Learning More About Beer With Help From the History Channel

Dear Reader(most likely myself),

                                                       Dark Lager Video(above)




Its been some time since I last posted, but an interesting fact has dawned on me over the course of the past few months. I have enjoyed the taste of various types of beers since the latter end of my teens. But for something that I enjoy quite a bit, I am(becoming less so every so slowly) stunningly ignorant about the many different varieties of beer and the brewing process. However I am starting to bone up and learn more about the social and regional history or this drink that goes back a number of millenniums and just started to dip my foot into the world home brewing ever so slightly with my buddy Jim.  As part of the learning process, I decided to share with you all a short video dealing with the making of a home-brewed dark lager from home. Dark Lagers are a new favorite of mine(San Miguel makes a really good one). I am going to post periodically tidbits that delve into the history of brewing as they relate to my real-life encounters with the lovely suds.

Queen of Australia: George Whitlam knows that she's no figurehead..she is a BOSS!

Dear Reader(myself and that's probably it),
Who is  Sir John Robert Kerr?
Australian Labour Party heavyweight? Prominent New South Wales Judge and labour law expert and long-time trade union ally? Or is he a reminder to all of us to give pause when we merely think about the British Crown as playing a purely ceremonial role in the public life of Great Britain and her commonwealth dominions?

I would argue the latter. On November 11th, 1975, Sir John Kerr, appointed the Governour General of Australia in 1974 by Queen Elizabeth, waded into what had become the biggest political crisis since the British colonies of the Australian continent became a united Australian Commonwealth. Gough Whitlam had become prime minister in 1972 and had introduced a number of left leaning policy reforms including the introduction of universal health insurance, the end of capital punishment and the  streamlining of  family laws that made no-fault divorce a legal reality. Disputes between the Liberal Party opposition over public spending levels led to  a standoff between the opposition leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Fraser and Whitlam. Fraser demanded Whitlam call a national election in return for passing the 1976 fiscal year budget. Whitlam refused and a standoff ensued with the reality that the government would run out of money within weeks and thus not be able to meet is essential obligations. What ensued would shatter almost a century worth of political convention and custom which had largely left London out of Australia's domestic affairs for more then a century. On that fateful November day, Kerr dismissed Whitlam's government and sent the country to elections where the Liberal opposition party won a large victory in parliamentary elections and sent Whitlam and the Labour party out of power.  Queen Elizabeth herself took no part in the matter but stood by the decision of her Governour General,  as it was within his purview as the Governor General and as head of state of Australia.

The episode reminds us as we celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee that Her Majesty remains head of state of the United Kingdom and her dominion commonwealths abroad..and that her power at times is not only ceremonial..... but real! Her power can have real bite.... just ask Gough Whitlam!Footage of Whitlam Crisis Here!

Enjoying 89.3 here in Minnesota-Back to the blog

Good Afternoon,

It has been a while since I have wrote anything here on the blog. But the orchard, flattened by a storm made up of equal parts lack of dicipline and inspiration, is back in business! Pies, sugary apple pie like products that you find in the gas station are all on supply here as well as some natural healthy goodness on occasion. 

 In any event, I have been back in Minnesota for the past two months. One of the nice things that I have enjoyed during the beginning of my second extended stay in Minnesota is The Current, which is at 89.3 FM here in the Twin Cities. The station was originally a classical radio station based out of St Olaf College in  Northfield, Minnesota. However in 2004, the station was acquired in 2004 by Minnesota Public Radio and changed it format from classical to a wide assortment of  stuff ranging from old school favorites to newly formed indie bandsThis is most likely not news for anyone reading this. But it has been a very pleasant surprise for me and for my ears. I like an eclectic bit of everything when it comes to music, and the station does a very good job of exposing me to stuff I may never otherwise have gotten a chance to hear. Sometimes, the material is stuff that I end up not particularly  caring for, but other times, songs will come up that I really do dig. It has made for a more pleasing solo driving experience!

Have a great one!

See ya next week

Check out The Current....here!

Dreaming of OZ(Miami Horror providing the soundtrack)

Dear Reader,

I found myself sitting on Newcastle beach next to my beautiful wife, with the sky appearing to be a darkened shade of turquoise and blue as the tides rolled in about one hundred and fifty feet from where wewere sitting. Sho is reading and I am just mesmerized by the beauty of the New South Wales coastline. The  rocky hills that the Awabakal people would use as gathering points for meetings and hunting expeditions can be seen off to the far right. Women, men and children lounging, talking, playing with rugby league balls.  Hot, maybe 35C or so. But utterly sublime. And then I am starring at the ceiling of my bedroom in Minneapolis(very happy to be here, to be sure). And I think to myself: I was dreaming about a real place and time in my life, and not a made up fantasy. I know how lucky I am.  So today Oz is on my mind.  I miss the cockatoos, people walking barefoot on the sidewalks and the friendly "how ya goin's?" from strangers and acquaintances alike. But what wonderful fodder for those times when I like to go off to my own planet and daydream! This track by Miami Horror(Aussies themselves) captures a bit of that happy-go-lucky, life is great vibe that one gets from a perfect day by the ocean.

Interesting Tidbit About The First Australians.

Happy New Year!
On this peaceful New Year's Day morning I read an interesting article about the trip taken by the Aboriginal peoples of Australia more than 50,000 years ago away from Africa and across the Asian continent and to Australia. Prior to 1788, the indigenous people of the continent inhabited the Australian somewhere between 30,000 to 40,000 years by themselves.  I thought it was an interesting and worthwhile read. Hopefully you might think so too. Hopefully my trips into the orchard of knowledge will be more frequent then they were during the past year. Here's hoping.

Here is the article to read! Enjoy!

Apple Chip Tidbit: Courtesy of the Commonwealth of Australia- Early European Exploration of the Interior of the Continent

Dear Reader(Myself):
Sometimes knowledge, like Apples, whether encountered in a supermarket that appears as one is walking merrily along or as low hanging fruit on a nearby tree, falls into our grasp effortlessly. Today was one of those infrequent occasions when enlightenment occurs without vigorous pursuit of any sought after nugget of information. When having a look at the Commonwealth's website in search of information about Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory, I came upon this interesting section of the site which had a trove of information about some of the truly epic and harrowing expeditions undertaken by  different generations of European(and their Aussie descendant) explorers. Very worthwhile reading. Often times knowledge is obtained through the path of diligent and determined study. But not always. Sometimes that delicious apple of knowledge is accessible via the easy extension of one's figurative arms and the grasp of one's figurative hand. I savor these easy moments!
Here's the link
Cheers!

http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/early-explorers