Of late, politics has been particularly nasty and overly repetitive. Russia! Russia! Russia! Trump tweeted something. Something was sexist, or racist, or some other thing. And then there’s a contingent of folks who are non-ironically bringing Nazi shit back. No, I’m not talking about being anything right-of-center (we’re all Nazis according to the political Left), I mean folks who actually break out the swastikas, Hitler quotes, and Jewish conspiracy theories.
All of this is too much. It’s headache-inducing. At one point, I could laugh at politics. Bill Clinton couldn’t keep it in his pants, George Bush tried to eat a pretzel, and we all remember the flying shoe of death. Rubio robot recited his lines, Chris Christie was a giant donut, and Trump blamed Megyn Kelly’s foibles on Rosie O’Donnell.
Today, the amusement has been sucked dry, and replaced with the constant bleating of sheep. It’s not funny anymore. Everything is identity politics. Everything. You can’t have a glass of milk without someone saying that milk is white, therefore racist. You can’t enjoy Chinese takeout without accusations of microaggressions. You can’t even fish in my neck of the woods without some PETA protesters coming by and dumping your catch into the sea and calling you a murderer.
Most folks in the world just want to be left alone. And that is precisely what cannot be countenanced these days.
Well, to hell with that. I’m going to take a break from politics for at least a few days. Maybe I’ll write about whiskey, or technology, or Byzantine history. I don’t know.
But no politics.
I highly recommend other folks do the same from time-to-time. This level of politicization cannot be good for anybody.
Evan Williams 1783. When you don’t want the pain of whiskey.
I should add some EWB or EW1783 to the collection. Good call.
I recommend large quantities of alcohol. Particularly wine. Most particularly New York wines, with emphasis on the Rieslings. Public Service Announcement: Do not drive or operate heavy machinery.
Typically, I’m not much of a wino. But I do enjoy Rieslings. Perhaps I will take that advice.
Let’s talk about whiskey. 🙂
Anyone here a fan of bourbons? My current fav is jack daniel single barrel select. I find Maker’s Mark just a tad too sweet. Are there any other bourbons I should investigate?
Who here is a fan of Irish whiskies? I fell in love with Bushmill 21 year, but can’t find it anymore. Never took to Jameson’s.
How about Scotch? I never took to Talisker or Lagavulin. Laphroaig hits the spot. Even a nice, middle of the road Macallan suits me. Bowmore tastes ‘off’ to me somehow.
p.s. My liver is in excellent shape, and I’m actually more than anything a teetotaler. But I do SIP a quarter shot of whiskey maybe once per week, twice in winter.
p.p.s. Outside of whiskies, I’ve fallen head over heels for Calvados. Can anyone recommend a solid brandy, cognac or something else?
Bourbons to try:
Knob Creek
Bulleit bourbon
Blanton’s
Booker’s
Four Roses
Black Maple Hill 16 yr old small batch
George T Stagg
If you happen to have a lot of $$$ for bourbon:
Pappy Van Winkle
I’ve had it on 3 different occasions- only because I know a couple really wealthy guys who’s homes I did work on, and an old college friend owns a successful software company-if I could afford to spend that much on a bottle I would.
Thank you, gamegetter. 🙂
The Pappy Van Winkle sounds fun. Nowadays, however, my whiskey budget is limited to nothing more costly than Johnny Walker Blue Label, 18 Year Macallan or the equivalent. 🙂 But I’ll give your list a try over the next….well….maybe year or so. 🙂
And with regards to your moniker, gamegetter: what are you playing now that you enjoy? I just finished Doom and find myself totally uninterested in a 2nd playthrough. Too gory and morbid, and simply not engaging enough.
The gamegetterII moniker came about right after I was doxed and had my e-mail hacked by animal
” rights” whackos.
I needed a new e-mail quick so I could change my bank and utility info.
My compound bow was laying on a table near my desktop, and I just took the name off the bow-( Hoyt- Easton GamegetterII)- never bothered to change it after that.
Ah HA! I misunderstood your moniker. 🙂
Do you hunt only with a bow, or do you employ firearms? If you do use rifles – what’s your opinion of the .264 vs the .308? Serious question.
I hunt with anything that gets me time in the woods, but since I’m in
N E Ohio, can’t do much rifle hunting. I do more bowhunting since we do have a long bow season- last weekend in Sept. ’till Feb 4th this year.
I use a muzzleloader for deer gun season here as I don’t own a rifle that fires a straight walled cartridge- which are the only allowable calibers for deer.
.264- vs-.308? Big difference between the two. Out west for anything other than elk, I would use thr .264 higher velocity, less bullet drop at long range,and it’s got a flatter trajectory than the .308.
I like the .243 for anything smaller than elk too.
Once you get up to elk and moose- I’m partial to .30-06 or .45-70 depending on terrain and chances of long shots.
Try Jim Beam Signature Craft 12yr old. It’s rare and 80 bucks for 750ml. or if you hit the lottery there’s always Old Rip Van Winkle at 10,000 a bottle.
For scotch, I quite enjoy the Balvanie 14yr Caribbean cask. And of course, Glenlivet as well (the 12yr is fine).
Tonight, however, proved to be a bourbon night, and I stuck with Makers Mark.
Thank you, Thales. 🙂
It’s dystopic. Thanks is the handle of my global account. Usually when I’m posting on my phone.
Bushmills is the only whiskey I ever drink. The less expensive blends are fairly common. 16yo Bushmills is only found in one store where I live. On the rare occasion I crave the superb 20yo Bushmills I have the store order a bottle. Nobody stocks it.
Interesting! Good to know. I’ll ask my local liquor store to special order for me as well. Unless….damn, it sure would be convenient to get it online….
Try some Bulliet Bourbon, not too sweet but nice, or if you feel a bit more sporty I suggest Knob Creek. Smoky and full flavored. Vanillas and such. And both are quite affordable.
Oban
Try Woodfield Reserve bourbon.
I watch the video on the animal “rights” whackos screaming at the fishermen and tossing the fish back in the water.
I might have just busted the closest one in the jaw.
These people are clinically insane.
Just think- Wayne Pacelle of HSUS claims his and HSUS goal is to make everyone become vegan by banning all hunting, trapping, and raising animals for food.
I think I would have just chucked the adult into the water.
That’s one way to shut him up.
Having already been a victim of such nutjobs, I have no tolerance for them. I might have slapped with a fish instead if punching him though.
Then I could have pointed out that due to his actions he caused the fish more pain. I could have asked him who felt more pain- him or the fish.
Just to put everyone in a fun, happy mood for a non-SJW poisoned discussion, I offer the following youtube vid – and yes, this does show my age.
Ladies and gentlemen, for your auditory pleasure & giggles, I present to you:
THE WALRUS OF LOVE.
Well, you asked for it:
https://youtu.be/8yS0rJDxLbo
Oh Dys . . .
Dedicate three days or a week to playing your guitar, and learn how to play Steve Howe’s “The Clap.” The world ain’t hard to figure out next to learning to finger-pick that puppy!
If you don’t have one . . .
Zzounds.com has some beauties fitting every price range. Me? I have a Fender T-Bucket 300CE acoustic/electric with cutaway fret-board. Will make taking breaks a breeze. Get a Marshal 50 watt amp if you want to rock a bit and hear your own voice, Then again, you may not want that!
And sip on some classic beers – you can best control the input of alcohol with beer, and it is really food, too. Carbs mostly, true, but high-tone beers have vitamins and minerals, which is why the FDA won’t let the brewers put any nutritional labels on the bottles.
FWIW – jb
I never learned to play guitar. Always spent most of my time on piano/keyboards/synths.
But that is quite relaxing too. Music is soothing. I have my Access Virus TI, and a midi keyboard which connects to my VSTs. There are some good piano samples in there.
Do not let them silence you.
Nah, no silencing. Just need a break from their incessant noise.
Well, that’s a relief. You have a way with words. I hope you never stop writing.
Jesus Himself took breaks.
Jewish conspiracies? Are they conspiracies if they’re obvious to those who can see?
You’re absolutely right. I’ve had to chase them out from under my bed every night this week. they’re making entirely to much noise plotting to take over the world. The last straw was when they invited those two noisy lab rats to join them.
It’s against the law to harass anyone hunting or fishing in Michigan and we have good hunting and fishing here. As for taking a break, I hear ya. I’ve had to cut way back on the noise political I expose myself to. I even had to cut back on gaming because it was becoming a constant barrage.
My favorite line from T2. Enjoy it.
You’re just saying this because your position of privilege allows you to ignore the…
Awww, crap. I always tune them out before they get to that part, so I don’t know what comes next.
If milk, being white, is racist, then OBVIOUSLY the COWS are racist.
The History of Byzantium podcast is a great way to while a way a couple/few hours.