So I was at Farmers Market Sundayday and picked up some lemon infused pasta, pricey but what the hey. They said it would go well with shrimp so here is what I am thinking.

Saute the following in Olive Oil one large bulb shallot, one diced red bell pepper, one clove, okay 2, who am I kidding, of garlic, and dash of thyme.

Boil lemon infused pasta for 5 minutes (normal 4, but at 7,000ft have a to add a bit)

Saute shrimp briefly, then add white wine and lid to steam/braise shrimp.

When shrimp done add portion flat leaf parsley then toss with pasta.

Top with light dusting of parmigiana cheese.

Enjoy, very impressive pasta.

Flagstaff's local Channel 2 always covers national news after the first break, but frankly why? Lately they have cut back local coverage, giving up on weekend and morning broadcasts. The last thing they have currently is waste time in the 22 or so minutes they broadcast. It is rather doubtful that anyone in this small town tunes into their programming to catch the latest national news headlines. When you tune into Channel 2 you want local news, weather and sports roundup. NBC offers a seperate national news show for those interested and even those without cable can get it. For those with cable or satellite there is even more choices, so why would they tune in to a local news channel? I don't know either.

The only advantage Channel 2 has over all of these other programs is they cover this local market, so why waste our valuable time and attention.

It just boggles my mind.

A few years back I worked for an Industry Trade Association. Frankly while I wasn't always happy at the time it was one of the best jobs I have ever had and had a lot of freedom generally. I had a great boss and learned a lot about DC politics from an 'Off the Hill' perspective. But I also learned a great deal about the way trade association politics work.

First rule of Trade Association politics is never take a public stand that directly conflicts with members. In fact, it is in part of the reason of growth of the DC trade association industry. Because when a conflict issue comes to a head between two large businesses and they are both of one association they want to take action and it won't. So they and their allies develop a new trade association to take action on the subject. Incidental I have noticed while the United Nations is not thought of as a Trade Association it fits the rules of them to a shameful degree, but that is another topic for another day.

Sadly National Association of Broadcasters of America broke the rule recently as observed by this post on Boing Boing. The only rationalization I can give is NPR and PBS dues may be very minor in comparison to other media. Frankly a point worth researching and I may add as post notes. But by breaking this rule the President and Board of National Association of Broadcasters of America will be seen as untrustworthy in DC political circles for a long, let me clarify LONG, time to come. There are basic rules to DC politics any gain over broadcast treaty internationally may cost them untold in beltway politics for a very long time. This was the dumbest move I may have ever seen in Association politics and will cost them allies in every other fight they currently have.

So to Broadcasters I say enjoy your pyrrhic victory of policy today, because it may well be mainstream media's last.

Every once in a while you find a company that has a clue and perhaps has read the cluetrain and gotten the message. It seems Sierra Nevada may been one of those smart few.

If only more companies were that smart.

"Really, that's why Germany invaded France, it was for the croissants."

More great quotes here, I always enjoy the Overheard in DC weekly post in the DCist, it is always worth the read.

Recently I brewed a Maibock. Being a lager after it's long fermentation and lagering cycle I didn't much care for it, but immediately assumed I had lagered too short or done something wrong in the brewing process. This weekend in San Francisco I went to Gordon Biersch and while I had a great experience there I realized something more important. Maibocks are not to my taste preference.

I tried the Maibock Gordon Biersch had on tap and while I realized I may have some technical flaws in my process, I got the more general style profile correct. It was simply a style I don't like.

I can't feel too bad, I had another beer experience over the weekend in which we tried some Belgian beer styles. Now up to this point among my friends and the homebrew shop coworkers I was considered an oddball because I LIKED this sour stuff. This weekend I had the privilege to hang out with some great folks who also loved the style proceeded to buy some unique vintages never to be seen in Flagstaff or I'd bet the rest of Arizona.

I tried them with an inkling of what I was getting into but was no where near prepared. I have have some Lambics, Flemish Red Sours, and some stinky cheese. But these beers took funky to a new level, like comparing a Cool Jazz FM station to Parliament Funkadelic or 70s R & B. Mind you I am not complaining now or then about the experience, but I realized during it that my tastebuds had not progressed to level of dealing with such sour and tang as of yet.

My fundamental point? Experiment and explore, there is an amazing world of beer waiting for you. I promise you now not everything you will like. But only by exploring do we test our limits, find what will not appeal to us, and ultimately educate ourselves about the wider world. And in that we will find truth from our beer, our food, and our lives.

Jen has been doing a writing challenge, I may go back and redo the last one sometime soon I had a great idea just haven't gotten it out of my head. Here is this week's challenge fresh off the brain. No promises on quality but hey writing exercises are good for the soul no?

Tandy munched on her parmesan crisps and looked across at the Mazza Galleria, not nearly impressive as it's Italian counter-part she saw last Spring at the G8 meetings but American architecture hadn't been it higher forte. She sighed and put then chips in her purse. As she walked to the sidewalk she started to get that small dread in the pit of her stomach before these things start, she always sense dread and coming disaster. Of course Jonathan proclaimed it to be the thrill of the hunt, but he lived for this work. To Tandy's thinking it was the necessarily evil.

Ever since the explosion at Army Chemical Corp three years back the War on Terror had moved from a handy catch phrase to something more sinister. Half of New England having to be evacuated and given a good bath after that chemical cloud spread down it's length. Even still the deaths had been in thousands and tens of thousands injured. Worst part of the mess, because it was chemical facility the gas was a bit different everywhere, so it made the injuries all the worse to treat.

Tandy tried to shake it out of her head, “no time for that sadness, work to be done” as she stepped into the mall. Some piano classical remix of some pop song played in the background but she could not recognize it immediately. The mall was filled with the same generic mix of clothing stores, toys, and various other retailers whose wears could have been found in any one of another hundred retailers. Tandy approached the mall map and scanned the listing until she found her destination.

Tindal's Tobacco was on the upper level on the far side of the mall. Tandy checked her watch and started to move at a quicker pace, she only had a few minutes to make this meeting and she hated the idea of moving on to the fallback location, it would mean another two to three hours of work and she would have to cancel a hair appointment and push back dinner with Jonathan. No need to cause that much trouble over no wrong.

The tune got louder in the escalators speakers and it's struck Tandy the song was a remake of some 80's Wayne Chung hit. So strange to hear what they will do with remakes she thought.

She passed a few teenagers adore in some faux leatherette dresses that seemed to be in Vogue, Tandy wondered when they had caught to popularity. Work occupied so much of ones time and mind, fashion hardly seemed relevant. She paused for one last look around the mall, before heading into Tobaccoist, not that she was looking for trouble honestly, but even a friendly meeting on neutral ground one had to take care. All clear she thought.

She turned and walked into the shop the first thing that she did was against everything she was taught. She stared and her jaw dropped “but Tony I thought you were dead” she croaked.

for some at least. To be clear I wouldn't pin this Hillary, this was obviously a staff error, which is why you always have a second set of eyes check your copy in politics. That said it is still amusing.

About to head to BN 2nd Anni Party but weekend thus far

Anchor Rock!

Jerk who pissed off Anchor Owner Fritz you suck!

21A great Beer!

PrincessRenee Rocks!

Brewcasters are cool.

Gordon Biersch great folks!

Full report soon.