Olbermann should stick to talking about cartoons

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Actually, it was just one condition: Jim Doyle keeps to his word not to raise taxes.

Mark Belling was obviously joking when he made his comments about Mine That Bird. Was Doyle joking when he said he would not consider raising taxes? Or just lying?

Belling on the Kentucky Derby

"#8 MINE THAT BIRD---If this horse wins, I’ll never bet on another race
and will vote for Jim Doyle for reelection."
- WISN-AM radio personality (and racehorse owner) Mark Belling

Mine That Bird just won at 50-1, followed by Pioneer of the Nile and Musket Man.

Next they'll boycott sniffing glue

PETA reminds us that the price of unparalleled material prosperity is that silly people find themselves with idle hands and extra money to commit folly. Bereft of the spiritual and intellectual tools to have any sense of perspective, the fools of PETA have asked for the suspension of Eight Belles' jockey, Gabriel Saez. Eight Belles was euthanized following her second place finish in the Kentucky Derby after she broke both front ankles after crossing the finish line.

"What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."

Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones said the filly was clearly happy when she crossed the finish line.

"I don't know how in the heck they can even come close to saying that," Jones told The Associated Press on Sunday. "She has her ears up, clearly galloping out."

Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

I'm surprised they did not advocate the banning of horse racing entirely. Does anyone have any doubt that the loss of Eight Belles was devastating to her owners, trainers and jockey? What a bunch of insensitive and ignorant asses.

Friday afternoon cocktail hour

At the suggestion of a reader, Friday afternoons are going to be the cocktail hour around here just to get you in the right frame of mind for the weekend. This weekend is, of course, the Kentucky Derby. So what better way to start the weekend than with a mint julep?

Most of the time, I wouldn’t recommend this drink, which is sort of an odd combination of tastes: mint, sugar, bourbon. But hey, it’s spring…and Derby time.

Even if you’re not going to the race, you can raise a mint julep toast to it and the good people of Kentucky: the Bluegrass State. And while you’re doing it, give some thought to touring Kentucky one of these days. It has much to commend it: Southern hospitality, horse farms, bourbon distilleries.

As a matter of fact, you can taste your way across the state on the Bourbon Trail, visiting Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Buffalo Trace and Four Roses distilleries.

To help you capture the spirit of the Derby, here’s a mint julep recipe from the folks at Wild Turkey, where master distiller Jimmy Russell has held court for 54 years. Russell and his minions taught me the finer points of bourbon tasting a few years ago. They’ll do the same for you if you take a Wild Turkey tour.

You can make a julep with any Kentucky bourbon (Jack Daniels doesn’t count: It’s made in Tennessee. By law, bourbons can only be made in Kentucky).

Jimmy’s julep uses Wild Turkey 101; he says the higher proof produces a richer, deeper and fuller taste.

JIMMY’S JULEP

2.5 oz. Wild Turkey 101
3 sprigs of mint (six to eight mature-sized leaves); more for garnish
1½ teaspoons brown sugar
½ cup crushed ice

In a traditional silver julep cup or double-old-fashioned glass, mull two sprigs of mint with the brown sugar and one ounce of Wild Turkey 101 for a few minutes, crushing the mint leaves with a spoon. Add the crushed ice, the rest of the bourbon, and garnish with sprig of mint.

–Rosemary McClure, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Now that's a writing assignment we can all appreciate.