Why couldn't they have bought Old Milwaukee or PBR instead?
Just as long as they leave Miller alone...
tomikawaTT wrote: If Company X buys Company Y and sends a nice check to every Company Y stockholder, what's to prevent those Company Y stockholders from using the money to buy Company X stocks.Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
If Company X buys Company Y and sends a nice check to every Company Y stockholder, what's to prevent those Company Y stockholders from using the money to buy Company X stocks.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Nothing, but unfortunately, the former Company Y stockholders have less to invest in Company X because Uncle Sam and Arnold take a significant part of the stockholders' proceeds coming from the sale of Company Y to Company X.
Mark
I was somewhat disappointed last February when we took a canal-boat trip in England; one site I decided I wanted to visit was the Bass Museum of Brewing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_(beer)), only to discover as we're pulling into view... that the big elevators for all the ingredients now are labelled... COORS! The museum is now called "The Coors Visitor Centre".
I still enjoyed the tour (well, as well as I could, with my seven-year-old in tow!) They had a "treasure hunt" which took us through most of the museum, albeit at a slightly-fast pace ("OK, dad, what's the next clue?")
Only one free beer for the tour (free soda for the munchkin). GOOD beer, though.
Maybe the Belgians will improve it.
Columnist Mike Rykyo once said that (most) American beer tasted lihe it "had been brewed through a horse".
Wonder whose horse he had in mind?
loathar wrote: Just as long as they leave Miller alone...
Loathar,
Hate to break it to you, but "Miller" is actually a division of SAB-Miller, a South African company. South African Breweries bought Miller in 2002, to form SAB-Miller. For some reason, they don't like to call attention to the fact. Check this page on the Miller website:
http://www.millercoors.com/who-we-are/miller-coors-history/timeline/PanelId/6.aspx
Oh, yeah. SAB-Miller owns Miller, and Miller owns Coors, which owns Bass....
SilverSpike wrote: I feel ya Mark! With inflation, the eroding value of the dollar, and taxes it is a wonder there is or will be anything left for any of us in or near retirement age!To try to get this thread sort of back on topic, at what point will the price of a new loco, piece of rolling stock, or plastic structure be too much for your pocket book?
I feel ya Mark! With inflation, the eroding value of the dollar, and taxes it is a wonder there is or will be anything left for any of us in or near retirement age!
To try to get this thread sort of back on topic, at what point will the price of a new loco, piece of rolling stock, or plastic structure be too much for your pocket book?
Well, I feel most fortunate. I am no longer saving for retirment because I'm retired. My familial obligations are minimal since my children have finished college and are working. The mortgage loan on my 1,100-square-foot-home is paid off. My significant other is self-supporting. I have an "adequate" five-figure income and am currently able to live off of income (except for return of my contributions to the pension plan) rather than selling assets.
My biggest, largely-essential expenses in decling order of magnitude are:
1. Taxes. I have no income which isn't taxable except for the partial subsidy of HMO healthcare paid for by my former employer (and presumably in the future, Medicare.) I don't and will never receive Social Security payments.
2. Food (both grocery store and restaurant).
3. Homeowner association assessments.
4. Gasoline.
5. Communication expenses (phones, Internet connection, cable television).
Unfortunately, the cost of categories 2, 3, and 4 have increased faster than the general rate of inflation. So while I haven't made a detailed calculation, it is obvious to me that inflation is affecting me significantly more than the consumer-price-indes statistics the government provides. Also, I expect category 1 to rise significantly because that's the plan of the majority of Congress and the California state legislature.
My largest discretionay interests are:
1. Travel. Since this involves a large amount of transportation expense which is sensitive to energy costs as well as to the effect of the declining dollar (as in the dollar-euro exchange rate), I expect the cost will increase significantly, particularly overseas. I see fewer trips in the future in total, less foreign trips, and more local trips as well as those minimizing transportation costs such as the roundtrip San Francisco-Alaska-San Francisco ocean cruise ($120 per person, per day for food, lodging, and transportation) I'm booked on next month which won't require any air fare.
2. Model Railroading. There is no reason not to expect rising prices for the hobby. I am fortunate in that I have (or will have when backorders are filled) almost all the locomotives, rolling stock, and structures I will ever need. I'm just buying to fill in the small "holes" in my inventory and for the occasional unrecognized "need." So, the quantity of model railroad purchases in my case is small.
Keeping all of the above in mind, in the last year I have paid up to (a) $2,500 for a locomotive, (b) $450 for a brass passenger car, (c) $230 for a brass freight car, and (d) $175 for a built-up Westerfield car kit. In the near future I expect to pay $200 or more for the to-be-released Port Costa, CA locomotive-facility structure kits.
I told you I feel fortunate.
Hi!
I wrote two flag waving commentaries on this posting's theme, and they both got my "patriotic dander" up as I previewed them. But rather than "rouse any rable", I decided to delete them.
Frankly, I look to this forum is a place to learn, to teach, and to converse about railroads - both real and model - allowing me to escape a bit from the harsh realities of today's world.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
On a blisteringly hot and humid Mid Western Summer day, an ice cold Bud is rather a nice beverage. It is the perfect beer for that environment. I would no sooner drink a Bud sitting by the fire in an old English country tavern, than I would drink a pint of fine English ale while perched on my John Deere mower. Both drinks are called beer, but they are beers for completely different applications! At least that is my theory! Both have their place.
Billions of $ of foreign investment is pouring into the US though acquisitions like AB. The weak $ makes this a very attractive investment. The weak $ should also make US made products cheap and easy to export, just as it makes foreign made goods far more expensive. Product made in the Euro-zone has gone up in US$ cost by 40% in 5 years just because of the currency shift. The weak $ should have been a bonanza for US exporters, and yet the balance of trade is still hugely out of kilter. Too many companies do not look beyond their own borders. Companies from small nations like Belgium have been exporters for decades, their domestic markets are too small to grow to any significance. I do believe that this fact alone gives such business a huge advantage in the global market. AB woke up too late to this reality and became a prime target.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
bpickering wrote: I was somewhat disappointed last February when we took a canal-boat trip in England; one site I decided I wanted to visit was the Bass Museum of Brewing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_(beer)), only to discover as we're pulling into view... that the big elevators for all the ingredients now are labelled... COORS! The museum is now called "The Coors Visitor Centre".I still enjoyed the tour (well, as well as I could, with my seven-year-old in tow!) They had a "treasure hunt" which took us through most of the museum, albeit at a slightly-fast pace ("OK, dad, what's the next clue?")Only one free beer for the tour (free soda for the munchkin). GOOD beer, though.
The Budweiser plant in Fairfield, CA provides two beers in its free tour. Unfortunately, one is only allowed to view the bottling operations directly.
grayfox1119 wrote: You are correct Magnus, the world "is" one big economy now. This is not necessarely a bad thing, only in the beginning stages. Why? Because the U.S., Canada and Australia were the only nations to come out of WW2 unscathed as far as damage and economy was concerned.
You are correct Magnus, the world "is" one big economy now. This is not necessarely a bad thing, only in the beginning stages. Why? Because the U.S., Canada and Australia were the only nations to come out of WW2 unscathed as far as damage and economy was concerned.
What about Sweden and Switzerland? Portugal was unscathed to? So was Turkey, New Zealand, Ireland and Iceland. Not to forget the entire continent of South America. Oh and lets not forget Latin America.
Sweden made a lot of trade as well due to the point you talk about. We where unscathed and in a prime position to take advantage of the situation. But we all have to accept that those days are gone, long gone in fact, Germany is Europe's most important economy. Our industries are changing and even though their is of course not just roses for the most part it's a great thing. People are richer all around the globe then they ever been.
Magnus
Guys,
I don't want to make this political at all... but when talking Beer, in North America... if it's not brewed in Canada, it's just carbonated water anyway!
Back in 1882, this painting was done by Manet:
Note the bottles with the red triangle logo. Bass Ale, at the time, had become such a powerful commodity in Europe that even the French used it to represent "beer." All of this happened, of course, because of the Industrial Revolution and ... The Railroad. Over a few decades, Europe was transformed from an agrarian to an industrial economy. There was an immense amount of money to be made, as productivity shot up and wealth was "created."
And at the same time, there was great upheaval. The entire economic order was being re-born, and many skeptics wondered if it would end in calamity for the nation, and the world.
Yeah, the more things change, the more they remain the same...
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
loathar wrote: Blaine's Trains-I'm curious where your getting your info about John Deere being made in the Far East?? All their lawn and garden tractors are made in the USA. Their site says the rest of their stuff is made in the USA and Canada. John Ratzenberger just did one of his "Made in America" shows from their Wisconsin plant showing how their big farm field equipment was made.
Blaine's Trains-I'm curious where your getting your info about John Deere being made in the Far East?? All their lawn and garden tractors are made in the USA. Their site says the rest of their stuff is made in the USA and Canada. John Ratzenberger just did one of his "Made in America" shows from their Wisconsin plant showing how their big farm field equipment was made.
Sorry Lothar, you owe the man a beer. John Deere tractors are made in several different plants, in different countries around the world. The primary tractor plant in America is in Waterloo, IA. The European tractor plant is in Mannheim, Germany. And we have two tractor plants in Aisa; one in Ningbo, China and one in Puna, India. We manuafture combines in Brazil and China, as well as the USA. And we build seeders/planters in Russia. And that's just the Ag Divison...
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Thanks stebbycentral,
Lothar, I'll take a good Canadian beer, Labatt's Blue. Oh, wait, they're owned by InBev too!!
Blaine
Blaine's
Commit random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.
MisterBeasley wrote: Back in 1882, this painting was done by Manet:
And who knows who painted this,and when:
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Jason
Modeling the Fort Worth & Denver of the early 1970's in N scale
twhite wrote: Well, of course I'm sorry to hear of an American brewer being bought out by 'foreign' interests, but if there IS a bright side to this, at least it was by the Belgians, who produce some of the best beer in the world (along with the Germans, Danes, Canadians and Czechs). So if Bud is going to be owned by the Belgians, perhaps the Belgians will introduce some of THEIR brewing techniques to Anheuser-Busch, and Bud will stop tasting like sandpaper dipped in Hops. Just the opinion of a beer aficionado, you understand. Tom
Well, of course I'm sorry to hear of an American brewer being bought out by 'foreign' interests, but if there IS a bright side to this, at least it was by the Belgians, who produce some of the best beer in the world (along with the Germans, Danes, Canadians and Czechs). So if Bud is going to be owned by the Belgians, perhaps the Belgians will introduce some of THEIR brewing techniques to Anheuser-Busch, and Bud will stop tasting like sandpaper dipped in Hops.
Just the opinion of a beer aficionado, you understand.
Tom
I gotta agree. I love beer and will quaff just about any brew offered. But not Bud -- can't stand the stuff.
Craig
DMW
jguess733 wrote:I'm a fan of Shiner Bock myself, brewed in the little town of Shiner, Tx. I only buy it on base at the mini mart though, other wise I couldn't afford to drink it.
Now you're talking!
Lillen wrote: grayfox1119 wrote: You are correct Magnus, the world "is" one big economy now. This is not necessarely a bad thing, only in the beginning stages. Why? Because the U.S., Canada and Australia were the only nations to come out of WW2 unscathed as far as damage and economy was concerned. What about Sweden and Switzerland? Portugal was unscathed to? So was Turkey, New Zealand, Ireland and Iceland. Not to forget the entire continent of South America. Oh and lets not forget Latin America.<snip>
<snip>
Methinks he was talking about combatant nations (although NZ would qualify there although I don't know what the Kiwi industrial capacity was at the time).
Wow - trains, beer and WWII! This forum is really getting cool!
Dallas Model Works wrote: Wow - trains, beer and WWII! This forum is really getting cool!
I second that remark! This thread has touched on many more aspects of the global world economy, beer, history and trains than I ever expected.
Thanks!
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
SilverSpike wrote: Are we willing to sell off our American heritage for a short term $70.00 per share profit? Anheuser-Busch will!
Are we willing to sell off our American heritage for a short term $70.00 per share profit? Anheuser-Busch will!
markpierce wrote: Think German! Drink lots of beer and eat lots of sausage.Mark (about 40% Germanic)
Think German! Drink lots of beer and eat lots of sausage.
Mark (about 40% Germanic)
Hey, I resemble that remark (75% Deutsch, remainder "black" Irish). Guess in each case I'm destined to like good beer.
Fun thread too. Back to the trains a poster or two pondered about the amount of rail traffic to and from the Coors and Bud breweries that are stateside. Since Strohs closed up shop in Detroit years ago Michigan hasn't had much in the way of beer production. However, on the consumer side there are two large distributors just south of me. The local Bud distributor used to have a rail siding and I recall boxcars parked there in the late '80s-early '90s. However, I think they went to all trucks shortly thereafter and the siding was pulled a few years later.
The local Miller dist. still receives inbound rail shipments from CN at their Orion Twp. location, usually blue CSX boxcars so I assume our local Miller products come from their Virginia satellite brewery. Funny, you'd think Milwaukee is closer but I suppose delays in the Chicago terminal means it's quicker and cheaper to ship from the east coast. Too bad, as I'm partial to Wisconsin brews (favor Leinenkugel's classic Red Lager). As long as Leinie's remain brewed in Cheddarland, I'll stay a loyal customer - and yes, I know "SABMillerMolsonCoors" owns them as a subsidiary.
Midnight Railroader wrote: SilverSpike wrote: Are we willing to sell off our American heritage for a short term $70.00 per share profit? Anheuser-Busch will!It's a BEER, for gosh sake, and cheap one, at that... hardly "our American heritage."
Yup, Bud is a cheap beer and I don't drink it either, but the company stated in it's Annual Report of 2007 that it had employed 31,485. I wonder how these Americans feel about their heritage now!
Oh, and in case you were wondering, I read this article from the American Heritage magazine entitled "BEER AND AMERICA", written By Max Rudin in March, 2002. While Adolphus Busch is mentioned in the article, and BUD might not be the best tasting American beer, it sure has a long history in American culture. I think that AB would be considered a part of American heritage!
Blaines Trains wrote: Thanks stebbycentral,Lothar, I'll take a good Canadian beer, Labatt's Blue. Oh, wait, they're owned by InBev too!! Blaine
Would you settle for Stroh's or P.O.C.? I was just wondering where you got that info from? I guess they're too embarrassed to admit that on their web site.John Deere, The all American tractor! (now made in China...)
I've seen two new Bud commercials this week and noticed they already changed the logo! It's now a 3D rotating globe of the Earth with the Bud logo in front of it. They must have known for a while they were going to take the buyout bid.
SilverSpike wrote: Midnight Railroader wrote: SilverSpike wrote: Are we willing to sell off our American heritage for a short term $70.00 per share profit? Anheuser-Busch will!It's a BEER, for gosh sake, and cheap one, at that... hardly "our American heritage."Yup, Bud is a cheap beer and I don't drink it either, but the company stated in it's Annual Report of 2007 that it had employed 31,485. I wonder how these Americans feel about their heritage now!Oh, and in case you were wondering, I read this article from the American Heritage magazine entitled "BEER AND AMERICA", written By Max Rudin in March, 2002. While Adolphus Busch is mentioned in the article, and BUD might not be the best tasting American beer, it sure has a long history in American culture. I think that AB would be considered a part of American heritage!
Ryan--
I remember some years back when Budweiser was celebrating its 100th anniversary, and re-released some of their 'Historic' beers--can't think of the names of them, but there were three, as I recall, a Lager, a Dark and a Pilsner and--OMYGAW, WERE THEY GOOD!! Unfortunately, they were 'Limited Editions', and only available for about three or four months--then back to rice and sandpaper, LOL! But these older, 19th-century brews certainly brought back Anheuser's German heritage, something that's been lost with 'Bud'.
Hm, maybe the Belgians will re-release them. One can hope. As an American of 80% Austro/German, 10% Czech and 10% Cornish (and the 'Cousin Jacks' certainly like their beer, too), I wouldn't mind one bit!
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
twhite wrote: I remember some years back when Budweiser was celebrating its 100th anniversary, and re-released some of their 'Historic' beers--can't think of the names of them, but there were three, as I recall, a Lager, a Dark and a Pilsner and--OMYGAW, WERE THEY GOOD!! Unfortunately, they were 'Limited Editions', and only available for about three or four months--then back to rice and sandpaper, LOL! But these older, 19th-century brews certainly brought back Anheuser's German heritage, something that's been lost with 'Bud'. Hm, maybe the Belgians will re-release them. One can hope. As an American of 80% Austro/German, 10% Czech and 10% Cornish (and the 'Cousin Jacks' certainly like their beer, too), I wouldn't mind one bit! Tom
Tom,
You might not want to hold your breath while you wait. Several articles in the Wall Street Journal over the past month have painted InBev not as a company run by Belgian brewers, but rather by aggressive Brazilian marketeers. Chances are good they will push Bud even more in the direction of lowest-common-denominator hop-flavored carbonated beverage aimed at the widest possible world market. Bleghh!
Just make your own!
It ends up being about the same price, you can control the quality, and it's fun!
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
Hey Tom! Yeah thanks for reminding me, but I never did get around to tasting any of those "Limited Edition" brews from Bud, they sound good though!
Dave, I have not made my own beer, but always wanted to give it a try! I do have some old bottles of wine that my grandfather made in the 1970's, that stuff is ssssmmoooooootttthhhhhh....