The Case for Growlers - by B. Boegeman

The Case for Growlers

Letter of the Day (March 4): Growlers *

[Minnesota’s favorite beer container is under threat from an outdated piece of legislation.]

As the nation continues to focus on the triviality of sequester-related turmoil, papal retirement and Double O-bama’s not-so-super-secret drone program, I’d like to call Minnesotans attention to an issue of true significance: beer.

The recent revitalization of the local craft brew scene is due in large part to battles fought in the legislative arena. The 2011 effort that now allows Minnesota breweries to sell beer at on-site taprooms is but one historic example.

So what’s the next battle? Growlers.

Minnesota’s favorite beer container is under threat from an outdated piece of legislation that prevents local brewers from selling the popular jug once their production exceeds 3,500 barrels a year. In other words, once brewers prove their craft’s worthiness by meeting this production milestone, they can no longer sell it in its most appealing form.

Clearly this travesty deserves our immediate attention, but don’t worry, you can help. Go to the "Save the Growler" website and declare your support for the 64 ounces of freedom the growler represents. Beer drinkers unite!

Bill Boegeman, Minneapolis
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* http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/194398771.html

Modern Travails and Tremors - from theOnion

Modern Travails and Tremors

from: theOnion *

[Creepy one-word text message from mom could mean anything.]

TACOMA, WA—Area high school student Josh Fairbanks, 16, confirmed Thursday that the vague, creepy one-word text message he just received from his mother could conceivably be interpreted in a nearly infinite variety of ways.

“The last time we texted was yesterday, and the conversation definitely ended with ‘Bye,’ so she has to be referring to something new—but we just talked when she dropped me off at school,” a confused Fairbanks said of the brief message sent to his iPhone, which simply read “soon.”

“I know she was going to the grocery store, so she could have started typing, gotten distracted, and accidentally hit ‘send’ before she could finish her thought. But if that were the case, it seems like the text would be a little longer or start with some other word. Or that she would have texted again and said ‘Sorry, I hit send by mistake.’”

At press time, Fairbanks was mentally cataloguing every possible event in his own life, his mother’s life, or in existence altogether that may or may not be occurring in a timeframe definable as “soon.”

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* theOnion, News-in-Brief, Local, Issue 49-05, Jan. 31, 2013-03-04