Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

[CT-Scott]

I didn't comment previously on the subject of beer. I used to enjoy many varieties of beer, but later moved on to be more of a wine-drinker, and then later to add cocktails to my routine (Manhattan, Vesper, others). So I only rarely have a beer these days. I still enjoy them, but I'm usually feeling pretty "full" after just one.

Anyway, for anyone who likes darker beers, I strongly recommend Ayinger Celebrator:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/39/131/

It's categorized as a German Doppelbock. Doppel means "double" but Bock means "goat"? OK, now I had to Google more and found this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bock

Notable quote:

The style known now as bock was a dark, malty, lightly hopped ale first brewed in the 14th century by German brewers in the Hanseatic town of Einbeck.[2] The style from Einbeck was later adopted by Munich brewers in the 17th century and adapted to the new lager style of brewing. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced "Einbeck" as "ein Bock" ("a billy goat"), and thus the beer became known as "bock". As a visual pun, a goat often appears on bock labels.

Neat. And, indeed, Ayinger Celebrator actually hangs a little white plastic goat trinket on every bottle (usually sold as a 4-pack).

Anyway, the beer has a very strong malty flavor, which I love. It's not a style that's been particularly popular in the USA (or probably too many other places) in quite a while. But if you like it, another fun fact is that any beer ending with the suffix "ator" is typically of this same style. That's something I *did* already know. Another notable quote from that Wikipedia page:

The monks who originally brewed doppelbock named their beer "Salvator" (literally "Savior", but actually a malapropism for "Sankt Vater", "St. Father", originally brewed for the feast of St. Francis of Paola on 2 April which often falls into Lent), which today is trademarked by Paulaner. Brewers of modern doppelbocks often add "-ator" to their beer's name as a signpost of the style; there are 200 "-ator" doppelbock names registered with the German patent office. The following are representative examples of the style: Paulaner Salvator, Ayinger Celebrator, Weihenstephaner Korbinian, Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel, Spaten Optimator, Augustiner Maximator, Tucher Bajuvator, Weltenburger Kloster Asam-Bock, Capital Autumnal Fire, EKU 28, Eggenberg Urbock 23º, Bell's Consecrator, Moretti La Rossa, Samuel Adams Double Bock, Tröegs Tröegenator Double Bock, Wasatch Brewery Devastator, Great Lakes Doppelrock, Abita Andygator, Wolverine State Brewing Company Predator, Burly Brewing's Burlynator, and Christian Moerlein Emancipator Doppelbock.

[Mountaineer]

Wow. I had that for the first time about a month ago. Pretty good.

[Mountaineer]

That explains why I prefer IPAs to stouts and bocks. I like hoppiness over maltiness any day.

Once again, I go with Pugmeister’s taste profile - oh my, did I use the word profile? Vinny, please do not turn me in to the AOC police.

[Xan]

Blech! No hoppiness for me, thanks.

[Mountaineer]

That explains why I prefer IPAs to stouts and bocks. I like hoppiness over maltiness any day.

Once again, I go with Pugmeister’s taste profile - oh my, did I use the word profile? Vinny, please do not turn me in to the AOC police.

Some day, you and I will clink glasses to a nice hoppy, citrusy, IPA Mountaineer. Whoever wants to join us is welcome. As long as you stay 6 ft away.

Deal!

[Libertarian666]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

[Mountaineer]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

. No disrespect intended. That’s just funny!

[Kriegsspiel]

Blech! No hoppiness for me, thanks.

Yup. I like every type of beer except IPAs. My favorite is hefeweizen.

[Mountaineer]

Pug, we are going to have to undertake a re-education campaign for the unwashed.

[WiseOne]

Daily check-in from NYC.

Trying to ignore the news, except for watching Cuomo's daily broadcast and compiling a chart of daily new COVID cases in NYC, which I posted in the coronavirus thread. Cuomo's broadcasts are getting better every day. Either that, or I'm appreciating them more. Highly recommend you guys pull them up on youtube.

Today I did some work on a journal article in revision, got hit up for a feature in the chair's weekly newsletter (just published an article a few days ago), obsessed inappropriately about a university hiring freeze that cuts off a postdoc hire in progress I desperately needed to happen (and so did she), and participated in a remote graduate student thesis committee meeting/qualifying exam. Then got an email asking me to add info to a spreadsheet with all our names on it, titled "Redeployment". This included my postdoc and research coordinator, so I had to warn them they may get a phone call.

Just had some tequila. Going out for a walk. I'm going to enjoy the weekend as best I can. BTW etoh-wise, I HIGHLY recommend a "Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog" liqueur that a friend of mine found. Incredibly yummy stuff.

[dualstow]

Hefeweizen would be my second choice if no IPAs were available.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (that’s a mouthful) is fantastic, especially in summer.

[vnatale]

That explains why I prefer IPAs to stouts and bocks. I like hoppiness over maltiness any day.

Once again, I go with Pugmeister’s taste profile - oh my, did I use the word profile? Vinny, please do not turn me in to the AOC police.

I make my choices and allow everyone else to make their choices. But I'll oftentimes be an evangelist for what I believe. When it comes to alcohol I generally don't say anything.

When I quit alcohol I was living in a house of drinkers. I think the kitchen always had a line of empty bear bottles about four feet long and a foot wide. Also, quit smoking marijuana that same last week of December 1974.

The next month, I was oftentimes in the same living room with two guys who went through smoking a pound of marijuana that month.

I'd still go to the bar to watch Yankees games and order water and eat peanuts.

Never a temptation for either the alcohol or the marijuana. I'd made up my mind and others could do whatever they wanted around me.

Vinny

[vnatale]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

Obviously I don't consider it a problem. Always looking at the financial aspect of it, a ton of money that got invested instead.

Vinny

[vnatale]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

. No disrespect intended. That’s just funny!

I know that you know that the Statement of Faiths for some churches (I'd bet the vast majority of Baptist ones) have something to the effect of:

"We do not believe in the use of alcohol" (and, now updated to, "or, the use of any recreational drug")

Vinny

[vnatale]

Daily check-in from NYC.

Trying to ignore the news, except for watching Cuomo's daily broadcast and compiling a chart of daily new COVID cases in NYC, which I posted in the coronavirus thread. Cuomo's broadcasts are getting better every day. Either that, or I'm appreciating them more. Highly recommend you guys pull them up on youtube.

Today I did some work on a journal article in revision, got hit up for a feature in the chair's weekly newsletter (just published an article a few days ago), obsessed inappropriately about a university hiring freeze that cuts off a postdoc hire in progress I desperately needed to happen (and so did she), and participated in a remote graduate student thesis committee meeting/qualifying exam. Then got an email asking me to add info to a spreadsheet with all our names on it, titled "Redeployment". This included my postdoc and research coordinator, so I had to warn them they may get a phone call.

Just had some tequila. Going out for a walk. I'm going to enjoy the weekend as best I can. BTW etoh-wise, I HIGHLY recommend a "Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog" liqueur that a friend of mine found. Incredibly yummy stuff.

I was impressed with Cuomo by the 1st or 2nd one I saw.

I then emailed a friend wondering if he could end up the Democratic nominee at the convention rather than Biden. The friend stated that he's got too much on his hands with New York and he'd be a 2024 candidate.

But in my local newspaper we have a columnist who generally writes a local politics column on Fridays. Today he veered into national politics and seconded Coumo replacing Biden. He also brought up our own governor (Charlie Baker, the same one that Biden referred to as "Charlie Parker"!) as also replacing Biden. Baker is a Republican but you cannot be that much of a Republican to be elected governor of Massachusetts. Plus, Bernie is not a Democrat and is using the party to run as the Democratic nominee.

My enthusiasm for Cuomo, however, is tempered by me witnessing him at the relatively young age of 62 (compared to the three oldies still running) already having had (so far) 2 "Biden moments" in the daily broadcasts I've seen (sometimes I see them twice in a day).

Vinny

[Libertarian666]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

Obviously I don't consider it a problem. Always looking at the financial aspect of it, a ton of money that got invested instead.

Vinny

You might find that your current fixed ideas aren't really that accurate.

[Mountaineer]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

. No disrespect intended. That’s just funny!

I know that you know that the Statement of Faiths for some churches (I'd bet the vast majority of Baptist ones) have something to the effect of:

"We do not believe in the use of alcohol" (and, now updated to, "or, the use of any recreational drug")

Vinny

I know that some denominations promote that, however, there is no Biblical basis for it (I think the Bible focuses on not getting drunk; i.e. maintain self-control). "No alcohol" is just another man-made, not God-made, rule. That is similar to the issue of the Pharisees turning the 10 Commandments (God-made) into 613 man-made rules; in my opinion so they could feel good about faith in works righteousness as a means to get to heaven vs. faith in God and His promises.

Reminds me of an old joke: The worst thing that can happen to a Baptist is to run into a fellow pew sitter in the liquor store.

[Libertarian666]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

. No disrespect intended. That’s just funny!

I know that you know that the Statement of Faiths for some churches (I'd bet the vast majority of Baptist ones) have something to the effect of:

"We do not believe in the use of alcohol" (and, now updated to, "or, the use of any recreational drug")

Vinny

I know that some denominations promote that, however, there is no Biblical basis for it (I think the Bible focuses on not getting drunk; i.e. maintain self-control). "No alcohol" is just another man-made, not God-made, rule. That is similar to the issue of the Pharisees turning the 10 Commandments (God-made) into 613 man-made rules; in my opinion so they could feel good about faith in works righteousness as a means to get to heaven vs. faith in God and His promises.

Reminds me of an old joke: The worst thing that can happen to a Baptist is to run into a fellow pew sitter in the liquor store.

I heard it more or less this way:
Protestants don't recognize the authority of the pope.
Anarchists don't recognize the authority of the state.
Baptists don't recognize each other in a liquor store.

[dualstow]

That's good.

[WiseOne]

There's also the Mormon/Utah paradox: they are also strictly alcohol-free, except for a very specific type of grain alcohol that is easy to find, or at least was around 20 years ago. The stuff is pure paint thinner. I forget what it's called.

Trying to think of a line to add to Tech's little poem? Maybe: Mormon's don't recognize grain alcohol as liquor.

[vnatale]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

Obviously I don't consider it a problem. Always looking at the financial aspect of it, a ton of money that got invested instead.

Vinny

You might find that your current fixed ideas aren't really that accurate.

You need to further elaborate on your above sentence as currently it has no meaning to me.

Vinny

[vnatale]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

. No disrespect intended. That’s just funny!

I know that you know that the Statement of Faiths for some churches (I'd bet the vast majority of Baptist ones) have something to the effect of:

"We do not believe in the use of alcohol" (and, now updated to, "or, the use of any recreational drug")

Vinny

I know that some denominations promote that, however, there is no Biblical basis for it (I think the Bible focuses on not getting drunk; i.e. maintain self-control). "No alcohol" is just another man-made, not God-made, rule. That is similar to the issue of the Pharisees turning the 10 Commandments (God-made) into 613 man-made rules; in my opinion so they could feel good about faith in works righteousness as a means to get to heaven vs. faith in God and His promises.

Reminds me of an old joke: The worst thing that can happen to a Baptist is to run into a fellow pew sitter in the liquor store.

You are correct in all you say. However, reading that in the statement of beliefs of that church was one my five reasons why I decided to quit. One of the others is that I no longer wanted to be a part of in any way supporting an industry that has proven to be so destructive to the lives of so many individuals and their families. Even so many innocents and their families being affected by the actions of drunk driving.

I know you also know that the Bible states to not do some things you can handle because it can cause the weaker to be tempted and to not handle it well.

You and everyone else may well responsibly be handling all your alcohol consumption. But you are keeping an industry alive that provides no health benefits and, as stated earlier, results in much destruction in our society.

But, in the end, I've made my decisions that fits my conscience and you and everyone else in this country is free to make those you fit into yours. I'm sure I do certain things you have chosen not to do.

Vinny

[Libertarian666]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

Obviously I don't consider it a problem. Always looking at the financial aspect of it, a ton of money that got invested instead.

Vinny

You might find that your current fixed ideas aren't really that accurate.

You need to further elaborate on your above sentence as currently it has no meaning to me.

Vinny

You might find that some recreational drugs do in fact have the mind-expanding properties that they are said to have.
I know that many very creative people have taken advantage of those properties even before it was socially acceptable.

[Mountaineer]

Day 14 here.....and for the record....I last had any alcohol in December 1974 (45 years ago) and, also, no other recreational drugs since.

Vinny

So that's your problem.
Makes sense to me.

. No disrespect intended. That’s just funny!

I know that you know that the Statement of Faiths for some churches (I'd bet the vast majority of Baptist ones) have something to the effect of:

"We do not believe in the use of alcohol" (and, now updated to, "or, the use of any recreational drug")

Vinny

I know that some denominations promote that, however, there is no Biblical basis for it (I think the Bible focuses on not getting drunk; i.e. maintain self-control). "No alcohol" is just another man-made, not God-made, rule. That is similar to the issue of the Pharisees turning the 10 Commandments (God-made) into 613 man-made rules; in my opinion so they could feel good about faith in works righteousness as a means to get to heaven vs. faith in God and His promises.

Reminds me of an old joke: The worst thing that can happen to a Baptist is to run into a fellow pew sitter in the liquor store.

You are correct in all you say. However, reading that in the statement of beliefs of that church was one my five reasons why I decided to quit. One of the others is that I no longer wanted to be a part of in any way supporting an industry that has proven to be so destructive to the lives of so many individuals and their families. Even so many innocents and their families being affected by the actions of drunk driving.

I know you also know that the Bible states to not do some things you can handle because it can cause the weaker to be tempted and to not handle it well.

You and everyone else may well responsibly be handling all your alcohol consumption. But you are keeping an industry alive that provides no health benefits and, as stated earlier, results in much destruction in our society.

But, in the end, I've made my decisions that fits my conscience and you and everyone else in this country is free to make those you fit into yours. I'm sure I do certain things you have chosen not to do.

Vinny

Thank you for your response. If you don't mind my asking, what were the other 3 reasons? And, what if anything, would cause you to reconsider? No need to respond if those are inappropriate questions for you. I'm not at all asking to judge, just to better understand the things that turned you off of Christianity (presumed since you paraphrased some Christian Scripture quite well).

[dualstow]

...
I no longer wanted to be a part of in any way supporting an industry that has proven to be so destructive to the lives of so many individuals and their families.

You could probably say the same about the sugar industry.