Beer and Conversation with Pigweed and Crowhill Pigweed and Crowhill
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- Society & Culture
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You like beer, and you like conversation, right? Of course you do. Pigweed and Crowhill review a beer (sometimes their own homebrews) and discuss issues of the day. They try to break down serious issues into bite-sized chunks, and add some humor when possible. But it's all in good fun. Just two pals chatting over a beer.
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397: The Oresteia by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
Pigweed, Crowhill, Longinus, and all three wives went to Baltimore to see an adaptation of The Oresteia, which was originally a 3-part play by Aeschylus. In this podcast they reflect on the play and related issues.
The play focuses on the web of vengeance within the family of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, starting with Agamemnon's sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia, before the battle of Troy.
When Agamemnon returns home with Cassandra the prophetess of Apollo as a spoil of war, Clytemnestra invites him back in regal style, but then murders both her husband and his new girlfriend.
It then falls on Orestes, their son -- urged on by their daughter Electra -- to avenge the death of his father.
But then, who is to avenge Clytemnestra? How far does this go? Where does it end?
The play addresses issues of just war, faith, free will and determinism, religious and moral obligations, family relations, and vengeance and justice.
The show ends with a discussion of Troy and the alleged historical backdrop to the play. -
395: Why can't we deport violent criminals, plus 4 more topics
The boys drink and review Founder's Dirty Bastard, a Scotch ale, then they discuss the distinction between Scotch and Scottish ale before they get into five topics in five minutes each.
#1 Why can't we deport violent criminals who are here illegally? NYC mayor Eric Adams says he has to change the law before he can do that. How did we get into such a ridiculous position?
#2 Why did Sports Illustrated tank? Was it the internet? Online vs. offline issues? The overall decline in publishing? Or was it that they went woke? The media doesn't want to admit that going woke sometimes causes you to go broke.
#3 Is the NFL responsible when people don't dress warmly at a cold football game? Do we want a nanny state where every organization is telling you what's best for you?
#4 Grammar and usage problems that bother P&C. It's vs. its. Unnecessary apostrophes. Then vs than. Media and data are plural. Your vs. you're. To, too, and two. Their, there, they're. Principal vs. principle. Capitol vs. capital. Insure, assure, ensure.
#5 Voting for the good of the country even if it affects you negatively. Some people actually have the good of others in mind even when that requires incredible sacrifice. -
396: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
In another edition of "shortcut to the classics," P&C drink and review Pigweed's homebrewed IPA, then discuss Lord of the Flies by William Golding. (Starting at 2:55.)
Pigweed gives a little biographical background on the author, then the boys delve into the heart of darkness and survival in this compelling short novel.
The story takes place on a deserted island, where a group of British boys find themselves stranded following a plane crash. With no adults to guide them, the boys attempt to govern themselves ... with disastrous consequences.
"Lord of the Flies" is a compelling exploration of human nature, power dynamics, and the thin veneer of civilization that separates order from chaos. Through the eyes of Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and other vividly drawn characters, Golding poses urgent questions about leadership, morality, and the inherent savagery within us all.
As we discuss the novel's themes, symbols, and the development of the characters and their interactions, we invite you to reflect on what "Lord of the Flies" reveals about the complexities of human behavior and how fragile "civilization" really is. -
394: Are educated people smarter?
P&C drink and review a Bock from Guilford Hall Brewing, then ask whether educated people are smarter than the man on the street.
Even if you could make the point that smarter people should make public policy, are our educational systems making people smarter? Probably not. "Man on the street" interviews regularly show that college-educated people are dumb as a mud fence.
If you ask the college student and the man on the street questions like this ...
* Can men menstruate?
* Is drug-induced breastmilk from a man as good as milk from a woman?
* Is your neighborhood safer with fewer cops?
* Should illegal aliens get a home and an allowance?
... it's the college student who gives you nonsense and the man on the street who talks sense.
If you're educated, you might believe something like this. Genitalia have nothing to do with your "gender," but cutting them off or creating fake ones is "gender affirming."
Babied, temper-tantrum-throwing morons in the universities have created an environment where people are afraid to say the truth. As a consequence, education has become indoctrination -- into woke insanity. -
393: Democrats are the party of projection
The boys drink and review Snow Pants Oatmeal Stout by Union Brewing, then discuss how the left tends to project what they're doing on the right. (Starting at 4:00.)
"Projection" is, according to Freud, a kind of defense mechanism where people attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives onto other people.
Let's say there was a political party that spent four years saying "illegitimate president, not my president, Russian collusion, Stacey Abrams is the real governor, Glenn Youngkin is not the real governor," then after having done that for years they said "why are Republicans such election deniers?"
Is this a Freudian thing, or is a conscious, deliberate, strategic choice to accuse the other side of what you're doing?
This concept applies to political violence. After years of violence, riots, burning public buildings, etc., the Democrats accuse conservatives of being domestic terrorists.
"Threat to Democracy" has become the phrase of the hour for the left. After they tried to take down an elected president, caricatured all calls to tighten election laws (to make it harder to cheat) as "voter suppression," and so on, they have the gall to say that ff you don't vote for the Democrats, "democracy" is at stake.
The people who try to remove a candidate from the ballot aren't suppressing democracy. No. That's the people who say the voters should have a right to choose.
It's upside down world, and the accusations are completely unhinged. -
392: Hungary and Viktor Orban's 12 points
P&C drink and review a robust porter from Smuttynose Brewing, then discuss Hungary and the political stratgies of Viktor Orban.
Pigweed gives a quick historical overview of the origins of the Hungarian people and nation, with a focus on their unique language.
The EU isn't pleased with Hungary these days. They feel as if Hungary is backsliding on democratic norms and other values held by the EU.
Viktor Orban is part of the reason the EU isn't happy with Hungary. He has an interesting agenda / playbook that he has shared with other conservatives to help them in their battle against liberals.
Here's a quick summary of his 12 rules.
1. Play by your own rules. Refuse to accept the solutions and paths offered by others.
2. National conservatism in domestic politics. Churches and families are the building blocks of the nation. Stay on the side of voters. They didn't want immigrants, so Hungary built a wall. Don't overthink things. (The wall is chain link with security cameras.) Find the issues where the left is completely out of touch with reality and highlight them.
3. National interest in foreign policy. Liberals see some sort of cosmic battle against good and evil. But we've had a few of these "wars to end all wars," and it didn't work. Orban's response is simple. Hungary first. We want a foreign policy based on our interests.
4. Have our own media. Expose your opponent's intentions. Left-wing opinions only appear to be the majority because the media amplifies them. The west used to believe that the media should be independent of politics, but the liberals don't obey those rules.
5. Break down taboos. Not only today's, but tomorrow's. In Hungary they expose what the Left are preparing for before they even take action. For example, LGBT propaganda targeting children.
6. Economy, economy, economy. the left wants to operate the economy according to abstract notions. We need to pursue policies that benefit the majority of voters. People want jobs and a better life, not economic theories.
7. Do not get pushed into the extreme. E.g., conspiracy theories. You alienate a large portion of your audience.
8. A book a day keeps the defeat away. Orban sets aside an entire day every week for reading. Reading helps you understand what your opponents are up to.
9. Have faith. A lack of faith is dangerous. If you don't believe there will be a final reckoning, and that you are accountable to God, you will think you can do anything that's in your power. Encourage young conservatives to engage with faith.
10. Make friends. Our enemies have one another's back. By contrast, conservatives squabble over the smallest issue. then we wonder why they corner us. Look for common ground and ways you can work with others. If we don't, our opponents will hunt us down one by one.
11. Build communities. There is no conservative political success without communities. The lonier people are, the more votes go to the liberals.
12. Build institutions. Think tanks, educational centers, talent workshops, youth organizations, whatever -- with a political aspect. New ideas, new thoughts, and new people are needed again and again. That's our ammunition.
There's no silver bullet. Only work.
Why did the USA become such a mess that we have to look to Hungary for inspiration?
Customer Reviews
New to this but interesting and organized
Stumbled upon this podcast and I am thrilled. This is an interesting podcast presented in a high quality, professional manner. It was well researched, well organized and fairly reported. This is a good example of real investigative journalism, in contrast with most of the drivel out there these days that is not actually journalism. The banter between the hosts also made me feel the flow. The audio quality was good. I am giving this pod a 10 outta 5!!
Democracy
Can you speak to the ongoing mess that is the future of apparent autocracy vis a vis the dismissal of rules of law, checks and balances perpetrated by the former president please.
Wow
Came here for a Thomas Sowell episode and I’m hooked.