Hamilton Saint

The mojito is said to originate in Cuba. It was a favourite cocktail of Ernest Hemingway. He said: "My mojito in La Bodeguita; my daiquiri in El Floridita." I passed by both of these establishments in Havana a month ago - during the March Break. Didn't go in - much too crowded, and both are "tourist traps", to be honest. I did hang out for lunch on the roof-top restaurant at Hemingway's favourite hotel in Havana - The Ambos Mundos Hotel. He always stayed in the same room on the fifth floor. It's now set up as a museum - and they display items borrowed from his house just outside Havana - Finca Vigia. Appropriately, I sipped on a mojito whilst enjoying the view over the rooftops of the old part of Havana - La Habana Vieja.

Can you name a few. I don't think any are available over here, but you never know - they might show up some time.

I also really enjoy an occasional Gin Martini. And make it in a real production number: first, place the martini glasses in the freezer for at least half an hour; then nearly fill a metal cocktail shaker with large cubes of freshly made ice; measure and then place into the shaker 2 parts of high-quality gin to half a part of white vermouth; seal the shaker and then shake the **** out of the container - about 20 vigorous shakes; pour the contents through a strainer into the frozen glasses; finally, place a cocktail stick that has stabbed and impaled three, large, pitted green olives. Drink relatively slowly, with the olives soaking - but finish it before it warms. Nice and cold is best! Bottoms up!

Nice choice there! I've had all those ales, except for the Bengal Lancer. Who makes that? What's it like? I really like the Hobgoblin (one of my favourites) and the Black Sheep.

One of Thatcher's many cringe-worthy moments - telling the Chilean mass-murdering fascist Augusto Pinochet: "I'm also very much aware that it is you who brought democracy to Chile, you set up a constitution suitable for democracy, you put it into effect, elections were held, and then, in accordance with the result, you stepped down." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/304516.stm [ironic to see that on this very same day, also, the Chilean authorities have exhumed the body of Pablo Neruda to test for the presence of "toxic materials". It is thought possible that Pinochet may have "arranged" for the great poet's death - having him poisoned.] And let's not forget her refusal to support sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. She called her policy "constructive engagement". More "principled" politics from her - standing firm and doing "the right thing" http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/08/south-africa-margaret-thatcher-death

As opposed to the "nasty and vicious" extreme right. They are just as bad. By the way, I don't think "Islamic terrorism sympathisers" are lefties. And, no, the groups you mentioned do not make George W. Bush seem like a really nice chap. Consider the tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of deaths he is responsible for in the Middle East. He is, by any reasonable definition, a war criminal. And you might think about Thatcher's support for Pinochet in Chile (she considered him her friend), and the contras in Nicaragua - a bunch of "nasty vicious" terrorists, who killed tens of thousands of Nicaraguans. Thatcher approved.

It's not eating at me. I'm just trying to improve the quality of debate on here by highlighting errors in reasoning, and challenging vague, "off the cuff" comments!

You don't see the distinction? You can agree with some of their opinions, without agreeing with all. You can agree with some of their opinions, without being "happy" that she has died. You can even be happy that she has died (which is NOT my view), without agreeing with any of their particular opinions. As usual, things are nuanced, not black-and-white.

You'd think so, eh? Our very right-wing Prime Minister had this to say about the death of Hugo Chavez: "at this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights." No condolences to his grieving family. Subtle, one might say, but still disrespectful and politically blind.

What a silly debating tactic. The key points of the comments on here are about Thatcher as a person, and about her political legacy. It is not about whether one is happy, or not, about her passing. Because one is extremely critical of Margaret Thatcher and her leagcy does not mean one is a fellow-traveller of Gerry Adams, George Galloway, et. al. I would have thought that was quite obvious.

Agree most with this - of all the comments so far. The most common view on here, and in the wider society (if you agree that there is such a thing as society!), is that she was a tremendous leader because she stuck to her opinions ("this lady is not for turning"). Well, a "conviction politician" is fine, if you happen to agree with his or her convictions - AND if he or she is willing to listen and compromise where it is clear that other views can be accomodated. Arrogance and stubborness, however, is ultimatley a corrosive tactic. I have worked for bosses who who are arrogant, self-centred and full of themselves. They refuse to acknowledge any other point of view, regardless of peoples' wisdom and experience. Leaders like that end up completely demoralising the organisation and severly damaging team-spirit. They hire sycophants and yes-people and scare away people of substance and principle. And then they insult and disparage those with a more reasonable approach (the "wets"). You could say that she was a polarising figure - but that would suggest that, with her, there were two philosophical positions, or two competing visions. No, for her, it was her way or nothing. In the grand scheme of things, one might consider her legacy a "corrective" to the excesses of the 70s. Perhaps. But as a person and a political strategist, she was not much to be admired - unless you enjoy being bossed about and ignored. And then there was her alliance with Ronald Reagan. What a despicable pair they made as far as world issues were concerned.

No temperature? No air pressure? No wind speed?

Dark ale is my first choice: Hobgoblin and Wells' Bombardier. Some other ales I like: Old Speckled Hen, Fuller's London Pride, Fuller's ESB, Marston's Pedigree, Caledonian 20/-.

To ask which is the worst film of all time (or the worst album) is not of much interest. There are hundreds and hundreds of films to choose from. How can you discriminate meaningfully between loads and loads of films that are total crap? Much more interesting, in my opinion, is to take a master in a particular field - David Lean, Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock, for example - and ask what was their worst effort. [Likewise, for music: what is the worst Beatles LP; the worst Rolling Stones LP, etc. ] The worst of the best? Or the best of the worst? Much more intriguing!

I didn't know that - thanks for the correction! By the way, which one's pink?

"still"?

Looking at that Idle Race cover, I realise that I have a different LP. Mine is a double-LP release (1974) - a Canadian release only, I think - a compilation album called Impostors of Life's Magazine. This link shows the contents: http://www.discogs.com/Idle-RaceFeaturing-Jeff-Lynne-Impostors-Of-Lifes-Magazine/release/3445331

Phil Ramone, the American record producer and engineer (based in NYC) has died (Mar 30). A few of the many artists he has produced albums for: Burt Bacharach, The Band, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, BB King, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder. Quite the list! He was nominated for 33 Grammys; and he won 14. His first was an engineering Grammy for Getz/Giberto in the mid 60s (his early work was mostly in jazz music). He won his first production Grammy for Paul Simon's Still Crazy After all These Years (1975). The guys behind the scene often get ignored. Superior engineering and production can make a huge difference.

I have the vinyl LP of that!

Agree. Good idea, though. Thanks.

I saw Richard Thompson at Massey Hall in Toronto last week. He was opening for Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell. RT played with a drummer and bassist - power trio format. He did 10 songs (five from the new CD) - just under an hour. Excellent as always, but the PA sound was very poor. First time I'd seen Emmylou Harris. I know her best for her work with Gram Parsons on his LPs Grievous Angel and GP. She was very impressive - a good partnership with Crowell. I would call it country-folk-rock.

Interesting line-up. The Move have been unjustifiably ignored over the years. Amazing band when they had Roy Wood AND Jeff Lynne in there together. There's a mistake on that poster: Amen Corner was the name of the band - not The Amen Corner. Likewise, it's Pink Floyd, not The Pink Floyd! But it was The Nice!

No, physical assault is not justified for that.

That's the spirit!

And then there's Donna Summer!