World War Z

Looks like some production troubles plauge the filming of this movie.

Let this be a lesson to everyone,  hire people that are familiar with the laws when you deal with prop guns.  It was a stupid and probibly an expensive mistake.  Now for the woman almost crushed,  that is a serious issuse. 

Random thought

A llama in a wetsuit

Johnny Cash sung by....

Lenord Nimoy.

#23 Angel's Tip

My first layerd drink.  I was sort of reluctant to try to make one but it turned out well.   It like to thank my mother-in-law for finding the correct sized glass.   Now if my friend Bob D would come through with the silver straw he promised.

Angel's Tip

3/4oz Creme de Cacao

1/2oz Sweet Cream

Float cream and instert toothpick in cherry and put on top.  Use Pousse Cafe glass.

A very nice presiontion drink thats really easy to make and very tasty too.   I wonder through if I used a better quality Creme de Cacao how it would improve the drink.

Next up: #24 Angel's Wing

#14 Alexander Cocktail No. 2

or better known as a Brandy Alexander.

I read some where that they named this one after Czar Alexander II of Russia and first made at a famious wedding in 1922.

Alexander Cocktail No. 2

1oz Creme de Cacao

1oz Brandy

1oz Sweet Cream.

Shake well with ice and serve in a 4oz cocktail glass.

Very tasty.   Perfect for after dinner relaxation.

As funds are low I have to start jumping around a bit, or put up a wish list.  Right now I know I don't have the readership for the latter.

Next up: #23 Angel's Tip

The Raven 2012

Ohhh...this looks interesting.

A serial killer whose murders mirror based on Poe's work.

Persued by Poe himself, the man who invented detective fiction.

And Poe is being played by John Cusack.
This goes on my must see list. 

Kindle Fire

Is an IPad killer?


The next new thing to get?


Over-hyped, perhaps?




I don't really care. Just buy one using my link.

#13 Alexander Cocktail No. 1

Yes, you did read that right.   I'm skipping past #11 because Chartreuse is expensive and #12 because it's almost the same as the Alabama Fizz.   

There is a reference to this drink from a 1915 drink book, making this a very old drink. 

Alexander Cocktail No.1

1oz Dry Gin  (Bombay Sapphire)

1oz Creme de Cacao  (Jacquin's)

1oz Sweet Cream  ( Used 1/2 and 1/2)

Shake well with cracked ice and strain into a 4oz cocktail Glass.

It's quite nice but the gin flavor doesn't tend to blend well with the two other ingredients.   Maybe the No 2 will blend better.

Next: #14 Alexander Cocktail No. 2

Looking forward

After 22 hours with out power, I've had a chance to look forward in the A chapter and see a few stumbling blocks.    Most of theme are expensive or rare liquors, such as Yellow Chartreuse but there is a piece of glassware needed.  So here is a list of what I need:

Yellow Chartreuse
Amer Picon
Creme de Yvette

Pastured in the shell eggs

Pousse Cafe Class

So if anyone know where I can get these, hopefully in airline sized bottles for the liquors, in the Delaware Valley let me know because the next drink may be pushed back later.

Be seeing you.

#10 Alabama Fizz

I'm back from vacation and ready to go on The Boston Project and since we're bracing for Irene to hit us hard in the Delaware Valley it's a good time for a cocktail.


Now this is my first sub-family of cocktails I've encountered.  Our friend Mr. Boston says this about Fizzes, "An early morning, late afternoon or evening pleasure, these are made from liquor, citrus juices and sugar, shaken and strained with ice in to small highball glasses, which are then filled with 'fizz' (soda) water, though different carbonated beverages, even Champagne, may be used. A few call for egg whites or yolks."

Not looking forward to the eggs but this drink doesn't call for it.  Lucky me.

Alabama Fizz

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

1 Teaspoon of Powdered Sugar (used simple syrup)

2 oz of Dry Gin   (Used Bombay Sapphire)

Shake well with cracked ice and strain into a 7 oz highball glass.  Fill with carbonated water.  Add 2 sprigs of fresh mint.

Now I didn't have a glass that small,  and I forgot the mint.   Still though not bad,  although the gin was very hard to taste.  

Next up:  Alaska Cocktail.....hopefully .  See the next post for more.

...and it annoys the pig.

I've removed the adds because they just arn't doing anything.  The Amazon links will still be here.   Use the links to buy anything and I get a kickback.

Now here's Burt Ward's hit single.

#9 Alabama Cocktail

It's still too dammed hot here in the Delaware valley.   Maybe, a drink would cool me down.

Alabama Cocktail 

1/2 oz lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon of powered sugar

1 1/2 oz of brandy
1 teaspoon of curacao

Shake well and strain.


This is kind of bland.  It has a vague medicine taste to it.  It's neither good nor bad but it isn't refreshing either. Maybe the next drink will be better.

Next: Alabama Fizz

Happy Pi Approximation day

Its the 22 day of the 7th  month, lets celibate one of the most useful mathematical constants. So tonight, have some pie to celebrate.

Getting ready for the weekend.

The Penguin Sings!

Use the Amazon links or there will be more. This is not an idle threat.

#8 After Supper Cocktail

Another hot day here in the northeast,  with predicted highs in the triple digits.  I dread weather like this,  when it's cold I can put on more clothes, but  when its hot all I can do is sit around. As promised, the After Supper Cocktail, maybe it will cool me off.

1 oz Apricot Brandy

1 oz Curaco

1/2 teaspoon lemon

Shake well, and strain.

The ratio of lemon seems to make this better then in the After Dinner.   The Apricot and Triple Sec are more pronounced and balanced.  Every sip is a delight and refreshing.

Next: Alabama Cocktail

The Dark Knight Rises teaser reaction

Wow., thats a lot of....well....nothing.  I do know the movie is a still a year out, but most of it was cut from the last two movies.   I want to see Cat Woman, the new Batmobie and a clear shot of Bane. 

http://youtu.be/apMXFloDH6M

And WB won't let me host the video, curse you Barry Myers.

#7 After Dinner Cocktail

On this bright warm day,  I bring glass of sunshine. But first, a confession. I did subsitute Triple Sec for the Curaco and used bottled lime juice. It's what I had, and I can't find clear Curaco here in Pennsylvina.

1 oz Apricot Flavored Brandy

1 oz Curaco

Juice of one lime

Shake well,  strain, leave lime in the glass.

This is tasty.  Sweet and sour, a very complex flavor combonation.   I give it my thumbs up.

Next up, its twin the After Supper Cocktail.

Musings and The Thin Man

There won't be a cocktail tonight, I need to go out and buy more liquor.  In the mean time I' ve trying to find out if tried to drink through Mr.Boston.  I've found a few blogs but none of them succeded.  I susspect that they didn't go into this with a plan and they used a more later edition with more recipies.

So to keep your attention here are some clips dealing with cocktails from The Thin Man

#6 Affinity Cocktail

After a hard day at work I decided I needed a drink.  So on to tonights drink.

Affinity Cocktail

3/4 oz Dry Vermouth

3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth

3/4 oz Blended Scotch Whisky

2 Dashes of Orange Bitters

Stir with ice.

It tastes at first like mouthwash, but after a few sips its quite enjoyable.  As my lovely wife says, "A good drink to nurse." and I'd have to agree.  I think I'll have a affinity for this drink .

Next: After Dinner Cocktail

#5 Adonis Cocktail

Named after the mythic lover of Aphrodite, this cocktail is wine based.  I raise tonights drink to my lovely wife who is away for the weekend.

1 Dash Orange Bitters

3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth

1 1/2 oz Dry Sherry

Stir well

The taste reminds me of a port but fruiter and lighter in the mouth. This is a drink that I must rember to revisit.  

Next up:  Affinity Cocktail 

#4 Absinthe Special Cocktail

Now to the last of the Absinthe subsitute drinks, for a while anyway.

1 1/2 oz of Absinthe subsitute

1 oz of water

1/4 teaspoon of powdered sugar

1 dash of orange bitters

Shake and serve in a cocktail glass.

I'll be using simple syrup instead if sugar tonight, just to make mixing a bit easier.

Looks nice, as all these drinks do.  But the taste is just anise and bitter but I'll call it nasty.  Since I'm dumping my glass down the sink, I'll do another tonight.

Next: Addonis Cocktail

Absinthe Drip

So here is what Mr. Boston says to do.

"Pour 1 1/5 oz of absinthe subsitute in a special drip glass or Old Fashoned cocktail glass. Place cube of sugar over hole in drip spoon. (or in silver tea strainer). Pack spoon or strainer with cracked ice, pour cold water to fill. When the wate has dripped through , drink is ready. "


Now, I don't own a drip glass, spoon or any other absinthe doodads. So I need to improvise, I have a pitcher filled with water and ice, a slottled spoon and an old fashioned glass. Let's try it out.

Hmmm...looks nice. Let me taste it........watery and sweet, I don't really like it. I think I added too much water, but I will boldly strive forward to the next drink!

Completed:3

To go: 745

Next is Absinthe Special Cocktail

img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; MARGIN: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" border="0" alt="" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hawspla-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" />

Captain America

With the Cap movie hitting theaters and The Avengers out next year, it leaves me to wonder what version of Cap they will use. Will it be the remorse filled one of the death of Bucky, or the no nosense one from the Ultimates with the 1940s moral code.

I feel that patrotic heroes can be often be written to focus on one political belief and that tends to piss off the rest.

I do have to say though, I am looking forward to the movie and the beating up of tons of nazis.

Absinthe Cocktail or Absent cocktail

To tell the truth I wasn't looking forward this one. I am not a lover of anise this one calls for two ingredients that features it.

1 1/2 oz of Absinthe substitute
3/4 oz water
1/4 Anisette
1 dash of orange bitters.

Shake and serve in a cocktail glass.

A beautiful looking drink and the scent of it fills the room. The flavor reminds me of licorice jelly beans coating my mouth. Not bad at all.

Oh and before anyone asks why I didn't use real absinthe, it was illegal when the book was published and we don't have anyway.

Completed:2
To go: 746

Next up is Absinthe Drip

Looking after I leaped

I was out buying ingredents at the local liquor store and was chatting with the clerk and he asked how many drink are in the book. I didn't have an answer for him and just maybe I should find out.

Ye gods!! That's 748 drinks! What did I get myself into?

At about three drinks a week, its going to take 5 years.

Well 1 down and 747 to go.

Captain America

Reason one why we need a new Captain America movie.

The Boston Project or Abby who?

Today I start my much anticipated project of drinking through a cocktail book. I've selected Mr.Boston's De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide from 1967.

Today's beverage is the Abby Cocktail











Made with Dry Gin, Orange Juice, Orange Bitters and garnished with a Maraschino Cherry. It's quite refreshing and tasty on this summer's evening.

Next Drink: Absinthe (or Absent) Cocktail

An open letter to DC Comics

Well, I've been meaning to have a bit of a talk with you. Some of us are worried about your actions, the seem....whats the word I'm looking for.....self distrctive. Your actions with your movies are hurting us and your self more then you think. The Green Lantern film shows this all too well, and I haven't seen it.

You need to stop with the marketing tie ins at least until a sequel is made. Seeing Reece's schill your movie along with peanut butter cups doesn't make me want to see it.

Stop casting the wrong actors for charicters, even if they are minor charicters. I like Angela Bassett but my geek-o-meter runs cries foul when you have her play Amanda Waller. Wasn't Patricia Belcher from Bones avaiable to work?

Lastly, the special effects are not the only thing in a movie. Compairing Oa to Thor's Asgard, Oa looks like ass. The CGI costumes don't work for me at all, I want to see iconic looks not fancy energy patterns. I suspect pure fxsploitation.

I think that covers it. We'll talk again soon DC about Superman.

Moble blogging

Now I can Moble blog.   Take that 20th century!

Gaming Logistics

The one thing I have issues with in running an RPG is getting a group together and keep them on a scedule. Currently I can get only two people in on a regular on Sundays. A couple of plans of attack that come to mind are:

1. Change the System. I like Gamma World, but not everyone does. I might change over to Serenity so I can gain one or two more players.

2. Change the day. I usually run on a Sunday after the bi-weekly game I play in and another player in that game runs on that Sunday too. Perhaps if I switch it to an off week we could get more players.

Anyone have thoughts to help me out?

Things that shouldn't be sold....

On Amazon .

The net is a strange place.