Uh, was it really a good idea to call a charity dedicated to helping abused women “The Fistula Foundation” the best idea? Great cause, I’m sure, but man, let’s work on the branding there.

One of the many unfortunate casualties of Hurricane Irene was the destruction of The Alchemist Pub and Brewery in Waterbury, VT. When Stone Brewing Co. Brewmaster Mitch Steele heard of the loss, he immediately sent out an email to The Alchemist Head Brewer John Kimmich asking if there was anything he could do to help.

“John’s wife, Jen, wrote back suggesting that John fly out to Southern California for a few days… just to get a break from the reality of everything,” recounts Steele. “And almost as an afterthought, she casually mentioned that maybe we could even brew something together. I ran with it.”

Fresh off the tails of brewing the “Baird / Ishii / Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA”—another collaboration beer that raised $64,000 for victims of the earthquake and tsunami tragedy in Japan—Steele reached out to Jamie Floyd, Brewer/Co-founder of Ninkasi Brewing Company in Eugene, OR, who was happy to come onboard to complete the brewing trifecta.

“That’s what this entire industry is all about. No matter what the ‘competitive’ side is, we care about humanity, and we care about each other,” offers Floyd.

Proceeds from the beer will go directly to the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund, a non-profit organization aiding families affected by the hurricane. “It’s a small town,” says Kimmich. “Even the influx of a few thousand dollars will have a huge affect. There are very low-income people who lost everything. And the idea of coming out to Stone and making a beer that will directly impact our town… it’s heartwarming to say the least.”

The main connection that most of us have to beer, aside from drinking it, is through advertising. The constant one-upsmanship on display can start to make you believe it’s all about the beer and the money. It’s nice to get a reminder every now and then that we are dealing with real humans. The industry is full of hard working people who care what happens to others, regardless of whether they are a customer or competitor. As is said in the video, it’s amazing that Stone Brewing Co., with everything they have going on right now, took the time to work on a brew to support a brewery and community on the other side of the country.

We don’t get many feel-good stories when it comes to drinking, so when one pops up, you have to run with it. I’ll be picking up a few bottles to do my part. Who’s comin’ with me?

Stats: 7.4% abv, 80 IBUs
Availability: Limited 12oz bottles & draft, beginning December 19th
Distribution: AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, MA, NC, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, VT, WA

Every day on NPR, listeners hear funding credits or, in other words, very short, simple commercials.

A few weeks ago, a new one made it to air: “Support for NPR comes from the estate of Richard Leroy Walters, whose life was enriched by NPR, and whose bequest seeks to encourage others to discover public radio.”

An article in the online newsletter of a Catholic mission in Phoenix revealed that Walters died two years ago at the age of 76. He left an estate worth about $4 million. Along with the money he left for NPR, Walters also left money for the mission.

But something distinguished Walters from any number of solvent, well-to-do Americans with seven-figure estates: He was homeless.

Walters was a retired engineer from AlliedSignal Corp.; an honors graduate of Purdue with a master’s degree; and a Marine. Walters never married, didn’t have children and was estranged from his brother. But he wasn’t friendless.

Rita Belle, a registered nurse, met Walters at a senior center 13 years ago.

“He always came in with a little backpack on and a cap on,” Belle tells Siegel. “And always kind of looked at me, but [was] very reserved. And I’m very outgoing and outspoken. So I said to him, ‘Hey, you got a minute can we sit down to visit?’ And we’d have coffee there at the senior center.”

Belle and Walters became friends. Belle stayed with Walters when he was ill. She became his nurse and ultimately the executor of his estate.

Definitely an interesting little tale, and one that really teaches us all an important lesson about being nice to others in spite of their perceived lack of ways to make your life better. But at the same time, I can’t help but wonder…after hanging out with this old, lonely homeless dude for 13 years, was Rita Belle jerking off his wrinkly, smelly cock? She had to be, right? I mean I’m sure she was a great friend and whatever, but I fundamentally believe no man really cares about the companionship of a woman, particularly if he’s wholly unsatisfied, so she must have given him a little rub and tug at least once right? It’s called being a good Samaritan.

Best part of NPR’s story though is this:

Evidently, among his few possessions was a radio. Hence those announcements listeners hear now and again on NPR stations.

Yes, that was the last line of the story. So this story of charity and a man living without possessions was basically turned into a plug to donate to NPR. Specifically, for the homeless to donate to NPR. Which makes sense because you’re barely getting by on Earth, how could you possibly live without someone drolly reading a New York Times piece on President Obama’s healthcare policy? It’s an inspiration.

[via]

Twice a year before its pledge drive starts, local public-radio station KRCC likes to offer members a thank-you gift for donating early.

Sometimes it’s symphony tickets. Sometimes it’s museum passes. This time, it is squirrel underpants.

Seriously.

“They are really tiny cotton underwear,” said KRCC general manager Delaney Utterback.

The 100-percent cotton tighty-whiteys have a 3-inch waist and are machine-washable.

They are sold by Seattle-based oddity peddler Archee McFee, purveyor of the inflatable fruitcake and unisex prosthetic chest hair.

The company markets the knickers as “The underpants squirrels prefer!”

[source]

Let’s just point out that I was on this Katrina Bowden train a long time ago and now she’s just getting her props for being a phenomenally hot piece of ass (see…I’m a trendsetter). But look at her, she’s so pretty and she looks like she smells like candy and sunshine and a roofied up Red Bull and vodka. How can you not love her? It’s a great coincidence that she went to a Parkinsons event because my penis is shaking like Michael J. Fox trying to do welding right now.

Unrelated, but why are there never any pro-Parkinsons events? So what if Parkinsons ruins people’s lives, doesn’t it deserve a chance to have galas to raise money too? I guess no one would show up and the night would end with Parkinsons sitting in a chair with a party hat wistfully blowing one of those whistly party favors but still…you have to at least TRY, Parkinsons.

You know, it’s rare, but I have to take a change on my usual stance of delivering just hurtful words and applaud Anna Kournikova. It’s great to see her coming out in support of a cause that few people get behind. Yes, AIDS is bad, but sometimes you need to step up and say, “Hey, AIDS has rights too.” I assumed that’s what YouthAIDS is all about, providing children with AIDS so that they don’t have to go diseaseless. Sure, more and more children are infected with a serious illness each year, but we can’t stop until every child has an illness to call their own.

I’ve launched my own campaign to that end, but it doesn’t have a formal “name” or “strategy” yet, beyond the usual combination of wine coolers and Hannah Montana DVDs. We’ll get there, though. Dare to dream!

[Even more HQ photos here, if you're into such things]