Sam’s Pizza, Sam’s Hamburgers, Sam’s Fries, Sam’s Beer, Sam’s Wine, Sam’s Coca-Cola and Mike.

Sam's Special 5Sam's Special. 3Sam's Special Sam's Special. 2Sam's Special 4

While surfing the internest, I spotted the buck sign and my first impulse was “I want to go there.” Then I found what appeared to be related images, but I wasn’t sure if they were photos of the same place or where it was. On a whim I googled “Sam’s Hamburgers” and everything synched up.

Sam’s is a popular burger joint in San Francisco, the owner’s name is not Sam, and it was established in 1966. I read this review from 2013 and decided to include a visit to Sam’s on my bucket list.

Then I found this. Apparently owner Mike Shawa (nephew of the founder) passed away recently at the age of 70. Damn. That’s still young these days. The place survived the opening of a Carl’s Jr. down the street, so I expect it will survive this setback, too.

And it’s still on my bucket list.

[Some images above were found in here via here; others from here. Somewhat related post here.]

VoIP circa 1951

Ham Radio Beer

“Here’s a message from Milwaukee”
This thoughtful wife knows that the moment her husband tunes in on Schlitz the reception is good. For Schlitz has a very special taste that beer-lovers are changing to with ultra high frequency. Taste Schlitz, yourself. You’ll soon know why–

Something’s wrong with that picture. His code key is missing, he should be drinking Hamm’s and he’s leering, but why? Maybe he knows that The 2016 Amateur Radio Relay League Field Day is 25-26 June.

[Image found here.]

The .Gif Friday Post No.366 – Ice, Fire & Beer

Snowball Pwnd
FirePaint
Robotics & Beer
[Found here, here and in here. Manually unjitterfied the first one, and the 3rd is from this.]

Dogs really hate this x 11. [updated]

eleven cans

[Found here. I cropped it.]

UPDATE: I fell for this photoshop. Found it via a Tineye search; it appeared on Reddit in 2014. Here’s another:

Nothing Much Happened Today.

Nothing Much Happened Today 6

[Found here.]

Saturday Matinee – Serious Beer Taps, JesiErin, Santana & Benson,

Pure brilliance. Watch the vid first, because there’s more info about it below. Cheers!

JesiErin is a one-girl a capella doo-wop group from Huntington Beach, California, and the dubbing, both audio and video are top notch. Here’s her take on The Cascades1962 hit.


George Benson & Carlos Santana on “The Midnight Special” in 1976 playing Benson’s “Breezin’.”

The beer-plumbing prank video was filmed in NZ and sponsored by Tui Beer as stealth advertising, yet it was a genuine prank by a bunch of friends of the “victim.” Some folks on Reddit busted it as an advert (the comments are funny) and it’s still an awesome prank.

Word on the street is that Aussies and Kiwis don’t bother with Foster’s (it’s for tourists and export) but there are unwritten rules about which beer you order, and it varies by region. They have beer allegiances (like rabid sports fans do with teams in the US) so if you order the wrong one in the wrong place, you may be headed for trouble. A credible source told me that if you go to Oz, order Toohey’s and you may avoid a situation like this.

Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow.

Retro Green Beer Delivery

1958 Chevy Apache

Steam Whistle, arguably Canada’s greenest brewery, has added a custom-built, eco-friendly vintage ride to its delivery fleet. Called Retro Electro, this green machine started life as a 1958 Chevy Apache truck. Steam Whistle retrofitted it with an AC motor capable of cranking out 465 pound-feet of torque, which is on par with the power output of gas-guzzling muscle cars, yet the Retro Electro is emissions-free as it’s Bullfrogpowered with electricity generated by wind turbines. [via]

I’ll refrain from cranking on the insults to “gas-guzzling muscle cars” but that photo is awesome. [Found here.]

Beer of Champions

Beer of Champions

[Found here.]

Ice Cold Beer

[Found here.]

How To Secede Without Really Trying

Conch Republic Flag

With all the recent Huffin’ N Puffin’ N Rapier Rattlin’ from some small sectors about States seceding from The Union (due to rampant fiscal insanity emanating from Washington D.C.) kudos to Key West and Mayor Dennis Wardlow. His preceding secession succeeded.

On April 23, 1982, the Florida keys seceded from the Union. Frustrated that a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint was obstructing the main artery to the mainland, Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow opted for a lighthearted public relations campaign: He proclaimed his “Conch Republic” a separate nation, declared war on the United States, surrendered one minute later, and applied for $1 billion in foreign aid.

Since then the republic has maintained an uneasy peace with its giant neighbor. On Sept. 20, 1995, when an Army reserve battalion forgot to notify Key West of local training exercises, Wardlow mobilized for war. He sent letters to Bill Clinton, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and secretary of state Warren Christopher, and his militia engaged La Dichosa Bakery to bake Cuban bread with which to pelt the convoy (“our historic weapon of choice for dealing with Federalist Forces”) and Key West Lager “to provide the beer.”

By 10:50 p.m. they had received a fax from the battalion’s leaders stating that they had “in no way meant to challenge or impugn the sovereignty of the Conch Republic.” An official surrender ceremony was held two days later.

[Story burgled in its entirety from Futility Closet because Greg Ross is so entirely bitchin’ and everyone should send him money. There’s a somewhat related post here.]