Sean's Rant

This is a classic good news/bad news story in the world of alcohol beverage sales and basic liberty.

On the good news front, yesterday the people of Washington State passed a measure that would end the state’s 78-year monopoly on the sale of liquor. The initiative was backed vigorously by Costco who has been on the frontlines of fighting for consumer liberty in regards to alcohol sales. The result of this vote is expected to have an impact on battles long brewing in other control states. Let’s hope that Virginia and Pennsylvania are not far behind.

 

You learn early on as a writer of features and even commentary pieces that you should never yell at your audience. This is typically advice that I follow being a fervent individualist I believe that I should do as I please and so should you assuming that neither of us is hurting anyone. That being said, it’s time for a little tough love. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

 

 

Not Worth Their Salt…

Two peanuts were walking down the road and one was a salted.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday filled with tradition, fellowship, and gratitude. It reminds us all of something we should engage in on a daily basis, thanks. I will gratefully be spending the day with friends sharing a meal, laughs, and some damn fine beverages.

Among many things, I will be thankful for the right to be a snarky curmudgeon from time to time. Now is one of those times. Allow me to share the things that make me shiver on Thanksgiving Day.

Despite our current political and economic woes, Illinois is still the “Land of Lincoln.” However, today’s moniker has little to do with the nation’s 16th President and much more to do with the fact that the idiots in Springfield and Chicago want to take your last penny.

For the most part, I love technology. I certainly love the internet having opted years ago to present my vision of a beverage centric magazine online as opposed to print. It was a rough road in the beginning, as many in the beverage biz did not get the concept of presenting a magazine online (some still don’t…). But I have discovered that there is a line in the virtual world sand for me and I simply will not cross it. Its name is Twitter.

I roll into this week’s edition of BevX fresh from judging in the San Francisco International Wine Competition. It’s a fantastically run competition and operation and a welcomed annual obligation. It’s a grueling affair but I am neither asking for nor expecting sympathy. (Although I would love to have a few friends who believe that wine competitions are some sort of weekend pleasure cruise sit down to a day of tasting dozens upon dozens of wines. I would love to see them sweat…)