans. The first black Democrat Senator was in 1993!

Democrats founded the KKK. Democrats started Jim Crow laws. By percentage, more Republicans than Democrats voted for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

Given all this, why do blacks predominantly vote for Democrats?

P.S. -- Crowhill is not a Republican.

435: Why are we so fat? Obesity in America Aug 05, 2024

The boys drink and review St. Bernardus Ale, then discuss the obesity epidemic.

Why is it that videos from the 1920s up to fairly recent times show mostly slim, fit people, but everybody at Walmart is fat? What has happened?

According to Dr. Peter Attia, the standard American diet is a solution to a business and marketing problem, in four parts.

1. Quantity. Too many people were undernourished and we need to produce calories at scale

2. Cost. We don't want food to cost too much

3. Storage. It has to be non-perishable and portable

4. Taste. It has to taste good

We've definitely solved that problem, but we've created another. About 43 percent of U.S. adults are obese.

What happened? P&C review the stats and the possible explanations.

434: Protesters are mostly idiots Aug 03, 2024

The boys drink and review Hare Chaser Grapefruit IPA from Flying Dog brewery, then discuss the ignorance of most protesters.

You would think that if a person is willing to take time off of school or work, jeopardize their education or job, or their future, to clash with police, to protest an injustice -- that they might know something about the topic!

The Ben Franklin Players come on the show to illustrate a common experience with modern protesters.

When a pro-Palestinian protester says "from the river to the sea," odds are good he doesn't know which river or which sea.

Then we have to consider the different treatment protesters get from law enforcement.

Damage public property, steal and burn the U.S. flag and assault police officers? That's free speech.

Pray outside an abortion clinic? Jail.

P&C discuss the protest culture and our response.

433: The Trump Assassination attempt and 4 other topics Jul 20, 2024

#1 -- (2:58) Is it even possible that the Secret Service is as incompetent as they were in Pennsylvania? The security failures were epic and strain credulity. Could competent, trained professionals be this bad?

The boys review some of the emerging details and wonder what in the heck went wrong. Was the Secret Service complicit in the attempt, or were they impossibly incompetent?

And what about the DEI component? What were those short women doing trying to protect 6'3" Trump?

#2 -- (17:40) Is Ben Shapiro right about Social Security? Ben argues that the program was never designed to support people for 20 years of retirement. As life expectancy increases, shouldn't the retirement age?

The boys are big fans of Shapiro, but aren't convinced of his argument for several reasons. Listen in.

#3 -- (23:18) Pigweed calls BS on the "my life is hard" narrative. Everyone these days has to have a persecution narrative. Society is expecting too much. It's so hard. "Everybody told me I couldn't be a scientist." Baloney.

#4 -- (27:38) Two views of technology: it will kill us, or it will usher in a golden age. This reflects two instincts that are necessary for humans -- the need to explore and find new things, and the need to protect against contagion and unknown threats.

#5 -- (33:20) Everybody wants to save the world but nobody wants to do the dishes. Sometimes you hear people say they want to do work that will make the world a better place. Do they have the competence? Do they have the necessary knowledge? The world is a complicated place. If they can't keep their own house neat and orderly, what makes them think they can make the world neat and orderly?

The boys end the show with a letter to the show from Inigo Montoya, who accuses P&C of being "raw doggers."

432: Eugenics -- a legacy of progressive experts and the intelligensia Jul 19, 2024

The boys drink and review Pigweed's Seal Team 6 -- a homebrewed Black IPA -- then discuss eugenics.

Humans have been breeding animals and plants for a very long time. Most of the foods we eat are the result of thousands of years of careful breeding by farmers, and "man's best friend" was bred from wild dogs.

Why shouldn't we do the same with humans?

Sir Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin who was very influenced by The Origin of Species, proposed just such a plan and called it "eugenics." Darwinism convinced Galton that an organism’s most important characteristics must be biological rather than shaped by environment or experience.

The idea caught fire with the intellectual elite. John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Theodore Roosevelt, Margaret Sanger and Alexander Graham Bell all promoted the idea to one degree or another.

The Supreme Court even weighed in. In upholding a Virginia law that permitted compulsory sterilization of individuals thought unfit to reproduce, Oliver Wendell Holmes said in Buck v. Bell, "three generations of imbeciles are enough."

38 States adopted some form of eugenics laws and more than 60,000 Americans were sterilized without their consent.

Adolf Hitler read about this and thought, "gee, what a good idea."

After the horrors of World War II, the west turned away from eugenics. It still stands as a reminder that fine-sounding ideas approved by intelligent people can still be horribly stupid.

431: An introduction to liquor basics Jul 19, 2024

The boys drink and review Crowhill's homemade gin, then give a broad overview of liquors.

P&C discuss ...

Fermentation vs. distillation

The history of liquor

Liquor vs. liquer and fortified wines

What "proof" means

White vs. colored liquors

The main types of liquor

- Vodka

- Gin

- Tequila

- Rum

- Whiskey (vs. whisky)

- Brandy

The science of getting drunk

The science of hangovers

... plus a few anecdotes and common myths about liquor.

Does red wine need to breathe before you drink it?

Does the shape of a glass make a difference?

Can "hair of the dog" cure a hangover?

430: Star Wars, the Hero Journey, and The Acolyte Jul 16, 2024

The boys drink and review Brooklyn Brewery's Sunny Pale Ale, then discuss Star Wars and the enduring influence of the hero's journey.

The Star Wars movies struck quite a chord with the public. On the one hand, it seems like silly kid's stuff. On the other hand, Pigweed's literature professors referred to Star Wars as a classic example of the hero pattern, or quest journey.

The lives of Jesus, Moses, King Arthur, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, and many others follow a very similar pattern.

Their stories follow a very predictable pattern that includes the call to adventure, resistance to the call, the role of the mentor, facing a challenge, winning the prize, then bringing that achievement back to the people.

There are other background elements to the life of the hero, like a suspicious birth, the absense of parents, some connection to royalty and maybe divinity.

Star Wars follows this myth in each individual episode, and across episodes.

Some people have said that Star Wars has abandoned this pattern in the newest iteration of Star Wars -- the Acolyte. Others have gone so far as to suggest that The Acolyte has turned the entire myth on its head.

Pigweed and Crowhill discuss the role of this pattern, and then, with some help from a letter from Nephew Will, evaluate some of the radical claims about The Acolyte.

429: OnlyFans is bad for women and society Jul 09, 2024

P&C drink and review a summer ale, then discuss OnlyFans.

The site serves as a medium for paid content. It's not only about sex. It can be used by artists, musicians, authors, and so on. But it's largely about sex.

There are some possible benefits to women who choose to do "sex work" on OnlyFans. There are no pimps. They can set their own boundaries. They're at less risk for STDs. And it's possible to make a lot of money.

But the possible benefits are outweighed by many negatives.

Once a woman has agreed to do this work, she's lost an important part of her dignity, and it's hard to go back. They start to think "oh well, I guess I’m this kind of girl now.”

While women can set their own boundaries, they will be constantly pressured to do more.

The woman who does this kind of work on OnlyFans becomes a sexual object, and she will be treated that way. Sexual harassment is part of the job, and it gets very ugly. You’re no longer a person. You're a product that exists to satisfy strangers sexually. It’s dehumanizing.

Stalkers are a real problem.

There is a false sense of privacy, since the content is allegedly behind a paywall. But it won't stay private. People will find a way to download it and post it for free on the Internet.

A woman's future plans for career and family will be negatively affected, and it will affect the woman's ability to be intimate with a real person.

Time as an OnlyFans star is very limited. There’s an endless stream of younger, hotter women ready to replace you. You decline in value as you age.

High-value men don’t want to date sex workers. No man wants to share his wife. And it's already hard enough to get married.

The promise of OnlyFans is a delusion.

In addition to the negative effect on women, OnlyFans has a negative effect on society. It normalizes sex work, lowers the collective morality of society, and traps young women in a dead-end career.

428: How scary is Trump's Agenda 47? Jul 04, 2024

Agenda 47 is a series of policy initiatives Trump intends to enact if elected. In the telling of one hair on fire liberal commentator, Agenda 47 includes ...

* massive deportation

* death sentence for human trafficking

* close dept of education

* put prayer in school

* close race based advantage programs

* end affordable care act

* ban gender affirming care for adults and children

* term limits for congee

* investigate Biden crime family

* pardon Jan 6ers

* increase juvenile sentences, strengthen immunity for police, deploy national guard in woke cities

* reassessment NATO

* Muslim travel ban

* Freedom cities

* End federal EV mandates

* Drill of gas and oil domestically

* increase tariffs on Chinese goods

* extend 2017 tax cuts

* extend right to conceal, carry

* get Europe to pay back money we gave to Ukraine

* remove federal subsidies from woke Universities

The boys review each of these items to determine if they're as scary as the frightened liberals imagine.

They also discuss Joe Biden's debate meltdown and what might happen next for Democrats.

P&C start the show by drinking and reviewing Eliot Ness Amber Lager from Great Lakes Brewing Company.

427: From Special to General: Exploring Einstein's Relativity Jul 03, 2024

Join us in this episode as we delve into the fascinating world of relativity, exploring the groundbreaking work of Albert Einstein. We cover both special and general relativity, discussing the profound implications these theories have on our understanding of space, time, and the universe. Whether you're a physics enthusiast or just curious about the cosmos, this episode offers insightful explanations and thought-provoking discussions. With special guest Longinus, Pigweed and Crowhill start the show with a review of a famous Belgian beer.

426: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells Jul 03, 2024

With literary contributor Longinus, the boys drink and review Furious George Hefeweizen from Crooked Crab Brewing, then continue their "shortcut to the classics" series with The Time Machine.

After a brief biography and sense of Wells' historical setting, the boys review the plot, then give their analysis.

The story follows the journey of an unnamed protagonist, referred to as the Time Traveller, who invents a machine capable of traveling through time. He demonstrates the machine to a group of friends and then embarks on a journey to the distant future.

The Time Traveller arrives in the year 802,701 AD, where he encounters two distinct species: the Eloi and the Morlocks. The Eloi are gentle, childlike people who live above ground in a seemingly idyllic society, but they are frail and lack intellectual curiosity. The Morlocks, on the other hand, are sinister, nocturnal creatures who live underground and maintain the machinery that supports the Eloi's lifestyle.

As the Time Traveller explores this future world, he realizes that the Eloi are not the dominant species but are actually prey for the Morlocks. The novel delves into themes of social class and evolution, suggesting a grim future for humanity.

The story culminates with the Time Traveller narrowly escaping the Morlocks and returning to his own time, only to disappear again on another journey, leaving his ultimate fate unknown. The novel ends with a sense of mystery and contemplation about the future of humanity and the possibilities of time travel.

425: P&C empty the mailbag Jul 02, 2024

The boys drink and review Southern Cross ESB from M8 Beer Company, then go through reader questions and comments.

Questions include ...

* Why aren't there more women in dangerous jobs, and should they be if we really want equity?

* Does dating a trans woman make you gay?

* More on cats vs. dogs

* In your show on evolution you casually dismissed creationists. What's up?

* A reprise of the pendulum show. Are things shifting towards conservatism?

* Have people had enough with mass immigration, but here and in Europe?

* Do we really have government of, by, and for the people?

* Is "Memories of my meloncholy whores" representative of Marquez in general since it does not include magical realism.

* Did you notice that Marquez did not use quotation marks to designate speech?

* Did the news covering racism cause the George Floyd madness, or did the George Floyd madness cause the news to cover racism?

* We had a suggestion for a show on the poison of victimhood.

* Why did we give any credence at all to that woman-hating Pearl Davis?

* Why are you such mean bigots towards the LGBTQ community?

424: Scientific American values wokeness over science Jun 28, 2024

P&C drink and review Little Mac IPA from Antietam Brewing then discuss the downward slide of a famous scientific magazine that was founded before the American Civil War!

It would be nice to have a reliable standard to find out what's actually going on in the scientific world. Scientific American magazine used to be that. Recently it's gone woke, and now it's no longer that beacon of scientific judgment.

Some signs of their recent wokeness.

* Michael Shermer's column was rejected because it might hurt someone's feelings.

* Scientific American slandered E.O. Wilson with a woke diatribe.

* They promote the transgender nonsense.

* They have claimed that football is racist, and and that denial of evolution is white supremacy.

* They want federal oversight of homeschooling.

The revered old magazine has gone too far to the left and has fallen off the woke end of the spectrum. Steven Pinker tweeted: “Unscientific American | Another noble American institution run into the ground when clueless trustees handed over the keys to a woke fanatic.”

423: Please put the phone down Jun 26, 2024

P&C drink and review Extra Strong Boi Imperial ESB from Black Flag Brewing, then discuss the curse of the smart phone.

Can grown adults stand in line at the Post Office any more without being distracted by some electronic device?

The boys review some of the history of electronic devices in our lives, then talk about the perils of the modern state, where everyone is connected all the time.

Jonathan Haidt identifies several problems with smart phones.

Social Deprivation -- Smartphones act as experience blockers, reducting time spent in physical play or face-to-face interactions, which are crucial for healthy social development.

Sleep Deprivation -- Excessive use of smartphones, especially late at night, leads to insufficient sleep, further exacerbating mental health issues.

Attention Fragmentation -- Constant notifications and messages interrupt focus, making it difficult for teenagers to concentrate on tasks.

Addiction -- Apps and social media platforms are designed to exploit psychological vulnerabilities, making them addictive and detracting from real-world experiences.

If you're getting your social interaction from your phone, you're not getting it from in-person interactions, and that's a shame. We've reduced the richness of real interactions for a cheap substitute.

P&C encourage adults to find ways to stay off their phones, and for God's sake don't let your kids get addicted to them.

421: Is the pendulum swinging in a conservative direction? Jun 19, 2024

The boys drink and review Hopsecutioner IPA by Terrapin Brewing, then discuss the social pendulum.

On a number of key issues, Pigweed feels he has held the minority opinion. "The wrong side of history," as the left would say. He's tempted to believe the pendulum is swinging back his way. His question to Crowhill: Is it?

How do we define a "minority view" these days? We're given the impression that believing a man can become a women is the majority view. But that's false if you look at the statistics.

The larger question is whether we all live in a tech-driven echo chamber, which only shows us things that fit our profile. How can we know what's true when our sources of information are "curated" based on our preferences?

Is the pendulum moving ...

* Away from the trans madness?

* Away from climate alarmism?

* Away from St. George Floyd, DEI, BLM, "defund the police"?

* Towards a more realistic perspective of how we handled COVID?

420: Welcome to Venezuela -- The Trump conviction Jun 08, 2024

Trump was recently convicted of 34 felony violations realted to falsifying business records in order to influence the 2016 election.

We've now had our first political show trial where those in power go against their political opponents.

Welcome to Venezuela.

Democrats keep telling us to that Donald Trump will use the power of government to take revenge against his political enemies. But isn't that precisely what we're seeing right now?

Biden has nothing to run on except lawfare against Trump, so he has weaponized the justice system against Donald Trump.

We keep hearing about “election interference," but this is it.

Here are some of the reasons this is all bogus.

The prosecutor (Alvin Brag) was political, ran on a platform to get Trump, and revived goofy charges that had already been investigated and found empty.

Judge Merchan was political.

* He had financial conflicts of interest involving his daughter, who is raising money on this issue.

* He donated money to anti-Trump political effort.

* He imposed a gag order on Trump.

* He excluded defense witnesses

* He preferred the prosecution in motions.

* He allowed the salacious testimony of Stormy Daniels (which is very similar to why the Weinstein convinction was overturned).

* He gave very strange jury instructions

This was a political jury.

There was no crime specified. The entire prosecution was based on a new and novel legal theory.

“The underlying crime is seemingly a minor misdemeanor – falsifying business records – which long ago expired under the statute of limitations. In order to turn it into a felony within the statute of limitations, prosecutors will have to show that Trump falsified the records in order to impact his election, thus constituting a federal election felony. …The problem is, however, that federal authorities have not prosecuted Trump for this federal election crime. Moreover, state prosecutors have no jurisdiction over federal election law. Finally, we were not even clear, when the trial began, as to precisely which federal election laws the District Attorney was relying on. ” –Dershowitz

This case would never have been brought against anyone but Trump. This is selective prosecution and sounds suspiciously like "show me the person and I'll find the crime."

419: Digital IDs: a good idea or crazy scary? Jun 07, 2024

The boys drink and review Depth Perception IPA by Terrapin Brewing, then discuss recent efforts to create a universal digital ID. So much of daily life now requires a smart phone, an app, an account, ... Sometimes you can't even print out tickets. You have to have your phone. (Is it charged? Does it have service?) You can't drive without a transponder to pay tolls. We're leaving a permanent digital record of everything we do. But that's not enough. Governments are pushing us towards a single digital ID to have "completely transparency." Everyone will know everything you do -- and if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't worry about that, right? No. The people who will have access to all your private data have biases and agendas. Sometimes they'll be your enemy. With enough information, someone will be able to find a case against you. "Show me the man and I'll find the crime." Also, this single repository will be hacked. Identity theft is already bad enough. Once we have digital IDs, the problem will multiply.

418: The Harrison Butker controversy May 31, 2024

P&C drink and review All Purpose Pils, an Italian-style pilsner by DC Brau, then discuss the controversey over Kansas City Chief's kicker Harrison Butker and his recent commencement speech.

Was it a mild-mannered, pro-family talk, or raging hate speech? That's the problem we face today. It's both -- depending on whether you're a sane person or a hair-on-fire liberal who listens to The View.

Butker is a conservative Catholic, and he speaks like one.

Are conservative Catholics allowed to speak their mind in public? Some people would say no.

The most important job in the history of mankind has been making babies and raising them to be productive members of society. Somehow that idea has become hate speech.

Butker gave a conservative Catholic message to a conservative Catholic audience. Why is that a problem?

The "tolerant" liberals can't abide it. Nobody is allowed to have (and certainly not speak) an opinion that hurts their feelings.

The lesson is clear. Modern culture is steeped in feminism, and if you speak against it, you're an enemy.

417: Jordan Peterson wrestles with God May 31, 2024

P&C drink and review a dark lager from Guilford brewing, then recount their recent journey to Reading PA to hear Jordan Peterson on his "We who struggle with God" tour. Longinus was unable to attend, but contributes to the conversation.

Jordan Peterson is famous for being cagey about his religious beliefs, but recently he's been a little more straight forward, and almost evangelical. P&C expected Dr. Peterson to make his case for the existence of God.

They enjoyed the talk, but it wasn't what they expected.

The show started with some live music, then an intro by Dr. John Vervake, who is somewhat of a fellow traveler with Peterson.

Dr. Peterson adopted the theme of sacrifice for the evening's talk, and told stories about sacrifice: Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel.

It was all good stuff, and classic Peterson, but he didn't set out what P&C expected, which was to give an argument for the necessity of God.

416: Cannery Row by John Steinbeck May 30, 2024

The boys drink and review Pigweed's homebrew clone of Steady Eddy IPA, then discuss a novella from John Steinbeck as part of their "shortcut to the classics" series.

After a brief biographical review of Steinbeck, the boys discuss the basic story, then their impressions of the book and its characters.

The novel begins with a description of Cannery Row in Monterey, California, during the Great Depression. The row is a small, tight-knit community centered around sardine canneries, inhabited by colorful characters.

Most of the story centers around Doc, a marine biologist, and Mack and the boys, who are collection of good-natured ne'er-do-wells.

415: Evolution and modern objections May 20, 2024

P&C drink and review Crowhill’s homebrewed Tavern Ale, then discuss evolution.

They start with a quick review of Darwin and his times and how scientists were slowly coming to the realization that the origin of the earth and life spanned a far longer time span than the Bible seemed to allow.

There are still a lot of things we don’t know about our history, but there are some things we know for sure.

* The earth is old.

* Life is old (maybe a billion years).

* Most creatures that have lived have gone extinct.

* Creatures have changed over time.

* Evolution seems to explain certain things about modern biology.

Other things remain debatable, such as the question of what drives the changes. Modern evolutionary theory seems to be struggling with this question right now. P&C have their doubts about the modern consensus that random genetic mutation is the stuff of evolution.

P&C try to work through the issues, balancing philosophy, science, and common sense.

414: Trump’s VP Pick, the 2020 election, and voter ID May 14, 2024

The boys drink and review Perni Haze IPA from Wicked Weed Brewing, then discuss Trump’s options for a running mate.

Trump is faced with a unique challenge because he can only serve one more term, so whoever he picks is likely to be the presidential nominee for 2028, and that person could potentially serve for eight years.

Christi Noem – P&C think she’s probably torpedoed her chances by writing in her memoir about shooting her dog.

Elise Stephanik – An unknown quantity to P&C. Not willing to recommend.

Vivek Ramaswammy – He was an early favorite of P&C, but his performance in the debates moved him down the list. He would make a great cabinet official.

Kari Lake – Seems to have gone off the edge a bit.

Tulsi Gabbard – P&C like her, but the fact that she’s been a Democrat for so long makes her too much of a long shot.

Marjory Taylor Green – She’s good as a firebrand / bomb thrower, and that role suits her, but she has no place in the White House.

Greg Abbott – Does he even want this job? Crowhill doesn’t trust him based on past behavior. He seems to be a johnny-come-lately on many conservative issues.

Sarah Huckabee Sander – She would work well with Trump, and P&C are impressed with her. But Crowhill is concerned she

Tucker Carlson – Why is he even on this list? Why would he be considered? Recently he’s started to show his wacky side. But he would make a good press secretary.

Tim Scott – He’s okay, but not exciting. No thrill here.

JD Vance – Let’s let him rock and roll in Ohio. He doesn’t help the ticket much.

Nikki Haley – She’s out. She’s burned her bridges with Trump and

Ron DeSantis – DeSantis is the top choice for P&C. But can the DeSantis - Trump feud heal? Probably.

Crowhill’s picks.

#1 – DeSantis

#2 – Tim Scott

After they finish with the VP picks, Pigweed has a burden he needs to take off his shoulder about the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

The numbers don’t seem to add up. Biden’s “rallies” were pathetic. There was no excitement. He was the most uninspiring, lame presidential candidate of P&C’s lives. He was worse than the little Dukey. Still, he managed to get more votes than any president ever.

413: An intro to beer styles May 14, 2024

The boys drink and review Sunshine Pilsner and Springtime Lager (both by Troeggs) while they discuss beer styles.

There are only two main categories of beer: lagers and ales. They are distinguished by the type of yeast used (not by color or strength). Lagers use a bottom-fermenting yeast that ferment at lower temperatures while ales use a top-fermenting yeast that ferment at slightly higher temperatures.

Lagers tend to be more crisp in flavor while ales tend to have more complex flavors.

Generally speaking we think of light-colored beers when we think of lagers, but there are dark lagers like a bock or a schwartz beer, and there are dark-ish lagers like Octoberfest or Dunkel. Lagers take longer to ferment.

Ales tend to be quick-fermenting beers that can be ready to drink in a week or two. Historically, ales were served at cellar temperature. (Warm by U.S. standards.)

Most modern craft beers are ales.

Some of the contrasts that make up the various beer styles are …

* Ale vs. lager

* Dark vs. light

* Malty (sweet) vs. dry

* Hoppy vs. mild

* Strong vs. weak

Ales were the more traditional beers in America, but when the Germans came over with their clean, crisp lagers, they won over the American palate, and American-style lagers became the standard.

412: The Chinese Threat May 09, 2024

The boys drink and review Tsingtao beer, then discuss the threat posed by modern China.

China is deliberately undermining America. They don't even hide it. And we don't seem to do anything about it.

There are many ways to defeat an enemy. According to Sun Tzu, the wisest approach is to defeat them without fighting them.

How are they doing this?

* They sow division

* They discourage people from joining the military

* They poison us with TikTok

* They get our youth addicted to fentanyl

* They're encouraging people to hate the U.S. government

* They encourage campus radicals

* They encourage everything that undermines the family

China is also challenging us overseas with their belt and road initiative.

They steal our technology, and require U.S. businesses who deal in China to share technology.

The PRC has publicly declared that they consider every aspect of our infrastructure as fair game.

And what do we do? We let millions of people spill over our border.

411: Pearl Davis May 03, 2024

P&C drink and review a Wee Heavy from Belhaven brewery, then discuss Pearl Davis and her opinions on men’s rights. The boys first heard about Pearl when The Daily Wire’s Andrew Klavan and Michael Knowles interviewed her. She’s an anti-feminist but also somewhat anti-traditionalist. Pearl tries to focus on reality – the facts on the ground – rather than coming from a particular ideological viewpoint. From Pearl’s perspective, marriage is a raw deal for men. Here are some quotes from Pearl, to give you a feel for her point of view. “Women can’t be criticized on the internet” If a man says a woman isn’t wife material, is he allowed to have that opinion? Traditional conservatives believe in holding men accountable. A man can’t be broke. He has to take care of his family. He has to stay in shape. When women do something wrong, it’s always because they were lied to. It’s always because of feminism. Why is it that when women do something wrong it’s always somebody else’s fault? “Women like to be objectified” Women only cry about objectification when they can’t get what they want out of being objectified “In all of history there have always been concubines. They have a place.” “When women lead, societies and relationships go to Hell.” “Why can’t we have a conversation about women without ‘but men.’” “Women should submit to their husbands in all things.” (from the Bible) “I prefer prostitutes to most tradcon women. At least the prostitutes are honest.” “Don’t be a prostitute and then find God at 29.” “Many women screw up their own lives and then make it everyone else’s problem.” “I’m not the enemy. The real enemy is these simps and these old, bitter, single women with nothing better to do.” “Old, bitter women lie to younger women because they don’t want to be alone in their misery.” “Women are fatter than ever. They’re sluttier than ever. More mental disorders. More tattoos. More drinking.”

“Florida Man” by Allen Hunter Apr 28, 2024

The boys drink and review Chocolate Cherry Stout by Firestone Walker Brewing, then discuss an alternative history book about the evolution of humans.

In this view of human evolution, a different group of humans – the Floyds – took over Beringia and then migrated into America. When Columbus came to the Americas, he didn’t find Homo Sapiens. He found the Floyds.

The book starts by introducing us to this alternative modern life, where modern man and this other version of man are living side by side. We learn the history – from Beringia until the conflict with Columbus.

First contact took place in Florida, which is why they’re called “Floros,” politely, or “Floyds,” derogatively.

The Floros are very compact and strong, and very useful in close-in fighting. They were captured en masse and taken to Europe to serve as infantry in everybody’s armies.

They integrated into society to some extent, but remained second-class citizens.

Once warfare modernized, and close-in fighting was not prized to the same extent, the Floros lost some of their utility in the infantry. They still did manual labor, which they were very good at, but they didn’t bring particularly good skills.

Modern man (homo sapiens) tried to integrate them into society.

One flaw in the book is an unrealistic expectation that there was no interbreeding – because the Floyds were not very attractive.

The Floridius Rights Movement advocates for the Floros and tries to help them, but the Floros don’t want the help.

The book pokes fun at a couple modern themes.

Liberal woke activists who protest on some people’s behalf, but those people don’t really want it.
A simpler life is a worse life, and more material stuff makes a better life.

After the end of the book review, P&C discuss some of the issues raised by the book, such as why are we the only version of “man” left on the planet? Why did the Neanderthals and Denisovans die out?

P&C go into an extensive discussion of differences between Neanderthals and modern humans, and why we may have replaced them.

410: Christian Nationalism -- is it a threat? Apr 27, 2024

P&C drink and review Experimental Black IPA from Bell’s, then discuss Christian Nationalism.

First, what the heck is Christian Nationalism? Pigweed started with three theories.

An invention of the left to denigrate patriotic Christians.
It’s a real movement that is way overdue if we’re going to save this great nation.
It’s a real movement that is a threat to religious liberty and will transform America into a theocracy.

Were Christian nationalists behind Jan. 6, and do they want to create something like The Handmaid’s Tale? That’s what the left wants us to believe.

The opposite is the case. The left is trying to eliminate the influence of Christianity. The Amy Coney Barrett nomination process showed that clearly. We’ve come to the point that being a sincere believer might disqualify you from public office.

Four separate Supreme Court cases – that have never been overturned – say that the United States is a Christian nation.

What does that mean? Is it contrary to pluralism? Does it mean that we round up unbelievers and make them second-class citizens?

Quite the opposite. It’s because we’re a Christian nation that we give rights and respect to other people.

The fact is that all law is based on some system of morality. The only question is what morality you are going to use.

***

Here's a link to the Florida Man episode.

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/XcC185ICaJb

409: The outrageous cost of professional sports Apr 27, 2024

P&C drink and review Hell or High Watermelon from 21st Amendment Brewery, then, with special guest Longinus, discuss the cost of professional sports.

Why are we, in the words of Pigweed, willing to spend so much money to watch grown men play children’s games?

But that’s not to the point. The boys are focused on the cost of a baseball or football game. Why has it increased so much? Is it worth it?

From 1970 to the present – in today’s dollars – the cost for a family of four to attend a baseball game is about 4x. Who pays this, and why?

Along with this increase in prices, we have an increase in coverage. When Pigweed was a lad, there was one, one-hour show on sports. Now, we have several 24x7 sports stations talking about sports all year long.

There’s also the moral question. In a world that can’t decide what a woman is, sports provides some clear guidelines. The player is either in or out. The ball is in the strike zone or it’s not.

Another angle – people can’t sit quietly with their own thoughts. They need a distraction. Every bar and restaurant has constant sports.

Is sports filling a hole left by the lack of religion, or community? Also, to what extent is this a public question? Is it in the local government’s interest to get people involved in local sports?

406: This month in woke with John Wayne Jew Apr 25, 2024

The boys drink and review Pigweed's homebrew Irish Stout, then invite John Wayne Jew onto the show to speak about the month in woke (at about 4:00).

The silliness of woke-ism is almost unbelievable. P&C and their special guest discuss some of the obvious lunacies, including the following.

Some Canadian police recently encouraged residents to leave their car keys outside so thieves can steal cars without any violent confrontation.

After the destruction of the Key bridge in Baltimore, some wokesters want a name chance, since Francis Scott Key doesn't meet modern moral standards.

A Democratic representative says black should be exempt from taxation to make up for past injustices.

NPR hired 50 new interns. Only 5 of them were white males.

On the positive side, some companies are pulling back on DEI and other woke policies, but it's not clear if that's a significant trend.

408: Memories of my Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Apr 25, 2024

P&C drink and review Cru Cab IPA from Big Truck brewery, then invite special guest Longinus to help them discuss a novella by Marquez. This is part of P&C's on-going "shortcut to the classics" series.

The book is written by an old man about an old man who is reflecting on his life.

On his 90th birthday, the unnamed protagonist -- who is a confirmed bachelor and frequent patron of brothels -- wanted to give himself a night of wild love with an adolescent virgin. The book is about his reminiscenses, but mostly about his relationship with this one girl.

The protagonist has lived 90 years with no love in his life, but now, at the end, he falls madly in love with a very young girl, with whom he doesn't have sex.

The book presents some deep reflections on love, sex, passion, and jealousy. In one sense, it's a very raunchy and disturbing book, with difficult themes. In another sense, it's an interesting commentary on love.

407: Jehovah's Witnesses vs. the Seventh Day Adventists Apr 18, 2024

The boys drink and review Crimson Crue red ale from Dogfish Head brewery, then discuss apocalyptic religions -- specifically the JWs and the SDAs.

The two groups have points in common and some important distinctions.

Both groups are rooted in the Millerite movement and some disappointing predictions about the end of the world. They both

* believe in one God,

* are somewhat obsessed with the Book of Revelation,

* have some odd views about what happens to the soul at death,

* believe the Bible is inspired and infallible, and

* are (or can be) a touch cultic.

The distinctions are more important. The JWs are not Christians, in the sense that they do not believe in the Trinity. SDAs do. 7th Day Adventists also have a better understanding of salvation, and several other things.

SDAs have some interesting distinctions -- like their insistence on a Saturday Sabbath, and their reliance on the prophecies of Ellen G. White -- but they are Christians.

405: The Big Five personality traits, plus pronoun class Apr 11, 2024

The boys drink and review Super Thick Pastry Stout from Old Mother Brewing in Frederick, Maryland, then discuss the Big 5 personality characteristics.

There are a lot of personality tests out there, like Myers Briggs and the Enneagram. Those aren't as solidly based in science as the Big Five.

You can remember the Big Five with with of two acrostics, OCEAN or CANOE. They are ...

The Big Five personality traits, also known as the Five Factor Model (FFM), are a widely accepted framework for understanding human personality. They represent broad dimensions of individual differences in personality. Here's a brief explanation of each:

Openness to Experience features characteristics such as imagination, insight, and a broad range of interests. Individuals high in openness are often curious about the world and other people, eager to learn new things, and open to new experiences, including unconventional ideas or novel solutions. They tend to be creative and appreciative of art and beauty.

Conscientiousness involves high levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, and goal-directed behaviors. Highly conscientious individuals are organized, reliable, and diligent. They plan ahead, work systematically, and carry out tasks with attention to detail. This trait is often linked with academic and career success.

Extroversion is characterized by excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and high amounts of emotional expressiveness. Extroverts derive energy from social interaction, are often enthusiastic and action-oriented, enjoy being around people, and are often perceived as full of life and energy.

Agreeableness includes attributes such as trust, altruism, kindness, affection, and other prosocial behaviors. Individuals who score high in agreeableness tend to be cooperative, compassionate, and friendly. They are more inclined to help others and value getting along with people.

Neuroticism is associated with emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and sadness. Individuals high in neuroticism may experience more frequent and severe negative emotions than their peers. They tend to respond worse to stressors, are more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening, and can struggle to bounce back from challenging events.

After the boys conclude their discussion of the Big Five, Pigweed relates a story from Mrs. Pigweed, who went to pronoun class. P&C review some of the material from the class and conclude it's a huge smoking pile of nonsense.

At the end of the show, Crowhill takes a shot at reading "the worst sentence ever written" by Judith Butler.

404: The decline of religion is not good for society Apr 06, 2024

The boys drink and review Planetary hazy IPA from the Ministry of Brewing, then discuss the decline of religion in the west.

The boys review some of the stats on the decline in church attendance, the rise of the "nones," and how religion has less and less influence on western civilization.

But there are some important elements of society that are heavily and positively influenced by religion.

Many science-minded people think it's good that religion is in decline. The so-called "new atheists" say we can craft a new morality based on reason. Is that really working?

This aligns with the the ideas of the enlightenment -- that reason could replace religion. But does that work?

Richard Dawkins recently revealed that he was a "cultural Christian." Is that all we have?

The P&C show has frequently discussed an evolutionary psychology explanation for religion. Societies with religion edged out those without.

There's a quote attributed to Chesterton that says "when men cease to believe in God, they don't believe nothing, they believe anything."

There is a God-shaped hole in our hearts. If that hole isn't filled with God, it will be filled with something else, like environmentalism, wokeness/activism, identity/narcissism/transgenderism.

Neitzche feared that when religion died, it would be replaced with hyper-nationalism and other ills. "I didn't see this coming....but, I'm not surprised."

There are lots of indications that the concept of God underwrites many of the social norms that we rely on.

There's also the issue of archetypes and evolutionary psychology.

One argument for the existence of God is that without God everything goes to crap. Is that where we are? Is God necessary, whether he exists or not?

403: Is the federal government too big? Apr 04, 2024

The boys drink and review Tmave Pivo, a Czech Dark Lager by Ten Eyck brewing.

54% of people in America think the government has too much power. Does the federal government do too much? Is it too big?

Government debt has been a problem for a while, but recently it has spiked to almost unbelievable levels. Is this a good thing? How do we stop it?

What is the federal government supposed to do, and how does that match with what the federal government actually does? There are some things the government does -- and spends money on -- that have no justification in the constitution.

The Ben Franklin players finish the show with a dramatic reading.

402: Herbert's Dune vs. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Mar 29, 2024

The boys drink and review Giant Flaming Zombie Polar Bear Double IPA by Atlas Brewing, then discuss Frank Herbert's Dune and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

Which one is better? Where are they similar, and where are they different?

Dune is a great work of science fiction and the Lord of the Rings is a great work of fantasy. They have a lot of things in common, including a medieval fee, knights, castles, great houses, wizard-like characters, and immense, involved world building.

There are strong differences as well. Dune looks to the future while the LOTR looks to the past, and has more of a nostalgic feel. Dune is technological, but in the LOTR, it's usually the bad guys who use technology.

The LOTR has a much clearer moral universe, with more differentiation between the good guys and the bad guys. It's not exactly clear who the good guys are in Dune.

Tolkien was a devout Catholic, and the LOTR is infused with a religious sensibility, even though there is not actual religion in the book. Herbert was not a believer and presents religion as a tool to be manipulated for political ends.

The LOTR is very mythological, and sometimes even sacramental, while Dune is speculative and includes psychedelics.

The P&C Man of the Week this time is James Carville. (Starting about 34:00.)

401: Questions to ask in speed dating, plus Planet Fitness gets Budweisered Mar 27, 2024

The boys drink and review Big Red Norm Red Ale from Denizen's Brewing, then discuss speed dating.

Imagine that a friend drags you into speed dating. What would you do?

First, you have to decide what your intentions are. But given that, what questions can you ask to find out if the woman is nuts?

What are the deal-breaker questions? Tattoos? Drinking? (Not drinking?) Weed?

The questions you ask in speed dating might focus on sussing out a few issues, such as ...

* How boring they are

* Their interests

* Personality

* Neuroticism

* Intelligence

There's not much time. How would you prioritize your questions?

Man of the week: All the Planet Fitness members who are leaving.

400: John Money and gender confusion Mar 24, 2024

The boys drink and review Delicious IPA from Stone's Brewing, then try to work through the confusing world of gender and the horrible legacy of gender theory.

Isn't "gender" about language? How did it come to describe people's sexuality?

Enter John Money, the disgusting pervert who is the father of gender theory. He promoted the idea that gender is not connected with sex, and that gender is malleable. He coined the terms gender role and sexual orientation.

Money was behind the tragedy of David Reimer, who after a horrible accident during a circumcision lost his entire penis. Money convinced the parents to raise the boy as a girl.

It was a catastrophe, but it became the proof -- among sexologists and perverts -- that sex was just a social construct, and that if you raise a boy as a girl, he'll be a girl.

It didn't work out that way and it ruined poor David's life. He never took to his female "identity," and eventually committed suicide.

We're coming to a point of reckoning. Children who had this butchery done to them are growing up, and they're starting to sue the monsters who did this to them.

It won't be long before we look back on this "gender theory" nonsense the way we look back on the Satanic panic. But how many children will have to be butchered before we get there?

399: Electric vehicle news -- can they replace gasoline? Mar 23, 2024

The boys drink and review Crowhill's homebrewed Viking Stout, then catch up on recent news with electric vehicles.

There has been concern about fires and EVs. They burn hot, and it's hard to put them out. With some experience behind us now, while there are still concerns, it's not as bad as feared.

EVs are still mostly a luxury item. They're great as a second car, but they can't completely replace gasoline vehicles. They don't work well in the cold. They take a long time to charge. There aren't enough charging stations. They don't have enough range. It would be a disaster if people tried to evacuate Florida in EVs.

Home charging is not an option for people who live in apartments, or otherwise don't have access to home charging options.

Government goals for EV production and adoption have been way too optimistic. After a solid flood of early adopters, demand has softened considerably.

EVs are not as green as people expect. They usually get their power from coal. The materials required to make them are mined in environmentally unfriendly ways. They're not easy to dispose of or recycle. The metals used to create EVs release toxic chemicals into the soil that are toxic to important bacteria.

EVs are also much heavier than gasoline cars. Parking garages, safety guard rails, and other infrastructure will have to be re-engineered to deal with the increased weight. It also affects passenger safety in crashes.

Put simply, there's no free lunch. EVs are a marginal improvement in some ways, but they're not the green panacea we've been told.

We need to put away the cultic, apocalyptic, emergency thinking and allow engineers and the market to figure this out.

398: Tucker Carlson's interview of Vladimir Putin Mar 21, 2024

The boys drink and review O'Hara's Nitro Irish Red, then discuss Tucker's trip to Moscow and his chat with Putin.

When only one side of a story can be told, you can be sure you're not hearing the whole truth. It makes sense to try to hear the other side.

According to some, Putin is the devil and you can't say anything nice about him or give him any platform. (Even though the same critics were jealous that they didn't get the interview.)

Putin begins the interview with a half hour of his perspective on Russian history, but they eventually get into some interesting Q&A about Ukraine and other issues.

Some of Putin's claims were absurd, such as blaming Poland for WWII. But there were other details about possible peace deals to end the Ukraine war that we don't hear about much in the U.S.

After the interview, Tucker went on a tour of Moscow and said some very stupid things about grocery stores and subway stations in Russia. That undercut the significance of the interview and made him look stupid.

397: The Oresteia by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Mar 17, 2024

Pigweed, Crowhill, Longinus, and all three wives went to Baltimore to see an adaptation of The Oresteia, which was originally a 3-part play by Aeschylus. In this podcast they reflect on the play and related issues.

The play focuses on the web of vengeance within the family of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, starting with Agamemnon's sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia, before the battle of Troy.

When Agamemnon returns home with Cassandra the prophetess of Apollo as a spoil of war, Clytemnestra invites him back in regal style, but then murders both her husband and his new girlfriend.

It then falls on Orestes, their son -- urged on by their daughter Electra -- to avenge the death of his father.

But then, who is to avenge Clytemnestra? How far does this go? Where does it end?

The play addresses issues of just war, faith, free will and determinism, religious and moral obligations, family relations, and vengeance and justice.

The show ends with a discussion of Troy and the alleged historical backdrop to the play.

395: Why can't we deport violent criminals, plus 4 more topics Mar 12, 2024

The boys drink and review Founder's Dirty Bastard, a Scotch ale, then they discuss the distinction between Scotch and Scottish ale before they get into five topics in five minutes each.

#1 Why can't we deport violent criminals who are here illegally? NYC mayor Eric Adams says he has to change the law before he can do that. How did we get into such a ridiculous position?

#2 Why did Sports Illustrated tank? Was it the internet? Online vs. offline issues? The overall decline in publishing? Or was it that they went woke? The media doesn't want to admit that going woke sometimes causes you to go broke.

#3 Is the NFL responsible when people don't dress warmly at a cold football game? Do we want a nanny state where every organization is telling you what's best for you?

#4 Grammar and usage problems that bother P&C. It's vs. its. Unnecessary apostrophes. Then vs than. Media and data are plural. Your vs. you're. To, too, and two. Their, there, they're. Principal vs. principle. Capitol vs. capital. Insure, assure, ensure.

#5 Voting for the good of the country even if it affects you negatively. Some people actually have the good of others in mind even when that requires incredible sacrifice.

396: Lord of the Flies by William Golding Mar 12, 2024

In another edition of "shortcut to the classics," P&C drink and review Pigweed's homebrewed IPA, then discuss Lord of the Flies by William Golding. (Starting at 2:55.)

Pigweed gives a little biographical background on the author, then the boys delve into the heart of darkness and survival in this compelling short novel.

The story takes place on a deserted island, where a group of British boys find themselves stranded following a plane crash. With no adults to guide them, the boys attempt to govern themselves ... with disastrous consequences.

"Lord of the Flies" is a compelling exploration of human nature, power dynamics, and the thin veneer of civilization that separates order from chaos. Through the eyes of Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and other vividly drawn characters, Golding poses urgent questions about leadership, morality, and the inherent savagery within us all.

As we discuss the novel's themes, symbols, and the development of the characters and their interactions, we invite you to reflect on what "Lord of the Flies" reveals about the complexities of human behavior and how fragile "civilization" really is.

394: Are educated people smarter? Mar 06, 2024

P&C drink and review a Bock from Guilford Hall Brewing, then ask whether educated people are smarter than the man on the street.

Even if you could make the point that smarter people should make public policy, are our educational systems making people smarter? Probably not. "Man on the street" interviews regularly show that college-educated people are dumb as a mud fence.

If you ask the college student and the man on the street questions like this ...

* Can men menstruate?

* Is drug-induced breastmilk from a man as good as milk from a woman?

* Is your neighborhood safer with fewer cops?

* Should illegal aliens get a home and an allowance?

... it's the college student who gives you nonsense and the man on the street who talks sense.

If you're educated, you might believe something like this. Genitalia have nothing to do with your "gender," but cutting them off or creating fake ones is "gender affirming."

Babied, temper-tantrum-throwing morons in the universities have created an environment where people are afraid to say the truth. As a consequence, education has become indoctrination -- into woke insanity.

393: Democrats are the party of projection Mar 05, 2024

The boys drink and review Snow Pants Oatmeal Stout by Union Brewing, then discuss how the left tends to project what they're doing on the right. (Starting at 4:00.)

"Projection" is, according to Freud, a kind of defense mechanism where people attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives onto other people.

Let's say there was a political party that spent four years saying "illegitimate president, not my president, Russian collusion, Stacey Abrams is the real governor, Glenn Youngkin is not the real governor," then after having done that for years they said "why are Republicans such election deniers?"

Is this a Freudian thing, or is a conscious, deliberate, strategic choice to accuse the other side of what you're doing?

This concept applies to political violence. After years of violence, riots, burning public buildings, etc., the Democrats accuse conservatives of being domestic terrorists.

"Threat to Democracy" has become the phrase of the hour for the left. After they tried to take down an elected president, caricatured all calls to tighten election laws (to make it harder to cheat) as "voter suppression," and so on, they have the gall to say that ff you don't vote for the Democrats, "democracy" is at stake.

The people who try to remove a candidate from the ballot aren't suppressing democracy. No. That's the people who say the voters should have a right to choose.

It's upside down world, and the accusations are completely unhinged.

392: Hungary and Viktor Orban's 12 points Feb 27, 2024

P&C drink and review a robust porter from Smuttynose Brewing, then discuss Hungary and the political stratgies of Viktor Orban.

Pigweed gives a quick historical overview of the origins of the Hungarian people and nation, with a focus on their unique language.

The EU isn't pleased with Hungary these days. They feel as if Hungary is backsliding on democratic norms and other values held by the EU.

Viktor Orban is part of the reason the EU isn't happy with Hungary. He has an interesting agenda / playbook that he has shared with other conservatives to help them in their battle against liberals.

Here's a quick summary of his 12 rules.

1. Play by your own rules. Refuse to accept the solutions and paths offered by others.

2. National conservatism in domestic politics. Churches and families are the building blocks of the nation. Stay on the side of voters. They didn't want immigrants, so Hungary built a wall. Don't overthink things. (The wall is chain link with security cameras.) Find the issues where the left is completely out of touch with reality and highlight them.

3. National interest in foreign policy. Liberals see some sort of cosmic battle against good and evil. But we've had a few of these "wars to end all wars," and it didn't work. Orban's response is simple. Hungary first. We want a foreign policy based on our interests.

4. Have our own media. Expose your opponent's intentions. Left-wing opinions only appear to be the majority because the media amplifies them. The west used to believe that the media should be independent of politics, but the liberals don't obey those rules.

5. Break down taboos. Not only today's, but tomorrow's. In Hungary they expose what the Left are preparing for before they even take action. For example, LGBT propaganda targeting children.

6. Economy, economy, economy. the left wants to operate the economy according to abstract notions. We need to pursue policies that benefit the majority of voters. People want jobs and a better life, not economic theories.

7. Do not get pushed into the extreme. E.g., conspiracy theories. You alienate a large portion of your audience.

8. A book a day keeps the defeat away. Orban sets aside an entire day every week for reading. Reading helps you understand what your opponents are up to.

9. Have faith. A lack of faith is dangerous. If you don't believe there will be a final reckoning, and that you are accountable to God, you will think you can do anything that's in your power. Encourage young conservatives to engage with faith.

10. Make friends. Our enemies have one another's back. By contrast, conservatives squabble over the smallest issue. then we wonder why they corner us. Look for common ground and ways you can work with others. If we don't, our opponents will hunt us down one by one.

11. Build communities. There is no conservative political success without communities. The lonier people are, the more votes go to the liberals.

12. Build institutions. Think tanks, educational centers, talent workshops, youth organizations, whatever -- with a political aspect. New ideas, new thoughts, and new people are needed again and again. That's our ammunition.

There's no silver bullet. Only work.

Why did the USA become such a mess that we have to look to Hungary for inspiration?

Election edition - Who will be on the ticket in 2024? Feb 23, 2024

A listener wrote the show to ask for P&Cs predictions for the elections. The boys are reluctant to predict much because of all the uncertainties at this stage.

#1 -- This is clearly not plan 1 for the Democrats. They hoped Kamala would get some on-the-job training so Biden could serve for one term and usher her in. It's not going to plan. Kamala is incurably awful.

#2 -- The lawfare against Trump is not going as well as Democrats would like, but it could certainly have an influence. Many independents won't vote for Trump if he's found guilty of a criminal offence.

#3 -- We have two very old men. Unfortunately things happen to old men.

#4 -- There are still people in the wings, like smarmy Gavin Newsome.

#5 -- The Democrat establishment seems to be turning against Biden. He seems like a doddering, angry old man, and it's getting impossible to hide it.

#6 -- Democrats are losing their lock on the black vote, which would be a disaster. Democrats might have to pull some strings to keep that voting block.

#7 -- How will RFK affect the race?

They reluctantly end the show with their predictions for the election.

391: The best rap song, fat swiss lesbians, back to the office, confusibles, and the "he gets us" ad Feb 23, 2024

The boys drink and review Jailbreak's White Russian cream ale, then discuss five topics in five minutes.

#1 -- Confusibles. The boys review some words people commonly use incorrectly. That vs. which. Farther vs. further. etc.

#2 -- Swiss fat lesbians. A journalist was sentenced to 60 days in jail for calling a self-described fat lesbian a fat lesbian. Which is true. She is a fat lesbian. But to call her one is somehow hate speech. Which is a ridiculous concept to begin with.

#3 -- Is "back to the office" a tool of the patriarchy? Here's the logic. Men are more willing to work jobs they don't like, put in more hours, and put up with crap than women are. Women have more emphasis on work-life balance. Working from home is better for work-life balance, so forcing employees back to the office disproportionately affects women.

#4 -- The greatest rap song of all time! Ben Shapiro (aka Dr. Dreidel) joins with Tom McDonald to make a politically conservative rap song. It ends up topping the charts!! Crowhill is not impressed.

#5 -- The "He gets us" Superbowl ad. It's pretty lame, and it seems to reaffirm unfair criticisms of Christians, but on the positive side, it's possibly getting people interested in Jesus.

390: How George Floyd + Covid ruined America Feb 18, 2024

The boys drink and review Royal Crush from Flying Dog Brewery, then discuss how the combination of two events -- the death of George Floyd and the Covid pandemic -- made America crazy. (Starting at 3:40.)

The confluence of these two events was just too much for the collective psyche. Everything had to change.

+ We had to get rid of the Indian princess on Land O Lakes.

+ The NFL put silly sayings in end zones and helmets.

+ All the voting laws had to change.

+ You have to believe that men can have periods and play in women's sports.

+ Public drug use and defacation became a right.

+ Tent cities and shoplifting became acceptable.

+ Angry mobs can pull down public monuments with no consequences.

+ ... and many more things ....

We attained peak anger. Every grievance had to be aired and addressed.

P&C list some of the craziness, then try to explain why it happened.

389: Why did nation building work in some cases and not others? Feb 14, 2024

The boys drink and review Red Flannel Logger from Aldus brewing, then discuss the successes and failures of nation building. (Starting at 4:50.) Why does it work sometimes and not others?

Pigweed calls this the curse of the Marshall Plan. The U.S. has a history of success with nation building with both Germany and Japan after WWII. Since then, we haven't had such great success.

Does every human heart yearn for freedom, McDonald's, blue jeans and democracy, the way George W. Bush believed? Does economic freedom and opportunity lead to political freedom? It doesn't seem to.

Why does it work in some cases but not in others? What are the necessary preconditions to a political structure that allows for free, democratic forms of government?

388: Five short stories by Anton Checkov Feb 14, 2024

In another episode of "shortcut to the classics," P&C plus special guest Longinus review a few short stories by Anton Checkov (starting at 3:25).

After a quick review of his life, they review and discuss five short stories.

The Black Monk is a story about Andrei Kovrin, an intellectual who experiences a mental breakdown that leads to hallucinations of a black monk.

In The House with the Mezzanine a young painter becomes enamored of two temperamentally different sisters during his stay at a country house.

The Peasants explores the harsh reality of peasant life in Russia, following Nikolai Chikildeev who, as a result of sickness, has to leave his Moscow job to live with his poor family.

Gooseberries is a strange story about a man who is so consumed with achieving his dream that he is indifferent to the sufferings of others.

In The Lady with the Toy Dog recounts a love affair by a player -- Dmitri Gurov -- who "fooled around and fell in love" with Anna Sergeyevna, a married woman he met on vacation in Yalta. The affair seems to have come to an end, but Dmitri pursues Anna to the city.

387: The Texas immigration showdown Feb 02, 2024

P&C don't usually talk about current headlines, but every once in a while an issue arises that compels comment. Hence "Nooze and Booze."

Immigration has been a crisis since before Ronald Reagan and has been a top concern for voters all that time. Nevertheless, both parties have refused to address it, and the Democrats have been absolutely insistent on open borders.

It's been causing a crisis for the border states for decades, but the problem is spilling over into our major cities. It's causing an absolute catastrophe. But still Biden and the Democrats insist on open borders. Why?

The boys discuss possible motivations.

If we need more workers, fine. Amend the law to bring in more workers -- legally. P&C have no objection to legal immigration, and Crowhill makes that point about 300 times. If we need more people, do it through proper channels.

Why are the Democrats so fixated on illegal immigration? Illegal immigrants are hurting the poor -- the very people the Democrats claim to be trying to help.

The U.S. already brings in more immigrants than any other country in the world. And that's not enough?

386: Smart phones are a threat to society Jan 29, 2024

The boys drink and review Crowhill's homebrewed extra special bitter, then discuss the problems with smart phones (starting at 3:10). Mostly relying on the work of Jonathan Haidt, the boys discuss the good and the bad of social media and smart phones. Imagine social media like giving everybody a dart gun, and the social media platforms promoting everybody who likes to shoot. Social media makes even small conversations a mine field. A college professor lecturing 200 students can be a world-wide villain before the end of his lecture if somebody is offended and tweets it. The outrage mob on social media ruins reputations. As a result, most people self censor. They're scared to death of the mob. Smart phones are a particular problem for teenage girls. The effect has been severe and very negative. At a time when girls are already awkward, confused, and struggling, they compare their bodies to the air-brushed perfection of the top 0.1% of society. Some of them also post images of themselves to be criticized by millions of strangers. It's no wonder they're depressed. There are a lot of times when we should take a breath before we respond. We need to cool down and think before we speak. But social media is not that way. It's all in the moment. The Libertarians will say this should all be handled by parents. That's not reasonable or responsible. It's very hard for parents to impose a limit that the rest of society doesn't uphold. There's a place for the culture to create a limit. Social media is addictive because of the dopamine hit when you get a like, but it's also ready to destroy you on a moment's notice if you offend the wrong person.

385: Dogs vs. cats -- which are better? Jan 22, 2024

The boys drink and review their friend Ben's Mosaic IPA, then discuss the relative virtues of dogs and cats as pets. (Starting at 7:15.)

Neither Pigweed nor Crowhill grew up with a dog or a cat, but both ended up with cats as adults.

Pigweed takes the cat case and Crowhill takes the dog case. They go back and forth on the relative merits and demerits of each.

* Cats are low maintenance.

* Dogs can be trained.

* Cats are better as "in-house" pets, so they're good for apartments.

* Dogs are affectionate, but also needy.

* Cats keep pests away, but dogs keep bad guys at bay.

* There are service dogs. There are no service cats.

* Cats are quiet (mostly).

* Dogs are loyal.

* Cats are less expensive.

* You can trust a dog with your baby. He'll actually protect your baby. With his life.

* Cats use the litter box. You have to walk a dog.

* Dogs promote a more active lifestyle.

* Cats groom themselves.

* There are more sizes and varieties of dogs than cats.

384: John Adams and the moral foundations of the U.S. government Jan 20, 2024

The boys drink and review Crowhill's homemade Italian bitters, then discuss John Adams (starting about 3:50).

Pigweed starts off with some historical information on Adams, our second president, including his on-going dispute with Thomas Jefferson.

In a different context, John Adams famously said "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

What does that mean, and how are we to understand that in our modern society?

The equation seems to be that more freedom requires more personal self-restraint and morality. Without self-restraint and morality, you need a much stronger government. Think Saddam Hussein.

Or, to put it very simply, you have to trust people enough that you can leave them alone.

Unfortunately, modern politics seems to be a choice between which politician promises to give us more stuff.

383: The connection between mindfulness and joie de vivre Jan 19, 2024

The boys drink and review Founder's Breakfast Stout then discuss the similarities between mindfulness and joie de vivre (starting about 3:30).

The very act of reviewing a beer is an example. The point is not to see how fast you can get a beer into your belly, but to savor the moment, pay attention to the world as it's going by, and understand its complexities.

What does mindfulness have in common with joie de vivre? They're both about noticing what's going on and taking pleasure in the small things.

"Mindfulness" is often associated with New Age weirdness, but it doesn't have to be. At its core, it involves one part of your mind dispassionately observing what's happening in another part of your mind, or in your body. It seems to have a connection with the acceptance of suffering.

Joie de vivre is similar except that it has an emphasis on cheerfulness and enjoyment.

For both, you're focusing on the present moment.

Most of our lives are chores and obligations. If you view all those things as drudgery, and your "real life" is only the fun stuff, you're not going to have much real life. You need to learn to enjoy all the aspects of your life.

Are you going to allow your circumstances to control your life and your emotions, or are you going to take charge and live the life you want to live?

382: The soft bigotry of low expectations Jan 17, 2024

The boys drink and review Pigweed's brown ale, then discuss how low expectations harm the people they're supposed to help. (The beer review ends at 3:53.)

George Bush made the phrase "the soft bigotry of low expectations" popular in his 2000 campaign.

The evil of this "soft bigotry" is that it comes from people who pretend to be helping. But when you fail to hold people to reasonable standards, you're not helping them at all.

If you institutionalize low expectations to increase the participation of some group, everyone will now question the qualifications of the people in that group. How could they not?

P&C discuss how this poisonous attitude infects many areas of our culture.

It infects the SAT, grades, hiring, recruiting for schools, and even baking contests.

381: Does Santa need an evil counterpart, and other questions and answers Jan 11, 2024

P&C drink and review Layered Up winter stout from Victory Brewing, then respond to some listener questions (starting at 1:47).

* Does Santa really need Crampus as an evil counterpart? Would Pigweed actually put coal in the stocking of a bad kid?

* Pentamom takes us to task on geography and explains the countries named "Guinea."

* Did the Sackler family face any consequences as a result of their evil doings with Oxycontin.

* What do P&C think of Taylor Swift as Time's man of the year, and what about the fact that universities teach classes about her?

* Why didn't we cover "Our Lady of Clearwater" in our show on apparitions?

* When are you going to upgrade your sound system?

* Is it really great -- as the media seems to think -- that the Baltimore mayor knocked up his girlfriend?

* Is there any evidence that the Flashman incident ever happened?

380: Is isolationism a bad thing? Jan 10, 2024

P&C drink and review "Oaked Vanilla Porter" by Sam Adams, then discuss isolationism (starting at 3:57).

They start off with a general definition, then talk about the history of isolationism in American politics -- from the earliest days.

Americans don't like "entangling alliances." Or at least they say they don't.

There's been a strong current of isolationism in American politics since the beginning. Washington, Jefferson, and Monroe created the three pillars of American policy: neutrality, unilateralism, and non-intervention.

Also, even though we are a "nation of immigrants," we've had extended periods where we didn't allow almost any immigration.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor pretty much ended isolationism in the United States.

Now, the term "isolationist" is used as a slur, but it's become more popular because we're sick of sending our boys to die for other people's problems.

As with Pearl Harbor, the attack on the World Trade Center put an end to growing American isolationism.

But it's coming back. Trump was somewhat isolationist, and modern Republicans complain that we care more about Ukraine's borders than our own.

Why does the United States bear most of the burden of keeping the shipping lanes open?

Is it "isolationist" to say that the United States has taken on too much of these burdens?

379: Lady Ballers review Jan 10, 2024

P&C drink and review Paulaner's Salvator, which is a delicious dopplebock, then review the new movie "Lady Ballers" (starting at 4:08).

The right claims that the left has been taking over the culture. The good folk at The Daily Wire have decided to start making movies to challenge the left's hegemony in this area.

Movies from the right are often poor quality and preachy. The Daily Wire has raised the bar considerably.

"Lady Ballers" makes fun of the absolute insanity of allowing men to compete in women's sports.

A group of washed up, former high school basketball stars pretend they're women and completely dominate women's basketball.

It's not the greatest comedy, but it gets some decent laughs and it makes a very important point.

The media has mostly refused to even acknowledge that the movie exists, and when they do review it they simply cite one or two comments online. E.g., "One reviewer said ..."

376: The Dead by James Joyce Dec 28, 2023

The boys review Crowhill's 2023 Christmas beer, then discuss a short story from James Joyce.

Pigweed starts off with some biographical information about Joyce, and how "The Dead" fits into his collected works. The story was finished in 1907.

Gabriel Conroy is the main character, and we see some of the action through his eyes.

The whole story takes places in one snowy evening. It might have been the feast of Epiphany. The hosts have an annual musical celebration.

Joyce sets up a lot of expectations for possible tension that never come to fruition. The actual tension doesn't appear until fairly late in the story, and it's completely unexpected.

Conroy is the responsible man at the party. He carves the goose. He sits at the head of the table. He gives a speech. He's a kind, educated man who is sensitive to other people's needs and does what's expected.

Half way through the story you're wondering when people are going to start dying. It is "The Dead" after all.

But there are no calamities. The role of death and dying only comes out at the very end. Gabriel's wife hears a song that reminds her of a long lost lover, which we only learn at the end. We also learn that the man is dead.

378: What is populism, is it a good thing, and what about Javier Milei? Dec 28, 2023

The boys drink and review Winter Storm, "a Category 5 ale" from Heavy Seas, then discuss populism in the U.S., and the career of Javier Milei.

Most politicians want to appear as an ordinary, regular person -- at least when they're campaigning -- but a "populist" adds a critical element of a contrast between the people and the elite establishment, whom they ridicule or demonize.

Populism might become more prevalent when there's more of a disparity between the rulers and the common man.

Populism is not left-wing or right-wing. Donald Trump is a populist, but so is Bernie Sanders. Populists appeal directly to the people and tend to bypass the establishment.

Left-wing populism has an economic focus and emphasizes economic and class struggle. They talk about redistributing resources, and are against corporations.

Right-wing populism has more of a focus on cultural and nationalistic issues. It tends to be anti immigrant.

There seems to have been more right-wing populism recently. This may be because of the growing power of the entrenched bureaucracy.

One criticism of populism is that you're exchanging the educated, elite expert with the uneducated WalMart shoppers. The truth is that the educated elite don't always get better results. U.S. education tanked after we created the Department of Education.

Javier Milei is a libertarian populist who recently won power in Argentina. He promises to drastically cut government spending and eliminate half of the government ministries.

"The thievery of politics is over," he said.

It will be interesting to see how well he does.

377: Stories by Hans Christian Anderson Dec 24, 2023

The boys drink and review Pigweed's holiday beer, then discuss a few odd stories from Hans Christian Anderson (starting at 4:33).

Although he wrote a lot of other works, it's the fairy tales that made Anderson famous.

Some of them are very well known, like The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea, Thumbelina, The Emperor's New Clothes, and others.

P&C aren't interested in these, but in Anderson's weirder stories, so they review and discuss "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Traveling Companion," and "The Tinder Box."

But in the spirit of the holidays they also review some of his Christmas stories: The Little Match Girl and The Fir Tree.

Is Diversity our strength? Dec 20, 2023

The boys drink and review Anchor's Christmas beer, then discuss diversity.

Note: this is an older show from the archives.

Is diversity our strength? That's what the political elite tell us. But is that true?

Diversiity has a very American sound. It reminds us of the saying on the statue of liberty, and reminds us that we're a nation of immigrants.

But the word has become a cudgel. When Trump decided he would address the number one concern of voters -- the border -- the left used "diversity" as a weapon against him.

The reality is that diversity isn't a value. It's just a description. Diversity in and of itself doesn't make something better or worse.

We care about outcomes, not the diversity of the people who bring about that outcome.

Also, "diversity" is very narrow. It's been limited to sex, race, and sexual orientation. There are hundreds of other ways to categorized people. Why aren't they part of the "diversity" cult?

What it really means is "we think there are too many straight white people."

The Flashman Incident and cancel culture Dec 15, 2023

The boys drink and review Crowhill's Tavern Ale, then discuss the international outcry over the Flashman Incident.

Some stories, like this one by Hunter Allen, seem like they should stay local, but every once in a while a story catches fire and spreads across the nation.

That's what happened when Bob dropped off an old book in the local tiny library.

Day 1 -- Bob drops off the book. Pedro picks up "Flashman," by George McDonald Frazier, which is one of the books Bob dropped off.

Day 2 -- Pedro takes the book to school, where Ms. Hughes sees it and discovers it's not appropriate for someone of Pedro's age. She asked where he got it, and he said "the library." Ms. Hughes assumed he meant the school library and posts her complaint to Facebook.

Day 3 -- Social media explodes and demands that the school librarian be fired.

Day 4 -- Twitter can't decide whether to blame Pedro for failing to report the book, but decided to blame his parents instead.

Day 5 -- Both of Pedro's parents are called to HR and enrolled in sensitivity classes. Someone finally discovers where the book really came from, which starts a police and FBI investigation to find out who put this horrible book in the tiny library.

Day 6 -- The American Psychological Association donates a series of anti-racist, pro trans, pro gay children's books to the school system.

Day 7 -- Pedro's parents hire an attorney who reveals the true origin of the book.

Day 8 -- There are calls to legislate tiny libraries to prevent something like this from happening.

Day 9 -- The author becomes the latest "evil person" on social media.

From this point it's the typical insanity on social media and the fur really starts to fly.

The story is well worth your time. It shows what happens when the mob gets upset.

375: Decolonization and Francisco Macias Nguema Dec 15, 2023

The boys drink and review Jailbreak's Hey Porter, then discuss the life and career of a famous decolonizer, Francisco Macias Nguema. Equatorial Guinea was colonized by the Spanish. Nguema started his career as a mid-level civil servant with the Spanish government. He was corrupt from the beginning, but maintained a good relationship with the Spanish. When the tides turned and anti-colonialist sentiment grew, he saw his opportunity and ran for president. The Spanish supported him because they thought he was on their side. He started off with a very aggressive campaign to rid the country of anything from the Spaniards. He renamed cities and streets, and he attacked anything that was deemed a consequence of the colonists. That included education, medicine, bread -- even wearing glasses. It was a disaster. Nguema went from bad to worse and became one of the chief bastards in African history. Modern "decolonizers" should pay heed.

374: What's up with Freemasonry? Dec 06, 2023

The boys drink and review Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Winter Solstice Ale, then discuss Freemasonry.

How do you learn about a secret society without becoming a member? It's hard to know what to believe about them.

Still, P&C did their best to find the essential details.

Stone mason guilds started to have outsized political power and started to admit people who weren't stone masons. The organization grew in numbers and power, and was very influential in the founding of the United States.

They became closely associated with Englightenment thinking and promoted the ideas of rationality and science. One of their mottos is to "make good men better."

But what does it mean to be a mason? What about all their spooky rituals? And why is the Catholic Church against them?

The boys discuss.

372: Crowhill goes to the United Arab Emirates Dec 06, 2023

With special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Witness Tree Nut Brown Ale from Antietam Brewery, then discuss Crowhill's recent trip to the UAE. While Saudi Arabia dominates the Arabian peninsula, a couple smaller nations squeeze their way in, including UAE. After reviewing a bit of history and geography, the boys discuss Crowhill’s experiences in Abu Dhabi. Crowhill had three goals for his trip. Swim in the Persian Gulf, visit the Grand Mosque, and eat some weird local food. The boys discuss how the UAE maintains a national identity when only about 11 percent of the population is local. They’ve imported most of their citizens, but they still maintain a national culture and identity.

373: The Controligarchs Dec 03, 2023

The boys drink and review Brooklyn Brewery's Winter IPA, then discuss the rich men (north of Richmond) who want to tell us how to live and control every aspect of our lives.

Seamus Bruner recently wrote a book called Controligarchs about how the super-rich want to tell all the rest of us how to live.

Bruner singles out five on his book cover: Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Klaus Schwab, and George Soros. Noticeably absent is Elon Musk, who seems to be supporting personal freedom rather than top-down dominance. (Which is why the media hates him.)

The controligarchs think they have the right and responsibility to tell us what to eat, what to drive, what to think, what to say, how to educate our children, how to spend our money ....

"You'll eat bugs and you'll like it."

Unfortunately, the population doesn't have the courage or integrity to tell them where to stuff it. As long as we have our cable TV and cheap food that can be delivered in less than 30 minutes, we're good.

These controligarchs aren't taking their lead from traditional, consitutional American ideals. They're following Xi Jingping.

It's time to resist these people.

371: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote Nov 28, 2023

With special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Saranac Caramel Porter, then discuss Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's as part of their "shortcut to the classics" series.

They start with a quick bio of Truman Capote, then dig in to the novella.

The story is set in WW2, and it's important to get the movie out of your head before you read the book.

Holly Golightly is the star of the book. She's a young woman who uses men for their money. It's not clear if she's more call girl or escort or just "woman about town." But she's an amoral little sprite who does what she needs to do to enjoy life and live in the style she has come to expect.

The boys disagree about how to evaluate her morals.

It's a delightful story with a few interesting themes.

370: Does "McCarthyism" mean what you think it means? Nov 19, 2023

The boys drink and review Local 1605, a red ale from Antietam Brewery, then discuss McCarthyism.

Since "The Crucible," we tend to associate the Salem witch trials with Joseph McCarthy and his work with the committee on anti-American activities. After doing a show on the Salem Witch trials (see episode 367), P&C wondered if it's appropriate to link witch trials to Joseph McCarthy and his anti-communist crusade.

The analogy works in some respects and not in others.

* There were false accusations in both cases.

* In both cases, to be accused was bad enough.

* In both cases, you could get out by accusing other people.

* "Justice" was corrupted by mob hysteria in both cases.

* However, there were no witches or witchcraft in Salem, but there were communists in the United States.

The "red scare" was legit. There was a fight to the death between communism and the west. But that doesn't justify McCarthy's methods to root out that threat.

P&C provide a brief review of McCarthy's life, then examine his methods and tactics and what we should learn about it today.

369: One nation under surveillance Nov 09, 2023

P&C drink and review "The Fear" -- an imperial pumpkin ale from Flying Dog -- then discuss surveillance.

How should we live in an environment where everything we say is being recorded?

Why shouldn't the government be able to do "routine checks" on citizens? We don't have anything to hide, do we? And if you're breaking the law, or a risk to others, don't we want to find out before you do something horrible?

Why do we have a presumption of innocence? What's the point?

The boys discuss the basic principles, but also delve into the issues raised by Snowden and others who uncovered secret government surveillance.

368: The opioid crisis and big pharma Nov 07, 2023

The boys drink and review a hazy IPA from Sam Adams, then discuss the opioid crisis and big pharma.

Corporations are not necessarily evil. As a rule, they do important work that provides a service people are happy to pay for. But from time to time you get some bad eggs.

The Sackler family is an example. They took advantage of a new class of drug, and new thinking about how to manage pain, and lied and cheated their way to riches. They convinced the medical community that opioids weren't addictive. (Based on one questionable study.)

Doctors began prescribing opioids more than they should have, and a lot of people got addicted.

It's a sad tale with lots of villains and victims. The boys give it a fun and sometimes humorous review.

367: The Salem witch trials Nov 07, 2023

The boys drink and review Warlock, a pumpkin imperial stout, then discuss the Salem witch trials. In this gripping podcast, Pigweed and Crowhill delve into the chilling history of the Salem witch trials. Join us as we unravel the mysteries, uncover the accused, and explore the dark trials that shook the heart of colonial America. Discover the truth behind the hysteria that still haunts Salem to this day. The Salem witch trials were a series of events that occurred in 1692 in colonial Massachusetts. They involved mass hysteria and accusations of witchcraft, resulting in the execution of 20 people, mainly women. The trials were marked by religious fervor, paranoia, and false accusations, ultimately revealing the dangers of unchecked superstition and fear in society. What role does Calvinism and predestination play in all of this? Did it provide a particularly fertile soil for hysteria about witches? The Puritans came to America believing they could start a new life, and a better society as the chosen people. But it wasn't working out. So maybe it was the devil. P&C review the historical details and provide commentary about how we should view the story today.

366: Pro Palestinian rallies on campus Oct 31, 2023

The boys drink and review Captain Crowhill Abbey Ale, then discuss the recent spectacle of college students defending Hamas.

The conversation starts with a few assumptions.

* Israel exists

* It has a right to exist

* It has a right to defend itself

Why have there been so many ugly rallies in support of Hamas, and why have the universities been so silent about it. If you misgender someone on a college campus, that's the end of you. But if you call for genocide against the Jews, that's free speech.

These protestors divide the world between oppressor and oppressed, and somehow the Jews -- possibly the most persecuted people in the history of the planet -- are designated "oppressors."

If you're oppressed, colonized, marginalized, "of color," etc., you're automatically the good guy from the standpoint of the idiot left.

364: Two scary stories from HP Lovecraft Oct 25, 2023

Along with literary contributor Longinus, the boys drink and review Dark Usher, then discuss two short stories from Lovecraft: Shadow Over Innsmouth and the Call of Cthulu.

In "The Shadow over Innsmouth," a man visits the decaying New England town of Innsmouth and discovers its inhabitants' disturbing alliance with aquatic beings, the Deep Ones. As he delves deeper into their sinister secrets, he faces terror and the looming threat of a transformation into one of them.

"The Call of Cthulhu" unravels a cosmic horror as the protagonist pieces together accounts of a monstrous entity, Cthulhu, who lies dormant beneath the ocean. Cults worldwide revere this ancient, nightmarish being, awaiting the moment when it will awaken to usher in worldwide chaos. The story unfolds through a series of interconnected narratives, leaving readers with a profound sense of dread about the insignificance of humanity in the face of cosmic forces.

363: The Epstein sex scandal, means-tested tickets, and more Oct 23, 2023

The boys drink and review a no-alcohol porter, then discuss five topics in about 5 minutes each.

#1. Gender-reveal dad. From a YouTube video -- This poor fellow was obviously a captive. You could see it in his face. But it wasn't about a baby, it was about some kid transitioning. It was horrifying. It seemed pretty obvious the man was going along with an ultimatum from his wife. "Support me on this or suffer."

#2. Means-tested speeding tickets. A Finnish man participating in a strange combination of the Iditerod and a race across the country gets a speeding ticket that was "means tested" based on his salary. His fine was $62,000 for driving 10mph over the speed limit. Because he was wealthy.

#3. Why is nobody covering the Epstein sex scandal? Supposedly there's a list of elites who took advantage of Epstein's ... hospitality (at the expense of underaged girls). But nobody will touch it -- not the media, not the government, not the feminists.

#4. Our broken culture. We have some weird standard these days where someone deliberately provokes a reaction by refusing to conform to society's standards, and then gets offended when people notice that they're not conforming to society's standards.

#5. Joe Biden finally found somebody he wants to deport. Homeschoolers. It's a horrifying case that makes you wonder if lunatics have taken over every aspect of the government.

362: The Unabomber Oct 12, 2023

The boys drink and review yet another non-alcoholic beer, then discuss Ted Kaczynski, aka The Unabomber, who recently died in prison.

He was a genius. He skipped two grades, went to Harvard, and studied advanced mathematics.

Unfortunately, he was an evil genius.

Ted was a quirky guy who decided that technology and industrial society had to be destroyed. He worked for a few years to raise enough money to live in a shack in Montana. From there he started his terrorist bombing campaign.

His crimes spanned from 1978 to 1995, with a 5-year gap in the middle.

He got caught after his manifesto was published and his brother saw similarities between the manifesto and the ravings and letters of his brother.

361: JeBron James' I Promise School Oct 12, 2023

P&C drink and review "Gold Rush," a no-alcohol beer from Sam Adams, then discuss the "I Promise" School.

LeBron James says that he owes a lot of his success to some wonderful people who took him in and helped him out when he was struggling in school. To his credit, LeBron wants to give back, so he created a new school to give disadvantaged kids a chance.

The school started with a lot of hope and promise -- and with a lot of LeBron's money -- but it hasn't lived up to expectations. The results have been pretty awful.

P&C take a hard look and provide some possible reasons why the "I Promise" school didn't work out that well.

One obvious lesson is that resources are not the problem. Throwing money at the school doesn't make for better education.

Perhaps LeBron should try this. Find a school that's doing a good job -- like maybe the Catholic school he went to -- and help them reach more kids.

360: Hawaii Oct 04, 2023

P&C drink and review a non-alcoholic Octoberfest "beer," then discuss their experiences in Hawaii.

Pigweed had visited a few decades ago, while Crowhill just got back after a visit to Capt. Crowhill.

Crowhill was surprised by several things.

* Chickens everywhere.

* Not many shells on the beach.

* Almost no sea birds.

* Mongooses on the loose.

* The mountains are incredibly sheer and steep.

* There's a sports team called "Red Raiders" with an image of a native.

* SPAM is very popular.

* Hawaiian music is boring.

359: Let the children lead? Oct 02, 2023

P&C drink and review Geralt's Gold, a no-alcohol Helles brew, then discuss how our views of children have changed.

In the latter half of the 20th century our culture turned away from the previous "seen and not heard" attitude and tried to be more interested in what children say. We also started to be obsessed with childrens' feelings and their self esteem.

P&C don't remember anybody caring about their feelings, their self esteem, or whether they were anxious when they were young. It's as if we're teaching children to have mental problems.

In the modern environment, the most unruly kid sets the agenda for the classroom because the teachers and principals can't do anything to them.

This has evolved into the modern "gender" confusion, which seems to have no end of foolishness. Now we have "gender minotaurs" and other ridiculous concepts.

But it's not just "gender." The anti-straw hysteria was invented by a nine year old who made up phony statistics that the media swallowed whole. And then he did a TED talk.

Nobody thought to check it. I guess the children were leading.

358: Oliver Anthony, aka Chris Lunsford Sep 16, 2023

The boys drink and review a lime and salt no-alcohol brew from Dos Equis, then discuss Chris Lunsford, who some people think is named Oliver Anthony.

Mr. Lunsford recently appeared on both Jordan Peterson's and Joe Rogan's podcast. Pigweed and Crowhill try to determine if Mr. Lunsford is the man people think he is -- a simple, authentic man of the people.

He seems to be. He has a disdain for commercial success, a love for people, and a desire for his music to be more of a ministry than a monetary venture.

357: 5 Kurt Vonnegut short stories Sep 14, 2023

Along with special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Sam Adams' Just the Haze, a no-alcohol IPA, then review some short stories by Kurt Vonnegut.

"The Foster Portfolio" has an investment advisor who finds a client who appears to be poor, but secretly has enormous wealth, which he has no interest in. It examines one man's struggles with his moral failings.

"All the King's Horses" is about a horrifying chess game played with real people's lives, including a Colonel's wife and two sons. It's a parable about parents' choices in sending their children off to war.

"Tom Edison's Shaggy Dog" is clever and fun story about a dog who is smarter than Thomas Edison.

"Welcome to the Monkey House" is a futuristic story about an over-populated planet where society takes extreme measures to reduce the number of people. But then Billy the Poet comes along and throws a wrench in the works.

"Harrison Bergeron" is a brilliant anticipation of modern nonsense about "equity." The only way to make everyone equal is to make the smart people stupid, the pretty people ugly, and the talented just as dull as everyone else.

356: Ideal and planned cities. Hubris or genius? Sep 13, 2023

Along with special guest Longinus, the boys review an Amber "non-alcoholic brew" from O'Douls, then discuss planned cities.

Pigweed was curious who was secretly buying lots of land near Travis Air Force Base. The fear was it was the Chinese, but it turns out to be Silicon Valley millionaires and billionaires. They want to create an "ideal city" -- because they know best about everything.

There is, of course, a long history of people believing they could design the perfect city. It's not an encouraging track record.

Longinus starts off the show with the development and history of cities and city planning.

Such planning was usually a response to the organic growth of the city rather than a pre-emptive plan to design it from scratch, although there are exceptions. Philadelphia, Williamsburg, and Washington, D.C., were all planned cities.

Crowhill reviews a list of nine planned cities that turned into disasters.

* Brasilia

* Chandigarh

* Ordos

* Magnitogorsk

* Pruitt-Igoe

* Home

* Palmanova

* New Delhi

* Milton Keynes

* Arcosanti

* Skopje

* Jonestown

And when it comes to planning, you also have Homeowners' Associations!

355: Comments on the GOP debate Sep 08, 2023

The boys drink and review a light copper near bear from Athletic Brewing, then discuss the GOP debates.

The participants were Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Chris Christie, Doug Burgum, and Asa Hutchinson.

The candidates are all so far behind Donald Trump at this point that it was almost like a debate to see who wanted to be Trump's VP, except that Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, and Mike Pence were clearly competing for the anti/never-Trump lane.

Vivek is widely seen as the winner, but Crowhill wasn't all that impressed with his performance. He was a little too silly, and he was legitimately criticized for not having any experience.

DeSantis was surprisingly low key, but did well.

Pence tried to defend his actions on Jan. 6 and to push himself out in front by being very aggressive, but it didn't do much for him.

Haley scored some good zingers on Ramaswamy and helped herself some, but she's still way behind.

Scott, Christie, Burgum and Hutchinson didn't distinguish themselves.

P&C also discuss the elephant not in the room -- Donald Trump. Is there any hope that we can get somebody other than Trump on the Republican ticket?

354: Game theory Sep 06, 2023

The boys drink and review Partake IPA, a no-alcohol beer, then discuss game theory.

Game theory is an attempt to express the calculations that go on in a game as mathematics. It makes certain assumptions.

1. The game has to include multiple players

2. The players must interact with each other

3. There needs to be a reward

4. You assume the players act rationally

5. You assume the players act in their own personal interest

Those things are not always true in real life.

One goal of game theory is to figure out what the best choice is no matter what the other player does. This is called the "Nash equilibrium."

Two common games in game theory are The Prisoner's Dilemma and The Ultimatum.

"The Ultimatum" game shows that people don't always act rationally in their decisions.

353: Cracks in the intersectional coalition Aug 31, 2023

The boys drink and review a non-alcoholic black ale from Hairless Dog, then discuss cracks in the intersectional coalition.

When the Democrats abandoned the working class as their primary consituency, they decided to try to create a coalition out of all the misfits and complainers. People who think they're "oppressed."

They allegedly form a "coalition." All for one and all that. But the truth has turned out quite differently. Members of the coalition aren't sticking together.

. Gays don't like the trans agenda.

. Muslims aren't a fan of gay marriage or pride month.

. Not all Latinos want open borders.

. Not all black people are against gun rights.

The alleged coalition is built on sand.

352: Pigweed quizzes Crowhill on the Bible Aug 31, 2023

352 Pigweed quizzes Crowhill on the Bible

The boys drink and review Penn's Best NA, then discuss non-alcoholic beers. How they're made, why anyone would want them, etc.

Then Pigweed tries to stump Crowhill on some Bible trivia.

Starting with the National Geographic's "50 Influential Figures of the Bible," then moving on to some internet Bible trivia, Pigweed tries to find the holes in Crowhill's biblical knowledge.

351: The Manhattan Project and Oppenheimer Aug 22, 2023

The boys drink and review Sam Adams' Wicked Easy Light and Hazy Session IPA, then discuss the Manhatten Project and the recent film, Oppenheimer.

In 1938 some German physicists discovered nuclear fision, which could potentially become a chain reaction, which could potentially become a bomb. The Americans and the Brits were scared the Germans would make an atomic bomb first, so they worked together to beat the Germans to the punch.

Col. (later General) Lesley Groves ran the project along with Robert Oppenheimer.

It wasn't just the physics. They had to coordinate a huge manufacturing operation, plus the enrichment of the plutonium and uranium. The whole effort was about the size of the U.S. auto industry.

After an overview of the Manhattan project, P&C discuss the "Oppenheimer" movie, which they both liked, but found it a bit long.

350: P&C were right again, of course Aug 11, 2023

The boys drink and review Guinness and port, then discuss some show updates.

The boys suggested that if we rush into electric vehicles to make the world safer and better for the environment, perhaps we should ensure that EVs will do that. Of course they don't. And they're a serious fire hazard.

It turns out Canada sucks even worse than the boys had suggested. They're making it easier and easier to qualify for the "medical assistance in dying" program. Pretty soon you'll be able to kill yourself just because you're a Canadian.

After a story about a dispute on a plane, where a large passenger was impinging on the space of another passenger, Pigweed suggested charging passengers by their weight. New New Zealand Airlines has opened the door.

Italy has decided that P&C were right about a Chinese-built "new silk road" and now they regret the "villanous decision" to join China's belt and road initiative.

P&C predicted that kids who have been through "gender transitions" will start suing their parents and doctors. It's happening, and it's delicious.

In one episode the boys discussed a goofy Valentine's Day show where people were "sending out their love" to themselves. Now we're seeing stories of women marrying themselves.

349: The hard problem of consciousness Aug 10, 2023

P&C review a Rye Pale Ale from Seven Locks Brewing, then discuss consciousness.

Why does the brain produce the subjective experience of consciousness? Physical things have mass, energy, electric charge, etc., but we don't typically associate such attributes with physical things.

It's even more troubling when we consider that it seems possible for a human being to be able to do everything a human does without any subjective experience. Or, in other words, what does subjective experience add?

Is it possible that consciousness is simply a part of the universe, like gravity, and that it manifests to different degrees at different times? If so, what are the triggers that make it manifest?

348: The Suburbs - their history and present relevance Aug 03, 2023

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.

347: 5 short stories from John Cheever Aug 02, 2023

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.

346: Canada sucks! Jul 29, 2023

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!

345 Vivek Ramaswamy for President Jul 25, 2023

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.

344: Nayib Bukele and El Salvador Jul 24, 2023

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.

343: SCOTUS issues 4 fantastic rulings!! Jul 18, 2023

The boys drink and review Crispy Boy Vienna Lager from Black Flag brewing, then discuss 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.

342: Modern dating and romance is a disaster Jul 09, 2023

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.

341: China's Belt and Road Iniative Jul 05, 2023

The boys drink and review a 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 worlwide 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 good 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 embow 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.

340: Famous Baltimoreans Jul 03, 2023

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!

339: Three short stories by Faulkner Jun 30, 2023

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.

338: The Ultimate Guide to Aliens; Everything You Need to Know Jun 23, 2023

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.

337: We need to promote the trades Jun 22, 2023

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.

336: The Trump Indictment Jun 16, 2023

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.

335: Celebrate Strong Men on Father's Day Jun 15, 2023

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.

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.

334: Pride Month -- The most glorious month of the year? Jun 07, 2023

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.

333: An anti-woke screed from a mysterious speaker Jun 06, 2023

The boys drink and review Proper ESB, then discuss a speech against wokeness by a famous and well-known personality.

The mystery speaker said things like this.

“The fight for equality and against discrimination [has turned] into an aggressive dogmatism on the brink of absurdity, when great authors of the past such as Shakespeare are no longer taught in schools and universities because they … did not understand the importance of gender or race.

"In Hollywood [the rules are] tighter and stricter than what the Department of Propaganda of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee did…

"[Americans] push the parents aside and [let children make] decisions that can destroy their lives. [This is a] crime against humanity, and all of that under the banner of progress…

"Some believe that aggressive[ly] blotting out [] the traditional interpretation of such basic values as mother, father, family, and the distinction between sexes are a milestone… a renewal of society…

"[This is] nothing new. [It happened in Russia] after the 1917 revolution …

"[T]hey also declared that they would … change the traditional lifestyle, the political, the economic lifestyle, as well as the very notion of morality, the basic principles for a healthy society.

Who is this wise man?

332: Sir Isaac Newton, Heretic, Alchemist, Genius Jun 01, 2023

P&C drink and review That Shiz Slaps by Aslin Beer Company, then discuss the amazing life and career of Sir Isaac Newton.

After barely surviving childbirth, and being abandoned by his mother when he was three, Newton avoided his parent's advice to become a farmer and went on to be a student at Trinity College. He was a quiet and introverted student who spent all his time in his studies and work.

Newton went home to avoid the plague. That's when the famous story of the apple occurred.

The prevailing thought of the day was that heavenly motions and earthly motions were governed by different rules. Newton realized that exactly the same force that caused the apple to fall caused the moon to stay in orbit around the Earth.

To work on his theories he invented Calculus!

But Newton was not only a genius at math and physics. He was also a theologian, an alchemist, and made great strides in the field of optics.

In order to maintain his position in English society, he had to hide his heretical theological views, and it's only recently that people are diving into his strange alchemical theories.

Toward the end of his life he supervised the Royal Mint, and was knighted by Queen Anne.

331: The separation of church and state Jun 01, 2023

The boys drink and review a disappointing homebrew, then discuss the 1st Amendment and the separation of church and state.

The well-known phrase actually does not come from the constitution, but from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists.

The founder's main concern was to prevent the federal government from imposing a religion on the individual states, which, at the time, often had their own established religions.

Today we apply the first amendment to both federal and state governments, but that wasn't true for the first several decades of the Republic.

The constitution has two relevant clauses: the establishment clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a state religion, and the free exercise clause, which prohibits Congress from prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

The country has been trying to find the proper between these two ideals. The boys discuss.

330: Winning the argument and losing the war May 25, 2023

P&C drink and review Haze Crafy IPA from Great Lakes Brewing Company, then discuss situations where Pigweed pointed out the craziness of a position only to find that the left doubled down on craziness.

Body identity disorder is a weird condition where a person believes a limb isn't really his and doesn't belong. He wants a doctor to cut it off. But of course no reputable doctor would do such a thing.

How is this different from trans surgery?

We're seeing a movement that increasingly wants to accommodate delusions.

Pigweed also pointed out that if a minor can choose to be a different sex, why can't they choose to have sex with whom they want. Including an adult.

You're expected to be so repulsed by the idea that you jump back in fear from allowing minors to choose their sex. But the crazy left is going the other direction. They're starting to push the idea of allowing sex between adults and minors.

329: The Durham Report: Nooze and Booze May 20, 2023

The boys drink a cocktail and discuss the significance of the Durham Report about Crossfire Hurricane -- aka, the persecution of Donald Trump

The Federalist put it this way.

“Imagine someone told you that in the run-up to a U.S. presidential election, the FBI tried to undermine a candidate at the behest of the opposing campaign by cooking up a false narrative of collusion with Moscow.

“And let’s say this conspiracy implicated not just the FBI but also the White House, Justice Department, and CIA — and that nearly the entire corporate press went along with it, gleefully spreading the false narrative that this candidate was a Russian agent, running story after story of fabricated nonsense in a coordinated effort to ensure the opposing candidate won.”

The first conclusion from the report is that Trump is vindicated

* It was a witch hunt (no reality – based on false information)

* It was politically motivated

* They were spying on his campaign

* It was an attempt to stop him from being elected and to undermine his presidency

* There was a deep-state conspiracy

* The FBI, DOJ, and Obama administrations were colluding, using Clinton campaign ideas

* The media was “fake news”

The media reaction was quite telling. Since they were in on the whole conspiracy, they’re not trying to cover it up. “Nothing new here.” They have no shame.

"The establishment media were so fully gulled and in the tank for the Russian collusion story for so long that they now just can't acknowledge Durham's report without also having to eat crow at the same time, something they clearly aren't willing to do," according to journalism professor Jeffrey McCall

The Durham report claims

* Clinton campaign oppo research came up with BS allegations against Trump

* FBI knew it was bogus, but acted on it as if it was serious.

* Top FBI officials (documented Trump haters) approved a full-scale investigation.

* FBI management was “pushing it so hard there was no stopping the train.”

“Grease the skids.” Make it happen.

* The Obama White House knew all these details and did not try to stop it.

* The FBI should never have launched its investigation. It never had any evidence that would authorize such an investigation.

* The FBI used completely different standards with Trump and Clinton.

Top officials at the White House and the FBI knew that the Clinton campaign was falsely claiming Russia collusion, they knew they had no evidentiary basis for this, they nevertheless launched a full-scale investigation.

But …

There were no convictions

Fallout

* “All actions are permissible” if you’re trying to stop Hitler, the devil, Trump

* Shouldn’t a hero try to fix the election?

Given that we know all this …

* Why should we trust the FBI on political questions?

* (Also remember the “51 intelligence agencies” BS on the Biden laptop.)

* If they can pull this off, the idea that the left stole the election seems more plausible

328: Are electric vehicle batteries good for the environment? May 19, 2023

After a quick skit by the Ben Franklin players, Pigweed and Crowhill drink and review a French Toast stout, then discuss the production of EV batteries.

The story goes that the planet is heating because of carbon emissions, so we have to move to electric vehicles.

Energy drives prosperity and human flourishing. Right now, most energy is produced by fossil fuels, and agricultural relies on fertilizer, which requires fossil fuels.

But there's a big drive to move all our vehicles to electric.

The boys discuss the details about the production and disposal of electric batteries. They're not nearly as environmentally friendly as many people believe.

327: Western values May 16, 2023

The boys drink and review a robust porter from Bell's, then evaluate western values.

Western values developed from three major sources.

* Classical antiquity

* The Judeo-Christian tradition

* Germanic customs

Roughly speaking, "western values" include the following:

* Democracy

* Individualism

* Human rights

* Free speech

* Free markets

* The rule of law

* Secularism

* Rationalism

* Liberalism

* Capitalism

When people object to western values, which of these do they want to discard?

"Western values" are truths, not merely preferences. We're not making this stuff up, we're progressively discovering things about the right ordering of society.

326: Candide by Voltaire May 13, 2023

With special guest Longinus, P&C drink and review Carlsberg, then discuss Candide as part of their "shortcut to the classics" series.

The boys give a short review of his life. Voltaire was a pillar of the Englightenment.

In Candide, Voltaire employs biting sarcasim against the idea that this is "the best of all possible worlds." Candide suffers through "one damned thing after another," but continues to have the sunny outlook of his teacher, Pangloss. Everything must be for the best.

Eventually Candide meets Martin, another philosopher with a very different view, which allows Voltaire to have some debates between these two life outlooks.

Leibnitz believed that this is the best possible world, because if God is good, he must have picked the best of all possible worlds.

Voltaire thought this was ridiculous, and wrote Candide as a response.

325: Michel Foucault May 11, 2023

With special guest Longinus, P&C drink and review a Belgian saison, then discuss a few essays by Michel Foucault, who many people say was one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century.

Longinus gives a brief biography, then the boys work through two essays: "What is Enlightenment" and "Truth and Power."

Foucault is considered a post-modernist. The boys try to unpack modernism and post-modernism, to put Foucault in context.

His writings are difficult to read. Sometimes it sounds like complete nonsense. But a few things do come out fairly clearly. Most importantly, he believes that all of the things we think of as rational, self-evident truths, are actually dependent on circumstances and the changing fads and customs of a particular time. Foucault would reject the idea of objective truth.

In many ways, Foucault contributed to the craziness we see all around us today, with "my truth," and the idea that everyone gets to define their own reality.

324: Nuclear bombs and nuclear war May 07, 2023

The boys drink and review Pigweed's homemade brown ale, then discuss nuclear war.

They distinguish fission and fusion reactions, and how that relates to nuclear bombs and their development.

After Word War 2 there was a mad rush to develop larger and larger stockpiles.

Today, nine countries are confirmed as having nuclear weapons. But for some strange reason we seem less afraid of nuclear war now than we were during the Cold War.

The peace seems to have been maintained by the doctrine of mutually assured destruction. But how does that apply in the modern world?

Where is the biggest risk of nuclear war today? Russia vs. U.S.? China vs. U.S.? China vs. India? India vs. Pakistan?

And what about Iran?

If there is a nuclear war, will we all die? Will it end all of humanity?

If there is a remnant, could they rebuild? What about nuclear winter?

323: Fox News and Tucker Carlson Apr 29, 2023

The boys do a "nooze and booze" episode about recent events at Fox news while drinking homemade apple pie moonshine.

In a matter of a week, there were several big stories in the news world. Fox News parted company with Dan Bongino, Fox News settled with Dominion Voting for an ungodly sum, Don Lemon was fired from CNN, and Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News.

The boys discuss the basics of the Dominion Voting lawsuit, but spend most of their time on theories about the Tucker Carlson issue.

Pigweed and Crowhill favor the theory that Rupert Murdoch didn't like Tucker's speech to the Heritage Foundation in which he painted modern political disputes as a fight between good and evil, and recommended that Americans pray for their country. Added to that, Murdoch may have believed Tucker wasn't a team player and was getting too big for his britches.

The boys speculate on what Carlson might do next, and how it might affect the 2024 election.

P&C also spend a couple minutes on the Bud Light fiasco, and then Pigweed springs a hard question on Crowhill.

322: The Gamestop investment story, plus SBF and FTX Apr 23, 2023

The boys drink and review RAR's Groove City Hefeweizen, then review short selling, the Gamestop story, Sam Bankman-Fried, and FTX.

After watching the Netflix "Eat the Rich" series, the boys remembered their interest in the Gamestop story, so they consulted their financially intelligent friends, Hansel and Gretel, to get up to speed on what happened and why.

It's a fascinating story where "retail investors" who frequented the "Wallstreetbets" Reddit group stuck it to the institutional investors and caught them in a short squeeze.

The retail investors sent the stock rocketing up, which was putting the institutional investors in a bind, then Robinhood -- the platform most of the retail investors used -- shut down all purchases of Gamestop.

The story makes you believe the system is rigged for the benefit of the big, instutional investors.

Along the same lines, the boys discuss the Sam Bankman-Fried story, and how he fooled the world with his phony empire built on pretend money.

321: Should the U.S. pay reparations for slavery? Apr 23, 2023

Pigweed and Crowhill drink and review an IPA from Three Floyds, then discuss whether the United States should pay reparations for the evils of slavery.

P&C agree that the concept of reparations is sound. When you harm someone, you should try to repair the wrong that's been done.

They review some of the arguments for reparations and have sympathy for many of them.

The idea is not simply that the ancestors of slave owners should pay the ancestors of slaves, but that the entire system was complicit in slavery, so the entire system should pay.

But who should be paid, and how much? What's the limiting principle? Should we also pay Native Americans, or the Chinese, who were abused in the creation of the railroads?

Can a group be held responsible for the actions of a group at some time in the past?

It's almost impossible to parse it all out and unscramble the mess. Isn't there a statute of limitations?

320: Fabulous Fallacies. Things you know that aren't so. Apr 18, 2023

P&C drink and review "Level Up," an IPA from a Yard's variety pack, then discuss things "everybody knows" that aren't so.

You might be surprised at some of the answers. Here are the topics discussed.

Who was the first president of the United States?
Everybody thought the earth was flat before Columbus.
How did "Caesarean section" get its name?
Who was the youngest U.S. president?
Was Cleopatra Egyptian?
Was St. Patrick an Irishman?
Did Atlas hold the world on his shoulders?
Did Paul Revere warn the colonists the British were coming?
Did Lincoln free the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation?
Where was the battle of Bunker Hill?
What is the Immaculate Conception?
Did Ben Franklin invent the Franklin stove?
Are Arabic numerals Arabic?
What is a bellwether?
Did Marie Antoinette say "let them eat cake"?
Can castrated men get it on?
Why do you only eat oysters in a month with an r?
Who is the Baby Ruth candy bar named after?
Why do bulls hate the color red?
What is cat gut?
Do porcupines shoot their spines?

319: Was Jan 6 "the darkest day in history"? Apr 15, 2023

P&C drink and review Double Nickel Session IPA, then discuss January 6 and all the hyperventilating about it.

The over-hyping of the events of January 6 turned Pigweed and Crowhill away from the story. When everyone over-reacts, we under-react.

Now that there's some distance and the rhetoric has died down a bit, maybe there's some ability to evaluate it calmly.

First, Trump was absolutely wrong in his belief that Pence had the authority to not certify the election results. Unfortunately, some people believed it.

Second, there have been some persistent lies about that day, such as the claim that six police officers died. That's not true.

The lies and exaggerations were quite over the top. Calling the event an "armed insurrection" is absurd. If Jan. 6 was an insurrection, it was the lamest, stupidest insurrection that's ever been attempted. Calling it an attempt to overturn democracy, or destroy the Constitution, is such breathless, mindless stupidity that it beggars the imagination.

The actual threat to democracy from Jan. 6 is the abuse we've seen of the justice system: the overly harsh treatment of Jan. 6 protesters, and the fact that exculpatory evidence was withheld from defense attorneys.

The ongoing lies about January 6 are completely outrageous. Pigweed and Crowhill try to parse through it all and present a balanced perspective.

They also discuss recent "insurrections," where Democrats have stormed state legislatures.

318: Religious Revivals Apr 07, 2023

The boys drink and review Bakalar, a Czech dark lager, then discuss the history of religious revivals in the United States, and their effects.

They discuss what makes something a religious revival -- what are its signs and effects. What elements are essential and what are accidental?

They review several of the great religious revivals in U.S. history, and mention some of their leading figures.

Also, what causes a revival? What sorts of cultural situations tend to precede revivals? Do they come in a predictable rhythm? Do they always involve a fixation on the end of the world?

There's also an interesting question of the different talents required for the revival and the people who come afterwards, who need to create lasting institutions.

Crowhill believes a religious revival is the only hope for the United States.

317: Crucifixion Apr 07, 2023

P&C drink and review a dry-hopped pilsner from Nepenthe, then discuss crucifixion.

Crucifixion didn't start with the Romans, and wasn't limited to them. The Romans learned it from the Persians, the Carthaginians and the Macedonians. But the Romans "perfected" and systematized it.

Crucifixion was reserved for crimes against the state: rebellion, treason, and religious dissent.

Modern research suggests that there wasn't a single way to crucify someone. Arms might have been nailed to the cross, or sometimes just tied with ropes. The feet may not have been nailed together, but sometimes nailed separately on different sides of the cross.

The torturers had some liberty to improvise.

The Romans used crucifixion to warn the population not to dare to mess with Rome.

After a general review of crufixion, the boys speak briefly about the crucifixion of Christ.

316: Destination weddings, and large people on planes Apr 06, 2023

The boys drink and review Dark and Righteous, from Jailbreak brewing, then discuss their recent experiences with destination weddings.

P&C both attended Roman Catholic weddings -- Crowhill was the father of the bride at a wedding in Nashville, and Pigweed was at La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, near Puerto Vallarta.

The boys discuss similarities and differences in their experiences at the weddings, as well as travel, accommodations, and entertainment. They reflect on the whole package -- what they liked and what they didn't.

On the way home, Pigweed had the unfortunate experience of sitting next to someone who didn't fit in the airplane chair. P&C spend some time discussing this frequent problem, and how airlines ought to deal with it.

314: What is Latinx? plus relaxing on vacation Apr 05, 2023

The boys drink and review Lagunitas's Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale, then discuss the new word Latinx, and vacations.

Our language overlords have insisted that Latino and Latina are inappropriate in our new woke universe, so they imposed a monstrosity: Latinx -- which makes no sense.

Spanish is a gendered language, but white woke people in America figured they had to fix that, because those stupid Latinos didn't know what to do with their own language.

Pigweed takes a woke, revisionist Spanish document with him to Mexico to ask some actual Latinos what they think of this Latinx business. They didn't like it, and stats bear that out. Latinos don't like it.

What happened to the left's rejection of cultural imperialism?

Pigweed and Crowhill also attended destination weddings, and discuss vacations in general, and their experiences.

313 A Covid retrospective -- what did the govt. get right? Mar 30, 2023

P&C drink and review Xingu black lager and then take a look back at the government response to the Covid crisis. Do you remember all of this?

"Three weeks to flatten the curve" became "everyone must stay inside until we have a vaccine."
From the start, they tried to crush the lab-leak explanation as a wild-eyed conspiracy theory.
We were given contradictory nonsense about masks.
We were told to wipe down surfaces to prevent the spread.
We had to stay 6 feet apart.
We were told that natural immunity is no good.
Healthy young people were told they needed to get the vaccine.
Everyone had to stay indoors, even though Vitamin D helps against Covid.

Why did virologists and epidemiologists make all the rules? Why didn't we consult other experts? Economists, educators, psychologists ...? Did our leaders consider the human cost? The economic cost?

Why did the government, academia, the media, and social media all sing the same tune and promote the same agenda? Isn't that a little scary?

315: All the best women are men Mar 30, 2023

The boys drink and review Troeg's Nugget Nectar, then discuss how men are stealing all the top places in women's rankings.

While thinking about transgender ideology, the boys look at ...

* Contradictions in transgender ideology

* What "transgender" means

* Can people be "trapped in the wrong body"?

* Examples of how men are stealing women's thunder

* Where have all the feminists gone?

The gender fluidity / trans perspective is internally inconsistent, illogical, unscientific, and mind-bogglingly stupid.

Pigweed and Crowhill try their best to inject some sense and logic into the debate.

312: Lent and beer fasting Mar 23, 2023

With special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Paulaner pils, then discuss Lent and fasting.

Lent is the penitential season before Easter. Crowhill gives a basic history of Lent, and the boys discuss some common Lenten customs.

The 40 days of Lent are symbolic, similar to other 40-day events in the Bible.

Modern Lenten fasts are usually not as stringent as fasts in the past, and especially not as strict as the fasts the monks used to do.

Which leads us to Pigweed and Crowhill's beer fast.

The Paulaner monks came up with a particularly strict fast in which they ate nothing and only drank beer and water for Lent.

Pigweed and Crowhill tried their own version of this fast and had nothing but beer and water for three days. They describe their experiences.

311: Tolkien's Leaf by Niggle and Farmer Giles of Ham Mar 17, 2023

The boys drink and review Sweet Baby Banana by DuClaw, then discuss two short works by Tolkien.

In this latest installment of their "shortcut to the classics" series, Longinus joins Pigweed and Crowhill to review these two interesting stories.

Niggle is a quiet little man who would like to spend his life on his grand work, which was a painting of a tree. His neighbor, Parish, keeps interrupting him with irritating requests. Niggle helps Parish when he can, but fails to prepare for a long journey, and is caught unawares when the day comes.

The story can be interpreted as an allegory about death, Purgatory, and the beatific vision. It also touches on the legacy of a man and his art, and man as a subcreator.

Farmer Giles is a much sillier story about a simple man who becomes the unlikely local hero that scares away a giant and defeats a dragon, with the help of a magical sword and a talking dog.

These stories illustrate two different elements of Tolkien's writing: philosophical seriousness, and light, silly writing.

310: Self love on Valentine's Day and four other topics Mar 07, 2023

P&C drink and review an Irish Stout from Nashville, then discuss five topics in five minutes each.

* Self Love on Valentine's Day. What do you think of someone who sends her love to herself on Valentine's Day? P&C think that's ridiculous. Love is outwardly directed, not inwardly.

* Brandon and the Chinese Balloons. Was this the most embarrassing thing for the U.S. in decades? We showed the whole world that we're indecisive and incompetent and that we overreact when we're caught with our pants down. A total embarrassment.

* The non-binary soprano. Pigweed took the sprouts to an orchestral performance to expose them to some genuine art. The soprano was wonderful. But ... it was a they/them, and the program was full of all kinds of confusing gibberish.

* Liberal tells. What words or phrases immediately tell you that someone is a liberal? Undocumented immigrant. Always talking about gender. Everything is explained by hate or bigotry. Safe spaces. Decolonization. Problematic. Personal pronouns. Dog whistles. Privilege. Racist. Sexist. Homophobe. Transphobe. Triggered.

* Beer fasting. You think beer fasting means giving up beer. But P&C are traditionalists. They're going to give up everything except beer for a few days, to see what it was like for the Paulaner monks in the old days.

309: Reflections on Singapore Mar 04, 2023

P&C drink "Watch out for Bears" brown ale from Calvert Brewing, then discuss the history of Singapore.

It starts with the East India Company, which wanted a port in this strategic location between the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca leading into the Bay of Bengal. Commerce between China and India, and then later to the Suez canal, had to come through this area.

Singapore was controlled by the British for a time but was captured and brutalized by the Japanese during WWII. After a post-war effort to join greater Malaysia failed, Singapore became independent, and then started on an absolutely stunning transformation.

At first, the population of Singapore was incredibly poor, and many of them were addicted to opium. Lee Kuan Yew became prime minister in 1959 and led the country to become one of the richest, most advanced, most educated countries in the world.

But it's a weird mix of capitalism and dictatorship. It's a lovely place, but not "free" by western standards.

Lee Kuan Yew might be the only example the world has ever seen of the benevolent philosopher-king dictator.

308: P&C's day at the casino Mar 04, 2023

P&C drink and review Cold Snap White Ale from Sam Adams, then discuss their trip to the Maryland Live Casino.

Although P&C generally frown on gambling, they wanted to see what a casino is really like. So they went to see for themselves on the weekend of the NFL division championships.

Unlike the casinos in Vegas, which are beatiful, with stunning art and fancy displays, and lots of entertainment close by, the Maryland Live Casino was just gaudy, noisy, and flashy.

This was not a casino James Bond would visit. Not classy. Not elegant.

These high-rollers each bet the stunning sum of $20.

307: DEI is none of those things Feb 22, 2023

P&C drink and review a homebrewed stout, and along with special guest John Wayne Jew discuss how diversity, equity, and inclusion don't mean what you think they mean, or what they should mean.

They start with an effort to find the good things in DEI. But they don't get very far.

DEI is a social and moral catastrophe. It hides behind words that sound virtuous and pleasant, but it twists and distorts those words into something unrecognizable.

"Diversity" only applies to a very narrow range of issues: race, sex, and who you fancy. There's no effort to have diversity of opinion, of religious views, or personality traits, or any of the thousands of ways that humans can be distinguished.

"Equity" is a classic bait and switch. Americans all believe in equality of opportunity, but equity means equality of outcome, which is a horrible mess. "Equity" justifies letting people out of jail because of their race, irrespective of whether they're guilty.

There's something similar with "inclusion." The DEI proponents are only interested in including certain groups and certain ideas. They don't want to include conservatives.

306: Are artificial wombs a good idea? Feb 16, 2023

P&C drink and review Cream Team, a cookies and cream milk stout, then discuss "advances" in reproductive technology.

Ectolife is working on creating an artificial womb, where babies can be grown in a production facility. There's been some success with mice, and they want to extend the tech to humans.

The goal is to alleviate some of the pain and risk inherent in childbirth, and to help couples who are unable to reproduce naturally.

It would eliminate premature births, miscarriage, c-sections, and all sorts of complications in pregnancy. The system would also report on genetic abnormalities, and possibly allow doctors to correct them -- or even correct inherited diseases.

It can go even further. You might be able to choose some of your baby's characteristics, like eye and hair color, strength, intelligence, height, etc.

But there are criticisms.

If babies are so easily created, will they be less valued?

There's also no real connection between the mother and child.

It seems like a slippery slope. How far does this go?

Every human that has ever born came from a woman’s body. How will these babies be different?

How will this affect our perception of women?

305: Possible causes of the recent gender confusion Feb 10, 2023

The boys drink and review Crowhill's Henry IV homebrew, then discuss possible causes of the recent uptick in gender confusion.

Just recently -- all of a sudden -- we're getting an epidemic of people with gender dysphoria. Why? What's causing this?

We're told that the only possible explanation is that this has always been true -- that sex is not binary -- but that truth has been suppressed by the patriarchal tyranny.

P&C think there are lots of other possibilities, including ...

1. Microplastics.

2. Environmental toxins that are interfering with reproduction / sexual systems.

3. This is nature's way of responding to overpopulation.

4. Loss of fathers.

5. Liberal social policies in the schools.

6. Decline of religion.

7. Mass hysteria / social contagion.

8. Social media, narcissism and attention-seeking.

9. Feminism.

10. Mixing the sexes in more and more social settings.

11. Trans is the new punk. It's all about rebellion.

12. Redefining men and women in the face of reality.

304: Out of date advertising Feb 09, 2023

The boys drink and review a chai latte stout from Schlafly, then discuss out of dates ads.

You've probably seen the headlines. The basic concept is "ads that are not acceptable today." But why are they unacceptable?

In some cases, the old ad is playful, and we're too uptight to go along with the joke.

In other cases, there were cultural assumptions in the past, or a different understanding of the science, that don't apply today. Does that make them offensive?

Some of the ads are just plain creepy, but in some cases, the very act of finding something wrong with the ad seems to implicate the critic, not the ad.

Overall, maybe we just get offended too easily these days.

303 Rights. What are they, and where do they come from? Feb 09, 2023

The boys drink and review Stone's Delicious Double IPA, then discuss rights.

What is a right? We hear it all the time, but when do we stop to think about it, what does it really mean?

Do rights depend on someone granting us a right, or do we have rights by nature?

The idea of natural law goes back to the Greeks, and has a long history in the west. But what is it based on?

In the Christian world, the natural law was received as a body of unwritten rules depending upon universal conscience and common sense, ascertainable by right reason.

How does natural law relate to legal rights?

John Locke promoted the idea of Life, Liberty, and Property. How does that work with "cultural relativism," or the idea that we get our rights from the government?

The Declaration of Independence asserts we have rights from our Creator. Do rights depend on God?

And what about enumerated vs. unenumerated rights.

302: Skills we wish we had Feb 07, 2023

The boys drink and review Delicious IPA from Stone, then discuss skills they wish they had learned.

Everybody has to make choices about how they spend their time, and some skills require a lot of work to acquire. Pigweed and Crowhill talk about things they wish they could do, but have never applied themselves to.

Things like ...

Being handy, or a gearhead,
Whistling well,
Getting comfortable with the Celsius scale,
Learning the metric system,
Budgeting,
Tying lots of cool knots,
Learning other languages,
Dancing,
Playing the guitar, or the piano,
Charming fabulous women,
Swordfighting,
and other fun stuff.

The real question is, if they really wanted to learn these skills, why didn't they?

301: Homelessness, "housing first," and common sense Feb 01, 2023

The boys drink and review Kostritzer Schwarzbier, then discuss homelessness.

When we talk about "the homeless," we have to make some distinctions. Some people with no home have a job, a car, and are making do ... they just don't have a place to live. They live in their car and shower at the gym.

Others are drug addicts or have mental illnesses. It's a mistake to lump them all into the "homeless" category.

Homelessness is closely associated with drugs, mental health issues, street camping, open drug use, and the legalization of property crime.

There are different philosophies on how to address this. One is called "housing first." Another is "treatment first." Many policies are based on permissiveness and perpetuation of the drug-addled life on the street.

Good policies require people to have skin in the game and demonstrate responsibility. Accommodating drug addiction and facilitating a vagrant lifestyle is sold as compassion, but it's not the solution.

300: We're on the brink of an AI revolution Jan 26, 2023

The boys drink and review Erdinger's Weissbier Dunkel, then discuss developments in artificial intelligence.

Our first experiences with artificial intelligence were things like "playing the computer" on the Atari, or spellchecker. Checking grammar involved an extra layer of computation that had to take context into account.

Another level of computer-assisted information is what you see on Amazon -- "customers who bought this also bought..." -- or on Spotify -- "people who likes this song also liked ...."

How will AI affect sports? Do we want computers calling balls and strikes? Do we want first downs and fumbles determined by artificial intelligence?

Just recently, the tech geniuses have developed AI engines that can write books and provide illustrations.

How long before AI is writing screenplays and creating computer-generated characters to act out the script? When will we have AI judges in the courts?

299: This month in woke with John Wayne Jew Jan 22, 2023

The boys drink and review Pigweed's latest robust porter, then welcome John Wayne Jew to the show to help review "this month in woke."

We're seeing university struggle sessions where if any of the students disagree with a teacher's liberal agenda, the student has to issue a written apology and submit himself to lectures from the teacher and other students.

Teachers can be jailed for failing to use a student's preferred pronouns.

In Virginia, the schools slow-walked informing students they were national merit scholars because it wouldn't be "equitable" to give the smart kids a leg up.

With control of the government, the schools, scientific establishments, the media, Madison Avenue, and Hollywood, the left is often pushing the boundaries of crazy, and mostly getting away with it -- with ridiculous results.

Every day there's another story about lunacies on the left. If you're not getting enough sleep, you may be a victim of racism.

The woke Biden administration is going to drop millions of dollars on AI to find "microaggressions," but they won't pay any attention to the straightforwardly racist aggression from Joy Behar.

The word "field" has been designated too racist and triggering.

The boys end the show with a simple summary of what "woke" means.

298: Vegetarianism Jan 22, 2023

With special guest Longinus (a vegetarian), the boys drink and review a small beer, following a recipe from George Washington, then discuss vegetarianism.

Sometimes vegetarianism is inspired by religious beliefs, and sometimes by secular ethics and questions of health. There are also issues about environmental issues and sustainability.

There are different types or levels of vegetarianism, including veganism, lacto and ovo vegetarianism, pescetarianism, raw vegans, etc.

Some claim that vegetarianism is more healthy and better for the planet.

Pigweed asks how vegetarianism squares with the history of our species. Cooking and eating meat was a huge step in our evolution and facilitated the development of our large brains.

And what about eating bugs? The geniuses at Davos seem to want us to do that.

Crowhill believes the future of meat eating is lab-grown meat, and that once we perfect that, vegetarianism will be irrelevant.

297 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's "One Day in the Life ..." Jan 18, 2023

Along with special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Beam Me up, Stouty (a coconut stout) from Saugatuck Brewing, then discuss "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich."

The story is not about an escape, or an unusual day, or how something dramatic happened on this day. It's just a typical day in a Soviet labor camp.

Solzhenitsyn's account of this one day so captured the experience of the Soviet prisoner camps that he received letters from former prisoners expressing how perfectly he had captured the experience.

The characters themselves are not particularly wicked. You don't come away hating the characters in the story, but the system. It's all about ordinary, decent people caught up in a wicked system.

It's a cold story. You might want to bundle up as you read it.

296: A review of 2022 Jan 11, 2023

The boys drink and review Chimay Grand Reserve, then discuss the big stories of 2022.

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