Paging Dr. Erxleben, World Kindness Day, and the Kill 'em with Kindness Cocktail

On this day in 1715, Dorothea Erxleben was born in Quedlinburg, Germany.  Erxleben, a bright young woman, would need to petition Frederick the Great himself, battle sexism for most of her life, and debate officials for over a year to take her final exams to eventually receive her medical degree from the University of Halle in 1754, becoming Germany's first female medical doctor.

I found the transcript (with audio) of a radio program I used to listen to by John H. Lienhard called Engines of Our Ingenuity that featured Erxleben's story.  It's a very short - but very interesting read, so please take the time to visit it here.

____________________________________________________________________

Today is World Kindness Day. Introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, it is observed in Canada, Japan, Australia, Nigeria, the UK, the UAE, Italy and India.


Per the Kindness.com.au website:

"World Kindness Day is the beginning of a global reaction to the exploitation of our human and natural resources. It could be said that the slogan for World Kindness Day might well be "Healing the World!" – and in doing so, there is the possibility of creating something so intrinsically good and wholesome, that the beneficial effects could be virtually endless."

.....

Yeah, whatever. All I know is that if one more person cuts in front of me in this Dandy Donuts line, I will END them where they stand! That said, for a total hoot, (if you have absolutely No Life and still have delusions about making things better on this god forsaken planet) - check this out: 

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas

And btfw, if you find some great idea on that site about helping humanity, Do Not Call Me.  I'll be in the park drinking Jäger out of a paper bag, listening to melodic death metal on my headphones and flicking lit cigarettes at squirrels.

The Historical Inebriant: Kill 'em with Kindness Cocktail
http://www.drinknation.com/drink/kill-em-with-kindness

Ingredients:

1 oz. Amaretto
1 oz. Irish Cream (Bailey's)
1 oz. Frangelico
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. Schnapps, butterscotch
1 spiral Syrup, caramel
1/4 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 splash Whipped cream

Make a spiral with the caramel around the inside of an Old Fashioned glass. In a shaker with ice, combine the Amaretto, Bailey's, Frangelico, Kahlua, butterscotch schnapps and vanilla extract. Strain into previously prepared glass and top with whipped cream.

_____________________________________________________________________

Movember is for Men, The 'Stache Drinking Game, and The Don't Touch My Moustache Cocktail

Shave the Date!

Welcome to Movember, the month in which men the world over begin sporting mustache's to raise awareness (and money) on the issue of men's health. Movember ( for Men + November) spotlights two male-prone illnesses -  prostate cancer and testicular cancer.  Since 2004, the Movember Foundation has raised over 300 million dollars for The Prostate Cancer Foundation and other organizations that further research, awareness and treatment of this disease.

Traditionally slow moving, the key to surviving prostate cancer is early detection and treatment. Remember that even with today's technologies, there are over 145,000 deaths annually due to prostate cancer vs. 207,000 deaths to breast cancer, and it can strike anyone.  Just to bring the point home, Johnny Ramone (of The Ramones), Earl Woods (Tiger Woods' father), the actor Jerry Orbach and the singer Dan Fogelberg all died of prostate cancer in the past few years. So, face the finger and get checked out!  'Nuff said.

Grow a stache' and spread the word that your health is important to you and at the end of the month attend one of the many shaving parties to raise funds for the fight to cure these diseases!  Or just grow one cause it's cool (winter is coming).

If you are near Stamford, CT (my hometown) one of my favorite bars Butterfield8 is hosting a Mustachio Bashio to benefit Movember with open bar from 9pm - 12am, with a prize for best 'Stache (male or female), plus raffle giveaways.  Remember, you don't need to be hairy to have a good time.  Hope to see you there!

http://www.butterfield8stamford.com/home

For more info on Movember: movember.com/   electricvisual.com/movember/   Prostate Cancer Foundation

The Historical Inebriant: Don't Touch My Moustache
http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinkuv16661.html

Ingredients:

1 oz Captain Morgan® Parrot Bay coconut rum
1 oz pineapple juice
1 oz grenadine syrup


Pour all three ingredients into a shaker half-filled with ice. Cover, shake, and strain into an old-fashioned glass full of ice.

*Per the Drinks Mixer site where this drink resides: 

"This is a popular drink at the air base where we are stationed in Japan. It's really called Do Itash Imashte which means 'you're welcome' in Japanese, but Americans say "don't touch my moustache" because they can't pronounce the Japanese version. I learned the recipe from the bartender and surprisingly I remembered it - I'd already had a few!"

Great site, please give it a visit when looking for a new cocktail!

_____________________________________________________________________

If there's no drinking game for it - does it actually occur?

The Moustache Drinking Game:

The rules are simple.  Cut out moustaches from black construction paper, tape randomly onto your TV screen and turn it on.  When the 'stache lines up with a character's upper lip, take a drink.  I would NOT recommend this game while watching split screen talking heads!

For a video simulation of the game:  http://www.themustachegame.tv/

Download the complete game rules and 'stache cut-outs here:
http://themustachegame.s3.amazonaws.com/TMG-RulesAndMustaches.pdf

Drinking Soundtrack of The Week

Two for Today.

Pink performs "Sober"

Tool (wearing pink) performs "Sober"

I love both of these songs, although marjorly stylistically different, both are great songs for the Sunday after the Saturday night.  A good friend of mine would always play them back to back, and that is how I came to know them.

Merci Benoit, je m'ennuie de toi mon bon ami.

_____________________________________________________________________

The featured drink today is one whose name has special significance. While we all know the Dark n' Stomy this variation adds a dash of water to remember those who were and are still effected by hurricane Sandy.  The drink is being served in many restaurants and bars in NYC, but many city streets are still in the dark, and may be for a while.

The Historical Inebriant: The Dark and Sandy 

Ingredients: 

4 oz. Ginger Beer
4 oz. Gosling’s Rum
1 Dash water

Place ingredients in shaker along with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour into chilled cocktail glass.

Please keep those whose lives and possessions were damaged by the storm, in your hearts.  For some it will be a very, very long road back.  Do what you can to make their struggle a little easier.  Donate food to foodbanks, donate clothes to shelters, donate money to the Red Cross. You know what to do.

Thank you.

To view all Drinking Soundtrack of the Week posts, click here and scroll down.

Malala Yousufzai Day

On this day in 2012, the country of Pakistan declared today "Malala Yousufzai Day" in honor of the 14 year girl who was shot in the head by a Taliban extremist for choosing to attend school.

Malala, an outspoken proponent for women's education in Pakistan, had known of the danger she faced as a target of the Taliban and responded “Even if they kill me, I will first say to them: what you are doing is wrong.”

Malala is recovering from her gunshot wound, and her attack has brought a global spotlight onto the plight of those worldwide who are unable to get an education. 

____________________________________________________________________

On the Cover of Rolling Stone, Has anyone seen my Darmstadtium, Who said I'm not Religious, and the Half Life Cocktail

On this day in 1967 you could walk into a newsstand and pick up the first issue of a new magazine, Rolling Stone. Started in San Francisco by Jann Wenner (who remains as the magazine's chief editor) and San Francisco Chronicle music critic Ralph Gleason, Rolling Stone would write "not just about the music, but about the things and attitudes that music embraces."

It has continued that tradition. With a host of talented writers, including gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, RS covered all the subjects that mattered to music and to us; politics, finance, entertainment, and wars all appeared in its pages.

To appear on the cover, is still one of the highest forms of praise in the music industry.

_______________________________________________________________________

On this day in 1994 the chemical element Darmstadtium (Ds) is discovered. Ds is only created in a lab, is extremely radioactive and the most stable isotope (darmstadtium-281) has a half-life of 11 seconds.

Go Figure.

For the drink - The Half Life Cocktail, but you only have 11 seconds to drink it!

http://www.cocktailmaking.co.uk/displaycocktail.php/524-half_life

__________________________________________________________________________

My brother, who will probably take over the writing of this blog should I pass away from liver failure, sent me this.  With the holiday season right around the corner, I felt spiritually obligated to pass it along.

Whisky Advent Calendar Lets You Booze In The Days

Leading Up To Christmas

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/whisky-advent-calendar_n_2094814.html

The holidays just got a little more interesting!

In the "I'll definitely drink to that column" Led Zeppelin IV and The Black Dog Cocktail

On this day in 1971, the English group Led Zeppelin would release "Led Zeppelin IV". It would become one of the landmark albums ever released worldwide and become the third-best-selling album ever in the US, with Stairway to Heaven becoming an instant hit.

The Historical Inebriant: The Black Dog Cocktail
http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/Black_Dog.asp#.UJwsYG_A_fg

Ingredients:

3 oz Bourbon
1 oz Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz Blackberry Brandy

Mix bourbon, dry vermouth and blackberry brandy with ice in a mixing glass.
Strain into an old-fashioned glass full of ice.

I heard it on the radio, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Minako Honda and The Nutcracker Cocktail

Note: This was yesterday's post but due to election coverage, I never published it.

Edwin Armstrong invented the regenerative circuit (used in radio receivers between 1920 and and 1945) while still an undergraduate at Columbia University and the superheterodyne receiver in 1918. Even though the technology he developed revolutionized radio transmissions, and is still in use today in most TV and radio receivers, you probably wouldn't recognize the name for that.

What you should know Armstrong for was that on this day in 1935, he presented his paper "A Method of Reducing Disturbances in Radio Signaling by a System of Frequency Modulation" to the New York section of the Institute of Radio Engineers and FM radio was born.

Progressive FM music stations would not come about for years to come, but when they did it provided a forum for new music in a static free clear signal.  The music you wanted to hear, the way it was meant to be heard was at your fingertips.  Rock n' Roll would never be the same.  Now that deserves a stamp!

______________________________________________________________________

As we get ready to celebrate this holiday season, remember that on this day in 1893, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky passed away.  My first experience with Tchaikovsky was hearing this composition...on the radio.

The Historical Inebriant: The Nutcracker Cocktail
http://www.absolutdrinks.com/en/drinks/nutcracker/

Ingredients:

5 Parts Cognac
1 Part Orange Flavored Brandy
4 Parts Pineapple Juice
4 Parts Coconut Liqueur
4 Parts Lemon Juice


Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

______________________________________________________________________

On this day in 2005, the Japanese singer and actress Minako Honda, would pass away at age 37 from Leukemia.

Even an Inebriant Vote Counts! Vote Early, Vote Often, Vote Well! and the best campaign ad of the year.

My nomination for best campaign ad of the year goes to Makers Mark!

Remember, Remember the 5th of November - The Gunpowder Treason and Plot, and The Vendetta Cocktail

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God's providence he was catch'd,
With a dark lantern and burning match

A corrupt government in a land where just a few institutions ruled all, where great wars devastated populations, and where the winds carried the seeds of an impending class revolt...today’s headlines maybe...but this was England in the 1600's.

On this day in 1605 a plot by a group of Catholic conspirators lead by Robert Catesby to place 36 barrels of gunpowder in the basement of the House of Lords was foiled. Disillusioned by the continued persecution of Catholics by the English monarchy, their intent was to assassinate King James I of England while he attended the annual State Opening of Parliament. Also in attendance would be most of the lawmakers of the land, the country's senior judges and most of the Protestant aristocracy.  Their goal was to blow up the building killing all inside and to install King James's daughter Princess Elizabeth, on the throne as a Catholic Queen.

Over the months it took to come up with the plan, some of the conspirators (concerned with the great loss of life that the bombing of Parliament would cause) were having second thoughts.  An anonymous letter was sent to an English nobleman informing him of the planned attack.

On the 5th of November, 1605 conspirator Guy Fawkes was captured in the basement of Parliament as he stood ready to light the fuse on the gunpowder.  The rest of the conspirators were quickly captured and executed.

While it could be argued that the fuse to the gunpowder was actually lit by King Henry VIII, who following the Catholic Pope's refusal to grant him a divorce broke away from the Catholic church and removed all papal power in England.  In the coming years, England would sway back and forth between the Catholic and Protestant churches.

Mary I, attempted to violently restore England to Catholicism through severe Protestant persecution, when Elizabeth I ascended the throne in 1558, she began a systematic course of repression and persecution of Catholics within her country to the point where the mass was abolished and any hint of sympathy to the Pope could lead to harsh penalties.  Years later, under the reign of James I, those penalties would be reduced.

Today, in England, to celebrate the discovery of the plot and the saving of the King and Parliament there are large fireworks displays and huge bonfires with the effigy of Guy Fawkes (The Guy) being burned in each of them.  It is one of the biggest parties of the year.

 

The Guy Fawkes image has been used most recently in the movie "V for Vendetta" and of course by the internet activist group "Anonymous".

“People should not be afraid of their governments,

Governments should be afraid of their people.” V

http://coverphotobox.com/covers/cool/

The Historical Inebriant: The Vendetta Cocktail

http://coloneltiki.com/?cat=4

Ingredients:

¾ oz fresh squeezed orange juice
¾ oz fresh squeezed lime juice
¼ oz vanilla syrup
¼ oz pimento dram
1½ oz tequila blanco
dash aromatic bitters
8 drops herbsaint

Mix all with 6oz fine crushed ice in top-down drinks mixer; alternately blend with 6oz regular ice in 5-one second full pulses. Pour into footed goblet or double rocks, garnish with lime wheel.

If you like making Tiki drinks at home please visit the site this drink comes from. It's a fun site with excellent Tiki drink ideas:  http://coloneltiki.com/

For more on the Gunpowder Plot:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/gunpowder_robinson_01.shtml

Need a DIY Guy Fawkes mask quick:http://s3.amazonaws.com/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-25/InnHHglhEwIGthHClBGtwtemmxltoamqyJvcqoctoelgkrsIGxCfiGxCwvcf/Guy-Fawkes-Mask-Printable.png.scaled1000.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJFZAE65UYRT34AOQ&Expires=1351983867&Signature=vPZ%2FnWZ7KYnsf3lrxE4bGcVutXI%3D