Month: January 2021

On Wednesday, what was supposed to be a mere formality — a joint session of Congress counting the nation’s electoral votes and officially naming Joe Biden president — dissolved into chaos. Supporters of outgoing president Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building, disrupting the session. Congress members ran for their lives. Someone was shot. Close Trump associates, like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Jim Jordan — who had fanned the flames of baseless voter fraud accusations — tried to talk the rioters down. But when Trump recorded his own video, he spent most of his time making it worse.

That video isn’t as easy seen as it once was. Facebook and YouTube removed it, mere hours after it was posted. Guy Rosen, Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity, released a statement, saying, “We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence.”

In the video, Trump didn’t condemn his supporters but praised them. “I know you’re pain,” he began, seeming to channel Bill Clinton. He repeated false claims that the election was “stolen,” that it was “fraudulent,” and that it was a “landslide,” not a mere win. “But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order,” he said, adding, “We love you. You’re very special.”

Facebook has mostly refrained from removing Trump’s posts. An exception came in August, when they deleted a video in which he spread COVID-19 misinformation, claiming, falsely, that children are “almost immune,” and that they “have much stronger immunes system than [adults].” On the other hand, they refused to do the same to a post in which the 45th president suggested using violence on Black Lives Matters demonstrators.

In strange-but-true news, the last known surviving spouse of a Civil War veteran just died last month.

How is that even possible? The U.S. Civil War took place from 1861 to 1865, and no one who survived the war is still alive. However, there are two things that make it possible: 1) As much as we might like to imagine that Americans fighting over the right to own Black people was super ancient history, the Civil War was just 160 years ago. That’s two 80-year-olds living back to back. 2) Some people live long lives and have unlikely marriages, which makes for fascinating historical stories like this one.

Helen Viola Jackson died December 16 at age 101. She was 17 when she married 93-year-old James Bolin, a widower who had served as a private in the 14th Missouri Cavalry of the Union army, in 1936.

A 17-year-old marrying a 93-year-old definitely raises some eyebrows, but the story is actually kind of sweet.

A statement shared by the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival offers context to the union:

“She remained largely silent, even among her close family and friends about her link to the 19th century War Between the States, until three years ago, when she decided to share her complete life story as she was working on the details of her funeral with her minister.

Jackson grew up in a family with 10 children and met her husband at church near her home during the height of the Great Depression.

The Daughters of the Union Veterans confirmed Jackson’s marriage using historical documents, including a signed affidavit from the last living witness to the nuptials.

‘I never wanted to share my story with the public,’ Jackson said in an oral history recording in 2018. ‘I didn’t feel that it was that important and I didn’t want a bunch of gossip about it.’

James Bolin was a 93-year-old widower when Jackson’s father volunteered her to stop by his house each day and assist him with chores as she headed home from school.

Bolin who was a private in the 14th Missouri Cavalry and served until the end of the war in Co. F, did not believe in accepting charity and after a lengthy period of time-asked Jackson for her hand in marriage as a way to provide for her future.

‘He said that he would leave me his Union pension,’ Jackson explained in an interview with Historian Hamilton C. Clark. ‘It was during the depression and times were hard. He said that it might be my only way of leaving the farm.’

Jackson, who was 17 years old, married Bolin in front of a few witnesses at his Niangua, Missouri home on September 4, 1936. Bolin recorded the wedding in his personal Bible, which is now part of a rotating exhibit on Jackson that has traveled to several museum locations, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri.

Although the two were married, Jackson explained that the nuptials were on her terms. She still wanted to live on her family farm with her immediate family and she wanted to keep her last name, sharing the information with few individuals outside of those who had served as witnesses.

‘How do you explain that you have married someone with such a difference in age,’ she said at the 2018 Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival. ‘I had great respect for Mr. Bolin and I did not want him to be hurt by the scorn of wagging tongues.’

Jackson was wed to Bolin from 1936 until his passing on June 18, 1939. However, she never officially applied for his pension as one of her step-daughters threatened to ruin her reputation.

‘All a woman had in 1939 was her reputation,’ she continued in her oral history interview. ‘I didn’t want them all to think that I was a young woman who had married an old man to take advantage of him.’

Jackson did not share her story from 1939 until the winter of 2017. She never remarried and no children were born to the union.

‘Mr. Bolin really cared for me,’ she said in an interview for ‘Our America Magazine’. ‘He wanted me to have a future and he was so kind.'”

It’s a bit sad that Jackson never applied for the pension that was the reason for the marriage in the first place, but life is complicated.

More than anything, this story is a reminder that it just wasn’t that long ago that the U.S. nearly split in two over the southern states’ desire to maintain the evil institution of slavery. Someone who was married to a soldier in that war was alive a month ago.

Today, we watched a violent storming of the U.S. Capitol by people carrying the Confederate flag, in a surreal throwback to the people who marched on the wrong side of history 160 years ago.

Tomi Lahren isn’t right about a lot of things. She’s also prone to meltdowns when she is. But on Wednesday, as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, some people dug up tweets that proved just how wrong she was. Back in early November, after the election but before the presidential race was called for Joe Biden, the far right commentator had a prediction:

“If @realDonaldTrump were to lose (he won’t) his supporters will go to work tomorrow just as we do everyday,” Lahren tweeted on November 3. “When Biden loses, his ‘supporters’ will likely loot and riot. Tells you everything you need to know!”

Well, for starters, Donald Trump did lose. But got something even more glaringly wrong: She thought it was Biden supporters who would loot and riot. What happened instead was Trump supporters attempted to stop a joint formality in which Congress amasses each state’s certified election results and officially declares the winner — in this case, Joe Biden.

Things got ugly quickly. Armed Trump supporters ran amok inside. Members of Congress were forced to flee for their lives. Someone was reportedly shot and killed. Eventually — some two hours too late — the National Guard were called in. In short, whatever Lahren fantasized Biden supporters would do was nothing compared to what Trump supporters actually did.

And so social media came for the Tomi Lahren of only two months ago, to show how she was more wrong than usual.

But there was more! People dug up another tweet from around the same time, in which Lahren predicted this: “No we aren’t going to loot or riot, but we are for damn sure going to keep fighting! You’re not gonna steal this so brazenly.”

That also got torched.

And then there was the Tomi tweet from the summer, during the Black Lives Matter protests, which never got close to devolving into the kind of mess still happening.

In short, Tomi’s probably mad

But she actually wasn’t. Instead, she tweeted through the terror unfolding in Washington, making bad false equivalencies instead of acknowledging that she is just wrong.

Surviving Death (Netflix series) — Dive into this investigative series about whether or not the afterlife exists and whether death is really the end of life. As one might expect, this show provides firsthand accounts from those who have come close to (and even experienced) the D word to provide an illuminating view of the ultimate question that plagues us. The show’s based upon Leslie Kean’s best-selling book of the same name.

Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip (FOX series premiere on Hulu) — FOX staple Gordon Ramsay takes a pre-pandemic roadtrip (yes, in an RV fondly named “Betty”) with two chef fancy friends (an Italian chef and a French maître d’hôtel). Together, they cross half of America, including California, Vegas, and Texas. They eat barbecue and do the dude ranch thing, and yep, this might be surprisingly essential viewing.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC season premiere on Hulu) — The marvelous Jane Levy returns for Season 2 of this fancifully musical series. This time around, Zoey returns after an appropriately extended time away to discover that her personal and work lives are now the portrait of chaos. Cue the songs.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Samantha Bee, Paul Mescal

The Late Late Show With James Corden — Hailee Steinfeld, Seventeen

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Don Cheadle, Taylor Kinney, Michael Kiwanuka

In case you missed these recent picks:

Best Leftovers Ever! (Netflix series) — In case you need some inspiration to dig all those frozen leftovers out of your freezer for a greater purpose, the so-called “kings & queens of leftover cooking” will make magic happen in this competitive series. There’s a monetary prize up for grabs in this ultimate food makeover series with host Jackie Tohn and judges David So and Rosemary Shrager proving that the unappetizing can be transformed into a masterpiece. Maybe? Why not.

Equinox (Netflix series) — This unsettling show begins in 2020 with the protagonist, Astrid, suffering terrible nightmares sourcing back to her 1999-focused childhood, in which her sister disappeared, along with a group of other graduating students. Those dreams coincide with the death of a survivor, and Astrid digs into the fate of the students, and of course, she uncovers an even darker truth than she expected.

As MAGA hat-wearing terrorists stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday, the same people who incited them to riot were pleading for non-violence on Twitter.

“Stay peaceful!” President Donald Trump tweeted from inside the White House. “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!” Texas senator Ted Cruz, who opposed a peaceful transfer of power all of earlier today, meekly demanded that those “storming the Capitol need to stop NOW. The Constitution protects peaceful protest, but violence — from Left or Right — is ALWAYS wrong. And those engaged in violence are hurting the cause they say they support.”

Insert the hot dog guy meme.

But it’s Ivanka Trump who received the most attention for a now-deleted tweet. “American Patriots — any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable. The violence must stop immediately. Please be peaceful,” the president’s daughter tweeted. Yes, she called this guy an “American Patriot.” Trump later clarified that “peaceful protest is patriotic” and “violence is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” but what has been seen cannot be unseen.

Another proud day for America.

Wednesday became a dark day for the United States as Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building, disrupting the certification of the Electoral College results from the 2020 presidential election that saw Joe Biden win handily.

The reports, photos, and videos that have poured out of the Capitol building were at once unbelievable and also the unsurprising end point of the fight against the election results that has seen Trump, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and others pour fuel on the fire for weeks in calling on these people to fight back. What was most shocking was the ease with which the police on hand allowed the terrorists to breach the Capitol — and that there wasn’t a more robust plan to deal with the potential for such an event.

Given the gargantuan police response to Black Lives Matter protests all summer, in which riot police were always at the ready and fired tear gas and rubber bullets seemingly without provocation, people couldn’t help but notice the hypocrisy in the response to an actual violent insurrection on the steps of the Capitol. NBA players, past and present, as well as others from around the league who spent this summer speaking out on racism, police violence, and the double standard Black Americans face every day saw this as well and couldn’t help but point it out as they watched what was unfolding on television.

Dwyane Wade was among those to call it out, as he and his former coach (now Pelicans coach) Stan Van Gundy couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Bill Russell, who has been combatting racism and fighting for civil rights for his whole life, likewise saw the hypocrisy at play.

Numerous others from around the league, from rookies to veterans and former players, likewise posted on social media in disbelief at the response from authorities at an actual riot and insurrection happening in real time.

https://twitter.com/JCrossover/status/1346910754625134600

Mitch McConnell’s had quite an shock to the system, it seems. In the morning light after the Georgia Senate runoff elections, people were absolutely giddy to see him demoted to “Senate Minority Leader” when Rev. Raphael Warnock defeated incumbent Kelly Loeffler, and Jon Ossoff looked to have a certain victory over David Perdue. After Georgia actually turned blue for Biden during the presidential election, it’s now obvious that Trumpism has backfired upon the GOP, and some who have stayed loyal to Trump (or at least quiet about their misgivings) during his attempted coup to overturn the Electoral College vote have had enough.

Well, Mitch finally broke today. He did so after Mike Pence issued his own shocking statement that he would not try to block the Electoral College vote. As for Mitch, he looked to be on the verge of tears while condemning his GOP colleagues who continue to challenge state election results. McConnell declared that he would not join Ted Cruz and friends because the very soul of the republic is at stake:

“I’ve served 36 years in the Senate. This will be the most important vote I’ve ever cast. The voters, the courts and the states have all spoken. They’ve all spoken. If we overrule them, it will damage our republic forever… If this election was overturned by allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral.”

McConnell then lambasted the conspiracy theories pushed, retweeted, and encouraged by Trump and somehow embraced by some GOP lawmakers. On one hand, people are agreeing with a lot of what Mitch is saying — and how he’s rising to the historical occasion and sounding statesman-like — but they also believe that he’s taken far too long to say it. After all, MAGA protesters (many of them armed) are currently storming the Capitol building following four years of McConnell going along with all of Trump’s dictator-like moves, and he’s only standing up to him after the Georgia runoffs finally had an effect on Mitch “Stimulus Shrinker” McConnell.

As of this writing, the Capitol building remains under siege by Trump’s followers who are following his lead in attacking democracy. There’s more to come on this story for sure.

The Recording Academy and the Grammy Awards haven’t exactly done any favors to their approval rating over the past few months. Artists and fans have a lot of problems with this year’s nominations, The Weeknd is especially peeved, Fiona Apple might smash a Grammy if she wins one, and some artists want their nominations removed. Now, the Academy has managed to make somebody else angry at them.

Yesterday, it was revealed that the Recording Academy postponed the Grammys to March 14. The issue there is that this is the same date this year’s the 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards are taking place. SAG-AFTRA, the organization behind the SAG Awards, are peeved by the situation. In a statement (as Variety reports), the organization noted that they are “extremely disappointed” by the scheduling conflict.

The statement reads:

“We are extremely disappointed to hear of the conflicting date, March 14th, announced today for this year’s Grammy Awards telecast. We announced the same date for the SAG Awards last July with the intent to give the greatest possible scheduling consideration for other awards shows. We expect the same consideration from sister organizations throughout the industry.

The SAG Awards recognizes outstanding acting performances over the past year. We will again put on a spectacular show that accomplishes that mission. Our two organizations, SAG-AFTRA and the Recording Academy, share members and work together effectively to advocate for artists in many areas. In an environment that is increasingly challenging for televised awards programs, we also have a mutual interest in successfully showcasing the artistry and talent of our respective memberships. We are in contact with the Recording Academy and will continue to work with our sister organizations to find ways to make this year’s awards season as successful as possible.”

Find the full list of this year’s Grammy nominees here.

There are three kinds of Scotch whisky drinkers. First, you have the casual drinkers — who enjoy trying new things but don’t take it all too seriously. They might have a bottle of Glenmorangie 10, Dewar’s, or Monkey Shoulder on the shelf that someone left at a party. Maybe they even have a bottle of Caol Ila 12 or Ardbeg 10. The second group takes whisky a little too seriously, collecting rare bottles without actually opening them. They keep things for “special occasions” that never seem to arrive soon enough.

We like the last group. These folks mix and match — buying rare bottles when they have the cash but also appreciating less expensive expressions. The type of drinkers who know how to savor the good stuff and how to share.

Bartenders are usually these sorts. They have access to more rare whiskies than most regular people, but they also live for the “now” (generally speaking) and actually sip what they’ve got. So they know the drams that are worth tracking down and those that can’t match the hype. That’s why we asked a handful of our favorite bartenders to tell us their most-beloved hard-to-find bottles of Scotch whisky.

Highland Park Dark Origins

Cari Hah, formerly bar manager at Café Alcove in Los Angeles

Highland Park Dark Origins. A delicious rich single malt with dark character, it is aged in 80% first-fill sherry cask with 60% being European oak and 20% American oak. This scotch is chocolatey, malty, with slight notes of black currant. The peat adds to the character — being both smoky and sweet — making this whisky as hard to put down as it is to find.

Bunnahabhain 25

Demetrëa Dewald, lead bartender at Bar Mateo at Zinc Café in Los Angeles

Bunnahabhain 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is truly a beautiful Islay Scotch that can even win over those who only drink peated Scotch. Smooth and creamy with a touch of sweetness and hint of spice. Bunnahabhain 18 is a masterpiece as well, but does not touch the complexities of the 25 year.

If you have the privilege of drinking this gem the experience will be like none other. Notes of caramel and cardamom, delicate and soft — every sip should be savored.

The Macallan No. 6

Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami

The Macallan No 6. A premier tier from The Macallan with a carefully selected sherry finish that makes it worth every special occasion for which it may fill your glass.

The Balvenie 21-Year Portwood

Alex Tack, bartender at Rex 1516 in Philadelphia

The Balvenie 21-year Portwood is worth every penny… if one can afford it. I’m not sure if it’s scarce so much as it is pricey. I was fortunate enough to try it once, and I still think of it often. The natural stone fruit notes of The Balvenie mesh beautifully with the notes from the port barrels. When things are that perfect, they sort of can’t be done justice with words, which I suppose explains why they usually have such high price tags.

Ardbeg Supernova

Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis

Hard to find, but I’m a huge fan of Ardbeg’s 2019 Supernova. Islay by region, but it’s unlike any single malt I’ve ever had. Heavily peated, but just under the smoke is a ton of toffee, aniseed, menthol, and ash.

The finish brings you right back to the medicinal peat and a touch of butter.

The Macallan Gran Reserva 12

Gavin Humes, bartender at Scratch|Bar & Kitchen in Encino, California

The Macallan Gran Reserva 12. It’s maybe not too hard to find if you’re shopping in Asia, but in the States, it’s a pretty rare pull. It’s a delicious Scotch that has wonderfully complex notes of sherry.

It’s not inexpensive, but worth every penny — assuming you can get your hands on it.

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan

Brandon “Habi” Habenstein, bartender at The Kitchen & Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Co. in Bardstown, Kentucky

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan just had its second annual release this year with a 19-year-old Islay Single Malt that was aged in both bourbon and sherry casks. They’ve done this before with at least one other label, their Uigeadail. The sherry barrel brings an intense, dried fruit presence that gets merged with the caramel and baking spices so often found in bourbon. But then you have the intense peated scotch tying all the flavors together.

Traigh Bhan is shaping up to be the most difficult Ardbeg to find.

Cadenhead’s Bruichladdich 22

Courtney Cantrell, bartender and assistant manager for Old Hickory Whiskey Bar in Pensacola, Florida

When I ponder what exactly hard-to-find whisky means to me, I’m drawn less-so to those that are, you know, a 25-year Scotch with a familiar name, and more-so towards those like Cadenhead’s Bruichladdich 22. Cadenhead, based in Campbeltown, Scotland and Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, basically purchases barrels from distilleries and allows them to age for as long as they deem necessary until the whisky is “remarkable, not marketable.” These single casks whiskies are bottled in Campbeltown and offer various ranges and ages. I find myself to be quite the peat-head, so the Bruichladdich 22 offering from Cadenhead provides the individuality and peat intensity that I find both charming and affordable.

Grand Old Parr 12

Freddy Yanez, bartender at Unreserved Beer Garden in Orlando

Grand Old Parr 12 years old, an amazing blend, imported by Diageo, is pretty popular overseas but hard to find in the US. The whisky has rich mineral and light peat notes make it a way to go for a long drink.

Writer’s Pick:

GlenDronach Parliament Sherry Cask 21

This 2011 release was launched because GlenDronach was beginning to gain in popularity and drinkers craved a special, new offering from the distillery. It’s named for the “Parliament of rooks” that call the distillery’s trees home, it’s a blend of whiskies aged in both Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherries.