A few things happening here… I learned about the Songify app by Khush for iPod the other day, and then I had thoughts about the anti-microbrew Motion 414  that was added to and signed into Wisconsin's budget bill, which got me thinking about how great it is to have such a diverse group of craft / microbreweries in Wisconsin and how bad this motion is. That made me think about the "got milk" campaign, so I thought "Hey! how about got beer". I didn't have an easy way to get a lot of beer mustaches, so I put the music to showing a list of microbrews in Wisconsin instead.

Part of the reason I'm really troubled by Motion 414 is because craft brews and microbreweries are making really great beer with flavors, diversity, and complexity as they become the new wine or an good alternative to grapes. Beer also has a richer history. It's like Wisconsin had found a way to take something back from California after the milk subsidies enabled them to surpass Wisconsin in milk production – and of course make fun of Wisconsin milk in the process (like that was necessary). Wisconsin has a "new wine" now in the form or really great beers that could lead the nation and provide a good alternative to wine – beer that is brewed with love to provide complex flavors for people that wanted more than lite beer (or cheap wine if put into perspective).

So this is just my support for Wisconsin jobs and microbrews that have created them.

More information at Wisconsin Brewers Guild and Motion 414 is also at scribd. Authors of the motion were Senator's Darling and Olsen, with Representative Vos and Meyer.

For those unfamiliar with the milk subsidy. It's basically federal money given to California Milk producers (and others) based on how far they are from Eau Claire, Wis. I pick on California because not only do or did they get the money, they use to (and may still) run ads on TV that make fun of Wisconsin milk and cheese (like that's necessary when they benefit WI – how far away they are). I say "did" because this may have stopped. I'm reading conflicting stories. But it doesn't matter… CA got the subsidies for a long time and capitalized off of it at our expense.

Reference Material – more to be found if you just search and read.

• Motion 414
• Wisconsin State Statue on Alcohol Beverages – Chapter 125
• Midwest Microbrew List – For Wisconsin
• An interesting take on this – at NJ.com
• Controlling the market? – Channel 3000 website
• Another perspective from – The Cap Times
• Perspectives from – State Journal
• Dairy Farms – More on milk
• More on Beer as the New Wine – Dining in DC

Bike the Barns 2009 presented by MACSAC in partnership with Underground Food Collective is a 52 mile bike ride to the southwest of Madison, Wisconsin to visit farms for tours and food. This tour included Primrose Community Farm, Garden to Be, and Snug Haven Farm. It ends at Elver Park for food, beverages, and entertainment.

Video includes highlights of the ride plus comments from Kiera Mulvey, Exeutive Director MACSAC, Scott Williams, Garden To Be, and Jonny Hunter of Underground Food Collective.

And thanks to ccMixter for the Creative Commons music they provide… like the music I've used here from DoKashiteru "Indpendence Day" (By, NC). And don't forget the folks that provided entertainment after the ride… Michael Kurarski, Reid Miller, Steve Pierick, & Carol Ormand – accordion, banjo, fiddle, & fiddle.

A tour of the Cherokee Marsh in Voyageur Canoes sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and supported by Friends of Cherokee Marsh. This was part of Dane County’s Take a Stake in the Lakes Weeks.

Video produced by Roger Bindl with Creative Commons Music "Piano Piece 1" by DoKashiteru from ccMixter.

Video also viewable on YouTube in HQ.

Complete highlights of the Hudson Hot Air Affair from Day 1 at the torch parade, to Day 2 with the kites, smoosh board competition and Moon Glow, to Day 3 when we launch into the air. Pilot John Trione from Lake Geneva Balloon Co. takes us into the air on the last day for some beautiful aerial footage. The first 3 video’s ,in the player above, are also available at YouTube in High Definition. Check these links and click the "watch in HD" option below them…. Day 1 Torches – Day 2 Kites to Moon Glow – Day 3 Launch. Please tolerate the brief ads between video’s… I sponsor myself on many of these trips, so the pennies afford me bubble gum. View above in larger player.

Watch the video in High Definition at YouTube. Be sure to select "Watch in HD" option below video.

Stubborn, lost, or still traveling south these geese are resting in a small pond in Wisconsin. Dec. 10, 2008. To Creative Commons music by K. James "We Are In Love" (Club 79 Remix) from ccMixter.org.

I produced these three videos for Eric Englund’s campaign because it was fun. Eric came knocking at our door a couple months back, as he’s running for Wisconsin State Assembly in District 81. We had a good chat, I liked that he knocking on doors, he seems very genuine, is fun, and he’s open to ideas. Each video was produced very quickly (like in a morning), but people seem to enjoy them, so it’s been fun helping out with this, and a little web work.