I hate to start out with bad news, but something pretty terrible happened yesterday. The grocery store raised the price of my current favorite beer (Hop Devil, by Victory Brewing, just outside Philly) from $8.49 to $9.99 a six pack. They were already pushing it at $8.49, frankly, and I’m afraid they’ve priced me out. I mean, I can get Saranac Imperial IPA for $8.99, and, while I prefer the taste of the Hop Devil, the IIPA comes in at 8.5% ABV (to Hop Devil’s 6.7%). That extra 1.8% definitely gives it a nice kick. So, I decided to go with a 12-pack of Saranac IPA for $12.99 (not Imperial; it’s only 5.8%), which I used to like but haven’t had in a while. Now it tastes like swill to me. Oh well. Where’s the bailout for small breweries?

For those of you paying attention, half of the Elite Eight is set, with the Big East going 3 for 3 in last night’s action, and, in a battle of the tigers, the Missouri Tigers took down the Memphis (wah! We deserved a #1 seed) Tigers in a defensive struggle, 102-91. Tonight, of course, two more Big East teams are in action, including #3 Syracuse against #2 Oklahoma. It promises to be a tough game. I reckon I might have to spring for some Imperial IPA.

Speaking of tigers, scheduled guests on Real Time tonight are former Princeton Tiger Bill Bradley (I think he was also a Senator or something), Mr. Humble, Christopher Hitchens, Mos Def, and Salman Rushdie.

With the SU game being at 7:30 (EDT), no matter what the outcome, I probably won’t be in much shape to make it to Bill Maher at 10:00 (if I get some IIPAs, I may not even make it to the end of the game).

Well, unemployment in my fair city is up to a new record of 8.9% (breaking the old record of 8.7%, set in February 1992), so I reckon I’d better get my game face on, and get ready to head in to work. At least tomorrow’s Saturday. If SU wins, I’ll be happily hung over, and if they lose, I’ll be sadly sulking. Either way, at least it’s a day off.