One of the Miller Lite Man Laws was something like, “No fruit in the beer.” What about vegetables?

A little bit Clamato, a little Bud, some shellfish and clams... yum!

Hailing from the Midwest of the U.S.A., I can honestly say that this was a combination I thought I would never see on the liquor store shelf. However, I do enjoy an occasional Bloody Mary – especially as Hair of the Dog, and I have heard that beer and tomato juice is the original Bloody Mary, so why not give this a try.

One of the first things that caught my attention was the color. Pink? Maybe more like the color of what I regurgitate after too many Bloody Marys. Anyway, the can says that it's “natural flavors” and “certified color.” I guess that's another way of saying “artificial”? Certified? Damn, that's creative writing.

A little history according to the Bud camp:

Latinos, specifically those of Mexican descent, have been mixing beer with Clamato for decades. Budweiser & Clamato Chelada and Bud Light & Clamato Chelada honor that tradition by combining Anheuser-Busch’s classic American-style lagers with the spicy, invigorating taste of Clamato Tomato Cocktail, made by Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB).

Due to their tremendous test market success, adults across the country are clamoring to enjoy this convenient, great-tasting drink. “This is a recipe that combines cultures and flavors,” said Ana Vitrano, product manager, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “Budweiser, Bud Light and Clamato are all highly respected brands that, when combined, produce the authentic-tasting recipe many Latinos love. It’s la combinación perfecta!”

The name Chelada is a shortened form of the Spanish word michelada which loosely translates to ‘my cold beer.’ To order Budweiser or Bud Light & Clamato Chelada, one might say: “Una michelada con clamato, por favor.” To shorten that but still keep the beer recognizable as the traditional recipe, Anheuser-Busch focused on the name Chelada.

I think this is going to be one of those “you love it or you hate it” type of things. Personally, it was a perfect opportunity to test my gag reflexes. But, don't let stop you from giving it a try.

Sir Bowie of Greenbriar

Bar Fly

The studies are in, and it appears that you can stay younger and enjoy a longer life by embracing the lifestyle of a bar fly. Thanks to Sir Richard of Windsor who shared two studies with me via email.

Study #1: A Low Dose of Dietary Resveratrol Partially Mimics Caloric
Restriction and Retards Aging Parameters in Mice

That's right, resveratrol, a substance found in abundance in red wine may actually be the fountain of youth. My cardiologist gave me the green light to indulge in a glass of red wine each evening after my heart surgery a few years ago, knowing that it benefits the heart. I don't think he new that it retards aging in mice. I realize that this isn't "Of Mice and Men"; however, logic would say that the more red wine you drink the drunker...I mean younger you get! Of course logic requires thinking and that seems to be bad for your longevity according to study #2.

Study#2: Stupid Flies Live Longer

That's right, a study conducted by a Swiss University selected two groups of flies. One was left in their ignorant fly state, the other had its intelligence boosted by Pavlovian methods. The results according to researcher Joeb Burger, "We have discovered a negative correlation between an improvement in a fly's mental capacity and its longevity". In layman terms, stupid flies live longer. So, ignorance is bliss, at least with flies. The dumber you are the longer you live. Up to 40% longer!

Our Conclusion: Be stupid and drink red wine, or should that be drink red wine and get stupid. Either way, the results are clear. For a longer and healthier life ignorance is bliss, and bliss can be found at the bottom of glass of red wine. So, fly away to the nearest bar and get stupid.

Sir Hook the Bar Fly of Warrick

Do You Know Ellas Bates?

Do you know Ellas Bates? Ellas was born on December 30, 1928 in McComb, Mississippi.

Do you know Ellis McDaniel? Ellas took on this name when he was adopted by his mother's cousin in Chicago.

Do you know that Ellis learned to play the violin at 5 at the Ebehezer Baptist Church in Chicago? At 10 he learned how to play guitar and played for money on street corners, and by his early teens he was playing Chicago's Maxwell Street.

Do you know that Ellis got his now famous nickname from his class mates at grammer school?

Do you know that Ellas, Ellis and his nickname's music help to coin the phrase "rock n roll"?

Do you know Bo Diddley...or do you know diddley squat?


Bo Diddley introduced record buyers in 1955 to his signature rhythm sound on Chess-Checkers Records. Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed is credited with inventing the term "rock n roll" after listening to Bo's music. Freed said, "Here is a man with an original sound, who is going to rock and roll you right out of your seat!"

This was 2 years before I was born, yet he was one of my earliest guitar heros and with hits like "Bo Diddley", "I'm a Man", "Say Man", "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover", "Shave and a Haircut", "Who Do You Love" and "The Mule".

Bo died Monday from heart failure after a stroke and a heart attack. He was 79. Still rockin' all the way to the end, Bo said in 1999, "Seventy ain't nothing but a damn number. I'm writing and creating new stuff and putting together new different things. Trying to stay out there and roll with the punches. I ain't quit yet!"

I know Bo, and now you do too. Here's to one of my earliest hero's, fellow rocker, guitar player, creative artist, entertainer, legend maker and heart patient.

I Ain't Quit Yet!
Sir Hook the Diddley of Warrick