Today is...

[IceWizard]

05 June 2017


National Moonshine Day

”Well, between Scotch and nothin’, I suppose I’d take Scotch. It’s the nearest thing to good moonshine I can find.”
~ William Faulkner

Moonshine is a rich and powerful distillation that has had a rich literary history and a complicated political one. What isn’t complicated is the delicious flavor of this most notorious of alcoholic beverages. No longer illegal, there has been a growing body of delicious flavors and producers that are bringing this to the everyman. Moonshine Day celebrates both its history, and its return to the market.

History of Moonshine Day

The history of moonshine really begins with the history of the word, it’s an evocative term that brings to mind everything from faerie dappled hills to secreted copper stills among the hillsides of the Appalachian’s, but where did it actually come from? As it turns out the most likely origin is actually from Wiltshire County in England, which at one time held smuggling as one of its most important industries.

Moonrakers were smuggling Brandy, and in one case stored it at the bottom of a village pond. Late one night they were attempting to retrieve it when two customs officers came by to ask their business. Thinking fast, they responded that they were trying to retrieve a round cheese (The moon being made of it, after all) and the customs officers thought them simple. Thus the term ‘Moonrakers’ came to pass.

The term for Moonshine was thought to be derived from that story. But what is Moonshine? Moonshine is a white whiskey made by distilling corn, and it was thought that it became a popular income source in the Appalachian Mountains due to the difficulty involved in moving corn. The base ingredients in moonshine is a malt of corn, barley, and rye, and creates a delicious and powerful blend.



And




HIV Long-Term Survivors Day

The greatest grand challenge for any scientist is discovering how to prevent the spread of HIV and finding the cure or an effective vaccine for AIDS.
~ Philip Emeagwali

When HIV first became apparent as an epidemic 30 years ago, the life expectancy for those who became infected was not good, often coming in under 19 years. In recent years that rate has improved to 53 years (for those infected at age 20), meaning that HIV sufferers have a lifespan nearly as long as that of an uninfected person. HIV Long-Term Survivors Day celebrates those who have been living with HIV for decades, and are still surviving today.

History of HIV Long-Term Survivors Day

HIV Long-Term Survivors Day was established as part of aids.gov to help raise awareness of the aging face of HIV. Today over 59% of people who are infected with HIV and living with it are over 50 years of age. Needless to say, that is both a beacon of hope as well as a note for concern, and we’ll soon be living in a world where 70% of people with HIV are over age 50. Living to a ripe old age was a dream that was stolen from those who had become infected with HIV in years past, and this increasing number speaks of a greater hope as well. That before long there will be no one living with HIV, the epidemic is almost over.

But for those still living with it, special concerns exist. Those who have lived with HIV the longest have typically developed resistances to multiple drugs used for treating their symptoms, and the ongoing battle with HIV may have left them with physical damage. In part due to having taken medications that were less effective, and caused both cardiovascular and neuropathy. Long-term survivors require a higher level of specialized care, and HIV Long-Term Survivors Day is focused on raising awareness of these needs.

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June 5 Birthdays



Mark Wahlberg - 46




Kenny G - 61




Pancho Villa - (1878 - 1923) (45)




Nick Kroll - 39









June 5th

2003: Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland is picked to be a vocalist for a project featuring ex-Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan & Matt Sorum which later became Velvet Revolver.

2002: Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone was found dead by his wife Barbara in his Hollywood, CA. An autopsy would reveal the cause of death to be a heroin overdose.

1993: Kiss debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with their third live album Alive III which was recorded during concerts in Cleveland, Detroit & Indianapolis. The album went on to be certified Gold the following year.

1992: Iron Maiden kicked off their tour in support of Fear of the Dark in Reykjavik, Iceland.

1983: U2 filmed their concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside of Denver, which was the band’s first concert video released the following year & two songs were included on their first live album Under a Blood Red Sky released that November.

1977: Alice Cooper’s boa constrictor, which was a part of his live act suffered a fatal bite from a rat that was meant to be dinner.

1976: Heart’s debut single “Crazy on You” peaked at number thirty-five on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

1974: Patti Smith recorded her debut single “Hey Joe” at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.

1971: Grand Funk Railroad sold out Shea Stadium in New York in 72 hours, breaking The Beatles’ box office record.



Birthdays:

Tom Evans - Bassist for Badfinger born in 1947

Nicko McBrain - Drummer for Iron Maiden born in 1954