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Monday, November 07, 2005
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Good news for the lover of massively hopped ales like the recently discussed Smuttynose Big A IPA...hops are really good for you! It turns out that beer hops contain a unique micronutrient that inhibits cancer-causing enzymes. Hops are plants used in beer to give it aroma, flavor and bitterness. The compound, xanthohumol, was first isolated by researchers with Oregon State University 10 years ago. Initial testing was promising, and now an increasing number of laboratories across the world have begun studying the compound, said Fred Stevens, an assistant professor of medicinal chemistry at Oregon State's College of Pharmacy. Earlier this year, a German research journal even devoted an entire issue to xanthohumol, he said. What Stevens and others are discovering is that xanthohumol has several unique effects. Along with inhibiting tumor growth and other enzymes that activate cancer cells, it also helps the body make unhealthy compounds more water-soluble, so they can be excreted. Other recent reviewed hopbombs include Mendocino White Hawk IPA, Wachusett IPA and Great Divide Titan IPA.
(Via A Good Beer Blog.)
10:16:01 PM 
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Well, isn't this interesting?
The Internal Revenue Service has warned one of Southern California's largest and most liberal churches that it is at risk of losing its tax-exempt status because of an antiwar sermon two days before the 2004 presidential election. Rector J. Edwin Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena told many congregants during morning services Sunday that a guest sermon by the church's former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, on Oct. 31, 2004, had prompted a letter from the IRS. In his sermon, Regas, who from the pulpit opposed both the Vietnam War and 1991's Gulf War, imagined Jesus participating in a political debate with then-candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry. Regas said that "good people of profound faith" could vote for either man, and did not tell parishioners whom to support. But he criticized the war in Iraq, saying that Jesus would have told Bush, "Mr. President, your doctrine of preemptive war is a failed doctrine. Forcibly changing the regime of an enemy that posed no imminent threat has led to disaster." On June 9, the church received a letter from the IRS stating that "a reasonable belief exists that you may not be tax-exempt as a church." The federal tax code prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from intervening in political campaigns and elections.
Now, I happen to believe they ought to tax all churches, but let's back up for a second. The entire Republican strategy is built around politicking in churches, and in a much more blatant fashion than this. I haven't heard of any similarly threatening letters being sent to James Dobson's church or to the bishop that insisted priests not give communion to John Kerry. Or, for that matter, any right-wing church, though it's possible I may have just missed the news. I doubt it, though, since they would have screamed to high heaven about the violation of their First Amendment rights.
So I have to wonder: where exactly did this originate? If the IRS is willing to apply this standard across the board, then more power to them. However, I somehow doubt that is in the plans. Accordingly, this ought to get somebody fired quickly and publicly.
Unbelievable.
(Via apostropher.)
9:44:40 PM
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Remember the memo prepared by Delay's top aide? The one that described Christians as "wackos"? The one that detailed how to get the "wacko" vote behind Indian gaming?
The whole text is pretty extraordinary. Read it here.
(Via CANNONFIRE.)
8:31:39 AM
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© Copyright 2005 Steve Michel.
Last update: 12/2/2005; 7:08:28 PM.
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