Hey folks.

Sorry about the posting drought the past couple days.  I had a really interesting job opportunity come up, so I spent the past 72 hours or so drafting a proposal for it.

I hope you can forgive my absence.  This whole unemployment thing is really cutting into my drinking.

Although I haven’t been around, the news didn’t stop.  Here are some highlights:

• For the second legislative session in a row, the Iowa House will try to change the legal definition of a liquor, wine, or beer establishment to include the areas outside it such as parking lots.  They want to make bar owners more liable for the “take it outside” attitude to bar fights.  I wonder if the definition then allows bars to serve in their parking lots?

• Craig’s Tiki Drinks and Indigo Firmaments wraps up this month’s Mixology Monday.  I was too busy simmering mulled wine and carving ham to post… Wait a minute… isn’t mulled wine Spiced?  I’m still lame.

• Georgia might be able to buy booze on Sunday (like 47 other states in this country).  Governor Sonny Purdue, “a teetotaler and Christian conservative” (as the Coastal Courier labeled him) is not happy.  He and the Georgia Christian Coalition issued an open letter claiming beer sells on Sunday are strictly more dangerous than any other day.  I don’t necessarily see the logic there.

• MillerCoors finally settled with the 11 attorney generals, and will “reformulate” their Sparks drink without caffine or other stimulants. The things are nasty, but is there any real proof they actually cause even riskier drunken behavior?  I would have to be pretty smashed to even consider ordering the liquid mix of Flintstone vitamins and moonshine.

• Radley’s got a list of freedom-loving charities to consider donating to this year.  I hadn’t heard of Kiva before, but I’m definitely planning on giving them a look.

• While some states want to raise taxes during this economic downturn, others are smartly opening the market.  Surprisingly, New York State is in the second category.  Governor Paterson wants to let the market work it’s magic by letting grocery stores sell wine.  (In all fairness he is also raising taxes too).

• UK Study finds that students drink less, and more responsibly when they parents are the ones buying them booze.

That’s all for now.  Meet back here (same booze time, same booze channel) for more Revolutionary news tomorrow.