Thanks to all that came out last Thursday. I hope you all enjoyed the gathering, conversations, and good food & drinks at Brick House. Chef Donnie treated us well with some complimentary appetizers and desserts on top of the two free pitchers of craft beer he had already promised us. So... "Thank You" Chef Donnie!
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For those that either missed it in previous emails, or just forgot:
Brick House is offers our Drinking Liberally group a 15% discount on food and drinks. (separate checks, no having to split up the bill to get the discount)
They are also offering up two free pitchers of 'craft' beer, so come early before John and I drink it all...  (and remember, as always, treat your servers well and tip on what you meal 'would have' cost)
For those driving:  Brick House has a parking lot on the corner of MLK and Gaston. (free parking)
And if you are a Bourbon or Gin drinker, Brick House stocks some really 'Top Shelf' examples of both. (I've tried several)
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Join us Thursday, June 6th (7:30) at Brick House restaurant located at 514 MLK Jr Blvd, Savannah  (We will be outside if the weather is nice)
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We will have a special guest speaker.  
Vicki Weeks from the Coffee Party.  She (and the Coffee Party) recently got Savannah to vote in favor of a resolution that basically repels "Citizens United" on a local level.  They are moving to the surrounding area governments to try and get them to do the same, with hopes to take it to Atlanta to have it adopted state wide.  (read the article in the CONNECT if you haven't) http://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/city-council-says-no-to-corporate-personhood/Content?oid=2209990
This is truly a "Grass Roots" movement that is growing across the country. Over 300 cities and a few states have adopted similar measures to correct the mistake that is "Citizens United". Come find out what they have done so far, what they are doing... and how you can help if you want to.
She will speak approx 30 mins with some time for questions after. Then after that, we are hoping we can just get people up to mingle and talk to her in more detail.
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For any of you journalist types out there, this might be a chance for an interesting article. (just saying...)
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And something to 'ponder' until the next meeting...

Thelonious Monk: Great Jazz Pianist, or The Greatest Jazz Pianist?

Join us this Thursday, May 16th (7:30) at Brick House restaurant located at 514 MLK Jr Blvd, Savannah (We will be outside if the weather is nice)
For those driving: Brick House has a parking lot on the corner of MLK and Gaston. (free parking)
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Brick House is offering our group a 15% discount on food and drinks. (separate checks, no having to split up the bill to get the discount)
They are also offering up two free pitchers of 'craft' beer, so come early before John and I drink it all... (and remember, as always, treat your severs well and tip on what you meal 'would have' cost)
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One topic that might be of interest to you is we will be discussing the possibility of an earlier start time for our meetings. If you have an opinion on the subject that you want voiced... show up. Or reply to this email with your thoughts (but showing up would be way more fun).
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We'll be discussing current events from Benghazi to how the Red Wings are doing in the NHL play-offs... The Farm to Table movement, or why most cocktails served in a martini glass "ARE NOT A MARTINI"... Okay, maybe not... But whatever you want to talk about is open for discussion. (start the martini discussion with much trepidation... you have been warned)
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*** Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 6th... We will have a guest speaker. It's Vicki Weeks from the Coffee Party. She and the Coffee Party have recently gotten the Savannah City Council to vote in favor of a resolution that basically repels "Citizens United" on a local level. They are moving to the surrounding area governments to try and get them to do the same, with hopes to take it to Atlanta to have it adopted state wide. (read the article in the CONNECT if you haven't) http://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/city-council-says-no-to-corporate-personhood/Content?oid=2209990
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Lastly, because I would probably forget to mention it on Thursday evening... Sue and Len (our Drinking Liberally friends from Canada) say "hello to everyone".
Several people mentioned them in conversation at the last meeting and I just wanted you to know they are keeping track of our activities through the emails sent out.

See you Thursday eve @ Brick House...
Chris

South Carolina has a new Senator and we have a new 'host' restaurant....
Our choice was way better than theirs!
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Our next meeting will be May 16th (7:30) at Brick House restaurant located at 514 MLK Jr Blvd, Savannah
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Brick House is offering our group a 15% discount on food and drinks. (separate checks, no having to split up the bill to get the discount)
They are also offering up two free pitchers of 'craft' beer, so come early before John and I drink it all... (and remember, as always, treat your severs well and tip on what you meal 'would have' cost)
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A few things to think about before the next meeting.... (One good thing... three bad things)

Delaware Becomes 11th State with Marriage Equality - the Delaware Senate voted 12-9, to approve marriage equality legislation (HB 75), guaranteeing that Delaware will become the eleventh state that recognizes same-sex couples’ marriages. The law will take effect July 1. Civil unions, which Delaware previously legalized in 2011, will convert to marriages after one year. The House passed the marriage equality bill two weeks ago by a 23-18 vote and Gov. Jack Markell (D) has promised to sign it.
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Pentagon Study Finds 26,000 Military Sexual Assaults Last Year, Over 70 Sex Crimes Per Day - A shocking new report by the Pentagon has found that 70 sexual assaults may be taking place within the U.S. military every day. The report estimates there were 26,000 sex crimes committed in 2012, a jump of 37 percent since 2010. Most of the incidents were never reported. The findings were released two days after the head of the Air Force’s sexual assault prevention unit, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, was arrested for sexual assault. “The numbers are outrageous and I think we’ve reached a tipping point.”

26,000 was the tipping point? (editorial, sarcastic comment)
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The Working Families Flexibility Act - The Working Families Flexibility Act that the Republican majority in the U.S. House is expected to pass this week would force some old-time flexibility into 21st century workers. The forced flexibility act would award bosses the power to “offer” compensatory time off instead of overtime pay. Bosses, not workers, would determine when the comp time could be taken. The proposal puts control in corporate hands, obliging wage earners to bend over backward for bosses
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Honey Bees... (yes, honey bees) - Honey Bees are dying at an alarming rate, and this winter marked the worst losses by far. U.S. beekeepers reported that as many as 50% of their bees disappeared or died.
Last week, the European Union took a major step to protect its bee population – placing a two-year ban on the neonicotinoid class of pesticides, including clothianidin and thiamethoxam, which many scientists think are a major factor behind the alarming rate of colony collapse.2
But the U.S. is still finding excuses for inaction. The USDA just published a study claiming that neonicotinoids are in fact the least important in a long list of contributing factors to bee die-offs.
With the health of our bee populations – and the estimated $15 billion in agricultural benefits they provide – on the line, it’s time for the EPA to stop ignoring the science, and follow the EU’s lead.
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/eu_ban/?sp_ref=0000dlpq.4.75.o.1.2&referrer_akid=7852.3337368.QxOt5d&source=o_sp

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See you next Thursday at Brick House! Come early, drink beer, enjoy the sanity...
Chris

Sorry for multiple emails this week, but just one more reminder... only because we haven't met at a different location (until now) in over two years.

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We are at TACO a•ba•jo TONIGHT (Thursday May 2nd) @ 7:30.
217 1/2 W Broughton St, Savannah (go down the stairs)
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Chef Donnie and his staff are looking forward to 'hosting' our Drinking Liberally group, so we'll see what palatable pleasures Chef Donnie is cooking up tonight.
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Just got an email from Chef Donnie and he has a surprise for us tonight, well worth more than the cost of admission (btw: price for admission $0) ... so if you haven't been to Drinking Liberally lately tonight might be the night for you to come back (but be there on time, we don't know how long Donnie will be generous).
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See you tonight, 7:30 @ TACO a•ba•jo! Come hungry.
Chris

Instead of the usual list of "Things to Think About", this week I am giving you "One Thing to Remember".....

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We are at TACO a•ba•jo this Thursday (May 2nd) @ 7:30. Bring a friend!
217 1/2 W Broughton St, Savannah (go down the stairs)
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There is a band playing after 10:00, so we will need to be wrapping up before then. But you can stay and listen to the band if you want....

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More to come on our search for a new 'host' restaurant in the near future.....