h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh yes - we used to love that, it was one I could watch with the kids and snigger about how ridiculous it all was, whilst secretly enjoying it!

Robot Wars filled a gap we lost many years before when they stopped showing 'Jeux Sans Frontiers'.

We need more mindless telly - seriously. So-called talent shows and celebrity reality can't compete.

I believe they relaunched the series BattleBots this Autumn on US TV, but I found it unwatchable. It was all egos, sass, and sports style hype.

You can find clips of just the fights on line if you search "Battlebots 2015".

http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2015/12/big-beer-wants-take-away-your-craft-beer

AB-InBev, the largest brewery conglomerate in the world will try to squeeze craft and local breweries off the shelves in the US by offering distributors huge kickbacks for 95% exclusivity deals.

There's a demand for real beer, and if AB-InBev want a bigger market share they'll eventually have to invest in that sector.

This Wychwood poster (brewers of Hobgoblin real ale) sums up their attitude to people who drink AB-InBev products:

http://doctorale.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/hobgoblin-lagerboy.jpg

Oh, but they have. Mostly by offering such things as Shock Top and Zeigenbock (to compete directly with Texas' Shiner Bock), but also by buying other breweries like Bass and Boddington's.

http://vinepair.com/features/external/companies-that-make-your-beer-map.png

http://qz.com/522694/these-are-the-224-beer-brands-now-owned-by-just-one-company/


And if you don't think that is necessarily a bad thing, you haven't tasted a Bass in the US lately. It's undrinkable now.

It's been a very long time since Bass was drinkable over here. I can't say I ever enjoyed Boddington's either - just too insipid, either of them.

The new wave of small brewers is refreshing in every sense. You can also get an impressive range of bottled ales in any UK supermarket these days, including locally-brewed ones in some.

Well, what this strategy will do is make it very difficult for craft breweries in the US to expand beyond the local market and remain independent. And, no doubt, it will put some out of business.

Does anyone agree that the new President of Argentina bears a striking resemblance to actor Peter Capaldi, and also to ex-Manchester United manager David Moyes?

Mauricio Macri: http://i1.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article5312509.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/David-Moyes.jpg

Peter Capaldi: http://agenhoy.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mauricio-Macri1.jpg

David Moyes: http://static02.mediaite.com/themarysue/uploads/2015/07/capaldi.jpg

Maybe he's their love-child.

Going back to the breweries, seeing as I now run one ...

Big breweries have been employing these tactics for years, it's just becoming more obvious now that they're buying the craft breweries, and the craft drinkers are more vocal about things.

There's the famous Whitbred Tour Of Destruction from the UK's brewing history that led to the formation of Camra. Whitbred started buying up its rivals, closing down the breweries and keeping the pub estates, but switching them to sell Whitbred beers.

Even now tricks like offering massive price discounts to pubs if they only stock their products, creating fake "craft" brands, etc, etc.

~ So Sad . . . .. So Sad . .

Wrong woman accidentally crowned Miss Universe:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35149195


I suppose we should be thankful they didn't choose Ann Widdecombe.

I see norovirus has come early this year to UK's hospitals. Should be fun given the paucity of resources we currently have.

I suspect that's what I've had - it's knocked me out for 10 days and counting. Worst flu I've ever had.

Looks like everyone's wish has been granted:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/corporate2/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/robot-wars-returns

<BB<

They brought back an American knock-off called Battle Bots last year and it was .

Russian Pastafarian wins right to wear a colander in his driving licence photo:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35305899

Unpronounceable Welsh village sets weather records:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-35324205


And I challenge non-Welsh speakers to pronounce Eglwyswrw.

Nope!


I'd say, "Eggless-wirruh" but I'm sure that's the wrong number of syllables.