Beer and Conversation with Pigweed and Crowhill

The boys drink and review "Triple Dog Triple IPA" from Flying Dog brewery, then respond to a listener question on gay marriage.  What does "marriage" mean? And are Pigweed and Crowhill in favor of same-sex marriage?  The boys start with biology. Pair bonding. Procreation. What goes on in the animal kingdom. When does monogamy make sense?  And what about property? Isn't marriage larg...

The boys drink a "Patuxent Walnut," and then discuss three recent news items.  Pelosi goes to Taiwan . It was a ballsy move on her part. China stomped around, red-faced and furious, and threatened to shoot down her plane. But she went anyway. Was that right, or will she be the match that starts WW3?  P&C discuss the U.S.-Taiwan relationship in general, and tie it in with Pelosi's vis...

The boys drink and review Old Pro from Union Brewing, then discuss narcissism.  Narcissus was an unfortunate fellow who fell in love with his own image, and lent his name to everyone who is a little too obsessed with themself.  Researchers say we have a narcissism epidemic. What's causing it? A lack of meaning in life? Decline in religion? Social media? Smart phones?  We've created...

The boys drink and review Low Pitch Hazy IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing, then discuss the morality of suicide, euthanasia, doctor-assisted suicide, and related issues.  It's illegal to kill yourself, and most religious traditions say it's immoral. That view is increasingly challenged these days. There are lots of movements for "death with dignity" and similar concepts.  We have a natural revul...

The boys drink and review Double High-Pitch IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing, then discuss the invasion of Ukraine.  Pigweed gives a little historical background on the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, then P&C go through the four possible explanations of the situation recently offered by Jordan Peterson.  1. Putin is an evil expansionist thug who wants to expand his territory and re...

The boys drink and review two awful beers from Heavy Seas, then discuss gay parenting in general, with a particular emphasis on the recent discussion on the topic between Jordan Peterson and Dave Rubin.  Jordan Peterson regularly encourages people to take on more responsibility in their lives, including getting married and having children. Dr. Peterson's lectures had an impact on Dave Rubin,...

P&C drink and review a homebrewed mild ale, then discuss recent disturbing revelations about psychiatry, and a very disturbing finding in the area of Alzheimer's research.  An analysis of multiple studies shows there's little evidence that depression is caused by a "chemical imbalance" -- which is what we've been told for decades. It's "common knowledge" that depression is from low seroto...

P&C drink and review a homebrewed India Pale Ale, then discuss the recent SCOTUS decision on EPA over-reach.  The boys do a quick review of the role of administrative agencies and their authority to regulate, and how that relates to Congressional authority to control things through legislation.  Then they look at the specific issues relating to EPA's Clean Power Plan, where they forc...

Along with special guest Longinus, P&C drink and review an IPA from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, then discuss spiritual guru and cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.  Rajneesh started off life as a troublemaker -- as both a student and a teacher -- but eventually found his groove with his own system of meditation, blending eastern mystic ideas with western psychology. He settled into a...

Pigweed and Crowhill, with special guest Longinus, drink and review a coffee stout from Guinness, then continue their "shortcut to the classics" series with a review of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.  They start off with a whirlwind tour of the story, then discuss various potential meanings and interpretations.  Generally speaking, the boys are not impressed, and they wonder why in...

The boys drink and review Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing, then discuss tools, machines, and robots, and how they affect labor and employment.  The Luddites were people who objected to modern equipment that robbed them of their livelihood. But that process of increasing efficiency and reducing labor costs has been a major driver of wealth and opportunity. The industrial revolution de...

P&C drink and review "Bed of Nails" brown ale by Hi-Wire Brewing, then discuss recent decisions on the free exercise of religion.  Two important cases came down this term: Kennedy v. Bremerton involved the coach who prayed on the 50-yard line, while Carson v. Makin had to do with a restriction on public money being used to support a religious school.  Kennedy was a football coach at...

The boys drink and review Pigweed's latest version of a sour beer, then discuss Bronies. That is, adult men who are obsessed with My Little Pony.  My Little Pony is a show for little girls. It's about "the magic of friendship." And, as a show for little girls, it's perfectly fine, as far as we can tell.  But how do you react to a grown man who becomes a fanboy for such a show? A man who...

P&C drink and review a tangerine wheat beer from Flying Dog, then discuss recent gun-related news.  Justice Thomas recently wrote a majority SCOTUS decision overthrowing very restrictive gun laws in New York. "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" means what it says.  The boys review the decision's logic and implications. What does "keep and bear" mean...

The boys drink and review 1623 Brewing's Everything But the Seeds, then discuss the strange phenomenon of WeWork.  The founders wanted to create an exciting new work environment where people would collaborate and help one another with their business. They had a particular focus on start-ups, and it seems to have majored in young people.  Adam Neumann was the charismatic leader who wrappe...

There was way too much to cover on the Dobbs decision than the boys could cover in part 1. In this episode, they skip the beer review and fill in some of the important points they missed in part one.  They discuss the history of Roe v. Wade, stare decisis, and respect for precedent. They review the attempts at gaslighting by the government and the media about the threat of right-wing violence...

The boys drink and review 1623's Nuestro Playa, then discuss abortion and the recent SCOTUS decision.  In Roe v. Wade, the court found a right to privacy in the constitution, although it wasn't exactly clear where it was. The court tried to split the difference between the interests of states in protecting life and the idea of a right to privacy. Justice Blackmun, who wrote the Roe decision,...

The boys review Otto's Orchard Raspberry from Antietam Brewing, then discuss political polarization. Polarization can be divided into ideological -- differences on issues -- and affective -- where you don't like or trust the other side. We seem to be plagued with both. Is the political center defined as half-way between the extremes of both sides? And which side has moved further recently, the rad...

Pigweed and Crowhill drink and review a <a href="https://1623brewing.com/portfolio-item/hefeweizen/">Hefeweizen from 1623 Brewing</a>, then discuss Hell and Satan. We often read later understandings of Hell and Satan back into old texts, so we see the serpent in the garden of Eden as Satan, and Sheol in the Hebrew Bible as Hell. But it wasn't always that way. The notion of Hell and the...

P&C drink and review Key Brewing Company's Bail Money IPA, then discuss changes in restaurants. We've lost more than 100,000 restaurants because of Covid. What will happen next? Will they come back, or will they be replaced? What about food trucks, and Door Dash? How are they affecting the industry? How will restaurants respond to customer expectations of "right now" efficiency? How has social...

The boys drink and review Oliver Brewing's Box Turtle Kolsch, then discuss that best-selling LGBT author, Matt Walsh. P&C discuss their general impressions of Matt Walsh, then review some of his recent works, starting with "Johnny the Walrus." In this wonderful children's book, little Johnny likes to pretend he's a walrus. His woke mother felt she had to affirm Johnny as a walrus but eventuall...

Pigweed and Crowhill drink and review a homebrewed no-alcohol porter, then discuss the history and significance of air conditioning. Special guest Longinus joins P&C to contribute his knowledge of history and the development of cities. Refrigeration started with ice houses, ice boxes and ice-cooled freight cars, but eventually moved on to refrigeration, which relies on the laws of physics to c...

Pigweed and Crowhill drink and review Vulpulin Tropical Pale Ale from Sly Fox Brewing, then review The Great Gatsby. With special guest Longinus, P&C continue their "shortcut to the classics" series, picking a short work by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Following a quick biography of the man, the boys review the plot and discuss the meaning of the text. The book is often considered a classic treatment...

The boys drink and review Flying Dog's Hop Electric hazy IPA, then discuss public education. The extreme dysfunction of America's public schools came to the attention of parents during Covid lockdowns. They were able to peer into the classroom and see and hear the nonsense their children have been taught. The sensible among them were outraged, and the responsible among them are making other arrang...

P&C drink and review Thirst Monster Kolsch from Union Brewing, then discuss cultural literacy. Is it just about "dead white males"? Is there some benefit to reading the Bible and the western canon? We say yes, for three reasons. It helps everyone understand the world they live in; it helps bind the culture together with common stories; and it allows people to enjoy our shared culture more.