Some Good News About Crime

Despite the best efforts of the NRA to get rid of all gun laws and arm criminals, there is research that suggests we are on track to having the lowest murder rate in 100 years. This is also reflected in data that just looks at gun crimes. Interestingly enough, the same study shows that Americans believe that gun crime has been going up. This doesn't come as a huge surprise. Media saturation of violent events probably leads many people to believe such events are commonplace. I am not going to speculate to why this has gone down. As Jay has said on more than one occasion, it is very difficult to pick out causal factors when you are dealing with something this complex.

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Craft Beer Week

Christmas is nice and all, but around these parts of the web, our Season of Joy is American Craft Beer Week!

This is a week of celebrations and revelry from Coast to Coast, border to border.  Click here to find events near you.

There's a manifesto.

At 8:00pm EST this Thursday, there's a nation-wide toast.

And don't forget to change your Facebook and Twitter profile pics in acknowledgment of celebration of the holiest week here at ATK.

AND AS IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH....

As of last Thursday evening, home brewing is legal in all 50 states!

From the presser:

On Thursday, May 9, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed homebrew legalization bill HB9 into law, making Alabama the 50th state to legalize homebrewing.

Post-Prohibition, homebrewing was not federally legal until President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337 on October 14, 1978, which officially went into effect on February 1, 1979. Shortly after that bill was signed, the American Homebrewers Association was formed by Charlie Papazian and Charlie Matzen to promote and celebrate homebrewing. Since then, the AHA has taken a leading role in advocating for homebrew rights and supporting the legislative efforts of local homebrew communities.

Celebrate beer!

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