Before butter and alcohol, a couple of news items: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he won't block the Republican funding bill , incurring the wrath of other Democratic leaders.  Trump's spending bill subsequently passed today .  Major storm with potential for baseball-size hail and tornadoes are expected today for Missouri and Illinois, also the South to Wisconsin. Mark Carney was sworn in as  Canada's new prime minister .   He will call for a general election in the coming weeks, but this will not affect his leadership, as the governing Liberal Party will still remain in control. Canada's political system is like the UK.  A constitutional monarchy recognizing the Queen/King as the head of state, with the Prime Minister as head of government.   They have a Parliament.  Their Senate has 105 seats appointed by someone called the Governor General, who represents King Charles.  The House of Commons has 338 members elected b...

It's been more than four years since the coming of Covid-19.  For several years I every Thursday reported on this pandemic.  I've noticed where I live at 15 Craigside, a seniors' community, that time and time again residents returned from trips away from Hawaii, and tended to test negative at first, but positive several days later.  My conclusion now is that they must have caught this virus while on the flight home.  There is one resident who never tested positive when she returned home, BUT, on three trips after the pandemic was cancelled, caught covid all three times while away. Two weeks ago, in my posting on  SHOULD YOU CONTINUE TO WORRY ABOUT COVID-19 WHEN YOU TRAVEL? , I quoted the  Mayo Clinic : Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading   COVID-19 . If you're unvaccinated, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from   COVID-19 . If you must travel and aren't vaccinated, talk with your health care provider an...

65% of U.S. adults 21 and over drink alcoholic beverages.   This Gallup poll annual percentage dipped to 55% in 1958 and rose as high as 71% in the 1970s.   However, for households annually earning $100,000 or more, this rate is 80% for 18 and over adults.  Those homes earning less than $40,000/year has a rate of 49%. While in 1992 beer was favored by 47%, with 27% for wine and 21% for spirits, in 2022 this disparity narrowed to 35% beer, 31% wine and 30% spirits. Drinks international released its annual list of the  most popular liquor ( or distilled spirits ) brands  in the world.  In this list of the top 30, only 2 gins made the cut.  Here are a few of them, and you will be surprised. #30 Aperol:  a bright orange Italian bitter, it was created in 1919 and is used in spritzes. #29 Jagermeister:  a German digestif, I noticed it was able in South Korean movie theaters. #28 Gordon's Gin:  dates back to 1769, a bottle is sold eve...