Author: Crowhill

P&C welcome the Ben Franklin Players, who perform a skit called “Schopenhauer’s Evangelist.” Then they drink and review Cigar City’s Margarita Gose.

Schopenhauer was a dour fellow whose philosophy is rather depressing. Life is nothing but endless and useless suffering and striving, he says. Everything stems from a “Will to Life,” which deceives us to continue on this useless treadmill, simply to perpetuate life. Suffering is the default state. Our fleeting enjoyments are the exception.

His proposed path out would satisfy most Buddhists. Pursue a path of asceticism and kill this useless striving.

P&C review a Maibock, then ask at what point has the government gone too far in trying to protect us?

If a citizen is doing something unsafe, should the government step in? If so, in what cases? What are the limiting principles?

There seems to be a sliding scale between areas where government should clearly intervene, and areas where it clearly should not, and it’s hard to come up with a clear red line between them.

P&C drink and review “Slightly Mighty” by Dogfish Head, then review China’s recent crackdowns on video games and effeminate men in movies.

Since the CCP has complete control over technology services in China, they can monitor how much time kids spend playing video games. They’re limiting kids to 3 hours / week, and only on the weekend. 

This is part of a response to an alleged crisis of masculinity in their culture. They’re also proscribing movies that show effeminate men.

This is a common concern in nations that are trying to build an empire. Which tells us about China’s ambitions.

P&C drink and review DuClaw’s Root Beer Float Imperial Brown Ale — part of their Pastryarchy series — then discuss the right to privacy. What is it, where did it come from, and what are its limits?

Recently, Apple has decided it will scan people’s phones for kiddie porn. Can they do that?

“Well, what do you have to hide?”

Is it an admission of guilt to tell people they should mind their own business?

P&C listen to a lot of podcasts, and often trade recommendations on something new or interesting to tickle the ear bones.

Pigweed got on a philosophy kick recently, and we both listened to Stephen West of the Philosophize This! podcast explain and discuss Arthur Schopenhauer, who is a rather depressing fellow, but had some interesting ideas. (Look for a future episode on “Beer and Conversation.”)

Biden should be impeached over Afghanistan

In this episode of Nooze and Booze, the boys drink PB&J whiskey, and review the mess Biden has made of Afghanistan.

Where is the competence we were promised? Where are the adults in the room?

There are lots of unanswered questions about this catastrophe, but Biden has gone back to familiar territory — he lies, when he’s not turning his back on the press. 

P&C expose the lies, review the mistakes, and lament the fact that we have a bumbling idiot in charge.

With special guest Longinus, P&C drink and review Zombie Dust from 3 Floyds, then discuss high-speed rail generally, and proposals to build a maglev train between Washington and Baltimore.

Baltimore doesn’t want it.

There have been lots of proposals for increasing high-speed rail in the country. Obama promoted the idea heavily. But they never seem to make sense for actual transportation needs in the United States. California’s attempt was a disaster, and other states aren’t interested in trying.

P&C drink and review Fresh Catch from Narragansett, then, with special guest Longinus, discuss Emerson’s essay, “Nature.”

Transcendentalism reacted against rationalism, and was heavily influenced by Romanticism, Platonism and Immanuel Kant’s philosophy. Emerson and Thoreau were leading figures in the Transcendentalist movement.

“Nature” is a short essay by Emerson, outlining his view that man can have direct experience with God through nature.

The boys review Witness Tree Nut Brown Ale, then ask why women aren’t happier.

Despite all the attention paid to women’s happiness, and all the advances in women’s rights — more women in college, more women in the boardroom, more professional women, almost no restrictions on anything women want to do — surveys consistently show that women are less and less happy. It seems obvious that women are getting terrible advice.

P&C review some of the modern attitudes towards women, and the suggestions women are getting, and ask why they’re not working.

P&C drink and review Little Mack IPA from Antietam Brewery, then do 5 topics in 5 minutes each.

1. Biden the Oil Lover. Biden shuts down domestic production, but then asks OPEC to increase production.

2. What is non-denominationalism, and what does it mean?

3. Rule by childless leaders. Too many of our politicians don’t have kids. What does that say about their commitment to the future?

4. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation.

5. What’s with all the lecherous female teachers?

P&C review a new brewer’s first beer, and Pigweed is shocked to discover that Crowhill is a liberal. That leads to a discussion on the differences between classical and modern liberalism.

Classical liberalism insisted that government is only justified with the consent of the governed. It was all about liberty, free speech, small government, self-reliance and individual rights, which didn’t come from government, but from the creator. The government only has power because we let it have power.

Modern liberalism has departed from these ideals in important ways, which the boys summarize.

Why are we allowing agencies to make laws?

P&C drink and review a black IPA from Hysteria, then discuss the recent debates on evictions.

If there’s a crisis, and people aren’t able to pay their rent, then it might be reasonable to appropriate tax money to pay people’s rent. But rather than that, the CDC, which is not Congress and cannot write laws, made it illegal for landlords to evict people. Landlords were allowed to go bankrupt from not getting any rent, but they couldn’t take action against people living in their property without paying.

President Biden has admitted that this is illegal, but extended it anyway.

This is tyranny, plain and simple, and P&C are beside themselves with anger against our useless government.

Before they drink and review some recent homebrews, the boys listen in on a performance by the Ben Franklin Players, then discuss identity.

Should we define ourselves by what turns us on?

How do people define themselves these days? What identifies them? Is it their profession? Religion? Marital status? Age? Or what excites them sexually? 

P&C recently read about Michaela Cuomo’s announcement that she is “demisexual,” and wonder why this is a thing. Is our identity tied to our sexual preference?

What’s up with Simone Biles?

P&C drink and review a pale ale from Three Floyds, then discuss the Olympics.

What makes a sport an Olympic sport? How do we get new sports? What sports have been tried and failed?

Why do some women have to wear skimpy uniforms?

Also, why all the protests, and how should nations react to them?

It’s funny to hear how wrong the experts have been.

The boys drink and review Green’s gluten-free amber ale, then discuss futurism and crazy predictions.

P&C review quotes from prominent, famous people who got things horribly wrong and made ridiculous predictions, which are funny now, but were taken seriously when they were made. 

It’s good to keep these quotes in mind when you hear modern experts tell us confidently what will happen in the future.