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My buddy Hart Brachen just came back to daily writing after taking a year off from the Internet. Of course, he was returning from the award winning cartoon blog Soxaholix. I don’t have quite that kind of track record. However, I have written at least weekly more or less on average since 2001, until this year. As I type this I’ve got one blog post up in 2016. Kind of sad, eh?

Hart’s return has sort of motivated me though. I am writing this blog post after all! I am feeling the itch to start creating again. My media consumption to media creation ratio is way off this year. The challenge I’m having is deciding what to write about. The stuff this blog has generally been about just isn’t scratching the itch.

Homeschooling: I’m done – over it. One kid graduating from college in a couple of weeks, another killing it as a sophomore. I’m a retired homeschool activist, and nobody wants to hear me yelling at the young homeschooling parents to get off my lawn.

Sports: Well, my one blog post this year is about soccer. Mostly though, with so much sports content on the Internet, I don’t really have that much to add. I think I’m lacking the passion needed to really write about sports. My relationship with the Red Sox has settled into a comfortable middle-age marriage where neither side is ever surprised anymore. I’ve grown bored with the NFL and barely pay attention. I’m in an abusive relationship with Purdue Sports, but that schtick is done much better elsewhere on the Internet. The only team I’m really fired up about these days is the Southampton Saints, but the goofy American learning soccer blog idea just doesn’t sound like it has legs.

Politics: My son writes about it on Facebook, so I don’t have to.

Music: Does the Internet need another 80s music blog? I will say though that you should totally check out The Defiants. It’s the most 80s thing you’ll hear all week, and I mean that as an extreme compliment.

Technology: It’s my job, so writing it about over a beer in the evenings doesn’t get me excited either.

It’s not just writing either. With two adult kids my picture taking is down to selfies when I’m out with my wife, or odd stuff I may see on my commute. I doubt I have 50 photos in the 2016 photo folder.

So how do I get my creative mojo back? Waiting for inspiration isn’t working, it probably never does. Do I just start writing regularly again, and hope that over time the quality follows? I do think there is something to the idea that if you want to be a writer, or photographer, or web designer, or whatever, you need to just do on a regular basis, and that the inspiration will follow.

Back in the day I had ideas and opinions, and damn it, I was going to share them. Today, I’m much more meh about, well, everything. What I haven’t figured out is if that is just aging, or not writing leads to not caring. If I start writing again, will I start caring again?

I guess there is only one way to find out.

If you consent to the search by the police we cannot challenge the search. We can’t argue that the police didn’t have a legal reason to search because you gave them permission. Contact me today to see how I can help in your case. Video Transcription If you consent, the police can search. Hi I’m […]

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After that super fun IDPA match on Saturday, we drove out to Purcellville to visit a friend and a brewery or two. Our first stop was Belly Love Brewing.When we walked in, I was surprised at the lack of a crowd, for late Saturday afternoon. We placed ou…

The April IDPA match at Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club was held this past Saturday. I was looking forward to the match since I had only been to the range for stand and shoot practice for the last eight weeks, no matches. The weather was excellent and, in a change from the winter months, the ground on the range was dry— no mud! The Match Director made sure everyone got plenty of movement in after months of mostly static shooting due to range conditions.

The first stage for our squad was a bit of a novelty stage. Four shooting areas were laid out like a baseball diamond. We started at “home plate” holding a bat which we dropped at the buzzer and ran to “first base” to put one hit on a single target. Next we ran to “second base” to engage two targets with two shots each, and then it was on to “third base” where three targets each requiring three hits. Returning to “home plate” we settled from the run to engage four steel plates placed downrange. I finished with 0 points down for the stage.

Stage 2 started with the shooter engaging two targets while retreating to cover where two more targets were shot though a port in a wall. Next, while moving across an open area there were two open targets to be engaged and two other targets, requiring a single head shot each. The head shot targets were partially obscured by a non-threat. All four of these targets were to be engaged on the move. I hit the first target with two shots, then moved to the head shots. I made those cleanly and was celebrating in my head as I shot the last open target in a hurry. I saw the two -1 hits and decided quickly to make them up before moving to the last two targets at the final position. Of course those extra shots meant I needed to do a reload to take the last shot of the stage. Overall, the extra two shots and extra reload cost me more time than the two -1 hits would have, but I really wanted the -0 on the stage, which I got.

The next stage was quite interesting, and involved a pickup gun at the start. That loaded revolver was sitting on the chest of “Earl,” the match dummy. You grabbed the gun and engaged three targets while dragging Earl to cover. I’ve only shot a revolver a few times, and that was a “snubbie” a few years ago. Here was a gun I had never shot or even handled. To be shot strong-hand only. While on the move. I knew it was going to be fun.

I was happy to have five -0 shots and just one -1 hit with the revolver. After safely depositing Earl and the revolver we moved to the next position where we had staged our magazines and unloaded gun. Quickly stowing any needed mags and loading the gun, we hit a stomp plate that released a swinger moving between two non-threats. There were also two stationary targets to be engaged from that position. As an added twist all targets after the revolver required three hits each. Lastly, three more targets where engaged from cover at the end of the course. I finished the stage 3 points down.

The final stage involved shooting around, and through, an old car. The targets were placed in various places in front of and beside the vehicle, at varying distances. They all needed to be engaged from cover, and that generally meant a combination of leaning and stooping. I was just one point down on the stage, but struggled to twist my old back into the required positions. (Perhaps I need to learn less contorted means of using cover.)

The entire match was a lot of fun to shoot and offered a good variety of challenges. At the end of it all I was just four points down for the match. It felt good to drive away from the event with no regrets about mental errors, and misses or penalties.

This month there was also an optional side match for BUG and CCP guns. You could shoot the five quick strings at any point when you had down time. I shot the BUG match while waiting to shoot the third stage in the main match. I wondered how it would be shooting a different gun right in the middle of the match, and then I ended up shooting the revolver right after the BUG gun. Even though it was technically two matches, it was fun to shoot three different guns in essentially one event. Hopefully the side match will become a regular addition to the monthly event.

After arriving home I cleaned up and we headed out to visit a friend, and some breweries. During the two hour drive to our destination I don’t think I stopped regaling Colleen with my recollections of the match. It really was that much fun. I can’t wait to do it again!

Listen to Devils Backbone founder Steve Crandall talk about the history, and future, of the Devils Backbone partnership with Anheuser-Busch. There are exciting things to come.Thanks to Tommy Stafford and Blue Ridge Life Magazine for sharing this i…

So many recent events have ended in tragic loss of life for both every day citizens and the police themselves. Here are just my thoughts on what we can do and how we can act to prevent future deaths. Video Transcription How should we interact with the police? In the past few weeks near Fredericksburg, […]

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Why all the fuss about one encrypted phone? Because it’s not about just one encrypted phone.I’ve said from the beginning the San Bernardino iPhone issue wasn’t about fighting terrorism, it was about setting precedent. Be glad the FBI failed. This time….

The last couple of months were the busiest posting months on these Musings since late 2014. That’s no promise of things to come, it’s just an observation. Despite the enjoyment I get from, um, “researching” these posts, I still frequently wonder exactl…

When I saw the headline Tuesday morning my first thought was that it was an April Fool’s joke I had missed. But it is true, Devils Backbone Brewing is the latest acquisition of the Anheuser-Busch InBev conglomerate.

New York and Lexington & Nelson County, VA. April 12, 2016 – Today, Anheuser-Busch announced an agreement to acquire Devils Backbone Brewing Company, the leading and fastest-growing craft brewery in the state of Virginia. Devils Backbone will be the latest partner to join the diverse portfolio of craft breweries within The High End, the company’s business unit comprising unique craft and import brands.

“I am extremely pleased to announce the partnership of Devils Backbone Brewing Company with Anheuser-Busch. While we are joining a creative group of craft breweries in the division, Devils Backbone will retain a high level of autonomy and continue its own authentic DNA within The High End framework,” said Steve Crandall, co-founder and CEO of Devils Backbone Brewing Company. “The existing management team plans to stay on board for many years, while continuing to innovate and bring locally crafted Virginia beer to the nation.”

In 2008, founders Steve and Heidi Crandall opened the doors to Devils Backbone Brewing Company in the Virginia Heartland, after being inspired by a ski trip to northern Italy in 1991 where they had their first taste of Germanic style beer. After success with the first brewpub, Basecamp, the decision was made to break ground on the Outpost facility, in Lexington, Virginia. Originally projected to produce 10,000 barrels of beer in its first ten years, the Outpost produced almost 45,000 barrels in its first three. Steve credits much of this early success to the excellent network of distributors within his system, which is weighted heavily towards Anheuser-Busch.

“I congratulate Steve and Heidi Crandall and the entire Devils Backbone team as they partner with Anheuser-Busch,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.  “Through the strength of Anheuser-Busch’s network of distributors, Devils Backbone’s award-winning craft beer will soon be available throughout the country and beyond. I want to thank Devils Backbone for their immense contribution to Virginia’s world-class craft beer industry, and I look forward to the additional exposure for Virginia as a leading state for craft beer lovers.”

Today, the Outpost Brewery & Taproom in Lexington serves as the primary production brewery while the Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows in Roseland, serves as a visitor destination. Devils Backbone takes full advantage of the scenic 100-acre Basecamp property surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering a variety of opportunities for guests to enjoy the outdoors. In 2015, the two locations hosted more than 500,000 guests.

“Devils Backbone has captivated beer drinkers in Virginia since opening its doors eight years ago,” said Felipe Szpigel, President, The High End. “From the beginning, they have shown creativity and talent with the great beers they brew, and they’ve been able to use the authentic offerings at Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows to cultivate a fun, outdoor lifestyle that resonates with everyone. Pair these qualities with dynamic leadership and a dream to do something bigger, and you have the recipe for an even more promising future.”

While best known for its flagship Vienna Lager, which accounted for nearly 60% of Devils Backbone volume in 2015, the portfolio also includes other award-winning year-round favorites like Eight Point IPA and Schwartz Bier. Developing beers with personality and individual integrity of flavor has helped enable Devils Backbone to win four National titles: 2014 Great American Beer Festival Mid-Size Brewery & Brew Team, 2013 Small Brewing Company & Small Brewing Company Brew Team, 2012 Small Brewpub & Small Brewpub Brewer, 2010 World Beer Cup Champion Brewery, and the Virginia Craft Brewers Fest Best of Show medals in 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

First Beverage Group acted as financial advisor to Devils Backbone Brewing Company. Anheuser-Busch’s partnership with Devils Backbone is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 

Many online commenters immediately decried the announcement, however once the initial surprise wears off, I don’t think it’s all bad. I’m no fan of the A-B “factory” beers, but the “partnership” will mean an opportunity for continued growth and expansion at Devil Backbone. According to Devils Backboine founder Steve Crandall,

Devils Backbone was built with a unique, adventurous spirit, and our job is to preserve that culture. That being said, our vision has now outgrown our means. We still know where we want to go, but we realized we needed a partner to get there. For the past year we’ve been exploring options for a long-term solution that would enable us to continue expanding our business of brewing consistent, high-quality craft beer. As I evaluated our options, ABI’s The High End rose to the forefront as a support team that believed in our dreams. We had many discussions and the more we spoke with ABI, the clearer it became that The High End shares our passion. All of our senior management are on board with this new direction and in it for the long haul. ABI will support our brand as we build out our dream of what Devils Backbone can become.

When you come right down to it, it’s the flavor and quality of the beer that matters to me, not the parent company’s logo on the label. The Devils Backbone management remains the same, the award winning beers will continue to be produced, and even more fans will be introduced to excellent brewed beverages from Virginia. Congratulations to Steve and Heidi Crandall, head brewer Jason Oliver, and all the folks at DBB. We’re looking forward to more great things to come.