Sotally Tober
March 23, 2009 by Susan Denny
Starkle starkle little twink
who the heck you are I think
I’m not under what you call
the alcofluence of incohol
I’m just a little slort of sheep
I’m not drunk like tinkle peep
I don’t know who is me yet
but the drunker I stand here the longer I get
Just give me one more drink to fill me cup
‘cuz I got all day sober to Sunday up.
Copyright; David Hudgins
A Win To The Liquor Industy In Australia With The Government Overturning The ‘Alcopops’ Tax
March 19, 2009 by Susan Denny
From “The Australian” 19th March 2009
THE Rudd Government will be forced to hand back $300 million to distillers after the Senate voted down the 70 per cent tax increase on alcopops last night in the culmination of another chaotic performance from the Opposition.
After a Coalition senator failed to turn up for the vote, the controversial alcopops tax was defeated in a second ballot when Family First senator Steve Fielding sided with the Opposition.
The Government introduced the tax hike by regulation in April last year with 12 months to win approval from the parliament before having to refund the revenue raised. With the defeat of the Bill last night, the tax will have to be refunded.
The Opposition offered a way out by voting to validate the taxes already collected.
“The last thing we want to see is a bad outcome out of a tax grab that has gone terribly wrong,” Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton said.
To underline its political point, the Government has rejected the move, which will cost $1.6 billion in the budget forward estimates.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said: “If the Liberal Party didn’t want to return this money, they should have supported this bill.
“We believed this was a sensible tax putting all spirits on to the same base, closing a loophole created by Mr Costello (former treasurer Peter Costello) that saw the consumption of these products skyrocket.”
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said last night that although the distillers had suggested the $300million in collected taxes be spent on alcohol rehabilitation programs, legally the Government did not have an option.
“The legal position is clear,” Ms Gillard said on ABC’s Lateline. “Our obligation is to return the tax dollars to the distillers.”
The Senate rejected the alcopops tax after a day of low farce and high drama. Senator Fielding voted with the Coalition after his ban on television alcohol advertising during sporting programs in children’s viewing time was rejected by the Government, giving opponents of the tax the numbers.
Senators were stunned when a count showed the Government had won the vote.
The Opposition leadership team and whip Stephen Parry went into a huddle.
Moments later a sheepish Country-Liberal Party senator Nigel Scullion got to his feet to beg the forgiveness of the Senate. He had missed the vote, he explained, because of “an inadvertent error”.
“I was caught in a stairwell having an impromptu meeting,” Senator Scullion said. “I didn’t hear the bells.”
To compound his error, he was not carrying his pager. Following convention, the vote was held again – but not before harsh words had been exchanged.
Senator Fielding blamed the Government for his decision. “We all know that alcohol is linked to sport and that needs to be broken,” the Family First senator said.
“The Rudd Government has missed an opportunity to break that link. It’s crazy.”
Senator Fielding claimed the concessions won by his fellow crossbenchers, $50 million of health funding measures to cut alcohol abuse and mandatory warning labels on bottles and cans, could still proceed.
Ms Roxon said these had been lost with the bill. She called the advertising demand “a decision for government, not Senator Fielding”.
“A decision to change advertising that affects the sporting industry, the broadcasting industry and many more should be one that is taken properly in a considered way,” the Health Minister said.
The Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia welcomed the vote.
“The senators who made the right decision in rejecting the Government’s tax grab on RTDs realised that a tax was not a solution to problem drinking,” the council’s research manager Stephen Riden said.
“Now is the time that all parties start working together to create a community-wide, comprehensive approach to the issue.”
Mr Riden said the Government should heed the Liberals’ call and keep the revenue raised to tackle alcohol abuse.
Perfect Easter Gift
March 16, 2009 by Susan Denny
Are you tired of receiving just easter eggs on their own as an Easter gift?
Why not try something different and give a gift of a Fun LED Wine, Margarita or Martini glass filled with mini easter eggs?
At least you’ll be left with something tangible after you’ve eaten the eggs!
Do you know the legend of easter eggs? This is one theory:
Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs given to celebrate the Easter holiday or springtime.
The egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in Pagan celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth.
The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jellybeans. These eggs are often hidden, allegedly by the Easter Bunny, for good children to find on Easter morning. Otherwise, they are generally put in a basket filled with real or artificial straw to resemble a bird’s nest.
So, why not fill your Fun LED Glassware with straw or strips of paper to resemble a bird’s nest, and cover with chocolate eggs. It would make a very unique gift for that special person!
Girls Night Out!
February 27, 2009 by Susan Denny
Have you ever gone out and woken the next morning not remembering what happened the night before?
It can have some funny or dire consequences. depending on how you look at it!
Two women friends had gone out for a Girls Night Out, and had been decidedly over-enthusiastic on the cocktails. Incredibly drunk and walking home they suddenly realized they both needed to pee. They were not far from a graveyard and one of them suggested they do their business behind a headstone or something. The first woman had nothing to wipe with so she took off her panties, used them and threw them away. Her friend however was wearing an expensive underwear set and didn’t want to ruin hers, but was lucky enough to salvage a large ribbon from a wreath that was on a grave and proceeded to wipe herself with it. After finishing, they made their way home.
The next day the first woman’s husband phones the other husband and said, “These damn girls nights out have got to stop. My wife came home last night without her panties.”
“That’s nothing,” said the other. “Mine came back with a sympathy card stuck between the cheeks of her butt that said, ‘From all of us at the Fire Station, We’ll never forget you!’”
I wonder how you’d explain that one!
Having Fun With Cocktails!
February 24, 2009 by Susan Denny
Did you know that there are hundreds or maybe thousands of ways to create great cocktails?
All it takes is the right mix of ingredients and you end up with an outstanding concoction!
We are agents for “Quittin’ Time”, a supplier of the world’s best rums! These rums have never been seen before on Australian shores like Brinley Gold Flavored Rums, such as Vanilla, Coconut, Mango, Coffee and Lime, La Mauny Rum Punches and full flavored rums from Martinique, and Premium Riviere Du Mat Rums from Reunion Island east of Madagascar.
Our product is Fun LED Glassware so we decided to experiment using different flavoured rums in our wonderful light up glasses.
One of our best recipes, (our version of a Piña Colada Smoothy), which we then poured into light-up Margarita glasses, contained the following ingredients:
- 1 part Brinley Gold Coconut Rum
- 4 parts La Mauny Piña Colada
- 1 banana
- 1 slice fresh pineapple
Fill a blender with ice, pour in the rums, add the banana and pineapple, and blend it all together. Pour into the glass and garnish with a slice of pineapple.
What you end up with is a refreshing Summer drink, but don’t drink too quickly or you’ll end up with an “ice” headache! Enjoy!!
Don’t Steal Someone Else’s Drink!
February 20, 2009 by Susan Denny
A little guy is sitting at the bar just staring at his drink for half an hour when this big trouble-making biker steps next to him, grabs his drink, gulps it down in one swig and then turns to the guy with a menacing stare as if to say, ‘What’cha gonna do about it?’
The poor little guy starts crying.
‘Come on man I was just giving you a hard time,’ the biker says. ‘I didn’t think you’d CRY.’ ‘I can’t stand to see a man crying.
“This is the worst day of my life,” says the little guy between sobs. “I can’t do anything right.” “I overslept and was late to an important meeting, so my boss fired me.”
When I went to the parking lot, I found my car was stolen and I don’t have any insurance.
I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife in bed with the gardener and my dog bit me.
So I came to this bar trying to work up the courage to put an end to my life, and then you show up and drink the damn poison.
Margarita Glass Now Available!
February 18, 2009 by Susan Denny
Just arrived is the new Margarita glass and it looks great!
It has all the same great features as the Wine and Martini glasses.
- Eight light-up colour options including a rotating option through all colours
- Non-slip and mark resistent rubber edged plastic base
- Sturdy 12mm diameter stem design (not the usual 10mm)
- Replaceable batteries for years of enjoyment
- Food-grade clear polystyrene plastic
- Exclusive ‘Champagne Bubble’ design stem
- Stainless steel threaded inserts
- CE certified EMC compliance
- ’Swap-A-Top’ design
Prices start at $9.00 for a single glass and all pricing and ordering details can be found by going to the LED Margarita Glasses tab.
Life’s too short not to have fun, so enjoy your next social occasion with your favourite Margarita in a light-up glass.
Looking For Jesus!
February 6, 2009 by Susan Denny
Have you ever wondered why one person’s perception of a situation can be totally different from someone else? Here’s a great example:
A man is stumbling through the woods totally drunk when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and subsequently bumps into the preacher.
The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of alcohol, whereupon he asks the drunk, “Are you ready to find Jesus?”
The drunk answers, “Yes, I am.”
So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water. He pulls him up and asks the drunk, “Brother, have you found Jesus?”
The drunk replies “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”
The preacher shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again for a little longer this time. He again pulls him out of the water and asks again, “Have you found Jesus, my brother?”
The drunk again answers, “No, I haven’t found Jesus.”
By this time the preacher is at his wits end and dunks the drunk in the water again – but this time holds him down for about 30 seconds and when he begins kicking his arms and legs he pulls him up.
The preacher again asks the drunk, “For the love of God, have you found Jesus?”
The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher, “Are you sure this is where he fell in?”
It’s amazing how alcohol can completely change our way of thinking! Hope you enjoyed the joke!
How To Make Money From Passions
January 26, 2009 by Susan Denny
Maverick Money Makers © 1997 – 2008 http://www.trymaverickmoneymakers.com
To make money online many people jump right in before they are properly prepared. You know that to be a rocket scientist, a doctor, a brick layer, a construction worker, an office worker, a teacher there are prerequisites, things you must learn, before you can be successful, you don’t just jump right in unprepared.
The same applies to the Internet marketing industry even though there are unsavory people out there who’d have you believe it’s a “Walk in the Park” and requires no more than the belief that you can just do it.
And I’ll have to admit, it is a walk in the park compared to what you have to put up with in the working world punching a clock being a subordinate to someone who does not have your interests in mind, but there are still rules you have to follow and pitfalls you must avoid to actually make Internet marketing work for you.
Most people will not make a dime online and yet there are others who will make more in one month than most people make in a whole year. Why is that?
My answer begins with the age-old chicken or egg question, “what comes first the chicken or the egg”? Personally I vote for, well never mind, each argument you or I make comes back to the same old conclusion – I have no clue and I don’t think many of us do either.
But one thing I do have a clue about and know for sure is that to make money online you must first have Passion for the company products and/or service of any Internet business from which you expect to make money.
Passion in this sense simply means that you’ve researched and like the company and products or services. It is then that you translate that like (or Passion) into the education, excitement and work that usually accompany Passion.
I will have to say that many online entrepreneurs are so good at what they do that they ignore passion because they can sell anything. But I’m concerned about those of you who are not so knowledgeable at working an online business successfully.
Now, I’m not trying to make anyone believe that Passion is the only thing necessary. Because to be successful you must also have a good website, good marketing, widespread advertising, company support, effective keywords, and etc. Those things are often learned from the company you join – but sidestep Passion and you reduce your chances for success dramatically.
It therefore follows that, if you have no Passion for the company and the products and services provided by that company, again, you won’t attempt to do the work you are being taught.
Internet marketing work is typically not all that difficult or time consuming but it does take motivation caused by Passion to get you off and running with a sustained effort so that you won’t stumble.
You have a great resource in the Internet search engines to search about the Internet Marketing industry for business opportunities, USE IT!
Your research should uncover a company that you like and have confidence in. It should be solid, founded on great principles, and easy to understand with great products and services that are sell-able for which you can have Passion. If you don’t find it move on,
You can find the right opportunity containing the attributes identified above.
Comments like, well, that one sounds good and the compensation plan is excellent so I guess I’ll start that business – does not sound like a decision based on anything near Passion. And remember when you hear that an Internet “guru” does that, don’t be tempted, because as I said earlier they are experienced and can sell just about anything, without being Passionate about the company products and services.
Note: By the way it’s your goal to get to the point where you can sell about anything online. That end skill and goal is a worthy one indeed.
Remember, there are other steps you must make before you step into Internet Marketing but if you don’t first find the right company products and services to be passionate about, all of those other steps may just cause you a lot of frustration instead of bringing you great success.
Not being Passionate about a company and products and services that has market proof that it will sell is a pitfall you simply must avoid.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Maverick Money Makers is a private
society that will teach you how to
build a six-figure a month business
on the internet.
If you want to make money online,
join the society before it’s too late.
http://www.trymaverickmoneymakers.com
Should Alcohol Be Sold In Grocery Stores?
January 16, 2009 by Susan Denny
This is the question facing Vail Valley Colorado at the moment. Here’s an article from the Vail Valley Times discussing the pros and cons.
VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — Liquor store owners in Colorado’s Vail Valley are gearing up to fight what they see as a legislative assault on their business.
A pair of legislators — Sen. Jennifer Veiga of Denver and Rep. Buffie McFadyen of Pueblo, both Democrats — has introduced a bill that would allow grocery stores to sell full-strength beer. Grocery and convenience stores can now sell only beer that has 3.2 percent alcohol by volume.
Liquor store owners and their state trade association last year fought a similar proposal by the grocery industry by accepting a bill that allows liquor stores to stay open on Sunday.
Grocery stores came back to the legislature this year complaining that having liquor stores open on Sunday has crippled their beer sales.
Jim Schrock, the general manager of Village Market, which has stores in Edwards, Telluride and Snowmass Village, said Tuesday he hadn’t heard about the bill. But, he said, he thinks it could be a good idea.
“It’s come up several times before,” Schrock said. “But I think it could be good for tourists and other customers.”
Schrock said people from out of state aren’t often aware of how Colorado liquor laws work, and selling full-strength beer would be a convenience for them.
Village Market in Edwards doesn’t sell beer, but the stores in Telluride and Snowmass Village do, and Schrock said he’d be interested in selling the full-strength product.
But one man’s convenience is another man’s really bad idea.
Mickey Werner is the manager of Alpine Wine & Spirits in the Vail City Market store. Peter Struve owns Mac’s Liquors in Gypsum. Both think the idea to put full-strength beer in grocery stores would be bad for their business, of course. But both also said the idea could be bad for the community.
“Alcohol is, for all intents and purposes, a controlled substance,” Werner said. “And liquor stores are subject to extreme regulation by the state.”
Werner said he worries that grocery store beer sales could lead to more people stealing, and more minors illegally buying.
“Imagine spring break in Vail,” Werner said. “It would open the door to chaos.”
And, Werner added, if a grocery store is caught selling to minors, it can stay open and sell food even if the beer coolers are empty. If a liquor store sells to an underage buyer, the entire store gets shut down.
“I think we have a higher responsibility,” Werner said.
In Gypsum, Struve said he’s worried about the future of his business if grocery stores are allowed to sell full-strength beer. Beer makes up most of the sales at Mac’s, and providing someone with the convenience of buying a six-pack while shopping for dinner would hurt, he said.
If full-strength beer does end up in grocery stores, Struve said he’s going to have to really concentrate on providing different products, in different sizes, for people who want something that isn’t available at the supermarket.
And, he said, his store has a couple of things grocery stores don’t.
“I’ll need great parking out front, and multiple registers operating so someone can get in and get out,” Struve said. “And I’ve got that.”
But, he added, “It’s really tough to be a mom-and-pop store these days.”
If it was up to me I’d keep liquor sales in the liquor stores where they can be more vigilant about not selling alcohol to under-age drinkers. Grocery stores are for food items only and alcohol should not be on display so that children grow up thinking that it’s quite normal to go to the store and buy food as well as alcohol.
Let’s not tempt our kids anymore than they already are.