Tidbits on a Thursday

Hot Air

Global warming disappeared in January and February 2011. The global temperature anomaly was negative for two straight months. "Anomaly" means the difference of (A) the month's global average minus (B) the global average for the benchmark 1980-2010 period. IF global warming computer models were correct, such a consecutive monthly negative anomaly would not happen with a very high degree of probability. The existence of these two negative anomalies in 2011 - after a trend up for 30 years - proves the models simply are wrong and do not contain correct physics.

The "scientists" pushing those claims should be fired for either incompetence or knavery; eviscerate those grants. That's one big glob of fat in the federal government that needs to be cut now.

Just Say No

That applies to call for US intervention in Libya. First, it's the Libyans' fight; let them do it. Second, Libya is in Europe's backyard; let them do it. Just Say No. US: stay out of it.

Consolidation

News Corp. received U. K. government approval to buy satellite news service, BSkyB, leading to more consolidation in the news industry. Why this is in the public interest is beyond my feeble mental powers.

Unions

I am fiercely pro-union except when basic principles of liberty are violated. The Ohio Senate passed a bill to eliminate union powers to extract money from voters without legislative votes (aka Taxation without Representation):

"The bargaining rights of public workers in Ohio would be dramatically reduced and strikes would be banned under a bill narrowly passed by the Ohio Senate on Wednesday. ... A GOP-backed measure that would restrict the collective bargaining rights of roughly 350,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees squeaked through the state Senate on a 17-16 vote. Six Republicans sided with Democrats against the measure.

"The bill would ban strikes by public workers and establish penalties for those who do participate in walkouts. Unionized workers could negotiate wages, hours and certain work conditions — but not health care, sick time or pension benefits.The legislation would also set up a new process to settle worker disputes, giving elected officials the final say in contract disagreements. "

That's how it MUST be. Elected officials have the final say. That's what a republican form of government requires and that is mandated by the U. S. Constitution. Let's hope Ohio leads the way.

Word of the Day

"Poteen" - noun [$10] Irish, also potheen. [from Irish poitin, the diminutive of pota, meaning 'pot'.
Poteen means alcohol made illicitly, usu. from potatoes.
Sentence: My great, great, great grandfather opened a saloon in central Ohio when it was first being settled circa 1805, but I suppose he made and sold moonshine made from grain, not poteen from potatoes.

PS: I saw that word in reading Playboy of the Western World, a play by J. M. Synge written in 1907 and first performed in Dublin in the Abbey Theatre.

A Drinking Primer

After a day like yesterday, I thought a primer on drinking might help ;-)

Here are my favorite spirits and other "adult" beverages hehe.

Scotch: for a blended, Johnny Walker Blue neat in a shot glass is how I celebrate a great day in the market. Uh ... I didn't have one last evening :-( For less than a great day, I move down the Johnny Walker colors - gold, green, black and ... red. Actually I skip the red. For a single malt scotch, Glenlivit French Oak is my favorite. For a reasonably priced blended, I think Teacher's Highland Cream is best - it's often in my glass.

NOTE: For ALL whiskys or whiskeys other than Johnny Walker Blue and rums, I have them straight in a smallish ice filled glass. I let the ice melt a little before sipping so there's a bit less bite to hide the flavor.

Bourbon: I've tried almost all the premium bourbons and prefer Maker's Mark. Yes, I know it's owned by a big firm now. But I had it 25 years ago and know it's still a fine bourbon. I think it's finish is better than others, such as Knob Creek or Blanton's. For a standard bourbon, try Old Forester.

Irish: Jameson makes a fine 12 year old Irish whiskey. My old Irish bartender used to recommend it, but I think that's because at the time, Bushmill's was owned by an English firm ;-)

Rye: easy - Old Overholt is excellent and very smooth.

Canadian: easy - Crown Royal is best.

[by the way, I don't drink any standard American blended whiskeys - I either choose a straight rye or a bourbon, depending on my mood.]

Rum: British Navy Pusser's Rum is superb, and the best by far. Other fine rums are Plantation rums of Trinidad or other coppery-gold colored rums of Barbados made with sugar cane or pure cane juice. Put a small chunk of lime in your ice filled glass and wipe its rim with the lime, too.

Vodka: premium Polish grain vodkas are my favorites. If having it straight, I drink it freezer cold - 0 degrees F - in a shot glass. Have some buttered bread or tasty deli meat with it.

Gin: I like Tanqueray, but the other premium gins such as Bombay or Beefeaters are fine, too.

Port: Buy any "Late Bottled Vintage" port - these are superb and less costly than a Vintage Port.

Sherry: Try either a good Spanish sherry or Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry.

Vermouth: for my World's Finest Martini, use the French White "Lillet", an aperitif wine. It has a soft gold color and a far superior flavor to common vermouths

[Note: for my World's Finest Martini recipe, see my post of February 4, 2007. Also, for this special recipe, I use Gordon's gin and vodka since those were what James Bond specified. Those are inexpensive, but still produce a fine, fine martini as the flavor comes from the Lillet]

Liqueurs: There are many, many fine liqueurs. I like B&B, Drambuie and Cointreau.

Wine: I prefer a full bodied, flavorful red wine such as the Australian Shiraz.

Beer: The locally brewed Ipswich Ale is really super - a non-pasteurized British-stye "real" ale that must be kept cold. Otherwise, I drink St. Pauli Girl, a fine German lager.

There - now you can stock your bar with only tested, quality brands - certified by Bunkerman ;-)