G&T

So how do you feed a dog a raw bone? Doesn't it contaminate the floor? Do you feed them in a crate?

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 01:20 PM) Overall health, how long he lived, no major health issues. Looking around at field trial competitions and comparing him to others of his same breed. I have no reliable way to know if he enjoyed his diet. He wagged his tail when it was time to eat and seemed to like the food. But just like it is probably wrong to feed a dog like a human, it may be wrong to believe an animal tastes food like a human. As I watch them sniffing the crotch of another dog, I wonder what their taste buds are like I want to know what dogs taste too. I've read they don't have many taste buds so they don't really notice that they eat the same thing all the time, but our sense of taste is connected to scent as well. And dogs smell everything. So I'm of the mind that variety is somewhat important. My dog loves apples and cheese.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 09:47 AM) "homeless kitty" in my neighborhood -- "hey kitty kitty" homeless person in my neighborhood -- "9-1-1 operator, what is your emergency?" You don't give the homeless person a bowl of milk and some yarn to swat?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 09:01 AM) I'll be perfectly honest with you, Tex is right on in describing me...I see homeless people standing in the intersection asking for money or food or booze or smokes all the time, and while I will give them money from time to time, if there was a stray dog in that same intersection, the percentage of time I would stop would be exponentially higher. When I see a homeless person WITH a dog, I will give that homeless person money more often BECAUSE he has a dog (and it is my belief that it is no accident that some homeless people have a dog). There is something to the idea, for me, at least, that humans have the capacity to help themselves much more easily than an animal does. Not that an animal has no capacity to survive, as some are quite ingenious at doing so, and not that some humans really haven't just been dealt a horrible hand in life, but put one of each next to one another, and I would most likely help the animal. Even when I'm watching a movie I have stronger emotions towards an animal protagonist (I am not sure whether I can watch the movie Warhorse) than a human one. I think he's right in describing many people and there is evolutionary rationale for the reaction. It is a function of society that we feel that either people can help themselves if they choose, or that individually we cannot help another person because of rules and laws that are in place. However, if you saw a child on a street corner alone and clearly helpless you would call the police. Dogs and cats have been bred to feed into that emotion by their appearance and demeanor. Would you have the same reaction if a homeless person had a pet racoon? Or would you laugh like I am just thinking about it.

First, there are many examples of animals raising babies of another species or animals befriending animals of another species. It's not normal, but it does happen. There are also countless examples of symbiotic relationships in nature. Animals that feel safe being around each other can and will work together. The reason humans take on animals as pets is simply because we have the means to do it. If other creatures lived in a world where survival was not an issue everyday, they'd have pets. Our reaction to puppies and kittens is the same as we have for children. It's a physical reaction based on what we perceived as being "cute and helpless". But I think the perception that we care about animals more than humans isn't really true. Dogs, cats and other animals are routinely abused, starved, beaten, used for fighting, etc. There are people who don't care about animals, and others that don't care about people. However, it is easier to help an animal than human. If a dog is abused you can adopt it. If a child is abused...it's complicated. That feeling causes desensitization.

I cracked an Alchemist Heady Topper tonight as I have been sitting on a 4 pack since my trip to Vermont and needed to try this bad boy. This is a big DIPA sitting at 8% ABV and 120 IBUs. Pours cloudy with light white head. The aroma is overpowering with hoppy goodness. You all know that hops have grown on me over the last year and this thing is a pinnacle of hop awesomeness that I have encountered (although Troegs Nugget Nectar is still out there). A wall of pine, pineapple, and mango hits you with a stickiness that I've never experienced before. Like sniffing straight hop resin. No discernible malt aroma. This is smooth as silk. I could have slammed it in a shot and gone back for more. Nice fruitiness that even my wife could appreciate. Highest IBU beer she has ever enjoyed. Alchemist is a brewery that was greatly impacted by Hurricane Irene. If I recall, the brewpub was destroyed and won't be reopened. As I recall, the owner was standing in the pub as the vats were hitting the basement ceiling (the floor beneath his feet) as they bobbed in the flood waters. As took a last drink of Heady Topper and evacuated. Anyway, the pub hasn't reopened, but the cannery is in Waterbury, about a block from Ben and Jerry's (in case anyone cares). All the cannery has is 4 packs of Heady Topper and there is a constant flow of people grabbing it. God I love Vermont. Of course right now I'm drinking a Rock Art Smoked Porter, which was not worth my money over Founders Double Trouble. Dammit.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 05:04 PM) I'm more concerned with the car ride out there. He'll probably whine the whole time. I've taken a lot of long car trips with my dog (12+ hours) and the best advice is to acclimate the dog to being in his seat in the car. If he's never been in the car that long then be ready to stop frequently. Oh, but I do recommend a doggy sleeping or motion sickness pill if you dog isn't used to cars. My dog is used to these trips now but after 8 hours he gets restless in the car.

How much money will they lose? Obviously not enough.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Feb 5, 2012 -> 11:56 PM) Thanks for the background. I would love to make that trip some day. Lucky for you they make trips to Cigar City every so often. So you could get a taste of this stuff if you're looking out for it.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 6, 2012 -> 06:49 PM) Do your own research...the vets are full of s***. We picked it on our own. They acknowledged it was good.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Feb 6, 2012 -> 04:23 PM) Iamshack, what are your thoughts on that BLUE Buffalo dog food? Saw a commercial for it today, and assuming it's not ridiculously expensive, that might be an option. EDIT: Just looked it up. 30 lb bags are about $50, while Iams 40 lb bags are $34. So it's pretty much double the price. Not sure if I can convince my parents to feed our dog at home anything like that. My dog gets Wellness brand. Probably about the same price. The vet we go to approves.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 6, 2012 -> 02:39 PM) Anybody have any tricks on how to get a dog to swallow a pill? We have tried putting it in food like cheese, but he just eats the food and spits out the pill. Try butter. They don't have to chew it and it makes the whole thing slippery. Also, put it in the back of the throat.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 6, 2012 -> 10:32 AM) They seem to be the only companies that won't change their offer at all. They just told him it was competitive and that was it. I would expect at least a 10% increase in salary between the Chicago offer and the NY offer, and at the least help to relocate. But apparently the Big 4 thinks that if you have better offers elsewhere to just go with that instead. I'm just happy I'm not going into accounting. I can confirm that my brother went through that. A big 4 that he works for wanted him to go to DC or NYC but without a substantial pay increase their lifestyle would have been altered. They wouldn't budge on salary so he stayed in a smaller market.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 5, 2012 -> 10:46 PM) If you're on defense near the end there, and the penalty is only 5 yards with no time coming back on the clock, why not put your entire roster out on the field? I know the game cannot end like that, but atleast down to 1 second. I thought that too but if the QB notices he can snap it and spike it, get the penalty yards and waste no time. What made that play so ridiculous was that it was a deep route and it burned a lot of time so it was very noticeable that the Giants probably benefited from the penalty.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2012 -> 09:01 PM) You're typing letters that appear to make words, but the words together mean nothing to me. Didn't you see Slumdog Millionaire? Oh and I am aware I just did exactly what she wanted me to do...get the geologist community into MIA.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2012 -> 08:52 PM) Whoever MIA is, apparently they decided to flip-off the country during the halftime show. I just saw this and was about to post it. BTW, Balta, she's the one with the song Paper Planes (with the gunshots).

Popped my growler of Hill Farmstead Everett porter. Pours deep black with nice rich brown head and decent lacing. Surprised it actually survived this long. Nose of chocolate and just a nice hint of smoke. It was smokier in our tasting at the brewery, but the body here is much better. Reason number 1000 why you should never rate based on a 2 oz sample. Flavor is nice and chocolatey with a slight smoke and nutty note. This is really good stuff. For anyone wondering, Hill Farmstead is in the middle of nowhere in Vermont. About 30 mins from Stowe and 2 hours from Burlington. The brewery is basically a garage and they only offer tastings and bottle sales. No full pours. It is considered one of the best breweries in the world. They only sell to 2 places in Burlington, small amounts in NYC, and just started small amounts (like a couple barrels) in Boston. While I fully believe that rarity contributes to the ratings, this is truly superb beer. I'll to post pics from the brewery. It's in the middle of the mountains. Needed FWD just to get up the road to the brewery this time of year.

Made it out to Hill's Farmstead today. Had a tasting of 6 outrageously good beers especially for hop heads. Including Society and Solitude 1 and 2 which weigh in with over 100 IBUs but are smooth complex beer. 2 is truly a masterpiece but at 180 claimed IBUs I was in over my head after the 2 oz tasting. Instead I opted to take home 2 saisons (Anna and Authur), Foster ( black wheat IPA), and Everett (a truly amazing porter). I'm drinking Foster now. The nose is of pine but with some good swirling the aroma of bitter cocoa comes out. There is some strong apple notes as well. The flavor is a nice smooth grapefruit with a sweet yet crisp finish. My wife is drinking the Authur (an American Saison) which is awesome. Plenty of fruit and banana with some pine in th nose. Crisp apples with a hint of tart lemon. An excellent American Saison.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 4, 2012 -> 08:29 PM) I figured photoshop. I thought it was a dog hiding.

I forgot to post this but for my birthday we went to a restaurant nearby that prides itself on real margaritas. So I got one with Herradura Reposado and I can tell you it was pretty amazing. The rich brown sugar finish really rounded out a properly made margarita. Smooth as silk, with just the right amount of lime. Best margarita I've had (even better than I make at home...but then I've never used an aged tequila).

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 11:26 PM) Which Sazerac, the 6 year? I have yet to track down any of the Sazerac ryes, but by most accounts the Saz 6 is a very acceptable mid-price rye similar to the Russell's (WITH TWO Ls!! See, I can be taught.). The Sazerac 18 and the Sazerac Thomas Handy barrel strength ryes are supposed to be among the best of the best craft distillery ryes and I am dying to get a hold of them. I'm also still trying to scare up a bottle of Rittenhouse 100-proof which is a steel for the price ($20 or less) if you can find it and is supposed to be on every self-respecting cocktail geek's shelf. I thought I had a bottle coming down with my parents this winter from Binny's but they were out of stock. I forgave my parents because they did manage to bring me two bottles of Lemon Hart 151, a bottle of Bols Genever, and a bottle of Maalort, but I still am without Rittenhouse 100. Indeed it is the 6 year rye. And acceptable is all I was looking for!

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 30, 2012 -> 05:38 PM) Based on the fact that it cant be a "sign & trade" Orlando has very little room to leverage Hedo in the deal. Yes it can. Just for a shorter period of time: NBA.com

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 30, 2012 -> 03:25 PM) "Open to a trade" is code for that. I don't know that it is. On M&H they said Vaughn McClure asked him if he would sign an extension and he was non-commital. Of course, none of that is in any article so who knows.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jan 30, 2012 -> 02:28 PM) I had a lot of Bells back when I was in GR, but I graduated. Back in Chicago now. Chicago has a ton a Bells. The beauty of Bells and Founders is that they are awesome, and a lot of people ignore them in favor of 3 Floyds.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 06:13 PM) Terrible coaching, your going to need to make a shot anyways so might as well go for the win. Korver standing still doesn't help that.