Not to be a big complainer, but I really am ready for my vacation. It isn't a full vacation, but I'm ready to leave tomorrow. Ugh, did I mention we have a meeting at 9 AM today at work? 9!! Why!?

I think that Seasonal Disorder is coming on. I want to sit on a beach or under a tree. I'm going to enjoy the shit out of this spring and summer, I'll tell you that much! Looking back last summer I didn't play golf at all. That has to change immediately.

New York looms - it's been forever. I hope the city doesn't suck the energy out of me. My friends have some things planned out and I believe it should be a great time. I'm going to spend lord knows how much money on booze and women if they have anything to do with it.

I also am hoping to meet up with my friend Janine, who I haven't seen in a long time after she moved to NYC. She saw me at my absolute worst some years ago, didn't judge, didn't throw me under the bus. She would sit and listen to me when I was a major wreck. I've never forgotten how nice she was - and how do you thank or repay someone for that? If I could I would get her a diamond.

Meeting now. God help me. Have a good humpday, peeps.

EDIT: Phew, meeting wasn't the end of the world, although now I feel like I have been punched in the kidney for some reason. I wanted to add that if I get the chance, I might just go to Wall Street and rub the bull down, in the hopes that I become a millionaire, and that our economy really doesn't go circling the john.

So, what's it like? A classier version of a strip joint? Or what? I've never been before but will be initiated soon. Looking forward to having a good time.

.....an American city almost perished. Thank Allah/Gaia/Darwin that we are still here today after one of the most horrible days in American history.

Yes, friends, it is another Belgian. This time, we are having a look at a sibling of my favorite beer of all time, the St Bernardus Abt 12. This one is the Prior 8 - a Beligan Dubbel - one that my coworker swears is superior to its well regarded older brother. He is categorically full of shit, but this is not to say it is an unworthy drop.

With no further hesitation, here is the Prior 8:



The picture is crap because I took it on my Motorola Razr. Trust me on this, it is a dark brown with hints of red, although not as murky as the Abt 12. It fizzes gently, and offers an aroma of caramel and malt.

By the way, if you are going to drink this beer, or the Abt 12, or any of the Belgians I am inclined to like, please do us all a favor and take it from a goblet like the one in my picture. Gracias. Oh, and buy it at Consumer's - but more on that later.

Okay, now to the payoff. How does it drink? Well, your nose's mama didn't raise no fool. Strong flavors of caramel and malty goodness await you. Other reviewers have claimed hints of cocoa and fruits such as apricot and fig, but my palate has been muted by God knows how many cigarettes.

There is a slight warming sensation like you would get with the Abt 12, or for that matter, a Port wine. This is one of my all time favorite moments in alcohol. It weighs in at a stout 8% ABV, and delivers a happy drunk that is consistent from the first few sips until the last gasp. This is one fantastic brew.

I picked this up while at Premier Gourmet, while Josh fucked around for some coffee dripper and associated beans (good coffee, but more on that another time). Premier charges $8.99 for this bottle and a whopping $10.49 for the Abt 12. You can get the same products at Consumer's for $7.99 a bottle (the Abt 12 chilled no less - I DARE YOU to open one of these up warm). Why would you not go to the cheaper place?!? I have hung out with young Mr. Notarius on an occasion or two, and the first opportunity I get I am going to bitch to him about it.

The final score? I forgot how we rated these beers, but I'll give it 4 of 5 Goblets, because it is overall a very worthy beer that delivers on everything most people expect of a Dubbel. It ain't the Abt 12, with all of its banana/clovey/spicy yumminess, but if you want a Dubbel this isn't a bad place to start or finish.

Happy drinking!

Having a religious background is by no means a trump card in the debate over morals, but it also is not a liability or a mental defect. Of all the people I know who have been brought up in this tradition, not too many of them practice their faith anymore, yet they did not turn out to be rotten apples or people to be feared.

There are times when it is very hard for me to justify religious faith as a positive force in the world, because we see the signs all around us that it can be used as a tool for destruction. It is mystifying to me how one of the most effective methods of encouraging harmony, love and unity can also be one of the most destructive tools in our arsenal.

We are very good at creating tools of destruction and methods of segregation, but we are not very good at creating or sustaining social movements which encourage things like harmony, love, mutual respect or a sense of unity. Why does it have to be that way? Not to go all original sin on you, but I think it's because we are not built that way. We prove it all the time, religion or no religion.

So I think you fight bad ideas with good ideas. Hate with tolerance. Disrespect with respect. Follow the example of the best people we have known. Here, we fight the radical religious right with a better vision, provided by people motivated by justice, not by power. (e:Drew) and (e:Janelle) are very good examples of local people who seem to live this way.

If a child is curious and wants to learn more, I see no problem with satisfying her curiosity. I am by means no expert, but in my opinion Tony and Meg are doing this in a responsible way. Remember, she will eventually make her own mind about this stuff just like we did. It will either be very important to her, not very important to her, or used as a springboard for exploration.

Stifling the human mind, or putting a lock on it is probably the greatest sin I can think we can commit against each other. Let's not ever allow that to happen here, whether we are religious or not.