It's shaken, not stirred

Is there a difference between a martini being shaken or stirred? Well, according to James Bond, there is; and here's the answer according to the Wiki:

Scientists, specifically biochemists, and martini connoisseurs have investigated the difference between a martini shaken and a martini stirred. According to a study at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Western Ontario in Canada to determine if the preparation of a martini has an influence on their antioxidant capacity, the shaken gin martinis were able to break down hydrogen peroxide and leave only 0.072% of the peroxide behind, versus the stirred gin martini which left behind 0.157% of the peroxide. The study was done at the time because moderate consumption of alcohol appears to reduce the risk of cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, none of which afflict the fictional James Bond.

Andrew Lycett, an Ian Fleming biographer, believed that Fleming liked his martinis shaken, not stirred because Fleming thought that stirring a drink diminished its flavor.

Lycett also noted that Fleming preferred gin and vermouth for his martini. It has also been said that Fleming was a fan of martinis shaken by Hans Schröder, a German bartender. Some connoisseurs believe that shaking gin is a faux pas, supposedly because the shaking "bruises" the gin (a term referring to a slight bitter taste that can allegedly occur when gin is shaken). Others contend that Bond was only shaking because of the vodka it contained.

Prior to the 1960s, vodka was, for the most part, refined from potatoes (usually cheaper brands). This element made the vodka oily. To disperse the oil, Bond ordered his martinis shaken; thus, in the same scene where he orders the martini, he tells the barman about how vodka made from grain rather than potatoes makes his drink even better. This does not explain why Bond in the films still preferred his drink to be shaken rather than stirred, because beginning mostly in the 1960s vodka refined from potatoes was virtually replaced by vodka refined by grains such as corn and wheat or by other ingredients such as grapes and soybeans. Other reasons for shaking tend to include making the drink colder or as Bond called it, ice-cold.

Shaking allows the drink to couple with the ice longer thus making it far colder than if it were to be stirred. Shaking is also said to dissolve the vermouth better making it less oily tasting.

Now there you have it, the reason James wants it shaken and not stirred. You know, back in March 2008 at Wangsa Maju, at a thanksgiving dinner organized by Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, guest Gombak MP Azmin Ali almost said the same thing in the context of the Ian Fleming phrase. That night the rain poured, fizzling out the satay flames, as the swelling crowd pulled in under the tents. It was then Azmin said in his speech to the captivated crowd that the newly elected PR MPs would 'mengegar' (shake) the Parliament rather than just stir it.

Fast forward to July 2009, the Selangor Government is now being shaken by the same guys. Between compatriot political camps it may be, but I wouldn't call it shit stirring in this case, because it appears that the shit is shaken not stirred. Yes, I must admit that the general PR supportors are shocked with the amount of dirty linen being laundered in the open; both BN and anti-BN think that the PR won't last long with the amount of bickering that's out in the open.

But I think it's ok. Issues being thrashed in the open keep things in check and in full view of the public eye. I think it is a healthy way of doing things. Some say scandalous political matters should be settled behind closed doors- however, don't you think there are pros and also cons to this. Over the years, too many matters have been settled behind closed doors. Those doors were so air-tight shut that we wished there was more transparency to it. The toll deals, the MAS buy-over, the Scomi scandal, the Lingam judicial case and the list goes on. The Constitution has been amended over 600 times, the word 'Allah' has been patented by the Government, the keris raised many times and the NEP is still around.

We were all betrayed by the people who purported to represent us. Would I subscribe to their manner of doing things which is sweeping the dust within closed doors? I won't. If there's something wrong, let's have it out because I want to hear about it.