Important Halloween Announcement

Colin Burch reminds you that a cute witch, by morning, usually becomes an ugly princess.

Happy Halloween!

Red Stripe in a can?

In the U.S., have you ever seen Red Stripe in a can?

I haven't. I just saw an ad with canned Red Stripe on the site for Q magazine, a U.K. music publication.

Anyone know where you can find canned Red Stripe in the States?

Jon Bon Jovi performed at the New Giants Stadium today

22 October 2009 - East Rutherford, New Jersey. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Gearing up for the November 10th album release The Circle, Bon Jovi will return to their native New Jersey for an exclusive homecoming performance to open up the New Giants Stadium planned for 2010.

The boss in Pennsylvania!

Bruce Springsteen performs at the Wachovia Spectrum on Monday, October 20, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Elizabeth Robertson/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT) Photo via Newscom Content © 2009 Newscom All rights reserved. Accessed via PicApp.

My public confession

Today, I made the following public confession in each of the classes I teach at CCU:

"I have a confession to make, and I need to go ahead and get this out of the way.

"It's difficult, but I will make this confession.

"N.C. State has no football team this year."


-Colin Foote Burch, English, NCSU, Class of 1995

Wine & beer tasting in Pawleys Island

Event: Wine and Beer tasting

Start Time: Thursday, October 15 at 5:00pm

End Time: Thursday, October 15 at 7:00pm

Where: Pawleys Wine & Spirits, 10135 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC

Good news, moderates!

TRONDHEIM, Norway, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Abstaining from alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of depression, researchers in Norway found.

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the University of Bergen said it has long been recognized that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to poor physical and mental health. The researchers -- using data from the Nord-Trondelag Health study that provided information on the drinking habits and mental health of more than 38,000 people -- showed those who reported drinking no alcohol during a two-week period were more likely than moderate drinkers to report symptoms of depression.

Read the full story here.

Oktoberfest tomorrow at The Market Common!

Get information on tomorrow's Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Weekly Surge, here and here.

Oktoberfest tapping at TBonz!

At 4 p.m. tomorrow -- that's Sept. 17 -- TBonz will hold an early tapping of its Oktoberfest brew at the Barefoot Landing location, at the southern end of North Myrtle Beach.

The Oktoberfest will be on tap at the other TBonz locations on Friday (Sept. 18).

The beer is produced by New South Brewing Co. in Myrtle Beach.

Dr. House should prescribe Ritalin to Kanye

You know it's only right.

Magic Hat's Hallowen 12-pack

It's finally out there, now that Labor Day is gone: The Halloween/autumn edition of the Magic Hat seasonal 12-pack.

For $15.49 at my neighbhorhood Food Lion in Myrtle Beach, I can purchase three #9's, three Odd Notions, three Circus Boys, and three Roxy Rolles in a single package.

And I dig the package design. I always loved the skeletons for Halloween.

'Blind Faith' now available!

Hi everyone! That ridiculous-looking blindfolded guy on the cover of the Weekly Surge is -- wait for it -- me.

The cover story, "Blind Faith: Beerman's Local Brew Crew Taste-Tests Budget Beers," will let you know how to get the best possible cheap beers this Labor Day weekend.

Pick up your free copy of the Weekly Surge at area grocery stores and publication racks.

It's in the (aluminum) cans

I finished my Weekly Surge cover story on the Cheap Beer Taste Test, featuring Dave Epstein and Brock Kurtzman of New South Brewing Co., Eric Lamb of Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery, and Pete Velez of Gordon Biersch.

The beers? The tasting notes? The results?

Look for all the answer in this coming Thursday's edition of the Weekly Surge.

Tomorrow, I get shot, blindfolded

That's right -- I will be photographed for an upcoming cover of the Weekly Surge. Scott Smallin will do the shooting.

Coffee for dogs

I was on the back patio this morning, throwing the tennis ball into the yard so Lucy, a four-month-old black lab-great dane mix, could play fetch.

Mosquitoes began to accumulate on my legs, so I placed my cup of Cashua Coffee's Mocha Java on the bricks encircling a tree.

Lucy sniffed the cup, and then started lapping.

She even came back to it, and lapped it until the cup tipped over.

Oddly enough, she is still, at the present moment, taking her normal mid-morning nap.

Must not have made it strong enough.