link thanks to andrew sullivan

In college I had a history professor who lectured in a Mid-Atlantic accent to demonstrate to us generally hung over undergraduate students in our plumage of berets, motorcycle boots, scarves, witty t-shirts, and artfully ripped jeans (piercings and tattoos were still some years off) his vast storehouse of knowledge.

He taught 19 century European history and would natter on about the industrial revolution in Germany and the Luddites in England. Amidst his white noise, though, he did say one thing that stayed with me. He talked about scholars who might focus on a very narrow field of inquiry, such as slag heaps in Sheffield, 1856-1871. In the development of this specific seam of knowledge to produce a larger view of things they also created a prism through which to view and manage their own lives. Which, of course, brings us back to beer cans.

Please to meet Greg Stinsa whom I suspect is the pre-eminent beer can collector of his day.

Mr. Stinsa has created a site to display his impressive collection of beer cans through the ages with an accompanying glossary and FAQ. He will also pay top dollar for your beer cans. Of particular note is his classification for grading beer cans, a taxonomy that would make an entomologist nod in approval.

He writes that he is happily married to his wife “and beer can collecting partner.” I collected beer cans when I was kid in Kettering, Ohio and even I knew without ever having kissed a girl that discussing your collection and your top 10 beer can wish list was a poor route to go with girls. Mrs. Stinsa sounds like a stand-up lady to me.

Mr. Stinsa is no hobbyist. In the hunt for a high quality cone top, the rara avis of beer cans, he has made a life.

Now, I encourage you to take a moment to enjoy his slide show tribute to beer cans (don’t cheat yourself: turn up the volume).

OK, no more beer can posts for awhile.

Image via

FOTC is not yet back on, but this music video/song off their self-titled album hit youtube 2 days ago.

Retro rollerskatin man bits, just in time for summer.

Although I am an ardent Barack Obama supporter, I remain unconvinced of his credentials in one vital area: If elected president, can he put forth a family relation (he has numerous half siblings) who will reliably commit gaffes that can be publicly chronicled.

When we have a new president, we have been conditioned to expect, besides “change,” that he will bring in the family nitwit trailing in his wake. This imbecile is designated to trade off the family name as a front man for, say, dubious land schemes.

Richard Nixon had his brother Donald who rubbed elbows with embezzlers and clinically insane plutocrats to get his greasy nickels and dimes. On the other side of the aisle, Jimmy Carter had his brother Billy who was reputed to read a book a day. Billy did more than just lead the contemplative life, though. He found the time to launch Billy Beer—widely reviled as the worst beer ever—and become a registered foreign agent for the Libyan government.

Hillary Clinton, setting aside for a moment her general odiousness these days and her pointed white hat, at least has established her bona fides in this area. She has her brother Hugh.

Hugh embraced his role as a de facto sibling during the Clinton administration and entered into a problematic hazelnut deal with the Republic of Georgia and lobbied strenuously and lucratively to obtain a pardon for a convicted drug trafficker in the waning days of Bill’s presidency.

At the end of day, I take consolation in Barack Obama’s large extended family. Although no one has emerged yet, I am confident that when Senator Obama becomes president, one of them will emerge as a shill for a trout farm in Turkmenistan.

Image via

Make sure to stick with it ’cause it becomes really God-Tastic! Thanks to Coudal

Buy these for me. Size 12. Overnight delivery. thx.

His upcoming film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, is about hot people making out, and Penelope Cruz is a crazy painter with a gun.

This Tuesday’s cover is Lithium with Sock Puppets.

Polyphonic Spree covering Nirvana, video uploaded by youtube user xtianITP.

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