On this day in 1420, Venetian troops capture Udine, ending the independence of the Patriarchal State of Friuli. (see our April 3rd post "Free Friuli" - perhaps my worst written post of this blog - but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Friuli)
On this day in 1832, the second Asian cholera epidemic (1827-1835), brought by Irish immigrants reaches , Canada.
At first read, I didn't understand the correlation between alcohol (Ardent Spirits) and Cholera until I realized that one of the major symptoms of Cholera is extreme diarrhea and vomiting which can lead to rapid dehydration (and possibly death) which alcohol would certainly not help. I do appreciate the nod to those who may not be able to go cold turkey..."if habit have rendered them indispensable,...take much less than usual". Which leads me to the next event.
On this day in 1899 – American Temperance crusader Carrie Nation starts her campaign against alcohol-serving establishments by destroying the inventory in
Dobson's Saloon by throwing rocks at the bottles, while announcing "Men, I have come to save you from a drunkard's fate."
The story goes that Nation was the recipient of a divine visitation asking her to "Take something in your hands, and throw at these places in Kiowa (Kansas) and smash them." After destryoning Dobson's and two other bars in Kiowa, a large tornado hit eastern Kansas, which according to her memoirs she took as divine approval of her actions. Later in her saloon killing career she took up a hatchet against the bottles containing demon drink.
(While to honor Carrie Nation this drink is non-alcoholic I would add 2 parts Vodka!)
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On a local note, on this day in 1965, The Supreme Court hands down its decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, legalizing the use of contraception by married couples. I had to read that one three times to make sure I was not missing anything!
Connecticut had on it's books a law from 1879 that prohibited the use of "any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception." Since it was rarely if ever enforced, it was never really challenged. Until Planned Parenthood wanted to move into the neighborhood.
In a 7-2 decision the court ruled the law was unconstitutional in regards to violating the unwritten but implied right to privacy as conveyed in the bill of rights.
In writing his dissenting opion, Justice Potter Stewart described the Connecticut statute "an uncommonly silly law" but argued that it was nevertheless constitutional.
While I am a firm believer in alcohol being an anti-contraceptive, I did find this silly drink of equal parts
of Rye and Gin.
On this day in 1883, the maiden train service from Paris to Istanbul begins. It is named 'Express d'Orient" or The Orient Express. Riders could now leave Paris, travel through Strasbourg onto Munich, past Vienna, going through Budapest and Bucarest and arrive at Istanbul.
While it would not be until the 1930's that the train service reached its heights of elegance and luxury, the 1883 route was a milestone in linking almost all of continental Europe from shore to shore.
Put cinnamon and sugar, mixed, on the rim of a cocktail glass. Add the Smirnoff, Frangelico, Bailey's, and espresso to the glass and mix thoroughly. Add cream to taste, and serve
On this day in 1956 – Elvis Presley performs his new single, "Hound Dog", live, on The Milton Berle Show. His his suggestive hip movements during the performance shocked the audience and earning him the nickname of "Elvis the Pelvis".
Oh, what if that audience could have of seen the likes of Jim Morrison, Ozzie Osborne and Janet Jackson coming around the bend?
On this day in 1812, post Louisiana's admittance as a U.S. state, the Louisiana Territory is renamed the Missouri Territory.
As a side note On March 2, 1819, much of the Missouri Territory was designated the new Territory of Arkansaw. I bet you can guess where this is going can't you?
On this day in 1495 - Friar John Cor, a distiller at Lindores Abbey in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland, records an order for scotch whisky to be delivered to King Henry VII. It is the first written mention of scotch in history.
“To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae VIII bolls of malt.” Exchequer Rolls 1494–95
The Historical Inebriant: A nice 500 year old Scotch
Aqua vitae is Latin for "water of life". Funny how some things never change.
(The official drink of beauty pageant contestants everywhere)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Bombay Sapphire® gin
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1 splash elderflower syrup
2 drops Blue Curacao liqueur
2 drops almond syrup
Place all the liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the white chocolate dove (or bird of choice).
A creation of master mixologist Jonathan Pogash for the World Bar opposite the United Nations in New York. Sells for $15.00 with 15% being donated directly to the UN's peace keeping efforts. A blue cocktail with the chocolate white dove of peace!
"We are using cocktail diplomacy to help bring about peace to an increasingly restless world." Mark Grossich, CEO of Hospitality Holdings.
Give Peace a Chance
Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism This-ism, that-ism, ism ism ism All we are saying is give peace a chance All we are saying is give peace a chance
(C'mon) Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout Minister, Sinister, Banisters and Canisters, Bishops, Fishops, Rabbis, and Pop Eyes, Bye bye, Bye byes All we are saying is give peace a chance All we are saying is give peace a chance
(Let me tell you now) Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout Revolution, Evolution, Masturbation, Flagellation, Regulation, Integrations, mediations, United Nations, congratulations All we are saying is give peace a chance All we are saying is give peace a chance
Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary, Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper, Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna Hare Hare Krishna All we are saying is give peace a chance All we are saying is give peace a chance
(Repeat 'til the tape runs out)
Note: Two sites that I use listed the date of recording as May 31st, two others listed it as June 1st. (noticed it after I wrote the post). If the date is actually June 1st, please drink two World Peace Cocktails and do whatever you can in your life to promote World Peace (twice).
On this day in 1431, 19 year old Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. After leading the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War against England, (see our 5/7 post - "A war cry against you as shall be remembered forever"), she was captured by the Burgundians (another reason I don't drink wine), sold to the English, put on trial and burned at the stake as a heretic.
Twenty-five years later an inquisitorial court authorized by Pope Callixtus III reviewed the trial, and declared her an innocent and a martyr.
On this day in 1806, Charles Dickinson (an expert marksman and duelist) falls dead from a shot fired by Andrew Jackson in a duel. The two had been arguing for months about a wager on a horse race and the supposed accusation Dickinson had made of bigamy towards Jackson's wife. If you have time, please read the hyperlink story.
1968 was a heady time for much of the world. Mayor Daley had his Chicago. Alexander Dubček had his Prague Spring, but Charles de Gaulle had his hands full with May in Paris.
On May 29th, President Charles de Gaulle boards a helicopter, reportedly to fly to his summer home in Colombey. He leaves behind a capital city in chaos, Paris streets are barricaded by rioters, major universities are closed and almost all of the countries' workers are on a wildcat strike. When it was finally reported that the helicopter never arrived in Colombey but touched down in Baden-Baden, Germany, at the headquarters of the French military there, rumors abounded of resignation. Meanwhile, back in Paris, as the black smoke of documents being burned rose from the chimneys of Élysée Palace, the members of government were considering how to get out of town before the rioters stormed the building.
On this day in 1968, Charles de Gaulle reappears publicly after his sudden flight to Baden-Baden, (where he secured the full support of the French military) and announces he is dissolving the French National Assembly and calls for new elections to begin on June 23rd. Immediately after the announcement, approximately one million of his supporters march on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The Mouvement du 22 Mars (Movement of 22 March) was over.
On this day in 1954, the first of the annual Bilderberg conferences began. Named not for a family but for the hotel where the first meeting was held, the conference is an annual, invitation only meeting of roughly 150 of the most influential people in North America and Europe. The attendee list is done by committee and security for this little soirée is very tight so if you don't get your engraved invitation, don't even think of pulling a Salahi, as even some political "A" listers have been turned away.
Concerned by the wave of anti-Americanism in Europe (remember the term Ugly American) Polish politicians Józef Retinger and Andrew Nielsen, first proposed the idea of a conference to foster a better understanding between the cultures of the United States and Western Europe and cooperation on political, economic, and defense issues. It would also be a venue for leaders of government, industry, finance and labor to meet and talk regarding their issues and concerns honestly, face to face, without media involvement. (The meetings would be closed to the public and the media with no press conferences stating what was discussed.)
Retinger met with Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, who liked and agreed to promote the idea. Prince Bernhard brought in former Belgian Prime Minister Paul Van Zeeland, and Paul Rijkens who was then head of Unilever. Together with the Eisenhower administration in the US, the meeting was on.
A guest list was to be drawn up by inviting two attendees from each nation, one from the conservative and one from the liberal points of view. Fifty delegates from 11 countries in Western Europe would be in attendance, along with 11 Americans. The meeting was a great success and has been held ever since.
But while the point of American/Western European solidarity during the years of the Cold War may have been a great idea, the conspiracy theorists have a field day with it's present day agenda. Google Bilderberg and you will get results ranging from the establishment of a single world currency to the embedding of every human on earth with a microchip, to a plan to rid the world of 80% of its population. The group itself is compared to the Freemason's, the Illuminati, and the end of days. In fact, US radio host Alex Jones, stood on the street and heckled one meeting through a megaphone: "We know you are ruthless. We know you are evil. We respect your dark power."
I'm not sure of much when it comes to the group's meetings, save for the fact that they are the
world's most sought after networking invite and I probably won't be receiving mine anytime soon!
Just coming off of our own Memorial Day, I wanted to write a short piece about this group of men and women who are neither revolutionaries, nor the oppressed - neither zealots, nor the established regime; they are there to simply stand directly in harms way and try to keep the peace. Unfortunately, since it's beginnings in 1948, nearly 3,000 peacekeepers have lost their lives to that one noble cause.
I do not know a single member of your force, but I salute you and your endeavors
and morn those whom you have lost.
The Historical Inebriant: Peach Treaty (in a play on words with Peace Treaty this drink was created by Jason Beatty)
2 cl Orange Blossom Honey with Water [about 3/4 oz]
1 1/2 cl Lemon Juice [about 1/2 oz]
3 Ice Spheres with Violets Frozen Within
Add ice spheres into glass. Add ingredients into mixing glass with separate ice and shake vigorously. Strain ingredients over ice spheres into glass. Garnish with lemon wheel.
In 585 BC the Persian Medes and the Anatolian Lydians were in their fifth year of war in the land that is now Turkey.
On this day in 585 the final battle, fought at the river Halys, was brought to an abrupt end when the warriors - witnessing a total solar eclipse - perceived the darkness as an omen from the gods to stop fighting and laid down their arms. After the Battle of the Eclipse, a truce was agreed to and the river Halys became the border between the two countries.
On this day, we take a moment to remember and honor all who served.
The Historical Inebriant: Cheers to all who now serve
