Playing the beer market

In most pubs and bars, the price of drinks are fixed. Now if the price changed based on supply and demand, it would be similar to a stock market. However, in the case of supply, there would be only one seller with a virtual monopoly.

Hence price variation would only be based on demand.

A bar in Berlin actually operates such a beer market (or Brokers Bierbörse), the Berliner Republik. They have 18 draught beers with changing prices based on demand, after 6pm daily.


photo by Melanie from holidaycheck.com

Another possible variation would be to set prices based on public auction by customers with whoever bid the most purchasing the beer. Of course, it would depend on the customers. While most would prefer to pay the lowest price, others who could afford it might turn an establishment exclusive based on wealth.

random optical illusions

I quite like optical illusions. A lot of times, I can't see the effect. These ones I can.

creating a scene 2

Two years ago, I wrote about Improv Everywhere's impromptu food court musical. Since then, they have performed another two in 2009, Grocery Store and I Love Lunch.

More recently (on 24 March), the University of Oregan's all male a cappella ensemble called On the Rocks travelled to New York and whilst on a train in the Subway, 'rick roll'd' other passengers.



Awesome. There is nothing more liberating than bursting into song in public.

Interestingly, there is a huge difference between passengers travelling on the New York Subway and those on the Paris Metro. The New Yorkers in the video appeared to be indifferent. In Paris, they would have been appreciated and given the diversity of busking styles on public transport there, would have received enough Euros for their effort.

to be a lonely bee

Do any bees living in a hive get claustrophobic?

Can a fish in a school drop out?

creating a scene

Improv Everywhere causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 70 missions involving thousands of undercover agents. The group is based in New York City.

I like their latest installment - an impromptu musical in a food court about napkins



More from their YouTube channel.

I reckon if people aren't so uptight and concerned about what others think of them, that there would be more who spontaneously burst into song. At home, I sing to Kane all the time, to any tune and making up the words as I go along.

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Today was an exciting day for Kane (see his blog) and I had a coffee with Therese at the markets. I meant to do some house cleaning and tidying up, but only managed to do a backyard dog poo pick up and clean out the fly traps. There is always tomorrow. At least I did the laundry.

where have the cows gone?

Some people say silly things like - you can explain all you like until the cows come home. Or you can wait until the cows come home.

What I want to know is, what cows are they talking about?

Where do these cows live? Where have these cows gone? Why aren't these cows at home?

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Emily came around tonight. We had beef rendang curry for dinner with rice and broccolini. As I had recorded Food Safari last night, Emily was able to catch up on an excellent show about Pakistani food.

umbrellas

I lost an umbrella in Copenhagen once, and bought a new one in Lisbon.

The umbrella that I now prefer to use is a fold up golf umbrella I bought in October this year while visiting Brisbane. Yes, it's a Brisbane Lions one.

It looks like the one below, but is all maroon in colour.


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After I got home from work today, the lady who owns the local Don't Fret Pet franchise came over with her Cairn Terrier called Mac.

Mac was cool. I've offered to be a dog minder for people who go away during the Christmas break and don't want to put their dog into a kennel.

random thought

Grease was a great musical film, set in a high school

After Disneyfication (eliminate any resemblance of what actually happens in a high school), you get



Good innocent fun.

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Not much happens on Tuesdays.

random thoughts

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

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I have done absolutely nothing today.

random thought

Airlines lose millions of passengers' luggage every year.

Where do they end up? Are they ever found?

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I so do not want to go to work this week. But I must.

random thoughts

Hens' teeth are rare, hence the saying 'as rare (or scarce) as hens' teeth'.

But what about ducks' teeth? No one ever mentions ducks' teeth.

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Emily came around tonight after being away. We watched some of Heroes which I had taped for her.

random thoughts

The goose stepping I wrote about on Wednesday night started me thinking...

If we didn't have knees (that bend), could we ride bicycles? Indeed would bicycles have been invented? How would we sit down and then get up again?

Knees - if you don't have them, you'd miss them.

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I made a Rogan Josh lamb curry for dinner tonight. It was nice.

Smallville is getting really interesting. The Green Arrow/Oliver Queen is so cool. He challenges Clark Kent's notions of morality and ethics.

From CW/WB
Additionally, there is a new billionaire in town with the arrival of DC Comics character Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow (Justin Hartley, "Passions"). Although he has no superpowers, Oliver is a gifted archer who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team, but chose to put his skills to work as the "emerald archer." He steals ill-gotten gains from the rich and gives to the poor. Oliver comes from Star City to Metropolis to aid in the recovery from Brainiac's deadly virus. While in town, he meets and is charmed by Lois Lane, igniting suspicion and a little jealousy in Clark. Oliver discovers Clark's abilities and asks Clark to join him in his new project - forming a league of superheroes.

random thoughts

The goose-step is a type of military march common in Eastern Europe and former Nazi Germany.



I was wondering why the march is called the goose-step. Surely, geese don't march and waddle like ducks.



But they do. Now imagine if those armies had taken after the duck waddle!

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We had a Thai beef salad for dinner, except instead of the beef, we had kangaroo fillet. Tonight, Margaret and I watched the film Thank You for Smoking. Very clever. Now I am watching The Covenant.