The Joys of Homebrews

Let no one say that our US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are out of touch. One of the trends sweeping across the USA today is home/craft brewing; the White House has caught on and recently served it's first official White House beer at a Super Bowl party. 

While I'm not thrilled that it was a honey ale (they can be a bit dry and "meady" tasting), I'm glad to see that the White House kitchen was up to the challenge. And I, personally, would love to have an in-house graphics team available to print my labels for my own home brews!  The honey, by the way, came from the new bee hive in the White House garden. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read the attached post--I thought it was great.


Click Here to Read About Whitehouse Beer

It's the Economy Stupid!

"It's the economy, stupid" was a phrase in American politics widely used during Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign against George H. W. Bush. For a time, Bush was considered unbeatable because of foreign policy developments such as the end of the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War. 

The phrase, made popular by Clinton campaign strategist James Carville, refers to the notion that Clinton was a better choice because Bush had not adequately addressed the economy, which had recently undergone a recession.

That message is ringing loudly again for President Barack Obama. It will get worse before jobs get better. Congressional Budget Director Douglas W. Elmendorf recently predicted that unemployment will continue rising into the second half of next year and peak above 10%.

So, what's an errant Knight supposed to do? LAUGH! That's right! Laughter is the ultimate "stress buster" and actually can lead you to enlightened insights to deal with what "Ales" you!

In that Spirit, I share with you the following observations about a "year-gone-bad":

The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

I ordered a burger at McDonald's, and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you have to call them and ask if they mean you or them.

Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

McDonald's is selling the 1/4 'ouncer'.

Parents in Beverly Hills and Malibu are firing their nannies and learning their children's names.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico .

Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

BP Oil laid off 25 Congressmen.

Congress says they are looking into the Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh Great!! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!

And, finally...

I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, and our bleak future, that I called the Suicide Lifeline and was connected to a call center in Pakistan . When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck!

Remember, Perception IS Reality.  Shape your thoughts well!

Sir Hook the Economist of Warrick

Unity Through Diversity: A Lesson for the American People

We the People.....



That is how the Constitution of the United States begins. "Power to the People" is more than a catch phrase to the framers of the Constitution. Sadly, our current political climate has given rise to leaders who have forgotten that they are elected to serve the people and not themselves.

The United States of America began as a grand experiment in the the basic tenant of the Knights of Moleskine, Spirit and Ale..."Unity through Diversity". We could have very well taken on the name of the Unified States of America.



Now is not the time, nor should there ever be time allowed, for the politics of hatred. Rush Limbaugh, who I prefer to call Lush Limpballs, says he's an American. However, the self anointed leader of the "New Right Wing Republicans" has one HUGE problem with his rhetoric. He wants the American President, and thus, the American people to fail. This is the same results that Osama Bin Laden wants for the American people!

Wake up Rush! You're a terrorist and a traitor to the American people! You should have Bin Landen on your show so you can discuss how nice it will be to have a country full of people that finally believes as you do (whether they like it or not), instead of a country full of people who have the freedom to think for themselves!



Republican House Minority Leader, John Boehner, lead the boycott of Republican votes in the house for the current stimulus package proposed by President Obama. This is the same man who spear-headed Bush's bailout of Wall Street and the funding for Iraq's infrastructure, which resulted in us literally losing 12 billion dollars in bundled up cash there. His answer, "It's not that big of a price to pay for freedom." What?! Yet, somehow this is too big of a price to pay for the American people!

John Stewart on his Daily Show a few nights ago summed it up best..."We should declare the American people terrorists and then let the government invade us...that way we would get the money we need, the buildings repaired, the democracy restored and schools rebuilt." A sad, yet true irony.

It's time to put a stop to this finger pointing and political back stabbing at the expense of "We the People". How?



By realizing that the same flag that stands behind President Obama and Senator Boehner is the same flag that stands behind every American. The same flag that stood behind it's founders, our ancestors who sacrificed to keep the dream a reality and us who stand on the cliffs of despair today. It is a symbol of hope and of "Unity through Diversity" that has...and still can...make us a better and stronger people.

John McCain did have it right when he said, "Country first." We are all Americans first before we are a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, etc. I invite the followers of Rush Limbaugh to come out of their terrorist caves and put "Country First" once again.




It is time to rise above what we were and to strive towards what we can become!

Sir Hook Who's a Real American of Warrick