A Letter From Far Away
Dear Penn State Fans,
You don’t know me. I’m not a student, alumni or a fan. Hell, I’ve never even been to Pennsylvania…my only experience with the state are the crazy Steelers fans that migrate to Atlanta. They don’t show your games down here much and before this tragedy, all I knew was that Joe Paterno, the winningest, was an amazing coach who was still on the sidelines and that PSU is a top tier university.
But. I love football. I watched for days as the story broke, tears streaming down my face, wondering what this meant to me. As a fan. As a mother. As an academic.
As a sociologist in training, I seek to understand the ways that institutions impact our lives.
As a football fan I seek, and find, unity in a sport that makes friends of people who otherwise have nothing in common.
I have been reading your blog, obsessed with this story and hurting for your community. I recently read a comment that made me cringe and then made me angry. Something about how the rest of the world is looking at you, that you are all somehow culpable in this horrific circumstance.
No. No and hell no. This could have been anywhere. If we’re blaming football, then we’re blaming the whole of the institution and that means the fans, too and dammit, that’s just wrong.
So, I’m here to tell you, lots of us are pulling for you, no matter our opinions on the specifics (of which I have many, but that’s really not the point.) I know what it is to be a rabid fan, to go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday, to take comfort at the hearth of cold beer and a warm grill. I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I’d like to send y’all some love from down here in the ACC, from Georgia, and let you know that everyone is not looking at you with scorn, that many of us are aching for you and for football and for the victims too, because, well…it is football and for me, we are a larger community. A community of wonderful, empathetic human beings who are doing everything they can to bring some healing out of this. You hurt, we all hurt.
I’ll go back to my own site now, I hope you don’t mind my reading over here from time to time. Your coverage and commentary has been fantastic.
A lot of us know that you STILL are Penn State.
Thank you.
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Thank you
I really, really appreciate the sentiment. After a while you start to really believe that other people might really think these things about you, so it’s really nice to hear another outsider share their feelings with us.
Also, re: your sociology background. Read (Professor) SubLime’s comments, he’s been pretty pitch perfect on some of the bigger themes in this whole thing the entire time. I’m very interested in these angles personally, and would welcome more discussion.
"We gon' get down. We gon' do the do. I'm going to hit these mother****ers" - Dock Ellis, May 1, 1974.
by OctaShields on Dec 8, 2011 5:27 PM EST reply actions 6 recs
I'll be sure
to pay close attention to his commentary. I probably have been already, but the names start to blur after 200 comments or so.
No thanks necessary, Southern hospitality and all ;-)
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Great stuff here littlepecan . . .
I second OS.
All you need to know about me and sociology is Mary Douglas.
She’s one of my heros.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
by SubLime on Dec 8, 2011 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Without anthropology, sociology wouldn't be what it is now.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Thank you pecan.
It’s a little unnerving how much this process has been like dealing with a death in the family – nice to know that people outside our circle get that.
I’ll tell you why. Because we’re talking about Joe Freaking Paterno here.
-Jitterbug
I cry when we lose bowl games every year.
This is a death. Of something that was and can never come back. It is okay to mourn loss. I’d be worried about you if you didn’t.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Oh come on now...
You can’t lose bowl games every year. ;-)
I’ll tell you why. Because we’re talking about Joe Freaking Paterno here.
-Jitterbug
I'm a Jacket fan...
Yes, yes we can.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Littlepecan - it's good to be joined by another Southerner
speaking out in solidarity against the vilification of PSU
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Solidarity
with a lot of folks these days. Fans are just the 99% holding up the sport, really.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
<3 this
ESPN-The Enablers
Forget the 409 wins and 2 national championships. Joe Paterno helped mold thousands of young men into productive members of our society.
by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Dec 8, 2011 5:37 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Thank you.
"my dad says Michigan used to be good"
by hbeach08 on Dec 8, 2011 5:46 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
When something as touching as this small sentiment is
Words start to escape you, so I will simply say Thank You. I does mean alot to us that other can understand what we are going through, and not immediately condemn us, as I have heard from elsewhere around the country.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
by AriesGD on Dec 8, 2011 5:53 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
I'm voting in AuraBass and LittlePecan for Penn State trustees
when I get my next alumni ballot!!
Honorary Penn State fandom for the two of them!!
God bless you both.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Dec 8, 2011 6:41 PM EST reply actions 5 recs
This is for true.
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
by psume06 on Dec 8, 2011 7:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Where the hell did I put my damn ballot?
I wonder if it’s with JFB’s pipe?
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Is there bourbon
that comes with this position?
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
All the Old Granddad you can drink
I’m sorry, but blanket statements are proven false 99% of the time, and if you make a blanket statement about college football, there’s a good chance that one exception will be Joe Paterno. - AdamShell @ BSD
Also; Always carry a bottle opener and the beer will provide itself.
I'm a Maker's girl, myself.
I’ve never even heard of OG.
Heh.
OG.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
I have Maker's in the bottle
and flasked up and ready to go for our frequent trips over to NO. I can be parking my car at the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas within an hour of leaving my house. The only tough question is Quarter or Warehouse? Frankly, 20 years of this proximity is probably taking years off of my life.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
That seems wholly unfair.
I’ve only been to LA once, for the Independence Bowl last year. Talk about class acts. And these were SEC fans. ;-)
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
NOLA
is the greatest place on Earth. I remember the 3rd night I was there, when I realized that Bourbon Street was terrible, and the real shit went down on Frenchman/various other parts of town (The Maple Leaf for Rebirth, Vaughn’s on Thursday). Man I love that place.
"We gon' get down. We gon' do the do. I'm going to hit these mother****ers" - Dock Ellis, May 1, 1974.
I'm pretty partial to Atlanta...well, GA in general.
But I’ll be in NOLA for a sociology conference in the spring. I’ll be sure to report back with first impressions.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
The Quarter can be fun.
After you get that first impression of Bourbon St., hang on Royal, Chartres, and even Bourbon down past Dumaine — that’s the direction of Esplanade and Frenchmen in Marigny. Elysian Fields serves as a pretty good boundary — although time of evening can make anything past Esplanade dicey. If you find yourself on St.Claude Ave., go back. Fiorello’s on Decatur might be my favorite food in the city. They prepare the best fried chicken ever.
The warehouse district is fun as well. Cross Canal and wander up Magazine or Tchoupitoulas and see what turns up. the Crescent City Connection (huge ass bridge over the Mississippi) serves as a place to think about stopping unless you are on St.Charles Ave.
Louisiana doesn’t do zoning at all well. Accordingly, it’s hard not to be a few blocks from danger in many parts of the city. All it takes is one wrong turn and things can flash over quickly.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
I'm not sure if you've spent much time in the A
but “zoning” is pretty non-existent. Plus, I used to be a junkie, so skeer’d isn’t so much in my vocab ;-)
I’ll have a native with me, though, just to make sure. She’s a fellow sociologist and we plan to get plastered and wax sociologic over many, many spicy foods.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
I miss Altanta
where so you live (generally speaking)
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
You come to town
and let me know, I’ll make you some fried chicken and collards that’ll make you slap yo’ grandmama.
No kidding. My collards come with a money/time back guarantee.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Absolutely Octa . . .
Bourbon street is not New Orleans and wears out quickly.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Please send me a Debris Po'boy from Mothers
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
We can do better than Mother's.
Mahony’s Uptown on Magazine just past Louisiana Ave. is the place to start. Parasol’s on Constance at the corner of 3rd Street is another good choice. It’s basically a block riverside off of Magazine between Washington Ave. and Jackson Ave. The latter is serious Irish Channel territory. All of this is easily reachable via the Magazine bus or, if you want to walk six or so more blocks, the St. Charles car. Both are in safe areas.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
I'll be in NOLA in late Feb/early March
Hope I have time to try it. Thanks for the rec.
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
There's a place called Quartermaster I think
I’ve only eaten there after 2 a.m. but from what I remember it was probably THE BEST I’VE EVER HAD
"We gon' get down. We gon' do the do. I'm going to hit these mother****ers" - Dock Ellis, May 1, 1974.
Yeah . . .
Good choice — that’s down on lower Bourbon past Dumaine in the area I was suggesting to littlepecan.
Frankly, there are a lot of joints that I don’t mention simply because I’ve never seen then sober and can’t remember either the name or exact location. It’s one of those general-vicinity-I-know-it-when-I-see-it things.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
the best thing about NOLA is unless you go to a chain (idiots do this, you know), go to a touristy type brunch or eat a Lucky Dog, it is hard NOT to get a good meal. Even the touristy places are quite good. The city is proud of it’s cuisine and even the dives have great food.
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
Last time I was in NOLA,
we pretty much stayed in the Quarter and did touristy stuff. I went to a place for breakfast on Jackson Square and had wonderful bananas foster french toast!
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
touristy stuff is different than touristy restaurants
I had my favorite breakfast there at the Palace Cafe on Canal. It was also kind of french toast, maybe creme brule?
When I go in the spring it is for meetings and we are staying by the conference center. Boo
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
The Palace is owned by one of the Brennan's.
Commander’s Palace would be the flagship.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
The dives are usually the best.
e.g., St. Charles Tavern.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
On several trips to the Big Easy
I was privileged to become friends with a member of the Moon Landrieu family who had a limo service. I wish I could remember the names of some of the great unknown (to tourist) places where we would go to eat.
Incredible food served to a 99% local Creole crowd and out of the way spots in Metairie (sic?) and one great seafood place up by the Pontchartrain. Seems like most of NOLA is blessed with the cooking gene. I wonder if many of those places survived after the flood and the Bush abandonment?
Got to spend a week with these folks who had a place right on the parade route during Mardi Gras – still have the bags of beads somewhere and maybe some of the hangover from too much Absinthe. I would look like Charlie Weis or Mangino if I spent more time in the Crescent City.
and I love the movies Deja Vu, Angel Heart, The Pelican Brief the Big Easy, JFK, A Murder of Crows, Runaway Jury, Wild at Heart, and Easy Rider set in NOLA. What a city of wonder – to start the day in Cafe du Monde and then watch the VOLS destroy Miami 35 to 7 in a huge upset at the Sugar Bowl Jan 1 1986
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
I know Mitch . . .
At least I think he remembers my name. I have a cool picture with the two of us drunk in front of Tipitina’s while waiting to roll the Orpheus parade a few years ago. I was a krewe member for several years, but alas no more. I rode the Smokey Mary float (if you’ve seen it, you won’t forget it) on the neutral ground side. I may have thrown you some of those beads.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Can I just say,
I love BSD tangents!
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
by Paige2PSU on Dec 9, 2011 7:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It's been too long ago
and I’m getting too old
but one of the brothers was Steven and I can’t quite recall the other. This would have been early to mid 80’s
and if I caught your beads – thank you. My daughters loved them.
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
It wasn't that long ago.
I didn’t get here until 1990 and didn’t get involved with Carnival until a dozen years ago.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
The Orpheus parade is the only one I have ever been to
I was so hung over I did not enjoy it much!
I am casually acquainted with Pam and Earl who own Tropical Isle and the Funky Pirate. We were on a trip with a group in Roatan (Honduras) and they brought Hand Grenade mix and made a us a batch. I never asked if they brought the Golden Grain with them or found it somewhere on the island.
Hand Grenade > Hurricane
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
totally off topic
but I do write about sociology topics in my own space (and football, from time to time) if you’re interest. There’s no way to just message you directly on here that I’m aware, so pardon my shameless plus.
link is on my page…
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
I checked out your website
and skimmed the article on the death penalty. It looks interesting and, from what I can tell, looks sympathetic to my take. I will read further next week once I’m done with finals, grade submission, and student whining. The last of the three is of course the most time consuming. By the way, your profile picture makes a yellow jacket look more, how shall I say it, warm and cuddly that I could have imagined.:)
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Why, I nevah!
Thanks :)
I’m a TA this semester. I haven’t had to deal with the whining, since they barely know i"m the one that’s grading, but I do have to deal with the…uh…“grammar”, or whatever the kids are callin’ it these days. Which, truly, is enough to make me want to give up scholastics for evAR.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Have you ever heard the story...
about Joe Paterno trying to get the game films from that game from Johnny Majors prior to the Fiesta Bowl in 1987?
Priceless.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
NO
tell it damnit!!!
don’t hold out on me here man, i’m dying here
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
Honestly, it's not much of a story.
Paterno wanted the coaches tapes of the Sugar Bowl game, which are typically exchanged without question. Except, Johnny Majors was the coach at Pitt, and Jimmy Johnson was an assistant of his for a period of time. UT politely told us to piss off.
Paterno went bat-shit and demanded of his assistant coaches that they get the tape, and they didn’t care how they did it. They got it. To this date it has never been disclosed how.
14-10.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
What's the difference in coach's tapes
and the televised stuff.
Did they run tape on every camera bake then?
Where do the coach’s tapes come from?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
I don't think as many games
were televised back then.
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
Well that Sugar Bowl game
was definitely televised
so I’m just wondering why PSU didn’t tape the TV feed or get the separate camera feeds from the network.
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
The TV feed uncovers nothing for a coach.
You need to to have the high box view that shows the whole field to dissect the coverages.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
The "All-22"
As I believe it is known in coaching and scouting circles.
"We gon' get down. We gon' do the do. I'm going to hit these mother****ers" - Dock Ellis, May 1, 1974.
Game film is shot for a different reason.
Lots of really wide shots that are mostly interesting to a coaching audience.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
The high box tapes are sacred.
The NFL controls the release of those tapes with very strict scrutiny. It’s an actual thing, a big deal. Today. You can’t get them, they don’t release them.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
I am thinking Mission Impossible type case here?
That would be one hell of a good story to hear from some assistants. Unless it was something really simple, like one of the assistants acted like another coach and had it sent to them.
But I am going to assume it was a total mission impossible style heist, which included one of them carrying along a tape of the theme music to play while they “obtained” the tape.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
kind of like this mission?

"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
Old Granddad is JoePa's drink of choice
Reporter: Can you give us a touchdown celebration, one that you would get penalized for?
Moye: I play at Penn State. I don’t celebrate.
Ah, I see. Forgive my ignorance. :)
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
JoePa drinks Old Granddad, FYI
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
consider me adequately schooled :-)
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Why would a sweet littlepecan from GA
pass over the fine sour mash of Tennessee in the form of 12 year old George Dickel or Gentleman Jack to favor Kentucky liquor?
Do any of you know the difference between Jack Daniels Green Label and Jack in the Black Label?
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
I like TN Whisky too
but bourbon is the drink of choice in Jacket Nation.
And, yes, I do. It’s called “available funds.” ;-0)
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
by littlepecan on Dec 9, 2011 9:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I always thought it had to do with age
until I toured the distillery awhile back
& you’re right it sells for less
but here’s the deal.
They age the whiskey in big metal sheds filled with oak barrels
the barrels on the outside nearest the metal ceilings and walls somehow don’t achieve the same dark color as the barrels on the inside because the whiskey doesn’t work in and out of the wood as much. They sell it for less because of that alone – a piece of TN trivia
You don’t get to test if there is a difference in the taste at the distillery because it’s in a dry county (or was when I took the tour) and it’s illegal to drink it there.
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Other way around.
The barrels in the center on the lowest levels of the rackhouse don’t see the temperature fluctuations that the barrels nearer the outside and higher up do. The temperature (and to a lesser extent, humidity) fluctuations are what drives the aging whiskey in and out of the barrel, and imparts more sugars, aromatics, and other flavor components to the liquor. Barrels that don’t see as much fluctuation tend to have a more neutral flavor.
Interesting thing about Moore county being dry – at the end of prohibition, the Tennessee legislature passed a law saying that each county would remain dry unless they were able to raise a petition with 3,000 signatures of registered voters who wanted to have alcohol sales. Moore county doesn’t have 3,000 people to this day, let alone 3,000 registered voters.
I told you I could teach a class on whisk(e)y…
I’ll tell you why. Because we’re talking about Joe Freaking Paterno here.
-Jitterbug
by leeharvey418 on Dec 9, 2011 10:28 PM EST up reply actions
And I have to teach the Cover-up Class.
That seems unfair.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
Well my memory of the tour is quite good
and I am 90% certain our tourguide told us what I relayed above at that time – outside barrels were destined to be green and inside ranks of barrels to be black.
Our tour guide may have been mistaken but that is what I’m quite certain he said. – it’s the placement of the barrels in the barrel houses. And I can’t be 100% certain either way but I know our guide said the inner ranks worked the whiskey into the wood more due to more heat in the center.
So inside or outside? but its the location not the age or proof.
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Trying to reason it out logically
It might seem that the outer barrels would get hotter being closer to the metal walls and roof.
However the roofs are peaked and there is a fairly significant distance from the walls to the barrels so they can be carried in and placed.
During the summer it might be warmer nearer the walls but during the winter it must be warmer nearer the center. Can’t quite work it out logically.
The online forums and Wikipedia seem to have it all wrong talking about age and proof and master distillers taste buds and upper and lower floors of the barrel houses. When I was there there were no upper and lower floors – just single large rooms in the metal barns filled with barrels
Now if you take the virtual distillery tour there appears to be a single massive barrel house instead of the 20 or so smaller metal buildings that were on the site when I took the tour. So I’m at a loss about how the Green and Black are selected when looking at this massive barrel house where there are multiple racks of barrels in a very large space instead of the smaller metal buildings all over the area that I saw when I took the tour in person.
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Trust me on this...
For my birthday the year before last, The Missus and I went to Kentucky and did the Bourbon Trail. Seven distilleries in three days, and they all told me the same story – more pumping action from more temperature fluctuation equals more flavor and color imparted to the whiskey (the same thing the guides have told me the two times I’ve taken the tour at Lynchburg). I shouldn’t say the whiskey gets pumped in and out of the barrel – that makes it sound like the liquid is actually leaving the barrel, when what’s actually happening is that the whiskey is soaking into then being pushed out of the wood repeatedly.
Some distilleries (Makers Mark, off the top of my head) rotate stock in the rackhouses to even out the quality. Others (Buffalo Trace) have barrel placement down to enough of a science that they know exactly where to pick barrels from when blending a batch of, say, Blanton’s. It’s an incredibly fascinating aspect of the whiskey-making process.
One thing they didn’t play up in the Jack Daniel’s tour was that they don’t use an incredibly heavy char (called a gator char, since it makes the inside of the barrel look like gator skin) – gator char is good for one thing: getting color in the whiskey quickly. All of the tasty parts of the wood get burned up, but the charcoal that’s left will leave color in a few months.
I’ll tell you why. Because we’re talking about Joe Freaking Paterno here.
-Jitterbug
by leeharvey418 on Dec 9, 2011 11:13 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, and the site where you take the tour...
is only about 10% of the rackhouse space that Jack Daniel’s currently has. Most of it is up in the hills (again, where you have less uniform temperature throughout the year) above Lynchburg.
I’ll tell you why. Because we’re talking about Joe Freaking Paterno here.
-Jitterbug
by leeharvey418 on Dec 9, 2011 11:15 PM EST up reply actions
That's what I remember
the separate barrel houses up in the hills as opposed to the single large barrel house you see on the virtual tour.
The guide took us up to one of these separate barrel houses on the side of the hill and that’s what we saw inside. Again he said the outside barrels worked the whiskey into the wood less because it remained hotter on the inside ranks.
Our only difference is outside or inside – not the process.
Born in Fort Sanders - 1st Residence Aconda Court (Alumni Hall) - 1st games at Neyland 1947 - Mother = TORCHBEARER - Dad grad of UT & UT Law + professor BORN ORANGE and BLEED ORANGE .......
Yeah, don't think of it as the barrels staying warm or not...
think in terms of which part of the rackhouse will see the biggest difference between minimum and maximum temperature through the course of a year – that’s where you’ll get the most ‘pumping’ action.
I’ll tell you why. Because we’re talking about Joe Freaking Paterno here.
-Jitterbug
by leeharvey418 on Dec 10, 2011 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
ever have pappy?
There are times when a corps commander's life does not count.
by psu in the w-b on Dec 13, 2011 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
Thirty bucks a bottle?
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
I can drink a lot of Old Granddad...
I have the empty bottles to back up that statement.
I’ll tell you why. Because we’re talking about Joe Freaking Paterno here.
-Jitterbug
Just doing a little to help where I can.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Thank you for your kind words, littlepecan.
We really appreciate it. If you’re ever in Birmingham, drinks are on me!
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
Hell, if you are ever in Happy Valley
Drinks are on me!
Divas don't burn. We’ll walk away from the explosion calmly and without looking back, like the badass character in a movie
I'd love to visit
State College seems like a really nice place, at least, according to This American Life.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Happy Valley is heaven
which makes everything that has happened in the last month feel like such a violation; it’s like the Black Riders have entered the Shire. I hope you get to visit for a Fall football weekend some day. It’s a worthwhile pilgrimage for any college football devotee. Thanks for the kind words!
PS — As a sociologist, you could probably spend the rest of your academic career writing about aspects of this mess and not come close to covering all the fascinating angles.
The depth of both my sadness and anger is unfathomable.
We (Still) Are...
I probably could...
And maybe I will…one day.
I research religion and the two really aren’t that different.
However, for the same reasons I don’t research drug abuse or work with those in recovery (I used to be be an addict), I think it would be really hard for me to be objective. I have a lot of criticism for the sport and the institution as it is, I fear that type of study would severely limit my ability to continue to enjoy something I love.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Good thinking.
Beware turning your recreation into your job, it can be a classic “careful what you for” scenario. Besides, it sounds like you already have a compelling area of interest.
The depth of both my sadness and anger is unfathomable.
We (Still) Are...
FAIL
Dammit. I meant to hit “preview.” I forgot the all-important “wish” in there, but I imagine you got the point anyway.
The depth of both my sadness and anger is unfathomable.
We (Still) Are...
by PSU_Buch on Dec 9, 2011 11:10 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The only persons typos I notice are mine.
I imagine most people read these posts as fast as they are written. This isn’t Shakespeare. It’s speed writing, an art form for the new millennium. It’s rules are still being constructed.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
I feel you
this has already limited my ability to enjoy cfb
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
Me, too.
It’s been difficult, especially with the ‘Cuse issues coming forth and them joining the ACC. I know that isn’t football, but the tarnish on college sports has been a heavy weight to bear.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
I've been on the Steeler blog today.
I just wanted to parse something wasn’t child sexual abuse for awhile. They aren’t quite used to me there yet though. It’s a bit weird.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
Behind the Steel Curtain?
I have been a member for a while. I haven’t said shit this year, mostly because I was steeled (pun intended) for a lockout — a sort of cognitively-preservative-preemptive-first-strike strategy. I am just finally feeling the NFL season.
The leadership there is pretty strong and fair. Most of the sanctioned contributors are strong as well — I learn more about the Steelers there than anywhere else, at least more that turns out true.
But there are some mill-hunks sons of mill-hunks wanna-be mill-hunks hanging out who seem to be performing a steelworker tough-guy caricature on that site.
Of course that unfortunately also obtains for live people in Allegheny County the last time I visited (e.g., the yinzer phenomenon).
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
It's pretty similar to here.
I’m new. There is some resistance, but it’s been reasoned and fair. I’ve enjoyed it so far.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
you are too logical and sensible for most sports fans
"I've seen over 200 episodes of Law & Order and it's paying off big time!"
I've been a Penn State fan for my entire life.
The Steelers picked me up as a free agent. Those people know football like we do, but the prospective is totally different. I really love watching the Steelers, but I have a tough time speaking their language. It’s a totally different thing, and I don’t have the same credibility there that I do here.
It’s new. I’m trying to have fun with it.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
I'm very close to B'ham
I live about 20 miles from the state line.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Nah. Reply win ;-)
You guys are great. If it wasn’t so fukken cold up there, I might consider a post-grad opportunity.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
I'm pretty sure UAB has sociology.
That’s where I am now.
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
Health related sociology
is a great way to get a paycheck, but not really very interesting to me…but, thanks for pointing that out. I was wondering if there was a PhD program in AL!
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
We were meeting at BWWs on 280 for games.
Email me (in my profile) and I’ll add you to our mailing list and let you know the next time we have an event. We’re going to try to put something together for the Bowl Game. I live in Alabaster, BTW.
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
Sure,
glad to have more Penn Staters! Just don’t hold anything I say here against me! LOL!
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
Did you know we have an Alumni Association Chapter here?
Tom Bradley for PSU Head Coach!
Follow @Paige2PSU
Thank you!
Thanks for the great posting littlepecan! We are going through the stages of grief.
We apologize for the “March to the Sea” thing.
Meh
Sherman spared Savannah, couldn’t ask for much more than that.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
by littlepecan on Dec 8, 2011 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Altanta and PSU football
Thanks for the comments, very nice post. If you are on comcast cable in the ATL, the Big Ten Network is channel 297.
I generally watch whatever games are on
but ACC gets first dibs.
Unless it’s Miami.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Obviously a very intelligent, beautiful, young woman!
Thanks for your kind words.
Raised on Beatings, Second-Hand Smoke, and Liquor
by joefromboalsburg on Dec 8, 2011 8:17 PM EST reply actions
Thank you
I’ve gone through my share of bullshit that just had to run its course. This too shall pass.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Thank you
and I’m guessing – go yellow jackets?
Reporter: Can you give us a touchdown celebration, one that you would get penalized for?
Moye: I play at Penn State. I don’t celebrate.
Go Jackets,
And to Hell With Georgia!
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
UGA Story
Wife and I on Bourbon Street meet Georgia Cheerleaders with UGA, their mascot.
Wife asks " What’s his name……Herpes?"
Good times were had by all.
Raised on Beatings, Second-Hand Smoke, and Liquor...I know nothing!
by joefromboalsburg on Dec 8, 2011 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
UGA II
Wife and I are outside Pat O’Brien’s. Wife is wearing big “Herschel Who?” button.
Large red woman approaches. “It’s Hurrrrrrrrrrr-shelllllllllll Waaaaaaaaahh-kerrrrrrrr.”
Wife: “If you all talk that slow it’s no wonder you lost the damn war”
Good times were had by all.
*
by Smee on Dec 8, 2011 11:17 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Heeeeyyy,
Talkin’ slow doesn’t mean thinkin’ slow.
But, being a U(sic)GA fan definitely means slow thinkin’.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Go Jackets! And you seem to be communicating at a fine speed :-)
But by the time the red woman approached that evening my lovely wife had had enough of the “hunker down you hairy silver britches” and was in a fine mood. Of course, we then toasted to a good game and may the best primary color win.
But seriously — thank you for the kind words about that which we hold dear. Maybe our AD (whoever that is) will see fit to schedule a game at Bobby Dodd some year soon!
*
by Smee on Dec 9, 2011 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I've seen the whispers
about the ACC. You know you love us.
Rec’d for the primary color line. Brilliant.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Thank you
Whittle your whiskey around like blazes, t'underin' Jaysus, do ye think I'm dead?
"A lot of us know that you STILL are Penn State."
I was hanging out with some folks from Atlanta last night and they, like you, they were class acts. Thank you and good luck.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
Franco Harris:
"If I had to choose today between the moral integrity and character of Joe Paterno and the politicians and commentators criticizing him, I would pick Joe Paterno, hands down, no contest every time."
Thanks, hopefully Utah will choke.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Thank you
I can’t express how much it means to hear your kind words.
by Jeannine Pinaula on Dec 9, 2011 8:40 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Thanks
I needed to hear that. Driving home from work yesterday to York I just cried again.
It does seem to be never ending.
Extended grief can be quite exhausting. I hope they work out your HC vacancy soon, that would seem to go a long way in solidifying something, so that the other uncertainties doesn’t hurt so much.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Thanks to another outsider. This is wonderful to read.
His legacy is US. The legacy of the young men who he took from a variety of backgrounds, races, religions, economic circumstances and set on a right path, and that's the legacy. WE ARE... the legacy, not his 409 wins and certainly not this incident." -Jimmy Cefalo
Thank you
I printed your letter and put it in my first drawer of my desk, right on top. Each time this situation gets me down, I’ll be sure to read your kind words. If you are ever in the northern Va/ DC area, I owe you a beer.
Well, hell, now I'm tearing up.
I have a friend just outside DC so, I’ll keep that in mind :-D
Truly though, no one owes me any thanks. I feel like its moments like these where we should circle the wagons around the community, not hang them out to dry as if you aren’t one of us.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
"Truly though, no one owes me any thanks."
The fact that so many feel they do owe you thanks speaks to the depths of the situation we find ourselves in. We are separating the humans from the vapid, hatefilled sheep. No one likes the pitchfork mob, but apparently it’s a fun place to be.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
Franco Harris:
"If I had to choose today between the moral integrity and character of Joe Paterno and the politicians and commentators criticizing him, I would pick Joe Paterno, hands down, no contest every time."
by showtime on Dec 10, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions 7 recs
I'm the type of person...
that can find compassion for the Westoboro crazies, so surely I can find it for my own people! I think they can, too, it’s just so easy to get caught up in the hellfire and forget you’re a part of the institution you’re condemning.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Every time I see this headline on the main BSD page I think
“To Nick, From His Friends Far Away”
A pandemic of cowardice sweeps the nation.
To Nick, from a friend far away...
Bob bless the victims and long live football.
hugs
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Oh well,
can’t get all the cool ref’s on the interwebz. Sorry, now I feel teh dumbz.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Thank you, so many thank yous. Words can't describe how it feels to have outsiders believe in us.
and, side note, it’s always great to see other female CFB fans on here!
Fire Dan Snyder
I am STUPID about CFB
and one of the few females that genuinely likes to learn the nuances of the game. My fiance breaks out the mancala pieces to teach me play “The Blind Side” style, lol.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
that's "plays" not "play", btw
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
Btw, so loving your user name
little pecan – In the olden, golden, days, a breakfast shop in State College had a long running radio commercial, in which they would personify the different items on their menu – one of which was (and still is) Georgia Pecan Waffles. Said Georgia Pecan Waffles added a delightful “howdy y’all; howdy y’all” to the mix – every time I read their menu I hear that sweet voice – and now, reading your posts, I hear the same.
So, Howdy right back atcha.
More like "Hey Y'all"
in GA. Howdy’s more like TX…and Rick Perry. shudder
Pee-cayun waffles are teh bestest!
And the more bourbon I drink, the thicker my accent gets…like Karo.
Fan is short for "fanatic" nimrod.
#THWG. Love, North Ave. Trade School
by littlepecan on Dec 12, 2011 11:38 PM EST up reply actions

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