Beerbeerbeerbeer, beerbeerbeer, beerbeerbeerbeer, mmmmbeer.

Like it? That's my Beer Song- I'm gonna go to Nashville, be a rockin roll star.

1,000-Year-Old Brewery Unearthed
Fri Jul 30, 9:59 AM ET
MIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. researchers have unearthed what they say may be the oldest known brewery in the Andes, a pre-Incan plant at least 1,000 years old that could produce drinks for hundreds of people at one sitting...

At least 20 ceramic, 10- to 15-gallon vats were found at the site some 8,000 feet up in the mountains of southern Peru...

Patrick Ryan Williams, assistant curator at the Field Museum, said each nobleman would have consumed up to 2.6 gallons of chicha per ceremony...

Archeologists discovered what they think are halls for "ritual intoxication" at Cerro Baul, where Wari noblemen apparently feasted and drank...

Mike Moseley, associate chairman of anthropology at the university, said the halls "become a place where politics are negotiated and economic decisions are made"...

The Wari civilization thrived from about A.D. 700 to 1000, conquering all of what is modern Peru before swiftly and mysteriously declining.

Nice. Lets review the facts:
1. drinks for hundreds of people at one sitting
2. 20 ceramic, 10- to 15-gallon vats
3. consumed up to 2.6 gallons of chicha per ceremony
4. politics negotiated
5. economic decisions made
6. Wari civilization swiftly and mysteriously declined
I'm no scientist, but I think I solved the mystery.
If I drank 2.6 gallons of chicha, or even chicha lite, the first thing declining would be my pants.

This reminds me of a time many moons ago at my friend Gary's house- his parents were out of town, so we threw a little chicha ritual of our own- 70 or so of our closest friends.

What I remember is the hot tub filled with about 40 or so Swiss Miss instant coco packets with the little marshamllows (they clog up a filter real good) and my breakfast, which was a Cerro Baul of Fruit Loops and chicha from the keg (no milk, that was used up on the slippity slid in the hall way).
I wonder if a thousand years from now anyone will dig up Gary's house on Regal Ave in Hayward and spend millions studying the ceremonial aspects of senior year?

Beerbeerbeerbeer, beerbeerbeer, beerbeerbeerbeer, mmmmbeer...

Crime and punishment IV

Making Amends for Spitting
Fri Jul 30,10:05 AM ET
ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland striker Alexander Frei has apologized for spitting during Euro 2004 ... Frei was found guilty of spitting at England midfielder Steven Gerrard in the 3-0 defeat in Portugal in June after he initially denied the offence...Frei, who plays his club soccer for Stade Rennes in France, was initially cleared after an investigation but was handed a three-match ban when new television evidence was presented.

3 game ban for spitting. I had lunch with a guy last week who spit so much when he talked he should get the death penalty.

Driver Beaten Up for Observing Speed Limit
Fri Jul 30,10:07 AM ET
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German truck driver beat up a motorist he believed was driving too slowly...Police in the western town of Bochum said the truck driver told them he felt provoked by the motorist "because he was actually driving 30 kph in a 30 kph area."

In a related story, the Boca Raton chapter of AARP to provide free Jujitsu lessons.

Dentist Pleads Guilty in Naked Cycle Ride
Fri Jul 30, 4:05 PM ET
NANTICOKE, Pa. - A helmet would be nice, but police here said clothes would be a good start when riding a motorcycle.

A local dentist pleaded guilty to a summary charge of disorderly conduct for driving a motorcycle with a naked woman on the back. The woman faces more serious charges.
Dr. Joseph P. Gronka, 39, of Scott Township, was pulled over June 12 when police noticed Lisa Drozdowski, 39, of Nanticoke, riding naked on the back of his motorcycle. Since then, Gronka has paid court costs and fines totaling $277.50.
Gronka declined comment.
Police said Drozdowski was belligerent when she was taken into custody and threw a small pipe into her cell toilet, then kicked an officer who tried to prevent her from flushing the toilet. She was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, tampering with evidence, resisting arrest and open lewdness.

One question- where was the pipe?
That doc got his Gronka's in a vice.

Last and least-
Russell Simmons' Wife Faces Drug Charges
Fri Jul 30, 4:00 AM ET
Kimora Lee Simmons is seen in this July 26, 2004, photo released by the Saddle River, N.J., police department Thursday, July 29, 2004. Simmons, the wife of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, faces drug and motor vehicle charges after police said she was driving erratically and ignored the flashing lights of a cruiser for nearly two miles. Simmons was arrested just after midnight Monday, July 26, 2004, outside the couple's estate in Saddle River, N.J., according to published reports. (AP Photo/Saddle River Police)

Not a funny story, but bottom picture gets my vote for best booking photo of the week.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/simmon_s_wife

Blogging 101

The LFR http://lunaticfringereport.blogspot.com/ got me started- Wonderbread has a burning desire to express himself, and, as long as he can do so without visiting small children in a bath robe, I'm not only all for it, I've decided to join in.

Spending late nights traveling through this forum has proven to be quite informative-Visiting Blogonia- the political satire, the heartfelt reflections, interior decorator dogs jaytray.blogspot.com , have all been great reading. But My favorite feature of blogger is the profile.

I've tried clicking on my own profile points, which links me to other people with similar interests. Some things surprised me.

Take for instance the fact that only 8 people list Elmore Leonard in their book interests. Popular writer. Lot's of movies made of his books. He's funny and a good read. I would expect that number to be higher.

I know Tom Waits isn't the most widely listened to artist, and was pleasantly surprised to find so many bloggers list him.

Gilroy Ca has 6 bloggers, and, well, lets just say Santa Cruz looks like a good place to hang out now. (Oooh! Sassy!)

Posting pictures of yourself seems to be popular, but I haven't had time to test that out yet- but some of them are pretty good. There's the guy in San Francisco who looks bored silly, or maybe that's just ultra hip, I can't tell anymore.

Humor- Lots of links. I really liked the southern bell kissing the camera who likes both Staind and Donnie Osmond. This alone was worth the search.

I haven't read it all, but Mikey seems like a funny guy "About Me
My brother was born on January 7th, 1989. Twenty days after he was born my parents had sex with a broken condom and I was concieved and born nine months later."
http://mikeythelegend.blogspot.com/
That's all I read so far. I'll have to come back later to see how he turns out.

I don't know what this guy thinks, reads, or is passionate about- but ya' gotta love the photo- That's comedy.http://www.blogger.com/profile/586578

I feel like I'm looking through somebody's windows- hiding in the bushes late at night, peeking in.

Well, if they don't like it I guess they could close the curtains.