Thirsty Thursday: Gin and Tonic

Gin and Tonic, the old standby.

For years, Gin and Tonic has been the Gin lover’s go-to drink. Clean and refreshing, the Gin and Tonic is a staple of bars and speakeasy’s.

Invented by the army of the British East India Company in the mid-1800’s, the Gin and is associated with the warmer summer months and climates. Tonic water was chosen because of its health benefits at the time.
Tonic water contains quinine, which was used to prevent malaria. Because the tonic water used to prevent malaria back then was terribly bitter and strong, soldiers added Gin to give it a better taste, as Gin was flavored with Juniper. Today’s Tonic water contains less quinine and is also less bitter as it is often sweetened when sold to bars or the general public.

Despite not offering the same health benefits as it did when conceived, the Gin and Tonic remains popular.

Ingredients:
2 Ounces Gin (I recommend Tanqueray)
Tonic to fill
Lime Wedge

Pour Gin over ice in a highball glass. Fill with tonic. Garnish with a lime wedge. Enjoy!

Wacky Wednesday

Happy Wednesday All.


Worst Tattoo Customer Ever:



It's the rage in all the clubs:



Well, it's true:



College Students have known this for years:

Study: Americans Get Majority Of Exercise While Drunk


Strangely enticing:



25 Years of not shutting the fuck up:



And of course, This Week in Unnecessary Censorship:


=)

Tuesday's Charity: People Assisting the Homeless

Back to our regular blogging schedule:

Today’s charity is called PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) and is an incredible and successful non-profit here in Los Angeles. In their own words:

It started off with a letter. A simple invitation to the West Los Angeles community printed on Westwood Presbyterian Church stationery, asking people to get together to discuss the growing problem of homelessness. There were no grandiose visions of a large social service agency, no thoughts of developing a model for services, not even the dream of ending homelessness. This group of conscientious and compassionate individuals just wanted to help the homeless people they saw in their neighborhoods.

“We realized that something had to be done because so many people were 'falling through the cracks,’” said Claire West Orr, the founder of PATH, and the wife of Rev. Charles Orr, pastor of Westwood Presbyterian Church. “From the very beginning we made two decisions--that people would truly be able to help themselves if we offered ‘A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,” and we committed to being multi-denominational and community-based.”

And so, in 1984, PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) started with humble beginnings in a basement of a local Westwood church. The Westwood United Methodist Church donated a small office space, and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church hosted PATH’s emergency food and clothing program.

In 2004, PATH reached its twentieth year of existence. From a small program operating out of a church basement, PATH has now become a large regional agency serving over 1,800 people each month. The agency has developed a model of integrated services that communities from all over the state, the nation, and even internationally have looked to for replication.

“PATH’s colorful, eye-catching center, designed by renowned architect Jeffrey Kalban, is a great symbol of its transformation,” states Allan Kingston, CEO of Century Housing Corporation, and a trend-setting leader among L.A.’s non-profits. “The move from its old offices into the new PATH Regional Homeless Center was a metamorphosis from a small agency into a new, largest-in-the-state, active center that meets the needs of even more homeless individuals and families than ever with a comprehensive array of services. It's a great model for the community—and for the nation!”

States Joel John Roberts, “Imagine if more letters like the ones sent out by Claire West Orr over 20 years ago could be sent out to our community, encouraging people to gather together to address the societal issues that challenge this decade. Think of what we could accomplish.”

Funny Picture Friday: MIA

Sorry everyone!

At work, this week has been us moving to our new location, so there has been little-to-no internet and even less time to write.

Next week should be a return to normal.

I present something to make everyone's day a little bit better:

(Must be the City of Bell)

(Bad gift for your kids)

(That does seem to be their natural habitat)

(She LOVES the president apparently)

(I didn't realizer this was illegal now)

(Hey now, just because she's ass-ugly...)

(Of course she was...)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Monday Madness: Dexter, Weather, Weekend

Happy Monday everybody.

For me, as well as anyone else in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, it's been a difficult weekend this week provides little relief. I'm referring, of course, to the weather.

Yes, it's Fall, which for some reason suddenly brought about 100+ degree weather. Literally. It's going to reach 101 at the fucking beach today! Stupid global warming or whatever is responsible for this.When this time of year rolls around, I want weather in 60's and 70's, not sweltering heat.

Anyways, aside from thanking Jesus/Allah/Buddha all weekend for Central Air, I relaxed, which I know is the cliche way of saying I was lazy and did jack-shit all weekend, but seriously, I did relax. I've been incredibly busy the past few weeks and have had little time to do little, so it was nice to just watch football, play PS3 and veg out (in-between trips to the gym of course).

This weekend also brought about the return of an obsession:

Dexter!!

This is easily one of my favorite shows ever (next to Three's Company, Saved by the Bell and The Simpsons), and the premier episode of season 5 last night absolutely did not disappoint. Last season ended on an extremely down note, and that mood picked up right where it left off. It was incredibly sad to see the mood of every character just devastated, while Dexter is trying to deal with showing his feelings, something he has never been able to do, being almost robotic most of the time. I can already tell that this is going to be a great season. Sunday nights just got even better.

Have a great day and try to stay cool!

Funny Picture Friday

Yeah, I changed it, big whoop want to fight about it?

And now a collection of funny pictures:

(Well, that's one way of putting the fire out...)

(

 (Duh!)

(Oh no! Not again!)

(Coincidence? I think not)

(I like the deal, but it leaves Chicago thin at the Fish position)

(Radiohead singer Thom Yorke got a cat!)

Happy Friday!

Thirsty Thursday: Gimlet

Continuing with the theme of drinks you've probably never heard of, I present to you, the Gimlet.

The Gimlet is similar to a Gin and Tonic, only less likely to be ordered by an alcoholic.

Not to be confused with the less-tasty Vodka version, the Gimlet is named after the eponymous hand tool, used for drilling small holes. Created in 1928, it was named for its penetrating effect on those who order it.

Clean and refreshing, the Gimlet is a true Gin lovers drink, strong enough for a man, but tasty enough for a woman (or gay man).

The next time someone asks you to order them a Gin and Tonic, play it cool, and see if they want to try a Gimlet instead.

Ingredients:
2 ounces Gin (I recommend Plymouth)
3/4 ounces Lime Juice
Lime Wedge

Shake Gin and Lime Juice with ice in a shaker. Strain over ice in an old-fashioned glass and garnish with lime wedge.

Enjoy!

Wacky Wednesday: Best Job Ever

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Now, I've often talked about how much I love my job, but I think I'd be willing to quit for the one in the first video.



God I hate Yoko Ono...


As is usually the case with hot chicks....

Idiots with Zoe Saldana & Kate Bosworth from Zoe Saldana

My Favorite comedian, Patton Oswalt, making fun of shitty cable access talk shows:

Toluca Talk with Patton Oswalt from Patton Oswalt

And of course, Uneccessary Censorship


Have a great Wednesday!

Tuesday's Charity: The Alliance for Children's Rights

Today's charity organization is one that is doing some amazing work in LA County. The Alliance for Children's Rights is protecting the rights and futures of abused and impoverished children. Through direct legal services, community education, and advocacy, The Alliance's diverse programs are not only serving the immediate needs of children and families, they are also helping to create systemic change that will protect the future of children for generations to come.

Founded in 1992, The Alliance has helped more than 80,000 children throughout Los Angeles County: children who are living in foster care, children with learning disabilities, children who need medical treatment or public benefits, and children in need of legal guardianship or adoption.

The amazing thing about this organization is that the founders are primarily lawyers but, contrary to many, these lawyers saw a terrible injustice and did something about it, rather than making money off of it.

Some of the programs include:

Foster Care Adoption
With the help of an army of dedicated pro bono attorneys, The Alliance completes nearly 1/3 of all foster care adoptions in L.A. The Alliance connects with the adoptive families as early as possible to identify any psychological, health, or educational needs of the child to avoid unnecessary delays in the adoption. The Adoption Day program, introduced by The Alliance and its partners in 1997, is the model for National Adoption Day, now celebrated in all 50 states.

Legal Guardianship 

Throughout Los Angeles, more than 300,000 children live with a relative or friend because their parents are unable or unwilling to care for them. Without a legal relationship, caregivers who are willing to be there for these kids are limited in their ability to protect and provide for them.

The Alliance helps caregivers become legal guardians of the children in their care so that they can take them to the doctor, enroll them in school and obtain financial assistance to better provide them a secure, stable life.
Health Care

Children in foster care or living in poverty face tremendous challenges and barriers accessing health care. The instability of their home lives and frequent placement changes make accessing consistent, quality medical care nearly impossible. The Alliance assists children facing Medi-CAL eligibility problems, treatment denials, and those unable to find medical or mental health providers.

Alliance staff also conduct trainings about the health care needs and rights of impoverished children for medical and social service providers as well as caregivers and group homes.
Other programs include Public Benefits, Special Education and Transitioning Youth, to name a few. If you have an interest in this organization, or others like it, go check out their website at www.kids-alliance.org

Have a great Tuesday everyone.

Monday Madness: Rallies I Can Get Behind

For the more politically minded among us, we are well aware of Glenn Beck's Rally to Restore (Honor? Tradition? Nazi Comparisons?) last month on the same historic day of MLK Jr.'s "I have a Dream" speech, essentially a "Fuck You" to the Civil Rights movement.

Anyone who knows me, is well aware of my disdain for Glenn Beck and basically everything for which he stands. He's a mouthpiece for extremists who offers little more than fear-based nonsense.

Predictably, the 200,00 or so people who attended the rally (collective IQ of 78) were exactly the types you would expect to attend a Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin rally: Badly misinformed, afraid of everything they don't see every day and, quite frankly, stupid.




Luckily, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, two of the most intelligent men in the country, are holding ralies of their own.

Jon Stewart is holding the "Rally to Restore Sanity", urging everyone to "Take it down a notch, America". Colbert is countering with his satirical "March to keep fear alive" because, as is custom, conservatives can't seem to function without constant fear.

Leave it to these two to take something completely ridiculous and make it awesome. Beck's rally had little to no meaning behind it and was highly confusing, and more than likely, just a publicity stunt.

Stewart and Colbert are trying to reach the population who is just completely annoyed by the popularization of idiocy and extremism in this country.

Were I in DC, I would absolutely attend, but, As Stewart so eloquently put it, "I have shit to do".

Have a great Monday everyone!