On the Perfect Martini and Other Myths

For this New Year's celebration, I had a simple task: To prepare the perfect Martini. Not one of the many impostor drinks that have posed as "martinis" over decades past - but a true, traditional one. I enjoy the art of making drinks properly, and what better time to practice this than on New Year's Eve?At the heart of a real Martini is elegant simplicity. Sugary syrups and...

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A Cluster of Connie's

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of meeting a handful of lovely purebred Connemara ponies, including three stallions. Firstly I made my acquaintance with Lonsdale Moonwind and Sun 'n Air of Summer Valley (Rebel and Dover) . Rebel is 29 years old and looks an absolute picture and shares his paddock with a jersey heifer and Nubian cross doe. Dover is quite a lot younger (13...

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Labels

This is my last post for 2010. At this time of year, other media outlets like to recap the year with some list or whatnot. This is filler made months ago because these guys were going to be on vacation. But I'm writing this today.My recap for the year are the labels I wear. Everyone has labels. Some they choose to wear. Others they choose to hide. These are the ones I choose to wear.LOSERThis is top of the list for me. I am a loser. Of course, that is relative. I am better off than a homeless drunk. But I am not rich or famous which is what makes...

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Jerk-stötar

Oa jerk 12,20, 24kg: 5/5 eachJerk 2x20kg: 5Jerk 2x24kg: 5Jerk 2x28kg: 2,2, 15,10Jerk 2x24kg: 5, 30Not all sessions can feel great. Today, I felt tired in the body, the only reason I can come up with is Tuesday's one arm swings. Still, no remorse as some decent sets-seen my level-were achiev...

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Education, Credentials, and Skills

I talk a lot about college, the higher ed bubble, autodidacticism, blue collar skills, and what have you. In my discussions with others, I notice there is some slippage in the terms we use. I will now try and clarify these terms.EducationThis is what you actually know. It doesn't matter where it came from. Knowing the earth is round is no less true or important because you learned it in high school, from a book, a friend, or Harvard University. This applies to all facts. Thanks to the free market, public libraries, and the internet, education today...

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A Lesson Learned

In what is usually one of the slowest news weeks, a controversy rages over President Obama’s reported conversation with Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, praising the franchise for giving Michael Vick a chance to perform after serving a twenty-three month prison sentence for dog fighting and related charges.Peter King of Sports Illustrated, who had reported...

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Getting Up Off The Mat

It is great to see SportsLeader coaches and their teams get such good press.Chris and his team have shoveled over 100 driveways so far this winter plus helped a driver out of a ditch? How many have you shoveled with your team?The gauntlet has been laid down! ...Getting Up Off The MatBY SCOTT SPRINGER • SSPRINGER@COMMUNITYPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 23, 2010When you...

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Isolation

I don't have any friends. Actually, this isn't true. I have over 3000+ friends on Facebook, friends at work, friends from a previous job, and all sorts of others I need to reconnect with as soon as I find the time to do so. And I do have true friends, thank you very much. I am as socially out there as you can get.What I don't have is a family. I live alone. I just broke up...

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Chris Bream on Libertarians

There’s always tension between freedom and fairness. We want less government regulation, but not when it means firms can hire cheap child labor. We want a free market, but not so bankers can deceive investors. Libertarianism, in promoting freedom above all else, pretends the tension doesn’t exist.Case in point: A house in Obion County, Tennessee, burned to the ground in September because the owner had not paid the annual $75 fee for opt-in fire protection. As the fire raged, the house owner told the dispatcher that he would pay the cost of putting...

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Snow Queen!

My Gazelle "Linda" has now been updated for the winter, with new tires and woven dress guards. She is a beautiful sight to behold against the snowy landscape!The tire replacement was something that had to be done anyhow, as the original ones were cracked and I did not want them to fail in the winter. And of course, I was only too happy to replace them with my favourite cream Schwalbe...

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A Simple Act Elevates All

Embracing service!Rudy Favard, 17, cradled Sammy Parker, 8, as he carried him upstairs. (Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff)By Yvonne AbrahamGlobe ColumnistOn Tuesday night, Patty and Rick Parker were in their cramped kitchen with their 8-year-old son Ben. Dinner was over. Bedtime was near.Ben’s twin brother, Sammy, lay on a cot in the narrow hallway just outside the kitchen....

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Cardiff Blues v Ospreys set for record crowd

With over 16,000 tickets already sold for the Blues v Ospreys derby match on New Year’s Eve it looks set be a record rugby crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium.There’s sure to a brilliant atmosphere for the game which kicks off at 2.05pm as the Blues take on an inform Ospreys side.Speaking ahead of the match, Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby, David Young said,“On paper the Ospreys...

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Success!

Well, at least I hope so. Today Cindy (Wayward Wind) came into season and Brennan is very pleased, as am I because I was beginning to think it might never happen! Now for Isla to follow suit ...I'm hoping to hit the road on Friday with my camera to visit a couple of horses either bred by me or by one of my stallions and to meet Brennan's sire and a collection of other Connemaras....

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