W
elcome, Hombre s, Outlaw s and
Anarchist s. Time to unload again, my wisdom,
knowledge and some smack . There is a phrase/
quote from a well‐known and famous movie that
has been on my mind recently and it goes like this.
What we ve got here, is failure to communicate.
Some men you just can t reach. So, you get what we
had here last week, which is the way he wants it,
well, he gets it. I don t like it any more than you do.
I ll let you figure out what movie this from and if you have not seen it, you should.
This got me thinking about the newly passed and signed, Minnesota Sunday liquor law, which goes into
effect July 2nd of this year. (you might be saying, what s this fools analogy. Just bear with me) More
specifically, I was considering Surdyks liquors in Minneapolis. You see, owner Mr. Surdyk, decided to open one
recent Sunday after the bill was signed by the Governor. Which is against the law, since this new law goes into
effect July 2nd. If you think about, that seems to make sense. Plus, Mr. Surdyk was against this bill passing,
which makes this even more interesting. Anyway, I first assumed, (and to give him the benefit of the doubt)
Mr. Surdyk had not heard about the law and when it goes into effect. Of course, my assumption was incorrect
and so was my gracious thought of giving him the benefit of the doubt.
So, Mr. Surdyk was visited and told to shut down by a liquor inspector of some type, on that very day. He
refused and stayed open. (some men you just can t reach) So, Mr. Surdyk got a fine of 2000 dollars AND a 30
day suspension of his liquor license, beginning on July 2nd. Notice the significance of that date, if you are
following along. I also read that Surdyks makes about 25 million a year in profit, hence this 30 day suspension
may reach the synapse s in his brain, which in a roundabout way, conne cts to his pocketbook.
I m going to assume, (again) that this penalty should please the conservative law and order folk out there
and for the Anarchist s, Hombre s and Outlaw s, I m going to assume they are quite happy also. What s the
old saying, stick it to da man . Very nice of Mr. Surdyk and the liquor inspector (Law) to please both sides. Of
course, in Mr. Surdyk s world and those who side with him, they say, it was bold move, innovative even.
Makes me wonder if Mr. Surdyk will pay his employees during this 30 day timeout, for his boneheaded move.
Which of course, brings me back to the quote from the movie previously. Personally, I give zero cares about
off sale Sunday liquor laws. Amazing the conflict that something so insignificant as this, brings. Ok, enough
said.
I read an excellent article (wish I would of wrote it) in the latest BCCA magazine by Joe Prin, BCCA #29315,
and with his permission I will re‐print it here: The Last Can Collector by Joe Prin .. Marty McFly and his
DeLorean showed up at my house yesterday. He said he had a letter from the future! It was from 2037 and
was for the new Beer Cans & Brewery Collectibles editor. It reads as follows.
As the last active member of the BCCA, I want to thank all of those who were part of this hobby. With
demilitarized satellite technology, we were able to find every remaining beer can buried since 1935. All
breweriana ever produced has put into a database, and with micro‐scanning, 3DHD printing and reproduction
technology, nothing is distinguishable from the original. Our hobby survived the Consolidation Wars, where
10, 000 breweries became three. Now that light beer is popular again, it s good to see 20 new fully automated
breweries, even though they all make the same beer. With glass being deemed a safety hazard in 2020, and
having been obsolete for almost a decade, collecting brew bags is all the rage now. However, new collectors
have not wanted to join a club. They say clubs are not talking about things interesting to them. So, if I ve
learned anything from 50 plus years in the BCCA, it s that our relevance and our works are dependent on
being important to those who come after us. I encourage you to pay attention in 2017 to new collectors. Find
out what they feel is important. Welcome them. These people are the future. Men and women will always
collect: let them experience the community and joy of the relationships that you had. Find out how to connect
with them. That s what built the BCCA in the 1970 s and 80 s and got me involved. Finding out what s
important is the key.
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1st Albert Lea Session 1979