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First Cocktail 5,000 Years Old
Praxiteles writes "The first cocktail was...grog?! From the article: 'The first cocktail ever was made in Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago, using wine, beer, apple juice and honey. Patrick McGovern defined the mix as "grog", an archaic drink that in the United States is sold as the Midas Touch'."
If the traces of apple and honey weren't actually from alcohols based on those particular ingredients (apple brandy or mead, for example.) Other than that, though, it is pretty amazing how much they can find out about the diets of ancient peoples using a combination of archaeology and chemistry.
Going back to school for entry-level jobs?
and not "first cocktail"?
:(
Still not sure what that mini-article has to do with technology or news for nerds.
Now that they've found evidence of the ingredients of a 5000 year old drink, what makes them so sure its the "first ever"? Of course that's what they thought the last one was, however old (<5000 years) it might have been. This kind of arrogance really makes people look stupid. How about just "first in history"? That description would tell us as much about the drink as it might hint at how limited is our knowledge of history. I'll drink to that.
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Whenever I read a story here that doesn't have to do with geeks or anything that matters (and how could it matter, given that it predates Linux?), I often notice that the editor in charge of the story is El-Zonko, The Most Zonkoriffic, Zonkalicious one -- -"ZONK" -- who is despised by the folks at anti-slash.org.
Go ahead and mod me down, idiot moderators.
http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_
Hey, the title of the site does not specify what kind of nerds it caters to -- sometimes us science/history nerds need news too. It's neat learning where things come from, whether those things are ancient cocktails or pieces of software.
:)
Plus the booze angle appeals to the average computer scientist/student
What are these scientists using to determine that a vessel was used to hold this cocktail? Do they have any proof that the vessel held the cocktail rather than being used to hold several different liquids over the years?
Plus who stores mixed drinks other than bloody marys? Mix them at the bar and drink them there.
It could have been a case of reusing a container without properly cleaning it, a practice that continutes with annoying roommates to this day!
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And reading an anonymous coward's post is now considered "checking validity?" Wow. Just. Wow.
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WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
I'd also like to add that some nerds appreciate all knowledge and wisdom and are considerably more versatile at trades other than being a computer nerd. Those ubernerds are probably called "boss" by the rest--if they've made it out of their parent's basement that is...
And hey, if you don't know where you came from, it's hard to know where you're going, right? Now where did I put my martini?
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you blew it by not using "ain't" at the end.
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
Science is authoritative...
Science is authoritative when there is a strong confidence that the theory is correct (such that there is with gravity). Where there isn't that confidence, scientists regularly disclaim their statements, using terminology like "we believe...", or "it appears...". Few scientists immediately proclaim absolute based upon preliminary, or incomplete, information. "Bumble Bees can't fly! News at 11".
This is especially true of archaeology, a field where it is pretty difficult to place vague things like "firsts". To claim a first for something as generalized as an alcoholic drink is pretty questionable. Of course archaeology, like all other fields, has people who want attention.