An extremely moving trailer...

"A black-humored cliffhanger of romance, guerrilla science and the redefinition of time, SO MUCH SO FAST unfolds like a nonfiction novel. Stephen Heywood finds out he has ALS and his brother Jamie becomes obsessed with finding a cure"

Not sure what to say. I'm unfamiliar with the Heywood brothers situations or what ALS is. I discovered the preview at quicktime.com and it moved me completely. I look forward to seeing it and I sincerely hope that the movie lives up to its trailer!

CLICK HERE to view the trailer.

Happy Holidays!

Oregon Beer Tax... My $0.02.

I received an email from an old buddy the other day lamenting Oregon's impending Beer Tax. In the interest of prompting spirited dialogue and in an attempt to set the record "straight" I drafted the following email in response.
In summary... "Don't fear the beer tax!"

Oh boy... here we go... time for a rambling email from Bish.

I'm writing in regard to the beer-tax and email we all received titled "oh poop". First, let me say that Oregon legislator Bill Morrisette is a family friend and that my father is Bill's his legislative assistant and helped to draft and promote the bill. You can take this a couple ways. I'm either horribly bias and cannot be trusted as the partisan shill that I am... or... that I have an invested interest in the issue and may know more than the average beer-loving bear.

Now for some fun-facts:

1. The beer tax has been on the table but locked out of negotiation by Republican leaders in the Oregon legislature for 30 years. 30!


2. Oregon's beer tax is among the lowest in the nation and hasn't been adjusted since 1976. We're currently 46th or 47th in the nation... tied with Pennsylvania.


3. This fall, a controversy arose involving several legislators' expense-paid trips conferences in Hawaii. (Conferences sponsored by beer-industry lobbyists)


4. The tax money raised by the beer tax will go directly to prevention and treatment programs for alcohol and drug abuse... it's already a significant burden on state coffers and resources coming from other sources.


5. The proposal is for only $0.10 per beer. If you drink six beers on a weekend bender at your local pub that will only cost you $0.60! The current rate is a tiny $0.0075. That's 3/4 of a penny!
   
   I hope y'all made it this far because this is key...
   
   
6. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL EXEMPTS BREWERIES THAT PRODUCE FEWER THAN 200,000 BARRELS PER YEAR! (Sorry for yelling... but the biggest argument I hear against the tax is that it will hurt micro brewers and local craft beer businesses... Widmere is the ONLY Oregon brewery that reaches those numbers. In fact, it seems reasonable to suggest that if the big breweries prices go up a small amount it may benefit the smaller brewers who's prices will remain constant.)


7. It's the giants from out of state interests that are applying pressure to Oregon and it's social services to not raise taxes... we're talkin' about those from out of state who have no invested interest in Oregon or our local brewers... I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that their primary concern is their profits.

End of rant.

Regards & Cheers!
Bish

Related Reading:
Uncap Beer Tax? - Eugene Register Guard (Nov, 12)

It is time to gloat!

After six years of severely partisan politics the President is having to change his tune. It looks to be official... the Dem's have taken not only the House but the Senate as well. I have a new faith in our political process and a strengthened faith in the good people of America. It's time to flatten out my tinfoil hat and bake some cookies in celebration.

It's a great day to be a liberal...

I only hope the Dem's will deliver as promised.

Here's the good news:
• Bush lowers partisan tone after election losses - Reuters
• Democrats win control of Senate - CNN.com
• Dems Complete Election Sweep of Congress - Associated Press
• Rumsfeld resigns hours after Democrats win control of House - BostonHerald.com
• Clean up the mess - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• Rumsfeld departure shakes Bush administration - BBC News
• Democrats take control in the Oregon Legislature - The Oregonian

The only bad news on an otherwise ideal day:
• Schwarzenegger victory is Republican's biggest success - The Independent