Purses Are For Lipstick

This was sent to me from a female student. I must agree with the instructor in this video, Anna Taylor. As you watch it, try to guess where she is hiding a firearm.

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Finger Gun, Bad Idea?

Is using a finger gun to let someone know you will retaliate if threatened a bad idea? In general the answer is yes because you never know what is going through the other person’s head. I’ve successfully used it twice to avoid road rage incidents, in fact I used it yesterday. The first time a young man in a large Detroit machine was trying to nudge me off the road while I was traveling in the fast lane. The first time he did it I swerved and he missed and he went back into his lane, but we were wedged in and he continued to push toward my lane. Eventually he was beside me and I got his attention and gave him the finger gun. He decided from that point forward he should remain in his own lane. Yesterday I was in my lane awaiting the exit a mile or so away and two gentlemen in a large SUV/Van took advantage of my space cushion to get in front of me. I did not close the gap and allowed them to enter with no incident. Over the next half mile they continually slowed down and so eventually I turned on my signal and pulled out to pass figuring I would jump back in four or five car lengths ahead. When I passed I noticed the four or five car lengths were in front of the SUV so I pulled back in the lane. Admittedly I did not signal my intention to renter, but I was so far ahead it posed no danger. The gentlemen then decided to give me the finger and I continued toward my exit. I noticed they seemed to be following instead of taking other exits and finally when I did exit I was in the rightmost lane and they were in the leftmost lane and blowing the horn. As we stopped at the light forty or so feet apart they continued to blow the horn and rolled down the window and yelled, cursed, and screamed. That was when I gave them the effective finger gun and suddenly the window rolled up, the horn quit blowing, and the yelling ceased. I suppose that gesture could have escalated the situation, but I am in my car which is my castle so any threat to me in the car can be met with deadly force. Luckily for me that did not happen, but a post mortem of the event would suggest I should have signaled my intention to enter the lane and if that had still made them angry I should have exited by a different route to avoid the confrontation. In general skip the finger gun, but luckily I have used it on occasion with success.

Sensory Training Notes

Recently BDAS posted about a new sensory training class they were putting together and based on the first graphic, I like what I see. I’m not sure how the whole series will shake out, but the format is easy to read and understand and covers the topic well. Most of the information can be found in other places, but here it is presented in a comprehensive format without being overwhelming. Once they fully develop the course I might have to see where it is being held so I can attend.

Oatmeal Stout Price Increase?

I happened upon an article indicating oat exports from the great white north are expected to drop as a result of weather conditions. Many of the oats slated for human consumption are now going to be used as animal feed. With over 4,500 breweries in the US and more than a few of them making oatmeal stouts or beers containing oats it would seem we may see a price increase in those beers. Luckily oats are only a portion of the grist in most beers, but if raw material prices increase, those costs are typically passed along to the consumer of the finished goods. I doubt we will see oatmeal stout go by the wayside as oat prices escalate, but during previous hops shortages where prices increased we have seen beers which utilize a particular hop cease production when the hop went AWOL. Anyway, snag up your favorite beer containing oats and be prepared for the prices of other products which contain oats to rise in the coming year.

Facebook Reactions For Whiskey Lovers

Finally someone has explained what the Facebook reactions mean to whiskey lovers. I must say, it is about time!  😉

Virginia ABC 2016 Black Friday Sale!

Get thee to a Virginia ABC store since they are having a sale for Black Friday!

In-store purchases totaling $50 – $74.99 receive 10% off, purchases of $75 or more receive 15% off! The more you spend, the more you save!

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Sketchbook Pinot Noir

I haven’t penned much about wine lately, but last night I had a glass of Sketchbook Pinot Noir and was pleasantly surprised. It was positioned at a reasonable price point and worked well with my entree selection. It was approachable and not overly complex so it could be consumed easily without too much consideration. If I see it on the menu I would certainly not be reluctant to order it again, but on the other hand I am not going to race out and try to find a bottle.

Abbreviated Beer Names

It should be illegal to abbreviate beer names! Let’s start with a little known beer from Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte, NC. The name on the menu was Salty Coco Red Ale and it was described as an American Amber. So let’s take a second and decide what the flavor is. Is it cocoa or some other flavor? Turns out the real characteristic is coconut and that is what Coco stands for in the abbreviation. Wouldn’t that make it a fruit or nut beer instead of an American amber? Totally threw me for a loop tonight and until I knew it was coconut was thinking I might have to find a drain to clean with it. As a coconut ale it was passable, but still not my cup of tea. I think the name of beers such as these should be spelled out loud and proud to avoid any confusion. Had they told me it was coconut I would have most likely skipped it and chosen something else to wet my whistle. If you are a taphouse do your patrons a favor and spell out the beer name completely even if it requires extra space on the menu. Then slobs such as myself won’t order a tropical amber expecting something with chocolate. The brewery is not trying to hide the characteristics of the beer and you should not either!

Guns Sales Slowing Down Already

I predicted Trump would be a horrible gun salesman about 10 days ago and sales have already started to slow down as a result of our President-elect. Guns.com reported on the topic yesterday. I think this will be awesome for consumers as the market becomes saturated with firearms and horrible for manufacturers as sales drop off and hoarding stops. I guess now we will be able to find .22LR ammo again! 😉