Rants and Raves...

[oldschoolrocker]

Another e-mail touting wondrous Black Friday deals.....like 2014 Bridgestone balls...at the same price they were last week....or Cleveland 588 wedges.....at errrrr same price as last time I looked. How about a 3 year old polo shirt or a bargain Boss shirt for £35....in a garish colour and extra small (BOSS small will fit a 12 yo)…..Black Friday has to be the worst US import since Budweiser.

 

I agree wholeheartedly on both accounts.

[scomac2002]

Another e-mail touting wondrous Black Friday deals.....like 2014 Bridgestone balls...at the same price they were last week....or Cleveland 588 wedges.....at errrrr same price as last time I looked. How about a 3 year old polo shirt or a bargain Boss shirt for £35....in a garish colour and extra small (BOSS small will fit a 12 yo)…..Black Friday has to be the worst US import since Budweiser.

 

No real deals up here either that weren't available last week or even last month for that matter. Much ado about nothing save for the odd door-crasher give away.

 

DW sent me an email she got this morning for a deal on a Dyson sick vacuum. It's old stock and not the model I was looking at which is quite a bit superior when you actually take them for a spin. May not be $300 superior, but it may just go on sale after Christmas. Either way, I will wait for the one I really want.

[TimV]

Our participation in 'Black Friday' will be limited to my wife and I wearing Red and Black on the Golf Course today!

[Walter]

Another e-mail touting wondrous Black Friday deals.....like 2014 Bridgestone balls...at the same price they were last week....or Cleveland 588 wedges.....at errrrr same price as last time I looked. How about a 3 year old polo shirt or a bargain Boss shirt for £35....in a garish colour and extra small (BOSS small will fit a 12 yo)…..Black Friday has to be the worst US import since Budweiser.

 

I agree wholeheartedly on both accounts.

+1 on that

[Chris122]

Disagree.

 

'Trick or Treat' is absolutely the pits.

 

I have no objection to the celebration of old,traditional pagan rites but I detest the opportunism that makes them into commercial necessities,parents being forced into buying outfits and make-up in order to comply with what everyone else's kids are doing.

I'm always amazed that with houses full of labour saving gadgets parents have no time to MAKE a costume from scraps of stuff as my mum did,instead,they drive to Tesco and buy it.

Then send their kids in a gang to blackmail people into dishing out sweets or money.

'Souling' on Hallow's Eve is an old European tradition.

'Trick or Treat' is crass American commercialism.

[shotmark]

Another e-mail touting wondrous Black Friday deals.....like 2014 Bridgestone balls...at the same price they were last week....or Cleveland 588 wedges.....at errrrr same price as last time I looked. How about a 3 year old polo shirt or a bargain Boss shirt for £35....in a garish colour and extra small (BOSS small will fit a 12 yo)…..Black Friday has to be the worst US import since Budweiser.

 

I take it you mean proper Bud, not that Czech muckment.

[Chris122]

Regardless of origin it's boy's beer,fizzy water that causes flatulence with no benefits as opposed to the stellar STELLA aka 'Wifebeater'!

[augustgolf]

Regardless of origin it's boy's beer,fizzy water that causes flatulence with no benefits as opposed to the stellar STELLA aka 'Wifebeater'!

 

 

[Fellaheen51]

Ah, yes! Founders. Perhaps the best all around brewer of malt on the planet. Since they no longer package CBS in 12 oz bottles/4 packs (only 750 ml that is problematic for consumption in one sitting), have to slum down my selection.

 

 

[birly-shirly]

Disagree.

 

'Trick or Treat' is absolutely the pits.

 

I have no objection to the celebration of old,traditional pagan rites but I detest the opportunism that makes them into commercial necessities,parents being forced into buying outfits and make-up in order to comply with what everyone else's kids are doing.

I'm always amazed that with houses full of labour saving gadgets parents have no time to MAKE a costume from scraps of stuff as my mum did,instead,they drive to Tesco and buy it.

Then send their kids in a gang to blackmail people into dishing out sweets or money.

'Souling' on Hallow's Eve is an old European tradition.

'Trick or Treat' is crass American commercialism.

 

As in lots of things, I'm not sure where to draw the line.

 

I remember going around the neighbouring houses as a kid - dressed in a white sheet. (That should be understood in a Scots context rather than a southern states context. The only pointy hats were worn by girls and were black in colour.)

 

We collected tangerines, peanuts, the very occasional toffee apple and (to make the whole exercise worthwhile), sweets, chocolates and coin of the realm.

 

There was no "treat or trickery" implied threatmongery, and we were expected to "do a turn" - sing a wee song or tell some jokes, to earn our treat. There were certainly no recriminations against houses where pickings were slim or non-existent.

 

Was I "souling"? And if I wasn't, what should I have been doing instead?

[wkuo3]

Ah, yes! Founders. Perhaps the best all around brewer of malt on the planet. Since they no longer package CBS in 12 oz bottles/4 packs (only 750 ml that is problematic for consumption in one sitting), have to slum down my selection.

 

 

 

Take another extra 15 minutes, you'll be able to get the 750 ml. down. I had found the 22 oz. to 25 oz. is just about right for me.

[wkuo3]

The trending for today's accepted moral standard is dipping.

False pretenses and intentional deceiving are the common practices. This goes from the top to the bottom from every facet of the society.

I'm sure human behavior had not changed much in that respect, but, maybe because of the population boom, the incidences of shady action mushroomed.

It reminded me of the dark ages from long ago.

[oldschoolrocker]

bs,

It is a shame that the reference to sheets and southern states had to be mentioned. As in most things the historical perspective has been skewed with regards to the original intent.

His story is written by the victors, not, the vanquished.

I in no way am affiliated with, or, condone the actions of any group that does not respect the rights of all, but, the world has had the wool pulled over its eyes concerning the atrocities this country handed out to quell the rebellion.

The remnants of being used today to rally the weak minded to a call to arms.

[NRJyzr]

The trending for today's accepted moral standard is dipping.

False pretenses and intentional deceiving are the common practices. This goes from the top to the bottom from every facet of the society.

I'm sure human behavior had not changed much in that respect, but, maybe because of the population boom, the incidences of shady action mushroomed.

It reminded me of the dark ages from long ago.

 

 

It hasn't changed from the past, one only need to remember "snake oil salesman."

 

I think you nailed it with increased population resulting in increase in instances. Plus, info flows much more freely now, so you hear about everything, where in the past, you had to work to learn.

 

Such is my take, for what little it's worth. :)

[stixman]

When in 'strange lands' or even the strange parts of my land I ask for 'Local, non industrialised beer, what do you recommend?'

Oddly, one of the guys in our seniors group is ex Whitbread board and he heard me do my rant request and asked 'what's wrong with Whitbread?' Lol, eyebrow scraping off the ceiling moment

[wkuo3]

The trending for today's accepted moral standard is dipping.

False pretenses and intentional deceiving are the common practices. This goes from the top to the bottom from every facet of the society.

I'm sure human behavior had not changed much in that respect, but, maybe because of the population boom, the incidences of shady action mushroomed.

It reminded me of the dark ages from long ago.

 

 

It hasn't changed from the past, one only need to remember "snake oil salesman."

 

I think you nailed it with increased population resulting in increase in instances. Plus, info flows much more freely now, so you hear about everything, where in the past, you had to work to learn.

 

Such is my take, for what little it's worth. :)

 

Yes, it's true, the information system these days was never imagined in the past, except in the SiFi novel or movie.

Not sure it's all good, to have billions of people involved in decision making from all walks of back ground and ability. It could be counter productive with such massive numbers of participants with different degree of knowledge base and of course special agenda based upon their own interests.

Earth had been swallowing our deeds for centuries, the signs from all corners around the world, it's not the time to sit down and talk about the issues and debate over a millennium. I won't see it, but I certainly hope it'll work out for our children's sake.

Population boom is the root for most of the issues we have these days.

[elwhippy]

Thou jest sire? Czech Bud is nectar. US Bud is perfume.

[scomac2002]

Thou jest sire? Czech Bud is nectar. US Bud is perfume.

 

I would concur. A lot of folks will praise Belgian beers, but I found the beer I sampled in Prague to be every bit the match if not the superior.

[TimV]

Beer...

If you can see through it, it isn't.

[Chris122]

Disagree.

 

'Trick or Treat' is absolutely the pits.

 

I have no objection to the celebration of old,traditional pagan rites but I detest the opportunism that makes them into commercial necessities,parents being forced into buying outfits and make-up in order to comply with what everyone else's kids are doing.

I'm always amazed that with houses full of labour saving gadgets parents have no time to MAKE a costume from scraps of stuff as my mum did,instead,they drive to Tesco and buy it.

Then send their kids in a gang to blackmail people into dishing out sweets or money.

'Souling' on Hallow's Eve is an old European tradition.

'Trick or Treat' is crass American commercialism.

 

As in lots of things, I'm not sure where to draw the line.

 

I remember going around the neighbouring houses as a kid - dressed in a white sheet. (That should be understood in a Scots context rather than a southern states context. The only pointy hats were worn by girls and were black in colour.)

 

We collected tangerines, peanuts, the very occasional toffee apple and (to make the whole exercise worthwhile), sweets, chocolates and coin of the realm.

 

There was no "treat or trickery" implied threatmongery, and we were expected to "do a turn" - sing a wee song or tell some jokes, to earn our treat. There were certainly no recriminations against houses where pickings were slim or non-existent.

 

Was I "souling"? And if I wasn't, what should I have been doing instead?

 

That's exactly what you were doing,the 'treats' were a payment for the wee 'turn' you did and the costume.as such,a homemade item not Chinese made dress-up stuff from Tesco or wherever.

When I was posting earlier I remembered my mum dressing me up as a shepherd for the Nativity play at infants' school,an old stripey curtain with rope belt,tea-towel on my head and half a sheepskin rug with a load of cotton wool as a beard.

All,bar one or two,parents did the same and I'm sure there was more satisfaction gained from the joint enterprise than in simply going to a shop and forking out cash.

[cardoustie]

My mom made me a Chewbacca costume back in the day. Made easier that unisex fur boots were in vogue

[birly-shirly]

Disagree.

 

'Trick or Treat' is absolutely the pits.

 

I have no objection to the celebration of old,traditional pagan rites but I detest the opportunism that makes them into commercial necessities,parents being forced into buying outfits and make-up in order to comply with what everyone else's kids are doing.

I'm always amazed that with houses full of labour saving gadgets parents have no time to MAKE a costume from scraps of stuff as my mum did,instead,they drive to Tesco and buy it.

Then send their kids in a gang to blackmail people into dishing out sweets or money.

'Souling' on Hallow's Eve is an old European tradition.

'Trick or Treat' is crass American commercialism.

 

As in lots of things, I'm not sure where to draw the line.

 

I remember going around the neighbouring houses as a kid - dressed in a white sheet. (That should be understood in a Scots context rather than a southern states context. The only pointy hats were worn by girls and were black in colour.)

 

We collected tangerines, peanuts, the very occasional toffee apple and (to make the whole exercise worthwhile), sweets, chocolates and coin of the realm.

 

There was no "treat or trickery" implied threatmongery, and we were expected to "do a turn" - sing a wee song or tell some jokes, to earn our treat. There were certainly no recriminations against houses where pickings were slim or non-existent.

 

Was I "souling"? And if I wasn't, what should I have been doing instead?

 

That's exactly what you were doing,the 'treats' were a payment for the wee 'turn' you did and the costume.as such,a homemade item not Chinese made dress-up stuff from Tesco or wherever.

When I was posting earlier I remembered my mum dressing me up as a shepherd for the Nativity play at infants' school,an old stripey curtain with rope belt,tea-towel on my head and half a sheepskin rug with a load of cotton wool as a beard.

All,bar one or two,parents did the same and I'm sure there was more satisfaction gained from the joint enterprise than in simply going to a shop and forking out cash.

 

To be honest, my more recent experience is not that different. The shops go hell-for-leather on "trick or treat" but the activity round the local houses is not vastly changed. The kids who come to my door are certainly expected to do a turn - but most seem prepared for this.

 

What I remember from my childhood was maybe a little more ghoulish and supernatural, in terms of costumes. Maybe, just maybe, there is more dressing up today as contemporary figures, factual and fictional. We had at least one POTUS at our door, and several characters from books and films.

 

This year, my own young one laboured hard on his own costume. He went out as a surfer dude, but built a big cardboard shark that enveloped his leg. He had a few schoolfriends round for a Halloween feast before going out. We had a headless man, a mummy and a teen zombie wizard for company - all in improvised costumes.

 

What has visibly changed is the reception at houses round about. Quite a few householders, not all of whom have kids of their own, are going to town on their front garden to "welcome" guisers. Lots of pumpkin lanterns, yards of spiders web, and some creepy light and music installations. This last bit does strike me as a cultural import - but I can tell you after taking my own kids out, it's not a bad thing to see the houses that are clearly entering into the spirt of things and want their doorbell rung. And most houses that haven't put out so much as a pumpkin probably get left in peace more than they ever did previously.

[birly-shirly]

bs,

It is a shame that the reference to sheets and southern states had to be mentioned. As in most things the historical perspective has been skewed with regards to the original intent.

His story is written by the victors, not, the vanquished.

I in no way am affiliated with, or, condone the actions of any group that does not respect the rights of all, but, the world has had the wool pulled over its eyes concerning the atrocities this country handed out to quell the rebellion.

The remnants of being used today to rally the weak minded to a call to arms.

 

"Victors' history" I don't doubt. Growing up in Britain, I was exposed to one quite partial version of history. Hopefully it doesn't sound too parochial to say that, if travel does indeed broaden the mind, then what I think is most often stretched is one's understanding of one's own nationality, seen through another nations eyes and culture. A Brit exploring Dublin should find plenty to think about that you won't find in the Tower of London.

 

As regards my original comment, clearly there are contexts that I'm not familiar with.

 

Are there areas where dressing up in a white sheet might arouse stigma much like blacking up? In the time and place of my childhood, the local answer was no (to both). But I've since learnt that lots of fixtures from childhood are contested, and rightly so. I was probably at university before understanding that membership of the Boys Brigade was not always accepted as a neutral fact. I'm trying now not to assume that nobody would ever ascribe anything more to a kid in a white sheet than a simple fascination with ghosties.

[elwhippy]

What is wrong with Whitbread? Er the fact they no longer brew anything answers the question. John Smiths, Tetley etc are electric soup, not beer. Batemans, Theakston, Thwaites, Shepherd Neame, Thornbridge….so many great beers available and almost always cheaper than the big brands. I used to laugh at people calling Beck's and Stella premium beers....a bit like saying Walker's are premium crisps. And Heineken and Amstel are truly vile, along with Scotland's worst export Belhaven....

[Tumbleweed_1968]

Beer...

If you can see through it, it isn't.

I like simple rules like that. My newest one is:

Never open a 12 pack with a pocket knife....

Learned that one this past weekend.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

:to_become_senile:

[Chris122]

When in 'strange lands' or even the strange parts of my land I ask for 'Local, non industrialised beer, what do you recommend?'

Oddly, one of the guys in our seniors group is ex Whitbread board and he heard me do my rant request and asked 'what's wrong with Whitbread?' Lol, eyebrow scraping off the ceiling moment

 

My dad worked at Flowers brewery in Stratford-upon-Avon,the excellence of the beer was down to the quality of the water used which was from an artesian well,the Flowers family sold out to Whitbreads who promptly closed it down and shifted production to Cheltenham maintaining usage of the Flowers brand even though the product was nowhere near as good.

THAT'S what's wrong with Whitbreads.

[wkuo3]

Disagree.

 

'Trick or Treat' is absolutely the pits.

 

I have no objection to the celebration of old,traditional pagan rites but I detest the opportunism that makes them into commercial necessities,parents being forced into buying outfits and make-up in order to comply with what everyone else's kids are doing.

I'm always amazed that with houses full of labour saving gadgets parents have no time to MAKE a costume from scraps of stuff as my mum did,instead,they drive to Tesco and buy it.

Then send their kids in a gang to blackmail people into dishing out sweets or money.

'Souling' on Hallow's Eve is an old European tradition.

'Trick or Treat' is crass American commercialism.

 

If we don't create some excitement in life for the general public, there be chaos and worse things to happen. So are the other events like sports, anniversaries, official Holidays.................

The anxiety needs to be calmed and the restlessness needs to be satisfied.

It's getting harder and harder to complete the task since our bar of expectation had risen from the basic food and shelter to taller and taller orders.

[wkuo3]

Beer...

If you can see through it, it isn't.

I like simple rules like that. My newest one is:

Never open a 12 pack with a pocket knife....

Learned that one this past weekend.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

:to_become_senile:

 

At least you did not attempt to open your 3rd or the 4th with your teeth. I carry a Swiss Army tool which looks like a key to be attached to the key chain, unfold to be a pocket knife, a file and a Phillip screw driver and a bottle opener. Not the best because of it's small size but came in handy many times.

[wkuo3]

Darn it !

 

I knew better to get into a debate with subject of Politics, Religion or Abortion.

We don't have as much room to elbow and people are basically mean and self centered. Did the information freedom gave more wisdom to the people ? I think only in a very small way it does, but stirring up more issues than a pond with disturbed muddy sediments.

Everything we disliked about the speeding up the cycle for the golf equipment , is happening with everything else in life. Accelerating into the future.

 

I could not understand why a seemingly intelligent guy who also claimed that he watch and read all about the News could be so one track minded of an issue we been discussing. Finally, I got it, he was coming off his own position in life. I gave in, told him to at least try to understand the human history in the last few hundred years. Maybe he won't hate the things he hated so much now.

 

Never, discuss serious politic with a good friend, because the smaller world we're in today really doesn't have room for tolerance nor a second thought.

[elwhippy]

So that's what happened to Flowers. Excellent beer.

 

Car Park Members. Discuss.