That's a fine friend you've got.

On the general subject of gift selection, at which I admittedly suck, I'll take this opportunity to pass along the advice of my sainted father -- all right, all right, they never caught him, but they all look the same on the scoreboard, right? -- whose gift selections were the wonder and consternation of our family, but caused him no agita at all.

I once asked Dad how he picked out gifts. I had to ask, since, of all the people I've ever known, he was the only one who felt no anxiety over it. He simply said, "I pick something I would like to get."

"Huh?" I replied. "Not something you think the recipient would like?"

He shook his head vigorously. "That's the cardinal mistake to avoid. Say your boy is an enthusiast about archaeology. What business do you have trying to guess which book on musty old tombs he doesn't have and wouldn't regard as trash for ignorant laymen? I gave that up a long time ago."

"Oh," I said. "Well, why not get him something he needs, then?"

Another vigorous shake. "That's insulting. It implies that he can't recognize or see to his own needs."

I was thoroughly nonplussed. "So you just get something you would like? How is that any better?"

He smiled. "I keep the receipt. If he decides he doesn't want it, I already know I do, so I save a trip back to the store."

I think this is called "pragmatism."

I do that too! My best gifts are usually things I would want myself. Obviously you have to have some clue that the recipient would like or use the same thing, but other than that, it's a pretty good yardstick.

Just make "a donation in their name".

"Semper Fi"? Nice thought, wrong service. I was in the US Army at the tail end of the Korean War, 1953-1955. But my late older cousin was in the US Marine Corps all through World War II. Tough spots, tough enemy. Like Guadalcanal island in the southern Solomons in the southwest Pacific. So I'll raise a glass or even a bottle in memory of him and his Corps buddies, who served so well 60 years ago.

Now about that beer. I've got a story for you.

Got this idea to ship you a couple of cases of Point Special beer, out of Stevens Point WI. Good stuff. Ask Paul Burgess who knows it well.

Called the brewery. Want to ship a couple of cases of Point Special to a friend near Dearborn MI for his birthday. Can't ship to MI. Try our Chicago distributor.

Called Chicago distributor. Got Point Special but can't ship to MI. Try this well-known licquor store in Chicago.

Called well-known licquor store in Chicago. Got Point Special but can't ship to MI. Buy it from your local licquor store around Madison, ship it UPS.

Called UPS. Can't ship beer to MI. Try buying it locally in MI, have them deliver it.

(What is this runaround? John Torrio, Hymie Weiss, Al Capone, George Moran all shipped licquor across state lines into Chicago, and Detroit's Purple Gang shipped a lot of licquor, into and out of MI, including a lot of the real McCoy from Windsor across the big river. So why the hell can't I?)

Gave up. Emailed Rosemary. Want to buy your husband a couple of cases of beer for his big night. What's his favorite, since they won't let me ship him mine? Oregon Pale and Anchor Steam, but it might be expensive. That's okay. Mum's the word until he gets his mitts on the beer.

Called Merchant Fine Wines in Dearborn early this AM. No Oregon Pale, but we got three kinds of Anchor Steam. Okay. Give him a case of whichever variety of Anchor Steam trips his trigger, plus a case of some other good national brand. Here's my Visa card number.

Called back to the MFW/Dearborn after my daily run at the fitness center with my wife. Dean got his two cases of beer. Anchor Steam yellow label, and Rolling Rock pale light, out of PA. (I notice PA can ship to MI, why not WI? Oh, well.)

So happy birthday Dean. I would have liked to have been with you tonight over in Westland MI. But I'm so tied up in work around here that I couldn't have gone. Even if Allah had shown up and said "Harris, you go to Westland tonight and your door prize is 72 virgins".

For whatever it's worth, Dean's World, your very own creation, has made a mark on our contemporary society. And on me too. That's probably something that can be said for everyone of the thousands who read your stuff, plus whatever number join in the commentaries and send you submissions for the big story treatment. So you and everybody who shows up tonight, have one or two on me, with my pleasure and with my salute.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

Arnold, you're right, Point Special is a damn fine beer.

But Anchor Steam Beer... oh, gee... Well do I remember how I first discovered Anchor Steam Beer. Back about 20 years ago, I was living up in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, and often on my day off I'd head downriver to Portland, Oregon. Where I discovered Anchor Steam Beer in a liquor store in suburban Portland. Wonderful stuff, though I was too impecunious in those days to be able to afford it more than once or twice.

(Usually I stuck with Blitz-Weinhard, which was brewed right there in Portland, and which was drinkable, unlike Lucky Lager, which was brewed right across the Columbia River in Vancouver, USA.)

But Anchor Steam Beer is one helluva damn fine beer. You're a generous man, Arnold-- and Dean and the folks at the party are in for one helluva treat.

Once again, Dean, Happy Birthday!

Now you guys got me all curious. I am going to have to make a special trip to the store and see if they have anchor steam on Monday.

Alright, already. I can take a hint. Next time my wife takes me shopping at Woodman Foods on the west side of Madison, I'll boggie through the side doors that leads to Woodman Liquors and try my luck with some Anchor Steam yellow label. From all this buildup, it had better be the best beer this side of Muenchen.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

Rolling Rock? ROLLING ROCK?!?! In the same sentence as Anchor Steam? I dunno. They call the Rock ''The Green Death'' for a reason. No beer gives me more of a hangover, but I do love the taste. After a splitting a case of Rolling Rock and a pint of Crown Royal on my 18th birthday, I ended up working for a week as a camp councillor for the developmentally disabled. I'm still not sure how... Nice people though.

Happy Birthday.

Hey Arnold:

On behalf of the celebrants at Dean's party tonight, I would like to say, "Thank you."

Wished you could have been there. Oh well, more beer for me.

Happy Birthday!

You're a lucky fellow. My blogfan bought me a sixpack of Keystone Light and drank four of 'em before he got to my house. And it really disturbs me that he knows where I live.

All this talk about Anchor Steam reminds me of some great times I had drinking in a little place in Blue Island outside of Chicago called the Lion's Head Ale House. They had the stuff on tap along with about 10 other beers. Dean and I put down quite a few beers in that place back when he lived in the area. The restaurant/bar is still around and I think they still have Anchor Steam but it is now called the Maple Tree Inn. It's still a great place and has a New Orleans menu, for those of you in the area it is worthwhile to check out.

What makes Anchor steam beer unique is that it is a lager beer made before modern refrigeration in San Francisco. Due to the California heat it was fermented at higher ale temperatures which is what gives it such a wonderful and unique flavor.

Anchor also makes a barley wine called Old Foghorn that is definitely not for the weak of heart at about 10% alcohol. It's a wonderful beer that has very complex flavors and is slightly sweet so it is not the typical beer that you can drink after mowing the lawn. This was also a favorite of Dean's at the Ale House although I'm pretty sure most of his memory of this beer is a drunken blur!

Damn, all this talk about beer is making me thirsty.

Happy Birthday Dean!

"Semper Fi"? Nice thought, wrong service. I was in the US Army at the tail end of the Korean War, 1953-1955.

Awwww.... dammit! So much for my memory. I could have sworn you were a jarhead. My apologies: mistaking a Soldier for a Marine is normally a hanging offense, so I appreciate your forebearance. I'll have another beer and punch myself in the jaw in penance.

But it was a damned fine gift. And by the way, the clerk(s) you spoke to were simply confused. Anchor Brewing Company is the brewer, and they make several beers: Anchor Steam, Liberty Ale, Celebration Ale, and one or two others. Anchor Steam is a specific beer from that company, and a unique beer it is. With all this buildup I'm sure it can't match up to all expectations, but it's a genuinely fine beer. I recommend drinking it from a glass so you can appreciate its fine aroma, perhaps with crackers and a mild cheese (a gouda or mild cheddar--I understand you may be able to find some of that in Wisconsin).

All this talk about Anchor Steam reminds me of some great times I had drinking in a little place in Blue Island outside of Chicago called the Lion's Head Ale House.

Oh, man. You make me miss Chicago!

You want to see Chicago that badly? Just drive over to Detroit. Look eastward, and pretend the body of water in front of you is Lake Michigan with a big bridge over it.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

That Anchor Steam was mighty tasty. Thanks, Arnold!

Thanks you, everybody, for appreciating the bear. But remember. It was Dean's day, not mine.

Which reminds me of a little something. Dean is the guy that put together this blogsite. There's always one guy or gal who acts as the sparkplug to start any event, activity or endeavor and keep it running smoothly. I know, because I play that role often enough. I'm secretary-treasurer of a little group that organizes submachine gun matches over here in Mount Horeb. On top of that, I'm secretary of the Dane County Republican Party here in Wisconsin, and NRA-ILA election volunteer coordinator for Wisconsin 2nd congressional district. I know the kind of work involved in doing these jobs, made all the more equisite because they are labors of love.

Well, the same goes for a good internet website or blogsite. Since a lot of you do the same thing Dean does, but on your own sites. You understand the work you put into it much more than I could.

Maybe you haven't thought of it quite this way, but the blogworld in general really is a vital and significant new type of journalism. A type that the old-time reporters and professors who taught at the University of Illinois College of Journalism and Communications could not have envisioned when I got my bachelor's degree there in 1962. You see what I'm talking about? I really take your stuff seriously, even if I don't always write that way.

So I guess I'll extend my thanks to each and every one of you who developed a blogsite and who take the trouble to keep this unique kind of journalism alive and throbbing with good stuff. That goes for those of you with whom I agree and those of you whom I think may be nuts. Each of you is still a hero for doing what you've done.

For the rest of us, who really just feed on your work, I guess it's appropriate that we contribute something like buying you beer now and then.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

(Well, thanks for appreciating the beer. Appreciating the bear is something you want to reserve for the night you're camping out Colorado and big hairy thing is hovering over your sleeping bag...)

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

Actually, Arnold, some of us feed into the work, as well as off of it... :)

Thanks man.

I just discovered your website and so far I like it alot.

Let me tell you some of my favorite beers:

Youngs Oatmeal Stout. Not sure if you like the heavier beers, but this is probably one of the best beers Ive ever had.

McEwans Scotch Ale. Sweet, but probably my second favorite. Has a huge kick

I sincerely hope that I am able to post a bit more in this forum .

Cheers