text:
Mickey's | Miller Brewing Co.

1,273 Ratings
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Brewed by:
Miller Brewing Co.
Wisconsin, United States

Style: American Malt Liquor

Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.60%

Availability: Year-round

Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.

Added by stirgy on 07-03-2001

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Ratings: 1,273 |  Reviews: 346
Reviews by jantonius:
Photo of jantonius
3.35/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Darker Golden, Champagne Look

S: Smells a little malty, nothing overwhelming

T: As far as Malt Liquor goes, incredibly refrshing - very alcohol forward

M: Slightly Carbonated, buttery feeling in your mouth

D: An amazingly drinkable Malt Liquor -- My favorite of all.

Nothing beats this classic in the Green Wide Mouth Bottle.

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More User Reviews:
Photo of mudbug
3.68/5  rDev +36.3%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

From the shaped like a WW2 Grenade into, well no glass needed here, lets face it, this is what you want when you sit on a curb drinking alcohol wrapped in a paper bag . No excuses and no aplologies wanted.
The smell you should just avoid, anyone sticking their nose in this and inhaling is either stupid or drunk beyond reason.
The taste is sweet oblivion, yes, there is enough booze in this to get the job done quick and it's not unpleasant, kind of like a soft drink passed though beezelbubs bladder. grainy and warming and... familiar
I like it, I don't give a flying fig about the score here, it only supports my belief that most scorers are worse than me. and sitting on a curb will get you the truth sometimes. F you snob beerhipsters.

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Photo of BeerBobber
2.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

Light clear gold with an aggressive pour giving about three fingers of a soapy crackling head that drops quickly. Lots of visible carbonation as well.

Smells sweet, almost candy like sweet? Not much else coming through.

Not much on the taste. Seems to follow the nose with that strange sweetness.

Mouth feel is not to heavy (thankfully) and finishes fairly easy.

I can remember drinking this from the big mouth bottles during several days while me and my friend rebuilt the engine for his 1972 Javelin project. Did not seem so bad than while we were freezing our asses off in the middle of the Colorado winter attempting to build a muscle car. Nowadays as an adult fast forwarded to some 30 plus years past that date I would have to say this beer tastes like crap. I really cannot wait to finish this 24 oz. can so I can look for a real beer in the fridge. God bless Mickey's for the memories (my friend has since passed, a result of mental issues and suicide) but I think this is one worth burying.

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Photo of DetroitWhat
3.01/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Sometimes I just need a 40oz. to keep it gangster. And my 40 of choice is always Mickey's.

The key to Mickey's is to drink it really fast - it has to stay cold. If you can manage to down your entire 40oz. while it's still very cold, it almost has a Heineken skunky taste. I am not a fan of malt liquor, but a cold Mickey's really doesn't taste like a malt. If you let it get warm....prepare to pay the price. N A S T Y.

I'm finishing off a Mickey's 40 as we speak. It's just what I needed after a long day at work. The last few sips are still ice cold...and it doesn't disappoint.

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Photo of NeroFiddled
3.1/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Smells like grain and alcohol with barely a suggestion of hops,
tastes like grain and alcohol with barely a suggestion of hops...
...and it's supposed to taste like that!

It pours a brilliant, crystal clear golden body beneath a pillowy bright-white head that deflates immediately and then maintains only a thin collar that leaves very little lace.

The nose expresses the sweetish adjunct-malt and alcohol that we've come to expect along with a very minor note of yeasty sulphur. It's clean though...

Its medium bodied in the mouth with a fairly crisp carbonation that gently tingles the palate.

The flavor displays a mildly-sweet maltiness upfront, backed by some very light alcohol and a low-key bitterness. If they added just a little more hop flavor to this it could easily pass as a standard mass-produced American lager.

Overall it's not as big, sweet, fruity and rough as many others, however, it's only 5.6% by volume, which is only .6% higher than Bud. In fact, it's barely a malt liquor. But it's clean, well-balanced (given the style), and fairly nice to look at despite the lack of head.

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Photo of JustLikeMyDad
2.53/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Didn't bother to pour it, i can guess the color.

Smelled corny or sweet, but stale like alcohol.

Tastes sweet, almost dry like grass, corny.

Drank like any other cheap malt liquor. Used mine for chasing cheap vodka.

Overall, easy to drink and enjoyable enough.

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Photo of smakawhat
3.7/5  rDev +37%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the giant 32 ounce plastic jug into a nonic pint glass. Good till July 11th 2016. Pulled from the back of the shelf booyah!

Deep clear brass body, quite shiny with minimal and slow rising carbonation. Bleach bright white solid three finger head, that settles to a big bowled puck and some nice thick coating lacing. Quite a decent looking beer.

Nice quite basic cereal grain and mild corn aroma. Some faint toast, no hop angle, but a mix of pasty sugar a bit as well. Really solid for what it is actually not boozy either. No skunking either from the plastic thin green bottle.

Palate manges no too many surprises, with the exception of tolerance. Clean first thick sip but without the big sugars or fussel alcohol burn. Corny like sweetness a bit, with some interesting sugar like aftertaste that lingers. Interesting aftertaste that seems to mix some adjunct sweetness and some decent grain quality in the mix, it just barely hints at toast.

Interesting animal in malt liquor vein, sort of in the right place between a step up from your regular adjunct lager, but not jumping into drying overly sweet or alcohol stink malt liquor excess.

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Photo of texecutive
1.5/5  rDev -44.4%

I feel like Mickey's fools me twice when I drink it. I get fooled once by getting tricked into those dumbass riddles they put on the caps. I get fooled twice because I end up drinking the malt sludge in the grenade because I feel stupid for not figuring out the phrase "butter face." When Dave Grohl sang the line "Is someone getting the best of you?", I didn't know he was asking about my alcoholism.

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Photo of shellmate
1.28/5  rDev -52.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.75

It's cheap and gets the job done if you want to get a buzz in the middle of the day

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Photo of dbrown456
4.77/5  rDev +76.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Really liked this beer. Very flavorable I can appreciate. Not like other high rated beers that have a very tart taste. Bought the 40oz bottle just to try. Thought I'd taste then throw it out. The price was so low. Wrong!!! Just the right amount @ 40 oz. and a flavor I enjoy.

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Photo of brobbable
5/5  rDev +85.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the best cheap beer. I like to rate beer not as one beer vs the thousands, but rather with the one beer vs the other beers of the same style. Haffenreffer Private Stock used to be the top dog, but they were discontinued :( The pictographs are fun too.

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Photo of daliandragon
3.05/5  rDev +13%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Like a lot of the previous reviews, I will mostly lean on memories with this one, although I do have a forty sitting in front of me at the moment. Freshman year if you had big mouths in your fridge, it was a blackout night. Mickey's was all about attitude to me, back in college when I thought that was cool. The pissed off green bee seems to have mellowed in recent years, but maybe that's just me.

Mellow and corny without being offensive or oversweet. I still find this quite drinkable when you want to have an uberswill evening. It doesn't look or smell good. That's not the deal. Quite good at its job.

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Photo of MoCityTxBeast
2/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Reminds me of Meyer Park in Houston. My friend's older bro used to buy us 40 oz of these and we'd harass every living thing that would cross our path after downing a couple. Good times lol

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Photo of MarkSmith86
3.74/5  rDev +38.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Now this is a good go to malt liquor even though its on the low end of the ABV comparing it to the new high gravity/malt liquors such as hurricane and the steel brewing company.. This is one of a kind and Its a winner all around for a decent price. 7 dollars for a 12 pack after tax, so what if your friends drink that fancy stuff like MGD or High Life, Budweiser, Coors! Dont let it bother you if you want to bring it to a party and dig in! Keep it real! with Mickeys Malt Liquor!

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Photo of DenisKolkin
2.48/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

355 ml signature green plastic bottle. Consumed ice cold, predominantly from the bottle. This bottle was advertised at 5.5% ABV.

Appearance - what I did pour out showed a decent golden color with a tiny white head and foam.

Smell - aromatic in that the adjunct aromas are quite potent, some sweet malt, corn and rice grain. Some skunkiness.

Taste - for malt liquor it's not too bad, nothing too funky going on as it drinks pretty easily. The sweet malt and grain are a bit too much by the end of the bottle, but it's not inherently undrinkable.

Mouthfeel - smooth with moderate levels of carbonation and refreshing finish.

Overall - it's not really good beer, but as far as malt liquor go, it's pretty drinkable, especially in smaller serving sizes where an increase in temperature won't make it too unpleasant. Glad I tried one, but unlikely to repeat.

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Photo of fitweed
3.74/5  rDev +38.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Nice change of pace (from time-to-time) away from the IPA's and spiced-up stuff. I lived off Two Dolla' Foties of St. Ides, back in college, for f**** sake!!!! So Mickey's is like--Dom Perignone for me!!!

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Photo of UCLABrewN84
3.08/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a crystal clear light yellow with a 2 inch stark white head that fades to a small cap. Random streaks of lace form here and there on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grains and corn flakes. There is a slight buttery smell to this beer as it warms. Taste is of grains and corn flakes. Very crisp and clean with a good level of carbonation. Overall, a pretty average beer but not bad for what it is.

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Photo of latackbeer
4.26/5  rDev +57.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Mickey's is the malt liquor that makes the name worth it. Granted the whole idea that you play the brown paper bag hiding game, not right way to enjoy this delicious beverage. Get the six pack and enjoy the caps. The caps have nothing to do with taste but they definitely adds to the beer. If you can't solve a Mickey's cap in under 15 seconds put it down because the puzzle and Mickey's attraction...you don't understand it.

So the taste, it's a regular beer taste. It's enjoyable and doesn't over power with a liquor sting. It's the indulgence you have to hold on to. The six pack is affordable but willing grants access to inebriation. If you're going to "roll" with a malt liquor, this is the selection for that night.

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Photo of missilesilo
4.6/5  rDev +70.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance - I like the look of the bottle; it looks cool and makes me want to drink it.

Smell - Great! Doesn't smell bad at all.

Taste - Excellent. Don't mind drinking, or even chugging it.

Mouthfeel - Leaves a good taste in your mouth

Overall this beer is good because it tastes good and you only need 2 or 3 to feel a buzz.

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Photo of MartyHeldt
3.71/5  rDev +37.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

The best thing I've tasted that called itself "malt liquor."

Had a slight cidery taste that reminded me of my own home brew. Was clean and lager-like, not syrupy or sickley like Steel (yuk)

I had a 40 oz bottle and I was sorry to see the bottom.

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Photo of Its_Dipset_Eyy
4.3/5  rDev +59.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ahhh my beautiful, you were my first. Tho I know they say you're not perfect, to me you are. We may have grown apart but I just can't help myself coming back to you at times. Thank you for all the memories.

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Photo of bigbadbootydaddy
3.63/5  rDev +34.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I don't know why Mickeys has such a low rating. I like it.

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Photo of RoyalT
2.01/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Appearance  Light orange in color and very clear with a lot of carbonation and a decent head.

Smell  The familiar alcohol-laced grainy mishmash of the malt liquor family is alive and kicking in this Miller offering.

Taste  This taste like The Champagne of Beers with a shot of gin. The flavor is subtle (read, tastes like watered-down piss") and the booze is overbearing.

Mouthfeel  It looked heavily carbonated, but this ale was flat and thin.

Sinkability  This bomber bombed.

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Photo of iRaven99664
1.43/5  rDev -47%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

DAFUQ! WHY? Once the alcohol destroys your palate, it allows you to get past the chemicals used to make this atrocity. Once the alcohol hits your brain you tend not to give a shit. Low 5.6% abv? I had two 8%ers yeasterday and i didntmfeel this buzzed. Must be the impurities giving me instant hangover? I Hate You Miller!

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Photo of t2grogan
1/5  rDev -63%

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Mickey's from Miller Brewing Co.
2.7 out of 5 based on 1,273 ratings.
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Wooden Shoe Bock Beer | Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

no score
Awaiting More Ratings
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Send samples

Brewed by:
Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus
Ohio, United States

Style: Bock

Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.70%

Availability: Fall

Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.

Added by dudemuskie on 10-05-2010

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Ratings: 7 |  Reviews: 5
Reviews by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Perfectly pristine pumpkin orange with amber highlights and rising sheets of fine bubbles. The pour created almost two fingers of ecru foam that looks decent enough and does an acceptable job laying down lace. Shotgun-blasted sheets appear on the glass opposite in the end.

Bock Beer smells like a bock beer. It's aromatic enough and features the usual toasted-nutty malts that don't seem to have as much melanoidin as most. Hops are on the low end, as expected.

This Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus brew is pretty good stuff... and that's coming from one who doesn't usually groove on this particular style. It tastes like Munich malt doesn't have the complete run of the joint, which is definitely a good thing.

Mid-range malts lead the way, with caramel coming through loud and clear. Add toasted bread, sugared nuts and a sprinkling of tea leaves, and you have a well-rounded lager that is both tasty and surprisingly drinkable.

The mouthfeel, which is just big enough and just creamy enough, suffers a little by being too buzzily bubbled. Time will undoubtedly help, but the pint glass will almost be empty by then.

My expectations were not high when the crown was cracked on this rather unassuming Ohio-brewed bock. EB & DH knows their way around a brew kettle, though, and they have a bona fide winner with Bock Beer. Four out of five goats approve.

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More User Reviews:
Photo of j_hollings13
3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

Photo of beergod1
3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Love me some Goat Beer. Pours a Clear Amber/Orange, nice carbonated head. Smells like a Bock, tastes like a Bock. I wasn't expecting too much with this Ohio Brew, But pleasantly surprised. Bready Malt Character, with just a touch of hops on the palate. Medium Body, Very drinkable. Not High on the list of great Bocks, but worth every Penny. (Well, I got mine free)

 365 characters

Photo of rembrant
3.51/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Wooden Shoe Bock is a take on a vintage Golden Bock done in the area 100 yr ago. Elevator is the 3rd variant done by an Ohio microbrewer. The bottle looks like the version listed under Heritage.

Looks,A Very clear golden Amber with off white 1"head (or more) lightly frothy,and lacing the glass

Aroma Malty grain,some caramel and a hint of raisin. There's a lager type yeast scent in the back.

Taste Tastes German. There's a rather pleasant classic beer flavor with Caramel and biscuit that weaves with some German style hop bittering. It goes sweet>bitter>sweet and then there's a subtle rather woody aftertaste of a Euro hops and yeast. All in all,it has a old school beery nature but does not really step up and grab you. If you are fond of Great Lakes Lagers and O-Fest, odds are you'd enjoy this. If you lean to a hoppy IPA or a Belgian or Stout,you might see this as just TOO subtle. There's a sneaky depth to the flavor profile you notice midway through.

Mouth There's a creamy rich body for a light colored beer. For the type,the carbonation is underdone but that does kind of go with it's old timey German roots. It seems a case of expending too much of it's sizzle+fizz making a head. From the bottle,that is not a problem and a gentle pour retains a bit more of the bubbles.

Drinkability is pretty good. Basically a rich gold lager,not a dark bock. The yeast does not taste off,though I did get a hearty burp. Some German beers employ a yeast that can get a bit rank or metallic,and that's turned me off to some well regarded imports.

This is a comfortable beer with food and paired with a nice sausage or Saurbraten and kraut...works well. I think also it would be a beer that someone used to macro lager or not into the strong dark or hoppy beers could find a treat.
It's not a style that rocks me but I admire how well it executes it's task,and how it was a recipe done in this area long ago.

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Photo of dudemuskie
3.89/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Snagged a single at The Andersons in Toledo in a mix-a-6er. Appears as if this is Elevator Brewing's attempt at reviving a nostalgic German bock that survived prohibition.

Appearance- Tight off white, lingering head sits on top of a slightly hazed orange brew with faint light brown highlights.

Aroma- Juicy malt with a touch of light caramel, delicate herbal hops, and a slight hint of vegetal DMS.

Flavor- Nice rich base maltiness leads into a bit of a carbonic bite. Herbal hops with fairly clean bitterness balance out malt nicely in a clean, slightly drying, toasty biscuit-like finish with a nice herbal hop balance. Fairly quick and clean finish with some herbal/slightly chewy maltiness.

Mouthfeel- Light-medium bodied, moderate-high CO2, clean dry finish thats got nice flavor, but is very refreshing. Low-moderate residual sugars.

Overall- I could fill a few 1L mugs with this and be a happy fellow with a huge brat smothered in kraut and Dusseldorf mustard!! Feels like a festive beer that is fitting for the changing seasons, tailgating, Oktoberfests, and football. I am suddenly feeling a bit nostalgic...it appears as if Elevator brewed up a winner!

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Photo of t0rin0
3.25/5  rDev -11%

Photo of raznug
3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It pours a nice orangeish color a little lighter than expected has an inch of fine carbonation.
It smells pretty much like I expect a bock to be.
It has a nice malt base with some hops sprinkled in towards the end.
It has has a nice feel on the tongue not as thick as I would like a bock to be but tasty none the less.

 318 characters

Wooden Shoe Bock Beer from Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus
3.65 out of 5 based on 7 ratings.
  • About Us

    Your go-to website for beer (since 1996), publishers of BeerAdvocate magazine (since 2006) and hosts of world-class beer events (since 2003). Respect Beer.
  • BeerAdvocate Microbrew Invitational

    Join us June 2-3, 2017 in Boston, Mass. for beer, cider, mead, kombucha and sake from over 70 small producers.

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    Support uncompromising beer advocacy and award-winning, independent journalism with a print subscription to BeerAdvocate magazine.

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text:
Isabelle Proximus | The Lost Abbey

441 Ratings
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Isabelle ProximusIsabelle Proximus

Brewed by:
The Lost Abbey
California, United States

Style: American Wild Ale

Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%

Availability: Limited (brewed once)

Notes / Commercial Description:
In March of 2006 five guys, Adam Avery, Vinnie Cilurzo, Rob Todd, Tomme Arthur and Sam Calagione accompanied Lorenzo Dabove, The Prince of Pajottenland, through a tour of Belgium's finest geuze producers. Many of the mysteries of lambic production were answered along the way. They vowed to return to the states to brew a sour beer celebrating their experiences. In November of 2006 they reunited at Port Brewing to brew Isabelle Proximus.

In this bottle, you'll find the answers to many of the questions that were posed along their journey near the river Senne. However, like the mysteries of lambic beers, there remains one lingering question that was left unresolved. We hope like us, the next time you're on a pilgrimage to Brussels you'll drop by the Empire Club and let us know whether you prefer Green or Orange...

Added by John_M on 05-22-2008

This beer is retired; no longer brewed.

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Ratings: 441 |  Reviews: 220
Reviews by nomomentwasted:
Photo of nomomentwasted
4.52/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Man, Saturday was a killer beer-drinking day. Thanks to klonda, my beer-loving BA roommate, for buying the bottle after we already had Yellow Bus and Veritas 003.

Appearance: From the bottle, a good amount of carbonation pours a hazy-lemon peel sunshiny brew that bubbles up a bit more than Yellow Bus had. Ring of carbonation around the surface clung nicely to the glass, but nothing particularly different or remarkable about it. The bottle is awesome though, that's for sure.

Smell: Whew, lemon-peel ciitrusy whiffs on top of bretty barnyard funk. Mmmm, brettt. There are hints of acidity as well, along with a oaky and white-wine like odor as well. Very, very nice.

Taste: Excellent, even up there with the big boys like Yellow Bus and DDG. I thought both those two slightly more sour and a hint more complexity, but that's not to say this beer isn't incredibly tasty. It's just a delicious sour, and reminded me of a more citrusy and slightly more funky Duck Duck Gooze. The sourness is on par with the best of the Lost Abbey fabled brews, and really just has a sweet-sour pucker that I've come to adore. The flavor profile, while a very tasty one, is not as layered as some others, but is delicious through and through.

Mouthfeel: Rivaled only by Yellow Bus in my book among sours. Sourness is bracing, acidity follows, and rounds out perfectly carbonated and really flawless. Couldn't think of anything here I'd change at all.

Drinkability: It's delicious, it's tasty, and drinkable, but I consider most sours to be so. Really smooth, but the acidity here was a bit higher than in some of the other sours of the day. And this affected our drinkability: the bottle just had a ton of yeast at the bottom, more than I'm used to, which limited the pours slightly, but that's really here nor there. This beer is another incredible one, and one I'm so excited to have another one of in the cellar.

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More User Reviews:
Photo of orangesol
4.47/5  rDev -1.5%

Huge thanks to Greer for busting this one open at Campground Brewdown and making sure I got a pour.

A - Pours hazy yellow with a small half finger tall white head, quickly dissipating down to a light film, leaving very small streaks of lace on the sides of the glass.

S - Smells of light lactic sourness, lemon zest, some musty basement and barnyard funk, dash of fruit, woody oak and some lightly toasted grain backing. Softer than I was expecting it to be but still pretty solid.

T - Starts off fairly similar to the nose. The lemony lactic sourness leads things off followed closely by the pale malt, must, nice amount of funk, nice hit of fruit zest and finally some oaky dryness. Finish is a touch tart but surprisingly smooth, leaving the palate quite dry.

M - Medium body with moderate carbonation. Very nice feel, not as overly sour as I was expecting it to be. Maybe a touch of oxidation but it was minuscule compared to the rest.

O - I honestly think this one is holding up surprisingly well for its age. It may very well be a shadow of its former self, I can't comment having never had it fresh, but I can tell you that this bottle was drinking quite well. I would love to have it again in the future.

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Photo of brentk56
4.71/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color; even after all these years, the carbonation is intact and the beer pours with a nice head that leaves some lacing behind

Smell: Lemon, melon and funk notes

Taste: The lemon elements dominate from the outset, but there is much more underneath, including melon, funk and oak; the acidity is just right, adding a nice sour dimension that never overwhelms

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation and a bit of a pucker

Overall: Waited a long time to open this one and it is amazing how well it is drinking after six years in my cellar; one of the best sours I have ever tasted

 624 characters

Photo of getkrunkhoe
5/5  rDev +10.1%

Fresh and up until 2-3 years ago it was an amazing offering from DFH, LA, Allagash, RussiAn River, and Avery. Just well made.

Had my last bottle 2 weeks ago and it didn't hold up as I had hoped. It was good but very "woody" not oak, woody. nonetheless a great beer overall.

 274 characters

Photo of t2grogan
4.75/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Photo of brownbeer
4.77/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Tasted at Falling Rock Taphouse. It's a good thing we tasted it when we did, they weren't selling anymore two days later.

A- Gushed on us but no worries. Pours hazy yellow with thin dirty white head.

S- Sweet fruit on the nose, light brett funk, candy orange.

T- Perfect sweet-tart balance, peachy, muscat grapes, a touch of band aid. A little less earthy than similar beers i've tasted.

M- Finishes medium bodied with a lasting sourness. Perfection. Balance.

 463 characters

Photo of hopsleeroy
4.33/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle shared by some great BA's.

A-Poured into sniffer, brightish orange and golden color, Nice head, that laced for a while
S-Tartness dominates at first with apples and sour citrus, musty earthy yeast as well
T-Again Tart and some sweetness upfront. Very acidic which makes the taste difficult toidentify right away. As it warms and I drink more, I get used to the acidity and taste citrus fruit, mild oak, and a peppery yeast spice
M-Very carbonated and light in mouth. Finishes fairly dry.
D-Difficult at first to drink but gets easier and more enjoyable with each sip and as it warms

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Photo of tuckevalastin
4.57/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Very light head and cider color

S: Sweet fruity smell. Apples and peach come through strong.

T: Clearly the sourness comes through the most but sweet fruits as well as citrus fruit are very noticable.

M: Sour and dry but has great balance and no alcohol heat comes through.

D: If you like sours this is very drinkable.

Overall, this is a great beer. It's definetly one to try if you get a chance.

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Photo of joel66
4.76/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Popped open izzy with a couple great BA's

Poured a murky amber with a light pink Hugh

Nose was over ripe citrus and cabernet sauvignon

Taste was filled with grape, grape skin, granny smith apples and barnyard funk.

Very light mouthfeel, smooth with a dry finish.

I didn't expect much based on recent reviews stating izzy was past her prime. I could not disagree more. This has aged perfectly and was wonderful. Very happy that I have more!

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Photo of tjthresh
3.9/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pour bright golden yellow with a quickly fading pur white head. The aroma is of tangy sour cream with a pleasant oak character. The flavor is very lactic and cheesy, with a great oak tannin character. The beer clinches the back of my throat when a swallow. Very sour. Medium/light body with a nice amount of carbonation. I was expecting this to be very over carbonated. Overall this is really good and among some of the best sours I've tried.

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Photo of Mora2000
4.2/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to thirdeye11 for sharing this bottle at our recent sour tasting.

I have wanted to try this for a long time and was happy to see it in the lineup. The beer pours a hazy yellow color with a white head. The aroma is buttery popcorn with some tartness and citrus fruit. The flavor is tart lemons as well as some other citrus and yeast. The beer wasn't quite as complex as I thought it was going to be, but it is still very good and I am very glad I got to try it. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

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Photo of olradetbalder
4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

Photo of magictrokini
4.2/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours bright, clear yellow-orange with a small head made of tiny white bubbles. Faint perfume nose of sour banana and peaches. Wicked sour apple, pomegrante, cherry taste. Takes a mellower, bretty cheese/buttery turn with some toasted sourdough. It gets you right between the jaw and ear. Yummy.

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Photo of standardcherry
4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

Photo of williamjbauer
4.61/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Photo of stereosforgeeks
4.75/5  rDev +4.6%

Photo of pwoods
4.7/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Shane(beachbum1975) for sharing this bottle, and thanks to numbeercruncher for the bottle you traded me :)

750ml brown corked and caged bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours an orangish tangerine. Nice white frothy head. Some retention and decent lacing.

S: Good funk. Horse blanket, wet dog, gym sock. Astringent acidic fruits layered on top of very tart fruits. Definitely some lemon and grapefruit quality but maybe some underlying apricot or peach? Some light earthy and musty tones.

T/M: Very sour and tart. Very dry. A sour and and puckering tartness similar to Beatification but less far less funk. Still a good bit of funk with some barnyard, wet hay qualities. Sourness really builds strong in the swallow, reminding me a bit like a spritz of lemon juice down the throat. Which brings in the lemon and lime and maybe some pineapple tart and juicy fruitiness. Definitely a very dry brew with supporting leather or hide flavors. The barrel aging further adds the pleasant funky and tannin qualities. The body is medium light with lively carbonation that pricks the tongue. Finishes very dry and decently puckering.

D: I'd be kidding myself if I said that I could drink an entire bottle of this myself but I'd convince myself to try :) Damn fine beer. This really needs to be a yearly release. By far the best Wild I've had.

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Photo of mdaschaf
4.67/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Was fortunate enough to be present at a tasting where this was opened up.

A: Cork came out with a loud pop. Poured into a snifter glass, the beer was a golden yellow with very little head and no lacing. A few small carbonation bubbles here and there.

S: Very tart, lots of apples and a little vinegar, quite sour and bretty. Lots going on, with some grass, vanilla/oak, and other light fruits - peaches and apricots. Extremely inviting.

T: A really nice tartness, slightly mouth puckering, but not overdone at all. Lots of green apple and some lemon, some berries and apricots. There is a very faint barnyard funk going on, but it is in the background to the tart fruit flavors. Light oak and vanilla are also in the background.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Drinks very smooth, and as mentioned above not overly sour.

O: An amazing beer, I am grateful to have been able to have a snifter of it and hope that one day I will be able to have some more. One of the best beers I have had thus far.

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Photo of jh1982
5/5  rDev +10.1%

Photo of DJButters
4.26/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this monster side by side with Veritas 004 Dec 2012.

I wont be going into extreme detail since all tasting notes can be reviewed below but I can tell you that the nose and taste is fantastic. This beer can last much longer and as an american sour, it is as close as one can get to lambic/gueuze. Beautiful golden color, amazing fluffy head, if you can have a beer always look like this... it would be perfection. Grapefruit notes on the palate. IP + V004 blend is amazing do to what I felt was better mouthfeel and carb on the IP.

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Photo of SpeedwayJim
4.74/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Shared this one with 2 great people after a long, long time of wanting to try it and then actually just stumbling upon it. What an adventure...
Had this one at Monk's Cafe poured into a Cantillon wine glass.

A: Poured near no head with a thin white wisp that retained at the top. Brew was semi-cloudy bright orange with medium carbonation continually rising to the top. Lacing is rather spotty.

S: Wood, sour skunk, and a variety of wild berries.

T: Wood, oak, cherry tartness, raspberries, citrus rinds. Overtones of malt make themselves apparent after my palate becomes accustomed to the sourness. Sour apple in the finish as well as a sweet/tart strawberry towards the end. So incredibly complex...

M: Light to medium bodied, carbonated and rather coarse. Brew is extremely clean and crisp. Finish is dry with almost no aftertaste. The journey is very long and enjoyable, but when it ends, it doesn't linger.

D: The best interpretation of a sour I've had so far. This mythical brew is worthy of the hype. The only thing I regret is that its over. Can't wait to have it again somehow, someday. The different flavors that reveal itself are so endless that it begs you to have more and more to discover more and more.

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Photo of leschkie
4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

Photo of Photekut
5/5  rDev +10.1%

Photo of prototypic
4.52/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It pours a very hazy golden color. Minute chunks of sediment can be seen swimming about. Given the amount in the bottom of the bottle, that's not surprising. Sitting atop is a white head that's about a finger deep. It dissipated very quickly and left only a very light, spotty bit of lace on the glass.

Smell: The nose is very, very good. It's citrusy sweet and tart initially. There's some lemon (primarily), orange, grapefruit, and maybe even apple present. An interesting spicy aroma blends pretty well although I can't identify it. It is a little funky due to the use of Brett. It's musky and earthy smelling and has the ol' "barnhouse" thing going. A bit of an oak smell emerges as it opens up a little and really plays a nice complementary role. I like that aspect of the nose a lot. It's very complex and enticing.

Taste: The flavor is equally is good as the nose, if not better. It's sweet and a little sugary up front. The citrus lemon and grapefruit are a bit of a jumpstart to get the "tart" engine buzzing. Tart it is. Initially, it's mildly tart, but intestifies with each passing drink. Personally, I thought that was an interesting characteristic here. While it is tart and very sour, it's not relentlessly so. It's a very appetizing tartness. It is a little spicy, but I still can't identify it. It's a very secondary element here. The funky "Brett" flavor is indeed musky, earthy, and a little acidic. Again, it's nicely done here. Definitely not too funky. The oak flavor adds quite a bit though its presence is somewhat subtle. It finishes sweet and sour.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: It's medium bodied and has a very smooth feel. Very silky. Carbonation is pretty active considering it yielded a minimal head and short retention. Nonetheless, they nailed feel here. Drinkability is very high. With a smooth feel like this and low abv at 7%, I'd have no problem downing a 750 if I were so inclined. But, I'm not into sessioning sours so I probably wouldn't have any more than that.

Isabelle Proximus the fine result of a concerted efforted from some of our best brewers. I can't say it's any better than some of the individual efforts of those same brewers. We've been blessed with some fine beers from all of them. True to their form, this one is excellent, as well. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely check it out.

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Photo of UTvolFAN16
4.25/5  rDev -6.4%

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Isabelle Proximus from The Lost Abbey
4.54 out of 5 based on 441 ratings.
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Beer Kits: Important Information before You Buy

Are you looking to get involved with brewing beer at home? It’s a growing trend. The craft brew scene in the US has skyrocketed, and most of these microbreweries and nano brewers started out right where you are – about to brew their first batch at home. However, before you jump on the bandwagon, you need to answer an important question. Will you start with a kit or buy your ingredients separately?

Kits: The Pros

Beer brewing kits have come a long way from what they once were. Today, you will find kits available for making almost any type of beer you might want. You will also find a variety of things included in different kits – some contain equipment needed, while others are strictly the ingredients only.

However, most beginner kits come with the ingredients and a 5-gallon plastic bucket for brewing. Many do not come with bottles, caps, the boiling pot, the funnel or other tools that you’ll need, though. If you need a full set of equipment, check with your local home brew store or make sure you buy a kit that has what you need.

Kits are excellent options for beginners, because they eliminate the confusion from brewing. How much hops do you use? Which type of hops should be used? What strain of yeast is best for this beer recipe? These are only some of the questions that have to be answered if you’re going to buy the ingredients separately.

Kits: The Cons

There are a few drawbacks to using kits, though. For instance, you will certainly find that you are limited to making only what is available. However, this should not be a problem as there are so many varieties available on the market today. You will also find that kits take some of the creativity out of the brewing process, but beginners should really focus more on the basics than on being creative anyway.

Finally, you will find that while kits are relatively affordable for a first-time brewer, you are not going to want (or need) to pay $50 or $100 per batch of beer that you want to brew. It’s cheaper in the long run to buy your ingredients individually, once you have all the equipment on hand.

The Outcome

Kits are great for beginners, offering an affordable way to get started in the world of home brewing. However, you will certainly want to move up once you have “the basics” mastered and start making beer from scratch.

Posted on March 1, 2009 and filed under Brewing.


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September 2005 – Pranayama

Yogic Breathing Exercises

Yoga Sutra II:49 states:
When asana is perfected, inspiration and expiration can be controlled.

Pranayama is the fourth limb (following asana) of Ashtanga Yoga as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The following verses state:
Modifications of Pranayama are to inhale, exhale, or retain the breath. They can be long or short and modified according to space time and number (YS11:50).
(Beginners are limited to the space of the chest, as the practice advances they begin to occupy more and more space to the point of cell breathing. By daily and regular practice one reaches mastery of breathing exercises.)

As a result of mastery gained in pranayama, avidya (ignorance) which is covering the light of Self is destroyed (YS 11:52).

Pranayama is not just breathing. Pranayama is specific challenging breathing “exercises” meant to purify the body by the building up of heat. Before one begins Pranayama it is important that one breathes correctly, which we learn to do in the practice of asana.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika in Chapter 2 Verse 1 says after learning control of the body through asana and a balanced diet; pranayama is ready to be practiced.

The first Pranayama practice is Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing). Nadi Shodhana translates as nerve purification. This is a calming, balancing practice. To practice:
Hand position: tuck index and middle fingers to base of thumb, thumb is used to close right nostril and third finger is used to close left nostril
Stage 1: Inhale and exhale 10x through left nostril, repeat on the right
Stage 2: Inhale left, exhale right 5x, repeat reversed
Stage 3: Inhale left, exhale right, inhale right, exhale left (this is one round) practice 5-10 rounds
Stage 4: Add breath retention after inhalations.
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama – Nerve Purifying breath, balances the flow of Shakti in Ida and Pingala nadies and the flow of the breath through the nostrils.
The right and left sides of our bodies are associated with the sun and the moon, cooling and heating. The left side is the moon, cool, feminine, relaxed side. When the left nostril is dominant we tend to meditate easier, be calm, cool, and collected, possibly lethargic or depressed. The right side is associated with the sun, heat and movement, and masculinity. If the right nostril is dominant we tend to be active in thinking, more energetic, and possibly more stressed or agitated.
Nadi Shodhana balances these oppositions within us.

The second pranayama practice to learn is Kapalbhati (clears the mind and removes mucus).
Perform exhalation and inhalation rapidly like the bellows (of a blacksmith). This is called Kapalbhati and it destroys all mucous disorders. Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:35

Kapalbhati is a pranayama technique which invigorates the brain and cleanses the mind. In English it translates as ‘frontal brain cleansing’ technique. The exhalation is emphasized, while the inhalation is just a “rebound” from the exhalation. The breath should be done like a pumping action, the diaphragm and abdominals push the air out, then relax and the air is sucked in due to the vacuum effect.
To perform:

  • Sit in your meditation position.
  • Take a deep inhale, forcefully exhale quickly, then relax on the inhales and allow air to enter your lungs. Inhales should be short. Practice 50x, eventually over weeks and months work up to 108x.
  • After the last exhalation, inhale deeply through the nose, exhale through pursed lips, perform jalandhara, moola, and uddiyana bandhas while retaining your breath
  • Release bandhas from bottom upward and then inhale.
    Kapalbhati should be done after asana but before meditation.

Kapalbhati expels more carbon dioxide and other waste gases from the cells and lungs than normal breathing, it also helps to relax the facial muscles and nerves. It rejuvenates tired cells and nerves, keeping the face young, shining, and wrinkle free.

Ujjayi Pranayama
Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:51-53
Closing the mouth, inhale with control and concentration through ida and pingala, so that the breath is felt from the throat to the heart and produces a sonorous sound.
Do kumbhaka as before and exhale through ida. This removes phlegm from the throat and stimulates the (digestive) fire.
This pranayama, called ujjayi, can be done while moving, standing, sitting, or walking. It removes dropsy and disorders of the nadis and dhatu.

  • Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth.
  • Slightly contract the region in the back of the throat as you do when you swallow–or “fog” your glasses to clean them.
  • Smile softly to yourself to broaden and soften the soft palate.
  • Inhalation and exhalation are done through the nose, with a partial closure of the glottis which produces a full and deep wind sound. The sound must come from the throat and not forced to come through the nose.
  • Feel the breath from your throat to your heart.

Ujjayi promotes internalization of the senses, Pratyahara. It aids in developing breath awareness because it makes the breath more tangible. It slows and deepens the breath and tones the muscles of respiration.
Ujjayi Pranayama can be incorporated into asana practice purely to increase awareness and to stimulate Sushumna, or for therapeutic purposes. It is used preventatively for throat ailments of various kinds and in the treatment of bronchial asthma; it removes phlegm and stimulates the digestive fire, increasing internal heat (which is useful during asana practice).
Ujjayi is especially recommended for people who have insomnia and mental tension, as it relieves anxiety and calms the nervous system. The simple form without breath retention is a must in the yogic management of heart disease. However, anyone with low blood pressure must first correct their condition before taking up the practice.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika 2:3
As long as the vayu (air and prana) remains in the body, that is called life. Death is when it leaves the body. Therefore retain vayu.

You can use your pranayama techniques “off the mat”. Feel stressed? Try nadi shodhana or ujjayi pranayama. Feel sluggish? Try a round of Kapalbhati.

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Ebara submersible pump, type Best one

Item no. 0930101
Suitable for clean and light polluted water. With built in safety and 10 metre cable.
Maximum temperature: 50°C.
Maximum dirty pass: 10 mm, 20 mm for type Best One and Best One Vox.
Connection: female thread
Pump body: stainless steel 304
Material Impeller: stainless steel 304
Type: Best One
Power: 0.25 kW
Voltage: 230V
Press: 1 1/4 "
Float: included
Do not delete this link
1 piece(s)


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0 Lohse Road, Willington CT

Estimated Monthly Payment: $329.56 **
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Property Information 0 Lohse Road, Willington, CT
MLS #: G10101286
Style: OTHER
Acreage: 4.69
Zip Code: 06279
Water: Well Required
Type: Lot/Land
Sewer: No Sewer

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Equal Housing Lender** This Willington CT Real Estate listing's estimated payment is based on a 30 yr fixed rate mortgage at a rate of 4.125% with a 20% down payment and one point. This calculation includes principal and interest payments only; property taxes, insurance, homeowners association fees at 0 Lohse Road, Willington CT are not included. Please contact a Licensed Mortgage Banker to get an actual rate and payment. The rates and APR for this 0 Lohse Road, Willington CT property listing will vary depending upon the actual loan amount, down payment and the points and fees for your transaction. Rates are subject to change without prior notice and may vary with your unique credit history. This is not an offer to extend consumer credit as defined by Paragraph 226.2 of Regulation Z. Equal Opportunity Lender. We make loans and extend credit for this Willington CT real estate without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status.
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Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

B&H # SO24704 MFR # SEL2470Z
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

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Product Highlights

  • E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22
  • One ED and Five Aspherical Elements
  • Zeiss T* Anti-Reflective Coating
  • Linear Autofocus Motor; Internal Focus
  • Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Seven-Blade Circular Diaphragm
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  • 1Description

Walk around all day with the Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens from Sony, a compact full-frame option that covers wide-angle to short telephoto perspectives for working with a variety of different shooting styles and subjects. A constant f/4 aperture makes operation smooth and consistent throughout the zoom range. The lens further benefits from the use of one extra-low dispersion element and five aspherical elements to combat aberrations as well as a Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating to keep flare and ghosting to an absolute minimum. The lens is fast to focus as well due to the linear autofocus motor and an internal focus design. Additionally, the dust- and moisture-resistant lens is equipped with Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to reduce the effects of camera shake, and it has a seven-blade circular diaphragm for smooth bokeh.

Based on the Zeiss Tessar optical concept, this lens uses a design with 12 elements in ten groups that helps ensure a smaller overall lens size along with reduced flaring, distortion, and chromatic aberrations.
Covering wide-angle to short telephoto perspectives, this compact 24-70mm can quickly become a go-to lens for Sony's full-frame E-mount cameras. It can also be used on APS-C format cameras where it will provide a 36-105mm equivalent zoom range.
A constant f/4 maximum aperture offers consistent performance throughout the zoom range and also lends greater control over focus position for shallow depth of field techniques.
Zeiss T* anti-reflective coatings have been applied to each lens surface to help minimize reflections in order to provide greater image clarity, contrast, and color fidelity.
One extra-low dispersion glass element is featured in the lens design to help reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing for improved clarity and color neutrality.
Five aspherical elements are incorporated in the lens design to reduce astigmatism, field curvature, coma, and other monochromatic aberrations.
Optical SteadyShot image stabilization helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake for sharper imagery when shooting handheld with slower shutter speeds. This stabilization system can also be combined with select camera's sensor-shift type image stabilization for more effective control of camera blur.
A linear autofocus motor and internal focus design provide quick and precise autofocus performance and enables accurate and silent focusing while recording videos.
Dust- and moisture-sealed design better permits working in inclement conditions and rubberized control rings benefit handling in colder temperatures.
Rounded seven-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when employing selective focus techniques.
UPC: 027242868182
In the Box
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens
  • ALC-SH130 Lens Hood
  • ALC-F67S 67mm Front Lens Cap
  • ALC-R1EM Rear Lens Cap
  • Lens Pouch
  • Limited 1-Year Warranty
  • Table of Contents
    • 1Description
    Focal Length 24 - 70mm
    Aperture Maximum: f/4
    Minimum: f/22
    Camera Mount Type Sony E
    Format Compatibility 35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor
    Angle of View 84.1° - 34.3°
    Minimum Focus Distance 1.31' (40 cm)
    Magnification 0.2x
    Maximum Reproduction Ratio 1:5
    Elements/Groups 12 / 10
    Diaphragm Blades 7, Rounded
    Image Stabilization Yes
    Autofocus Yes
    Tripod Collar No
    Filter Thread Front: 67 mm
    Dimensions (DxL) Approx. 2.87 x 3.72" (73 x 94.5 mm)
    Weight 15.03 oz (426 g)
    Packaging Info
    Package Weight 1.5 lb
    Box Dimensions (LxWxH) 8.1 x 4.3 x 4.3"

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Wednesday, 02 April 2014 - Press, Highlight

Conversion Studies for a more peaceful world—BICC turns 20

BICC is celebrating its 20th anniversary on 2 April 2014. It is one of the leading peace and conflict research institutes in Germany and was founded in 1994 on the initiative of the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the former Minister President of NRW, Johannes Rau, in Bonn.

BICC staff

20 years ago, BICC was founded with the support of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) as a not-for-profit organization and has since then received core funding by the State. “In the past 20 years, BICC has developed into one of the leading addresses of peace and conflict research in Germany; its knowledge is in demand both in Germany and abroad,” stresses Svenja Schulze, NRW Minister for Innovation, Science and Research. “The institute stands for applied, interdisciplinary research of a high academic standard and is a valuable asset for the research landscape of North Rhine-Westphalia. I wish BICC continued success in its important work!,” the Minister adds.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also congratulates BICC on its successful work: “For years now, the Bonn International Center for Conversion has done excellent work in fields such as civil crisis prevention, disarmament, and reintegration. With its expertise, BICC is an important partner of the German Foreign Office.”

Congratulations on its 20th anniversary have also been extended by Hans Blix, former Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and former Head of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission who has been accompanying BICC for many years, the Mayor of Bonn Jürgen Nimptsch and Jakob Rhyner, Director United Nations University.

Representatives from national and international peace research institutes, such as Professor Tilmann Brück, Director SIPRI (Stockholm Institute for Peace Research), Kristian Berg-Harpviken, Director PRIO (Peace Research Institute Oslo) as well as the editors of the German annual Peace Report 2014 (Friedensgutachten) also congratulated BICC.

Please find the full text of the press release at

Conversion Studies for a more peaceful world—BICC turns 20 (pdf, in English)

Konversionsforschung für eine friedlichere Welt – Das BICC wird 20 (pdf, in German)


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In Second Year, Friends of the Orphans Gala Heads to New Location

By Jana Schiowitz October 27, 2011, 1:47 PM EDT

Photo: Cassidy Athos

Friends of the Orphans Fund-Raiser
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After hosting the first Friends of the Orphans fund-raiser at a hotel in South Beach last year, event organizers wanted to change the venue for the gala's second installment Friday. Around 200 guests attended the sold-out “plant a seed of hope”-themed gala at $150 a ticket. ”We wanted something different that was not a hotel and that incorporated an outdoor area,” said Ana Martinez, regional development manager of Friends of the Orphans's Southeast Region, adding that she opted to host the event at the Fairchild Tropical Garden's outdoor rotunda and veranda areas, as well as its ballroom. The organization raises money to improve the lives of orphaned and abandoned children through the support of Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, a network of orphanages, hospitals, and community outreach programs in nine countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Rather than host a sit-down dinner, Martinez opted for a cocktail party format in which guests had the chance to watch a fire dancer provided by Kikimora and samba performers, bid on more than 80 silent auction items, and eat passed hors d'oeuvres and sushi, risotto, and churrasco from food stations created by A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team.

An array of Hispanic celebrities also joined in the evening's cause. Angelica Vale, a Mexican singer, actress, and comedienne, was the M.C., and co-host and pop-urban artist Peewee performed. A humanitarian award ceremony honoring Mexican entertainer Angelica Maria followed.

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Zebra Technologies Shares Pummeled on Earnings Miss

Zebra Technologies (ZEBRA ) posted $0.57 vs. $0.66 Q4 EPS on a lower than expected 12% revenue rise. The company cut its Q1 2001 guidance. Gerard Klauer and S&P downgraded the shares.

Morgan Stanley DW cut its growth forecast for Oracle's (ORCL ) database-license revenue due to the dot-com exposure.

QLT (QLTI ) posted $0.05 (Can.) Q4 EPS vs. an $0.18 loss on a sharp revenue rise. QLT sees $0.40-$0.50 2001 EPS (pretax).

According to The Wall Street Journal, Dell Computer (DELL ) is preparing for "deep expense reductions" that could include its first layoffs, following price cuts amidst an industry slowdown.

Network Appliance (NTAP ) posted $0.11 vs. $0.06 Q3 EPS (pro forma) on a 91% revenue rise. S&P maintained its accumulate ranking. USB Piper sees a downside risk.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Lucent Technology (LU ) is under investigation by the SEC over possible fraudulent accounting practices; the SEC is focusing on how Lucent booked $679 million in revenue in fiscal 2000.

Lehman downgraded Metricom (MCOM ) to market perform from strong buy. On Thursday the company posted a wider than expected Q4 loss.

Hispanic Broadcasting (HSP ) posted $0.22 vs. $0.21 Q4 EPS after tax cash flow (AFTC), and $23.7 Q4 EBITDA (10% decline). The media company sees EPS of $0.11-$0.12 Q1 AFTC, and $13 million-$14.5 million EBITDA.

Earthlink (ELNK ) updated the terms of its alliance with Sprint. Jefferies upgraded the shares to buy from hold, while S&P ranked the shares as hold.

Lowe's Cos. (LOW ) sees $0.37 Q4 EPS on a comparable store sales decrease of "close to middle" of previous guidance of 2%-4%. The seller of business commodities says promotional pricing had negatively impacted its results. S&P maintained its avoid ranking.

Brooktrout (BRKT ) posted $0.05 vs. $0.37 Q4 EPS (pro forma) on an 8% decline in revenue from core activities.

Saks Inc. (SKS ) posted preliminary $0.78 vs. $0.99 Q4 EPS from operations on slightly lower consolidated same store sales. The company ended its plans to spin off its Saks 5th Avenue operations.

John Hancock Financial (JHF ) posted $0.58 vs. $0.44 Q4 EPS, saying it remains comfortable with its previously announced 2001 EPS growth expectations of 10%-12%.

Cigna (CI ) posted $1.81 vs. $1.66 Q1 operating EPS (continuing operations).

SL Industries (SL ) hired CS First Boston to assist in evaluating alternatives to maximize its shareholder value.

Deere & Co. (DE ) is prepared to buy other companies' businesses to become a global diversified industrial company. CS First Boston's John McGinty sees stock at $55 in 12 months.

S&P's Sam Stovall thinks Adobe Systems (ADBE ) so-called January barometer is a good indicator of how hot certain sectors will be for the rest of the year. Stoval figures Adobe, IBM, Broadcom and America Online will outperform the market in 2001.

Mercator Software (MCTR ) posted a $0.10 Q4 loss vs. $0.06 EPS (pro forma) as higher sales, marketing, and general and administrative costs offset a 26% revenue rise.

Power-One Inc. (PWER ) cuts its Q1 forecast to $0.26-$0.27 cash EPS on $172 million-$176 million in revenues, and cut its Q2 forecast to $0.17-$0.19 EPS on $140 million-$150 million in revenues. The company cites a greater than expected inventory buildup at Cisco and other customers. Goldman Sachs downgraded its rating on the shares.

UBS Warburg reportedly removed Nokia (NOK ) from its global technology top pick list.

Wit SoundView cut its estimates on Sun Microsystems (SUNW ).

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.


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Prokhorov Said to Agree to Buy Kerimov’s Uralkali Stake

Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov’s Onexim Group reached an agreement with Suleiman Kerimov and his partners to buy their 33 percent stake in potash producer OAO Uralkali, three people with knowledge of situation said.

The deal values the world’s largest producer of the soil nutrient at about $20 billion, the people said, asking not to be identified before an official statement. The stake held by Kerimov and his partners has a market value of about $5.2 billion. OAO Uralchem owner Dmitry Mazepin may join Onexim as a partner in the deal, two of the people said.

A sale may defuse a dispute between Russia and Belarus sparked by Uralkali’s July withdrawal from a partnership that marketed 40 percent of global potash exports. The falling-out and Uralkali’s plan to boost production roiled the $20 billion market for the soil nutrient. Belarus has called for a change in the company’s ownership before a reconciliation is possible.

Anton Averin, a spokesman for Kerimov’s Nafta Moskva, declined to comment, as did Andrey Belyak, an Onexim spokesman, and Alan Basiev, a Uralchem spokesman.

The new owners will have a 38 percent stake in Uralkali once the company fulfills a plan to cancel about 12.4 percent of its stock held as treasury.

Uralkali climbed 7.6 percent to $27.74 in London on Nov.

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.


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+33 649 323 649 (8AM to 8PM Paris Time)

Small groups, Local guides, Great memories

Blue Fox Travel is owned and operated by a French-American family living in Paris, France. We dreamed up, developed, and now lead you on all the Bike Tours, Day Trips, and Skip-the-Line tours we offer. Being both local and travel savvy gives us a unique way of looking at tourism and foreign adventures.

We love exploring one of a kind places and sharing what we find with others. That’s why Blue Fox Travel only has small groups, friendly English-speaking guides, and well thought out activities that allow you to have fun while you discover local charms and culture.

Blue Fox Travel provides only authentic and memorable experiences. Our unique tours and excursions will entertain and educate both the novice and the most discerning traveler. Join us for an adventure. We’ll guarantee that your visits to Paris, Versailles, The Beaches of Normandy, and the French countryside are fun, hassle free, and full of great memories.

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Reviewed May 2017

I'm in Paris for 5 days and have booked 5 of their tours. So far, I've been on 3--Champagne, Notre Dame Towers & Sainte-Chapelle, and Evening Bike & Boat Tour. All three have been superb. Paloma was our guide for Champagne and Kevin for the other two. Both were super friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. Both spoke very good English. I'm looking forward to the Eiffel tower tour today and Normandy tomorrow.

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Second tour and still think its the best part of our trip

Reviewed April 2017

I think I love these tours so much because they share more with you than you could ever read in a tour book while also giving you a feel for how Parisians live. I also don't feel like an obnoxious tourist while on the bikes/tours. They don't make you do kitchy things and really try and not draw attention to us as a group. 4 hrs sounds like a lot of time, but even as we were drawing to the end of the night, I was sad for our time to be coming to an end. Riding around the streets of Paris on a bike is quite easily one of the best experiences...especially when you feel safe. ;)

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Great way to see Paris..... highly recommend this tour

Reviewed April 2017

This is a great way to see Paris. Much nicer than standing in queues all day! Kevin was a great guide and shared lots of history along the way. I highly recommend this bike tour.

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Generic, Brand Companies Have Concerns About FDA's Proposed Drug Shortage Rule

Bloomberg BNA's Pharmaceutical Law & Industry Report helps you stay informed of regulatory and litigation developments affecting the pharmaceutical and biotech industries....

By Bronwyn Mixter

Jan. 6 --In comments to the Food and Drug Administration, generic and brand drug companies said although they support the idea of notifying the agency of potential drug shortages, they have concerns with the agency's proposed rule.

On Oct. 31, the FDA proposed a rule that would require drug manufacturers to report any supply chain disruptions (11 PLIR 1339, 11/8/13). The proposed rule, Permanent Discontinuance or Interruption in Manufacturing of Certain Drug or Biological Products, was called for under the FDA Safety and Innovation Act of 2012 (FDASIA).

It was published in the Federal Register Nov. 4 (78 Fed. Reg. 65,904, Nov. 4, 2013), and comments were due Jan. 3. The FDA will take the comments into consideration as it finalizes the rule.

Generic Industry's Concerns

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) in comments submitted Jan. 3 pointed to the requirement that manufacturers notify the FDA of a permanent discontinuance or an interruption in manufacturing at least six months in advance, but not later than five business days after the discontinuance or interruption occurs.

“We are concerned that in some instances it may not be feasible for the manufacturer of a drug to comply with this,” GPhA said. “In addition, it could have the unintended consequence of forcing drug manufacturers to report an interruption in manufacturing at the 5 business day mark even if at that time the manufacturer does not have sufficient information to determine whether the interruption is likely to lead to a meaningful disruption in the supply of that drug in the United States.”

FDASIA mandates that companies report to the FDA “as soon as practicable,” versus a fixed period of days.

GPhA said “the more flexible timing provided by Congress takes into consideration supply chain reliability and vulnerability as a whole and minimizes the opportunity for over-reporting as is the case with FDA's proposed 5 day reporting requirement.”

Additionally, GPhA said market dynamics and the duration of a drug shortage should be considered and used as filters when manufacturers report shortages.

GPhA said that for market dynamics, the FDA should consider the number of active suppliers for a particular drug and the percentage of market supplied by the active suppliers. “Using this as a filter would help alert the FDA to identify suppliers that are providing a significant percent of the market and that truly have the potential to create a drug shortage,” the group said.

The duration of a drug shortage also might be taken into consideration and used as a filter, GPhA said. An active supplier may have a supply disruption for 30 days, but “the market may not experience a drug shortage given the inventory levels in the retail and wholesale channels.”

GPhA proposed a 60-day potential supply disruption as the minimum duration for drug shortage reporting “to avoid chances of inventory hoarding and artificial increases to market demand that ultimately undermines the intent of FDASIA.”

PhRMA Weighs In

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) said Jan. 3 in comments that it supports “the collaborative approach FDA has taken towards identifying and mitigating drug shortages, particularly the open communication and regulatory flexibility that the agency has exhibited since the signing of the President'sExecutive Order 13588--Reducing Prescription Drug Shortages, in October 2011.”

The executive order directed the FDA to broaden reporting of potential shortages of certain prescription drugs and to expedite regulatory reviews that can help prevent or respond to shortages (9 PLIR 1386, 11/4/11).

“We strongly believe that retaining a flexible framework that allows FDA and manufacturers to interact and discuss potential drug shortages, combined with FDA's careful and appropriate public disclosure of that information in a manner that prevents hoarding and other negative consequences, is the best way to serve patients,” PhRMA said.

PhRMA said the definitions of the types of drugs covered by the proposed rule are too broad and this might cause the agency to be over-notified. The group requested that the FDA offer additional clarity in the final rule about the specific types of drugs included or not included under the rule.

Drug Compounding

PhRMA also said the recently passed Drug Quality and Security Act permits a drug compounder to begin manufacturing a drug once it is on the shortage list, and a broad definition of the term product “may allow drug compounders to begin manufacturing a specific drug before it is actually necessary, at the possible peril of public health.”

On Nov. 27, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill (H.R. 3204) that clarifies the FDA's authority over compounding pharmacies (11 PLIR 1438, 12/6/13). The Drug Quality and Security Act (Pub. L. No. 113-54) defines the FDA's role in the oversight of “outsourcing” or large-scale compounding facilities.

“PhRMA strongly believes widespread compounding is not a sensible public health approach to dealing with drug shortages, as the practice exposes patients to unapproved products made in facilities that have not been subject to a pre-approval inspection,” the group said.

PhRMA said the preamble to the final rule should say that the FDA won't list FDA-approved drugs on its shortage list if the possible consequences outweigh the public health benefit of doing so.

The group also said the FDA should provide additional clarity on how it will determine at what point a drug shortage or interruption is triggered.

“We suggest that the appropriate trigger to start the notification 'clock' is the date on which information becomes available to the applicant from which it could be reasonably determined that a meaningful disruption is likely to occur,” PhRMA said. “Because the manufacturer may not know that a given issue is likely to lead to a drug shortage on the date that the issue arises, the date that the applicant becomes aware or reasonably should have become aware that the issue will lead to a meaningful disruption is a more appropriate standard.”

PhRMA said the five business days' limit for notifying the FDA isn't required by statute and it believes it is sufficient to require notification “as soon as practicable” after the information becomes available. The group said that if the FDA requires a specific time period for reporting, it should be no shorter than 15 business days, “which is a more reasonable timeframe for manufacturers to investigate and confirm how the actions taken in response to the interruption will affect the ability of the manufacturer to fill orders or meet expected demand.”

Noncompliance Letters

The proposed rule also requires the FDA to issue a letter of noncompliance to manufacturers that fail to notify the agency of a potential drug shortage within the required time frame.

PhRMA said noncompliance letters should be issued only after a discussion between the manufacturer and the FDA, and manufacturers should be given sufficient opportunity to appeal the agency's determination of noncompliance.

“Because the proposed rule only provides vague guidance about how FDA would handle and adjudicate letters of noncompliance, we recommend FDA specify in the preamble to the final rule: how the agency anticipates issuing these letters in practice; a process through which manufacturers can appeal any decisions to issue noncompliance letters; and that the agency will retract and remove any non-compliance letter from the public website if the appeal is successful,” PhRMA said.

It also said the FDA should provide the following in the final rule:

• greater clarity on whether applicants still will be able to submit information in a nonspecified format via e-mail, and if not, whether the agency will specify a uniform process for applicants to follow when submitting notifications;

• what should be listed in a notification for manufacturers of drugs marketed without an approved application; and

• confirmation that the agency will continue to work with applicants to avoid disclosure of proprietary information or any information that might lead to hoarding and other unwanted consequences.

Amgen's Comments

Amgen Inc. said in comments submitted Dec. 16, 2013, that it “supports the requirements in the proposed rule for advance notification of situations and events that may result in drug shortages of innovative and generic drugs alike” and supports including biologic drugs in the proposed rule.

However, Amgen said the FDA should carefully consider the unintended consequences if it makes information about potential drug shortages available to the public.

“This may lead to hoarding by distributors, pharmacies, hospitals and other purchasers and may cause or exacerbate a situation that otherwise could have been manageable,” the company said. “Also under these conditions, patients may not take their medications as prescribed, decreasing the dosage to make the prescribed amount last for a longer time, leading to potentially ineffective course of therapy.”

Amgen also said information on a potential shortage may “facilitate introduction of counterfeit drugs or drugs from questionable sources into the supply chain.”

The company also said the FDA should make sure the definitions in the rule have sufficient clarity to prevent both under-reporting and over-reporting.

“With regard to the consequences of failure to report an impending drug shortage or discontinuation, we suggest that FDA provide notice of such non-compliance to the major news services as well as posting the information on the FDA web site,” Amgen said. “In this way, consumers, distributors, and payers will have the knowledge of which companies have not complied with this requirement.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Bronwyn Mixter in Washington at

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Lee Barnes at

GPhA's comments are at; PhRMA's comments are at; and Amgen's comments are at


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Job Site Conflict Resolution - Bob Vila

Resolving Job Site Conflicts Between Homeowners and Contractors

Use these suggestions to prevent arguments in the first place — and settle them once they arise.

Job Site Conflict Resolution

Photo: Flickr

When Fern Dickey saw what a fantastic job a contractor did on her neighbor’s remodel, she had no problem figuring out whom to call when she needed work done in her own home. She didn’t get estimates. She didn’t check references. She signed a contract that offered a ballpark figure and no time line. But the contractor was a nice guy, she thought, and he did such impressive work. Dickey was confident that everything would be fine.

From day one, it wasn’t. It took nearly a year for drawings to be approved and permits issued. Then, once work began, Dickey learned that her contractor’s business now consisted not of a full crew but only him and his young, inexperienced son. The contractor never started working before 10 a.m. When he left for the day, only five hours later, he left behind trash and open paint cans.

“I had never hired a contractor before,” Dickey says. “I hadn’t read anything about it. I was so busy with work. I just assumed everything would be okay.”

A year and a half after starting the project, Dickey fired her contractor. The project —to remodel the den, add a deck, and re-side her Fairlawn, NJ, home — remains incomplete and has major flaws that will have to be fixed by a new contractor at added expense. Dickey admits she wishes she had ended the relationship sooner, but the contractor always promised that problems would be fixed and projects completed as soon as possible.

Now, with the benefit of hindsight, Dickey can pinpoint all the mistakes she made. “Contracts should be very detailed and have dates for when things are going to happen,” she says. “Any change or discussion regarding work should be in writing and signed by both parties.”

Getting everything in writing upfront is one of the most basic ways to avoid conflicts on the job site. Other ways are hiring and scheduling well and limiting changes to the original plans. Here are some other ways to resolve on-site conflicts.

Hire a Reputable Firm
Many job site conflicts can be avoided by making sound choices. Ask friends for referrals, but also check references and licenses, says Monica D. Higgins, founder of Renovation Planners, of Culver City, CA. “Check references and actually go out and see the work, and it should be work that was done recently and maybe work that was done five to ten years ago so they can see how the work has held up,” Higgins says. Also, ask how many jobs the contractor takes on at once and how many hours per week they will spend on your project.

Seek bids, but don’t make lowest price your final determinant, Higgins adds. In fact, many of the horror stories you hear come from small, less-expensive contractors who, unbeknownst to you, have cash-flow problems. For example, a contractor will tell you everything you want to hear, take your deposit, and then disappear for weeks. This is often because he needed your money to pay the people he has working on another current project.

Once you settle on a contractor, get everything in writing and make sure the contract is extremely detailed. Add factors that are important to you. Require contractors to clean up after themselves daily. Mandate that notice be given before certain kinds of work — like anything that involves turning off the water or that might disturb the neighbors.

Require a Schedule
From the contractor’s perspective, scheduling is the most challenging part of any project. “Estimating and scheduling are the crux of this industry,” says Higgins. That’s because there are so many variables to consider: applying for permits, ordering and receiving materials, scheduling subcontractors, waiting for inspections. There are also the factors you can’t control. Weather can seriously delay an outdoor project such as roof work, siding, or building a deck.

When it comes to setting deadlines, contractors have a habit of “being a little unrealistic,” admits Dean Bennett, president of Tri-Lite Builders in Chandler, AZ, says you should ask your contractor to guarantee a time line up front. And homeowners need to take responsibility for their role in that time line. Her company requires that clients make all design selections — such as granite, tile, paint colors, and light fixtures — before any work begins. “If we all of the sudden realizewe don’t have a part, and the homeowner says, ‘I’m going out of town and can’t make that decision right now,’ it holds up the project. It makes a mess,” Minde says.

Make a Plan and Stick with Your Decisions
Before you even call a contractor, come to an agreement with your spouse or partner about what the end result of your remodel should be. If you’re not working with a design-build firm or an architect, consider hiring a remodel consultant or project manager. Higgins provides homeowners with 3-D models of what their completed project will look like, complete with paint colors and tile choices. This can be very helpful for people who have trouble visualizing a blueprint and can reduce costly change orders midproject.

If a picture in a magazine or a home improvement program inspired you to make a change, understand that there are limits to what your contractor can do. “Sometimes homeowners can be unrealistic in terms of what’s available,” says Minde. “For instance, with all the green building going on, people want certain kinds of paint. But that paint doesn’t come in a myriad of colors.” So, she adds, don’t blame the contractor if the certain item you want simply doesn’t exist in the size, quantity, or materials you require.

Insist on Regular Progress Reports
In your contract, stipulate that you want to have a weekly meeting with the general contractor. Even if you’re living in the home while the work is going on, there’s a good chance you’re unaware of the particulars of the project. This communication can help limit costly and time-consuming surprises.

“We have a project manager assigned to your job,” Minde says. “We have weekly client meetings so they know, this is what is going to happen this week: On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, there will be drywall going on. On Thursday and Friday, I’m going to have to wait for it to dry so we won’t be here. What we all say in our company is that we should never hear the phone ring with clients saying, ‘What is going on?’ If we ever got thatcall from a client, we have not done our job.”

Create a Realistic Budget
If you have $50,000 for a kitchen remodel, plan your project so it will cost $40,000, says Bennett. Leaving a 20 percent cushion can help cover unexpected costs, such as the plumbing that no one knew needed replacing until the walls were ripped out. It also creates some wiggle room when, for example, you thought you wanted a basic $500 tub but then saw a $2,000 model that became a must-have.

Handle Disputes Calmly
Greg Antonioli has a philosophy at his firm, Out of the Woods Construction, in Arlington, MA. It is: “Never allow the homeowner to turn you into an adversary.” That means no matter how loudly the homeowner yells, don’t help fuel the argument. “I tell people, ‘Bite your lip and maintain congeniality,’” Antonioli says. “Remind the homeowner that we’re in this together.”

This philosophy should work both ways. If you’re incensed over something your contractor did, turning up the volume is not the best way to fix the situation. Being politely persistent and persuasive is much more effective. “If you’re the nice guy,” Antonioli says, “on any given morning when the contractor has to decide where to send his resources, odds are they’re going to go not to the squeakiest wheel but to the nicest squeaky wheel.”

If your contractor made a mistake on the project — placed a window in the wrong spot or installed the kitchen tile in the bathroom — give him the opportunity to correct the error, Antonioli says. This should come at no cost to you.

If your contractor is obviously dishonest — if, say, he took your deposit and never returned to do the work, or you think he’s trying to scam you into paying him more money —  report him to your local authorities as well as the Better Business Bureau. You can fire him outright and then take him to court. Most contractors would rather negotiate with the homeowner than go to court, Bennett says, so see if you can come to an agreement before you hire a lawyer.

Bottom line: When undertaking any remodeling project, try to hire the right person for the job, get everything in writing, and handle disagreements calmly.

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BookBrowse Reviews The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Summary |  Excerpt |  Reading Guide |  Reviews |  Beyond the book |  Readalikes |  Genres & Themes |  Author Bio

The Uncommon Reader

A Novella

by Alan Bennett

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
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    Sep 2007, 128 pages
    Sep 2008, 128 pages

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About this Book

A delightful celebration of books and writers, and the readers who sustain them

Author and actor Alan Bennett has a long list of credits to his name. The youngest generation might know him as the lugubrious voice of Winnie-The-Pooh and friends in the BBC audio recordings from the 1990s; the next generation up are likely to know him as the playwright of The Madness of George III, or the more recent The History Boys (which won six Tonys including Best Play); and the generation above may admit to being old enough to have seen him perform with Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller in Beyond The Fringe (see sidebar).

The Uncommon Reader is not an insiders look into the life of the person best known as the Queen of England but rather an opportunity for Bennett to play around with the caricature of the Queen, familiar to most of us from comedy sketches and news reels. If that is the case, one might ask what distinguishes The Uncommon Reader from any old late night comedy show? The answer is there's simply no comparison - Bennett is one of the great satirists of the English language and, now in his 70s, has honed his craft to perfection, developing a style uniquely his own. It is immaterial whether in real life the Queen is an avid reader or not (one is told she is not) - her perceived character is merely the foil through which Bennett can poke some heartfelt fun and take the reader on a Queen's-eye whistle-stop tour through the best and worst of English literature.

Whatever themes an eager reviewer might be able to extrapolate from The Uncommon Reader, the bottom line is that it's really about the laughs; but if themes are sought, they can be found loud and clear. There is Bennett's "savagely Swiftian indignation against stupidity, Philistinism and arrogance in public places [which offers] a passionate argument for the civilizing power of art" (The London Times). Also, through his humane picture of this royal icon, Bennett gently asks us to question why so many of us are in thrall to "royals" (and by extension, to anyone who inhabits a famous body), when they are, let's face it, just regular, flawed individuals, like the rest of us? All this in a compact, always entertaining 128 pages.

Rated by BookBrowse members as one of your top 4 books of last year, The Uncommon Reader, is an uncommonly good read.

A brief video interview with Alan Bennett about The History Boys.

This review was originally published in September 2007, and has been updated for the September 2008 paperback release. Click here to go to this issue.

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The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

A richly layered novel of hearts broken seemingly beyond repair and then bound by a stunning act of human devotion.

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