Saturday, June 30, 2012
Jack Black
Comic actor Jack Black is the son of rocket scientists. His mother worked on the Hubble telescope, and his father worked on "some stuff that i can't tell you about," Jack says.
Apple I-Phone
Each iPhone contains hundreds of parts: semiconductors from Germany and Taiwan, memory from Korea and Japan, display panels and circuitry from Korea and Taiwan, chipsets from Europe, and rare metals from Africa and Asia. And all of that is assembled in China.
The Voynich Manuscript
The Voynich manuscript is an ancient book that has thwarted all attempts at deciphering its contents. And it's not like some idiot just scribbled a bunch of nonsense on paper. It is actually an organized book with a consistent script, discernible organization and detailed illustrations.
It appears to be a real language, just one that nobody has seen before. And it really does appear to mean something. But nobody knows what.
There is not even a consensus on who wrote it, or even when it was written and why.
It appears to be a real language, just one that nobody has seen before. And it really does appear to mean something. But nobody knows what.
There is not even a consensus on who wrote it, or even when it was written and why.
Glenn McGrath - Michael Atherton
Michael Atherton has led England with stoicism and made big scores against most countries. He was regularly tormented by metronomic Aussie opening bowler Glenn McGrath. Over the years, Atherton was dismissed 19 times by McGrath in test matches, a record for any bowler against one batsman.
Ice Cream Cone
The ice cream cone's invention is linked to the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. An ice cream vendor reportedly didn't have enough dishes to keep up with the demand, so he teamed up with a waffle vendor who rolled his waffles into cones!
First Ad on television
While the television was created in 1926, it was not until 1941 that the first advertisement aired. The advertisement lasted for 20 seconds and was for the Bulava Watch. It aired during a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies.
What was the cost of this?
A whopping nine dollars for 20 seconds of commercial time back then.
What was the cost of this?
A whopping nine dollars for 20 seconds of commercial time back then.
Lightening Storm
In March of 1991, a single six hour storm stretching over Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri caused more than 15,000 lightning strikes. During the storm the skies were blazed with almost constant lightning.
First President to be born in the United States
Martin Van Burenm the eighth President was the firs U.S. president to be born in the United States. The first seven presidents were born in what is now known as the United States of America, but they were born as British subjects.
George Washington
George Washington gave the shortest inaugural address in history, all because of his painful dentures. He only had one real tooth left at the time of his second inaugural, and his speech consisted of only 135 words long and took only 90 seconds to deliver.
George Washington was shot at several times yet was never harmed, even though he once "had four bullet sthrough my coat, and two horses shot under me yet escaped unhurt", according to a letter he wrote to his brother after the battle at Monongahela river.
George Washington was shot at several times yet was never harmed, even though he once "had four bullet sthrough my coat, and two horses shot under me yet escaped unhurt", according to a letter he wrote to his brother after the battle at Monongahela river.
Longest Oscar Wait
Henry Fonda holds the record for the longest stretch between an acting Oscar nomination and a win: 41 years.
Chocolates - Weight loss food
Chocolate is a weight-loss food. Chocolate is the number one appetite suppressant of any natural food. This is why all diet fads always include some kind of chocolate snack. Producers of these foods would include chocolate even if people did not love it because chocolate is such a powerful appetite suppressant.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Undetectable Polar Bears
Polar Bears are nearly undetectable by infrared cameras, due to their transparent fur.
Alphabet
The word ‘alphabet’ is etymologically derived from the first two letters in the Greek alphabet: ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta'.
Deserts
Believe it or not, most of the Earth’s deserts are not composed entirely of sand. Much, about 85% of them, are rocks and gravel.
The largest, the Sahara, fills about 1/3 of Africa (and it is growing constantly) which would nearly fill the continental United States.
The largest, the Sahara, fills about 1/3 of Africa (and it is growing constantly) which would nearly fill the continental United States.
The Blue Marble
The Earth is, in fact, not really round. It is called an oblate spheroid meaning it’s slightly flattened on the top and bottom poles.
Floral Kingdom
The world is divided into six floral kingdoms. All these kingdoms encompass several countries, and in some cases, several continents. South Africa, which has a floral kingdom wholly contained within the country, is the one exception. The Cape Floral Kingdom has 9,600 plant species, 70% of which are not found anywhere else in the world.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Superstitious Nokia!!!
In Asia, the digit 4 never appears in any Nokia handset model number, because 4 is considered unlucky in many parts of Southeast/East Asia.
Stress of waking up
Some people can wake up when they want to. This reaction is caused by a burst of the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin, anticipating the stress of waking up.
Disturbed Sleep
Small lights from alarm clocks and cellphones can be enough to disrupt the sleep cycle even if you do not fully wake.
Bank Of America
The Bank of America was originally called the Bank of Italy. It was created in 1904 by Amadeo Giannini to cater to immigrants from Italy. After merging in the 1920s with the “Bank of America, Los Angeles”, it officially became “Bank of America”.
Gregorian Calendar
In 1752, there were only 354 days in Great Britain and its colonies. This was because Britain adopted the Gregorian Calendar in place of the Julian calendar. The lost days were September 3 – September 13 inclusive.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Responsibility
Employer: "We need someone responsible for the job."
Applicant: "Sir your search ends here! In my previous job whenever something went wrong,everybody said I was responsible."
Applicant: "Sir your search ends here! In my previous job whenever something went wrong,everybody said I was responsible."
Memory loss
My memory has gotten so bad it has actually caused me to lose my job. I'm still employed. I just can't remember where.
The first electronic mail, or email, was sent in 1972 by Ray Tomlinson. It was also his idea to use the @ sign to separate the name of the user from the name of the computer.
Oscar Gold
The Oscar statuette isn’t made of gold – it’s made from an alloy called Britannia, which is 93% tin, 5% antimony, and 2% copper. It is only plated with gold.
First in Test Match Cricket
England’s Alfred Shaw was the bowler to bowl the first delivery in a Test match. He took 3 three wickets in the first innings and 5 in the second.
England’s Allen Hill had both the first Test wicket and the first catch. He dismissed Nat Thomson for 1. This fine bowler’s career was unfortunately beset by injuries.
Australia’s Charles Bannerman faced the first delivery in a Test match and he also went on to be the first Test centurion.
Charles Bannerman scored 165 in his first Test innings and was retired hurt. Incidentally, he did not take field. W.Newing fielded for him, thus becoming the first substitute fielder in Test cricket.
Australia’s WE Midwinter became the first bowler to get a 5 wicket haul in a Test innings. He dismissed 5 English batsmen in his 54 over long spell in the first Test ever played.
CA Reid and RB Terry were the two on-field officials or umpires for the first ever Test match in the history of cricket.
England’s Allen Hill had both the first Test wicket and the first catch. He dismissed Nat Thomson for 1. This fine bowler’s career was unfortunately beset by injuries.
Australia’s Charles Bannerman faced the first delivery in a Test match and he also went on to be the first Test centurion.
Charles Bannerman scored 165 in his first Test innings and was retired hurt. Incidentally, he did not take field. W.Newing fielded for him, thus becoming the first substitute fielder in Test cricket.
Australia’s WE Midwinter became the first bowler to get a 5 wicket haul in a Test innings. He dismissed 5 English batsmen in his 54 over long spell in the first Test ever played.
CA Reid and RB Terry were the two on-field officials or umpires for the first ever Test match in the history of cricket.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
First Parachute Jump
The modern parachute was invented in the late 18th century by Louis-Sébastien Lenormand in France, who made the first recorded public jump in 1783. Lenormand also sketched his device beforehand.
In 1911, Grant Morton made the first parachute jump from an airplane, a Wright Model B, at Venice Beach, California. The pilot of the plane was Phil Parmalee. Morton's parachute was of the 'throw-out' type where he held the chute in his arms as he left the aircraft.
In 1911, Grant Morton made the first parachute jump from an airplane, a Wright Model B, at Venice Beach, California. The pilot of the plane was Phil Parmalee. Morton's parachute was of the 'throw-out' type where he held the chute in his arms as he left the aircraft.
A Real Talent
Despite his great scientific and artistic achievement, Leonardo Da Vinci was most proud of his ability to bend iron with his bare hands.
First Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace prize was first awarded in 1901 to Jean Henry Dunant, who was the founder of the Swiss Red Cross.
Bug in the System
In 1943, Navy officer Grace Hopper found a glitch in her computer. After investigating, she discovered the system had a bug, a real one. Turns out, a moth made its way into Hopper's computer.
Though the word bug has meant fault or defect since as far back as the 1870's, Hopper's story is credited with making it the synonym of choice in the computer industry.
Though the word bug has meant fault or defect since as far back as the 1870's, Hopper's story is credited with making it the synonym of choice in the computer industry.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Telephone Tribute
On the day that Alexander Graham Bell was buried the entire US telephone system was shut down for 1 minute in tribute.
The First Heart Transplant
Christian Barnard performed the first heart transplant in 1967. The patient lived for 18 days.
Whiskey
The world's largest producer and consumer of whiskey is in India.
Whiskey was first made in Ireland by missionary monks (who make the best booze and beer because the secrets were given to them by God) as early as the sixth century. Along with spreading The Word of The Lord, they also began distilling whiskey, or as it's called in Gaelic, uisce beatha, meaning "water of life." Occupying British soldiers in the 12th century bastardized the pronunciation, and it eventually came out "whisky".
Whiskey is a general term describing many spirits. Every region/country that makes whiskey has its own rules & regulations for the liquor to be considered official,so they can set themselves apart. Whiskey in the simplest of terms is comprised of water, a grain and yeast (if you add hops to those three, you get beer), and is aged in oak casks. The way you manipulate these ingredients accounts for all of the different varieties.
Whisky or whisky-like products are produced in most grain-growing areas. They differ in base product, alcoholic content, and quality.
Malt whisky is made primarily from malted barley.
Grain whisky is made from any type of grains.
Malts and grains are combined in various ways:
Single malt whisky is whisky from a single distillery made from a mash that uses only one particular malted grain. Unless the whisky is described as "single-cask", though, it will contain whisky from many casks, and different years, so the blender can achieve a taste recognisable as typical of the distillery. In most cases, the name of a single malt will be that of the distillery (The Glenlivet, Bushmills, Nikka), with an age statement and perhaps some indication of some special treatments such as maturation in a port wine cask.
Blended malt whisky is a mixture of single malt whiskies from different distilleries. If a whisky is labelled "pure malt" or just "malt" it is almost certain to be a blended malt whisky. This was formerly called a "vatted malt" whisky. Blended whiskies are typically made from a mixture of malt and grain whiskies,often along with neutral spirits, caramel, and flavouring. A whisky simply described as a Scotch, Irish, or Canadian whisky is most likely to be a blend. A blend typically contains whisky from many distilleries so that the blender can produce a flavour consistent with the brand, and the brand name (e.g., Chivas Regal, Canadian Club) will usually not therefore contain the name of a distillery. Jameson Irish Whiskey is an example of an exception, as it comes from only one distillery.
Cask strength (also known as barrel-proof) whiskies are rare, and usually only the very best whiskies are bottled in this way. They are bottled from the cask undiluted or only lightly diluted.
Single cask (also known as single-barrel) whiskies are usually bottled by specialist independent bottlers, such as Duncan Taylor, Gordon & MacPhail, and Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, amongst others. Each bottle of a single-barrel whisky is from an individual cask, and often the bottles are labelled with specific barrel and bottle numbers. The taste of these whiskies may vary substantially from cask to cask within a brand.
The break down of the major types of Whiskey is as below:
American Whiskey
Made from a mash (mixture) of cereal grain. Aged at least two years in charred, unused oak.
Australian Whiskey
Australia produces a number of single malt whiskies. The whiskies being produced on the island State of Tasmania in particular are receiving global attention.
Canadian Whiskey
Canadian whiskies are usually lighter and smoother than other whisky styles. By Canadian law, Canadian whiskies must be produced and aged in Canada, be distilled from a fermented mash of cereal grain, be aged in wood barrels (of a capacity not larger than 700 L) for not less than three years, and "possess the aroma, taste and character generally attributed to Canadian whisky". The terms "Canadian Whisky" and "Canadian Rye Whisky" are legally indistinguishable in Canada and do not require any use of rye or other specific grain in their production. In fact, the predominant grain used in making "Canadian Rye Whisky" is corn. Canadian whiskies may contain caramel and flavouring in addition to the distilled mash spirits, and there is no maximum limit on the alcohol level of the distillation, so the bulk of the distilled content may be neutral spirits rather than straight whiskies.
Danish Whiskey
Denmark began producing whisky early in the 21st century. The first Danish single malt to go on sale was Lille Gadegård from Bornholm, in 2005. Lille Gadegård is a winery as well, and uses its own winecasks to mature whisky. The second Danish distilled single malt whisky for sale was Edition No.1 from the Braunstein microbrewery and distillery. It was distilled in 2007, using water from the Greenlandic ice sheet, and entered the market in March 2010. The distillery has since released several whiskies. Other Danish distilleries include Stauning Whisky, which began distillation in 2006, and Fary Lochan, which began production in December 2009.
English Whiskey
There are currently three distilleries producing English whisky. Though England is not very well known for making whisky there were distillers previously operating in London, Liverpool and Bristol until the late 19th century, after which production of English single malt whisky ceased until 2003.
Finnish Whiskey
There are two working distilleries in Finland and a third one is under construction. Whisky retail sales in Finland are controlled solely by the state alcohol monopoly Alko and advertisement of strong alcoholic beverages is banned.
German whiskies
The distillation of German-made whisky is a relatively recent phenomenon having only started in the last 30 years. The styles produced resemble those made in Ireland, Scotland and the United States: single malts, blends, and bourbon styles. There is no standard spelling of German whiskies with distilleries using both "whisky" and "whiskey" and one even using "Whesskey", a play on the word whisky and Hesse, the state in which it is produced.
Indian Whiskey
The majority of Indian whiskies are blends with a small amount of grain whisky blended with neutral spirits distilled from fermented molasses, and as such could be considered a sort of rum, although pure grain whiskies are also available.
Irish Whiskey
Distilled three times. Uses pure-malted barley as the grain. Aged at least three years in oak casks. Most Irish whiskeys are normally distilled three times, Cooley Distillery being the exception as they also double distill. Though traditionally distilled using pot stills, column still are now used to produce grain whiskey for blends. By law, Irish whiskey must be produced in Ireland and aged in wooden casks for a period of no less than three years, although in practice it is usually three or four times that period. Unpeated malt is almost always used, the main exception being Connemara Peated Malt whiskey. There are several types of whiskey common to Ireland: single malt, single grain, blended whiskey and pure pot still whiskey.
Japanese Whiskey
The model for Japanese whiskies is the single malt Scotch, although there are also examples of Japanese blended whiskies. The base is a mash of malted barley, dried in kilns fired with a little peat (although considerably less than in Scotland), and distilled using the pot still method. For some time exports of Japanese whisky suffered from the belief in the West that whisky made in the Scotch style, but not produced in Scotland, was inferior, and until fairly recently, the market for Japanese whiskies was almost entirely domestic. In recent years, Japanese whiskies have won prestigious international awards and now enjoy a reputation as a high quality product.
New Zealand Whiskey
With a pristine environment, crystal clean water and a cool climate for maturation - New Zealand is an ideal location for whisky production. The New Zealand whisky industry arguably started with the establishment of the Willowbank Distillery in the late 1960s. Although whisky distillation had taken place well before this time, it was largely illicit distilling. There are currently two active distilleries and two companies that are maturing and bottling stocks from the now mothballed Willowbank Distillery.
Scotch or Scottish Whisky
Distilled twice. Also uses barley, which is dried over peat fire, giving scotch it's characteristic smoky flavor. Aged at least two years in oak. Scotch whiskies are generally distilled twice, although some are distilled a third time and others even up to twenty times. Scotch Whisky Regulations require anything bearing the label "Scotch" to be distilled in Scotland and matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks, among other, more specific criteria. An age statement on the bottle, in the form of a number, must reflect the age of the youngest Scotch whisky used to produce that product. A whisky with an age statement is known as guaranteed age whisky. Scotch whisky without an age statement may, by law, be as young as three years old. The basic types of Scotch are malt and grain, which are combined to create blends. Many, though not all, Scotch whiskies use peat smoke to treat their malt, giving Scotch its distinctive smoky flavour. Scotch malt whiskies are divided into five main regions: Highland, Lowland, Islay, Speyside and Campbeltown.
Swedish Whiskey
Sweden has a young, but growing, whisky industry. The Mackmyra distillery started selling its products in 2006. Spirit of Hven started distilling in 2008 with products expected to go on the market circa 2012. The Smögen distillery in Hunnebostrand on the Swedish west coast started distilling in August 2010, and the Grythyttan Whisky distillery near Örebro in middle Sweden started distilling in October 2010. Additionally, another half dozen or so distilleries are in different stages of preparation. Production of whisky has however somewhat older roots in Sweden. Starting in the 1950s a whisky called Skeppets whisky was made. Production was halted in 1966.
Welsh Whiskey
In 2000, Penderyn Distillery started production of Penderyn single malt whisky, the first Welsh whisky since all production ended in 1894. (Though a distillery operated near Brecon in the 1990s, making and selling "Prince of Wales" malt whisky.) The first bottles went on sale on 1 March 2004, Saint David's Day, and the whisky is now sold throughout the world. Penderyn Distillery is located in the Brecon Beacons National Park and is considered to be the smallest distillery in the world.
Other whiskies
Manx Spirit from the Isle of Man is distilled elsewhere and re-distilled in the country of its nominal "origin". The Manx distillery takes a previously matured Scotch malt whisky and re-distills it.
In 2010 a Czech whisky was released, the 21 year old "Hammer Head".
Recently at least two distilleries in the traditionally brandy-producing Caucasus region announced their plans to enter the Russian domestic market with whiskies. The Stavropol-based Praskoveysky distillery bases its product on Irish technology, while in Kizlyar, Dagestan's "Russian Whisky" announced a Scotch-inspired drink in single malt, blended and wheat varieties.
A whiskey stops maturing after it's bottled, so it won't get "better" over time.
A closed bottle can be kept for more than 100 years and you'll still be good to go.
An opened bottle is all right for five years. This is good to know for nicer bottles.
The oak barrels give the whiskey its caramel color. Whiskey gains as much as 60 percent of its flavor from the type of cask used in the aging process.
Bourbon is an American Whiskey made from at least 51 percent corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky (which, in turn, was named after the French House of Bourbon royal family). It has been produced since the 18th century. While it may be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the American South in general, and Kentucky in particular.
The reason Jack Daniel's is not considered bourbon is because they filter it through sugar-maple charcoal ("mellowing") prior to aging.
While most people think that adding ice or water to whiskey is sacrilegious, it is all about taste. One person might prefer his whiskey neat (straight up), but a small amount of water or ice will bring out more subtle, nuanced flavors.
Whiskey was first made in Ireland by missionary monks (who make the best booze and beer because the secrets were given to them by God) as early as the sixth century. Along with spreading The Word of The Lord, they also began distilling whiskey, or as it's called in Gaelic, uisce beatha, meaning "water of life." Occupying British soldiers in the 12th century bastardized the pronunciation, and it eventually came out "whisky".
Whiskey is a general term describing many spirits. Every region/country that makes whiskey has its own rules & regulations for the liquor to be considered official,so they can set themselves apart. Whiskey in the simplest of terms is comprised of water, a grain and yeast (if you add hops to those three, you get beer), and is aged in oak casks. The way you manipulate these ingredients accounts for all of the different varieties.
Whisky or whisky-like products are produced in most grain-growing areas. They differ in base product, alcoholic content, and quality.
Malt whisky is made primarily from malted barley.
Grain whisky is made from any type of grains.
Malts and grains are combined in various ways:
Single malt whisky is whisky from a single distillery made from a mash that uses only one particular malted grain. Unless the whisky is described as "single-cask", though, it will contain whisky from many casks, and different years, so the blender can achieve a taste recognisable as typical of the distillery. In most cases, the name of a single malt will be that of the distillery (The Glenlivet, Bushmills, Nikka), with an age statement and perhaps some indication of some special treatments such as maturation in a port wine cask.
Blended malt whisky is a mixture of single malt whiskies from different distilleries. If a whisky is labelled "pure malt" or just "malt" it is almost certain to be a blended malt whisky. This was formerly called a "vatted malt" whisky. Blended whiskies are typically made from a mixture of malt and grain whiskies,often along with neutral spirits, caramel, and flavouring. A whisky simply described as a Scotch, Irish, or Canadian whisky is most likely to be a blend. A blend typically contains whisky from many distilleries so that the blender can produce a flavour consistent with the brand, and the brand name (e.g., Chivas Regal, Canadian Club) will usually not therefore contain the name of a distillery. Jameson Irish Whiskey is an example of an exception, as it comes from only one distillery.
Cask strength (also known as barrel-proof) whiskies are rare, and usually only the very best whiskies are bottled in this way. They are bottled from the cask undiluted or only lightly diluted.
Single cask (also known as single-barrel) whiskies are usually bottled by specialist independent bottlers, such as Duncan Taylor, Gordon & MacPhail, and Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, amongst others. Each bottle of a single-barrel whisky is from an individual cask, and often the bottles are labelled with specific barrel and bottle numbers. The taste of these whiskies may vary substantially from cask to cask within a brand.
The break down of the major types of Whiskey is as below:
American Whiskey
Made from a mash (mixture) of cereal grain. Aged at least two years in charred, unused oak.
Australian Whiskey
Australia produces a number of single malt whiskies. The whiskies being produced on the island State of Tasmania in particular are receiving global attention.
Canadian Whiskey
Canadian whiskies are usually lighter and smoother than other whisky styles. By Canadian law, Canadian whiskies must be produced and aged in Canada, be distilled from a fermented mash of cereal grain, be aged in wood barrels (of a capacity not larger than 700 L) for not less than three years, and "possess the aroma, taste and character generally attributed to Canadian whisky". The terms "Canadian Whisky" and "Canadian Rye Whisky" are legally indistinguishable in Canada and do not require any use of rye or other specific grain in their production. In fact, the predominant grain used in making "Canadian Rye Whisky" is corn. Canadian whiskies may contain caramel and flavouring in addition to the distilled mash spirits, and there is no maximum limit on the alcohol level of the distillation, so the bulk of the distilled content may be neutral spirits rather than straight whiskies.
Danish Whiskey
Denmark began producing whisky early in the 21st century. The first Danish single malt to go on sale was Lille Gadegård from Bornholm, in 2005. Lille Gadegård is a winery as well, and uses its own winecasks to mature whisky. The second Danish distilled single malt whisky for sale was Edition No.1 from the Braunstein microbrewery and distillery. It was distilled in 2007, using water from the Greenlandic ice sheet, and entered the market in March 2010. The distillery has since released several whiskies. Other Danish distilleries include Stauning Whisky, which began distillation in 2006, and Fary Lochan, which began production in December 2009.
English Whiskey
There are currently three distilleries producing English whisky. Though England is not very well known for making whisky there were distillers previously operating in London, Liverpool and Bristol until the late 19th century, after which production of English single malt whisky ceased until 2003.
Finnish Whiskey
There are two working distilleries in Finland and a third one is under construction. Whisky retail sales in Finland are controlled solely by the state alcohol monopoly Alko and advertisement of strong alcoholic beverages is banned.
German whiskies
The distillation of German-made whisky is a relatively recent phenomenon having only started in the last 30 years. The styles produced resemble those made in Ireland, Scotland and the United States: single malts, blends, and bourbon styles. There is no standard spelling of German whiskies with distilleries using both "whisky" and "whiskey" and one even using "Whesskey", a play on the word whisky and Hesse, the state in which it is produced.
Indian Whiskey
The majority of Indian whiskies are blends with a small amount of grain whisky blended with neutral spirits distilled from fermented molasses, and as such could be considered a sort of rum, although pure grain whiskies are also available.
Irish Whiskey
Distilled three times. Uses pure-malted barley as the grain. Aged at least three years in oak casks. Most Irish whiskeys are normally distilled three times, Cooley Distillery being the exception as they also double distill. Though traditionally distilled using pot stills, column still are now used to produce grain whiskey for blends. By law, Irish whiskey must be produced in Ireland and aged in wooden casks for a period of no less than three years, although in practice it is usually three or four times that period. Unpeated malt is almost always used, the main exception being Connemara Peated Malt whiskey. There are several types of whiskey common to Ireland: single malt, single grain, blended whiskey and pure pot still whiskey.
Japanese Whiskey
The model for Japanese whiskies is the single malt Scotch, although there are also examples of Japanese blended whiskies. The base is a mash of malted barley, dried in kilns fired with a little peat (although considerably less than in Scotland), and distilled using the pot still method. For some time exports of Japanese whisky suffered from the belief in the West that whisky made in the Scotch style, but not produced in Scotland, was inferior, and until fairly recently, the market for Japanese whiskies was almost entirely domestic. In recent years, Japanese whiskies have won prestigious international awards and now enjoy a reputation as a high quality product.
New Zealand Whiskey
With a pristine environment, crystal clean water and a cool climate for maturation - New Zealand is an ideal location for whisky production. The New Zealand whisky industry arguably started with the establishment of the Willowbank Distillery in the late 1960s. Although whisky distillation had taken place well before this time, it was largely illicit distilling. There are currently two active distilleries and two companies that are maturing and bottling stocks from the now mothballed Willowbank Distillery.
Scotch or Scottish Whisky
Distilled twice. Also uses barley, which is dried over peat fire, giving scotch it's characteristic smoky flavor. Aged at least two years in oak. Scotch whiskies are generally distilled twice, although some are distilled a third time and others even up to twenty times. Scotch Whisky Regulations require anything bearing the label "Scotch" to be distilled in Scotland and matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks, among other, more specific criteria. An age statement on the bottle, in the form of a number, must reflect the age of the youngest Scotch whisky used to produce that product. A whisky with an age statement is known as guaranteed age whisky. Scotch whisky without an age statement may, by law, be as young as three years old. The basic types of Scotch are malt and grain, which are combined to create blends. Many, though not all, Scotch whiskies use peat smoke to treat their malt, giving Scotch its distinctive smoky flavour. Scotch malt whiskies are divided into five main regions: Highland, Lowland, Islay, Speyside and Campbeltown.
Swedish Whiskey
Sweden has a young, but growing, whisky industry. The Mackmyra distillery started selling its products in 2006. Spirit of Hven started distilling in 2008 with products expected to go on the market circa 2012. The Smögen distillery in Hunnebostrand on the Swedish west coast started distilling in August 2010, and the Grythyttan Whisky distillery near Örebro in middle Sweden started distilling in October 2010. Additionally, another half dozen or so distilleries are in different stages of preparation. Production of whisky has however somewhat older roots in Sweden. Starting in the 1950s a whisky called Skeppets whisky was made. Production was halted in 1966.
Welsh Whiskey
In 2000, Penderyn Distillery started production of Penderyn single malt whisky, the first Welsh whisky since all production ended in 1894. (Though a distillery operated near Brecon in the 1990s, making and selling "Prince of Wales" malt whisky.) The first bottles went on sale on 1 March 2004, Saint David's Day, and the whisky is now sold throughout the world. Penderyn Distillery is located in the Brecon Beacons National Park and is considered to be the smallest distillery in the world.
Other whiskies
Manx Spirit from the Isle of Man is distilled elsewhere and re-distilled in the country of its nominal "origin". The Manx distillery takes a previously matured Scotch malt whisky and re-distills it.
In 2010 a Czech whisky was released, the 21 year old "Hammer Head".
Recently at least two distilleries in the traditionally brandy-producing Caucasus region announced their plans to enter the Russian domestic market with whiskies. The Stavropol-based Praskoveysky distillery bases its product on Irish technology, while in Kizlyar, Dagestan's "Russian Whisky" announced a Scotch-inspired drink in single malt, blended and wheat varieties.
A whiskey stops maturing after it's bottled, so it won't get "better" over time.
A closed bottle can be kept for more than 100 years and you'll still be good to go.
An opened bottle is all right for five years. This is good to know for nicer bottles.
The oak barrels give the whiskey its caramel color. Whiskey gains as much as 60 percent of its flavor from the type of cask used in the aging process.
Bourbon is an American Whiskey made from at least 51 percent corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky (which, in turn, was named after the French House of Bourbon royal family). It has been produced since the 18th century. While it may be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the American South in general, and Kentucky in particular.
The reason Jack Daniel's is not considered bourbon is because they filter it through sugar-maple charcoal ("mellowing") prior to aging.
While most people think that adding ice or water to whiskey is sacrilegious, it is all about taste. One person might prefer his whiskey neat (straight up), but a small amount of water or ice will bring out more subtle, nuanced flavors.
Death by BEER!!!
The ancient Babylonians were the first to brew Beer. Inface, they took their beer so seriously, if you brew a bad batch the punishment was to be drowned in it.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan's real name is Chan Kong-Sang, which translates into born in Hong Kong.
Jackie at age 17, worked as a stunt man and extra in the Hong Kong film industry, but the industry wasn't very strong and Jackie moved to Australia with his parents.
That's when Jackie got his name. He took jobs working at a restaurant, and a construction site. The Aussies, who are known for nicknaming, couldn't quite spit out the name Chan Kong-sang. One of the workers he worked with was named Jack, so Jackie was nicknamed little Jack, and eventually it went on to Jackie, and stuck ever since.
Jackie at age 17, worked as a stunt man and extra in the Hong Kong film industry, but the industry wasn't very strong and Jackie moved to Australia with his parents.
That's when Jackie got his name. He took jobs working at a restaurant, and a construction site. The Aussies, who are known for nicknaming, couldn't quite spit out the name Chan Kong-sang. One of the workers he worked with was named Jack, so Jackie was nicknamed little Jack, and eventually it went on to Jackie, and stuck ever since.
Hand Shakes
The custom of shaking hands with the strangers originated to show that both the parties were unarmed.
The 'White' House
The White House, in Washington DC, was originally gray, the color of the sandstone it was built out of. After the War of 1812, during which it had been burned by Canadian troops, the outside walls were painted white to hide the smoke stains.
Salute
During medivial times, armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute.
Now, that's treatment
2.In ancient China, doctors could receive fees only if their patient was cured. If it deteriorated, they would have to pay the patient.
Invention never stops!!!
The director of the US Patent Office in 1899 said that "Everything to be invented has been invented. Four years later, 2 bicycle shop owners flew the first plane and changed our world forever.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water
In the 1500s, baths equaled a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
Weight Check
Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is directly overhead.
Diamonds are for ever
Most gemstones contain several elements. The exception? The diamond. It's all carbon.
Brotherly Love
A man gets home early from work and hears strange noises coming from the bedroom. He rushes upstairs to find his wife naked on the bed, sweating and panting.
"What's up?" he says.
"I'm having a heart attack," cries the woman.
He rushes downstairs to grab the phone for ambulance, but just as he's dialing, his 4 year old son comes up and says, "Daddy! Daddy! Uncle Fred is hiding in your closet and he's got no clothes on!"
The man slams the phone down and storms upstairs into the bedroom, past his screaming wife, and rips open the wardrobe door. Sure enough, there is his brother, totally naked, covering on the closet floor.
"You b*stard," the man says," my wife is having a heart attack and you're running around naked scaring the kids!"
"What's up?" he says.
"I'm having a heart attack," cries the woman.
He rushes downstairs to grab the phone for ambulance, but just as he's dialing, his 4 year old son comes up and says, "Daddy! Daddy! Uncle Fred is hiding in your closet and he's got no clothes on!"
The man slams the phone down and storms upstairs into the bedroom, past his screaming wife, and rips open the wardrobe door. Sure enough, there is his brother, totally naked, covering on the closet floor.
"You b*stard," the man says," my wife is having a heart attack and you're running around naked scaring the kids!"
Family Secrets
Two boys were talking and the one said to the other, "There is a easy way to get what you want."
The other boy said, "How?" the boy replied, "Tell people you know their secret."
The boy jumps up and runs to his dad, "I know your secret!" The dad replies, "Please don't tell your mom heres $10."
The boy then runs to his mom, "I know your secret!" The mom said, "Please don't tell your dad here's $15."
The boy then decides to try it on the mail man, "I know your secret!" The mail man opened his arms and said, "Come, give your dad a hug!"
The other boy said, "How?" the boy replied, "Tell people you know their secret."
The boy jumps up and runs to his dad, "I know your secret!" The dad replies, "Please don't tell your mom heres $10."
The boy then runs to his mom, "I know your secret!" The mom said, "Please don't tell your dad here's $15."
The boy then decides to try it on the mail man, "I know your secret!" The mail man opened his arms and said, "Come, give your dad a hug!"
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