I've given it to my State Senator Heather Steans lately here and elsewhere.
But I shouldn't let Greg Harris off the hook. He's my state representative (D-13th) and he and Senator Steans are close allies. If my pet peeve with her is the Alcopop Law, which he supported, my pet peeve against him is the civil unions bill, HB1826, which she also supports. She bragged about Alcopop in her Legislative Update a few days ago. He brags about HB1826 in the one I received from him today.
Hummm. Direct mail Legislative Updates? Is there an election soon? Sure enough, both Harris and Steans will be on the November ballot. Steans is running to complete the balance of Carol Ronen's term. (I wrote about that sweet piece of business here.) All rep seats are up this year.
So what do I have against civil unions? Nothing, except in Illinois, and apparently some other states, legislators have gotten civil unions passed by expressly permitting heterosexual seniors to use civil unions to scam Social Security. I've written at length about this issue before, so I won't go into a lot about it here. Suffice it to say I think it taints the righteousness of demanding equal spousal privileges for same sex couples.
Finally, I plead with you to pay as much attention to your local elections as you do to the presidential race. The your-vote to effect-on-your-life ratio is much greater for elections that are closer to you, like for your representatives in the state legislature.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Explore the Science of Cocktails Next Wednesay, 8/20, at the Mid America Club.
Ever wonder how to keep carbonation in champagne? Why do bartenders always pour the alcohol in first and then the mixer? Does garnish influence the taste of a cocktail?
Wonder no longer. “Mistology: The Science Behind the Cocktail,” is coming to Chicago on Wednesday, August 20, 7:00 p.m., at The Mid America Club. It is open to anyone who is at least 21-years-old and the cost is $15.00. It is sponsored by Canadian Mist whisky. All proceeds benefit Heartland Alliance, an organization that assists the poor and vulnerable with housing, health care, human services, and human rights protection.
The host for the evening is Tim Laird, who calls himself Chief Entertaining Officer (CEO). He’ll explain not just the how of cocktail preparation but also the why. You can try your hand at mixing, or just taste the efforts of the professionals. Appetizers are included too. Space is limited. To reserve your spot email phyllis_kelly@b-f.com, or call 1-800-268-7266.
The Mid-America Club is on the 80th floor of the Aon Center. That’s the building at the corner of Michigan and Randolph with the diamond-shaped roof line.
Wonder no longer. “Mistology: The Science Behind the Cocktail,” is coming to Chicago on Wednesday, August 20, 7:00 p.m., at The Mid America Club. It is open to anyone who is at least 21-years-old and the cost is $15.00. It is sponsored by Canadian Mist whisky. All proceeds benefit Heartland Alliance, an organization that assists the poor and vulnerable with housing, health care, human services, and human rights protection.
The host for the evening is Tim Laird, who calls himself Chief Entertaining Officer (CEO). He’ll explain not just the how of cocktail preparation but also the why. You can try your hand at mixing, or just taste the efforts of the professionals. Appetizers are included too. Space is limited. To reserve your spot email phyllis_kelly@b-f.com, or call 1-800-268-7266.
The Mid-America Club is on the 80th floor of the Aon Center. That’s the building at the corner of Michigan and Randolph with the diamond-shaped roof line.
Monday, August 11, 2008
What Clients Are Really Like, Really.
I have worked in advertising/marketing/corporate communications for about 35 years. This is what it's like, really. This video is widely posted on the web, but I can't find a source for it. The only actor I recognize is Al Samuel, who plays Al Click on the syndicated comedy show, "Sports Action Team." He plays the male client representative. Although I think he's a Chicago guy, that's all I know and there my search ends. Enjoy the video.
Senator Heather Steans, For The Children.
Although she downplayed it in an email to me, writing that "there are far more serious problems we need to tackle," Illinois State Senator Heather Steans (D-7th) continues to boast about her role in "banning promotion of alcoholic energy drinks to children." Since no one was promoting alcoholic energy drinks to children in the first place, I guess she can claim success.
I happen to live in Senator Steans' district.
Of the five legislative accomplishments she chose to tout in her Legislative Update sent to constituents last week, this one ranked second:
This spring, I was chief sponsor of legislation that prohibits the marketing of energy drinks containing alcohol to children and requires improved labeling to assist parents and businesses with identifying these products which are not safe for children.
It came after one headlined "Ending Pay-to-Play Politics" and before "Working to Eliminate Poverty." Senator Steans is nothing if not ambitious.
But her work on the so-called Alcopops Law (235 ILCS 5/6-35) is a non-solution to a non-problem.
This sort of thing drives me crazy because it falsely accuses the good people of the beverage alcohol industry of seeking to harm children, a serious and completely baseless charge, made for the purpose of pandering to parents, including some who want to blame their children's substance abuse problems on someone other than their children and themselves, and who better?
These charges are also an attack on the advertising industry. Since for a long time I worked in the advertising industry on alcohol accounts, I take this personally.
Who in government doesn't blame marketing and marketers? How about the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which investigates such things and has consistently found that the beverage alcohol industry does not market to underage consumers. Instead of falling for neo-prohibitionist propaganda like Senator Steans does, read the FTC's most-recent report here. (Right-click to download the PDF.)
Critics will, of course, dismiss the FTC as in the pocket of Big Alcohol, and Senator Steans knows all about that since she is the scourge of "Pay-to-Play," but in its 86-page report the FTC found little to fault in the performance of alcohol marketers, and while it made some common sense recommendations for improvement, none of them involve anything like the measures of which Senator Steans is so proud.
The Legislative Update gave this additional example of Senator Steans wasting government resources to make it look like she's doing something "for the children." It announced her co-sponsorship of a bill creating the Illinois Commission on Children and Youth.
Illinois achieved statehood on December 3, 1818 and I can't imagine how her children and youth have survived 190 years without this commission.
I happen to live in Senator Steans' district.
Of the five legislative accomplishments she chose to tout in her Legislative Update sent to constituents last week, this one ranked second:
This spring, I was chief sponsor of legislation that prohibits the marketing of energy drinks containing alcohol to children and requires improved labeling to assist parents and businesses with identifying these products which are not safe for children.
It came after one headlined "Ending Pay-to-Play Politics" and before "Working to Eliminate Poverty." Senator Steans is nothing if not ambitious.
But her work on the so-called Alcopops Law (235 ILCS 5/6-35) is a non-solution to a non-problem.
This sort of thing drives me crazy because it falsely accuses the good people of the beverage alcohol industry of seeking to harm children, a serious and completely baseless charge, made for the purpose of pandering to parents, including some who want to blame their children's substance abuse problems on someone other than their children and themselves, and who better?
These charges are also an attack on the advertising industry. Since for a long time I worked in the advertising industry on alcohol accounts, I take this personally.
Who in government doesn't blame marketing and marketers? How about the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which investigates such things and has consistently found that the beverage alcohol industry does not market to underage consumers. Instead of falling for neo-prohibitionist propaganda like Senator Steans does, read the FTC's most-recent report here. (Right-click to download the PDF.)
Critics will, of course, dismiss the FTC as in the pocket of Big Alcohol, and Senator Steans knows all about that since she is the scourge of "Pay-to-Play," but in its 86-page report the FTC found little to fault in the performance of alcohol marketers, and while it made some common sense recommendations for improvement, none of them involve anything like the measures of which Senator Steans is so proud.
The Legislative Update gave this additional example of Senator Steans wasting government resources to make it look like she's doing something "for the children." It announced her co-sponsorship of a bill creating the Illinois Commission on Children and Youth.
Illinois achieved statehood on December 3, 1818 and I can't imagine how her children and youth have survived 190 years without this commission.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
America's Whiskey Makers Are Cautiously Optimistic.
An Associated Press article from about a month ago just came to my attention. I wrote essentially the same story for WHISKY Magazine, but you can't access mine online like you can this one (as it appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle).
As Bruce Schreiner writes, "distillers are expanding their bourbon production and storage, and dispatching sales teams around the world, bullish for a traditionally Southern beverage gaining popularity worldwide. Surging exports, the weak U.S. dollar and rising popularity among younger Americans are driving the boom."
Virtually every producer is increasing capacity. Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark, Jack Daniel's and Heaven Hill are all adding production capacity.
This expansion is literally unprecedented. The last time the industry grew like this is when it was getting back on its feet after World War II. The same sort of expansion is going on in Scotland. Whiskey is notoriously hard to forecast because of the long aging cycle, so at best people are cautiously optimistic.
As Bruce Schreiner writes, "distillers are expanding their bourbon production and storage, and dispatching sales teams around the world, bullish for a traditionally Southern beverage gaining popularity worldwide. Surging exports, the weak U.S. dollar and rising popularity among younger Americans are driving the boom."
Virtually every producer is increasing capacity. Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark, Jack Daniel's and Heaven Hill are all adding production capacity.
This expansion is literally unprecedented. The last time the industry grew like this is when it was getting back on its feet after World War II. The same sort of expansion is going on in Scotland. Whiskey is notoriously hard to forecast because of the long aging cycle, so at best people are cautiously optimistic.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
German Scientists Over-Analyze Bourbon.
According to Chemistry World, researchers based in Germany have picked out the molecules responsible for the aroma of Kentucky bourbon, in order to understand - and perhaps control - the spirit's flavor.
German scientists want to improve bourbon. What could possibly go wrong?
German scientists want to improve bourbon. What could possibly go wrong?
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