Homeless In Los Angeles

THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESCUE MISSION 

IS THE ONLY SHELTER IN THE SAN FERNANDO

VALLEY. 

HERE IS AN INTERVIEW OF THE STAFF AND 

FAMILIES OF THE MISSION.

Think Again Before You Drink The Egg Nog.

Its a Friday night, and you just got trashed at
the corner dive bar near your house. You
know you shouldnt of pounded all those
bourbon shots, but its too late. The bartender
is tapping on your shoulder for you to hit the
road, so he can close up. You grab your keys
and make a dash for your car. The next thing
you remember is waking up next to a smelly
homeless guy in Los Angeles County Jail.

Scenarios like these happen time and time
again. Please think before you drive drunk.
Call a friend or a taxi if you know that you
are too intoxicated. Believe me its a lot
better than being slapped with a D.U.I
ticket, that will cost you thousands.
Many people are clueless when it comes
to the consequences of receiving a D.U.I
ticket. So I made a list of exactly what to
expect upon receiving a D.U.I.

D.U.I Punishment

. You spend a day in jail.

. 3 years probation

. 1,200 fine.

.3-5 day sheriff work

.90 day license restriction

. First offender school
(3-4 months long).

Receiving a D.U.I is a huge
hassle. This list does not include
the court fees and lawyer fees.
Plus a D.U.I is a huge hassle that
is not only costly but time
consuming.

....Happy Holidays.

Check This Video Out.

 

 

   

 Check out this video that best describes the streets of Skid

 row. Alcohol is a major issue when it comes to homelessness.

 Did you know that more than 40 percent of people living

 on the streets were at one time alcoholics?

 All you have to do is drive by the streets of Los Angeles,

 and see people with beer cans wrapped in paper bags.

 Bars are packed with people at 7 am in the morning,

 which is a real problem. 

 If you think you know somebody that is an alcoholic,

now is the time to help someone in need. 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Christmas With The Homeless?

 It is 2 in the afternoon in Downtown Los Angeles, 

most people are nestled behind their desks, right?

In the poverty stricken section of Downtown 

known as skid row, flocks of people huddle under

grimy card board boxes to stay warm this winter.

The stench of urine and grief linger in the air.

Meanwhile in the better area of Los Angeles, 

velvet crimson ribbons hug lamp posts, and green

mistletoes are tacked on most businesses doors.

The aroma of pumpkin pie, candy canes, and jolly

children, remind us that christmas is just around 

the corner. 

Thousands of people in Los Angeles will be hungry

this Christmas. While most of us feel that

Christmas is about getting the hottest deals in the

stores. Its important to cherish the real meaning 

of Christmas. Celebrating the birth of our king,

Jesus Christ. If you have never given back to 

your community now is the time.  Have a Merry

Christmas and a happy 2009.

Legal at 18

So, here it is... Another feature from the Booze Fusers.

This time we're tackling the lower age limit controversy, whether this country would be better were the drinking age requirement 18 instead of 21.

The ramifications go for such a change would be detrimental, and certainly a test to a culture of eager partygoers vying to outdo each other.

At the Web site Amethyst Initiative, a list of college presidents across the nation have begun a petition to lower the drinking age. The Web site lists multiple debates and references to the heated topic.

The Belgian Beer Pioneer

And here we go!

This is our first feature for Booze Fuse, and we definitely hope everyone enjoys.

Please check out the photo slideshow done by John DuBois and David MacNeal (myself).

Read about the man who brought Belgian Beer to the West Coast!

by David MacNeal with Christine Hutt

Beer ads on youth programs

Between 2001 to 2007, beer advertisements aired on television programs aimed at the 12 to 20 age range increased by 38 percent. The study was conducted by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University in Washington as they are concerned with many issues surrounding it, like the fact that 5,000 underage drinkers die every year.

The legal limit is 21, and the current debate of whether to lower that age to diffuse future binge drinking has become a hot topic.

We at Booze Fuse will be posting a feature on the pros and cons of making the legal age 18. Expect to see it in full video podcast form later this November. :)

Hispanic Youth and Alcohol

Have you ever noticed that so many beer advertisments

are targeted towards Hispanics? With beer companies such

as Tecate, Corona, Pacifico, and Dos Equis, Latinos are drawn

into Mexican beers. Although the beer ads are overhyped, they

are over glamorized and also one dimensional. The ads associate

alcohol as being cool and fun, not as addicting and harmful to ones

health. The ads also dont show the numbers of sexual assults, job

losses and broken families due to the mistreatmentof alcohol.

According to a recent study conducted by the University of Texas

and Florida State University, Alcohol advertising is heavier

around schools with 20% or more Hispanic students, than

schools with a smaller Hispanic population. Katherine Culliton

of the National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention,

says that Latino Youth are drinking more than the white or

the black youth. Some tips for cracking down on greedy alcohol

advertisers:Parents need to unite and pressure advertisers to

stop putting ads up in Hispanic communities.More alcohol

awarness programs need to be established to educate the

Hispanic youth.

Kiddies hit the booze, study shows

In a study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh and University of Michigan, researchers found children as early as 10-years-old may have already sipped alcohol.

I can definitely confirm this. Matter of fact, I miss knowing how bitter it was back then. Like the study says, it took place at a family gathering.

There was a football game going at the house of my dad's friend, Sid. It was just the three of us, and I was plopped in the middle of the couch. I watched as they brought Budweiser to their lips. And then I asked for it.

They obliged, and after the sip I ran to the bathroom and spit into the sink. In the study, researchers found 6 percent of the kids finished a whole drink.

Twelve years later when I turned 18, I had my first whole beer.

Women and Alcohol

Alcoholism has become an increasing problem amongst
the youth of our nation. Women especailly face a greater

risk of becoming a victim of sexual abuse, or alchoic related
health issues. In fact a new study from the United Kingdom.
has found that two thirds of women have reported to drinking
so much that they woke up the next morning with no memory
of the night before. What is so frightening about this study is
that more and more women are facing sexual assults because
they over indulge in alcohol. Some women are even unaware
that they were victims of sexual abuse. In many ways alcohol
has victimized women. With shows such as "Girls Gone Wild"
women are viewed as being attractive when drunk. There is
not much television content that uplifts women. So women continue
to be victims.

Halloween Drinks For The Children.

Very Spooky Drinks








Adults arent the only ones that like to splurge
on fancy drinks during the holidays. There are
actually tons of ways to be creative this halloween.
Witch's Brew is a great non alcoholic drink that
kids love during this season. Witches Brew will
be a smash hit at the kiddies halloween party.

Witch's Brew.

4 cups cranberry Juice Cocktail
1 cup chopped & candied Ginger
3 Orange
120z frozen Limeade concentrate
2 cups grapes
4 cups water
1/2 gal Ginger ale

In a quart pan boil cranberry juice and ginger over high heat.
Add orange peel to cranberry mixture. Cover and chill 4 hours
Stir in cranberry ginger mixture, apple concentrate, limeade,
grapes and water. Add ginger ale and 1 pound of ice. Serve in
spooky cups. Enjoy!

Halloween picker upper

This month is the only one where TV stations offer 24-hour horror movies culminating towards Halloween. We get to catch up on some of the cheesiest, worst-est flicks imaginable with the lingering hope that we might get scared by them.

If your brain is feeling drained, it might be good to revitalize it with a "Brain Hemorrhage."

The Mix

1 oz. Peach Schnapps

1 tsp. Bailey's Irish Cream

2 drops Grenadine

Pour the Schnapps into a large shot glass. Now, it's very important that you pour the Bailey's slowly. And top off with the Grenadine.

Happy Halloween!!!

Cocktails from the beaker

Ritzy clubs in Downtown L.A. seem to get all the good stuff: The Edison (ancient power plant turned lounge), The Standard (modern motif with itsy bitsy food proportions), and the Green Door (a scaled-down Palace of Versailles).

Whatever the price, find one that dabbles with "molecular mixology."

This is the avant-garde fusion of technology and drink. The plate of sushi pictured here is actually a combination of various drinks transformed into gel, paper, and paste.

The results of such masterpieces stem from experiments involving the density and viscosity of fluids, and specialized items, such as sous-vide, to bring out certain flavors.

Care to hit the lab?

Here's one mix with basic molecular principles without the heavy lab instruments:

Quantities for the Waylon:

2 ounces Old Forester 100-proof bourbon

3-4 ounces Coca-Cola

Dash of Liquid Smoke

Preserved lemon for garnish

Mix:

1. Add the bourbon to a tall glass filled with ice.

2. Add the Coca-Cola, Liquid Smoke, and stir.

3. Garnish with a slice of preserved lemon and serve.

The Best Cheap Wines.

Best Cheap Wines



















Looking for a great tasting wine but you lack a
stack of cash in your pocket. Well there are a
variety of great wines that are extremely affordable.
With the growing number of wineries opening up in
the beautiful California country sides. Its easy to find some
quality wines at great rates. Here is a list of some of the
best tasting cheap wines.

1. Trader Joes Coastal Cabarnet Wine. $4.99

All I can say is yummy!

2. Amaicha Torrontes. $4.99

A white wine that complements
seafood and spicy foods.

3. Banrock Station Shiraz. $5.99

A sweet wine with hints of cherry
flavors.

4. Barefoot California Merlot. $5.99

A great red wine. Compliments all foods.

5. Barefoot California Chardonnay.$5.99

A smooth wine that will leave you wanting
more.

Cheaper by the damage

Here's a way you can get up to 40% off on the most sought after wines.

It's expensive being a perfectionist, so luckily I'm not one. I can handle buying things used--a yard sale is just as good as Ikea, chipped China dishes only need duct tape.

When my friend told me about AccidentalWine.com, I went berserk. It turns out that during shipment, an occasional wine bottle will break, spilling over other bottles and "blemishing" the wine labels. These ruined bottles never see the store floor, forever becoming stuck in limbo.

That's where the Accidental Wine creators Micah Forbes and David Forbes come in. Their address book of friends who are wine sellers, bring the Forbes their damaged bottles to sell online.

A bottle of Tenuta Di Ghizzano Nambrot 2003 that usually goes for $60, will go for $45 at Accidental Wine. The damages are comparable to the photo above, although the website doesn't photograph the bottle's actual condition.

Absinthe minus the illegal taste

"Can you really see green fairies?"

Yes, but not in America.

Sadly if you want to poison your mind with minor hallucinations, you'll have to travel all the way to Europe. It's not the alcohol content that gives you that legendary buzz (sometimes reaching 150 proof), but an extra ingredient added to absinthe.

Actually, it was the original herb from which the liquor's name is derived. The Artemisia absinthium is a green flower (hence "the Green Fairy"), also known as wormwood.

However, there is no proof of absinthe causing hallucinations, so that Euro trip will be spent culturing yourself (aw shucks). It's speculated that the "Fairy" rumors began in the 19th century--a time where producers of the liquor added poisonous chemicals to give the drink a more vivid color... that poor, old Van Gogh.

So, if you're still hurting for a taste of tradition, I recommend buying a bottle of Pernod (legal, no wormwood).

Luckily I was given a face-to-face demo on how people in Paris prepare the infamous drink.

  

First, go to a local BevMo and buy an absinthe kit. It should include a pie cutter-esque spoon.

Second, pour your absinthe into its specially designed glass, and place the spoon over it.

Third, put a sugar cube on the spoon, dabble some absinthe on it (all around spoon), and carefully set it on fire.

Fourth, pour water over it, extinguishing the fire and dissolving the cube.

Lastly, dilute the drink to where you best feel comfortable. Drinking it straight, while exciting, not that great on the stomach.

(Optional: have ice chilling at the bottom before pouring absinthe. Don't add too much water...it will over dilute.)

The Dangers of College Drinking.

Alcohol has become a way of life for the majority of U.S. college students. Even walking through the halls of C.S.U.N you can hear students converse about how they got so waisted over the weekend that they were unable to finish their assignments. However whats even more frightening is the many dangers college students are face with through the misuse of alcohol, however I feel that it is important to clarify just how alcohol has affected the average college student. According to MAXIM Magazine 85% of college students have participated in binge drinking. Maxim Magazine pg. 15 2007. Binge drinking is when an average person drinks more than five beers over the course of two hours. Also binge drinking has been the cause of an alarming number of drunk driving deaths each year, as well as sexual assaults. According to the Alcohol Policies Project binge drinkers are 21 percent more likely to have; missed class, driven a car after drinking, had unplanned sexual intercourse, and have fallen behind in their classes. When binge drinkers were asked why they binge drink they said because drinking is part of
the college culture, and drinking is also another way to be socially accepted by their peers. What is even more frieghtning is that many college students don't remember half the stuff they do when they are drunk. Parents and law makers are concerned over the growing number of alcohol consumption amongst todays youth. Alcohol has always been part of the college lifestyle, but the amount of students who participate in binge drinking has spiraled out of control. Binge drinkers don't think of the consequences of over drinking. Students feel that if they over indulge that they will be socially accepted by their peers. Paul Woo a student at San Diego State University says that all of his friends engage in binge drinking every weekend. Woo also admitted that he engaged in some unspeakable activites while being intoxicated. Yet, he does feeel that binge drink should be permitted in college, because alcohol boosts the liveliness of a party. Not much has been done to stop binge drinking amongst college students. However, lawmakers have tried to boost the legal drinking age from 21 to 25. Although the opposing argument to the increase of the legal drinking age, is that if a person is able to enter the military at 18 then they should be permitted to purchase alcohol.Although many are left wondering if the legal drinking age limit is increased would it really put a halt on college binge drinking.

History of Belgium Beer

There are over 450 different varieties of Belgium beer, and the numbers keep rising.
Today Belgium beer is considered the most flavorable and diverse. Belgium people take
their beer so seriously that they have even designed glasses that can only be used when
drinking a specific brand of beer.

In order to discuss the history of Belgium beer, I am also going to provide
you with some insight on the history of beer. Beer is considered the oldest alcoholic beverage
dating back to the 6th millineum B.C. Chemical tests reveal that beer was produced 7,000
years ago in what is today Iran. In Mesopotamia the oldest evidence of beer is believed to be
a 4,000 year old Sumerian tablet depicting people drinking a beverage through reed straws
from a communal bowl. However, later on beer was considered to be a holy beverage for monks
living in the monostaries to consume. In fact Belgiums beer history dates back to the Middle Ages when monostaries began producing beer-and they still do to this very day. These types of beer are known as Trappist beers, and must be carried out by a monk. The "holy beers" are (enkel, dubbel and tripel). Here is a list of the different Belgium Beer Styles.

Amber
Amber, beer is also known as Belgian-Pale ale. Amber beer almost dissapeared from the Belgium beer list, until the last 20 years when it regained its popularity.

Blonde or Golden Ale.
Duvel is the most popular beer in the country. The name means devil, and some other blonde beer follow the same theme. Satan, Lucifer, Brigans etc.

Enkel
Enkel is the name of a beer that has the highest alcohol content in a Belgium Beer.

Flemish Red
This beautifully colored beer, is fermented by a mixture of fermenting yeasts and and maturation in oak. The result is a semi strong beer with a deep reddish color, sour and
somewhat fruity.

Lambic
Lambic is a wheat beer brewed in the Pajottenland od Belgium. Lambic beer is fermented by exosure to the wild yeasts that are native to the Brussels region. The beer then undergoes an
aging process much like wine. The aging process can range from six months to three years.
The result gives the beer a dry, cidery aftertaste.Some major Lambic brands include Geuze,
Kriek and Framboise.

Stout
Belgium stouts divide between sweet and dry versions. Examples include Callewaerts and Ellezelloise and Hercules.

Table beer.
Table beer has a low alcohol content, and is sold in large bottles to be drunk with meals. Table beers used to be sold in schools during the 1970s. However, it has lost popularity due to the popularity of soft drinks and bottled water.

White

This beer is made with a mixture of wheat and barley blended with an herb called gruit. Before hops became popular in Europe beers were flavored with gruit herbs in the middle ages. The mixture today comes in Belgian/Dutch wit beers

Bar tricks without the labor

These things never get old. Hell, when does that happen with a free drink?

Many times you'll read about tricks that are tailored more towards magician demigods like David Blaine or Criss Angel, but these babies can be performed well after a couple rounds (and with at-hand materials).

The Dollar and Bottle

Materials: A dollar bill, empty beer bottle, patience

The pitch: Lay down the bill flat against a hard surface, and place the bottle upside down atop the president's head (the more decadent the bar, the larger the bill).

Tell your buddy to remove the dollar without touching the bottle and without letting it fall. Depending on how inebriated he is, that thing will tower over.

Now, it's your turn.

The solution: Make it so that the width of the bill is facing you. Grab the edges, and slowly roll one end of the bill to the bottle. Imagine rolling-up a Persian rug. Continue at a slow pace, and eventually the bottle will slide off completely.

Beer Money

Materials: A dollar bill, an unopened beer

The pitch: Tell the bartender not to uncap the beers. Instead, bet your friend you can do it with a dollar.

The solution: Take the dollar (a crisp one if possible), fold it in half, and then start rolling it tight like a cowboy cigarette. Now, take it and bend it in half, creating a quasi-arrow. Hold the open end between your thumb and finger (the idea is to turn this into a lever).

Use the other hand as a fulcrum, supporting the bottle as you slip the dollar corner under the cap's lip. Tssst. <-- That's the sound of free beer as you pop that baby off.

Cigarette Bend

Materials: A dollar bill, two cigarettes

The pitch: Do this however you will. Either you lay down your smokes or your buddy's, but what you do is tell them to bend a cigarette in half without breaking it. Don't bring up or even show the dollar, just watch as they break it in half and flick of the tobacco leaves.

The solution: Take out your bill and wrap it tight around the cigarette. What you're doing is creating reinforcement so when you bend it, you can almost touch the cigarette to both sides.

Slowly unroll it and watch the awe-struck spectators marvel at the unharmed, and smokable, cigarette.

Yes, these all involve a dollar and some type of rolling, but there's no fancy set-up and someone's bound to have bills and cigs.