Bacardi's Cherry Coke

My son, "Big Wig" introduced me to this drink.  Then, and this was dirty and lowdown- left and took the necessary alcohol with him.  Upon my discovering this dastardly deed (yeah, it was his), I repeatedly asked what liquor it was- thinking that he would like, y'know, KNOW. 

So... after purchasing the wrong liquor(yuck,) and going to various spirit's stores with no luck, I checked online & found "Bacardi's Torched Cherry."  YUMMERS!

Here is the recipe:

Coke

Barcardi's

Pour in the Coke.  Add the liquor (a splash will do it).  Presto- Cherry Coke!  But, remember, it's got a punch at sometime, somewhere.  I taste no liquor at all.

Another day... another discovery- word of mouth- the best way of all.

Big Wig also suggested some vodka- whipped cream.  Seems like a good idea.  Have not yet tried it.  So we'll see.  

Happy Labor Day's Disturbing Thoughts!

Wish I could say it better than Scott McKay writing for R.I.'s N.P.R.  As goes the Union movement, so go all of us- like it or not. 

Strawboozle

I saw a rainbow pony get strawboozled,

If it's fresh corn on the cob and watermelon- It's SUMMER!

Watermelon spitting contests (even adults played) and drippy, salty fingers with matching chins occupy some of my earliest memories!

Rep. Rick Santorum Calls Himself Stupid (I think)

Enquiring minds find his recent statements lead to intriguing questions.  The Rep. on Sat. stated: “We will never have the media on our side, ever, in this country. We will never have the elite, smart people on our side.”

Despite the fact about the media being repeatedly proven untrue, I'm curious as to the definition of  "the elite," not to mention "smart." Sooo... being one of 435 in the entire U.S. sounds elite to me. Smart?  Able to read AND write?  Are elite & smart necessarily attached?

Then there is: "Santorum also criticized the libertarian wing of the Republican party who 'don’t want to talk about social issues,' saying that 'without the church and the family, there is no conservative movement, there is no basic values of America.'” Besides questionable syntax...

Read the Constitution lately?  Our founding fathers weren't exactly traditional Church members. So... none of them were Conservatives?  They had no basic values?  It boggles the mind...

It reminds me of the time I was out having breakfast one morning after an election I had run in as a liberal Democrat (lost to the long-time Republican liberal incumbent).  I ran into a candidate from a different race (who also lost) who is most definitely a conservative Rep. who also happens to be a staunch Catholic (whatever that means).  He met my family & we talked about many things- nothing political.  As we were leaving he remarked that, gee, he was surprised that I did have family values.  HUH???

But back to Rick's remarks.  Does this mean that ALL Republicans are neither elite nor smart?  Okay.  I can live with the latter (( especially after listening to Clint). His logic is impeccable, right?  Unless, of course, he is stupid.  Which would make his remarks applicable to him (except for the "elite" bit).  But who would give a fig for any remarks a non-smart man would make?  This just boggles the mind.  Does this mean I am smart?  Or... I can read & write after all.  Elite?  I think the most important point to be taken from the Santorum speech is (like Eastwood)... it certainly gave me LOL! Clint, baby- great actor, director; lousy extemp speaker.  Next time- use the script someone has written for you.  (Rick, hon, r u listening? )  Umm, Just a thought- isn't Clint one of the "elite?"

Maryland's Rep. Bartlett Against Student Loans

Or is he?

Representative Roscoe Bartlett from Maryland said on Sept. 5 in a town hall meeting, "Not that it's not a good idea to give students loans, it certainly is a good idea to give them loans... But if you can ignore the Constitution to do something good today, tomorrow you will be ignoring the Constitution to do something bad. You could... The Holocaust that occurred in Germany -- how in the heck could that happen? And when you start down the wrong road, it can be a very slippery slope." 1 The next day he issued an apology regarding the Holocaust comparison.  This dude is the second oldest Republican in the House (1926), so he lived through WWII and well knows what the Holocaust is. A slippery slope?  Student loans?   Perhaps this remark is related to the fact that the largest ethnic background of his constituents is German?  Or perhaps his mouth was engaged while his brain was still in neutral? He's served since 1993, and is also a member of the Tea Party Caucus.  His district was redrawn this year from the Western Maryland Appalachian hinterlands (e.g., Republican and 60% white) to include pieces of Baltimore, Harford, Montgomery, etc., where they actually have Democrats and minorities more representative of the State as a whole. The national Democratic Party also decided to tackle this re-election campaign with monies believing they might actually defeat this man. Bartlet won re-election despite admitting to property tax cheating (by over a million $) & lying on his federal disclosure form ($5,000 fine). He calls himself a "bit player" in real estate while he is the wealthiest member of Maryland's federal delegation.  What a guy! Perhaps he needs to like, actually reread the Constiutution which says the the power to decide legislative legalities belongs to the umm, you know, Supreme Court. I'm just sayin'... Maybe it's time to give HIM the boot!  Student loans - WORK!!!!  I had them.  How about you? John Delaney

Tutu demands Trial for Bush & Blair over Iraqi War

Desmond Tutu's article in "London Guardian."

when he speaks, you at least have to listen.

Happy Labor Day, Siemens, North East, Maryland!

*** The results of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election at Siemens in North East Maryland, USA: 15 workers voted Yes and 24 voted No. 2 workers did not vote.

 

Hello, Cecil Whig- where the heck are you?  You covered sucessful unionizing efforts at the IKEA warehouse recently here in Perryville.  WHASSUP?  That one was peaceful (thumbs up to Ikea) & this one is not.  Could that be the difference?  You got me!


The conflict at Siemens (a German electronics & engineeringineering company)  has made national & international news.  The problem is being discussed on Facebook- with photos no less!  It's in North East, Md. and has 42 production employees.

In a nutshell: "It [Siemens] even just signed an agreement with labour organizations committing to respect workers’ rights around the globe. So what does Siemens do within days after signing this agreement? It launches a vicious union busting campaign. In Maryland, USA, Siemens has hired a top-dollar anti-union consultant and waged a campaign that’s included intimidation, surveillance, threats involving termination, and prohibiting Siemens employees from even talking about the union." source

Exactly what do the union busting tactics involve?  Well... you'll get fired!

Final vote to join the United Steelworkers is Sept. 6.  The Union has filed unfair labor charges against Siemens with the NLRB.

Oh, BTW: HAPPY LABOR DAY!

 

Verizon Rant

***UPDATE: Repair tech GORDON-BVJ came about 11:30. Seems to have been THEIR problem; although unclear. I was treated WELL because I took the time & trouble to follow their phone suggestion- DISCONNECT everything from phone lines & try testing items one at a time. Didn't work but still it was worth a try. Thank you ! and You're Welcome! HAPPY FEET!

I have some phones and Internet service from Verizon.  Phones go dead, but not Internet.  I may not be the brightest bulb around, but this is not good news.
Quick phone call- all automated, of course.  The best that they can do is check the line- seems okay, but there could still be problems.  Bottom line, I'm not covered for repair work.  Charges are $75/hr.  Could be their problem, could be mine, could be a combo- who knows? 
So I book 'em, Dano.  Really, what choice do I have even though I doubt it's my telephones?
Then I notify my landlord (I live in a condo) of the good news.  Great guy, but not happy lately.  In the current assessment he lost SUBSTANTIALLY- buying at the height of the market.  The building is not new- heading towards 20 yrs. Everything has outlived it's life (and beyo-o-o-ond).
While I've done a lot of maintenance here on my own- I ain't no electrician, plumber, or refrigerator, and my rent ain't cheap. So, he's balking.
Hey, been there, done that.  Every penny you get in rent after you pay mortgage and taxes and other fees, ain't all profit.  Ummm. that's why I RENT!
But I digress.
Verizon is coming- beween 8 AM and 6 PM.  Huh! And I have to pay for this???  ALL DAY WAITING? I could call pizza delivery & get better service than that! Not for !  So I'm pisssd!  And I haven't rec'd a bill- yet! Who takes care of the condo telephone boxes in the lobby?  Hey, it ain't my fault if any wiring has gone bad.  All I did was plug things in expecting that they would work.
The plumber is also coming- broken tub spout valve.  Sigh.  And my very wide glass door blinds don't operate and my new kitchen light turns itself off sometimes.  I haven't even mentioned the rugs.  Sigh.

So nice when the phone companies were deregulated to provide us with hoice & better pricing.  So... how'd that work out for you? Thanks. Pres. Reagan. I don't suppose you're available for condo sitting.... no; any archangels not busy?
Blah, blah, blah.  Update- later!

Middletown Elections Are Coming- Be VERY Afraid!

Sorry, well not really, that I have not kept up with Middletown politics.  I do know some of what's going on due to visitations, not the daily snooze (they charge).  Truly, it's not very high on my list since I no longer reside nor own property there!
I do know about the referendum question (above) and some of the local yokels running (I say this most affectionately).
I'll be short & sweet.  If you don't elect Ed Silveira, Barbara VonVillas, and Dick Adams- you are nuts & deserve what you get.  I've only heard mention of a few other names- "I've heard that song before." Feel free to check the archives!  Check Projo's, too.  Change is extremely difficult, if not impossible for most, so past performance matters!
It's highly questionable why ANYONE would want to run for Town Council/School Committee, but aren't you lucky that they do!  Hat's off to one and ALL of them!   
Pay special attention to State Lege races.  Often these candidates are ignored and get a free pass every year.  They Should Not!  High property taxes- thank them.  Tolls raised?  Look to them.  School woes?  Hey, cast your eyes towards Prov.  But, damn, they do know how to look effective and duck. It's often a beauty contest.  If you haven't got the physical attributes- spin city. So don't let the philistines escape!
Hang tough & buckle down!  Ask those  hard questions & duck the incoming. "Eggheads of the world- unite!  We have nothing to lose but our yolks!"  Adlai Stevenson.