The Rabbi

While it is early to say I think Obama will become the next president. This is only because the GOP has screwed up so badly. One of the party leaders wrote in the WSJ this week to that effect--they have forgotten what Republicans stand for. Even the '06 election did not wake them up. "That Obama's a piece of sh1t and I told him to go suck on my machine gun."-Ted. I just love that quote.

Supremacy clause.

SIG P6. These are such screaming bargains in 18 months people will be kicking themselves they didnt buy one. Glock 19. Used Smith&Wesson. Beretta 92. The U.S. Army can't be wrong.

Yes! I hear that fondness for scotch can be cured. In vodka I admit to liking Stolichnaya. If you like vodka and you like rye bread try Aalborg Akvavit. Straight from the freezer. With herring and crackers. That's Jewish soul food right there.

Mike, I found the Evan Williams just a little weak. For me it was lacking something. Not every distillary rotates barrels. I went on the tour of Woodford Reserve and they told us they do not rotate barrels. They simply blend based on what's there. I think Jack Daniels does rotate them. Van Winkle makes a bourbon that ought to be pretty good but the rye is speciual.

The best whiskey I have ever had was Van Winkle Rye. They dont sell many bottles and you'll have trouble finding it. But if you do it is the best. DavidD, I think there are support groups out there for people like you. Only time I like scotch is in the winter, just to warm up. The best one I ever had was a blend with a French name but unfiltered.

On bourbon: to my knowledge the biggest determinant of taste is the mash used. More corn and it gets sweeter but lighter. I had some "corn whiskey" not too long ago. It was OK but wimpy. More rye and it gets heavier. Aging will affect it too of course. I think bourbon must be at least 51% corn and aged in new oak casks. If you use re-used casks, like ET, then it cant be bourbon any more. "Bonded" means 100 proof and stored in gov't warehouses. I guess that's left over from the old days where a lot of whiskey was cut with lye or other nasty stuff. My great-grandfather drank a bottle of Old Overholt bonded rye a day. You can't buy the same stuff today, very watered down. As for moonshine, the quick buck operators will throw a possum in the mash to speed fermentation and use an old car radiator for a condenser. Neither good ideas. The craftsmen do it right. I had some once and didnt care for it. Kind of a whanngy taste. I am told Hickman Co has the best stuff.

HA. HA. HA.

The aging issue. Bourbon doesnt age well past a certain time because of the cask charring. I think beyond 7 years or so you get a woody taste I dont like. There's a difference. But it isnt nearly as pronounced as the difference between Clan MacGregor (what I used for whisky-ginger) and Laphroig.

If it was really good he'll post it again. And again. I'm just upset my thread about whisky and ginger got zapped. I was having a ball with Mike.357 sharing knowledge. I seldom meet people who know so much about liquor.

I think there actually is a way to do it on the web site. I agree it's annoying. My take on it is as follows: The $35 a year membership is a loss-leader for the NRA. The magazine is worth at least that. They keep it low in order to sign up people because in Washington numbers talk. An org with 2M members gets a lot more respect than one with 2k members. It also allows them to get a list to solicit for further fundraising. The most annoying solicitation I got was some guy calling me at home at 9PM to solicit money prior to the election. And I tried to be as nice as I could. That said, I am a huge believer in the NRA and that every shooter needs to join the org. They are the only, the only, organization that lobbies effectively for gun rights. You can point to this or that bone head move (every org makes them) but overall we would be in a world of hurt were it not for the NRA. And if I can remember I will start an "add a buck" campaign for the NRA at the shop.

Politics will be involved one way or another. If you make the qualifications to run in the first place high enough then you are assured of getting a qualified candidate. I would rather a qualified candidate who is answerable to the people than one who owes his position to his buddies in the backroom of the bar association.

It depends on who walks into the store.

Len, I can say that I appreciate your reliability. If you think the plan is such a great idea then I know for sure it's a stinker of the first order. Judges should reflect the values of the majority of voters in the state, having passed some minimum qualification. The idea of a judicial elite imposing their choices on the rest of us makes me sick.

It was less of a question than a query. You explained it perfectly. My thing is that the legislature circumvented the state constitution AND the news media havent reported anything about it--I only found out from the editorial page of the Journal.

He obviously sounded a little frustrated in his comments. What you do with a $10k shotgun that looks like that is beyond me. Of course if that was a 10ga I'd be all over it.

Up until last week you would have been correct, Double After. The state constitution calls for direct election. This scheme was proposed as an amendment in 1977 and defeated decisively. But the legislature went ahead with it anyway. It allows the trial lawyers and members of the bar association to control the process. It has been so political even Gov Bredesen complained about it. But the legislature had to re-authorize this and they didnt, despite lobbying by Naifeh's wife. Again my question: why weren't the major news media here reporting this story?

Anybody know the answer to this? The only way I found out was by reading the Wall St Journal editorial page. SInce 1977 there has been a remarkable end-run around the state constitution. That seems to have ended last week. My question is why the Tennessean's coverage of it was minimal, at best.

You could just about name the reps and write the report yourself. From "no need" to "police chiefs in the state universally oppose it" it's a done deal. Without a concerted effort by the citizens in this state, including a demonstration on the capitol hill steps, it won't happen.

Heaven (whatever that is) isn't the exclusive property of Jews. Jews want one of two things from non-Jews: either join with us 100% (as Ruth said to Naomi) or leave us alone. Either one is fine.

.....Nevermind.....

Not antagonistic at all. The Christian idea of the three part god is considered to be idolatry for a Jew but not for a non-Jew. Muslims worship the same god we do. In fact the two religions are extremely close. I've had occasion to talk to a religious Muslim and the more we compare notes the closer it looks.

Yeah, well if you wondered what was going to come out of that committee, here it is. Only difference is the stuff in the picture can be washed.

Yes, the animal was alive, the limb removed from it and eaten. I've heard of people doing that but it's pretty uncommon.

I do! I do!