I am ashamed at myself for missing this story. I do not even know where to start on this one. I guess most things in North America go back to how much Canadians love hockey. Being a proud drinker of my birth state's beer, I heartily approve of President Obama's choice of a case of Yuengling to supplement the mandatory case of Molson.

Here's to a US victory over Sidney and the Canadians next time around!

Brewmaster in Chief - Medal of Honor

Click Here for the first post on the Brewmaster in Chief

The Medal of Honor is only given to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."Army Decorations Guide

There are only three living recipients of the Medal of Honor, and more than half since WWII have been awarded posthumously. Last Friday, President Obama obliged the request of the most recent recipient, former Marine Sergeant Dakota Meyer, and had a beer with him on the Oval Office patio.

 Meyer's choice of Budweiser was replaced by none other than the Brewmaster in Chief's "White House Honey Blond Ale." Whew, dodged a bullet there Mr. President - switching out the adjunct-laden Bud for some good ol' fashioned homebrew. This summer the President and his (likely the guys behind 90% of the brewing) lackeys put down some Honey Porter. Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, has been giving help and suggestions to the White House, since they are just "experimenting."

All pictures and information were taken from the White House's own blogger site, http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com 

Brewmaster in Chief

Barack Obama - The United States first Brewmaster in Chief

Last month at the White House Super Bowl party something historic occurred. For the first time ever in American history, the President served beer brewed on site. The beer, which was the "White House Honey Ale," was made using honey from the White House beehive.

At the party, there were approximately 100 12oz bottles served, and there are plans in the works not only for more beer, but TO GROW HOPS IN THE WHITE HOUSE GARDEN.

All pictures and information were taken from the White House's own blogger site, http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com

The Elephant's Ear

Who has the Elephant's Ear these days?  With Rush Limbaugh jumping off the deep end as often as possible, Glen Beck coming in remarkably high on Time's 100 Most Influential People in the world, and just slightly edged out by Sarah Palin at that (!), predicting the direction of the GOP is nebulous.

Well, I sat down today to puzzle over just that.  With no answers forthcoming, I slurped down a few Elephant's Ear Cocktails, turned off Fox News, and went to do something productive.  With no clear leaders, or even people willing to put forward an accomplishment (Think McCain and Immigration, or Romney and Health Care, Palin and ??????), I can't imagine the GOP coming up with any sort of victory in 2012.  But that's just me.

 I found it a little difficult to take a good picture of the drink - I kept having the problem of too little drink left, because who wouldn't want a sip or two in between frames?

1oz Gin
3/4oz Dry Vermouth
3/4oz Dubonnet Rouge

It says stir, but as usual, I found the 'Two shakes and then swirl" method more tasty.  Enjoy!

The taste was interesting, but I suggest you make your own if you'd like to know what it is.

Obama Responds to Palin on ABC Interview

I know this happened on April 8th, so it's not really news, but since I'd heard about it and never read it until today, I figured I'd post it.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Here's what she (Sarah Palin) said. She said, "It's unbelievable, no other administration would do it." And then she likened it to kids on the playground. She said you're like a kid who says, "Punch me in the face, and I'm not going to retaliate." Your response?

OBAMA: I really have no response. Because last I checked, Sarah Palin's not much of an expert on nuclear issues.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But the string of criticism has been out there among other Republicans as well. They think you're restricting use of nuclear weapons too much.

OBAMA: And what I would say to them is that if the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff are comfortable with it, I'm probably going to take my advice from them and not from Sarah Palin.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But not concerned about her criticisms?

OBAMA: No.

Zing! Right?  It made me laugh out loud.  

Words Matter

I've always loved Shakespeare.  In english classes in high school, at a show, or just once in a while perusing a sonnet or two, his mastery of the English language gives me immense satisfaction.  Those who know me well, know I love words.  At first, my diction can sometimes appear arrogant and unnecessary to people I first meet.  I've been told over the years by quite a few people that I have appeared to be putting people down by using big words when small ones will do.

I don't by this logic- use the word that  best fits the sentence, whether it's well known or not.  Yes, yes of course, there are times when brevity requires more terse statements, but for the most part, taking a moment to say what you mean to say precisely is very important.  In the politics of your daily relationships, how you say and what words you use matters almost as much as tone.  Creating a particular insinuation or suggestion while not saying something is important.

Getting to the point here, Obama has changed the Executive Branch's diction in a bunch of ways.  This matters, a lot.  One of the main reasons I like him so much as our president is simply his appreciation and use of words.  Read any speech he wrote (I like the speech on race in Philly the most), and you will feel the words as much as you will read them.  That man can write, and he can write meaning and clarity into topics that are often obscured and ignored.

Everyone should know at this point who pulled strings in the Bush administration - it was Rove and Cheney and their ilk that were creating imagery and nuanced language to inspire specific reactions.  Obama does the same thing, only his team seems to be closer to Google than Microsoft in purpose if you get my drift...