Beer sales versus craft-beer sales -- the backdrop of Anheuser-Busch's purchase of Goose Island

Beer sales are down 1 percent, but the craft-beer portion is up 11 percent, according to American Public Media's Marketplace.

Marketplace reported that statistic during this report on Anheuser-Busch's purchase of Goose Island, a craft brewery in Chicago.

Malty Hops: Skull Coast!

Pics of me at the 3rd annual Myrtle Beach Beer Fest: Malty Hops: Skull Coast!

Skull Coast!

Yesterday concluded the 3rd annual Myrtle Beach Beer Fest. When I saw the Skull Coast Ale Company pirate on Saturday, I had to get a photo with him. My daughters love pirates, but they were out of town this weekend. So I sent them a photo. Skull Coast's Maelstrom IPA and Gallows Point Dead Man's Porter were outstanding. Find them and drink them. I'll certainly write about them in my next Surge column.

And here's me at my best on Friday evening:

Myrtle Beach Beer Fest continues today; here's what you should try

The 3rd annual Myrtle Beach Beer Fest continues today.

If you go, you must try these beers:

Highland Little Hump Spring Ale -- Light with citrus tones, almost minty

Dogfish Head Bitches Brew -- Dark, medium-bodied, chocolaty and smooth

Thomas Creek Conduplico -- Brown twist on a Belgian ale

Follow my tweets from the Beer Fest here.

Myrtle Beach Beer Fest starts today!

The 3rd annual Myrtle Beach Beer Fest runs 5-9 p.m. today and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday in Valor Park at The Market Common on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.

I will be live on Twitter, tweeting from @cfburch4. Follow me here.

Read my latest column, including information about the Beer Fest, right here.

And for more information, visit the fest site.

Billy Corgan sings The Chicago Code theme song | WindyCitizen.com

Billy Corgan sings The Chicago Code theme song | WindyCitizen.com

A new column on craft beer

Joshua Mason posted this good column on craft beer in the U.S.

Grace & karma « Awakening Grace

"Grace interrupts karma." Grace & karma « Awakening Grace

Dynamite book challenges idealism in culture and Christianity

Below (under the Amazon link) are excerpts from To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World by James Davison Hunter.

‘Jesus’ as a word on the printed page | Liturgical

Reflecting my ongoing interest in sacred rituals and older forms of worship: ‘Jesus’ as a word on the printed page | Liturgical

A liberal blasts the media for dishonesty…really | Right Angles

Note on the continuing polarization: A liberal blasts the media for dishonesty…really | Right Angles

Walking

It used to be like, "Walk a mile in the other person's shoes." Now it's like, "Just try to walk a mile."

Walking

It used to be like, "Walk a mile in the other person's shoes." Now it's like, "Just try to walk a mile."

RealClearPolitics - We Don't Know What We Are Doing

The U.S. and poorly reasoned military intervention ::: RealClearPolitics - We Don't Know What We Are Doing

Montaigne’s Moment - NYTimes.com

For all you essayists out there: Montaigne’s Moment - NYTimes.com .

In tonight's class, horror movies as morality tales

One of my creative writing students wrote a vivid, immediate, gruesome short story. At the end of this evening's workshop discussion about the story, I turned the conversation to horror movies as moral lessons.

I asked how many had seen the horror flick Hostel. About a third of the class had seen it. I hadn't -- don't want to! -- but I knew the basic idea. 

Another student, referring to the starting point of the movie, said, "I'm not going back-packing in Europe anytime soon!"

"What's the premise of Hostel?" I asked the class. "Trying to hook up with strange girls in a strange place!"

Some of the students made the connection.

I mentioned I had once written an article about horror movies, in a general sense, serving as morality tales:  "The idea is, teenagers are alone together in a way their parents don't want them to be, and just when things get interesting, the boogey man kills them," I said.

More of them seemed to get it.

"You don't want Jason running you through with a big knife, so keep your pants on!" 

They laughed.

"So on that note, have a great Spring Break!"

They laughed even harder, and eagerly left the classroom.