SBlog

Moving Day

2006-06-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

I've moved. Click on the plane to get where I am already at.

Migration

2006-05-28T01:20:00.000-07:00

Manna Barbera

2006-05-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Barbera is an ancient grape variety with historical roots in Italy where, after Sangiovese, it is the most widely planted red variety. Most of the high quality Barberas come from Piemonte where fifteen times more acreage is devoted to it than to Nebbiolo ("fog"). Barbera d'Asti and Barbera del Monferrato each produce three times as much wine as Barbera d'Alba. Colli Toronesi is produced in such small quantities that it is rarely found outside its ownr region. Barbera is also prodcued in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Sardinia. It is grown in Slovenia and is the fifth most widely planted varietal in the State of California.

Barbera vines are vigorous, reliably productive in a variety of soils and highly fungus-resistant. The fruit is high in acid which it retains very well even in hot climates. The grapes are low to moderate in tannins and high in anthocyanins. Resulting wines are deep purple black but lead to early browning and lightening with age. Tannin from oak aging also changes the color.

California Barbera is grown in the hot Central Valley and makes it to generic and proprietary blends. The Sierra foothills, Paso Robles, Santa Clara and Sonoma (many warm days with moderate cool nights) produce our best varietals.

Warmed Wine

2006-05-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

Three storage conditions concern consumers of fine wine: light, humidity and temperature.

LIGHT: The storage area for wine must be dark because ultraviolet (UV) light will damage wine by causing the degradation of otherwise stable organic compounds found in wine that contribute to the aroma, flavor and structure of the wine, the changes caused by UV light result in the deterioration of the essence of wine. Fluorescent lights emit a significant amount of UV light.

HUMIDITY: This is an issue in wine storage is because of the use of the traditional cork seal. The relative humidity of the storage area (i.e., the amount of gaseous water in the air) can exacerbate the rate of evaporation of wine from the bottle if the cork is defective. Since corks are far from perfect in their ability to seal a bottle of wine, ullage (the space between the bottom of the cork and the wine level in the bottle) develops in almost all bottles stored for extended periods due to evaporation. If the cork (seal) is defective, low humidity in the storage area will result in wine moving out of the bottle faster over time and significant ullage will develop in less time under these conditions. Thus, the more important issue is the quality of the cork seal and not the relative humidity in the storage area. Very low humidity can dry out the cork leading to sealing problems.

TEMPERATURE: Assuming good cork seals, and a non-drying (i.e., moderately humid) and dark storage area, the most important factor in the storage and aging of wine is temperature. Most will likely tell you that the ideal storage temperature is 55° to 60°F. According to conventional wisdom, wine develops most harmoniously if stored in this temperature range with little or no fluctuation. So, for example, an excellent storage temperature would be 55°F with a fluctuation of plus or minus one degree. Friends from Burgundy say that the ideal temperature for wine storage is 13°C which is equivalent to about 55°F. Degrees (°) C refers to the Celsius temperature scale on which water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. This scale is used throughout Europe and most of the world. The 13°C temperature makes historical sense since wine storage in France is typically in caves and the natural underground temperature is around 13°C. Thus, the "ideal" seems to have been the result of regional custom and practice rather than any scientific study!

What will happen to a wine stored at room temperature (73°F) in a dark closet rather than in a temperature-controlled environment of 55°F, the commonly accepted "ideal" temperature? Bottle aging of fine wine is a result of many chemical changes (reactions) taking place over time. Each of these reactions occurs at a certain speed or rate, and each reaction is affected differently by temperature changes because each has a unique energy factor or natural energy barrier, the "hurdle" that must be overcome ("jumped over") for the reaction to occur. Using well-founded and accepted chemical principles that will not be discussed here, one can estimate the effects of temperature increases above the (assumed) ideal 55°F on the increase in rate or speed of aging. These calculations are made assuming two different energy barriers, or hurdles for reaction to occur, (low and high) and three different temperature changes, 55° to 59°F, 55° to 73°F, and 55° to 91°F. By choosing the low and high extremes for the energy barrier, one can be fairly certain that the true reaction barrier lies between these extremes. After examining reactions similar to those that occur in wine during aging (e.g., oxidation, reduction, esterification, etc.), the true reaction barrier lies closer to the high energy barrier than the low energy barrier.

A temperature change of 55°F to 59°F with a calculated increase in the rate of aging of 1.2 times assuming a LOW energy barrier and an increase of 1.5 times assuming a HIGH energy barrier. One can conclude from these calculations that the increase in the rate of aging for a temperature change of 55°F to 59°F is between 1.2 and 1.5 times. This means that if your cellar is at 59°F instead of 55°F, your wine ages 1.2 to 1.5 times faster than if it were at 55°F.

As the data shows, going from 55°F to 73°F, an increase in temperature of 18°F (10°C), doubles the rate of a reaction if it has a LOW energy barrier. If the reaction has a HIGH energy barrier, the rate of the reaction increases by a factor of eight for this temperature difference. Translated, this means if your cellar is at 73°F instead of 55°F, your wine ages 2.1 to 8.0 times faster than if it were at 55°F. Thus, 3 years at 73°F is equivalent to between 6.3 and 24 years of aging at 55°F. These differences are significant.

It gets worse as the temperature difference increases. A change from55°F to 91°F increases the rate 56 times for reactions with HIGH energy barriers and 4.1 times for reactions with LOW energy barriers. So if your storage is at 91°F instead of 55°F, your wine ages 4.1 to 56 times faster than if it were stored at 55°F. One month of aging at 91°F is equivalent to between 4 months and 18 years of aging at 55°F. As stated earlier, the "true" situation probably closer to the 18 year end of the range. These calculations show that higher temperatures markedly speed up the aging process and result in maturation of a wine over a very short time.

Another concern is that higher temperatures will result in undesirable chemical reactions taking place that were either too slow or nonexistent at the lower temperatures. I think this is as important an issue as speeding up changes that have a desirable effect on the bouquet of a wine as it ages. If these undesirable reactions have HIGH barriers to reaction, which is very likely, then over a moderate aging period for a quality red wine, say 15 years at 55°F, little reaction has occurred and the wine is relatively unaffected. But, if the storage temperature is 73°F, the undesirable reactions will have occurred 8 times faster which means the same reactions have occurred in less than 2 years. Another way to put is that 15 years at 73°F is equivalent to 120 years (8 x 15 years) at 55°F. Of course, very high temperatures for even relatively short periods can lead to nasty reactions producing compounds with foul odors and off tastes. This situation undoubtedly prevails at temperatures above 90°F where the rates of high energy barrier reactions increase by a factor of 56 times or more.

Doubling, tripling or quadrupling the rate of the desirable reactions is not the only issue in the aging process. Increasing the rates of undesirable reactions that are very slow at lower temperatures may be an equally or more important issue. Higher storage temperatures make available many new pathways for desirable and undesirable reactions. Excessively high temperatures for several hours will surely have a detrimental effect on a wine’s chemistry with the production of off-flavors resulting from oxidation and other undesirable reactions whose rates have been dramatically increased by the higher temperature. It is not going to matter what temperature my cellar is if somewhere along the distribution line the wine is cooked on the dock or in a hot warehouse.

What do I see and taste in a heat damaged wine? One important indicator of heat damage is color. Premature browning can be an indicator of oxidation due to heating. A brick edge in a young red wine is a telltale sign of oxidation due to excessive heat. Since Sherry is an oxidized wine, another indicator of heat damage in table wines is a sherry-like taste.

If 55°F is better than 73°F for wine storage, why isn’t 49°F better than 55°F? Rates of all reactions will be slowed even more at the lower temperature. However, 49°F may be too low a temperature to allow some desirable aging changes to occur at a rate that is comparable to the human life cycle. Remember from our earlier discussion that different reactions are affected differently by temperature changes because each has a different barrier to reaction.

Reactions with high barriers are more sensitive to temperature changes and with decreasing temperature will slow down more than reactions with low barriers. Since the harmonious aging of wine is due to many different chemical reactions occurring in a naturally orchestrated manner, the lower temperature may slow down some reactions to the point where they become non-contributors to desirable flavors, and, therefore, the wine’s evolution is thrown out of sync. It would be interesting to carry out research on this, but the time line required is beyond that of most humans.

Store your opened bottle of wine in the refrigerator. If you must keep an opened bottle of wine for a few days, the best place to store it is in your refrigerator that is typically at a temperature of about 41°F (5°C). The chemical reactions leading to spoilage (primarily oxidation-reduction) will be slowed down by a factor of 6 to 16 times compared with storage at room temperature (about 73°F). A wine should last 6 to 16 times longer in the refrigerator than at room temperature. Red wine can be poured in a glass and allowed to slowly warm before consumption or put in a microwave oven for 15-20 seconds.

Nailed It

2006-05-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

The Music: Beat-crazy energy.
Sections: Equestrian, BEdouin, Never Mind the Bullocks and Disco
Songs: 22
Rippled 47 year old bod: Oh yeah
Set: Giant disco ball that peels open like a lotus. Saddle bobbing on a pole. Trapdoors. Flashing catwalk onto a lighted dance floor on a thrust stage. Cutting edge videos. Geometric cross for crucifixion (but set to "Live to Tell"?)
Couture: Jean-Paul Gaultier. Bondage. Glampunk black. Roller girl.
Hot seller: $30 photo-backed programs
Crowd: Boomers. Teens. Gays. Hispanics. Also gay hispanic boomers acting like teens. Oh no.

Minima Culpa

2006-05-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti vobis fratres
Quia peccavi nimis cogitatione,verbo, opere et omissione
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

Did you click your mouse on the rainbow?

Vinci Vincero

2006-05-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

Just as we returned to Londontown from Paris, they had wrapped up principal photography for the unfilmable book "The Da Vinci Code".
As photography within The House of God and Kings is forbidden, the Lincoln Cathedral is an able stand-in. We walked by Temple Church but owing to some official appearing function skipped checking out the effigies within.

The principal paintings in the Louvre, we were assured, had not been written over with bodily fluids as detailed explicitly in the book. If you are going this Spring, check out the Da Vinci Soundwalk. The cloest cash dispenser is the Post Office (beyond security, exact euros only) as they do not take VISA. Everywhere else you want to be. Tip: every Japanese tourist wants to head to La Joconde. Your best bet is to get an 0830 entry pass and rush in through the Virgin MegaStore entry hall (shorter security lines because everyone else will come through the Pyramid in Napoleon's Square) and head straight to the Denon Wing (make left turns always) to Salle 13. It is where most people are headed and there are pictorial clues. They know why you are there.

We saw the Virgin at the National Gallery off Trafalgar Square. The changes in the image of Virgin on the Rocks reminds me of those pictorials at the bottom of the Sunday Comics. Can you spot the difference that was demanded by the outraged nunnery?

Weather Mole

2006-05-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

P introduced me to WeatherMole. The weather forecast component is from NOAA's Experimental National Digital Forecast Database XML Web Service and the map component is from Google Maps. In a test area you can enter a city name or ZIP (borrowed from Google Suggest) but right know it works only for the continental United States. Weatherbonk already does this with point data from weather.com, accuweather or weather underground (selected in the map pop-up) and it has radar displays. I prefer Weatherbonk for smaller cities.

So it will rain again all this weekend.

Week in Wine

2006-05-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

Napa Valley Meritage and Bordeaux-style Blends
2002 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry Napa Valley Red Wine ($50)
2002 M. Coz Napa Valley Meritage ($120)
2003 Chimney Rock Elevage Stags Leap District Red Wine ($75)
Fisher Vineyards Cameron Napa Valley Red Wine ($55)
2003 Hendry Hendry Vineyard Napa Valley Red Wine ($33)
2003 O'Brien Cellars Seduction Napa Valley Red Wine ($28)

Whites
2005 Finca El Portillo Mendoza Chardonnay $9
2005 Firestone Vineyard Select Central Coast Riesling $10
2004 Hess Select California Chardonnay $10
2004 Lagaria delle Venezie Chardonnay $10
2004 Three Thieves Bandit California Pinot Grigio $9 (4 pack of 250 ml single servings)

Reds
2005 Jacob's Creek South Eastern Australia Grenache-Shiraz $8
2004 Laurel Glen Reds Lodi Red Wine $9
2004 Mad Dogs & Englishmen Jumilla Shiraz-Cabernet-Monastrell $10
2004 Stone Cellars by Beringer California Merlot $8
2003 Woodbridge Select Vineyard Series Clay Hollow California Merlot $10.99

Exit Pollen

2006-05-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

Pollen is flower sperm, a fine to coarse powder of pollen grains or microgametophytes containing male gametes of seed plants. Each contains two generative cells (male gametes) and a vegetative cell, this cell complex is surrounded by a cellulose wall and a thick outer wall of sporopollenin. Pollen is produced in the microsporangium (in the anther of an angiosperm flower or male cone of a conifer) and are mostly spherical or variable sixe, the smallest being around 6 microns in the Forget-me-not plant. Except in submerged aquatic plants, mature pollen grains have a thin delicate wall of unaltered cellulose (endospore or intine) and a tough outer cicatized exospore (or exine) which latter bears spines or warts, and is variably sculpted. Germination of the microspore occurs before it leaves the pollen-sac.

Allergy to pollen (commonly hay fever) is caused by anemophilous pollens - lightweight pollen grains produced in great quantities for wind dispersal. Breathing them causes an allergic reaction in some of us. We often blame the conspicuous entomophilous (insect-borned) goldenrod flower for allergies - you can get this only if you shove the flower up your nose. late summer and fall pollen allergies are caused by ragweed which is indeed anemophilous but does not grow in deserts (hence the rising population in Arizona until people started establishing irrigated lawns and gardens in the suburbs of Phoenix and laid waste to the allergy free claim).

Anemophilous spring bloomers such as oak, birch, hickory, pecan and early summer grasses may induce allergies but cultivated flowers are most likely entomophilous and do not. Pollen count is the measure of grains of pollen in one cubic meter of atmospheric air. The higher the number, the more of those who are allergic to a particular pollen will suffer. Counts are announced for specific plants such as grass, ash or olive, and tailored to what is usually a common plant in the area being measured. You rotate a silicone grease covered rod in the air to collect the pollen. Rotate periodically and randomly to collect specimens during 24 hr period and then analyze for concentration.

DO

close windows at night to prevent pollens and mold spores form drifting into the home
use air-conditioning to clean, cool and dry the air
minimize early morning acitvity when pollen is emitted (0500-1000 PDT)
keep your car windows closed when driving
try to stay indoors when pollen count or humidity are reported to be high, or windy days when dust and pollen are blown about
take prescribed medications in the recommended dosage

DO NOT

take more medication than recommended
mow lawns or be around freshly cut grass since mowing stirs up pollens and mold spores
rake leaves (stirs up mold spores)
hang sheets or clothing out to dry (they collect pollens and molds)
grow too many or over-water indoors plants if you are allergic to mold (encouraged by wet soil)

Twice Baked

2006-05-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

We watched "Under the Tuscan Sun", a feel good film (they portray digitally enhanced sunflowers in Siena to drive the point home) proving that a gorgeous lady can find happiness to complete her life if only she finds a man who would so bless her. I made biscotti as finding the perfect biscotti is perhaps only nearly as challenging as finding the perfect Buddha though R makes some killer biscotti herself but she won't be in until after dessert. This is how to do it:

Preheat the oven to 375 while greasing cookie sheets with lemon infused oil
Beat 3 brown eggs, 0.5C safflower oil, 1C unbleached sugar and 1 tbs Campari until blended. I tossed some almond slivers in as well
Add 3.25C all purpose flour and 1 tbs baking powder into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough and divide into two balls. Form each into a roll as long as the cookie sheet.
Place the roll onto the cookie sheet and press down to 0.5" thickness. Bake for 30 minutes (until golden brown)
When cool enough, slice each crosswise into 1/2" slices. Place slices cut side up back onto the cookie sheet. Bake for 10 more minutes until lightly toasted sometime between the third and fourth courses to get the timing right.

Serve warmed to room temperature (not piping hot) with chilled vin santo for dipping. Italian vin santo is, I feel, a better accompaniment than the Greek correlate. Enjoy.

Pi Chart

2006-05-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

If you copy a web URL that begins with http:/ and paste it into the Windows Calculator, it spits out the value of pi but why? Just saying.

Mothers Day

2006-05-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is my fifth Mothers Day without my Mum. She passed away when I was teaching in Walt Disney World. Another year, another Disney park, definitely a whole other Me. But no Mum. You expect Mum to leave but you are not prepared enough: my first response was to Google it as I was not sure about the appropriate response and very disoriented from it. I never got the memo, I just got angry. Everything has been different since then. I am more desolate, more sullen, more cynical and, perhaps best, inifinitely more compassionate. I am sick of hearing people tell me they are sorry (why should they be if they are not responsible?), they know how it feels (you could not unless you have actually been there and yet everyone's experience is truly unique) and that time wounds all heels (some extend from the heel to the heart and are insuperable). It will be five solid years this June and no healing has shown any signs of heading my way. Not even a preview. Adverts stuck between acid free newspaper sheets shill me not to forget her on her special day. Last night, a homeless man urged commuters on the BART to remember their mothers and thank them. Cosmetic samples and jewelry stores urge me to buy feminine items for my special Mum. I am glad there are all these reminders in abundance because otherwise I would have forgotten her a long time ago. Not so much. She exists in every memory, every action, every new venture I undertake. Then I realize the folly of my ways - she is gone, and there is much we did not do. We did not go to mainland China, as we always spoke of since my childhood. My first birthday without her card arriving before the others was difficult to take. For most of us, home is Mum. At the end of the stressed day, you came home and however bad the day had been, Mum would be there and make it right. Perhaps we take things for granted and know not the value of people until the people cease to exist. An immense folly considering this is the one person who literally loves you from your first breath until death. Hers. It is a morose day because I know that everyone I know is Sunday brunching with their Mum. I will have to hear about it tomorrow. I will nod politely. And everyone will think my allergies are acting up.

Happy Mothers Day.

Beyond Disney

2006-05-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

Main Street (what you see as soon as you open your second mortgage; ticket prices have gone up 66% since 1995) is loosely based on Walt Disney's vague memories of growing up in the small town of Marceline, which is in France! It is supposed to invoke nostalgia that never really existed and is now under intense high pressure retail scrutiny. More dollars are spent here because you have finally arrived.
The Flag Pole in the center is where Buddy Ebsen smashed into (drunk of course), covered by a couple of stamps and sent to "Walt Disney, General Delivery, Hollywood" from his home town. In return, Ebsen was filmed as reference footage for a new animatronic figure
During Desert Storm, Main Street Cinema showed some classic studio WWII propaganda and educational films (Victory Through Massive Displays of Atomic Power, Donald Gets Dysentery, Out of the Frying Pan - Onto the Beach at Normandy, PT Boat Willie, Four Methods of Flush Riveting). In the center is Captain Nemo's organ from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Usually you see continuous loops of classic B/W Disney cartoons.
The five original stops on the rail were main Street, New Orleans Square (the message broadcast in old telegraph - NOT MORSE - code is "Help, I'm being held prisoner in an old telegraph office"), Sleeping Beauty's Castle (now eliminated to accomodate Splash Mountain), Toon Town Station (Videopolis Station when I was first there) and Tomorrow Land.
Tomorrowland's mandate is to inform and educate about science but sticks to topics not subject to rapid change, like rollercoasters, ride simulators and Space Ranger technology. "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" is the third 3D movie to be shown there (after Magic Journeys and Captain EO). Space Mountain was reopened in July 2005 after considerable rehabilitation (some complained it was too rough, others that it was not dark enough).
The Disneyland-Alweb Monorail system opened in June 1959. The original Mark I Monorail (0.8 mi track) is now in Vegas between Bally's and the end of the strip. All monorails (Mark i through V) are named after the inventor, Mark. In 2001, the track was extended with passage through California Adventure Park and a stop at LAX.
Sleeping Beauty's Castle (such a Kodak moment) must be such a joke for Eurotrash tourists. After all, they have real castles where they come from and they are so much nicer and bigger. Plus, more vermin.
"It's a Small World" ride becomes "It's a Small World Holiday" around the holidays iwth a complete holiday themes redress of the ride and - applause - a new song. Not all of the countries are shown celebrating Christmas as that would be inaccurate. Good Americans celebrate it as shown, as we are a Christian state. One of the Buddhas wears a Santa outfit. Much chanting should ensue. The ride has been shortened from the original 30 minutes to a now seemingly forever 12 minutes: most people who listen to the entire song are statistically likely to grow up to become cannibalistic serial killers.
Peter Pan's ride was the most confusing when I first rode in it as a wee lad at the tender age of seven. You fly over scaled down models of Londontown (Big Ben! Tower Bridge!) and then you fly over Hook's ship. But your carriage IS Hook's ship - scaled down - which makes for severe disorientation. The scariest ride was Snow White's Scary Adventures (the witch offering the apple and the Forest of Monstrous Trees) and I had nightmares for months. Of course, the title warns and I was stupid enough to believe the Matterhorn was a replica of that in Anaheim. I have read extensively since then.
More people thrown up on the Mad Tea Party ride each day than throw up all year in the city of Provo, Utah. The mechanism is a set of concentric inter-rotating disks that shared several technology patents with Spirograph Technology. Fess up, you bought a set from street vendors across the Thames a long time ago. A very long time ago.
Toontown is not really Disneyland so I skip it entirely. I'm a purist.
New Orlean's Square is, in fact, a perfect square. This I find extremely bizarre because Place Vosges isn't a perfect place, Circo Massimo isn't a perfect circle and Trafalgar Square is a rhomboid. Haunted Mansion in EuroDisney is known as Phantom Manor.
Adventureland is the smallest "land" in Disneyland. The Enchanted Tiki Room was the first to use animatronic creatures (other than Abe Lincoln) and the show itself is considerably shorter than its original 90 minute insufferable length. Higher speed processors deem the show ended immediately after you adjust your shorts. The thunderstorm you hear is actual water (not computerized) but it is recycled.
When someone needs to be transfered from a wheelchair to a ride carriage (like the Doom Buggies for Haunted Mansion), the ride does not stop but is slowed down. This was originally known as Creep Mode (then we went all PC and did not want to call the crippled Creepy) and is now known as Slow Mode. It switches to Bonus Mode soon after to make up for the cash loss. The singing busts in the Mansion are Walt Disney, Lesley Nielsen, Buddy Ebsen and James Stewart.
People have died on the following rides/places: Matterhorn Bobsleds (multiple incidents), Monorail track, People Mover (multiple incidents), Tom Sawyer's Island, Rivers of America, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Nobody had died in Space Mountain. Yet.

Hidden Mickeys are like Easter Eggs. If you are going to enjoy a Disney park without children, you need to keep yourself stimulated. In a good way. Started as inside jokes by Disney Imagineers, they are images of the Mouse concealed in the design of a Disney Attraction (like a ride). Originally in the shape of three circles (the large with the two smaller ear circles), they take on many forms. Any Mickey that is very large, elaborate or intricate (cave, shape of a garden or the park itself) is a gimme and not an HM. The exception is the overhead google satellite picture, very inventive. An HM should be proportionate, ie., the ear circles should be equal in diameter and not too far apart from the dominant circle. They are very far apart in the Big Thunder Gear. Detection should not require too much imagination, like the Matterhorn Mickey. If you must squint your eyes, tilt your head, drink macha tea and postprocess on Photoshop, it was not meant to be.

Small World

2006-05-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

Go on a weekday when school is on. Tuesdays have the shortest wait times.
Get around endless lines by entering the park around 1100 when it is hottest and children have run out of energy, but not yet achieved the second wind.
As soon as you enter the park, go counterclockwise, and use the FastPass whenever you can. It is not available for all rides. Go to the attraction and see displays indicating the current wait time for the StandBy line (normal) and the current return time for FastPass. You need to return in that one-hour window to enter with little or no wait at all. We used FastPass a lot but you cannot obtain another FastPass for tow hours or until your current FastPass return time has arrived - whichever is faster. If you flirt with the Smiling People, you can break the queue or sit in for repeat rides. Japanese tourists will hate you but hey it is a small world after all (tune is stuck in head)
Kids under three get in free: they will also ensure that everyone around you hates you. Everyone over ten pays full price. Nice move, Mouse.
The lowest priced one-day Disneyland tickets are good for only one park so you can't visit Disneyland and California Adventure on the same day
DO NOT ENTER THE SMALL WORLD RIDE IF YOU VALUE YOUR SANITY
If you order direct tickets from Disney.com, you will be charged a shipping fee (17 days in advance for the lowest shipping rate). It is cheaper and more convenient to go to Amusementpark.com or by telephone at 714.781-4400. Do not waste time in the queue. Unlike other parks, Disney offers few discounts (military, government, proof of residence in zi pcodes 90000 - 93599) so do not look too hard. You can redeem Hilton HHonors Points or Marriott Rewards Points for Disneyland passes. Many hospitals give minor discounts for admission.
You want to avoid going on the June 2-4 weekend (Orlando) and October 6-8 weekend (in Anaheim) unless you really want to experience the happiest place on Earth that would make the Mouse would blush.

Week in Wine

2006-05-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

Imported Rosé

2005 Bieler Pere et Fils Sabine Vin de Pays des Maures Rosé ($10)
2004 Chateau d'Aqueria Tavel Rosé ($17)
2005 Chateau Ferry Lacombe Cuvee Lou Cascai Cotes de Provence Rosé ($18)
2003 Chateau Roubaud Cuvee Prestige Costieres de Nimes Rosé ($15)
2005 Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres Gris de Gris ($13)
2005 Domaine de Nizas Coteaux du Languedoc Rosé ($16)
2005 Domaine de Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne Rosé ($9)
2005 Dona Paula Los Cardos Lujan de Cuyo Malbec Rosé ($8)
2005 Frenchhouse Vin de Pays d'Oc Rosé ($10)
2006 Goats do Roam South Africa Rosé ($10)
2005 Lawson's Dry Hills Marlborough Pinot Rosé ($15)
2004 Mas Grand Plagniol Costieres de Nimes Rosé ($10)
2004 Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone Rosé ($11)
2005 Pink Knot McLaren Vale Rosé ($10)
2005 Red Bicyclette Vin de Pays d'Oc French Rosé ($11)
2005 Routas Rouviere Coteaux Varois en Provence Rosé ($10)
Stock up for the First BBQ of the Season
2002 Palari Faro ($90) red blend of Nerollo Moscalese, Nerello Capuccio and Nocera
NV Pierre Moncuit Blanc de Blanc Les Mesnil-sur-Oger ($80)
2004 Domaine Ehrhart Vielle Vignes Riesling ($32)
2004 Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre Chablis ($52)
2004 Domaine de la Tourmaline Muscadet ($28)
2002 Mount Eden Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir ($68)
2004 I Sibilla Crona De Lago Campi Flegrei Campania Falanghina ($27)
2002 Thierry Allemand Cornas ($120) Syrah

Austrian Martini
2 ounces Tanqueray Gin
1 ounce Noilly Prat dry vermouth
1/2 ounce Zirbenz Stone Pine Liqueur
1 lemon twist, for garnish

Fill a mixing glass two-thirds full of ice and add all of the ingredients. Stir 30 seconds, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Light a match and hold it close to the top of the drink. Take the lemon twist in your other hand and hold it by the sides. (The yellow part should point toward the drink.) Hold the twist over the match and squeeze it to release its oils. You will see them sparkle as they leap through the flame into the drink.

Un Mentionable

2006-05-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Now that television freely mentions hitherto unmentionables like incontinence, hemorrhoids and erectile dysfunction (and to think I creeped out with all the fun women's activities portrayed in sanitary pad commercials in my pre-teen years), products that present a greater challenge are depending on word-of-mouth campaigns and viral video. Philips Electronics NC's new Norelco Bodygroom shaven for men is not for your average shave, but for shaving below the neck line, an area that has received scant attention. For all you manscapers, get thee to the website before Fathers' Day.

The song follows -

Overpriced Confessions

2006-05-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

Tickets are still available for the Confessions Tour and cost between $220 (Section 226 at the HP Pavilion) and $3700 each (first row floor). With the added show, there will be shows on both May 30 and 31 at 8 pm at the HP Pavilion in San Jose (seating chart). You will be there, won't you?

Dangerous leotard alert -

Anime from the last tour -

And some classic stuff -

Colbert Reports

2006-05-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone is speaking of Mr. Colbert's brilliant monologue at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

STEPHEN COLBERT: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Before I begin, I've been asked to make an announcement. Whoever parked 14 black bulletproof S.U.V.'s out front, could you please move them? They are blocking in 14 other black bulletproof S.U.V.'s and they need to get out.

Wow. Wow, what an honor. The White House correspondents' dinner. To actually sit here, at the same table with my hero, George W. Bush, to be this close to the man. I feel like I'm dreaming. Somebody pinch me. You know what? I'm a pretty sound sleeper -- that may not be enough. Somebody shoot me in the face. Is he really not here tonight? Dammit. The one guy who could have helped.

By the way, before I get started, if anybody needs anything else at their tables, just speak slowly and clearly into your table numbers. Somebody from the NSA will be right over with a cocktail. Mark Smith, ladies and gentlemen of the press corps, Madame First Lady, Mr. President, my name is Stephen Colbert and tonight it's my privilege to celebrate this president. We're not so different, he and I. We get it. We're not brainiacs on the nerd patrol. We're not members of the factinista. We go straight from the gut, right sir? That's where the truth lies, right down here in the gut. Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut than you have in your head? You can look it up. I know some of you are going to say "I did look it up, and that's not true." That's 'cause you looked it up in a book.

Next time, look it up in your gut. I did. My gut tells me that's how our nervous system works. Every night on my show, the Colbert Report, I speak straight from the gut, OK? I give people the truth, unfiltered by rational argument. I call it the "No Fact Zone." Fox News, I hold a copyright on that term.

I'm a simple man with a simple mind. I hold a simple set of beliefs that I live by. Number one, I believe in America. I believe it exists. My gut tells me I live there. I feel that it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and I strongly believe it has 50 states. And I cannot wait to see how the Washington Post spins that one tomorrow. I believe in democracy. I believe democracy is our greatest export. At least until China figures out a way to stamp it out of plastic for three cents a unit.

In fact, Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, welcome. Your great country makes our Happy Meals possible. I said it's a celebration. I believe the government that governs best is the government that governs least. And by these standards, we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.

I believe in pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps. I believe it is possible -- I saw this guy do it once in Cirque du Soleil. It was magical. And though I am a committed Christian, I believe that everyone has the right to their own religion, be you Hindu, Jewish or Muslim. I believe there are infinite paths to accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe it's yogurt. But I refuse to believe it's not butter. Most of all, I believe in this president.

Now, I know there are some polls out there saying this man has a 32% approval rating. But guys like us, we don't pay attention to the polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in "reality." And reality has a well-known liberal bias.

So, Mr. President, please, pay no attention to the people that say the glass is half full. 32% means the glass -- it's important to set up your jokes properly, sir. Sir, pay no attention to the people who say the glass is half empty, because 32% means it's 2/3 empty. There's still some liquid in that glass is my point, but I wouldn't drink it. The last third is usually backwash.

Okay, look, folks, my point is that I don't believe this is a low point in this presidency. I believe it is just a lull before a comeback. I mean, it's like the movie "Rocky." All right. The president in this case is Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed is -- everything else in the world. It's the tenth round. He's bloodied. His corner man, Mick, who in this case I guess would be the vice president, he's yelling, "Cut me, Dick, cut me!," and every time he falls everyone says, "Stay down! Stay down!" Does he stay down? No. Like Rocky, he gets back up, and in the end he -- actually, he loses in the first movie.

OK. Doesn't matter. The point is it is the heart-warming story of a man who was repeatedly punched in the face. So don't pay attention to the approval ratings that say 68% of Americans disapprove of the job this man is doing. I ask you this, does that not also logically mean that 68% approve of the job he's not doing? Think about it. I haven't.

I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message: that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound -- with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world.

Now, there may be an energy crisis. This president has a very forward-thinking energy policy. Why do you think he's down on the ranch cutting that brush all the time? He's trying to create an alternative energy source. By 2008 we will have a mesquite-powered car!

And I just like the guy. He's a good Joe. Obviously loves his wife, calls her his better half. And polls show America agrees. She's a true lady and a wonderful woman. But I just have one beef, ma'am.

I'm sorry, but this reading initiative. I'm sorry, I've never been a fan of books. I don't trust them. They're all fact, no heart. I mean, they're elitist, telling us what is or isn't true, or what did or didn't happen. Who's Britannica to tell me the Panama Canal was built in 1914? If I want to say it was built in 1941, that's my right as an American! I'm with the president, let history decide what did or did not happen.

The greatest thing about this man is he's steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change; this man's beliefs never will.

As excited as I am to be here with the president, I am appalled to be surrounded by the liberal media that is destroying America, with the exception of Fox News. Fox News gives you both sides of every story: the president's side, and the vice president's side.

But the rest of you, what are you thinking, reporting on NSA wiretapping or secret prisons in eastern Europe? Those things are secret for a very important reason: they're super-depressing. And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished.

Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew.

But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the Decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know - fiction!

Because really, what incentive do these people have to answer your questions, after all? I mean, nothing satisfies you. Everybody asks for personnel changes. So the White House has personnel changes. Then you write, "Oh, they're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." First of all, that is a terrible metaphor. This administration is not sinking. This administration is soaring. If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg!

Now, it's not all bad guys out there. Some are heroes: Christopher Buckley, Jeff Sacks, Ken Burns, Bob Schieffer. They've all been on my show. By the way, Mr. President, thank you for agreeing to be on my show. I was just as shocked as everyone here is, I promise you. How's Tuesday for you? I've got Frank Rich, but we can bump him. And I mean bump him. I know a guy. Say the word.

See who we've got here tonight. General Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff. General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They still support Rumsfeld. Right, you guys aren't retired yet, right? Right, they still support Rumsfeld.

Look, by the way, I've got a theory about how to handle these retired generals causing all this trouble: don't let them retire! Come on, we've got a stop-loss program; let's use it on these guys. I've seen Zinni and that crowd on Wolf Blitzer. If you're strong enough to go on one of those pundit shows, you can stand on a bank of computers and order men into battle. Come on.

Jesse Jackson is here, the Reverend. Haven't heard from the Reverend in a little while. I had him on the show. Very interesting and challenging interview. You can ask him anything, but he's going to say what he wants, at the pace that he wants. It's like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor, by the way, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is.

Justice Scalia is here. Welcome, sir. May I be the first to say, you look fantastic. How are you? [After each sentence, Colbert makes a hand gesture, an allusion to Scalia's recent use of an obscene Sicilian hand gesture in speaking to a reporter about Scalia's critics. Scalia is seen laughing hysterically.] Just talking some Sicilian with my paisan.

John McCain is here. John McCain, John McCain, what a maverick! Somebody find out what fork he used on his salad, because I guarantee you it wasn't a salad fork. This guy could have used a spoon! There's no predicting him. By the way, Senator McCain, it's so wonderful to see you coming back into the Republican fold. I have a summer house in South Carolina; look me up when you go to speak at Bob Jones University. So glad you've seen the light, sir.

Mayor Nagin! Mayor Nagin is here from New Orleans, the chocolate city! Yeah, give it up. Mayor Nagin, I'd like to welcome you to Washington, D.C., the chocolate city with a marshmallow center. And a graham cracker crust of corruption. It's a Mallomar, I guess is what I'm describing, a seasonal cookie.

Joe Wilson is here, Joe Wilson right down here in front, the most famous husband since Desi Arnaz. And of course he brought along his lovely wife Valerie Plame. Oh, my god. [looks horrified] Oh, what have I said? I -- Je- minetti (sp?). I am sorry, Mr. President, I meant to say he brought along his lovely wife Joe Wilson's wife. Patrick Fitzgerald is not here tonight? OK. Dodged a bullet.

And, of course, we can't forget the man of the hour, new press secretary, Tony Snow. Secret Service name, "Snow Job." Toughest job. What a hero. Took the second toughest job in government, next to, of course, the ambassador to Iraq.

Got some big shoes to fill, Tony. Big shoes to fill. Scott McClellan could say nothing like nobody else. McClellan, of course, eager to retire. Really felt like he needed to spend more time with Andrew Card's children. Mr. President, I wish you hadn't made the decision so quickly, sir.

I was vying for the job myself. I think I would have made a fabulous press secretary. I have nothing but contempt for these people. I know how to handle these clowns.

In fact, sir, I brought along an audition tape and with your indulgence, I'd like to at least give it a shot. So, ladies and gentlemen, my press conference.

BEGINNING OF "AUDITION TAPE"

Colbert shows a video of a mock press conference. It opens with an empty podium. Colbert's head rises from behind the podium until Colbert is standing at the podium. He addresses the assembled Washington press corps.

COLBERT: I have a brief statement: the press is destroying America. OK, let's see who we've got here today.

COLBERT (acknowledging various reporters): Stretch! (David Gregory nods) Sir Nerdlington! (reporter nods) Sloppy Joe! (reporter nods) Terry Lemon Moran Pie! (Terry Moran nods) Oh, Doubting Thomas, always a pleasure. (Helen Thomas smiles) And Suzanne Mal -- hello!!
(Suzanne Malveaux stares at Colbert, looking unhappy. Colbert mimics putting a phone to his ear and mouths "call me.")

REPORTER: Will the Vice President be available soon to answer all questions himself?

COLBERT: I've already addressed that question. You (pointing to another reporter).

REPORTER: Walter Cronkite, the noted CBS anchor, . . .

COLBERT (interrupting): Ah, no, he's the former CBS anchor. Katie Couric is the new anchor of the CBS Evening News. Well, well, how do you guys feel about that? You, tousle-haired guy in the back. Are you happy about Katie Couric taking over the CBS Evening News?

DAN RATHER: No, sir, Mr. Colbert. Are you? (Laughter)

COLBERT: Boom! Oh, look, we woke David Gregory up. Question?

DAVID GREGORY: Did Karl Rove commit a crime?

COLBERT: I don't know. I'll ask him. (Colbert turns to Rove) Karl, pay attention please! (Rove is seen drawing a heart with "Karl + Stephen" written on it.)

GREGORY: Do you stand by your statement from the fall of 2003 when you were asked specifically about Karl, and Elliott Abrams, and Scooter Libby, and you said "I've gone to each of those gentlemen, and they have told me that they are not involved in this." Do you stand by that statement?

COLBERT: Nah, I was just kidding!

GREGORY: No, you're not finishing. You're not saying anything! You stood at that podium and said . . .

COLBERT (interrupting): Ah, that's where you're wrong. New podium! Just had it delivered today. Get your facts straight, David.

GREGORY: This is ridiculous. The notion that you're going to stand before us after having commented with that level of detail and tell the people watching this that somehow you've decided not to talk. You've got to . . . (Colbert is seen looking at three buttons on the podium, labeled "EJECT," "GANNON" and "VOLUME." He selects the "VOLUME" button and turns it. We see Gregory's lips continue moving, but can't hear any sound coming out.)

COLBERT: If I can't hear you, I can't answer your question. I'm sorry! I have to move on. Terry.

TERRY MORAN: After the investigation began, after the criminal investigation was underway, you said . . . (Colbert presses a button on the podium and fast-forwards through most of Moran's question.)

MORAN (continuing): All of a sudden, you have respect for the sanctity of a criminal investigation?

COLBERT (seen playing with rubber ball, which he is bouncing off attached paddle): No, I never had any respect for the sanctity of a criminal investigation. Activist judges! Yes, Helen.

HELEN THOMAS: You're going to be sorry. (Laughter)

COLBERT (looking vastly amused, mockingly): What are you going to do, Helen, ask me for a recipe?

THOMAS: Your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands (Colbert's smile fades) of Americans and Iraqis, wounds of Americans and Iraqis for a lifetime.

COLBERT (interrupting): OK, hold on Helen, look . . .

THOMAS (continuing): Every reason given, publicly at least, has turned out not to be true. My question is, why did you really want to go to war?

COLBERT (again interrupting): Helen, I'm going to stop you right there. (Thomas keeps talking.) That's enough! No! Sorry, Helen, I'm moving on. (Colbert tries to turn her volume off, but the knob falls off his controls. Various reporters start shouting questions at Colbert.)

COLBERT (agitated): Guys, guys, please don't let Helen do this to what was a lovely day. (Reporters keep shouting at him. Pputting his fingers over his ears and shouting in a high-pitched voice): Bllrrtt! No, no, no, no, no. I'm not listening to you! Look what you did, Helen! I hate you! (Helen Thomas glowers at Colbert.)

COLBERT (frantic): I'm out of here! (Colbert pulls back the curtain behind him, desperately trying to flee. He says, "There is a wall here!" The press corps laughs. Colbert has difficulty finding a door from which to exit the room, echoing Bush's experience in China. He finally finds the door and hurries through it.) It reeks in there! Ridiculous! I've never been so insulted in my life! Stupid job. (Colbert continues walking away. We hear sinister-sounding music playing. We see Helen Thomas walking behind Colbert. Colbert looks behind him, sees Thomas, and starts running. Colbert trips over a roller skate. He yells "Condi!" We see a close-up of Helen Thomas' face, looking determined and angry. Colbert, increasingly panicked, gets up and continues running, running into a parking garage. He reaches an emergency call box, and yells into it.) Oh, thank God. Help me!

ATTENDANT: What seems to be the problem, sir?

COLBERT: She won't stop asking why we invaded Iraq!

ATTENDANT: Hey, why did we invade Iraq?

COLBERT: NO!!! (runs toward his car. We see Helen Thomas, still walking toward him. Colbert reaches his car, and fumblingly attempts to open it with his key. He is in such a desperate hurry that he fumbles with the keys and drops them. When he picks them up, he looks back and Helen is even closer. In his frantic rush, Colbert just can't get the key into the lock. Just as his anxiety is getting completely out of control he suddenly remembers that he has a keyless remote -- so he just pushes the button on the keychain and the car unlocks immediately with the usual double squeak noise. Colbert jumps in and locks the door, and continues to fumble trying to start the car. He finally succeeds, and looks up to see Helen standing in front of the car, notepad in hand.) NO!!! NO!!! (Colbert puts the car into reverse and drives off, tires squealing. Thomas smiles. Colbert is shown taking the shuttle from Washington, D.C. to New York. A car and driver are waiting for him at Penn Station. The uniformed man standing alongside the car opens the door and lets Colbert in.) What a terrible trip, Danny. Take me home. (The driver locks the doors, turns around, and says, "Buckle up, hon." IT'S HELEN THOMAS!!! (horrified face pressed against car window): NO!!!

END OF "AUDITION TAPE"

STEPHEN COLBERT: Helen Thomas, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Smith, members of the White House Correspondents Association, Madame First Lady, Mr. President, it's been a true honor. Thank you very much. Good night!

Dance Feverishly

2006-05-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

Slow Show

2006-05-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

I am not a prude. I occasionally enjoy experimental theater. I do not like musicals. I prefer drama but am open to anything that showcases talent, unless precious children are involved. In which case, stick a pencil in my eyeball. One per. Last night we went to see Slava's SnowShow, the lamest "show" ever put on stage. For $85, we sat stunned in astonishment for 49 minutes of show with a 20 minute intermission, most of the "show" being performed for the benefit of the first few rows in orchestra center.

I am scared of clowns but these were pointless, eliciting nearly no enthusiasm or applause, except from some overenthusiastic groupies sitting in front of us, inthe pediatric section (despite the tickets indicating that nobody under 8 would be granted admission). Half of the theater was empty so they decided to fill it with giant balloons at the end. We felt extremely short changed by the lack of any of a semblance of a narrative, comic laughs, storyline, sight gags, original music or special effects.

Cinco Mayonnaise

2006-05-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

Where you can go to play

San Francisco:
Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cinco de Mayo Festival at Parque de los Niños, 23rd Street between Treat and Folsom streets. (415) 206-0577;

Oakland:
Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival begins at 10 a.m. on International Boulevard between Fruitvale and 41st avenues. (510) 536-6084;

San Jose:
Sunday, 12 p.m. -5 p.m. Cinco de Mayo Festival at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road. Admission $5. Children under 6 are free.

San Jose:
Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival at Guadalupe River Park, Discovery Meadow and Plaza de Cesar Chavez for parade viewing. (408) 288-9470

Richmond/San Pablo:
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. parade from Richmond Civic Center up 23rd Street into San Pablo, ending at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church. Noon-5 p.m., festival at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church.
Sunday, noon-5 p.m., Cinco de Mayo festival, Civic Center Plaza, Richmond.

Week in Wine

2006-05-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

Washington Merlot
2002 Claar Cellars White Bluffs Vineyard Columbia Valley Merlot ($17)
2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Columbia Valley Merlot ($8)
2004 Desert Wind Desert Wind Vineyard Wahluke Slope Merlot ($15)
2003 Flying Fish Washington State Merlot ($15)
2002 Foolish Oak Columbia Valley Merlot ($11)
2003 Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards Columbia Valley Merlot ($15)
2002 Genesis by Hogue Washington Merlot ($15)
2004 Hogue Columbia Valley Merlot ($9)
2004 Pavin & Riley Columbia Valley Merlot ($10)
2004 Pine & Post Washington State Merlot ($6)
2003 Three Rivers Winery Columbia Valley Merlot ($19)

Fun Wines for this weekend
2001 Bodegas Montecillo Crianza Rioja ($9)
2002 Castillo de Almansa Reserva ($10)
2004 Cermeno Toro Tinto ($10)
2004 Crane Lake California Sangiovese ($5)
2003 Forest Glen California Sangiovese ($10)
2004 Hardys Stamp of Australia South Eastern Australia Shiraz ($18 for 3-liter box)
2002 Jewel Collection California Petite Sirah ($10)
2004 Marenco Pirona Piemonte Barbera ($10)
2004 Red Truck California Red Wine ($10)
2000 Vina Vermeta Reserva Alicante Monastrell ($10)

Bubble Kings

2006-05-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

R brought some lovely champagne the other night. Curiously, it was labeled "extended tirage". Horrifyingly, R could not explain what this meant. As our most erudite wine aficionado and all round impresario, this is aserious deficiency that begs redressal.

In ordinary French winemaking circles (peasants), tirage (from the French tirer, to pull; or the Italian tire, to pick, as in pick-me-up, a rum and caffeine infested tiramisu confection) is the drawing of wine from barrels to bottle it. In Champagne, and the production of methode champenoise sparklers, once the wine is bottled, a dosage of wine and sugar (and a touch of yeast) is added to induce secondary in-bottle fermentation to produce the lovely bubbles. After this, the wine is further bottle aged. The sediment produced from the yeast is frozen and disgorged before the wine is marketed. Tirage is the time the sparkler sits in the bottle for secondary fermentation in addition to the time it ages in bottle before disgorgement. Extended tirage is non-quantitative referring to a longer period of aging before the yeasts are removed. This is tenuous and perhaps even dangerous as champagne turns very quickly unless you cellar well. You do get a deeper color and intense yeasty flavor.

It is not uncommon to be asked to recommend a champagne. Break it up.
Non-vintage champagne -Fabulous for celebrations, parties or because it is Tuesday night

Bollinger Special Cuve Brut NV: classic, full, dry
Joseph Perrier Brut Rose: elegant dry rose
Lanson Black Label NV: dry
Laurent Perrier Brut: grand marque consistent
Moet et Chandon Brut Rose NV: rose, chardonnay fruit
Moet et Chandon Brut Imperial NV: all three grape varietals
Pol Roger White Foil NV
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV: orange label actually :)

Singles for weekend brunches:

Montana Lindauer Brut: from NZ
Montana Brut Rose: fruit flavored
Codorniu Rose Cava: very fruity
Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec NV: slightly sweeter and with a white label
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 1996
Moet et Chandon Brut Vintage 1996
Bollinger Grand Annee Vintage 1996

Magnum selections work when you have more people at home:

Lanson Black Label NV
Moet et Chandon Brut NV
Veuve Clicquot Brut NV
Bolligner Special Cuvee NV

Sparkling wines are alternatives with some acceptable tastes

Frexinet Cordon Negro: delightful popular Spanish cava. Magnum
Codorniu Pinot Noir Rose Cava
Greenpoint Sparkling NV: M&C's Aussie sparkler
Rumball Sparkling Shiraz: like cherry Coke. Seriously.

Luxury cuvee for that special occasion

Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon 1996
Kruge Grande Cuvee

Tips

Unlike most beverages, best enjoyed at cool temperatures, champagne should be poured uot the bottle at 43 to 48 degrees. You can chill it by refrigerating it for a few hours or in an ice bucket filled with a mixture of ice and water (throw a handful of rock salt in the slush to speed up the chilling). Never freeze.
J had been most mistakenly informed that the wire cage must perforce be removed before uncorking. No. Pull off jsut enough foil to reveal the cork. A little red tab guides you. On the side of the wire cage is a section of wire twisted into a curlicue (2.25 turns). Rotate the curlicue counterclockwise 2.25 times gripping the cage (with cork within) with your opposite palm. Do not agitate the bottle. Twist the bottle and never the cork. You want the cork to emerge gradually with the "gentle sigh of a well satisfied woman" and not a loud pop. Nevertheless point the cork away from your face and other valuable faces of current company. A faceful of cork can be quite a dreadful thing as speed imparts missile properties. Always keep a glass handy as some flow might be incident.
There are two classic serving glasses - the coupe and the flute. The coupe is not a breast and is not ideal for consumption, but merely allows the greatest surface area for bubble release which is cute but little else. The flute captures the bubbles for sustained release. The surface of crystal is rougher than ordinary glass and thus stimulates more bubbles in champagne.
After flute selection (I own no coupes), hold the bottle by placing your thumb into the punt (dimple at the bottom of the bottle) and splay fingers across the barrel of the bottle. This seems dreadfully precarious but you can retain a rather lovely firm hold. Wipe the rim of the bottle with a clean napkin to remove dirt and flowers that have fallen from heaven and pour a small splash into the bottom of each glass. Return to each glass to fill it two-thirds (no more!) in order to avoid the dreadful foamover. That is so embarrassing.
The reason wine glasses have ever so long stems is to keep your hand heat away from the chilled goodness, keeping the liquid closer to its optimal chilled temperature. Look at the color of the liquid and the form of carbonation. Take a pause. The ideal hue is light amber. Make some polite comments if you should so please. It will impress your special someone. If you are drinking alone, make comments too but acknowledge you have a problem. better bubblies have bubble release in near vertical uniform lines. Do not smell the liquid - it should be non-aromatic

Idle American

2006-05-02T23:39:00.000-07:00

Birthday Building

2006-05-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

ESB, my favorite non residential building in the world, is 75 today. This week, in its honor, the lights will go all white all week long and I am sad to have missed the lighting this weekend.

Fun facts:

Located at 350 Fifth Ave (between 33rd and 34th streets) in the city
Total height (including the lightning rod) is 1454 feet
Shreve, Lamb and Harmon Associates were contracted to build it. 7,000,000 manhours to construct but they came in ahead of schedule (in one year and 45 days) and costing $24,718,000 (half the expected cost because of the Great Depression) with a total cost of nearly $41 million, including the land. Only 5 people died while building it.
102 floors with 1860 steps from street level to 102nd floor. A reasonable workout
6500 windows is a whole lot of Windex. 57,000 tons of steel and 17 million feet of telephone wire
ESB is mostly filled with rentable space for business as nobody lives in the building (insufficient bathing facilities). Tourists can view at the 86th or 102nd floors.
Viewing is long. The first line is the security checkpoint and peaks before 1000 and after 1600. I would suggest getting there at 1000 or 1500. The second line is for the ticket boothwhere your minimum stay is two hours which could be beautiful based upon the weather. The Observatory is open from 0800 until 0000, with the last elevator up is at 2315 and you cannot avoid the elevator queues.Save a little time by buying your tickets online at $18 (print them out for free or have them posted to you)but you cannot bypass the other queues.

Round Up

2006-04-30T23:44:00.000-07:00

Cinema
Good - Match Point
Bad - The Squid and the Whale
Fugly - Interview with the Vampire

Previews
Monster House
An American Haunting
Simpsons Movie
Apocalypto
Somersault
Nacho Libre
An Inconvenient Truth
Brick
Lady in the water
Happy Feet
The Zodiac

Cellar
Red - Elliston 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon
White - Chouinard Chenin Blanc 2003 Monterey
Sparkling - Krug Grand Cuvee

Less Stem

2006-04-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

When H (and now J&J) use stemless barware, I know they are ahead of the trend curve and I must hop on the D-train before the peasants get on. I do think (after much consideration) that there is some logic in the use of this. We traditionally use thick blown glass tumblers as a standard for casual evening meals. It is easy, convenient and I am able to fit them into the dishwasher. Stemmed glasses are probably best for special occasions and white-linen restaurants. To combine the convenience of a tumbler and the benefits of a wine orb, stemless barware is here to stay and swirl.

Ay Caramba

2006-04-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

We're tasting champagnes today. To go with bubbles, I love some nibbly bits -

Horchata
An old world drink, it was brought over by Spaniards and enjoyed by the Aztecs. Spaniards substituted melon seeds with readily available squash seeds. Later almonds and rice were incorporated into its current iteration.

Pulverize 6 tbs rice to a smooth grind and add 1 1/4C blanched almonds, 1 inch cinnamon stick and 3 2" strips of lime zest. Let this stand overnight (minimally 6 hours)
Blend for 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth. Add 2C cold water and reblend
Line a sieve with 3 layers of damp cheesecloth and pour in the mixture through this into a large mixing bowl, stirring all the time. Twist remaindered fluid out of it and discard
Add 2 more cups of water and stir in loads of sugar (I use demerara sugar) to taste. Add water if the mixture is too thick.
Cover and refrigerate (keeps for days in the fridge). Serve in a tall glass over ice

Pupusa

Mix 2C masa harina and 1C warm water, and knead well in a large bowl
Knead in more water, one tablespoonful at a time, to make it moist yet firm (Down, boy)
Roll dough into a log and cut into 8 equal portions. Roll each into a ball
Press a hole in each ball with your thumb and stuff with desired filling
Fold over the dough to completely enclose it and press out wiht your palm to make a disc
Ensure that the filling does not spill out. I use a mixture of gruyere and fontina with cilantro and roasted pignoli nuts (sometimes walnuts) with sultanas
Line a tortilla press with plastic and press out each ball to 6" wide by /14" thick (I place between clingywrap and roll out with a rolling pin)
Heat an ungreased skillet over high heat
Cook each pupusa for 1-2 minutes on each side until brown and blistered
Remove to a plate and cover until all are done
They are typically served with a Salvadoran slaw (shredded cabbage, minced scallion and crumbled oregano with red pepper flakes in a white wine vinaigrette). Add a pinch of demerara sugar and lemonseen oil to taste

Tamales: I first made them at J's house at Christmas time. We tempered an entire Saturday's worth of tamale making assembly line (her entire family and F's too!) with loads of tempranillo and tequila. I learnt quickly to buy the masa harina instead of making it. Also that corn shucks were critical!

Pick up a shuck, lay it across the palm ofyour hand and smear 1/2C of the masa on the shuck. Point the small (sharp) end away from you
Cover the left 2/3 and the bottom 2/3 of the shuck with masa. Leave the top and side uncovered so you can fold it up later.
This is a messy operation so get people to join you and work en masse (en masa? groan) until you have covered a dozen shucks.
Take 1 tbs filling (I use cheddar and marinated artichoke heads) and lay it 1" from the left edge. Starting on the left (where the masa goes all the way to the edge), roll the tamale all the way to the right. Now fold the top of the shuck like an envelope and lay tamale on the counter with the fold on the underside. Roll an entire batch. Now drink some tequila. Be sure to periodically taste the filling, purely for quality control purposes.
To cook the tamales, use a large pot that has a device to keep the tamales out of the water while they steam. You can use a steamer, pressure cooker or a pasta pot. Add loads of water and then stack tamales until full. The envelope end will be on the bottom and the open end on the top. Pack in tight so they do not fall over or begin to unfold when steaming
Bring to a boil and simmer to cook for at least 2 hours. Add water (check periodically) as you do not want to boil dry. To check, take out one (just one) tamale and leave it on the counter for 5 minutes. When you unwrap it, it should be firm with no raw masa.
When done, remove all of them and let them cool on the counter. Put in freezer bags (if you vacuum seal them, they will stay up to a year) but I typically find they are gone within the week so this is not exactly an issue at the SVilla.

Salsa Verde

Remove dry paper skins from tomatillos and coarsely puree uncooked tomatillos (1lb), 2 smal ancho chilis, 1/4C chopped green onions and 1C fresh cilantro with 1 peeled garlic, dash of lemon juice, 1 tsp sugar and salt to season.

Tomato Salsa

Chop 2 medium sized fresh tomatoes (destemmed, finel diced)
Remove stems, ribs and seeds of 1 jalapeno and 1 serano chili pepper. Finely dice. Do not touch these with your hands. I use industrial gloves. I cry loads. You can use a fork to cut up the chilis over a small plate and then use a paper towel to protect your hands. Set aside some seeds to add later for more "heat"
Combine tomatoes and chillis with half a red onion (finely diced), juice of one lime, 1/2C chopped cilantro, oregano and cumin to taste. You can also add salt and pepper, I prefer to add paprika and nutmeg.
Mix gently in a medium bowel. If too hot, add chopped tomato. If not so much, add chili seeds or (I prefer) ground cumin. Let sit for an hour (I prefer overnight) to combine

Fried Ice Cream

Place six scoops of 1/2C each of ice cream (I use Jamocha) in a small pan and freeze for an hour.
Combine 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 tsp Mexican vanilla in a small mixing bowel.
In a pie plate combine 4/5 C sweetened corn flakes (or crushed rice crisp cereal) - this is SO not Melting Moments, my first cooking experiment in fifth grade!
Dip each frozen ice cream ball in egg mixture and then in cereal mixture. Return coate dballs to pan and freeze one hour until firm. Reserve remaining cereal mixture. Cover and chill remaining egg mixture.
Remove coates ice cream ball from freezer and repeat double dipping Cover and freeze for several hours (I prefer overnight: who has the time to do this after work on a Friday?)
Fry frozen ice cream balls 91 to 2 at a time) in deep hot oil at 350 degrees in deep frying pan for 15 seconds or until golden brown. Drain a few seconds and then return to freezer while frying remainder. Serve immediately with ice cream topping. I use that gooey Hershey's chocolate and keep it simple. I toss a few canned lychees as garnish as I served lychee margarita

Week in Wine

2006-04-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Charles Krug Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
2004 Courtney Benham Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
2004 Duckhorn Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($25)
2005 Girard Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15)
2005 Grgich Hills Napa Valley Fumé Blanc ($25)
2005 Groth Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($18)
2004 Markham Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
2004 Mason Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
2005 Robert Pecota L'Artiste Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15)
2005 St. Supery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($19)
2005 Sterling Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15)
2005 Two Wives Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15)

Shanghai Tea
INGREDIENTS:
2 ounces Hennessey XO Cognac
1 ounce brewed green tea
1 ounce Pomegranate juice
1 splash fresh lime juice
1 lime wedge, for garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full of ice and add all of the ingredients. Shake for approximately 15 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Add the garnish.

Ad Aware

2006-04-26T22:43:00.000-07:00

The current highly aggressive campaign by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago has come in for some heavy criticism. I imagine the creators are attempting to highlight the jarring disconnect between glossy trendy images (each image targets a behavior; for example, the sample one to your left addresses barebacking, the increasingly dangerous practice of unsafe sex) and the tragedy of emerging virulent medication resistant strains of HIV. AIDS awareness has been eclipsed by more trendy disorders as it is no longer viewed as a cataclysmic plague: you go to a benefit dinner, drop a few hundred, shake hands with a minor celebrity ("I was on Celebrity Survivor") and politely clap when the drag queen gets his kit off. For those who think the series of print ads glamorizes AIDS, I think they are wrong - stylish people should know that trends don't last forever. AIDS, herpes and breast cancer, like diamonds, are forever.

Railway Tea

2006-04-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

M liked my Railway Tea. Incorrectly known Stateside as Bombay tea, it was advocated by the colonial English as a safe way of sustaining thirst while on the most expansive rail system in the Indian subcontinent. Boiling would kill diarrheogenic bugs, it was hoped.

For a quart of Railway tea, bring to a boil 2 cups still water, 4 whole cloves, 1 stick of cinnamon, 4 cardamom pods (cracked open) and a few sprigs of lemon grass. Let stand as long as possible and then add 1/4C loose black tea (I use orange pekoe or bergamot-flavored Earl Gray). The equivalent is 4 tea bags, and let steep. Then add 2C fat free milk and heat but do not boil. If you boil, it creams on the surface and burns at the edges. Not good. Strain and add 4 tbs of single blossom honey. Stir and simmer. Serve piping hot.

Web Travel

2006-04-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

Most Popular Travel Websites (by traffic)

Earth Shattering

2006-04-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Things you can do on Earth Day to preserve the Blue Ball

Change your light bulbs! There are now highly efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that last for years, use a quarter of the energy of regular bulbs and actually produce more light. Look for the government's ENERGY STAR label, which means the bulb has been tested for quality and efficiency. While each ENERGY STAR qualified bulb will cost more initially – anywhere from $3 to $9 a piece – remember that there are two price tags: what you pay at the register and what you pay in energy costs to over the bulb's lifetime. While CFLs were harder to find a few years ago, they're now widely available and much more affordable. You'll find them at major home improvement and hardware stores – even grocery and some convenience stores. Turn off unneeded lights, dim lights when you can and bring natural sunlight into your home when it is feasible
Drive your car differently – or drive a different car. My car emits as much CO2 as my entire house. Anything you can do to improve the fuel efficiency of your car will have an enormous impact on climate change. Paying attention to fuel efficiency in your car may be the single biggest thing you can do to prevent global warming. Buying a fuel-efficient car (like a Hybrid) is wonderful. In fact, replacing your gas-guzzling car with a fuel-efficient one is by far the best thing you can do, out of all your choices. But not all of us can do that – at least, not right now. Carmakers haven't sold enough hybrids in the U.S. yet to make them as affordable as they should be. Drive less. Every year, Americans as a whole drive more miles than they did the year before. Telecommuting and public transportation are great options – once a week saves a ton of CO2 a year -- but even piling multiple errands into one trip helps. If you can walk instead of drive, even better. Get your car tuned up. Just a simple tune-up often improves fuel efficiency by half. If 100,000 of us went out and got a tune up, we save 124,000 tons of CO2. Slow down, don't race your car's engine, and watch your idling. All of these save on gas (saving you money) and have a big impact on burning gasoline. Horribly inefficient SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks now make up more than half of the cars on American roads. The real tragedy is that automakers could double the current average fuel efficiency of SUVs if they wanted to, which would save 70 tons of CO2 per car. The technology exists.
The house – not too hot, not too cold!e Half of your household energy costs go towards just two things – heating and cooling. Small changes make dramatic improvements in household fuel efficiency. Older heating and cooling systems are a third less efficient than the new systems. So replacing the old with the new is a wonderful idea, but not very practical for most of us. Tune up your heating system. This one thing every couple of years can reduce your heating costs by 10 percent a year. Clean vents, close unused vents, and change filters in the vents. Again, just these simple things will save you 10 percent. Buy a programmable thermostat, which can regulate different temperatures at different times of the day. And if you have one, use it! Right now, three-quarters of people who have programmable thermostats don't use them at all. Add two degrees to the AC thermostat in summer, and two degrees in winter. If everyone did this, the cumulative impact is significant. Make sure windows and doors are sealed. Avoid air conditioners at all. Ceiling fans, instead of AC, can reduce your cooling costs by more than half.
Tame the refrigerator monster! The single biggest consumer of electricity in the average household, responsible for 10-15 percent of the electricity I use each month. Older refrigerators, as a rule, are far less efficient than the newest ones – as much as 50 percent more efficient in many cases. Don't set the thermostat too high. Even 1 degree will make a big difference. If your refrigerator is near a heating vent, or always in the sun, then change the location, cover up the heat vent near it or drape the window. Turn on your "energy saver" switch near the thermostat. Clean the condenser coil. This one, very simple thing can improve the efficiency of your refrigerator by a third. Get rid of your second refrigerator. If you don't need it, don't waste the energy. Make sure the doors seal properly, and keep the cool in.
Twist the knobs on your other household appliances. The other big users of energy in your household are your hot water heater, your washer and dryer, and your dishwasher. Each, in its own way, can be inefficient. Either turn the hot water heater down a couple of degrees, or turn on the "energy conservation" setting. Buy insulation for your hot water heater at a local store and insulate the pipes as well. Install a timer on your water heater to turn off at night and just before you wake up in the morning. When possible, wash a few dishes by hand. Over time, that will save a few loads in the dishwasher, conserving energy. Don't pre-rinse dishes. Today's detergents are powerful enough to do the job. Wait until you have a full load to run the dishwasher. Wash clothes in warm water, not hot. The clothes will be just as clean, and you'll cut energy use by 50 percent. Don't over-dry your clothes. That will save 15 percent.
Green plants with less water, more trees to provide shade. While it is true that planting more trees will help in the short term because they essentially soak up carbon, they also release carbon dioxide when they die. So it just postpones the problem. But there are other reasons to plant trees – as wind breaks to save energy, and as shade to lower cooling costs. And even the short-term help while we get our act together is a good thing. As for plants, do everything you can in your yard and garden to create ways in which plants use less water. Choose hardier plants, plant things in groups that need more water and put in mulch to help keep moisture in. When you mow your grass, make sure you do it smartly – with sharp blades, and only when the grass needs cutting. Finally, make sure you water your lawn sparingly.
Buy Green Energy, and invest in green energy stocks. Many utilities now give consumers the option to buy "green power." Learn the truth about nuclear power and natural gas as viable "green" options. They aren't. Radioactive waste will be a problem for tens of thousands of years into the future, and natural gas kicks out almost as much CO2 as coal and oil. Natural gas can help us make a transition, but it isn't the solution. If you invest, invest in green stocks and renewable energy companies through socially responsible funds.
Go organic. American farmers still spray a billion pounds of pesticides to protect crops each year. When chemical pesticides are used to kill pests, they also kill off microorganisms that keep carbon contained in the soil. When the microorganisms are gone, the carbon is released into the atmosphere as CO2. And when those organisms are gone, the soil is no longer naturally fertile and chemical fertilizers become a necessity, not a luxury. Besides going organic – thereby saving the carbon release from soil – eat locally grown food. If the food doesn't have to travel far, there's less CO2 from the trucks that ship it. Eat fruits and vegetables in season. Plant your own vegetable garden. It's not as hard as you might think.
Buy recycled. It takes less energy to manufacture a recycled product than a brand new one. So if you and every other consumer buy recycled, you'll help create a market, and conserve energy along the way. Because many manufacturers don't go out of their way to tout their recycled products, you should know that aluminum and tin cans, glass containers, and pulp cardboard have a fair amount of recycled content. Recycled is often considerably cheaper than non-recycled, so it's cost-effective as well as conservation-minded. For instance, recycled paper can be as much as a third cheaper than non-recycled paper. Finally, before you buy, check to see if the product or its packaging can be recycled. The recyclable logo (three arrows forming a triangle) is fairly common now.
Be a minimalist. We know it's difficult, but in today's consumer economy, an easy way to conserve energy is to simply use – and buy -- less. Every time you buy something, energy has gone into getting that product to you. So the less you buy, the more you save energy-wise.This may, in fact, be the single biggest way to make a dent in the global warming problem. Buying less things – some of which you just don't need – changes the energy equation across the board, on every single consumer product. If everyone used less, the impact would be large indeed.

Some specific tips:

Buy in bulk. In short, bulk items use less packaging, which translates into less energy.
Buy one of something, not 21 of something.
Go through your closet. Donate or recycle what you really don't need, then make a pledge not to replace everything you just got rid of.
Buy quality products that will last longer. Over time, you'll obviously buy fewer products that way.
Be creative in what you use for work, play and leisure. You don't always have to buy new products for activities. Re-use in creative ways.

Happy Earth Day to you

Storing Wine

2006-04-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

Wall & Ceiling Framing:

Build wine cellar walls using standard 2” x 4” or 2” x 6” construction methods and ceiling joist following the guidelines of local and state codes in your area.
The thicker the walls, the better the insulation factor, the better the cellar remains at a consistent temperature.

Vapor Barrier:

Vapor barrier is REQUIRED if a climate control cooling unit is installed to keep the cellar at the correct temperature.
The 6 mm plastic sheeting is applied to the hot side of the cellar walls. The vapor barrier must be either applied to the outside walls and ceiling, or if it is impossible to get to the outside, then the plastic must be applied from within the cellar.
The most common method is to wrap the entire interior, leaving the plastic loose in the stud cavity so the insulation can be placed between each stud. All walls and ceiling must be wrapped in plastic for a complete vapor barrier.

Insulation:

Insulation is REQUIRED if a climate control cooling unit is going to be used. The R-value or thickness of insulation is determined by the thickness of the walls and ceiling. For example, fiberglass insulation of R13 is designed to be used in a 2” x 4” wall and R19 is used in a 2” x 6” wall. It is important to use the correct insulation for the wall thickness. A minimum of R13 should be applied to the walls of a cellar. R19 to R30 is recommended in the ceiling.
Standard "Fiberglass" or "Rigid Foam" insulation is normally used in cellar construction, or in some cases, blown in insulation is used. It is very important that all walls and ceiling be insulated to keep the cellar temperature as consistent as possible during the summer and winter months.

Wall & Ceiling Coverings:

The interior wall and ceiling covering is determined by the decor theme of the cellar. Often times drywall (green board) is applied, then painted (always use latex paint) to match a color theme of the cellar.
Most commonly used is cedar or redwood (depending of the racking materials) tongue and groove material applied to the walls and ceiling. This T&G 1” x 4” paneling is the same wood species as the racking material, which makes for a very uniform look throughout the cellar. Stone or granite is also used as a wall covering material.

Cellar Doors:

If a cooling system is installed, an exterior grade (1¾") door must be installed as a cellar door. It is very important that weather stripping is attached to all 4 sides of the doorjamb. A bottom "sweep" or threshold is also recommended. The door must have a very good seal to keep the cool cellar air from escaping out of the cellar.
One of the most common problems with cooling units running continually is due to not sealing the door properly. Solid core doors or doors with a full glass insert are most often used. Glass doors must have at least double pane-tempered glass.

Flooring:

All types of flooring are used in cellars. Most commonly used is slate, tile, marble, or vinyl.
NEVER USE CARPET. Carpet will mold and mildew in the cool, damp climate conditions of a cellar. As with the case of wall coverings, flooring is normally chosen to match the overall decor colors of the cellar.
The flooring should be applied to a level surface. It is best not to apply base trim or moldings to the walls behind the racking.

Lighting:

Lighting a wine cellar is an important part of the overall cellar decor. "Air Lock" recessed ceiling lights are the most popular. These should be put on dimmer switches to control brightness.
In most cases, these are used as the main lights within the cellar. Also popular are various display lights to accent different areas of the cellar. Some cellar contractors offer display "rope" lighting that is specially designed and built to fit into the display angle of individual bottle racking.
Different types of spotlights are used to highlight picture openings, table areas, or large format display bottles. It is recommended that all lighting be on a timer system so they can't be left on for long periods of time. Lights cause excess heat and will cause the cooling equipment to over work itself.

Climate Controlled Systems:

If a climate controlled cellar is required, we can provide cooling equipment to properly keep the cellar at constant temperature about 55-58° F and humidity at 50%-70%. For cellars less than 2000 cubic feet in size, there are two main types of units: "Through The Wall" systems and "Split Systems".
For larger cellars, some cellar contractors provide commercial refrigeration equipment that must be installed by a certified refrigeration expert.
Consider purchasing a system with a larger capacity to compensate for the design limitations. Passive cellars are rooms that are built below ground level. The natural ground temperature will be consistent at about 55° F to protect your wine for long-term storage and no cooling equipment is required.

Ventilation:

The necessity of dissipating heat away from the system is critical to the units performance. As the unit operates and cools, an equal or greater amount of heat is generated on the exhaust side of the unit.
Adequate ventilation is required in order to dissipate heat away from the unit. If ventilation is inadequate, the exhaust will heat up and adversely affect the unit's inability to cool. Also make sure there is a 3 foot horizontal clearance in the front and rear of the unit. This will assure the unit can vent air in an efficient manner.

Mounting the System:

The cooling system should be mounted at least 18 inches from the top of the room in order to achieve sufficient cooling. As the room cools down, the warm air will rise to the ceiling.
By mounting the unit high in the room, the system will capture the warm air and cool it creating a cool environment. Mounting the unit low in the room will result in a temperature variation in the room due to the unit's inability to draw warm air from the ceiling of the cellar to the unit itself.

Ducting:

The system is designed to exhaust into an open area. Any attempt to ducting the exhaust ports in an effort to redirect airflow is not recommended. The fans of the cooling system are not designed to push air through a restricted duct system. The fans will be over worked and may result in premature failure.

Electrical Needs:

Most systems require a dedicated 110-volt, 20-amp circuit. The system draws a large amount of amps at initial start up. By designing a dedicated circuit breaker, you will guarantee the system has enough power to run efficiently. Contact your electrician for installation of this dedicated electrical circuit. As with any sensitive electrical equipment, purchase a surge protector because the circuitry may be damaged by power surges and spikes.

Wine Racking:

Standard wine racks are made in All Heart Redwood. This soft wood is very resistant to rot in the cool, damp environment of a cellar. Mahogany wood can be used as well, but costs more than the Redwood.
Choose one over the other due to matching decor colors in the cellar design. Mahogany is a hardwood and more of a brownish tone, whereas redwood is a smooth wood with more of a reddish, darker tone.

Week in Wine

2006-04-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

Washington Merlot
2002 Forgeron Columbia Valley Merlot ($27)
2003 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot ($20)
2003 L'Ecole No 41 Columbia Valley Merlot ($30)
2003 L'Ecole No 41 Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Merlot ($37)
2004 Leonetti Columbia Valley Merlot ($60)
2003 Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot ($41)
2003 Pedestal Columbia Valley Merlot ($55)
2003 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot ($45)
2002 Sandhill Red Mountain Merlot ($20)
2002 Seven Hills Winery Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Merlot ($30)
2002 Snoqualmie Reserve Columbia Valley Merlot ($23)
2004 Tamarack Cellars Columbia Valley Merlot ($28)

Merlot in a Box!
2004 Banrock Station South Eastern Australia Merlot ($18; 3 liters)
2003 Black Box Wines California Merlot ($18; 3 liters)
NV Black Box Wines Sonoma County Merlot ($24; 3 liters)
2004 Delicato Family Vineyards California Merlot ($7)
2004 Delicato Family Vineyards California Merlot ($18; 3 liters)
2004 Fusee California Merlot ($6)
2004 La Francesca Delle Venezie Merlot ($7)
2004 McManis Family Vineyards California Merlot ($10)
2004 Monterra Monterey County Merlot ($9)
2003 3 blind moose California Merlot ($10)

Miro Cull

2006-04-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Joan Miró was born in Barcelona. He was a surrealist painter and sculptor who experimented with broken forms of cubism, the two-dimensionality of Catalaan folk art and Romanesque church frescoes of his native Spain. His paintings are organized against flat neutral backgrounds, utilizing a limited range of very bright colors (blue, red, yellow, green and black). Amorphous amebiforms alternate with sharply drawn lines, spots, and curlicues, cluttered without a care. His ceramic murals for the UNESCO building in Paris are fabulous. He died on Christmas Day.

Online Date

2006-04-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

I now realize nearly every singleton I know is dating online, using the HurryDate (or clone) system or Table-for-Six (the $3000 deal for finding you a date). So if you finally get to chatting online, what are the next steps you have to take?

Early in the online conversation, get them to tell you their name.
Make sure you see a recent picture with their face in it. Disembodied pictures are so circa 2001
Before you meet up face-to-face, talk on the phone. Increase your comfort level
After chatting up on the phone but before the meeting, consider keeping in touch to build rapport, such as via email or txt msg
If you're meeting at their place, get their post-code first and full address and cellular before you set off. Avoid the dodgy neighborhoods.
If it is sex you are after and you have met somewhere private, take off your shirt within 150 milliseconds after meeting.
Do not compromise on more than one of items (1) through (5)

Speed dating tips

Arrive on time and wear something comfortable: celebrate yourself. Vomit. Are you kidding me? Be the best hottest you you have ever been. And wear jeans that show off your butt.
People vary in their confidence to make conversation. Mix up your questions so you do not ask everyone the same set: that can only get confusing. Ask more so you can listen more. People love to talk, but love it more if they think you are listening. Pretend. Nod frequently. Uh-huh is even better. A follow-up questions means you're probably getting lucky.
Eye contact and smile never hurts. If you must touch, do the non-sexual non-threatening touching distal to the elbow.
Everybody loves compliments. It starts the "you had me at jello" process.
If you are not attracted to someone, you can never have too many friends. His/her buddy or ex- could be someone you fall in love with. Or at least get to sleep with. It could happen.
If you find a mutual match, keep your email friendly and simple, including your details and especially your email handle and cellular. Once you get a response, it is up to you. Do not observe the 72 hour waiting policy.
Be safe and practical about meeting someone after a mutual Hurry Date match. Nobody is screening the psychos for you so you should meet at a known bar or restaurant, and tell your friends or estate manager where you will be.

Ad Aware

2006-04-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Emperor March

2006-04-17T00:21:00.000-07:00

Finally saw March of the Penguins. Melancholy documentary but learnt some fun facts:

Aptenodytes forsteri is one of only two species of penguin that inhabit the Antarctic continent: Adelie penguins breed there in summer, while Emperors breed in winter.
Emperors are the largest of all penguins, easily recognised by their black cap, blue-grey neck, orange ear-patches and bills and yellow breasts.
It is mainly the layers of feathers that keep the water off the penguins' skin and help retain heat. The feathers are highly specialised and modified compared to the feathers of flying birds. There are far more feathers on a penguin than on a flying bird of comparative size.
The Emperor penguin grows to around 115 cm. It weighs 25-40 kilograms, but male weight can vary by up to half that amount depending on the stage of the breeding cycle and how much body reserves he has laid down before the breeding season started.
Males and females are indistinguishable during most of the year. However, when it becomes time for the male to switch responsibilities with the female, the male can have slimmed down to half his weight. Most of them die waiting for the female to return - hence fewer males with ferocious female competition.
Over forty colonies are known, ranging in size from less than 200 pairs in the Dion Islands to over 50,000 pairs on Coulman Island. Perhaps 200,000 stable breeding pairs can be found on the Antarctic ice shelves. Some like Dion Island are doing extremely badly. Others like Coulman Island are probably doing alright but we don't really know. The problem is that the only way to find out how many breeding pairs there are, it's necessary to count the incubating males in winter (one male = one breeding pair). The trouble is that most colonies are so remote that nobody can get there to do the job.
The Emperor penguin feeds primarily on shoaling fish, small crustaceans and squid. They can dive more than 300 metres deep, and remain under water for as long as 22 minutes; but these are extremes. Most of the time, emperors are feeding down to around, say, 150-200 metres, particularly in winter. The majority of their dives last only 3-6 minutes.
Most Emperor penguin colonies are located on the fast ice, i.e. frozen sea-ice. That is not the same as an ice-shelf. Ice-shelves occur at the end of glacier as they are flowing into the ocean. Ice-shelves are freshwater ice. Only two colonies are known on land.
The female lays only one egg; it is too energetically expensive to rear more than one chick; and they can only fit one egg (and later one chick) onto their feet. Also, if an egg is lost, it cannot be relaid because by the time the female returns it is far too late to try again.
The egg an Emperor penguin female lays is actually rather small. If a 28-kg female lays, say, a 465 g egg, that is less than 2% of her body mass. Compare this to two 125 g eggs laid by an Adelie penguin. That's around 6.5% of a 3.8-kg female's body mass (still small compared to the eggs Brown Kiwis produce!).
Emperors assemble at the breeding colonies early in winter, shortly after the sea ice has formed. They breed during the perpetual darkness of the Antarctic winter, gathering at rookeries up to 90 kilometers inland during the months of April and May.
Each Emperor, on returning from the north, first looks faithfully for his mate of the previous year. Unless that male or female has died, each penguin returns to the same partner. They are thus limitedly monogamous for the season - the wolf, I maintain, is the only monogamous animal on the planet: if it should lose its mate, it will never mate again. I feel so lupine in that respect.
The Emperors go through a stage of courting before mating. A male may try to befriend a female who has not yet found her partner. If and when his true mate does arrive, the intruder leaves to find a different mate.
Emperor pairs gather together near a solid iceberg to each lay a single egg. There are no special preparations or nest. Laying typically occurs in May or June at the start of the bitter Antarctic winter. The Emperors are believed to have developed this winter breeding pattern to allow the chick to grow to independence at a time when food is most plentiful.
After the female lays her egg, she passes it over to the male - though not quite immediately. Sometimes females sit on a newly-laid egg for hours before their mates finally get them: eggs are very precious commodities, and the changeover is a very hazardous transition. If the male does not manage to scoop up the egg very quickly, it freezes and the breeding season is over for a pair before it has really begun. So the females are not very keen to risk loosing their valuable egg. The female travels across the ice to feed in the fish-filled waters far away in the north. She spends the winter at sea.
The male Emperor fasts through the winter during incubation of the egg. Incubation is solely his responsibility. He positions the egg on top of his feet and covers it with a warm fold of feathered abdominal skin. The incubation lasts nearly two months. During the Antarctic winter, the period of darkness can last more than 20 hours. Huddling emperor penguins may spend most of a 24-hour period sleeping while they incubate eggs. Sleeping conserves energy while they fast.
Between mid-July and the beginning of August, the young are hatched. A freshly hatched emperor penguin chick weighs somewhere between 120 and 160 g and they are approximately 6 inches long. When the chicks finally emerge, they are very hungry. The females return to the colonies seven to eight weeks after laying to relieve their mates and tend the newly-hatched chicks. If the female hasn't yet arrived, the father regurgitates a white secretion and feeds it to his chick. The chicks huddle together: the climate is extremely harsh. Winter temperatures may fall below -60C. Wind velocities can reach 180km per hour. But inside the huddles, the temperature can be as high as 20°C above ambient conditions. Adults recognize and feed only their own chicks. Parents are able to identify their young by their chick's distinctive call. The contact call of emperor penguins can be heard up to a kilometer away. It can get noisy!
Chicks grow slowly at first, more rapidly in late spring. Once the young are about seven weeks old, they join other chicks in a crèche, which is protected by a few adults. By midsummer, the fledglings are independent. They will be ready to breed in 4-8 years. Giant petrels prey upon chicks, whereas at sea their predators are orcas and leopard seals. Emperor penguins can live up to twenty years or more; exceptional cases have been recorded of over forty years, though such extremes of longevity are rare.
Mortality among the chicks and fledglings is high, especially after after fledging in their first year of life when the young Emperors must figure out how to live at sea. The learning curve is steep, and inevitably many youngsters perish; but the survivors typically enjoy a long life.

Champagne Process

2006-04-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

The cold climate of northern France is eminently suited to the richness of champagne, which comes from grapes that ripen rather slowly. When harvested, the grapes are rarely ripe enough to make table wine without adding excessive sugar. To get around this, winemakers make a wine low in alcohol and then secondarily ferment it to raise the alcohol content and add bubbles.

Three grape varieties are used in Champagne: Pinot Meunier (40% of the acreage), Pinot Noir (35%) and Chardonnay (25%). Pinot Meunier makes the base wine for all the finest champagnes and grows only in Frace. Pinot Noir contributes to longevity of the wine and depth of fruit flavor. Chardonnay adds lightness and elegance. The lack of color is from gentle pressing to extract the juice without the color of the black grape skins.

The chief diference between the various champagne brands (houses) is in the making of the blend (cuvee). A great champagne blends together the best qualities from each of the best grapes grown in the region. This blending of still wines before the second fermentation is known as the assemblage. The win and sugar added after the second fermentation and aging is called the dosage. 80% of contents of vintage champagne must contain grapes from the declared year. Not all of the grapes from a declared year will go into champagne as 20% will be held back for blending purposes.

Sugar contents of the dosage added after secondary fermentation determines the wine's style and relative sweetness, and thus the labels -
Extra Brut, Brut Sauvage, Ultra Brut, Brut Integral or Brut Zero: bone dry with less than 0.6% residual sugar. Rarely made, the dosage is of the same wine and not the usual solution of cane sugar and still wine
Brut: most popular blend with less than 1.5% residual sugar and very dry
Extra Dry, Extra Sec: sweetened with 1.2 to 2% residual sugar per liter, it is dry and goes well wtih desserts and wedding cakes
Sec (dry in French): moderately dry or slightly sweet champagne with 1.7 to 3.5% residual sugar per liter
Demi-Sec - sweet or medium sweet and rarely seen in the U.S., containing 3.3 to 5% residual sugar per liter
Doux - very sweet dessert style wine with minimum of 5% residual sugar per liter

Occasionally, you find Blanc de Noirs, a white wine made entirely from black grapes; but more typically I find Blanc de Blanc made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes for the most delicate of champagnes. As only 25% of Champagne is planted with Chardonnay, this is an expensive option.

Champagne is bottled in ten (10) different sizes:

quarter bottle: 187 mL
half bottle: 375 mL
bottle: 750 mL
magnum (2 bottles): 1.5 L
jeroboam (4 bottles): 3L
rehoboam (6 bottles): 4.5 L
methuselah (8 bottles): 6L
salmanazar (12 bottles): 9L
balthazar (16 bottles): 12L
nebuchadnezzar (20 bottles): 15L

Only the half bottle, bottle and magnum are always released in the bottle within which they underwent fermentation. The magnum is thus preferred. The largest three are rarely made today.

Sonoma Day

2006-04-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

Not the most stellar day in Sonoma but a change nonetheless. We went to Ravenswood Cellars and tasted a fine Muscato. Onto Gloria Ferrer for some champagne tasting and a satisfactory tour by Skip. I realized that champagnes don't get sweeter just untasty over time. Rounded off with picnic lunch at Viansa's Cal-Italian wines.

Sun Up

2006-04-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin' it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' the smiles returning to their faces
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been here

Week in Wine

2006-04-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Random California Wines
2005 Ballentine Vineyards Pocai Vineyard Old Vines Napa Valley Chenin Blanc ($14)
2005 Bargetto Monterey County Gewurztraminer ($14)
2004 Bokisch Lodi Albarino ($16)
2005 Bonny Doon Ca' del Solo Central Coast Malvasia Bianca ($13)
2004 Byron Santa Maria Valley Pinot Blanc ($20)
2004 Chateau St. Jean Robert Young Vineyard Alexander Valley Pinot Blanc ($18)
2004 Chimney Rock Napa Valley Elevage Blanc ($35)
2005 Hagafen Napa Valley White Riesling ($21)
2005 Navarro Vineyards Mendocino Old Vine Cuvee Chenin Blanc ($11)
2004 Navarro Vineyards Anderson Valley Muscat Blanc ($17)
2003 Navarro Vineyards Anderson Valley White Riesling ($16)
2004 Novella Rayons de Soleil Paso Robles Muscat Canelli ($12)
2004 St. Supery Virtu Napa Valley White Wine ($28)
NV Three Alarm Cellars California White Wine ($6)

Accessible Airwaves

2006-04-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

Bee Ancestry

2006-04-11T21:57:00.000-07:00

1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 89

This is the fractal repeating spiral pattern found in nature.

branching patterns of leaves in grasses and flowers
branching in bushes and trees
the arrangement of pines on a pinecone
seeds on a raspberry
spiral patterns in horns and shells
scales on the surface of a pineapple

Yard Bird

2006-04-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is gray
I've been for a walk
On a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was (sic) in LA (not so much; there is the smog thing but I'm going next month)
Stopped into a church (actually Safeway as I needed grapes)
I passed along the way
Well I got down on my knees (don't even...) and I pretend to pray
You know the preacher liked the cold
He knows I'm gonna stay
California dreamin'
On such a winter's day

Note that today is April 10 and I am seriously wet and cold.
But I did see my first blue bird!

Basic Instinct

2006-04-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

V has mocked me relentlessly for watching Basic Instinct as mandatory preparation for the screening of Risk Addiction. When the original film premiered in 1992, I did not know I was watching the making of a modern classic. For starters, the script by Mr. Eszterhas was snapped up for $3 million by a now defunct Carolco. It was a vicious thrill to get to watch pirated copies of the earlies before its release. On one level, the movie is pure trash as an SFPD detective tries to pin a series of murders upon a killer who wields an ice-pick. As a cinematic production, it is amazing. Some observations -

The Catherin Tremell character wears the exact costumes of Kim Novak's character in "Vertigo". Without the underwear. The movie uses no stand-ins except the puppet whose eyeball is enculeated and the Moscone center construction site car chase. I doubt the movie could be remade in today's politically correct era.
Most of the film is shot in the San Francisco Bay area, though the house on Stinson Beach is actually in Carmel (you do get to Mill Valley in time, which is not at all anachronistic). There is extensive use of polarizing shots and reflected exposures (both interior and exterior), which are quite remarkably challenging to achieve, given you can spot the camera reflection only once in the over-the-bed-mirror scene. Nearly all of the male confidence interiors (police headquarters) are done with continuous tracking shots.
The Nick Curran character talks about having bought an ice pick at K-Mart for $1.69. K-Mart does not sell ice picks, and there are no K-marts in the City. I think the demand for ice picks might have shot up that year but I did not know where to buy block ice so I passed. Plus I have nothing against ice cubes.
Several lesbians protested the release of the film because of the unfavorable portrayal of lesbians as ice pick wielding murderesses as well as the date rape of a lesbian character. I was more distressed by the violence: within five minutes, the right eyeball of an adult film star is pounded into blood. I think lesbians should universally rejoice: all of the straight professional characters are shown to be unethical, corruptible and loathesome. The lead lesbian is (i) rich, (ii) smart, and (iii) a writer. Besides, she has a fabulous wardrobe. What is there to protest about?
Littered with obvious homages to the Hitchcock oeuvre, the movie is layered when watched with company. It is almost http://www.velvetlist.com/Avalon.php3 Trivial Pursuit for us mystery movie lovers. And Tremell is one of the great (peroxide) femme fatales. Blondes got their noir reputation with Jean Harlow, got rehabbed by Debbie Reynolds (and Sandra Dee), and then smashed again by Madge. Hair color plays an important role. There are entire scenes where the viewer identifies the blonde but not her specific persona.
Color plays a huge role. Tremell's character favors the white Lotus, natural fibers and white outfits. Roxy's character favors the black Lotus, leather and processed clothes, and black outfits. Tremell is so "diabolical" and cold it is laudably written as a powerful woman, making the film far from as misogynistic as perceived initially.
The nightclub of Johnny Boz is clearly based on New York City's former Limelight - meant to invoke the cathedral atmosphere with bartenders dressed as priests.
There are several mirror scenes (interrogation room dialog, use of several mirrors, cutting the ice block, the infamous sex scenes with Hermes scarves, the car chases. offering each other cigarettes) which are cleverly written with a playful wink to the audience.
The director, Paul Verhoeven, possesses a degree in Maths. This is pretty obvious as the original print in 1.85:1 anamorphic aspect ratio is perfectly composed frame for frame. There are several distortion frames (points of view) that alter reality in the same way as the plot does with us. A funny featurette on the DVD compares the American release with the English one, the former with absolutely horrid overdubbing.
Nearly all of the automobile dialog scenes are filmed from the inside out (Hitchcockian again) rather than using the windshield approach, which makes filtered back projection easier. This also exploits the magnetic sun-drenched Californian outdoors (almost a memory this weekend) with innumerable light sources used to maximal effect. Almost all of the interior scenes are framed in Mondrian and chiaruscuro (blinds, grilles, ceiling fans) while the outdoor scenes are unified by organic elements (craggy rocks, winding coastal highways, crashing waves)
Jerry Goldsmith's score is haunting and creepy with highstrung violins that makes you cringe suitably. It is well in keeping with the angular opening credits that owe more to the films of the 40s than today's glitzy credits that maul the sensibilities.
Many have criticized the film's ending as thoroughly arbitrary with the added 00:07 second long endscene telegraphing that Catherine is indeed the diabolical killer. The film's plotline does not use deceipt - the clues are there (the opened door presages the erased answerphone message and the text on the printer presages the manner of a lead character's death)

Big Japan

2006-04-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

Reuters and Bloomberg are principal real-time data providers in the financial markets. By some error, I get sent the monthly Bloomberg Markets Magazine. With so much to read at work and play, I tend to regard such piffle as, well, junk mail and it does not even enter the threshold and goes into the rubbish bin in the garage within its nascent wrapper. By chance, I read the April 2006 Bloomberg issue and the Asia briefing article talked about a summary of a recent survey conducted by Durex into the world's proclivities, the title referring to frequency. While the global average is 103 times per year, the bottom of the list are Japan (45) and Singapore (73). It is full of fascinating statistics (I love numbers!). On an average, globally we have had 9 sexual partners (but only 3 in India) and the global average age for one's first sexual experience is 17.3 years (but only 15.6 in Iceland). It is assumed the survey was conducted among straight respondents only.

Three Sum

2006-04-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

Is "3" a number of meaning to you? Mine is 8. 3 is in itself is not an unusual choice because:

after 2, it is the second smallest prime (most people choose 5, 8 and 3 as favorites)
it is the first Fermat prime, the first unique prime (properties of its reciprocal) and the first odd prime
it is the first lucky prime, the first odd prime and the first Genocchi prime
it is the second triangular number and the only prime which is one less than a perfect square
3 noncollinear points determine a plane and a circle
it is the fourth Fibonacci number (natch) and the third unique one
it is also the second Lucas prime and the second Stern prime, and the fourth open meandric number
vulgar fractions with 3 in the denominator have a single digit repeating sequence in their decimal expressions (0.000..., 0.333....)
a natural number is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits in base 10 is divisible by 3
a triangle is the most durable possible shape and the only perfect figure which if all endpoints have hinges will never change shape unless the sides themselves are bent
and, of course, 3 is the only integer between e (2.71828183) and pi (3.145926)

Week in Wine

2006-04-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2003 Beaulieu Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)
2003 Bennett Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($45)
2003 Buehler Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)
2003 Ehlers Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($33)
2003 Honig Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)
2003 Parallel Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($44)
2003 Pine Ridge Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
2003 Screw Kappa Napa Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($14)
2003 Titus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($39)
2003 Turnbull Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
2003 ZD Wines Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($45)

SCREW TOPS!
Whites
2004 Arrogant Frog Ribet White Languedoc Chardonnay-Viognier ($9)
2004 Bloom Nahe Pinot Gris ($8)
2004 Bloom Petals Mosel Saar Ruwer Muller-Thurgau ($8)
2004 Jindalee South Eastern Australia Chardonnay ($8)
2005 Three Thieves Unoaked California Chardonnay ($10; 1 liter)

Pink and Reds
2004 Arrogant Frog Ribet Red Languedoc Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot ($9)
2004 Jindalee South Eastern Australia Merlot ($8)
2002 Pepi California Cabernet Sauvignon ($10)
2003 Pepi California Sangiovese ($10.99)
2004 Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone Rosé ($10)

Common Cocktail Errors

The Lemon Drop

shot or in a martini glass rimmed with sugar and sticky to make
vodka (commonly citron-flavored), fresh-squeezed lemon juice and sugar
have a kamikaze instead (no sugar)

The Manhattan

whiskey, sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters, served straight up or on the rocks with a cherry
some request bourbon, Canadian whiskey or rye; others want cherry juice or Cointreau
specify the whiskey

Cosmopolitan

vodka, lime juice, cranberry juice and triple sec (an orange liqueur)
fresh lime juice preferred but some ask for Rose's lime juice or sweet and sour (to sweeten and pinken)
sometimes Cointreau substituted

Mojito

fresh mint must be muddled -- mashed with a special tool to release its flavors - takes time
sugar and fresh lime juice -- two sticky ingredients -- added with rum and soda water. Shaken

10 ways to stay on a bartender's good side

Patience. Do not snap, crackle, whistle and pop, wave money, tap your glass on the bar or scream.
Always tip at least $1 per drink. If you tip well, we will give you free drinks. Re-tip.
Hands off the garnish tray - if you want a cherry, ask but don't contaminate.
Two magic phrases: "Please" and "Thanks".
If there are two of us, don't order from each to see who's quicker. We won't let you return your drink.
Don't act drunk and over-animated: we can't serve you by law if we think you're inebriated.
Do not walk in before last call and order complex drinks. We hate when you do that.
Know your drink it is obscure: I'll make it but tell me how. Exactly.
Do not ask to "stiffen" your drink. We won't underpour the hooch. If you want more, ask for a "double"
If you can't be with the drink you love, love the one you drink. Or go somewhere else.

Gaze Hound

2006-04-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

Gaze hounds are dogs that hunt by sight (not smell). The Italian Greyhound (above by V) is the smallest of this family. This old breed originated more than 2000 years ago in Greece and Turkey. By the Middle Ages, they were distributed throughout Southern Europe and were a favorite of Italians of the sixteenth century who loved their handbag dogs, hence the name. They arrived in the UK in the seventeenth century.

A true greyhound, the Italian is small in size from selective breeding (hunting small game, house pet and companion roles). She adapts well to city and country living but is a true hound (enjoys exercise and outdoor activity) and weighs between 7 and 15 pounds. He is odorless, sheds little and is not yappy, seldom ill, hardy and thrives indoors in the cold Scandinavian countries.

He is very affectionate (needy even) and thrives best when the affection is returned, thus seeming a trifle aloof with strangers but otherwise sensitive, alert and intelligent, remaining playful long past puppyhood. He is eager to please and learns quickly, performing well in obedience trials. Those of us with little time to devote or little unruly children, who expect instant and unerring obedience, who expect their dog to stay in the yard or who are embarrased to share love with an animal should not own this breed. They require and demand a lot of love and attention. They have no traffic sense but are athletic climbers and jumpers.

Paintings show historical figures such as Princess Anne of Denmark, Queen Victoria and Catherine the Great of Russia with their beloved Italians. Frederick the Great was a great fan of the breed and was always seen with one or more.

Sweet Santoor

2006-04-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Santoor is a graceful instrument probably of Persian origin but vaulted to acclaim by Indian practitioners of music as the oldest known string instrument in that country. In Farsi, it means "one hundred strains". In Sanskrit, it is known as the shata tantri veena or a hudred stringed lute, the word "veena" being historically used to describe all string instruments. Musically, it is technically described as a hammered dulcimer. It is popularly known as the santour (Iran, Iraq, Turkey; 72 strings), Yang-Qin (China; 45 strings), Hackbrett (Germany; 135 strings), or Cimbalon (Finland, Greece, Hungary). It looks like a piano but instead of keys, large strikers are used on the strings. Traditional santoors are played with a pair of curved mallets ("kalam") from walnut wood and resultant melodies sound akin to tones generated from the harp, harpsichord or piano. The sound chamber is walnut wood also and the bridges are local wood painted dark to mimic ebony. Strings are steel from Germany and England.

For an instrument to be accepted as classical, it needs must emulate the human voice, the ultimate classical instrument which requires the effect of glissando (the ability to pass, unbroken, from one note to another) as opposed to staccato (as in speech). Two techniques might be employed to enjoin this effect (pulling the string, as in sitar, or gliding the fingers, as in sarangi or sarod). On the right side of the box are stainless steel tuning pegs (pins) tuning each individual string to a desired musical note, frequency or pitch. Strings are never plucked or bowed. The santoor is placed on top of the lotus lap and played. It is a trapezoid box that is broader in size for base or low pitch notes and tapered progressively away from the waist of the player. Both hands are used to strike the strings or glide upon them. The strings are delicately sensitive to light strokes and glides.

American Life

2006-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Silly me - thinking the SFChron was the worst newspaper Stateside. Turns out the Houston Chronicle has a dedicated junk food reviewer. Apocalypse now?

Burger King: home of the 'humongous' (HOUSTON CHRONICLE)
This week I reached out for a new Tendercrisp Cheesy Bacon Chicken Sandwich, available for the dreaded limited time only, at Burger King. Normally, I'm leery of ordering something that's not in the name of the restaurant. For example, Kentucky Fried Chicken has a new fish sandwich. That sounds like trouble. Church's Chicken is playing Go Fish, too. Dairy Queen has a new Double Flamethrower Burger. Pizza Hut is clucking over chicken wings. Why can't fast-food joints stick with what they do best? They should dance with what brung 'em.

So here's Burger King, home of the Whopper burger, the high-kickin' Whopperette Dancers and the weirdo, shuck 'n' jivin', touchdown-scoring King — serving up a humongous chicken sandwich that is freaky delicious. Almost as freaky as a King with a plastic head peeping in your window. Here's the blueprint of the Tendercrisp Cheesy Bacon Chicken Sandwich: a whole white-meat breast fillet, two slices of American cheese, one slice of pepper jack cheese, creamy cheese sauce, four half slices of bacon, lettuce and tomato on a corn-dusted, split-top bun. Why can't they just say two whole slices of bacon? I don't like halves, because my half is usually smaller than your half. Total calories: 800; fat: 47 grams; dietary fiber: 4 grams; carbs: 75 grams. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $3.89 (your mileage may vary). That's 800 calories, 47 fat grams and 75 carbs before you dig into your extra-large order of fries and 55-gallon drum of Coke. Memo to self: Start diet tomorrow, after appointment with cardiologist. Burger King also has an Angus Cheesy Bacon Steak Burger that is surprisingly lighter on calories (740) and carbs (51), and gentler on the wallet at $3.69. The Tendercrisp piles on calories and carbs because the chicken is breaded and deep fried. The chicken sandwich also comes with lettuce and tomato; the steak burger offers veggies only on demand. Just ask nice. The Tendercrisp Cheesy Bacon Chicken Sandwich is a messy, two-fisted handful. It's glistening hot from the fryer and drippy and oozy with three slices of cheese and cheesy sauce. Burger King likes to say "there's cheese in every bite." There's also cheese on your chin and fingers, and your shirt and pants. Burger King is all about big food, from Triple Whopper tie-ins to King Kong to Enormous Omelet Sandwiches that look like the breakfast buffet at Shoney's. You know my motto in the drive-though: Less is not more ... more is more. You get more bang for your buck at Burger King. The Tendercrisp Cheesy Bacon Chicken Sandwich is a mouthful to say, and more than a Joan Rivers mouthful to eat. It's got a big hunk of lightly seasoned and breaded chicken. The breast filet is fried golden brown and slathered with two kinds of cheese and then more cheese. There's so much glop that the bread becomes warm and soppy. This ain't date food, and it's not a driving sandwich. I recommend this for dine-in, and only eat it in front of friends who've seen you wear your food before. And even though the sign says Burger King, this is an excellent foray into chickendom. Insider tip: A little barbecue sauce puts this sandwich so far over the top that Wendy's and McDonald's will take a new good, hard look at their poultry line. I've got a feeling that both the Tendercrisp and Angus Cheesy Bacon Steak Burger will lose their limited-time-only tags in short order. These are keepers.

Interestingly, black-oriented telly has more fast food commercials. A nugget for sure. (CHICAGO TRIBUNE) - Commercials on Black Entertainment Television, the nation's first black-targeted cable channel, were compared with ads during afternoon and evening shows on the WB network and Disney Channel. Of the nearly 1,100 ads, more than half were for fast food and drinks, such as sodas. About 66 percent of the fast-food ads were on BET, compared with 34 percent on WB and none on Disney. For drinks, 82 percent were on BET, 11 percent on WB and 6 percent on Disney; and for snacks, 60 percent were on BET, none on WB and 40 percent on Disney. The study in a pediatric medical journal accompanies separate research: a study indicating kids consume an extra 167 calories, often from advertised foods, for every hour of TV they watch; and a report suggesting even preschoolers get fat from watching more than two hours of daily TV. The articles appear in April's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a theme issue on media and children's health released Monday. The studies clearly illustrate "that the media have disturbing potential to negatively affect many aspects of children's healthy development," Amy Jordan of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at University of Pennsylvania wrote in a journal editorial. "Such evidence offers increasing support for the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that children older than 2 years spend no more than two hours per day with screen media, preferably educational screen media," Jordan said. Still, Jordan said the ads study doesn't prove that a disproportionate number of commercials for unhealthy foods causes black kids to become overweight, and said more research is needed "to more convincingly directly tie exposure to effects." Obesity affects about 18 percent of black children, compared with about 14 percent of white youngsters, according to 2001-02 data. The rate was almost 20 percent for Hispanics. New estimates coming later this week are expected to show the numbers have increased for both blacks and whites. BET spokesman Michael Lewellen said BET's target audience is blacks aged 18 to 34 and said its programming "does not target children." He also questioned the study's methods since the researchers included ads shown during prime time, "when virtually all networks target adults." The researchers examined ads shown from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. for one week last July. Programming generally was music videos on BET; cartoons and talk shows on WB; and cartoons and kid-oriented shows, including "That's So Raven" and "Kim Possible" on Disney. The same programming is offered during the school year, said Corliss Wilson Outley, a University of Minnesota researcher and the lead author. While Disney is not an advertiser-supported channel, the researchers counted company-announced sponsors of Disney programs as commercials. McDonald's Corp. was the leading fast-food advertiser. Outley said black children are an attractive target for fast-food companies because many live in neighborhoods with easier access to fast food than healthier food. The goal is to "get kids hooked at a very early age" so they become lifelong customers, she said. McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman called the study "a bit misguided" and said McDonald's doesn't single out black children. "Our marketing strategy encompasses young people as well as adults and we do that through various media and marketing strategies that cross all demographics," Whitman said.

Meanwhile our car seats are shrinking to restrain our fatty kids.

Over 250,000 American children under the age of 6 are too heavy for car-safety seats designed for their age-group. Makers of car-safety seats are having to make sturdier models to ensure levels of safety for these seriously obese and overweight children are maintained. As the American obesity epidemic gains pace and spreads through all age groups, the number of children under 6 who are obese is growing at an alarming rate. Standard safety-seats are designed for children who weigh less than 40 pounds. Most of the children who were found to be over the limit were three years old. For a three-year-old to weigh over that amount he/she is either incredibly tall or seriously overweight. Researchers at a Safety Center, John Hopkins Hospital, said if a child weighs more than the seat's weight limit the risks of injury during a car accident are much greater. Lead researcher Lara Trifiletti said she and her colleagues began to notice that more and more children were very obese and their car-seat technicians were finding it hard to provide car seats to fit them. Trifiletti worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital at the time of the research but now works at The Children's Research Institute, Ohio University. Of the children found to be too heavy for their car seats, 190,000 were 3 years old. You can read about this study in the journal Pediatrics (April). 3-year-olds are not mature enough (or tall enough) for booster seats, which can be used for slightly older children (booster seats use the car's seat belts). Five years ago 23% of American children between the ages of two and five were overweight, 10% were obese. The figures today are expected to be higher. In the nineties, new diet movements blamed the introduction of high carb diets during the seventies for the growth in obesity and overweight in the USA. Several options for weight control have been present in the USA for the last ten years. Different diets, such as Atkins, The Zone, The South Beach have been around for over a decade now. The increase in obesity over the last ten years has still been accelerating despite new diets being introduced and having had a while to prove themselves nationally. Many write in to Medical News Today stressing that the focus in the USA has been too much on what people should eat, rather than how much exercise people do. What's the good of telling people to eat steaks and salads (low carb), or keep their total calories down, or eat less fat, or cut down on sugars, if they can't keep it up for more than a year or so.

This can mean only one thing - we need super-sized ambulances for these fatties.

Las Vegas's local authority has become the latest in the US to put into service a new super-size ambulance, specially equipped to handle massively overweight and morbidly obese patients. The $250,000 vehicle, developed by the American Medical Response group, looks like a standard ambulance. But it is wider, with a specially large wheeled stretcher trolley. The vehicle, called a Bariatric Unit, also has a special ramp and a winch that can handle loads of 1,600lb (114 stone), and be operated by just one crew member. The Bariatric Unit was produced in 2003, and with obesity rising across America, it is suddenly gaining popularity. In the past six months, AMR has dealt with 75 calls involving patients who weighed at least 600lb, a spokesman said. Medical experts say ordinary ambulances cannot safely cope with such emergencies. Moving people of this size poses dangers not only for patients, but for ambulance staff and paramedics. Last month the new ambulance entered service in Louisville, Kentucky - sixth among US states in the national obesity league. More than 25 per cent of Kentucky's adult population is considered obese. At the time officials said it would be used for doctor's appointments and scheduled visits. But it is also now on standby for emergency calls. The new trolley can carry patients of up to 71 stone. But even it would have been pressed to cope with Jon Brower Minnoch of Bainbridge, Washington State, the heaviest human ever, according to the Guinness World of Records. Mr Minnoch's weight is estimated to have reached 100 stone at one point. He died in September 1983 weighing57 stone.

What are you going to eat today?

Web 2.0

2006-04-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

New services now available!
Digg: makes editors of its readers to composite the current news
Plum: remixed information feeds to be annotated and shared with others, a metablog
Sharpcast: photo organizing software that harmonizes all your digital sources
Jajah: web activated telephony
Prosper: online market place for people to people lending (trusted borrowers meet fair lenders)
la la: $1 CD trading service
FilmLoop: absolutely the future of film libraries
Mercora: radio stations up the ante

Oak Street

2006-04-01T23:48:00.000-08:00

I'm having a lovely time sitting in the lounge above the tenth floor, overlooking Oak Street Beach. It is quite hazy out there but I have had more sun here than I have seen back home since December 22 (I know as that is the night I took the family to Christmas dinner pre-Christmas). C is deligthfully chortling around, sharting her life stories. V is bobbling up some margaritas. They're not really all that good but he is a nice bugger. R potters around the aguacate and tortilla chips. The salsa is spicy but not as good as E's (which reminds me to check the fridge at work first thing Monday). I am eating little strawberries with an exact dollop on creme fraiche ladled with a candied pecan. I am drinking Veuve. I am shelling green baby pistachios. I am looking at dogs hitting the sand-water interface. I am loving my time away. Are you?

Round Up

2006-03-31T19:32:00.000-08:00

Cinema
Good - Batman Begins
Bad - Nanny McPhee (I was inflight)
Fugly - The Perfect Storm

Previews
Marie Antoinette
Alpha Dog
Slither
An American Haunting
La Mujer de Mi Hermano
RV
American Gun

Cellar
Red - Casa Lapostolle "Clos Apalta" 2001, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua, Limited Edition
White - Anapamu Chardonnay, Monterey 2001
Sparkling - Veuve de Verney
I do confess I tasted many hard-to-find Southern Italian wines this month which I know I will not ever find Stateside so it was pretty pointless to save labels. The Chardonnays, however, were uniformly pointless.

Cocktails
Red Heart
Combine equal proportions of pomegranate vodka, pomegranate juice, lychee juice and grenadine. Simple yet succulent. I like to garnish with heart of one lychee. Yum yum yum.

Week in Wine

2006-03-30T13:09:00.000-08:00

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc ($25)
2005 Fairhall Downs Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
2005 Forrest Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
2005 Framingham Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
2005Jackson Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
2005 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
2005 Lawson's Dry Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
2005 Matua Valley Paretai Estate Series Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
2005 Nobilo Icon Collection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($22)
2005 Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
2005 Sauvignon Republic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($18)
2005 Selaks Premium Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($16)
2005 Silver Birch Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
2005 TENZ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($19)
2004 Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($13)
2005 Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($18)
2004 Woodthorpe Te Mata Estate Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($17)

Millennium Park

2006-03-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

Something about Millennium Park implores me to while away time there. This happens rarely. I have to "give myself" permission to do nothing. I know not why. I am not on the clock. I purposefully have nothing to do today (Oh yes, my compulsive nature could find another play I need to see, another gelateria I need to sample, another wine bar I need to evaluate, another so on and so forth) and yet I hesitate albeit briefly before I decide I am going to have a Coke and a smile. Right here, right now. But before the light leaves me, I should attempt an arty picture because bot h of the monoliths cannot be framed in one shot. See , I had to indulge my compulsions. Now I can rest back and people watch.

Michigan Avenue

2006-03-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

Nobody really calls it the Magnificent Mile, right? Right? Because that would be so faux pas (in the words of M, whom I am incredibly missing right now; no matter, we have a whole day in Napa on Tax Day and I am looking forward to to it so much) and yet it is in the travel brochures, in the in-hotel "informational" channels, in the magazines filled with places only Desperate Housewives from Wisconsin could love. Speaking of the Heartland, I caught not one (as is my wont) but two performances of Second City (The Best Of, an d the current mainstage show called Iraqtile Dysfunction). The former was stellar, the latter rescued only by the talents of Brian Gallivan (you read his name here first). I was amazed at the number of heartland heroes (what should I call them without passing judgment?) who left during the show. During intermission, I saw letters posted near concessions written on actual hotel letter paper (Ritz, Hilton, Hyatt, Essex Inn too!) protesting the anti-American nature of the shows. Some people don't get satire. Then again, what would you expect when you come to Second City? Seinfeld?

Chicago Theater

2006-03-27T23:53:00.000-08:00

Chicago has a rich theater tradition and this Spring (officially, I tell you), I have been extraordinarily lucky. The David Mamet Festival is in town. He is one of the living playwrights who bites the hands that feed him, and has a diabolically wonderful time doing so. I saw "Romance" (a piffle of a courtroom farce which was crisply written but unmemorably so) and "A Life in the Theater" (essentially a 78 minute conversation between a veteran actor who's done it all and a young up and comer joining up for a season of repertory/purgatory). For entertainment, there was French farce in the new translation, award-winning, of Georges Feydeau's "A Flea in Her Ear", made quintessentially American with bon mots too contemporary and brazen to be truly anachronistic, and "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" , a Broadway show with just enough audience interaction to keep things jiggy. Unfortunately, the latter was attended by masses of parents from said Heartland who brought their munchkins from elementary school. A key plotpoint hinges on a centerpiece song entitled "My Unfortunate Erection". Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do tonight.

Navy Pier

2006-03-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

Navy Pier is part of the "new" Chicago to me. Anything that wasn't there when I first enjoyed the fruits of the city is nouvel, perhaps erroneously but this is my Sblog so I have liberties and license. I always like the passagiatta there. It is brilliant execution on the part of the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Eye (or whatever that monstrosity is called) nothwithstanding. If you have not been, it kind of resembles the British Airways London Eye but having been funded by McDonald's, you sit in little capsule that look like - and I am not making this up - packets for French Fries as the McWheel makes its 29 minute "flight". It is best to take this flight around sundown. There is a water garden just aft near the Children's museum and there are several green parks about to unwind yourself. I was in astonishment that, despite the balmy weather, there were not enough persons of a certain age about. Then I made a cut through the shiny doors to the Skyline Stage for my performance time at the Shakespeare Theater. Suddenly, I saw the multitudes. All of them gobbling down food in the various food courts spilling out oodles of unhealthful junk food. Do we have a childhood obesity epidemic coming up or are the fatties just trapped behind the revolving doors I wondered and fled for the Juice Bar.

Down Town

2006-03-25T22:28:00.000-08:00

When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go
Down Town
When you've got worries all the noise and the hurry
You can always go
Down town
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles
Forget all your cares
So go
Down town
Things will be great when you're down town
No finer place for sure
Down town
Everything's waiting for you
Down Town

That's the first song lyrics I can recall. I first heard it when I was seven. I was, at that time, in New York City. I always knew I wanted to be down town. I now am. And I like it. But I want to go home. What is it about symmetry that whenever we get where we want to be we realize we should have never left in the first place? The journey home is never too long: your heart arrives before the train. Not every road you come across is one you have to take. For sometimes standing still is the best move you ever make. Wistful much? I need one of those Cosmopolitans with Keten One that C knows to make for me when I need them most.

Chicago Bean

2006-03-24T15:36:00.000-08:00

This is my kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of people too
People who smile at you
And each time I roam, Chicago is
Calling me home, Chicago is
Why I just brim like a toad
It's my kind of town
My kind of razzmatazz
And it has, all that jazz
Tugging my sleeve, Chicago is
The Wrigley Building, Chicago is
The Union Stockyard, Chicago is
One town that won't let you down
It's my kind of town

So I can't quite explain it. Others have indicated possible explanations, hypothesis, theora, whatever you care to call it but it is quite illogical. But my kind of town Chicago is. This wasn't where I was born, this wasn't my first port of call to the Western World (Londontown!) or Stateside (New York City), but yet I identify most with the Second City and I have no good explanation. I have something of Chicago inside of me that will be essential. I can identify with it. I grew up there, in multiple senses of the word. When I walk in the dead of night, I feel at home. I have never felt that way in the city (SF) but then again I have never physically lived in the city. I might be comfortable treading unfamiliar territory in both Londontown and New York city but I could never feel the trappings of Chicago anywhere else. When I first went West (to California), I pathologically umbilicated enough to return every two months, if not more often. Then I bought a home. Any place you hang your hat is home. Now I have a house that I finally call home. It is organic, it lives and it beckons me back. I return to Chicago fondly. But my heart belongs to (the) San Francisco (Bay area).

Week in Wine

2006-03-23T13:13:00.000-08:00

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($38)
2002 Bighorn Cellars Broken Rock Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($36)
2002 Black Coyote Bates Creek Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($30)
2001 Broman Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($48)
2002 Cuvaison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($42)
2002 Elodian Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($37)
2002 Flora Springs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($30)
2002 Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
2002 Mount Veeder Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
2002 Oberon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)
2002 Ortman Family Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)
2002 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)
2002 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)

Snacking London

2006-03-22T09:44:00.000-08:00

Cafe Rouge: French bistro chain. So retro and so unfashionably fashionable.
Carluccio's Caffe: Fresh sourced Italian fare.
Ed's Easy Diner: American themed. Shakes are good.
GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen): Angus beef or venison burgers
Pizza Express: Utterly predictable but everywhere. 95 at last count
Pret a Manger: Sandwiches. Wraps. Sushi. Tea Cakes.
Ranoush Juice Bar: Kebab cafe. A Favorite. Edgware road and Kensington
Strada: Pizzas baked over a wood fire
Tootsies Grill: Rock music. Great fries.
Wagamama: Bowls of noodles. Oodles really
YO! Sushi: Futuristic conveyer belt outlets with color coded plates.

Random London

2006-03-21T16:25:00.000-08:00

It is the largest city in Western Europe
Over 300 languages are spoken in Greater London
A third of Londoners belong to an ethnic minority community
41% of Londoners are 20-44 (25% is over 65) which makes its population younger than the rest of the UK
1 in 6 of the UK workforce works in London
3 of the 5 most deprived boroughs in England are in London
25% of the unemployed British live in London
20% of the workforce of London (700,000) are employed in the cultural and creative sectors
49 million people (half from overseas) visit attractions in Londontown annually
More than 60 billion dollars are generated from tourism annually (a third of total UK revenue from these sectors)
6 of the top ten tourist attractions in the UK are in Londontown
London's metropolitan population is 7.25 million as of 1995 (greater London includes a population of 10 million)
London has annual net inflows of people with 50 non-indigenous communities with populations exceeding 10,000
there are currently four World Heritage Sites (Palace of Westminster, Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and Kew Gardens) and 17 national Museums across Londontown
London has 3800 pubs (9% of UK public houses) and 233 nightclubs (15% of UK). In Westminster alone, there are over 330 venues open after midnight. I smell party!
There are 6128 licenses restaurants in London (22% of UK restaurants) including 50 major country cuisines and 36 Michelin star rated restaurants.
London has 40,000 shops and 80 individual markets including Walthamstow Market, Europe's longest daily street market.
The West End is the largest retail area in the UK with, in Oxford Street alone, over 300 shops with Selfridges containing 40 retail departments
120 million passengers arrived and departed through London's airports in 2004 (67 million through Heathrow which is the busiest and best connected in the world)
There are 21000 licensed taxis in London. Black Cabs come in 12 different colors.

Dining London

2006-03-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

It is no paradox that some of the best Indian restaurants are in Londontown. So many choices - where should you dine?

Amaya (Chelsea; tube: Knightsbridge)
Halkin Arcade, Motcomb St. 0870-7808174

Benares (Mayfair; tube - Bond St)
12 Berkeley Square House. 020-7629-8886

Cafe Spice Namaste (City; tube - Tower Hill)
16 Prescott St. 020-7488-9242

Chutney Mary (Chelsea
535 King's Road. 0870-780-8136

Cinnamon Club (Westminster and Victoria; tube - Westminster)
Old Westminster Library, Great Smith Street. 020-7222-2555

Rasoi Vineet Bhatia (Chelsea; tube - Sloane Square)
10 Lincoln Street. 020-7225-1881

Red Fort (Soho; tube - Tottenham Court road)
77 Dean Street. 020-7437-2115

Tamarind (Mayfair; tube - Green Park)
20 Queen Street. 020-7629-3561

Veeraswamy (Mayfair)
99-101 Regent Street (enter on Swallow St). 0870-780-8137

Stage London

2006-03-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

The big news is that Mary Poppins has been declared unsuitable for the under sevens as hordes of parents treat their kids to this overblown fare. Children undergo frightful experiences - Jane is tempted to join a scene in a porcelain bowl only to find that its characters mean to keep her trapped there forever)

The more popular shows currently are -

Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace)
Blackbird (Albery)
Blood Brothers (Phoenix)
Blue Man Group (New London)
Chicago (Adelphi)
Dancing in the Streets (Cambridge)
Embers (Duke of York's)
Evita (Adelphi)
Fame (Aldwych)
Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly)
Hay Fever (Haymarket)
Honour (Wyndham's)
Les Miserables (Queen's)
Lion Kind (Lyceum)
Mack and Mabel (Criterion)
Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales)
Man for all Seasons (Haymarker)
Mary Poppins (Prince Edward)
My Name is Rachel Corrie (Playhouse): chornicle of a death foretold, political and elegantly spun
Spamalot (Palace)
Movin' Out (Apollo)
Night of the Iguana (Lyric)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Garrick): Christian Slater and Alex Kingston in the leads - what's not to love?
Period of Adjustment (Almeida)
Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's Theater)
Producers (Drury Lane)
Rat Pack - Live from Las Vegas (Savoy)
Resurrection Blues (Old Vic)
Royal Hunt of the Sun (National)
Sinatra at the Palladium (London Palladium): bizarre multimedia experimental crap
Stomp (Vaudeville)
Sunday in the Park with George (Wyndham's)
The Old Country (Trafalgar Studios 1): spies tha fail to engage the audience
Two Thousand Years (National)
We Will Rock you (Dominion)
Whistle Down the Wind (Palace): similar drivel as Blood Brothers. Huge cruisefarer favorite
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Apollo)
Wicked (Apollo)
Woman in Black (Fortune)
You Never Can tell (Garrick)

Paddy Cake

2006-03-17T01:39:00.000-08:00

Chicago is famous for the peculiar tradition of "going green" on St. Patrick's Day. The tradition started in 1962 when city pollution control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges and realized that green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. That year, 100 pounds of green vegetable dye was released into the river to keep it green for a week. Today, to minimize environmental damage, only forty pounds of organic orange (the native color of the water is a murky blue) dye are released making the water green for a few hours. The original idea came from Savannah natives where mayor Tom Woolley had plans for a green river but rough water precluded the trick and they never tried again. Erin go brah!

Week in Wine

2006-03-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

Sonoma County Merlot
2003 Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Merlot ($25)
2002 Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Merlot ($18)
2003 Field Stone Alexander Valley Merlot ($20)
2003 Gallo Family Vineyards Sonoma Reserve Merlot ($13)
2002 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Merlot ($19)
2003 Kendall-Jackson Highland Estates Taylor Peak Bennett Valley Merlot ($40)
2002 Kenwood Reserve Sonoma Valley Merlot ($25)
2003 Matanzas Creek Bennett Valley Merlot ($30)
2003 Sebastiani Alexander Valley Merlot ($24)
2003 Simi Sonoma County Merlot ($22)

Chardonnay-in-a-Box (you know who you are)
2005 Banrock Station South Eastern Australia Chardonnay ($18 for 3-liter box)
2004 Black Box Wines Monterey County Chardonnay ($20 for 3-liter box)
2004 Black Box Wines Napa Valley Chardonnay ($24 for 3-liter box)
2004 Grayson Cellars Monterey Chardonnay ($10)
2005 Hardys Nottage Hill South Eastern Australia Chardonnay ($9)
2004 McManis Family Vineyards River Junction Chardonnay ($10)
2004 Meridian Santa Barbara County Chardonnay ($10)
2004 Reynolds Vineyards South Australia Chardonnay ($9)
2004 Smashed Grapes California Chardonnay ($10)
2004 3 Blind Moose California Chardonnay ($10)

Airline Booking

2006-03-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

As a committed leisure traveler, price is supreme. Trade-offs include travel at undesirable times of the day and the possibility of significant changes necessary in preferred travel dates or routing. However, for leisure travelers with extremely limited holiday time (like me, of late!), I exercise significant constraint in time of day and travel duration, but this does not mean I should be paying willy nilly for these limitations. This is an almost Sisyphean task as inputting any flexibility into the most popular air travel websites (I almost exclusively use kayak.com) returns in an overload of suggestion deluge. Sifting through this can take minutes I do not have, further compounding the challenge. Now I will waste more time and pay more if the frustration factor is high. The trick is to get the answer with the fewest mouse clicks and the highest degree of certainty. If I cannot book a flight in five (5) minutes of online time, I have lost.

For flights within the US, the best sites for those of us with minor flexibility in travel dates, times and airports are ITASoftware and Sidestep. ITA is an airfare only site which does not sell tickets but has seat inventory as current as that of Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity combined. Sidestep is software you load onto your PC (downloaded directly) and searches other wbesites (like Southwest) when you, for example, use ITA or any other travel website.

ITA is best as quickly and easily displaying the tradeoff between time (one stop, multijump) and money via its matrix of results that conveys the information promptly. It also displays potential savings by using nearby cities as options. ITA shows warnings that I like (e.g. prop plane, long layover, day change) very clearly. Do not confuse shopping with buying. Find the fare you ilke, then purchase directly on the airline's website for (occasionally) better fares and (nearly always) free wares such as added flyer miles. This eliminates intermediary charges and confusion. The only exception is combining non-partner airlines.

Airfare Chicanery

2006-03-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

Back to back, throwaway and hidden city tickets are inbuilt loopholes that airlines created for the patient traveler but it is to the advantage of management to pretend these do not exist.

back to back ticketing is a way to avoid the stay over on a Saturday night rule that many airlines push. If you buy two proper tickets flying every sector of the ticket but use variable dates to include one (1) Saturday on each roundtrip, then this works if you know you will need to make two (2) trips to that destination from your home.

Throwaway ticketing is a noir version that I use. I buy a ticket to travel to City B from City A on the day I wish to fly there with a return flight a couple of weeks later. then you buy a second ticket for travel from City B to City A on the day you actually want to fly home, and book a flight back to City B a couple of weeks further out. You will use only half of each ticket but the savings will be considerable. You also see how many people are doing this (do not feel guilty) as this is why most flights are oversold. You can improve your savings and make it harder for the airline to realize what you are up to if you make the second half of each ticket not a simple return back but instead a flight to somewhere else that is in a different location and costs even less to fly to!

Sometimes flights to certain cities are prohibitively expensive but they might be included on a multijump itinerary. It is cheaper to fly to New York (all the way) than to Syracuse. I do not know why. This only works if you have no checked in luggage but if you can get a multijump filght to NYC with Syracuse as one of the stops, you can simply get off at Syracuse and not board the plane again. Your ticket is checked for validity only when boarding a plane and not before letting you leave. This will work only if you do not want to use all of the other flights on your itinerary because as soon as the departure management system detects an unflown flight, it will cancel all remaining flights on your itinerary.

It is bizarrely illogical in industry to seel two units of a product for less than one unit of the identical product. Yet airlines do stemming from some idiotic arrogant lunacy. If you read the small print (I was waiting for a flight) of the "Ticket Validity - Compliance with Terms and COnditions of Sale", it states clearly that they forbid you to buy the cheapest fare they have on offer. If you need to change your flight or miss a flight, they will penalize you heavily. Just because it is stated inthe contract does not make it enforceable. Airlines are on shaky ground if you use less services than you paid for (the throwaway ticket trick) and there has been only one civil case in history brought against Delta (which impounded the passenger's flyer miles for failing to fly all sectors and using a hidden city fare trick instead). Delta lost massively despite invoking all manner of statistics and rules. Remember, compared to purchase from a travel agent or third party website, you have significant legal protection if you buy your fares from the airline's official website, toll free phone number or ticketing counter. I always find the best fare online and then book it on the phone with the official toll free number to avail of this opportunity.

If you want to stay under the radar on back-to-back throwaways, do not use your flier number. It just makes it that much easier for them to track you. I do all of my business travel with one credit card and flyer number (with one official sounding name) and pleasure with another set. Use different persona for avatars to make it difficult for them to trace your variations as long as your driver's license shows your complete name. One of my flyer cards has my last name spelling transposed at the end with two letters. I am not changing that with good reason. Be friendly at the airline gates butkeep a low profile. Happy landings.

Happy Purim

2006-03-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

We go back several hundred years before the Common Era (everything is all wavy and harp music plays). The Jews have been exiled from Israel having been defeated by the Babylonians. The Babylonians have been in turn defeated by the Persians and the Jews are now living under Persian rule. Cue belly dancers and snake charmer music. Many Jews live in the capital of Persia, which is Shushan. The king of Persia is named Achashverus (say that five times fast). For brevity and wit, I will refer to him as King A moving forward. King A has a queen, Vashti. She does something to piss him off; some questioning of his authority, and he ditches the bitch. This happens while the King is on a royal (ha!) bender and so several days later when he sobers up and realizes he has no queen, he decides to get a new one. But this is no quick hop onto the E-harmony website. He does things king-style and rounds up every virgin in the entire kingdom. One of them happens to be Esther, an orphaned Jew living in Shushan under the care of her uncle, Mordechai. She is carted off to the harem and prepared for her "audience" with the king. Having plowed his way through every cherry in Persia, King A decides that Esther is the best tang he's had and crowns her his queen. All good, right? Wrong. One of the king's ministers, Haman, has a bug up his ass about the Jews. He is first minister to the king and so when he goes around town, all the citizens are required to bow down to him. But Mordechai refuses, as bowing to any entity other that God is a sin. This pisses Haman off big time, and since he doesn't do anything small, he conspires through legal legerdemain to have the King sign off on an order to exterminate all the Jews in Persia in one month's time. Spy movie aficionados (and fans of Austin Powers) will recognize the fatal flaw here of putting off the demise of your intended victim.

Mordechai hears about the edict against the Jews and goes ballistic. He tears his clothes and sits in sackcloth and ashes every day at the gates of the palace. Esther hears about this and is horrified. She sends him fresh clothes but he refuses, sending back a message saying that if she thinks she will be safe from the edict hiding out in the king's palace, she has another think coming. It is clearly a divine hand that put her on the throne and only she can save her people. Esther gets with the program and decides to take on the man. However, there is a catch. Apparently, it is a capital offense to go in to see the king without a formal invitation. But the king had not called for Esther in some time. Knowing that going in to see him without the proper credentials meant a trip to Vashti-land for her, Esther fasts for a full day and then goes in to see the king uninvited. Miraculously (OK it's not that amazing, but we take our miracles where we can find them) the king extends his scepter (ha!) to her and she is permitted an uninvited audience. She asks that the King and Haman attend a banquet that she will host. He agrees and Haman also gets the invite. Haman meanwhile has been building a gallows especially for Mordechai in his backyard because he is one big sicko. He heads off to the party and a good time is had by all. Esther repeats this strategy two more times, and at the third party, with Haman in attendance and King A feeling no pain, the king tells her that he will grant her any wish in the world. So here it comes. No, she doesn't ask for a pony. She asks that her life be spared; that an evil man is conspiring to murder her and all her people. The King asks who would dare attack his queen. At this point Esther busts Haman. His ass is grass. The king has a huge freak out and throws Haman into jail.

While the king can't repeal the edict about the murder of the Jews (remember, legal legerdemain) he sends out a follow-up edict that all the Jews are given free reign to defend themselves and give grief to anyone who seeks to harm them. The Jews muscle up and when the day comes, they kick royal ass, bloodying anyone who goes after them. Meanwhile the king hangs Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordechai (gotta love that biblical irony) along with all of Haman's sons, affectively wiping out Haman's bloodline. Mordechai is appointed minister in Haman's place and there is much rejoicing. To commemorate this event, we read the story of Esther in temple. During the reading, whenever the name of Haman is mentioned, everyone makes noise to drown out the sound of his name. Kids use noisemakers called gragers that can be amazingly irritating after an hour or so. Which is why I think the drinking part for the adults was instituted. Why does everyone dress up? I have no idea, but Purim is called the Jewish Mardi Gras and the biblical prohibition against cross-dressing is lifted for this holiday, so you know the Jewish gays go batshit for this one. The holiday pastries, hamantaschen, are supposed to represent either Haman's hat, or his ears, as the Hebrew term for the pastries is Ozne Haman, or, well, Haman's Ears. And the book where this story is found is called "Megillat Esther," so you just heard the whole megillah. Have a cookie.

Sit Assignment

2006-03-12T20:16:00.000-08:00

Use your best behaviors when speaking with the bitches who assign seats on long haul flights. Speak slowly and clearly always. They wield insuperable power in determining your comfort zone and exercise great discretion.

Legally, you can request seat assignments (except exit rows - they need to know you look like an adult) up to sixty days in advance of a domestic flight and longer for overseas passages. Flight reservations can typically be made only 11 months in advance.

Book your ticket as early as possible and reserve your seats at that time. If seats are not yet available, your agent/handler can put you in a queue to assign you the most desirable seats as soon as assignment is permitted.

Make sure that all of you frequent flier member numbers are in your computer record before requesting assignments. Airlines block off desirable seats for these special folk. This helps in addition to old fashioned begging, pleading and (in my case) flirting with everyone regardless of age, gender and skin pore diameter. Yes, I stoop.

It is hideously common to be told that "all seats have been preassigned". This is almost never true. Nearly all flights are oversold by 50% (or more) and not all seats have even been released prior to departure. This gives the ground crew flexibility at the airport when people turn up and, umm, demand to be seated together for "good" reasons (mother/child, transplant organ/puppy) and works wonders for public relations for the near bankrupt airline of your choice. When "important" clients complain, magical withdrawal from the reserve supply helps keep them in good stead as well. How can you be important? Have a frequent flier number and ask to speak with a supervisor. Remember - EVERYBODY HAS A SUPERVISOR. I did not know that when I was naive. Then I had my fifth birthday and life has been fabulous.

If you book through a website or an agency, which does not have good seats, book anyway, then ring the airline directly, use the airline's official website or (last) speak up at the airport counter. You will almost always get a better deal with oral contact. Some agencies (shocking) do not have seat finding programs. Always check the seat locator website because the alphabet letter (unless it is A) means nothing. I was once on a flight with missing letters and byzantine twisty rows.

When checking in, ask for any spare seats that were not pre-assigned. Check in earlier than required to avail of this. Always ask for exit rows. If you are on a secondary connecting flight, check in all the way for premium seating so you do not have to fight your way during layover. Ask for when seats will be released or ask to be put on a waiting list.

Once you are on the plane and still stuck in a bad seat, you can legally resite once the door is disarmed for departure but before takeoff, or after takeoff has been completed. As soon as the door is shut (disarmed), run. If you get up before, you will annoy the crew and they will be very unpleasant thereafter. Every empty seat after disarming doors is fair game. For everybody.

Trick: if you find three empty seats, go sit in the middle one. People will almost never come and sit next to you unless they are really creep. Life is all about taking chances. Then you can preserve the whole row and sleep by lying across lengthwise. Also, most planes are emptier in the back so move backwards when you can.

Good night and good luck.

Seat Locators

2006-03-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

Most of us prefer to sit further forward on the plane because it saves us a fe wminutes when getting off. Some think the front is more likely to survive in case of an aircrash. There is no good evidence to support that twisted thinking but I hear of it all the time from disgruntled peasants who simply cannot afford to fly properly in first class. The advantages of sitting in the back in peasant class include being able to board first and finding plenty of overhead space for your wheelies and monstrous carry ons. It is noisier there and closer to the engines mounted in the rear of the planes, experiences more turbulence and most of the toilet use is in the back (psychologically). I never sit alongside the engines: besides the noise, in case of a catastrophic failure, mechanical parts will fly out of the engine into your face, which is not very nice for your skin tone.

The strongest part of the fuselage is where the wings join the body of the plan but this is mitigated by local regional fuel tanks which are a huge disadvantage. Bottom line - there is little statistical difference in survivability rates that where you sit is not relevant.

Seat rows along the exit windows/doors are designated exit rows with seats more widely spaced apart to make it eaiser for people to move from the aisle to an exit in case of an emergency. If you ask very politely, some will pre-assign exit rows, others will only assign at check-in time, while Virgin will just give it away to anyone who pays $75. The logic is you must be able to help in case of an emergency, be able-bodied (not a child) and speak fluent English. That excludes half of us in California.

Buklhead rows are tricky - no seat in front of you to recline and take up your legroom/personal space but you cannot quite stretch you legs quite as much, and there is absolutely nowhere to store your carry on items. Attendants will stow them away but you might not access them easily inflight. A potential fear is that infant bassinets hang off hooks, which means you might be sharing with very small (read: CRYING INCONSOLABLE) infants.

If you are seated close to a toilet or galley, there will be a lot of foot traffic, conversation and erstwhile noise pollution. Also smells. However if you are too far from the toilet, your emergent trek could be arrested by a blocking service cart. These make way for nobody.

Window seats have a view and offer a convenient side to sleep upon but aisle seats permit you to spill over into the aisle a wee bit (but you could be bumped into!). You probably know which one you prefer if you wish to get up frequently inflight. Insure you don't get a window seat over the wing - there is no view.

Some seats permit only a small measure of recline, others none at all. These are typically in front of an emergency exit row and at the back of a cabin where there is a bulkhead behind them. These are to be universally avoided.

Towards the back of some planes, blocks of seats start to have one less seat in them and have more room side to side and in front of you as well. The extra comfort is worth the few extra minutes to get off at the end of a long trip.

I always print up the "desirable seat chart" before I fly if I have not already obtained the seating of my choice. I use SeatGuru but I think Seat Expert is an alternative.

Best Seats

2006-03-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

When selecting flight seats, you often read about seat pitch. This is confusing and unrelated to the perceived comfort inflight as we cannot all enjoy sleeper seats. I usually am so completely exhausted before holiday I could sleep in a dog basket that is large enough.

Pitch refers to inches between the start of one row of seats and the start of the next row of seats. This can be as low as 29" in peasant class and 75" in first class (when converting into full length beds). Most domestic airlines are between 31 and 33". Sometimes a 31" pitch is more leg room related than a 32" seat because part of the linear space taken up is used by the seat back (and hence seat back thickness will usurp that space).

Reclining is key to me (after happiness with leg room). Too much reclining can push my feet into the seat in front of me. The chap in front of me reclining (it has been an attractive lady only once) may also choose to recline synchronously and thus sandwich me completely. The location of the hinge of recline is paramount in this.

Seat width varies from between 17" to 19", and every inch makes a difference (oh, yes, you know it does). This is the most reliable indicator of comfort and is visibly obvious to anyone with vision. A wide seat is nicer to fill and wriggle within than a narrower one. It really is that simple.

The foot rest is a total waste of ingenuity, time and space as I can never see use for it. The movable ears (whatever the official name) are nice to let me twist down or move in as a headrest when trying to sleep. Very nice for the sore neck problem on long flights.

Overall, international airlines offer more seat comfort than domestic ones. Among local ones, American Airlines has more room per peasant and Jet Blue has more space for most of the seats on all of its planes.

Week in Wine

2006-03-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

ITALIAN WHITES
2004 Anselmi Veneto San Vincenzo Bianco ($12)
2004 Anselmi Capitel Foscarino Veneto Bianco ($19)
2004 Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino di Sardegna ($13)
2004 Beni di Batasiolo Gavi ($13)
2004 Campo al Mare Vermentino di Toscana ($17)
2004 Campogrande Orvieto Classico ($14)
2004 Cantina del Taburno Campania Greco ($14)
2004 Cantina Terlano Alto Aldige Pinot Bianco ($17)
2004 Cecchi Litorale Maremma Toscana Vermentino ($17)
2004 Corbara Podere il Caio Grechetto dell'Umbria ($13)
2004 Marco Porello Camestri Roero Arneis ($14)
2004 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Coda di Volpe ($19)
2003 Teruzzi & Puthod Toscana Terre di Tufi ($20)
2004 Vigne Regali Principessa Gavia Gavi ($14)

Whites
2005 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve California Riesling ($10)
2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Gewurtztraminer ($9)
2005 Santa Julia Mendoza Torrontes ($8)
2005 Rosemount Estate Diamond Label South Eastern Australia Traminer-Riesling ($10)
2004 Lindemans Bin 70 South Eastern Australia Chardonnay-Riesling ($8)

Reds
2004 Black Swan South Eastern Australia Shiraz & Merlot ($8)
2003 Covey Run Columbia Valley Syrah ($9)
2003 Beaulieu Vineyard BV Coastal Estates California Merlot ($10)
2002 Meridian California Merlot ($10)
2005 Nova Wines Norma Jeane California Merlot ($10)

Dining NYC

2006-03-08T21:38:00.000-08:00

If you're in the city for a long weekend, a few quintessential suggestions for lunch and dinner there:

Jean Georges
Desserts.
• 1 Central Park W., between 60th and 61st Sts., 212-299-3900, jean-georges.com

Beppe
Tuscan bread in cabbage. Noodles in walnut sauce.
• 45 E. 22nd St., between Broadway and Park Ave. S., 212-982-8422, beppenyc.com

Blue Smoke
Lamb. Foie gras. Salmon.
• 116 E. 27th St., between Park and Lexington Aves., 212-447-7733, jazzstandard.com

DB Bistro Moderne
$29 burger. Fries.
• DB Bistro Moderne: 155 W. 44th St., between Fifth and Sixth Aves., 212-391-2400, danielnyc.com• Corner Bistro: 331 W. 4th St., at Jane St., 212-242-9502

Café Sabarsky
Kaffeehaus style. Austrian atmosphere.
• 1048 Fifth Ave., at 86th St., 212-288-0665, wallserestaurant.com

Chennai Garden
Lunch buffer. Floral puddings. Vegetarian.
• 129 E. 27th St., between Park and Lexington Aves., 212-689-1999, chennaigarden.com

Strip House
$70 steak. Spinach in truffled cream. Potato igloo.
• Strip House: 13 E. 12th St., between University Pl. and Fifth Ave., 212-328-0000,

Florent
Grilled cheese sandwich.
• 69 Gansevoort St., between Greenwich and Washington Sts., 212-989-5779, restaurantflorent.com

Prune
Weekend brunch.
• 54 E. 1st St., between First and Second Aves., 212-677-6221

Le Bernardin
French seafood. Ostera caviar.
• 155 W. 51st St., between Sixth and Seventh Aves., 212-554-1515, le-bernardin.com

2nd Avenue Deli
Pastrami sandwich. Crispy fried. Chicken in the pot. Knish.
• 2nd Avenue Deli, 156 Second Ave., at 10th St., 212-677-0606, 2ndavedeli.com

Matsuri
Club food.
• 369 W. 16th St., Maritime Hotel, at Ninth Ave., 212-243-6400

'Wichcraft
Sandwiches.
• 49 E. 19th St., between Park Ave. S. and Broadway, 212-780-0577, wichcraftnyc.com

Masa
Sushi. Only 26 seats.
Masa: 10 Columbus Circle at 59th St., 4th Floor, 212-823-9800, masanyc.com

In Vino
Wine bar. Southern Italian wines
• 215 E. 4th St., between Aves. A and B, 212-539-1011

Il Laboratorio Del Gelato
100 gelatos. Hazelnut, coffee, banana, ginger, dark chcolate.
• 95 Orchard St., between Broome and Delancey Sts., 212-343-9922, laboratoriodelgelato.com

River Café
Romantic barge.
• 1 Water St., Brooklyn, 718-522-5200, rivercafe.com

Pastis
Bistro fare.
• 9 Ninth Ave., at Little W. 12th St., 212-929-4844, pastisny.com

Per Se
French Laundry in the city. $125 prix fixe including dessert and cheese.
• 10 Columbus Circle, at 60th St., fourth fl., 212-893-9335, frenchlaundry.com/perse.htm

Spice Market
Asian fusion fare.
Bao 111
Nouvelle Viet Namese
• Spice Market: 403 W. 13th St., at Ninth Ave., 212-675-2322, jean-georges.com
• Bao 111: 111 Ave. C, between 7th and 8th Sts., 212- 254-7773, bao111.com

Jewel Bako
Japanese
• 239 E. 5th St., between Second and Third Aves., 212-979-1012

The Grocery
BUlgur pilaf. Charred octopus. Duck.
• 288 Smith St., between Union and Sackett Sts., 718-596-3335

Vatican Memo

2006-03-07T11:01:00.000-08:00

A MEMO FROM THE VATICAN

by PAUL RUDNICK

From: His Holiness

To: All seminaries

Subject: While the Church approves of ordaining “transitory” homosexuals—that is, those men willing to take subways and buses rather than taxis—according to our most recent directive we “cannot admit to the priesthood those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called ‘gay culture.’ ” The following questionnaire should be used to help identify and root out such truly committed homosexuals.

1. Jesus would have been a bad boyfriend because:
(a) He wasn’t gay or sexual in any way, so the question is disgusting.
(b) He would have cared about everyone, but not enough about you.
(c) He wasn’t really Jewish.

2. Priests traditionally wear black with a white collar because:
(a) The attire is simple and modest.
(b) It’s slimming.
(c) The matching quilted shoulder bag is what really makes the whole thing work.

3. Priests take a vow of poverty because:
(a) It’s selfless and humbling.
(b) It’s handy when the check comes.
(c) It makes their apartments feel larger.

4. Should Kate Moss be allowed to take Communion?

5. If there were a Fox series set in the Vatican, it should star:
(a) Wilfred Brimley, as a wise, compassionate Pontiff.
(b) Jennifer Love Hewitt, as a lovely and devout young nun who can talk to martyrs.
(c) Me and Heath. Period.

6. If you found yourself attracted to another priest, you would:
(a) Ask him to pray with you to battle the sinful urge, over drinks.
(b) Banish all such thoughts from your mind until you lose fifteen pounds.
(c) Ask him, “What’s black and white and wants your number?”

7. When you were watching “The Passion of the Christ,” did you ever think, It’s deeply moving and profoundly important, but it’s not “Chicago”?

8. God is:
(a) All-loving and all-forgiving.
(b) All-loving and all-forgiving, sometimes.
(c) All-loving and all-forgiving, unlike white spandex tank tops.

9. Do you believe that the Ten Commandments should apply to everyone except Dennis Quaid?

10. If a couple asked you to christen their baby with the name Tiffany, would you respond, “Why don’t we just call her You Big Trailer Park Whore?”?

11. Do you believe that the Church should get involved in the final round of “American Idol”?

12. If you were asked to counsel a young couple who were about to be married, would your first topic be “Everyday china”?

13. Whom would you recommend for sainthood?
(a) Mother Teresa.
(b) Mother Teresa’s less popular sister, Linda.
(c) Any of Mariah Carey’s personal assistants.

14. The phrase “Hate the sin but love the sinner” refers to:
(a) Homosexuals.
(b) Fried foods.
(c) Kelly Ripa.

15. Essay question: Why didn’t God just destroy Sodom and Gomorrah through overgentrification?

16. In the Gnostic Gospels, which apostle is referred to as “scrumptious”? (This is a trick question, because, no matter what Luke says, it’s not Mark.)

17. If your bishop asked you to take a vow of silence, what would your response be?
(a) Unquestioning obedience.
(b) To comically mime the words “Stop it!”
(c) To scribble on your notepad, “Fire!”

18. What is the difference between God and Oprah?
(a) None of God’s book is true.
(b) God didn’t create Dr. Phil.
(c) God still won’t do “Letterman.”

Poll Sale

2006-03-06T17:31:00.000-08:00

So as if being ugly weren't bad enough, not only are ugly teens more likely to be stay-at homes on prom night, they are also more likelt to be criminals in the offing, conclude two economists who tracked the life courses of young ones from high school through early adult hood. This may be why mug shots are creepy. Federally sponsored surveys included 15,000 high schoolers that showed that the long term consequences of being young and ugly were small but consistent. Cute guys were uniformly less likely than averages would indicate to have committed seven (7) crimes, including burglary and drug selling but the ugly would consistently break the law. Uglies were less likely to be hired, and earned less

Meanwhile, a very scientific Esquire poll made a striking observation. Attractive men, it concluded, are particularly attractive when they look attractive. Blue jeans make the man, or at least the man the ladies love. 70% of women polled said there was nothing sexier than a basic jeans and tee look. It especially worked if he's got the body to go with it.

Your hard-earned tax dollars at work with all these surveys.

Oh, meanwhile, as you can see from the reproduction above (what are they selling exactly and to whom?) the Aberzombie catalog is now on sale. Enjoy!

Oscar Mire

2006-03-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Watched the Oscars with my laptop to try a liveblog -

1656: Billy Bush asks Sid Ganis for a prediction. He says the Oscars will be great. I open a Bolly.

1701: Creepy Sims: Movie Nerd edition. Bay Bridge to Tour Eiffel. Nooooooooooo!

1705: Jon Stewart in bed with George Clooney.

1710: Charlize Theron attacked by Giant Taffeta Spider the size of a Lindsay Lohan.

1716: Obligatory snide Western clips showing covert gay sex. Enough brokebacklash already.

1720: Clooney makes love to himself. He is so smug. And attractively very rich.

1730: Ben Stiller in a green unitard is not wearing underwear. I did not need this on hidef telly.

1735: Wallace and Grommit creators wear silly bow ties they doff on the statuettes. Creepy.

1749: Animated characters are making funny. Another glass of Bolly.

1751: Jennifer Aniston. And Jon Stewart makes an Angelina Jolie adoption joke too soon.

1752: Memoirs of a Geisha wins pretty award. I still hate the film. Designers wear ugly outfits.

1758: First of many montages. What happens when they run out of film clips?

1801: Narnia wins. Christians cheer. Lucasfilm sinks into depression era.

1803: Rachel McAdams hair is the color of her dress is the color of the backdrop is the color..

1807: Rachel Weisz and her Golden Globes are on stage. She was in The Mummy.

1819: Lauren Bacall has a stroke. Film noir montage. Umm, why? More Bolly.

1820: The word "Pimp" is used. Kids, go to bed. Now.

1823: Faux campaign ads. Very Daily Show. Dame Judy bashing, woo-hoo.

1825: Faux penguins. Security.

1834: Sandra Bullock looks overtanned. World is reminded Keanu Reeves used to be cute.

1836: Geisha wins another pretty award. I still hate it. Maybe more.

1839: Nobody has thanked a lawyer or agent. Progress or censorship?

1841: Montage # 349 of political films. Are they selling Best of on K-tel?

1843: Keira Knightley wearing racoon makeup. That is so circa 2001. But she is Merlot'd.

1847: Yitzhak Perlman solos nicely. Poor sod.

1900: Anti DVD propaganda. And I just finished my screening room.

1904: Yitzhak Perlman joke. Please leave the cripple alone.

1906: Meryl Streep tries to be funny. Lily Tomlin has a large weird head.

1912: Robert Altman montage. I swear this is the Montage Oscars.

1920: M Night Shyamalan AmEx ad. Is he still doing you know movies?

1923: I am not making this up. There is a song called "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp". Bolly.

1926: This Pimp song won. Kids, up. Now. Cut to Jamie Foxx. Wow, that did not just happen.

1927: I am telekinetically begging for a Jon Stewart joke. He obliges.

1929: Jennifer Garner is topless. And possibly lactating.

1930: Salma Hayek still has an accent. And very large breasts.

1934: Favorite dead-meter event - Richard Pryor or Ann Bancroft? I can't tell. Don Knotts MIA

1951: Philip Seymour Hoffman could do Weight Watchers or he will look like Kathy Bates.

1955: Something has invaded John Travolta's skull.

1957: Geisha wins third, and hopefully last, pretty award. I still hate it. Damn you Geisha!

2005: Reese Witherspoon has no pores. Zoom on her husband. I hope she forgets him.

2008: She doesn't. I am thinking divorce. Closeup so tight she runs out of oyxgen.

2012: Diana Ossana looks quite Amazonian but her partner wears jeans. Why?

2021: Ang Lee makes a "quit you" joke. Lame. Enough of that movie already.

2023: Jack Nicholson in shades. More Bolly to numb the pain. It's all about him, innit?

2027: Crash wins. Oh, how wonderful. I saw it in LA when it opened. With A & B!

2028: So close. Crash producers thanks financiers.

2031: Jon Stewart disappears never to surface in Hollywood again. Pimp is in the lexicon now.

The 78th Annual Academy Awards® for outstanding film achievements of 2005 were presented at Hollywood & Highland. Nominees (with predictions bolded and erroneous calls in RED) were:

Performance by an actor in a leading role
	Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
	Terrence Howard in “Hustle & Flow” (Paramount Classics, MTV Films and New Deal Entertainment)
	Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)
	Joaquin Phoenix in “Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox)
	David Strathairn in “Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
	George Clooney in “Syriana” (Warner Bros.)
	Matt Dillon in “Crash” (Lions Gate)
	Paul Giamatti in “Cinderella Man” (Universal and Miramax)
	Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)
	William Hurt in “A History of Violence” (New Line)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
	Judi Dench in “Mrs. Henderson Presents” (The Weinstein Company)
	Felicity Huffman in “Transamerica” (The Weinstein Company and IFC Films)
	Keira Knightley in “Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features)
	Charlize Theron in “North Country” (Warner Bros.)
	Reese Witherspoon in “Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
	Amy Adams in “Junebug” (Sony Pictures Classics)
	Catherine Keener in “Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
	Frances McDormand in “North Country” (Warner Bros.)
	Rachel Weisz in “The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features)
	Michelle Williams in “Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)

Best animated feature film of the year
	“Howl’s Moving Castle” (Buena Vista) Hayao Miyazaki
	“Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride” (Warner Bros.) Mike Johnson and Tim Burton
	“Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit” (DreamWorks Animation SKG) Nick Park and Steve Box

Achievement in art direction
	“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures) Art Direction: Jim Bissell Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
	“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Stuart Craig Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
	“King Kong” (Universal) Art Direction: Grant Major Set Decoration: Dan Hennah and Simon Bright
	“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Art Direction: John Myhre Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau
	“Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features) Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

Achievement in cinematography
	“Batman Begins” (Warner Bros.) Wally Pfister
	“Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features) Rodrigo Prieto
	“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures) Robert Elswit
	“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Dion Beebe
	“The New World” (New Line) Emmanuel Lubezki

Achievement in costume design
	“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (Warner Bros.) Gabriella Pescucci
	“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Colleen Atwood
	“Mrs. Henderson Presents” (The Weinstein Company) Sandy Powell
	“Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features) Jacqueline Durran
	“Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox) Arianne Phillips

Achievement in directing
	“Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features) Ang Lee
	“Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics) Bennett Miller
	“Crash” (Lions Gate) Paul Haggis
	“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures) George Clooney
	“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks) Steven Spielberg

Best documentary feature
	“Darwin’s Nightmare” (International Film Circuit) A Mille et Une Production Hubert Sauper
	“Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” (Magnolia Pictures) An HDNet Films Production Alex Gibney and Jason Kliot
	“March of the Penguins” (Warner Independent Pictures) A Bonne Pioche Production Luc Jacquet and Yves Darondeau
	“Murderball” (THINKFilm) An Eat Films Production Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro
	“Street Fight” A Marshall Curry Production Marshall Curry

Best documentary short subject
	“The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club” A Dan Krauss Production Dan Krauss
	“God Sleeps in Rwanda” An Acquaro/Sherman Production Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman
	“The Mushroom Club” A Farallon Films Production Steven Okazaki
	“A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin” A NomaFilms Production Corinne Marrinan and Eric Simonson

Achievement in film editing
	“Cinderella Man” (Universal and Miramax) Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
	“The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features) Claire Simpson
	“Crash” (Lions Gate) Hughes Winborne
	“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks) Michael Kahn
	“Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox) Michael McCusker

Best foreign language film of the year
	“Don’t Tell” A Cattleya/Rai Cinema Production Italy
	“Joyeux Noël” A Nord-Ouest Production France
	“Paradise Now” An Augustus Film Production Palestine
	“Sophie Scholl - The Final Days” A Goldkind Filmproduktion and Broth Film Production Germany
	“Tsotsi” A Moviworld Production South Africa

Achievement in makeup
	“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (Buena Vista) Howard Berger and Tami Lane
	“Cinderella Man” (Universal and Miramax) David Leroy Anderson and Lance Anderson
	“Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith” (20th Century Fox) Dave Elsey and Nikki Gooley

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
	“Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features) Gustavo Santaolalla
	"The Constant Gardener" (Focus Features) Alberto Iglesias
	“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) John Williams
	“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks) John Williams
	“Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
	“In the Deep” from “Crash” (Lions Gate) Music by Kathleen “Bird” York and Michael Becker Lyric by Kathleen “Bird” York
	“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from“Hustle & Flow” (Paramount Classics, MTV Films and New Deal Entertainment) Music and Lyric by Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard
	“Travelin’ Thru” from “Transamerica” (The Weinstein Company and IFC Films) Music and Lyric by Dolly Parton

Best motion picture of the year
	"Brokeback Mountain" (Focus Features) A River Road Entertainment Production Diana Ossana and James Schamus, Producers
	“Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics) An A-Line Pictures/Cooper’s Town/ Infinity Media Production Caroline Baron, William Vince and Michael Ohoven, Producers
	“Crash” (Lions Gate) A Bob Yari/DEJ/Blackfriar’s Bridge/ Harris Company/ApolloProscreen GmbH & Co./Bull’s Eye Entertainment Production Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman, Producers
	“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures) A Good Night Good Luck LLC Production Grant Heslov, Producer
	“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks) A Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures Production Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg and Barry Mendel, Producers

Best animated short film
	“Badgered” A National Film and Television School Production Sharon Colman
	“The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation” A John Canemaker Production John Canemaker and Peggy Stern
	“The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello” (Monster Distributes) A 3D Films Production Anthony Lucas
	“9” A Shane Acker Production Shane Acker
	"One Man Band"A Pixar Animation Studios Production Andrew Jimenez and Mark Andrews

Best live action short film
	“Ausreisser (The Runaway)” A Hamburg Media School, Filmwerkstatt Production Ulrike Grote
	"Cashback" (The British Film Institute) A Left Turn Films Production Sean Ellis and Lene Bausager
	“The Last Farm” A Zik Zak Filmworks Production Rúnar Rúnarsson and Thor S. Sigurjónsson
	“Our Time Is Up” A Station B Production Rob Pearlstein and Pia Clemente
	“Six Shooter” (Sundance Film Channel) A Missing in Action Films and Funny Farm Films Production Martin McDonagh

Achievement in sound editing
	“King Kong” (Universal) Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn
	“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Wylie Stateman
	“War of the Worlds” (Paramount and DreamWorks) Richard King

Achievement in sound mixing
	“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (Buena Vista) Terry Porter, Dean A. Zupancic and Tony Johnson
	“King Kong” (Universal) Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammond Peek
	“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Rick Kline and John Pritchett
	“Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox) Paul Massey, D.M. Hemphill and Peter F. Kurland
	“War of the Worlds” (Paramount and DreamWorks) Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ronald Judkins

Achievement in visual effects
	“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (Buena Vista) Dean Wright, Bill Westenhofer, Jim Berney and Scott Farrar
	“King Kong” (Universal) Joe Letteri, Brian Van’t Hul, Christian Rivers and Richard Taylor
	“War of the Worlds” (Paramount and DreamWorks) Dennis Muren, Pablo Helman, Randal M. Dutra and Daniel Sudick

Adapted screenplay
	“Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features) Screenplay by Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana
	“Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics) Screenplay by Dan Futterman
	“The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features) Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine
	“A History of Violence” (New Line) Screenplay by Josh Olson
	“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks) Screenplay by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth

Original screenplay
	“Crash” (Lions Gate) Screenplay by Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco Story by Paul Haggis
	“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures) Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov
	“Match Point” (DreamWorks) Written by Woody Allen
	“The Squid and the Whale” (Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Releasing) Written by Noah Baumbach
	“Syriana” (Warner Bros.) Written by Stephen Gaghan

China Googled

2006-03-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

Tiananmen Square on Google
Tiananmen Square on Google China
Do you feel lucky?

Using a Chinese IP address, you cannot access www.google.cn or images.google.cn but you can access google.com (which redirects to www.google.com/intl/zh-CN). Why not do a side-by-side search yourself this weekend?

Oversees Credit

2006-03-03T18:13:00.000-08:00

It is annoying to be charged unexpected fees when traveling overseas. I am favoring my American Express Blue Card. These are the benefits:

American Express:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 2%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? No
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - N/A
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - N/a (5% for cash advance)

Bank of America:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? No
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - None if at 6 specific banks. $5 otherwise

Capitol One:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - None
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? No
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - N/A
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - No ATM card.8.9% for cash advance

Citibank:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? No
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - 1%
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - 1% at Citi ATM; 1.5% + 1% at nonciti ATM

Diners Club:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? No
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - N/A
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - No ATM card

HSBC:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 1%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? Yes
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - 1%
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - 1% (if non HSBC, $1.50 + 1%)

JPMorgan Chase:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? Yes
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - 3.5%
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - $3 plus 3.5%

MBNA:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? Yes
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - N/A
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - 3%

Providian:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 1%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? Yes
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - N/A
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - No ATM card. 1% for cash advances plus 3% or or $10 (whichever greater)

Wells Fargo:
Fee for credit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee applicable when overseas purchase charged in US$? No
Fee for debit card purchase in foreign currency - 3%
Fee for ATM (cash dispenser) withdrawal of foreign currency - $5

Week in Wine

2006-03-02T08:37:00.000-08:00

Russian Valley Pinot Noir

2004 DeLoach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($18)
2003 DeLoach O.F.S. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($20)
2001 Eric Ross Poulet d'Or Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($27)
2004 Frei Brothers Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($28)
2004 Hook & Ladder Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($20)
2004 J Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($30)
2004 Kenwood Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($18)
2004 La Crema Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($29)
2003 Russian Hill Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($25)
2004 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($26) I

Syrahs
2004 Bulletin Place South Eastern Australia Shiraz ($8)
2003 Concannon Central Coast Syrah ($10)
2003 Devil's Marbles Limestone Coast Shiraz ($10)
2003 Forestville California Shiraz ($6)
2004 McManis Family Vineyards California Syrah ($10)

Zinfandels
NV Barefoot California Zinfandel ($6)
2003 Beringer Founders' Estate California Old Vine Zinfandel ($10)
2001 Cameron Hughes Lot 5 Sonoma County Zinfandel ($10)
2003 Ravenswood Vintners Blend California Zinfandel ($10)
2002 Tamas Estates Livermore Valley Zinfandel ($10)

Eating Blogs

2006-03-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

Waiter's Rant was the first blog I read, and enjoyed. A more formal version is Bruni's Diner's Journal in the NY Times. Most of the foodie blogs come from New York, possibly because the apartments lack a kitchen. On the left coast, Vinography reviews restaurants as well. Bay Area Bites is decidedly more casual and entertaining to read. I also like EGullet and Mouthfuls. Where was I before Al Gore invented the internet and how did I manage?

Round Up

2006-02-28T12:56:00.000-08:00

Cinema
Good - Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were Rabbit
Bad - Eros
Fugly - Footballers Wive$

Previews
The Fountain
Ice Age 2: Meltdown
V for Vendetta
Hard Candy
Miami Vice
A Scanner Darkly
The Libertine

Cellar
Red - Ciacci Pic Aragona Brunello
White - Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio DOC Colli Orientali del Friuli 1998
Sparkling - Veuve Ambal Cremant de Borbogne Carte de Coeur

Coffee Cocktails
Coin Diva
Combine 4 oz strong brewed hot coffee, 1 oz Godiva chocolate creme liqueur, 1 oz Godiva chocolate liqueur and 3/4 oz Cointreau in glass coffee mug. Enjoy

Cafe Gates
Combine 3 oz strong hot brewed coffee, 1 oz Tia Maria, 1 oz Grand Marnier, 1 oz dark Creme de Caco in coffee mug. Top with whipped creme. Thin straws.

Insured Travel

2006-02-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

To get to Italy, travel insurance is mandatory. There are several types of such insurance -

TRIP CANCELATION COVERAGE

reimburses if you cant travel because of illness/death in immediate family (need doctor's note), bad weather, airline strike, terrorism, loss of pay (job) or filing bankruptcy, losing home to flood or fire or (gasp) jury duty
recommended for everyone who thinks the trip is of significant expense, or if you have pre-existing health conditions (check clauses)

TRIP INTERRUPTION INSURANCE

if you have to cut your trip short from the above; otherwise same items apply

TRAVEL DELAY INSURANCE

pays you back for hotel, food or clothing expenses incured from a late flight; some also provide for a connection to a cruise already in progress to the next port of call
recommended for anyone whos itinerary makes missing the start of a trip a possibility; don't make tight connections

MEDICAL INSURANCE

emergency medical and dental care whileo n vacation
recommended for travelers not covered with their own helath care policies while on a trip; check your policy and with the consulate of the overseas country to confirm

BAGGAGE LOSS INSURANCE

covers loss or theft of luggae during the trip; each policy generally caps the amount it will pay per item and in total, with specific limits on jewelry and laptop computers
recommended for thoe withour homeowner's or renter's insurance, or who are not covered for lost or stolen baggae through your credit card company or airlines

ACCIDENTAL DEATH INSURANCE

compensates beneficiaries should you die on vacation
are you crazy? If you need life insurance, you should buy life insurance.

Other Name

2006-02-26T18:10:00.000-08:00

I always buy roses before a party. They should last a week to ten (1) days after.

Cut an inch off the stems under water when you get home or an air bubble will choke the xylem and phloem
Use clean sharp knives or garden shears for a clean cut
Use a floral preservative (commercial); I prefer dunking some Sprite or 7-Up for its combination of sugar and citrus. One packet preservative per half liter of water. Do not skimp. Packets are usually free from your florist. It is like soy sauce.
Gently pinch off guard petals (on the outside). Follow any instructions that come with the flowers.
Do not keep roses in sunlight, extreme temperatures or drafts.
Stick a straight pin in its neck if it is bowing: eke out a day or more of beauty.

I buy my roses from Safeway (so I know they are from South America) , my house is always at 68 degrees, and I protect from sunlight. I get a good 10 days.

Dining Beijing

2006-02-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

The menu at Beijing's latest venue for its growing army of gourmets is eye-watering rather than mouth-watering. China's cuisine is renowned for being "in your face" - from the skinned dogs displayed at food markets to the kebabbed scorpions sold on street stalls - and there is no polite way of describing Guo-li-zhuang. Situated in an elegantly restored house beside Beijing's West Lake, it is China's first speciality penis restaurant. Here, businessmen and government officials can sample the organs of yaks, donkeys, oxen and even seals. In fact, they have to, since they form part of every dish - except for those containing testicles. Of course, there are other restaurants that serve the bian of individual animals. But this is the first that brings them all together. Guolizhuang's owner, who set it up in November, is proud to combine his own surname (Guo), his wife's (Li) and his son's nickname (Zhuang) into its title. A booking comes with a trained waitress and a nutritionist in attendance, to explain the menu and to boast its medicinal virtues. In China, you are what you eat, and the clients were mainly men eager to improve their yang, or virility. Women could benefit, too, but the testosterone might interfere in fertility. But many women say bian is good for the skin.

Some dishes appear unexceptional, such as the simple goat penis, sliced, dipped in flour, fried, and served skewered with soy sauce. But Guolizhuang also has its showpieces, such as the elegantly named "Head crowned with a Jade Bracelet" (provided by horses from the western Muslim region of Xin-jiang), for £20 a portion, or "Dragon in the Flame of Desire" (yak, steamed whole, fried and flambéed) for £35. For beginners, Miss Zhu recommended the hotpot, which offers a sampling of what the restaurant has to offer - six types of penis, and four of testicle, boiled in chicken stock by the waitress, Liu Yunyang, 22. The Russian dog was first. It was julienned, and rather gamey. The ox was, of all six, the most recognisable for what it was, even though it had been diced. In texture seemed identical to gristle. The deer and the Mongolian goat were surprisingly similar: a little stringy, they had the appearance and feel of overcooked squid tentacles. The Xinjiang horse and the donkey, on the other hand, were quite different. Though both came sliced lengthwise, and looked like bacon, the horse was light and fatty, while the donkey had a firm colour and taste. The testicles were slightly crumbly, and tasted better with lashings of the sesame, soy and chilli dips thoughtfully provided.

One speciality, Canadian seal penis, costs a hefty £220, and requires ordering in advance. Miss Liu confessed that Guo-li-zhuang was an unusual place to work, partly because of her training - she has to recite tales proving the vigour of the animals in question as they are being eaten - and partly because of the interaction with the clientele. As for the supposed health benefits, Mr Liu, the most regular customer, was uncertain but hopeful.

Tea Time

2006-02-24T19:58:00.000-08:00

The next project/compulsion is the traditional tea room (茶室, cha-shitsu), designed simply and exclusively for taking tea and located within a home. Around the world, this would be a tea house or salon de the. Interestingly, cha is universally tea (in multiple Indian languages, spoken Mandarin and Farsi). Tea rooms in Japan and India are usually small wooden buildings located in remote, quiet areas or in the gardens or grounds of larger houses. Their design is heavily influenced by Zen Buddhist principles. A tea house is typically surrounded by a small garden often featuring a water pool with a waiting area for guests and a roji (路地, dewy path) leading to the tea house. I am not breaking any walls. The tea house itself is usually built of wood (bamboo mainly) and the only entrance/exit is a small square door which symbolically separates the small simple quiet inside from the crowded overwhelming chaotic outside world, thus encouraging humility (you got to bow to get in) from the hosts and guests as you kneel to enter the room. Tea houses consist of two (2) rooms: one for the preparation of food, snacks and tea supplies, and another for holding the tea ceremony itself. The main room is extremely small, often 4.5 tatami mats, and with low ceilings. There is to be no furniture, except for what is required for the preparation of tea. There will usually be a charcoal pit (炉, ro) in the center of the room for boiling water for tea. This is a fire hazard. Guests and hosts sit seiza style on the floor. There is to be little decoration. There will be a tokonoma (scroll alcove) holding a scroll of calligraphy and perhaps a simple small flower arrangement, the cha-bana (茶花). All materials are purposefully simple and rustic. All doors and windows are traditionally Japanese shoji (thin strips of balsa wood covered in translucent rice paper permitting outside light entry. The floor is built a few feet above the ground to keep the room dry.

Tea houses were first introduced in the Sengoku period when the central government had nearly no practical power, the country was in chaos and wars/uprisings were commonplace. Seeking to reclaim Japan, the samurai were busy acquiring and defending territories, promoting trade and overseeing the output of farms, mills and mines. The poor sought the salvation of Buddhism. I am reinventing the tea room because I simply love to take tea with friends.

Week in Cognac

2006-02-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

Cognac facts

Cognac is double distilled brandy from wine in copper alambic pot stills. The distillation is in the Cognac region in western France just north of Bordeaux. That from Germain-Robin grapes in Ukiah, California, is just brandy. So faux pas to call them cognac.
Ugni Blanc (called Trebbiano in Italy) is the main grape used in cognac for its high yield, hardiness and natural acidity. It is France's most planted white grape varietal. The four preimary designated districts for growth are Grande and Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois.
Grapes are fermented into wine and then wine distilled into eau de vie (water of life) which is then barrel aged to cognac. Cognac, per law, should be aked in French oak cooperage for at least 2.5 years but most age longer. It does not develop until at least the age of five and character needs at least a decade. Exceptional Cognacs are allowed to mature as long as 60 years. To halt the aging, they are transferred from barrels to glass demijohns (unlike wine, brandy will not improve with age in bottles) which are sequestered in dark musty recesses of ancient cellars for blending with other cognacs of variable age.
Classification is by the age of its youngest component eau de vie

VS (Very Special) has a minimum age of 2.5 years
VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale): 4.5 years
XO (Extra Old): 6.5 years, a category created in 1870 by Hennessy for the family's private blend

Hennessy Paradis Extra $250
House of Hine Triomphe $345
Martell Cordon Bleu $180
Hennessy XO ($110)
Landy VS ($25)
Meukow 90 VS Vanilla Cognac ($37)

Tasting tips

Avoid heating snifter over flame. It releases alcohol that masks the flavor
Warm snifter by cupping in your hands. Plural.
Open mouth slightly when inhaling. Do not snore
Swirling in snifter aerates it and releases more aroma. Swirl gently.
Fill only the bottom 20% of the snifter.
Use distiller's glass for best tasting. Round bulbous bottom narrows into concentrating chimney.
Tip snifter to watch for the legs of the spirit (thin film adhering to the side) - longer the legs, the older the cognac.
Most VS and VSOP designations have color added (younger) but no color needed for XO or older
Very old cognacs are susceptible to air and light. Recork ASAP to prevent evaporation and oxidation.
Some Russians drink Remy martin Louis XIII with bourbon. Sweet

American Life

2006-02-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

A block near ABC News world HQ in New York has been renamed after the anchor of "World News Tonight" who dies of lung cancer last August. This is a part of 66th between Columbus Ave and Central Park. Jennings was Canadian and his well wishers hoped it would remind journalists and passers-by of his life and legacy. I just call it the smoking section.

Hello Dahlia

2006-02-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

It is time to plant some bulbs this coming weekend. The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico as the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala are the origin of its ancestors. 16th century Spanish conquistadors' accompanying botanists discovered the tree dahlia (D. imperialis, or acoct). The flowers of this specied were open-centered single blooms with pendant stems. The hollow stems, up to over 20 feet, were used for hauling water or an actual source of water to traveling hunters.

Two hundred (200) years passed before dahlia seeds, roots and plants got to Europe where they were dispersed from the Real Jardin Botanico in Madrid. Initial breeders were more interested in the tuber as a food source as the blooms were boring. From 1810 to 1840, dahlias were popular for their globular shape. As with many other breeding projects, interest soon waned. In 1872, a box of roots was sent from Mexico to Holland. Devastatingly, only one tuber made the crossing but produced a brilliant red bloom with petals that were rolled back and pointed. Immediately, they became popular (D. juarezi).

The American Dahlia Society categorizes dahlias into groups based on size, form and color. The ideal garden dahlia blooms early, maintains its vigor for the season and provides an array of bloom from first bloom until frost. They branch freely. Some popular varieties are Santa Claus, Bert Pitt and Fire Mountain. Dahlias suitable as cut flowers should be vigorous, basally branching and produce many harvestable stems with few side shoots. Good vase life is of utmost importance: a long stem and an ability to be transported without significant bruising. Color is more improtant than anything else. The popular ones are Karma Bon Bini, Karma Lagoon, Karma Amanda, Ferncliff Cooper and Arabian Night. Border/container dahlias appear in the exhibition circuit and are the draw for the general public. They are 12-20 inches high and require very little support. Common ones are Tout a toi and Claudette,

Hotels 2006

2006-02-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

Ranking of the best hotels, value for money.

Personal recommendations:

Napa:

Auberge du Soleil: romantic, dining
Meadowood Napa Valley: croquet players must wear white
Villagio Inn and Spa: south facing rooms only

City:

Four Seasons: book above 10th floor only
Mandarin Oriental: Asian tea service in bento box; get bridge to bridge room
Ritz-Carlton: made to order sushi in lounge

Chicago

Four Seasons: Seasons lunch menu!
Park Hyatt: Eames chairs in room, get east facing grand deluxe room
Peninsula Chicago: green te abody treatment on rooftop spa; book northeast room
Ritz-Carlton: book deluxe southeast side room; skylit pool is heated
Sofitel Water Tower: rooms above 20th floor ending in -01 have great bathrooms

Vegas

Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas: desert stargazing sessions included
Bellagio: fried mac & cheese at Fix restaurant; dancing fountains
Four Seasons: Strip views; Verandah lounge
Venetian: Bouchon; Venezia towers have private concierge and evening cocktails

New York City

The Carlyle: evening cabaret; central park view (book room 2101)
Four Seasons: south facing deluxes on 29th floor get natural light
The Lowell: book large Lowell King (nice bathrooms)
Mandarin Oriental: 24/7 Thomas Pink room service; Hudson facing rooms
The Michelangelo: complimentary limo service to the Street in the morning
New York Palace: Palace high tea in the Villard Bar and Lounge
Peninsula New York: Grand Luxe room overlooking Fifth; glass enclosed pool
The Pierre: parkview rooms on the 39th floor
Ritz-Carlton Battery Park: Harbor view rooms; 14th floor Rise bar
Ritz-Carlton Central Park: free in-town transport in the hotel Maybach (woo-hoo!)
St. Regis: custom facial in Remede spa; book deluxe room ending in -28
Waldorf Towers at Waldorf Astoria: book east facing room for terrace; Peacock's Alley

Londontown

Claridge's: Bond Street
The Connaught: Mayfair. Book front rooms overlooking Carlos Place
The Conrad: edible martinis at Aquasia; book RiverSuites to see the London Eye
The Dorchester: China Tang restaurant; book park view rooms (smaller)
Dukes: rooms ending in -04 overlook the entrance
Four Seasons Hotel: Victoria Lanes bar; book room 706, 910 or 927 to see Big Ben
Four Seasons Hotel, Canary Wharf: Deluxe rooms overlook Thames
The Goring: Garden Views with monster beds; lunhc in private garden
The Lanesborough: 1st and 2nd floor rooms have highest ceilings
The Ritz: Champagne tea; 424-427 & 524-527 are large; 522 & 622 over Green Park
The Stafford: Carriage House; hotel's private cellar tastings

Amalfi Coast

Hotel Santa Caterina: lemon massage; superior rooms (21-24)
Il San Pietro: on site chapel; deluxes are larger (little bit)
Le Sirenuse: all deluxes have sea views
Palazzo Sasso: king doubles on 1st -3rd floor; Rosellini's restaurant

Capri

Capri Palace Hotel and Spa: anti aging spa treatments (sure); pool facing on third floor
Grand Hotel Quisisana: cliff walk to Tragara
La Scalinatella: poolside lunch; 25 junior suites

Florence

Grand Hotel Villa Medici: aperitifs at Jockey Bar; 5th floor penthouse or 1st floor doubles
Hotel Continentale: 302, 402, 502 and 602 overlook Arno and Ponte Vecchio
Hotel Savoy: 5th f loor executive rooms; Signoria and Brunelleschi suites; Incontro Bar
Westin Excelsior: doubles on 5th floor overlook rvier

Roma

Hotel Hassler: Sunday brunch; 4th and 7th floors redone recently
Hotel de Russie: 425 has its own garden; 529 has the same view but larger; afternoon tea
St Regis Grand Hotel: Superior rooms have balconies' private Di Vino wine cellar tastings
Westin Excelsior: deluxes have view of Via Veneto; H cocktail at H Club Doney

Cambodia

Raffles Hotel Le Royal (Phnom Penh): cocktails in colonial Elephant Bar (not in Concord)
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor (Siem Reap): four poster beds; Le Grand restaurant
Sofitel Royal Angkor Resort (Siem Reap): ground floor room terraces lead to pool

Beijing

Grand Hyatt: rooms ending in -08 on floors 16-18 overlook Forbidden City
Peninsula Palace: club level rooms have more perks; cuisine school!
St Regis: east facing rooms overlook diplomatic gardens

Hong Kong

The Conrad: above the 50th floor
The InterContinental: Harborview rooms; hot tub on outdoor pool deck
Island Shangri-La: Petrus restaurant; ending in -01 through -016 on floors 48-55
JW Marriott Hotel: higher floors overlook harbor; 7th floor outdoor pool
Kowloon Shangri-La: Horizon Club rooms; Teppanyaki at Nadaman restaurant
Peninsula Hong Kong: ending in -11 and -12 ar eplush yet affordable
Ritz-Carlton: Peak View rooms overlook Victoria Peak and the harbor

Shanghai

Four Seasons: 37th floor jazz bar
Grand Hyatt: Bund View rooms look across the river; Chinese Fast food at Food Live
Portman Ritz-CarltonPudong Shangri-La: south facing rooms on 8th floor and above
St. Regis: rooms overlooking Puxi across river; Danieli's

India

Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra): higher floor Deluxes have terraces
Oberoi Rajvilas (Jaipur): luxury tents have teak floors and embroidered canopies
Rambagh Palace (Jaipur): doubles in Garden Wing have good light
Taj Mahal Palace and Tower (Bombay): Taj yacht takes you to Elephanta Caves
Taj Mahal Hotel (Delhi): Taj Club rooms have personal butler; Tejas Spa massages
Taj Palace (Delhi): Masala Art restaurant; deluxe room has good city views
Taj Lake Palace (Udaipur): Jive Spa; Luxury rooms have claw-footed tub

Bali

Amandari: Valley suites have outdoor sunken rubs; Balinese dance lessons (yep)
Amankila: Pool Suite with private stone walled plunge pool. I can die now
Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay: villas 101-109 are closest to the beach
Four Seasons Resort at Sayan: elevated riverfront villas are serene; sunset yoga class
Grand Hyatt Resort: ground floor rooms open to the garden
Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort and Spa: club rooms have nice perks; Martini Club

Singapore

Conrad Centennial: ending in -01 overlook Fountain of Wealth
Four Seasons Hotel: Corner PReimer rooms overlook Orchard Road
Grand Hyatt: grand wing rooms have garden views
Meritus Mandarin: upgrade to Premier room
Raffles Hotel: afternoon tea; book room away from the shopping arcade
Raffles The Plaza: raindrop showers in Raffles Inc rooms
Ritz-Carlton Millenia: Premier suites overlook Marina Bay; great art collection

Bangkok

Four Seasons Hotel: private cabana rooms with gardens and skylit bathrooms
Grand Hyatt Erawan: Grands on higher floors for views
Oriental Bangkok: split level garden rooms in the Old Wing
Peninsula Bangkok: ending in -08 and -12 overlook Buddhist temples; private canal tours
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers: Tower Deluxe rooms for access to lounge
Shangri-La Hotel: ending in -25 have balconies and river views
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit: back facing rooms have great views
Sukhothai: Large Garden Suites have lily pond views; Zuk bar

Blog Anniversary

2006-02-19T21:02:00.000-08:00

I wonder how many bloggers it takes to change a light bulb.

1 to change the light bulb and then live blog post that the light bulb has been changed
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and posit how the light bulb could have been, in fact, changed differently.
7 to caution the dangers inherent to the act/event of Changing A Light Bulb
27 to point out spelling, grammar and syntax errors in posts about Changing Light Bulbs
41 to correct speling/grammer flames
6 to argue where it is "lightbulb" or "Light Bulb"
an additional 6 to condemn the aforementioned 6 as anal-retentive
2 industry professional to inform the blog readership that the proper term is "Lamp"
27 to post Guest Comments with URL's where one can see examples of different Lamps
12 to post to the blog that they will no onger post to the blog because they simply cannot handle the Lamp/Light Bulb controversy
4 to suggest that these posters should perhaps request the Lamp FAQ
44 immediate postings asking "What is an FAQ" or iterations thereof
2 to post reasons why the Lamp burning out is probably the result of a government conspiracy or Footballers' Wive$
4 to say "Didn't we cover this a few posts ago?"
43 to calmly nudge "Do a Google search on "Light Bulbs", you moron."
5 to say "Thx"
1 lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now. Lather, rinse and repeat. I thought he was dead already. Now I can catch up with him and we can take tea together. At last.

Happy One-Year Anniversay, SBlog!

Global Dominance

2006-02-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

Our imperial leaders (and I do not mean the purveyors of fine goods like Coca-Cola, the super sized Happy Meal and WalMart) have the shared goal of spreading the American moral code across the seas in bits and bytes. A group posits that there exists a covert coven of people with the shared objective of asserting our military power abroad. Most are defense industry contractors.

Spy Aware

2006-02-17T14:05:00.000-08:00

Technology is brilliant as long as it is on your side. I have sustained an informational collapse of enormous magnitude arising from malicious spyware that made it into the workstation. Spyware is software that can display advertisements (such as pop up ads), collect information about you, or change settings on your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent.

You might have some form of spyware on your computer if:

you notice new toolbars, links or favorites that you did not wnat or place in your web browser
your default home page, mouse pointer, or search program changes
you type the address for a specific web site (e.g., a search engine you favor), but are taken to another web site without notice
you see a lot of pop-up ads, even if you are not on the internet
your computer suddenly performs slowly or seems unstable.

Some spyware might not have any symptoms at all. Its purpose is to collect information from you and your computer. Installing an antispyware program can help scan your computer to find and remove spyware. Spyware is most commonly installed through free software, such as file sharing programs, screen savers, or search toolbars. Some spyware can be installed from a web site directly. You can minimize the threat using high securitys settings. Some spyware is installed through pop-up windows of free software that requires you to accept a downloadable file.

Week in Wine

2006-02-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY

2004 Chappellet Napa Valley Chardonnay ($28)
2004 Cosentino Napa Valley Chardonnay ($28)
2004 Flora Springs Barrel Fermented Napa Valley Chardonnay ($25)
2004 Hagafen Oak Knoll District Napa Valley Chardonnay ($18)
2003 Hendry Blocks 9 & 21 Napa Valley Chardonnay ($25)
2004 The Hess Collection Napa Valley Chardonnay ($18)
2004 Merryvale Starmont Napa Valley Chardonnay ($20)
2004 Napa Valley Vineyards Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay ($15)
2003 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay ($20)
2004 Screw Kappa Napa Napa Valley Chardonnay ($13)

FRENCH VALUE WINES
Whites
2003 Andre et Michel Quenard Les Abymes Vin de Savoie ($10)
2004 Chateau Ducasse Bordeaux (white) ($12)

Reds
2001 Chateau de Perron Madiran ($11.25)
2003 Chateau Saint Martin de la Garrigue Cuvee Tradition Coteaux du Languedoc ($9.25)
2003 Clos La Coutale Cahors ($12)
2004 Cuvee Selectionee par Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone ($11.25)
2004 Cuvee Selectionee par Kermit Lynch Vin de Table du Vaucluse ($9)
2003 Domaine D'Aupilhac Lou Maset Coteaux du Languedoc ($12)
2003 Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres ($10)
2004 Marenco Pirona Piemonte Barbera ($10)

Riding Shotgun

2006-02-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

Shotgun Pellet Causes Cardiac Event In Victim
Sometimes this thing writes itself.

Bullet injuries are most severe in friable solid organs like the liver and brain where damage may be caused by temporary cavitation remote from the actual bullet track. Dense (like bone) and loose (like fat) tissues are more resistant to bullet injury. Shotgun injuries differ substantially from rifle and handgun wounds as they contain multiple metal pellets (shot) and do not have rifled barrels (pellets do not spin). The size of shotgun cartridges is not measured in caliber but in gauge. A higher gauge means a smaller diameter. Shots spread apart after leaving the barrel of the gun and their velocity rapidly decreases. As they spread with increasing range, their area of distribution increases and the energy per pellet decreases thus they have far greater wounding potential (than bullets). The combined mass of multiple pellets spread over a small area can produce massive destruction of soft tissue and bone. In addition most of the combustion gases enter the victim. Large pellets are known as buckshot and smaller ones are called birdshot. Most injuries encountered in clinical practice involve birdshot.