Aggie Joe

I was driving home from Houston on New Year’s Eve after a wonderful time with my family for the Christmas break. The unfortunate part of this was that I had to drive while bowl games are on so I was forced to listen to the bulk of the Houston Bowl, or whatever it is called now, on the radio. The bowl featured Texas A&M vs. Northwestern. Since part of my drive takes me right through the heart of the beast, College Station, I chose to listen to the Aggie broadcast. I’m not sure who the two homers were that called the game, but it was entertaining to say the least. You would have thought the Aggies were playing for a national championship and that the whole world was conspiring against them.

But that is now what prompted me to write this post. It was a commercial that played during the game. It started out with a familiar phrase often heard during the political election season, “I’m Some Congressman and I approve this Message” followed quickly by “Paid for by the committee to reelect Some Congressman”. The Congressman in question for this particular commercial was Joe Barton of the 6th Congressional District of Texas. Joe Barton has been a long time Congressman from Texas and was at one point my Congressman. His district runs from Arlington along I-45 down to just north of the Houston area. It DOES NOT include the Bryan/College Station area. But Joe Barton is an Aggie, in the truest sense of the word.

So I guess I should not be surprised to learn that he utilized this campaign funded, self-approved message to promote and forward the Aggie brand by declaring that some guy was the “Aggie of the Week”. A quick Google reveals that he has been doing this for a while. It should be noted that nothing I can find prohibits him from using campaign funds for doing this, but it just seems dirty to me. Not because he is promoting a rival school, but because he is only promoting that school. UT-Arlington is in Mr. Barton’s district and I don’t recall hearing a Maverick of the week. Nor do I recall hearing a Lumberjack of the week since SFA is closer to his district than A&M is. And no, the Sam Houston Bearcats are not on Mr. Barton’s radar either.

Off again

Istanbul via London

Celebrate March 2 – 175th Birthday of the Great Republic and State of Texas

I was going to write a big long blog today about Texas and how it is now 175 years old. I was going to write about my love for this state and how I can’t imagine being more proud of where I’m from, where I live, and where I want to die. I was going to talk about my family and how they answered the call and fought for Texas Independence. But then loyal PubGuy listener and good friend Jeff sent me this email. It says it all.

Remember the Alamo – 175th Anniversary

One hundred and seventy-five years ago today a letter was written pleading to the people of Texas and the United States to send aid and reinforcements to the small band of men, women, and children hold up in the Alamo Mission.

Most of us know at least a little of the story of the Alamo but many of you have probably never read the now famous letter written by Lt. Colonel William Barret Travis, commander of the Alamo. When the letter was written Travis had just 150 men to defend the mission against Santa Anna’s vastly superior Mexican army consisting of thousands of trained soldiers. The letter was written on the second day of the siege, February 24, 1836. It was then carried to Gonzales by Captain Albert Martin. There it was copied and forwarded to populations centers in the province.

The Travis Letter is considered on of the most powerful and awe inspiring battle field letter ever written. Here is the text of that letter:

Commandancy of the Alamo -
Bejar, Fby. 24th 1836

To the People of Texas and all Americans in the world

Fellow citizens and compatriots. I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained and continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and not lost a man.

The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat.

Then I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt in four thousand in for or five days.

If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country.

Victory or Death

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt

Very little help came. Outside of a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales, all other troops were held in reserves. The men of the Alamo held the Mexicans for 13 days, giving General Sam Houston the precious time needed to set the stage for the Battle of San Jacinto where Houston would defeat Santa Anna and win independence for Texas.

Travis along with the legendary Jim Bowie, David Crockett and nearly 200 hundred brave men died in the battle.

On this day, 175 years later, I humbly ask you to Remember the Alamo.

Franconia Dunkel

My first brew from the McKinney brewer. A bit of chocolate with I think a bit if nut.

The bartender at the very nice Holy Grail pub in Plano are feeding me loads of information about this local brew so I will have more of it later. – PGT

Snowmagedon!

We went to the tapping of Rahr’s Snowmagedon, the 1 year anniversary brew of the roof collapse. It is a very good Imperial Oatmeal Chocolate Stout that is not overly oatmeally or chocolately. A slightly sweet start with a fantastic bitter finish.

The photo is the logo with the two brewmasters if Snowmagedon, James and Nick.

Michael Vick Made Me Do It

Found this bit of tragedy when I walked out to my car. Maybe Dallas will give me a key to the city.

No this was not an art peace on the impact of Twitter on our society.

And Then There’s This

It is not ways champagne…

Westmalle Dubble

Mild by Trappist standards,. Decent flavor but pretty unremarkable.

Rochefort 10

A Tappist beer that reminds me of a chocolate stout. You have to sip this slow to get the great flavors. Watch out, it is a 10% beer,