Savoring Italy, One Beer at a Time

Teo Musso serves his beers at Casa Baladin in the town of Piozzo.

By EVAN RAIL
Published: November 2, 2008

HALFWAY through our six-course tasting menu of regional Piemontese cuisine, the sommelier arrived with a special beverage to accompany the plate of raviolini stuffed with local pumpkin and asparagus.

“I think this will go well, because it matches the sweetness of the pumpkin,” he said, setting down a glass not of wine, but of a slightly oxidized golden ale, which, he explained, had been fermented with wine yeast and had spent four years aging in the bottle. More

Time's Halloween/Goth Fashions

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/01/fashion/2008112-street-feature/index.html

St! John! McSame! Play! It! One! More! Time!

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Gleeful/Glum

AP Poll Shows Obama Backers Gleeful, McCain's Glum
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 1, 2008

Filed at 11:12 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- That smiling guy walking down the street? Odds are he's a Barack Obama backer. The grouchy looking one? Don't ask, and don't necessarily count on him to vote next week, either. More

For those that believe in the Divine:

Recessional
June 22, 1897

GOD of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle-line—
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, 5
Lest we forget, lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies—
The captains and the kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart. 10
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!

Far-call'd our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday 15
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe— 20
Such boasting as the Gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust 25
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard—
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord! 30

Joe The Plumber: Who said it?

Among the individuals who, like those on the “little list” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Mikado,” will not be missed: that new comet on the horizon, Joe the Plumber. This unfunny Ralph Kramden — not officially a plumber, or even a Joe — seems to have effortlessly captured the imagination of those without much of it to spare. Link