Saved comments for June 2019

[neonvincent]

As I promised yesterday, I'm posting the saved comments I left at other blogs today.  Click on the cut to read them.

My comment on The Zeitgeist Knows.

The trade wars are having economic effects on all levels. On the macro level, experts on CNBC say tariffs on Chinese goods will reduce GDP and cause inflation. That didn't animate my readers much. Instead, they were more concerned that tariffs on Chinese imports will prompt Dollar Tree to raise prices. That hit them directly in their wallets and they were upset!


My comment on The Pettiness of a Tiny Man

This whole incident reminds me that Donald Trump won two Razzie Awards, one for Worst Actor and a second for Worst Screen Combo along with "His Self Perpetuating Pettiness." Nothing like confirming that the Razzie voters were right!


My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 118.

"The bartender is mixing something cool."

Yes, I am. Since yesterday was Cognac Day and today is Moonshine Day, I will be posting recipes that alternate between the two ingredients. I'm starting with cognac by mixing the Cognac Old Fashioned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEKbumKa5xg

A manly old school drink with a new twist for a new generation of drinkers...THE COGNAC OLD FASHIONED! This one is a variation of a true classic, and the taste is on point. The cognac combined with the sugar and bitters gives a unique, robust flavor. Try it!
...
COGNAC OLD FASHIONED
2 oz Cognac
1 tsp Sugar
2 Dashes Bitters
Orange Wedge
Cherry
Crushed Ice

Now for the moonshine recipe, Jolly Rancher Moonshine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nNMOOVwtM0

Here's the recipe:

JOLLY RANCHER MOONSHINE
40 oz. (1200ml) Everclear
2 oz. (60ml) Grenadine
8 oz. (240ml) Lemon Lime Soda
Cherry Jolly Ranchers

PREPARATION
1. Drop jolly rancher candies into base of mason jar and pour over everclear.
2. Add grenadine and top with lemon lime soda.
3. Let sit, shaking periodically until jolly ranchers have completely dissolved.
DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

It's time to return to a cognac recipe, so here's Hennything is Possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNPROuuKNvs

We get crazy with Hennessy!
...
HENNYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Yellow Layer:
1 1/2 oz. (45 ml) Hennessy
1 oz. (30 ml) Triple Sec
2 oz. (60 ml) Orange Juice
1 oz. (30 ml) Pineapple Juice

Red Layer:
1 1/2 oz. (45 ml) Hennessy
1 oz. (30 ml) Sweet Revenge
1 oz. (30 ml) Strawberry Daiquiri Mix
3 oz. (90 ml) Fruit Punch

Garnish:
1 Hennessy Mini Bottle
Orange Slice
Maraschino Cherry

Since today is National Rosé Day, I'm passing on the moonshine recipe and going directly to a rosé concocktion, Frozé.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJEfqG-F-Y

Here's the recipe:

FROZÉ
1 Bottle of Rose
2 oz. (60ml) Vodka
Splash Grenadine
2 Cups Strawberries
1 Tbsp Sugar
Ice Cube Tray

PREPARATION
1. Pour rose into ice cube trays and allow to freeze.
2. Add strawberries to base of blender and sprinkle with sugar. Leave to sit for a few minutes.
3. Add vodka, grenadine and rose cubes. Blend to slushy consistency. Enjoy responsibly!

My comment on Going Where, Exactly?

Welcome to the world of Nothing But Flowers, the Talking Heads song about a post-industrial America. At least I know what song to sing when I read this essay.


My comment on Sometimes Things Turn.

"America performed splendidly in World War Two, rescuing Europe and Asia from manifest evil" - That reminds me that last Thursday was the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. Time to reflect on when the U.S. was at the peak of its power and used it for good.

"[T]he slow, demoralizing dismantling of the very industry that made the 20th century America’s moment in history" — Andrew Yang thinks universal basic income is the solution to automation and deindustrialization. That's a science-fiction solution to a science-fiction problem. Of course, that assumes that business as usual will continue, not an assumption most of the readers of this blog share.


My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 119.

Yay, a request! One sazarac coming right up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvM2aokmA0U

The official cocktail of New Orleans, the Sazerac is a potent combination of rye whiskey, Peychaud's bitters, Absinthe, and sugar.

Today is National Bourbon Day, so I'll be sharing bourbon recipes from here on out unless someone makes a request. I begin with Cherry Bourbon and Cola - Tipsy Bartender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puFqqWb6Lc0

This one uses bourbon, cherry heering, and cola to give it its smooth and crisp flavor!

Today's drink is Not Your Momma's Old Fashioned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Fyhk05y08Here's the recipe:

NOT YOUR MAMA’S OLD FASHIONED
2 oz. (60ml) Banana Infused Bourbon [1 bottle bourbon, 2 ripe bananas]
½ oz. (15ml) Amaro Montenegro
½ oz. (15ml) Spiced Syrup [nutmeg, vanilla bean, allspice, cloves, simple syrup]
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashes Orange Spice Root Bitters
Lemon Peel
Garnish: Grated Nutmeg

PREPARATION
1. Combine banana bourbon, amaro, spiced syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass and stir with ice.
2. Strain mix into a rocks glass over ice and express a lemon peel around the rim.
3. Garnish with grated nutmeg. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

Since today is Father's Day, I'm serving a recipe for the occasion, Father's Day Jager Bomb Jello Shots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2w8cjoWiIMA simple, delicious adult treat in time for Father's Day... JAGER BOMB JELLO SHOTS! You'll look like a modern-day genius walking in with these bad boys!

...
RECIPE
=======
Maraschino Cherries(with stems)
2 cups Red Bull
2 envelopes Unfavored Gelatin
1/2 cup Jagermeister

-Spray a cupcake tray with nonstick spray
-Slice off bottom of cherries so they're able to stand upright
-Place cherries in the center of each tin
-Mix Red Bull and gelatin in a pot to heat up, stirring occasionally
-Allow mixture to cool
-Pour half the Red Bull gelatin mixture into 1/2 cup Jager
-Slowly pour Jager mix into cupcake tray filling each tin about halfway up each cherry and allow to cool in the fridge for about an hour
-Slowly pour cooled Red Bull gelatin mixture the rest of the way, enough to cover each cherry
-Let it cool in fridge for at least a few hours before serving

My comment on The Truth Versus Your Truth.

Hi, K-Dog! I enjoyed reading both "Brittle Transparency" and "Collapse Is With Us And It Is Here To Stay" at your blog just now. I'd like to tie the latter post into your observation about diminishing returns leading to collapse. In the entry about collapse, you wrote "Overpopulation has caused environmental degradation and resource depletion to a degree that will now prevent existing arrangements to continue." Diminishing returns on having children is starting to slow down overpopulation, at least in developing countries, as U.S. birth and fertility rates continue falling and setting record lows. Americans, Europeans, and east Asians are doing their part to slow the rise of P in I=P*A*T! Of course, that isn't happening without a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth, first on the part of economists who think that underpopulation will cause economies based on expanding populations to stagnate and shrink and second on the part of ordinary Americans would would like to have children and grandchildren but can't afford to. Not everyone is a proponent of zero population growth like me and even I am thinking I should be careful what I wish for, I might not like how I get it.

You also wrote "The most significant waste product of resource depletion, carbon dioxide begins reversal of the green revolution before supply chains disruption from depletion ends the energy and fossil fuel inputs on which modern agriculture depends." The most purposeful plan to mitigate this and retool the economy that seems to have any mainstream political energy in the U.S. is the Green New Deal. I admit it's nowhere near enough and has strong partisan opposition, but it is a good first step and better than allowing things to take their current course that seems to be the main alternative.


My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 120

Since today is National Martini Day and Friday is the Summer Solstice, I'll be serving martinis and summer drinks all week. I begin with the Pink Starburst Martini from Tipsy Bartender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFlnsWGY770

This drink tastes just like a pink starburst. Watch as Kendra helps me make this one!

Sorry about that. What about some food? Today is Juneteenth, so I'm also sharing Thrillist Celebrates Juneteenth by sharing The Best Foods To Celebrate Juneteenth With.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBkKLD-mWcY

July 4 isn't the only Independence Day worth celebrating in America. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is celebrated all over America for the emancipation from slavery in the United States that occurred on June 19, 1865. Families across the country celebrate by breaking out their barbecues and cooking up some of their favorite bites. Here at Thrillist, we take a look at all the foods that are dished out and how you can celebrate as well.

How about a martini that is also a summer drink? Here's Tipsy Bartender's Key Lime Pie Martini.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKSxXScVpPw

This drink is fun and reminds you of the beach....THE KEY LIME PIE MARTINI!

Since today is the first day of summer, I'm pouring How to make a Peach Summer Sangria from Tipsy Bartender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3O6Gfoh48w

Get your summer drinking off to a good start with the....PEACH SUMMER SANGRIA! This awesome concoction is loaded with great peach flavor and is the perfect libation for help coping with the summer heat. It features Moscato wine and Peach Schnapps to compliment the fresh peaches and grapes in this sangria cocktail.

The next summer drink from Tipsy Bartender is Summer Berry Lemonade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zUmCK0nhrk

A perfect balance of sweet and tart... SUMMER BERRY LEMONADE! This sexy cocktail is just what you need for summer by the pool (or on a rooftop during a shooting)! This is how you get it done homeboy!

My comment on By Replacing Obama’s Clean Energy Rules, Trump Threatens Us All.

"Why would anyone want to do this?"

For an answer, I'll repeat what I wrote in March. "With Trump, it's personal. Everything Obama did must be destroyed, cost be damned. That goes double for anything good."


My comments on Crazyland.

I offer an aside about the reparation hearings; they took place on Juneteenth, the celebration of the announcement of emancipation in Texas, the last Confederate state to get the news. Symbolism! It was also National Martini Day, so drink up.

Honestly, I was expecting talk of impeachment today. However, there will be lots of opportunities to do that over the course of the year, while reparations is much more time-critical.

I don't know about the Three Stooges, but I wrote "It was funnier when Chico Marx said it" less than a month after Trump took office. I guess I like the wordplay of the Marx Brothers over the slapstick of the Three Stooges and think the former is more apt.


My comment on Link round-up for 23 June 2019.

Regarding the headline about the effect on stock prices being the headline of Elizabeth Warren declaring her opposition to private prisons, I made an aside in a blog post about the trade war: "Covering the economy through the lens of investing is like covering sports entirely through gambling. It distorts the perception of the subject matter through whether one can make money off of it." This looks like more of the same.

By the way, thanks for linking to me for three of the past four Sundays, plus last Monday at Crooks&Liars. Nearly 300 people have visited from here and 170 from Crooks&Liars. I appreciate that.


My comment on House Party

I don't share your dim assessment, which I view to be as much or more a right-wing fantasy than a left-wing one. That's all I write about it, so I'm moving on to the debates.

I prepared for this week's debates by performing two analyses of the Democratic candidates' ideologies and they go from far left to center-left. There are hardly any moderates among the field. The first used DW-NOMINATE scores from Voteview, which has data on every candidate that served in Congress. According to this source, the most liberal candidates are Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Bernie Sanders, while the most moderate are Amy Klobuchar and Michael Bennet. The only problem is that the candidates who never served in Congress don't have Voteview scores. On the other hand, OnTheIssues.org has scores for all the candidates except Wayne Messam, although it has a page for him. According to this source, Bernie Sanders is the most liberal, followed by Warren, Harris, and Joe Biden (!). The two most moderate candidates are Steve Bullock and John Hickenlooper. As for Pete Butigieg, he's probably the most moderate candidate with significant support, but he's pretty much in the center of the Democratic field.

All this talk about the debates reminds me it's time to make a couple of drinking games. Wish me luck!


My comments on Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 121.

"There is always a bartender on duty" — that's my cue!

Over at my personal blog, I've been posting drinks for all the Democratic candidates in this week's debates, so I'm going to share them here. The first was for Cory Booker, who thought margaritas were made with vodka and fruit. Just for him, I found a margarita with fruit in its name, Passionfruit Mango Margarita.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaxJts9ynlI

As Mayor of New York City, the obvious choice for Bill De Blasio would be a Manhattan. However, he actually lives in Brooklyn, so I'm recommending The Brooklyn from Common Man Cocktails.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lniL7wDuqQA

Since Joaquin Castro told Eater than his favorite comfort "food" was iced tea, I recommend America's Iced Tea from Tipsy Bartender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPeG_Y2xFvQ

This one is vibrant, refreshing, and super boozy!

Since Tulsi Gabbard represents Hawaii, the obvious choice would be a Blue Hawaiian. However, she named her favorite comfort food as vegan cupcakes, so I'm recommending a cupcake drink instead. Here's Tipsy Bartender's Chocolate Cupcake Cocktail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69IMKvj8kYs

This creamy shot is the perfect dessert martini for chocolate lovers!

For the final recipe I plan on posting to this entry, I'm dedicating the Pink Elephant to Kamala Harris. And, yes, that's Andrew Cuomo's girlfriend doing the mixing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Umsriy6dOo

Why the Pink Elephant and why Kamala instead of one of the other candidates? Because it's one of the drinks served at Amber India, one of her favorite restaurants. Why Kamala? Because it's Canada Day and she lived there for a few years while she was growing up. It's better than dedicating a drink to Ted Cruz. That's so 2015.