As a formerly-professional bartender, I learned these steps years ago from a bartender better than myself. Maybe it was you!

State liquor boards have different regulations. Many things that can be easily obtained through a distributor in New York can’t even be shipped to Alabama.

Bay leaves should usually come out just because they will turn bitter if you let them sit. But if it’s down to straining a whole pot of split-pea soup, I’d let it stay. If you strain that it’s going to separate and be shitty.

: )

Different enough to make a significant change in flavor, yes. Bitters are so powerful and pungent that the very small amounts used are quite influential on the palate.

Absinthe is still “illegal” in many states, so Pernod Ricard is also a fine substitute.

5 drops = 1 dash

Couple things I do differently:

I feel like Modest Mouse is probably the soundtrack for the Bernie Bros.

Um. No. We’re not going to include obviously purple, non-human colored, light-hearted costume body paint in the “things to avoid because of possible racial implications” category because that would be ridiculous, and make a mockery of the serious implications and concerns associated with actual blackface.

Disliking horse-piss beer does not make one a snob. There are plenty of cheap, mass-market beers that don’t taste like horse piss. Budweiser chooses not to be one of them.

So, openly shilling for anyone with enough dollars to buy your dignity is part of your definition of “classy?” Or does “classy” just mean “white” to you?

I was living in France for 2002 and 2003, and had paid no attention at all to the NFL. Up late one night in early February, flipping channels, and I come across an NFL game, the Raiders vs. the Buccaneers. “Wait a minute,” I think to myself, “isn’t it getting close to Super Bowl time? In fact, it’s February, it must be…

Prop bet discussion: a lot of people don’t like the value for Manning MVP at around +300, saying that you should take someone like Von Miller at +2500, as the defense is what will win the game for the Broncos, should they win the game. And I understand that logic; Manning has had a very mediocre statistical year, and…

I travel with drugs all the time. Honestly, it’s not what the TSA is (or should be) primarily concerned with.

Oh, dear, earnest idiot. If a female elected official responded like this to a male reporter, calling him a “dick” or an “asshole,” do you really, really think no “hate campaigns” would be launched? Really, there, buddy?

For better (probably not) or worse, her music is not her product. More of just something for people to talk about in regard to her.

You usually have to at least finish to get a participation trophy, right?

Is there any chance this isn’t about his contract? He just wants to compare offers to the restructuring the Lions are almost definitely going to propose. If he’s not playing next year, I’ll be completely stunned.

Kerber is approaching that status, I’d say. I’m probably more interested in younger rising stars like Muguruza and Bencic, though, as far as challenging for dominance. Sharapova is on the downside of a great career, and I feel like Azarenka has peaked.