Bayerische Motoren Werke, Left Handers Day, The Lufthansa drinking game and the Southpaw Cocktail

 

On this day in 1918, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) became a public company in Germany. Rapp Motorenwerke, an aircraft engine manufacturer during WWI, was required to cease engine production as one of the terms of the Versailles Armistice Treaty. It would emerge in 1918 as a motorcycle maker and in 1928 would begin the production of automobiles.

The distinctive blue and white BMW logo combines the blue and white colors of the flag of Bavaria, and, as the story goes it pays homage to Rapp Motorenwerke by portraying the movement of a white aircraft propeller cutting through a blue sky.

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Today is International Lefthanders Day
http://www.lefthandersday.com/

Today is the day when we recognize those who come at things from a slightly different angle, the Leftys, the Southpaws, the Ciotógach. Let’s increase our awareness of those who need a different tool than rightys to do just about anything (except the standard drinking glass). To promote a constructive dialog understanding I suggest a drinking game...a (possibly) left handed drinking game.

This is a real drinking game called “Buffalo”. Why anyone would call a left handed drinking game Buffalo is beyond me, which is why I changed the name to “Lufthansa”. At least that sounds like “left-handed” in another language. The rules are fairly simple and involve which hand you may use to drink.

You can hold your drink with either hand, but may only drink from it with your non-dominant hand. If any other Lufthansa players spot you drinking with your dominant hand, they call “Lufthansa!” on you and you must finish your drink as quickly as possible. If you hesitate to finish your drink, the other players join in chanting “Lufthansa, Lufthansa!" and banging on the table until you finish.

If you call Lufthansa on somebody when they are actually drinking with their proper hand or not drinking an alcoholic drink, they may return with a call of "False Lufthansa” (Fansche Lufthansa!) and you are obligated to finish your own drink. If the caller does not currently possess a drink, the False caller must drink the nearest alcoholic drink available. Special care must be made when drinking with left-handed players because of this rule.

Sounds simple enough, right? Talk to me after you drink your fourth Cosmo (gasp) with the sound of “Lufthansa, Lufthansa" ringing in your ears!

The Historical Inebriant: The Southpaw Cocktail

http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinks1r5074.html

Ingredients:

2 oz Bacardi® Big Apple rum
1 oz bourbon whiskey
1 oz Smirnoff® watermelon vodka
1/3 tsp lemon juice
1/3 tsp lime juice
2 tsp sugar
6 oz orange juice


Pour apple rum, bourbon, and watermelon vodka into a shaker with a handful of ice, add lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, and sugar. Shake thoroughly, then strain into a frosted collins glass.

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Happy Birthday Dan

Stormaktstiden, The Battleship Vasa, Chocolate Salty Balls, and Some Great 404 Error Messages

http://www.south24.co.uk/pics.htm

On this day in 1628, The Swedish warship Vasa would launch on its maiden voyage. One of the largest and most heavily armed warships of its time it was the symbol of "stormaktstiden" (age of greatness) in Sweden -which had grown from a relatively poor European kingdom to one of major influence on the continent.


After being towed along the waterfront to the southern side of the harbor, three of Vasa's sails were set, and the maiden voyage had begun. As a slight gust of wind filled its sails, the vessel tilted suddenly to port. The Sails were immediately lowered and Vesa righted herself. Another another gust came, however, forced the ship to its port side but this time so far that water rushed into its open lower gun ports. With the added weight of the water the Vesa tilted over further, took on more water and sank only 400 feet from shore.


The story of the salvage of the Vesa is an interesting one worth reading if you have time.  It is now housed in a museum that has become one of Sweden's most popular tourist attractions.
http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/

The Historical Inebriant: The Shipwreck

http://www.barnonedrinks.com/drinks/s/shipwreck-1-6681.html

Ingredients:

1/2 oz. Malibu Rum
1/2 oz. Midori
1/2 oz. Grenadine
2 oz. Orange Juice
2 oz. Pineapple Juice

Shake with ice (except grenadine) and strain into a highball glass. Top off with grenadine.

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In doing some digging for photos of the Vesa I came across the following image -

Also a website that lists some very interesting takes on the 404 error messages we all love:
http://www.web3mantra.com/tag/best-404-pages/

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On this day in 2008, American singer and actor Isaac Hayes, passed away after suffering a stroke. Hayes won Academy Award for Best Original Song for the "Theme from Shaft", and co-wrote the song "Soul Man" made popular by The Blues Brothers. Although he may be best remembered as the voice of Chef on the animated series South Park.

Two years, two months, and two days without Internet access and the Betty Boop Shot

On this day in 1854, – Henry David Thoreau published Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Later to be known simply as Walden, it would be the literary result of his a two year, two month, and two day retreat from "Over Civilization" in English-style 10' × 15' cottage in the woods near Walden Pond.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."
— Henry David Thoreau

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.
Henry David Thoreau

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.
Henry David Thoreau

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On this day in 1930, Betty Boop would make made her cartoon debut in Dizzy Dishes.

The Historical Inebriant: The Betty Boop Shot

http://www.mixeddrinkrecipes.net/recipes/display/26253/

Ingredients:

1/2 shot of Patron
1/2 shot of Peachtree Schnapps
1 shot cranberry juice

Mix in shaker with crushed ice, strain into a shot glass.  Makes 2-3 shots

 

I still haven't found what I'm looking for and The Irish Blonde

On this day in 1987, the Irish band U2 reaches the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the final time with the song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” which remained for two weeks on the top spot.

The Historical Inebriant: The Irish Blonde

http://cocktails.about.com/od/whiskeyrecipes/a/irish_blond.htm

Ingredients:

2 oz. Michael Collins Irish Whiskey
3/4 oz. orange curacao
1/4 oz. Fino sherry
1 dash of orange bitters

Add first four ingredients to a mixing glass and add ice. Stir to chill and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a flamed orange peel expressed over the cocktail.

The Ultimate 1909 Roadtrip and the Sidecar Cocktail

On this day in 1909, Alice Huyler Ramsey, 22 year old housewife and mother, Vassar '07 graduate, and the daughter of a lumber dealer, would complete the road trip of all road trips.  Leaving from New York City, Ramsey, accompanied by her two older sisters-in-law and another female friend (none of whom could drive a car) would arrive 59 days and 3800 miles later in San Francisco, California.

The idea of an all women cross country road trip came from an automobile executive of the Maxwell-Briscoe Company. Having witnessed Ramsey's driving skills firsthand in a 200 mile endurance drive from New Jersey to Montauk, he proposed the idea of an expense paid road trip to show the world that the Maxwell automobile was so reliable, it could take anyone - even *gasp* a woman driver cross country.

The trip did not pass without incident. Less than 200 miles of the trip were on paved roads, the rest were dirt and if it rained muddy roads amounting to large cow paths. There were 11 tire changes, transmission problems, and fouled spark plugs. Not to mention trying to find places to eat and sleep in the small towns of America in 1909. Once, when the car became stuck in the mud by a flooded stream they had to sleep in the car until the water subsided.

   

For more info:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/womens-history/The-Centennial-of-Alice-Ramseys-Drive.html

The Historical Inebriant: The Sidecar 

http://www.esquire.com/drinks/sidecar-drink-recipe

Ingredients: 

3/4 ounce Cointreau
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1 1/2 ounces cognac

Shake well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass that has had its outside rim rubbed with lemon juice and dipped in sugar.

I swear this drink is watered down, and The Rosiland Russell Aquavit Cocktail

On this day in 1926, 20 year old American swimmer Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim across the English Channel. The daughter of a butcher and a Gold Medal winner at the 1924 Summer Olympics in the 400 meter freestyle the time of her swim (14 hours and 39 minutes) was almost an hour faster than the previous men's record.

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Also on this day in 1926, Harry Houdini performs perhaps his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a coffin before being brought up. In response to questions about the stunt being rigged Houdini responded, "there is no invention to it, there is no trick, there is no fake; you simply lie down in a coffin and breathe quietly."
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On this day in 1986, A storm that developed off the coast of The New South Wales coast drops 13 inches of rain in a 24 hour period over Sydney.

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It's a water theme today, and when I think of water I think Aqua and when I think Aqua I think Aquavit.

The Historical Inebriant: The Rosiland Russell -

http://www.tree.com/food-dining/aquavit.aspx              Aquavit Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 oz. aquavit
1 oz. dry vermouth
A twist of lemon peel.

Shake the vermouth and aquavit in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with the lemon peel.

A letter from North America and the Postman Drink

On this day in 1527, the very first letter from North America is sent by explorer John Rut in St. John's, Newfoundland to King Henry VIII in England.  Remember writing letters?  Here is the opening:

"Pleasing your Honourable Grace to heare of your servant John Rut with all his company here in good health thanks be to God..."

The Historical Inebriant: The Postman

http://www.drinknation.com/drink/the-postman

Ingredients: 

1 oz. 151 Rum
2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Cranberry Juice
1 splash Grenadine
2 oz. Orange Juice

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a highball glass over ice.

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On this day in 1913, in one of the hottest summers ever, what would come to be known as the Wheatland Hop Riot, starts in Wheatland, California. The 640 acre Durst Ranch, advertised it needed workers during the three week hop harvest but when 2800 men, women, and children arrived seeking work, they found only 1500 jobs and the promised pay rate cut...

I tried to write about this event but it proved to be a bit long for today's post,  I will post it over the weekend since I find it interesting.  If you have time, view it on wiki.

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On this day in 2007, Queen guitarist Brian May handed in his astronomy PhD thesis at Imperial College in London, 36 years after he abandoned it to join Queen.

As always, have a great and safe weekend!

The Battle of Drunk River and The Cold River Shimmer

On this day in 1377, a large force of Russian troops are defeated by a smaller Mongol force in the Battle on Pyana River. Russia at that time was a land ruled by princes who would normally fight amongst themselves for power and land, but when they learned the Mongols were planning to invade the town of Nizhny Novgorod they banded together and all set forces to meet and repel the invaders.

The combined forces assembled in an area some distance from the river and waited for the Mongols to arrive, but it was August and it was hot. After a few days the troops decided to withdraw to the river to seek refuge from the heat and they also decided to seek out some alcohol to pass the time before the impending battle. When they came upon stores of Mead, ale, and beer from the locals, the party began.

As the Mongol force drew closer, they were informed of the drunk state of the Russian troops and decided to split up into five groups and surround the defending army. In the early morning of August 2nd, the Mongols launched a surprise attack and found the Russian forces either still drunk or very hung over.

Surrounded on all sides and unable to organize, most of the Russians were killed and the their commanders who tried to flee, drowned crossing the Pyana river.

Origianlly called the Piana River it became known as the Pyana (drunk) River after the battle.

The Historical Inebriant: The Cold River Shimmer

http://www.mainedistilleries.com/cold-river-gin-recipes.html

Ingredients: 

2 1/2 oz Cold River Gin
1 oz Elderflower syrup
3 oz Prosecco

Shake and strain gin & syrup, top with Prosecco.  Garnish with candied ginger

Lughnasadh, Handfastings and Bilberry Vodka

Lughnasadh, the traditional Gaelic harvest festival begins today. Originally begun by the mythic sun god Lugh as a funeral feast with sporting competitions in commemoration of his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who cleared the plains of Ireland and made them suitable for planting but later died of exhaustion.

It is a festival with tests of strength and endurance, the eating of special (fertile) cakes and of course drinking. Bonfires are lit (in the past the ashes from these fires were used to bless the fields) and the hills are scoured for wild bilberries that are used to make wine.

 

My favorite tradition of Lughnasadh is the handfastings, a somewhat trial marriage contract generally lasting a year and a day. When the year is over both parties have the option to renew with a formal marriage or simply walk away with no hard feelings.

Folklorist Máire MacNeill writes in her book The Festival of Lughnasa:

A solemn cutting of the first of the corn of which an offering would be made to the deity by bringing it up to a high place and burying it; a meal of the new food and of bilberries of which everyone must partake; a sacrifice of a sacred bull, a feast of its flesh, with some ceremony involving its hide, and its replacement by a young bull; a ritual dance-play perhaps telling of a struggle for a goddess and a ritual fight; an installation of a head on top of the hill and a triumphing over it by an actor impersonating Lugh; another play representing the confinement by Lugh of the monster blight or famine; a three-day celebration presided over by the brilliant young god or his human representative. Finally, a ceremony indicating that the interregnum was over, and the chief god in his right place again.

The Historical Inebriant: Jewel of Russia Bilberry
                                                        Infused Vodka

http://www.jewelofrussia.com/p_wild_bilberry_detail.cfm

For your own DIY bilberry infused liquor:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/3291385/Readers-recipes-bilberries.html