that doesn't sound good.

...i'm thinking we should make a list of all the times we're told AQ scores a victory in iraq. and against whom. just because it could be interesting.

... that lists how many times the problems in Iraq are blamed on Sunni AQ and on Shi'ite Iran.

Let's remember Shystee's point on torture: The point is not intelligence but confession.

So far as I'm concerned, AQI and any other information coming from the administration is a media construct until proven otherwise. Not, of course, that the insurgents aren't smart enough to take over the brand that we helpfully invented for them. Not that I'm paranoid.

We. Are. Going. To. Die. We must restore hope in the world. We must bring forth a new way of living that can sustain the world. Or else it is not just us who will die but everyone. What have we got to lose? Go forth and Fight!—Xan

To continue my It's a Wonderful Life theme, the future of George Bush's America is Pottersville:

Hey, look, Mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast.

Hmmm....

We. Are. Going. To. Die. We must restore hope in the world. We must bring forth a new way of living that can sustain the world. Or else it is not just us who will die but everyone. What have we got to lose? Go forth and Fight!—Xan

The still for you, Lambert, is the alembic, not least because the heated reservoir is called the "cucurbit" for it's shape.

But my comment somehow didn't end up with the winemaking post. I don't need to go to rehab, no, no, no.

Climbing up the value chain, and all.

We. Are. Going. To. Die. We must restore hope in the world. We must bring forth a new way of living that can sustain the world. Or else it is not just us who will die but everyone. What have we got to lose? Go forth and Fight!—Xan

Doing distillation right, alas, is hard and not-so-cheap. We all know about the use of old car radiators for the purpose, resulting in lead poisoning and less-than-exquisite flavor. On the other hand not all "backwoods" operations are of such a crapulent nature; I saw a story a year or two back of the Federales busting a still that was virtually built into a hillside, using beautiful spring water diverted through perfectly clean pipes, making a product everybody involved admitted was excellent, except for the unfortunate matter of lack of legal authorization and tax payments.

Would have to do some research but as best I recall, back when they loosened up the Prohibition-era laws on home alcohol production they legalized beer and wine (with some gallonage limits and "personal consumption only" rules intended to discourage sale) but I think making distilled products may still be illegal even for personal use.

Gotta check. Alas, I have 4.63 shitloads of recipes for beer and wine but the only book I have on liquor is some excerpts from Pierre Lacour's 1852 The Manufacture of Liquors, Wines and Cordials, Without the Aid of Distillation. The book containing the excerpts lists them in a chapter headed "A Humbug and a Nuisance As Regards Health."

It's recipes for making phony booze, or stretching 10 gallons of Everclear into 100 gallons of "brandy," "whiskey", "gin" etc with the addition of peppers (for bite) and various flavorings, allowing for a slight markup in price. Book was the Bible for bad sutlers in the Civil War.

But if I make some home-made wine, there's no reason I should experiment with distilling it. Though I would need to check into the legal aspects, if any. PResumably, anything I make for personal use is fine.

We. Are. Going. To. Die. We must restore hope in the world. We must bring forth a new way of living that can sustain the world. Or else it is not just us who will die but everyone. What have we got to lose? Go forth and Fight!—Xan