Much of the last season was taken up with the election of Jed Bartlett’s successor and I think the writers and directors did an excellent job of getting across the intensity and exhaustion of a political campaign. I’ve never been involved with this kind of campaign, so I have no way of knowing whether or not the picture they drew was accurate, but it certainly seemed to me that they had an insider’s knowledge of what a political machine looks like.

The foreshadowing of the Obama election was, I think, fortuitous but nonetheless it was very interesting. By putting forward two fairly moderate candidates, a centrist Democrat and a centrist Republican, they portrayed what everyone assumed would be the outcome of the 2008 campaign. Of course, as it turns out, John McCain refused to play the role for which he had been preparing his whole career, and instead attempted to run a very right wing campaign.

The genius of The West Wing, I think, is that they portray politics as we wish it would be, rather than as it really is. How wonderful to have a president as thoughtful, rounded and creative as the role models that Aaron Sorkin and his writers put forward for us. I hope (and suspect), that Barack Obama will turn out to be just such a President. Of course, time will tell.

But occasionally I take over the cooking duties, and the result is often my infamous beer can chicken on the grill. One of the greatest recipes in the world, at least for everyone except the poor unfortunate chicken.

Why is this recipe so much more intrusive for the chicken? After all, most chicken recipes end badly for the chicken. But this one’s particularly undignified.

First, open a can of beer. You need to empty it about halfway, and it’s up to you how to achieve that. I usually don’t drink it, since I tend to grab one straight from the cupboard so it’s still warm. In that case, pour half the can into a foil pan, which you’re going to use as a drip pan to avoid flare ups on the grill. With one of those sharp little triangle can openers, poke two more holes in the top of the can.

Now load up the can with a bunch of spices; I usually toss a bunch of Tabasco Chipotle in there, along with garlic powder and BBQ spices. It’s an inexact science, but be heavy-handed. After you’ve rinsed the chicken, find the big open end (in other words, the end that isn’t where its head used to be), and carefully lower the chicken onto the can. It’s going to wobble, so we’ll add to the poor bird’s indignity by using its legs as the other two supports for a sort of tripod. There you go, now it’s as stable as … well, as stable as a chicken with a can of beer up its butt.

By this time, your grill should be ready to go. What, you didn’t light it yet? I guess not, since I forgot to mention it. So, assuming you’re part of the pure, holy and upright believers in charcoal, not gas, for a real grill experience, bank charcoal on each side of the previously mentioned foil pan. If you drank the beer, pour a cup or so of water in the bottom of the foil pan.

Once the coals are greying over, place the chicken securely in the tripod position above the drip pan. It’s always worth using some sort of spice mix or dry rub on the chicken, and some soaked wood chips on the charcoal, but even without the refinements it’ll be pretty good. Close the lid, make sure there’s a small vent open on top for air flow, and walk away for about 80 minutes or so. When you come back, you’ll find a beautifully cooked chicken, moist and delicious because it’s been simultaneously roasted by the charcoal and steamed by the spiced beer.

Remove your creation carefully, because both the chicken and the beer are very hot by now. I find the easiest way is to grab it with a pair of tongs tucked under the wings, and then slide a spatula under the can. Lift it carefully onto a plate or serving dish held nearby by a willing helper (you’ve got both hands full remember) and go and wow your guests.

Oh, and if you insist on a gas grill … I assume it’ll work fine, so long as you set it up for indirect cooking. But really, get yourself a charcoal grill.

I’m in the middle of an interesting proposal for a client that wants to experiment with online advertising for their organization. This will be a new departure for them, since most of their previous communications have been free media and direct mail. I’m curious to see how successful a pay per click campaign will be for them … from the reading I’ve done, it seems that the most effective online advertising involves a call to action, but they’re interested in a branding campaign. I’m happy to do the proposal for them, but I’m not convinced it’s a great idea.

In other news … my wife and I pretty much gave up watching TV some years ago. We simply don’t have the time or the interest, so other than the news occasionally we very rarely watch anything. Before we stopped watching, we’d begun to caught up in The West Wing and had greatly enjoyed it. While we were at a friend’s house for dinner last week, he showed us the room they’d just set up as a sort of home theater (not as fancy as it sounds, just a biggish TV and a well-positioned couch, but still pretty neat).

He’s a big TV & movie fan, and has boxed sets of DVDs of all the West Wing seasons … so we borrowed the first two seasons and are slowly working our way through them. Wow, what a great show that was. We’re just at the point that Jed Bartlet chooses his Vice-President pick and is taken aback to get a “I’ll have to think about that” from the guy he beat for the nomination. More about The West Wing in further posts I imagine.

I really don’t mind, although I’m annoyed that I can’t hook up to the WiFi here for some reason … I’ll just have to write a text file and post it to the blog later.

Oh, yes … this blog? Well, years ago I registered this domain and then did precisely nothing with it … so I finally decided to just start writing a blog and I’ll see how it progresses. As I mentioned on my about page, I’m the owner of a small consulting business, and I help non-profit organizations with their communications, fundraising and marketing. I spent several years working inside a large organization, and I’m relieved to have moved out on my own at last.

After all, it allows me the freedom to schedule my time, taking time out during the day to drive my wife and kids around and … hang on! Maybe an office job wasn’t so bad after all.