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Thursday, December 17, 2009
Life as a Writer
Neil asked me my opinion.
"I haven't read it," I replied. "But I've heard it's really good."
And then the passer-by asked Neil if he could recommend a book in turn.
Neil picked a copy of Scar Night from the shelf and handed it to him. "The author's on the phone," he said, "if you want to speak to him."
I remember feeling suddenly uneasy. He's going to feel obliged to buy my book now. What if he hates it?
My phone woke me at 3am. Groggily, I answered. It was Neil.
"I'm at a party," he said. "Ian Rankin is here. Do you want to talk to him?"
"Eh?" Before I had a chance to figure out what was happening, a new voice came over the phone. Now, I've never spoken to Ian Rankin, but I know that he's Scottish. And the accent in my ear was about about as far from being Scottish as the White Cliffs of Dover.
Neil, the bastard, had woken me up at 3am to speak to some random dude at a party who – for some unfathomable reason – was pretending to be Ian Rankin. They were probably all pissed, and I was not happy. I can't remember exactly what I said to – or possibly shouted at – the unfortunate guy, but I think I made it clear that I thought his accent was ridiculous and he wasn't fooling anyone. Then I hung up.
Flipping cheek.
But as I calmed down, I realised that Neil hadn't said "Ian Rankin" at all. He'd said "Robert Rankin", the very successful Brighton-based Fantasy author.
I met Robert a few months later and apologised.
I played Monopoly with my agent, Simon, and my partner, Caragh. It was an ancient Monopoly set and most of the money had been replaced by bits of paper with the denominations scrawled across them. I knew Simon was cheating, and he knew I was cheating. At every opportunity we snatched street cards and notes from the bank, completing sets by subterfuge.
As the game went on, the cheating became more blatant and outrageous. Whole sets vanished into our hands. Mortgaged properties mysteriously flipped round again. Hotels sprung up when nobody was looking.
Caragh refused to play with us any more.
We finished the evening by pinging little green Monopoly houses into the fire.
A friend I've not seen for a while emailed me. He'd been given the task of looking after an independent assessor assigned to his workplace. Chatting with the guy, my friend discovered that he was an avid SFF fan and was currently halfway through Scar Night. So he asked him what he thought of it. The guy said he was really enjoying it, and planned to buy the second book.
These are the little things that make this job worthwhile.
Another friend emailed me from Canada to say he'd seen a couple of my books in a shop over there. I didn't know you could buy them in Canada. Little things again.
When Simon phoned to tell me that Bantam had bought the US rights to Scar Night, I was on holiday in Paris, standing on top of the Eiffel Tower.
We had the launch for Scar Night in Edinburgh. Iain Banks came along, and then very kindly took us all out to his favourite Indian restaurant for a curry. Between courses, a few of us nipped out for a sly cigarette with Iain.
After Iain went back inside, my partner's dad Jim, said, "I've been reading his book about whisky. The strange thing is, I'd just last night finished the part where he talks about nipping outside this restaurant for a sly cigarette."
The day after the book launch, I drove Hal Duncan, my editor Peter Lavery, and my agent Simon Kavanagh back to my place, which is out in the country. The sun was shining and Hal and Simon sang "Road to Amarillo" in ridiculously loud voices.
Whenever I hear that song now, it makes me smile.
I travelled to London once to have my photo taken for a magazine. The photographer was one of the most interesting people I've ever met. He'd photographed Mother Teresa, Donald Trump and Kylie Minogue, and, while I could have listened to his stories for hours, I felt like I owed him an apology for him having to travel across London to take a picture of me.
I dislike having my picture taken at the best of times, but its worse when the photographer is a professional and they have all the Paparazzi-style flashes and lenses, and it's out in public somewhere. The passers-by are all thinking "Who is that idiot? I don't recognise him."
At moments like these you are very aware of your cheap suit jacket.
Ghosts have been seen at my editor's villa in Italy. It's an old, old house, but very beautiful. One guest claims to have seen a whole family standing around his bed in the dead of night.
Simon and I were sitting in the living room one evening, drinking wine, when I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye – a shadow seemed to have just darted across the hallway. A short while later, it happened again. I couldn't tell you what shape it was, just that it was dark and moved quickly. But whenever I'd turned to look, there was nothing there.
I mentioned this to Simon, who claimed to have seen it himself.
We decided to have a séance.
The Scrabble board supplied the letters. We upturned a glass to use as a planchette.
"Is there anybody there?"
The glass under our fingers began nudging letters. YES.
"Where are you?"
This is the abode of the dead. (I Googled it). Now this meant that spirits really do exist, or that Simon had been steering the glass. Therefore, it had to be Simon. He denied it vigorously. I persisted. He continued to deny it. I had another think about this. Spirits of the dead? No, it had to be Simon.
Okay. Finally he admitted it.
The next day I sneaked up to his room while he was out. I took a piece of string and threaded it through the gap between the door and the frame, and then ran it across the front of one of the bookshelves next to the door. Finally I looped the string behind a tatty old paperback and sandwiched the end between two other books. In this way, one could pull on the string from outside the door, thus causing the paperback to leap from the shelf.
My trap set, I waited until dark.
After Simon went to bed, I crept out into the hall and yanked the string.
From the other side of the door came the satisfying thud of the book landing on the floor.
The next day we got to speaking about ghosts again. Simon told me what had happened. Frustratingly, he wasn't the nervous wreck I'd been hoping for. All these things have a rational explanation, after all.
If you're reading this Simon, sorry about that.
12 comments:
- Mnemosyne said...
When I first started reading these little blurbs, I was incredibly confused; then I realized that they didn't really have any relation to each other. Silly me.
Did you speak to the person in the bookstore with your brother? I imagine something like that would be highly unnerving. - 10:25 pm
- Alan Campbell said...
I did speak to him, and he bought the book. I just hope he likes it.
- 11:33 am
- Afront said...
Great post Alan, didn't Ken Macleod join the smoking posse at Scar Night Waterstone's too?
p.s. I just blogged about my Top 10 Favourite Books of the Year. You might recognize one.
p.p.s Did you see Isa & the Filthy Tongues had a new album out?
Best wishes, Jer - 12:25 pm
- Alan Campbell said...
Yes, I believe he did.
I just read your blog post and laughed out loud. Brilliant! I remember the Iron Angel launch well.
Thanks Jer. You've cheered me up for the day. - 12:29 pm
- Neal Asher said...
Ghosts in that particular Tuscan villa? Yes, probably pink elephants and six-foot tall rats too.
I would guess that playing monopoly with Simon would have its element of GTA in it. - 12:55 pm
- chad said...
Hi Alan
Just wanted to say that after finding Scar Night by pure chance, Iron Angel and God of Clocks became the only books that I have ever preordered. I made sure to get them signed from Goldsboro. I have followed your blog for some time now. Thanks and keep writing PLEASE. - 4:07 pm
- Alan Campbell said...
Thanks for the comment, Chad. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series.
- 6:40 pm
- ben said...
Hey Alan.
Oh man, you haven't read "The Name of the Wind"? It would have to be one of my favourite fantasy books, alongside Scar Night :)
Oh and I finally get God of Clocks next week- Xmas present from Mum ^_^
Well have a merry christmas, and keep up the good work.
Keep it up. - 8:50 am
- Anthony said...
He he. Very nice vignettes. Some day I fantasize that I'll quit my day job and just write and drink wine with cool people. Then I'll accumulate more stories like these.
At the moment my vignettes are more like:
"I woke up at 5 am and wrote until 7. Then I hit the office and started work on [insert unannounced video game title here]. After that I picked up the kids from day care and opted to slam mac and cheese together for dinner rather than homemade curry because I was just too damn tired. I fell asleep by 9 after reading a chapter of X book...only to wake up feeling like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day."
BTW, Alan, thanks so much for the post pointing to my website. Really appreciate it! - 2:53 pm
- Alan Campbell said...
Thank you, Anthony, for telling us what that agent said.
- 2:55 pm
For some reason, I always imagine you, Iain Banks and Ian Rankin living in a flat together, and having banal arguments about who's turn it is to buy the whisky.
Occasionaly Irvine Welsh or Alexander McCall Smith pop round for a cup of tea.... - 9:56 am
Hey, I'm a fourteen year old girl in cananda reading your book, Scar Night, and i'd just like to say it's one of the best i've ever read, and I read a lot of books. I found your book on a shelf in Chapters, and it litarily called to me as i passed, i can't even begin to truly explain the feeling. But, I just wanted to say that I love your book and all of the characters in it. I also love the description, and I'm trying to write my first novel, so I love when the image of something can be painted into your mind.
- 11:11 pm


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Traders' forecasts for U.S. corn stockpiles are missing official estimates by an amount equal to China's annual imports, driving swings in futures markets to exchange-imposed limits.
The average gap in the past 12 quarters was 5.28 million metric tons, twice the error rate in the previous five years, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The U.S. Department of Agriculture updates its estimates tomorrow.
Reserves are getting tougher to predict because of an expansion of storage capacity on farms that isn't tracked by government inspectors and increased use of alternatives to corn in animal feed. The widening gaps spurred the USDA in September to commission a one-year review of its methodology. Limits on price moves set by the Chicago Board of Trade were reached after nine of 12 reports since March 2010, with an average swing of 5.6%, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
"USDA, traders and consumers are all frustrated by the volatility of the numbers," said Diana Klemme, a director at Grain Service Corp., an industry consultant in Atlanta, Georgia. "Everyone is going to fasten their seat belts and react to the numbers. I don't think anyone feels confident."
Inventories were 2.862 billion bushels (72.7 million tons) on June 1, the smallest for the date since 1997, according to the average of 30 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The USDA's last estimate for March 1 was 8.1% above expectations and drove a drop in prices that erased $4.9 billion from the value of stockpiles in two days.
Output Rebounds
Futures for delivery in December, after the harvest, fell 4.5% to $5.4175 a bushel this month. The USDA is forecasting a record crop as output rebounds from last year's drought, the worst since the 1930s. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. expects corn to drop as low as $4.25 this year while Deutsche Bank AG is forecasting $4.30.
The Standard & Poor's GSCI Agriculture Index of eight commodities fell 7.8% this month, and the MSCI All- Country World Index of equities dropped 3.5%. Treasuries lost 1.6%, a Bank of America Corp. index shows. Declining crop prices are helping to keep a check on global food costs, which the United Nations estimates rose 2% this year.
U.S. farmers earned more than $112 billion in each of the past two years, with a record $128.2 billion expected in 2013. That compares with $67.7 billion on average in the previous decade, government data show. Some of the cash was used to expand storage, with on-farm capacity of 12.98 billion bushels by Dec. 1, the most since at least 1989, the USDA estimates. The 12% expansion since 2006 compares with a 17% advance in commercial storage to 10.25 billion bushels.
Actual Inventory
On-farm storage gives producers more options for when they sell crops. About 61% of corn is marketed in the first six months of the season that starts Sept. 1, with about 19% sold in each of the next three-month periods, nine years of government data show.
"Farmers are holding more supplies than usual this year, making it more difficult to determine the actual inventory," said Jason Marthaler, the senior corn merchandiser for CHS Inc., the biggest U.S. cooperative, in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. "It's going to stay volatile until we get to the harvest."
With reduced supply from 2012, higher-than-average income and planting for this year's crop delayed by rain, farmers have been reluctant sellers, said Chad Henderson, the president of Prime Agricultural Consultants Inc. in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Growing State
Corn futures for delivery in July, reflecting grain from 2012, rose 9.1% to $6.6525 since reaching a 10-month low of $6.10 on April 24. Cash prices in parts of Iowa, the biggest growing state, averaged the highest ever this year, according to Roger Fray, the executive vice president for the farmer-owned West Central Cooperative based in Ralston, Iowa.
Tightening supplies before the 2013 harvest are boosting the cost of feed, the single biggest use of corn, Joe F. Sanderson Jr., the founder of Laurel, Mississippi-based Sanderson Farms Inc., the third-largest U.S. poultry producer, told analysts on a conference call June 4.
Inventory-forecasting errors occur mostly because of a lack of information on feed, which the USDA doesn't track directly. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg said they estimate stockpiles based on USDA production and export data, as well as the Department of Energy's estimates of ethanol output. They also take into account seasonal demand patterns for starch and other corn-based food products.
Compound Feed
Prices rose to a record in $8.49 in August, forcing buyers to seek alternatives or shut operations. Hog producers have been able to cut corn use in some cases by 18% by substituting wheat, rice and other food byproducts, said Mark Tarter, the general manager of Effingham Equity Cooperative in Effingham, Illinois, which makes more than 200,000 tons of feed a year. It takes 670 pounds of compound feed, a mix of protein, starch and nutrients, to raise a hog to slaughter weight.
"Livestock feeders have most of their corn needs covered into the start of the harvest," Tarter said. "We've been a net seller of corn during the last three months because of the increased substitution of other grains in livestock rations."
The USDA's March report had a margin of error for on-farm corn storage of 4.8%, 5% for soybeans and 5.4% for wheat. Three years earlier, it was 3% for corn, 4.6% for soybeans and 4.2% for wheat.
The government also releases its second survey-based forecast for corn planting tomorrow, after the wettest March-to- May period on record threatened to reduce acreage and yields from North Dakota to Missouri.
Fewer Acres
Corn probably was sown on 95.431 million acres, or 1.9% less than the record 97.282 million farmers intended in March, a Bloomberg survey showed. Some are leaving fields fallow, electing instead to make claims on federally subsidized crop insurance policies, said Bill Gary, the president of Commodity Information Systems in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a company providing analysis and information to traders.
About 65% of the crop was in good or excellent condition on June 23, from 64% the previous week and 56% a year ago, the USDA said. Yields may average 156 bushels an acre this year, the third-highest on record and boosting production to a record 13.62 billion bushels from 10.78 billion last year, Gary said.
"The transition from extremely tight supplies during the summer to a more adequate supply into September and October should keep futures in a nervous, erratic state," he said. "Barring extreme weather in late July, December corn futures are expected to work lower toward the $4 area into harvest."

subset: commoncrawl


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Why Democrats Must Go
You'd think the Democrats would be doing the snoopy dance during this election cycle. They have accomplished so many of the things Obama promised he'd do during the campaign (and his two Chamber Maids, Reid and Pelosi, guaranteed they'd support) so long as Americans elected Democrats to office. We did, and they have accomplished much. Yet, I don't see a great deal of talk about | Read More »


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nvidiaintelftw|Evga GTX680 Signature 2|1188/6208|31582|i5 2500k 4.5GHZ Screenshot doesn't have CPUz im afraid.
Does this look a little odd to you guy's? ... Was going to upload a photo but it'll be easier for me to just type. 3Dmark score - 16743 GPU score - 17825 CPU score 14163 See my system specs for what I'm running.
Cards top run.. Can't touch the 780's or Titan's,lol..GTX 670's | 1085/1567 | P57544 | i7 3930K @ 4.73GHz I think this is about the top for my cards until I get a third..Cpu, I think got more..
I didn't turn it off either, and lookin at the gpu-z shot neither did he ,it shows PhysX is enabled ...


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LAFAYETTE -- A Lafayette man has been charged with reckless endangerment for allegedly pointing a laser at the Sheriff's Air-1 helicopter.
42-year-old Thomas Kurtz, from Naughton Road in the Town of Lafayette, is accused of pointing a green laser beam at the chopper several times around 9:30 Wednesday night as it was flying over the area.
The flight crew was able to pinpoint the source and notified Hancock Air Traffic Control about the incident.
Kurtz was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies without incident.
Investigators say the laser was recovered.
The suspect has been issued an appearance ticket for the Town of Lafayette Court on August 29th, 2012.
Information about the incident will be forwarded to Federal Aviation Administration officials.


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Assalamu alykum we are searching rishtas for my syster from last 5 years but till now we have not find the right one if any rishtas seems to be correct it will get cancelled at a last moment and before 1 year she got a back pain problem its get cured after having medicine and again it came now and she will also get a bad dreams in the night.our entire family is in sink and we are very sad now pls pls do dua for my sister and give powerfull dua |
Brother i would suggest you this Dua for marriage + Signs and Symptoms of Black Magic The reasons of sharing signs and symptoms of black magic is that may be some one did black magic on your family or on your sister. Allah help you and your family Ameen |
by listening manzil duas wiil it help us? pls let me know |


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CIO Magazineby John Moore
7 hours ago #ISGU2014 January International in Orlando - Six pools of 4 and one pool of five #Fastball http://t.co/X8HMItGx9P
5 DecRT @OwenSoundST: Hanover man pilot for CF-18 demo team | Owen Sound Sun Times http://t.co/xWB44HYp2K
4 DecSoftball Canada Releases New CANpitch Program Logo @SoftballCanada http://t.co/5TaBJslVIS
4 DecJust used Tweepi's Flush to unfollow 47 tweeps who weren't following me back. http://t.co/3XszC06Khx
4 Dec2014 #Fastball Tournament List is growing! http://t.co/YNrw3NoE1x


text: What's Hot 2013 Gift Ideas Craft Whiskey Remembering Mandela GALLERIES Ron Livingston Pics 0 15 Back to Top ▲ Ron Livingston Pics Ron Livingston Pics AskMen Editors Livingston has done about as much work on the big and small screens, but he's better known for his television work than for his film appearances. His movie resume includes parts in Swingers (1996), Office Space (1999), Adaptation (2002), and Little Black Book (2004), while his TV credits include Band of Brothers (2001), Sex and the City (2002-03), and Standoff (2006-07). Continue reading Ron Livingston's profile. Next Page


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For 25 years, the Rainforest Alliance has worked to arrest the major drivers of deforestation and environmental destruction. In our 2011 Annual Report, we provide a comprehensive overview of our on-the-ground work and detailed financial information. Click on the image below to browse the interactive version, or download the PDF below that.
Around the world -- in forests and on farms, in kitchens and supermarkets, in classrooms, pressrooms and boardrooms -- the Rainforest Alliance is helping to protect biodiversity, conserve natural resources, reduce climate change and offer economic opportunities to populations in need. See also the UK version of this fact sheet.
Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water, and Camellia sinensis -- the plant from which it is derived -- is cultivated on more than six million acres (2.4 million hectares) around the globe. But how is it grown, and what do you and your customers know about the tea you sell?


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ConnectSite Search |
Find DVDs and VideosTo search the complete collection of DVDs and videos owned by the library, go to the library's home page and click on Databases by Title (also found at the top of this page). Scroll down and click on Library Catalog. To get DVDs only, go to the Advanced Search and change the type box to DVD. To get videos only, go to the Advanced Search and change the type box to VIDEOCASS. To get DVDs and videos together, go to the Advanced Search and change the format box to VM (Visual Media). To find where collections and call numbers are found within the library, see Library Map. Revised: 08/11 |
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Pearl Jam are on the cover of the new issue of Classic Rock as they reach their 20th anniversary.
The brand new Classic Rock features Black Sabbath as one of five special variant covers. Plus free Best Of The Year CD and 2014 calendar! Subscribe Now
Which of the five Classic Rock variant front covers is your favourite?


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Ward 4 voters heading to polls May 3
By JAMIE PATTERSON
Herald Reporter
It has been almost five months since the issue was last heard in a Yazoo County courtroom, but a date has finally been set in the Ward 4 special election.
Ward 4 Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. and former alderwoman Hattie Williams will face off at the polls again as voters make their decision, Tuesday, May 3, 2011.
-------for the rest of the story see The Yazoo Herald printed edition or subscribe to the Digital Edition.----------


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What if Google bought twitter? Launching Google+ may have disputed the rumors that google is looking into buying Twitter, but that does not mean that such is actually the end of these possibilities. For one, although Google had attracted more than25 million users in August, Twitter still has more, with a record of 300 million [...]
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Some Reasons that Google May Just Want to Look into Buying Twitter
Filed Under: Internet, Networking, News, Rumors Tagged With: real time chat, scenario, Search, search deal, social search, social web, twitter


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Most businesses today are almost completely reliant upon technology. It is important to ensure that when disaster strikes, safeguards are in place to mitigate the worst effects of complete loss of both data and essential business processes which can threaten the very existence of an organisation.
TriSys can help you plan for every eventuality, and ensure that you are back up and running in as short as time as possible.


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Village Home | Calendar | Community | Contact us | Maps | Services
The McFarland Police Department creates an Annual Report every year highlighting the services, activities, programs, and crime statistics in the Village. These reports can be viewed by clicking below.
/Departments/Offices/Police/Police Department Annual Reports
McFarland Curfew
15 and under: Sun thru Thurs - 10pm-5am Fri and Sat - 11pm - 5am
Ages 16 and 17: Sun thru Thurs - 11pm - 5am Fri and Sat - Midnight - 5am
Alternate Parking
December 1st - March 31st, 1 am - 7 am.
Vehicles must be parked on the odd side of the street on odd numbered days, and on the even side of the street on even numbered days, between 1 am and 7 am.
Snow Emergency Declaration
In the event of a major snow incident or other circumstance requiring an unusual degree of snow removal, the Chief of Police may declare a snow emergency. This means that no vehicles or other objects may be parked on any portion of a street or roadway, generally between 1 am and 7 am. The Chief of Police does reserve the right to alter these time frames depending on the severity of the snow storm. Residents are encouraged to listen to local radio and/or television broadcasts, check the village website or view the local cable channel for snow emergency declaration information whenever a major snow storm is predicted or expected.
Police Chief: Craig Sherven Office hours: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Office Location: 5915 Milwaukee Street P.O. Box 110 McFarland, WI 53558-0110 EMERGENCY 911 Telephone: (608) 838-3151 Fax: (608) 838-7954 Email: police.dept @mcfarland.wi.us


text: Margaritaville DM900 toolkitBy Andrew Tarantola PO Edit1115L 6 Gadgets to Make Eating Outside Excellent, Even for Pasty CityfolkThe weather's great—albeit in the quadruple digits in some places—why are you eating indoors like a schmuck? These six tools will get you out from the kitchen table and around the picnic table. Welcome to summer. Read… 8/04/11 4:30pm 8/04/11 4:30pmSoulra XL: The 8-Hour Solar Sound System


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36 CFR 1202, Subpart E - Request To Amend Records
- § 1202.70 — Whom should I contact at NARA to amend records about myself?
- § 1202.72 — How does NARA handle requests to amend records?
- § 1202.74 — How will I know if NARA approved my amendment request?
- § 1202.76 — Can NARA deny my request for amendment?
- § 1202.78 — How do I accept an alternative amendment?
- § 1202.80 — How do I appeal the denial of a request to amend a record?
- § 1202.82 — How do I file a Statement of Disagreement?
- § 1202.84 — Can I seek judicial review?
Title 36 published on 2012-07-01
no entries appear in the Federal Register after this date.
This is a list of United States Code sections, Statutes at Large, Public Laws, and Presidential Documents, which provide rulemaking authority for this CFR Part.
This list is taken from the Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules provided by GPO [Government Printing Office].
It is not guaranteed to be accurate or up-to-date, though we do refresh the database weekly. More limitations on accuracy are described at the GPO site.


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Our study focuses on home health nurses' roles in the care of medically complex children. We want to learn about your experience caring for medically complex pediatric clients in a one time, 90-minute focus group.
Participants will receive food and compensation for their time.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.


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New Sony deals roundup (USA+ Europe)
I got some emails from SAR readers with ongoing Sony deals in USA and Europe. Feel free to send me more of them! It's Christmas time and our readers may can find the right present
USA deals:
Super rebates on many Alpha lenses at Amazon (Click here)
Rebates on Sony accessories at Amazon (Click here)
Sony DSC-WX10 deal at Amazon (Click here).
Sony DSC-WX9 deal at Amazon (Click here).
All Sony compact camera deals at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Europe deals:
1) There is a£100 Cashback available on the SAL-70200G at Sony UK
2) For those living in Germany and Austria, the shop xp-tron.de is selling the NEX-5N body for 484 Euro ONLY: There is also a 5 Euro discount coupon code, so the price drops to 479 Euro. The coupon code is: "MGSCDXP-TRON". This is the lowest price I've seen anywhere for a brand-new camera.
3) Kamerahuset.dk have these deals:
NEX-5 body only 1995 DKK ~268 €
NEX-5 with 18-200mm 5995 DKK ~805 €
NEX-VG20EH with 18-200mm and a NEX-5 body included: 15295 DKK ~2055 €
P.S.: You can also comment this post to add your deals!
That's the page to look for German prices on Sony Nex-5N body, and there are several selling the camera for 479,- €
http://www.preissuchmaschine.de/in-Digitalkamera/SLR-10-Megapixel/Sony-NEX-5N.html -
The shop xp-tron.de doesn't look very trustworthy. The menu entries "Über uns" (About us) and "Aktuelles" (News) are empty.
A77 body only still available from japanphoto.no (http://www.japanphoto.no/product/kampanje/nyheter/systemkamera/sony-alpha-slt-a77-kamerahus/) and at a reduced price.
Please Sony… Manual Audio Controls and a Wired Remote for both video and stills. Why no tethering Sony?
Please give pros what they want.
I gave Andreas the link to xp-tron.de and the coupon code.
notebooksbilliger.de is also a good option, but I couldn't find a coupon code for their store to lower the price further.
In the UK the 70-200mm is available from warehouseexpress.com (reputable company) for a hundred quid cheaper and they are also doing the Sony cashback deal.
Here's the PDF showing the cameras and lenses:
Glad to see that the errors in the original LL NEX-7 M-mount lens tests have been acknowledged. I recall several of us who pointed out the obvious errors in the original conclusion came under some attack.
A good start, but it seems that a more thorough test of symmetrical (pseudo-guassian) lenses is in order (and planned if the note at the end is an indicator). If the issues can be easily fixed in PP (as might be the case) then this might turn out not to be such a significant issue. What would be nice is for RAW converters to be able to perform the relevant corrections.
Best Buy UK have 20% off cameras closing down sale, you can pick up the nex-5n for £ 443.98 incl shipping then get the £50 off from Sony smart offers to bring it under £400!
I seem to perceive that you are Italian…
Many cashback from Sony.it and retailers on all Nex, SLT, some flash and some accessories.


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Jessica Banov
In case you've missed the many ads for this country music awards show, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are hosting the popular show for the fifth time. Hurray! When it comes to the task of hosting an awards show, a job that seems to be getting more scrutiny than ever, Paisley and Underwood know what they're doing. They use their likability, sense of humor and fashion sense (well, Underwood does) to create a brisk show that has plenty of memorable moments. While their opening comments capitalize on their personalities, the rest of the show focuses on the other acts and their performances. It's as if the senior class president and the captain of the football team got together to have a party, and then they let their friends be the focus of the whole shebang. Performers include Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and the ubiquitous Taylor Swift. Plus, country power couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will sing separately and together as part of a Willie Nelson tribute. Lady Antebellum and Blake Shelton also will take part in the tribute. A pre-show and red carpet arrivals can be found at CMAawards.com at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. ABC
Because of the debates and the World Series, the scheduling for "The X Factor" has been a little unpredictable. Hopefully that's behind us. The first live performance show for the 16 acts was Wednesday - a day ahead of schedule. It also represented the debut of new hosts Khloé Kardashian Odom and Mario Lopez, who should take note of Underwood and Paisley's style. (See aforementioned comments.) Tonight is the first elimination show, and perhaps we'll get a glimpse at whether viewers agree with the singers the judges like. 8 p.m. Fox
"Scandal" and "The Neighbors" will get full seasons, ABC announced.
Anderson Cooper's talk show "Anderson Live" is a casualty of a crowded talk-show market and will not be back for a third season. Despite format changes, including doing the show live, the show will end next summer.
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Wardell Gray
Wardell Gray
Wardell Gray was one of the top tenors to emerge during the bop era (along with Dexter Gordon and Teddy Edwards). His Lester Young-influenced tone made his playing attractive to swing musicians as well as younger modernists. He grew up in Detroit, playing in local bands as a teenager. Gray was with Earl Hines during 1943-1945, recording with him (1945). That same year, he moved to Los Angeles and he became a major part of the Central Avenue scene, having nightly tenor battles with Dexter Gordon; their recording of "The Chase" was popular. Gray recorded with Charlie Parker in 1947 and yet his style appealed to Benny Goodman, with whom he played the following year. Among his own sessions, his solos on "Twisted" (1949) and "Farmer's Market" (1952) were turned into memorable vocalese by Annie Ross a few years later. Back in New York, Gray played and recorded with Tadd Dameron and the Count Basie septet and big band (1950-1951); "Little Pony," his showcase with the Basie orchestra, is a classic. Gray was featured on some Norman Granz jam sessions ("Apple Jam" has a particularly heated solo) and recorded with Louie Bellson (1952-1953). Ironically, Wardell Gray, who in the late '40s was an inspiration to some younger musicians due to his opposition to drug use, himself became involved in drugs and died mysteriously in Las Vegas on May 25, 1955, when he was just 34. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
Similar Artists
Sonny Stitt
Allen Eager
Dexter Gordon
Johnny Griffin
Frank Morgan
Ira Sullivan
John Coltrane
Vido Musso
Sonny Criss
Dodo Marmarosa
Charlie Parker
Lester Young


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07 Sep 2010
Cabernet Day Is A Massive Success
"How do you taste wine online?" "Is it just me or am I the only one who doesn't get mass twitter wine tastings?" These are a few of the questions, I've heard related to the "taste and tweet" phenomenon. What is the benefit to the mass twitter fury, chatter, and tweet noise? I've participated in about a dozen online wine taste and tweet events. Some are small affairs featuring one wine from one winery with a group of 10-15 people. Others are massive world-wide tastings that bring together consumers, trade, aficionados, and beginners for the joy of the grape. The benefits of participating are many!
The intimate twitter tastings have been fun and informative. Experiencing 1 or 2 wines with a group of people, and often times with the winery, opens up my eyes to new things about the business of wine and the joy of drinking it. Each time I walk away with at least one new piece of information and one new twitter friend.
Mass online wine tasting events are an adventure and can often be overwhelming as you sift through the incredible cacophony of chirps and tweets. The recent #Cabernet day, while organized by Rick Bakas of St. Supery winery, quickly grew to be owned by the entire online community. A true use of the organic nature of social media, #Cabernet day was celebrated in New Zealand, Australia, many European countries, South America and North America. I even saw tweets from China as Brian Wing of norcalwingman.com struggled to find good #Cabernet. Several dozen wineries in Walla Walla joined together for a trade celebration. Large meet-ups were organized in Seattle, Phoenix, San Francisco, New York and more. Morton's Steakhouse restaurant chain promoted #Cabernet day at all of their locations. Five Spokane wineries got on board offering discounts to Cabernet lovers across the city. The result, the king grape Cabernet, showed its worldwide dominance. Pretty amazing for something that started as a single tweet. There is power in an interconnected community that embraces a collaborative spirit.
As I tweeted and tasted three amazing #Cabernet Sauvignon, a few things came to mind. One, wow, people love their Cabernet. The sheer volume of tweets and participants dwarfed the previous tastings I've hosted and participated in. Two, consumers were everywhere. Hundreds and thousands of tweets and Facebook wall posts from people not in the "trade" consumed my feed. Three, where was the media or power players? Apart from a large presence from WineLibrary.com and Corkd.com, I saw very little interaction and involvement from those who are proponents and communicators of wine news. Where was Wine Enthusiast or Wine Advocate? How come bloggers and writers like Dr. Vino, Vinography, Tom Wark and others weren't involved? While I can't claim to know their schedule or their reasons, it was just a curious observation.
As a newbie to the online community, involvement for me means connecting with people. Keeping up with the blur of tweets is an overwhelming challenge but tasting along with everyone else exposes me to new people and also helps introduce my blog to fellow wine lovers. As a blogger, I want people to read my blog. I write about wine. How often do you get the opportunity to potentially touch 2000-3000 like minded people at once with your brand? For me, not being involved is a missed opportunity in my book.
The Stats
Before I talk about #Cabernet day stats, it is helpful to put it in perspective with other successful broad scale online tastings. Bakas' first event of the year, #CaliCabs generated about 1400 tweets from 275 participants. Our first Washington based tasting, #WAMerlot, brought 480 people together online for 1900 tweets. On May 6, #Chardonnay swelled to over 600 participants. Earlier in the summer, winetonite.com , suburbanwino.com, and sipwithme.blogspot.com hosted Pinot Noir with 2000 tweets by 325 people. This brings us to #Cabernet. Buzz leading up to the day indicated that the event was going to be massive. The twitter machines seemed to be coming alive with a love of #Cabernet. The result (according to www.wthashtag.com):
7200 tweets by nearly 1750 individuals
In addition to tracking tweets, Booshaka.com indicates that there were over 3500 Facebook wall posts mentioning Cabernet. This, combined with the 50+ in person tasting events easily drives potential participation rates to well north of 3000 people. Imagine the wine sales! Consider the economic impact! Keep in mind the total dollar amount spent to promote the event – $0
Upcoming Online Tasting Events
9/14 - Bubbly Tasting - Grab a sparkler and celebrate http://sparkling.eventbrite.com/ (Hosted by www.atlantawineguy.com)
10/28 – Champagne - Toast to wine made in Champagne, France http://champagne-day.eventbrite.com/ (Hosted by www.vintuba.com)
The NectarView – Hip Hip Hooray for my Cabernet
2007 Skylite Cellars Reserve Cabernet
- The Stuff: 100% Cabernet from three Walla Walla vineyard sources. No specific information available on web site. 13.5% ABV, winemaker Robert Smasne
- The Swirl: Dark in the glass with about 70% opacity. Wonderfully thick with a slight cloudiness
- The Sniff: Initially the wine presented a musty barrel room smell. After about an hour of decanting the nose came a live with cedar, dark cherry aromas, tobacco, and hints of burnt campfire wood (like right after you douse it with water).
- The Sip: Very impressed with the mouth fell of the wine. An immediate attack of cherry fruit envelopes your whole mouth and then dissipates to include black tea and dark chocolate. The oak is well integrated and the finish is full with smoother tannin and nice acidity.
- The Score: At only $32 this is a superb Cabernet that outperforms the price point. Drinks well with or without food but really shined when paired with our dinner, Guinness Angus burgers and blue cheese. 4/5
Scored 90 pts Wine Advocate and won gold at the 2010 Seattle Wine Awards
2008 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet
- The Stuff: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from various Napa Valley vineyards; 16 months in new French oak; 15.2%ABV; winemaker Chuck Wagner
- The Swirl: Medium body color with crimson highlights in the deep purple hue
- The Sniff: Coy nose with moderate fragrances of cranberry, vanilla and chocolate milk
- The Sip: A very smooth and elegant presentation of a Cabernet that offers up flavors of spiced oak, creamy vanilla and under ripe red berries. The mid-palate feels slightly hollow and the finish offers silky tannin and moderate acidity. Surprising balance with the high ABV as it's not noticeable.
- The Score: At $60, this isn't a big full bodied Cabernet that I would expect (especially for the age). The flavor is quite nice and will certainly impress even your most discriminating wine friends. I appreciated the easy sipping and well balanced flavor. 3+/5
2008 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet
- The Stuff: 100% Cabernet from select barrels of various Napa Valley vineyards. 16 months of new French oak; 15.4%ABV
- The Swirl: The dark purple colors are nearly opaque. The clarity is like liquid jewelry and the light refracts across the top.
- The Sniff: Vibrant aromas of eucalyptus, menthol, dark chocolate, and vanilla. A slight under-ripe red berry note is also detectable
- The Sip: An impressively well made wine that showcases the balance of fruit, oak treatment, and Napa Valley Cabernet. The wine has a flavor of thick cream, under-ripe red berries, and what I would imagine an evergreen tree to taste like. The finish is full and lush and the tannins have a surprisingly smooth velvet finish with only a slight chalkiness on the back end.
- The Score: Not many people have $120 to drop on a bottle of wine. If 2008 is a special year for you (celebrating a birth or a wedding), I can definitely recommend this wine as a buy and hold. The Special Selection performs nicely now, but will definitely live up to its price point in 7-10 years. 4/5
Check out this great video from Caymus Vineyards about part of the wine making process.
*Wine was provided as an industry sample with the intention to review
31 Aug 2010
Cabaret or Cabernet? Both Sound Like Fun
Ahhh, Cabaret…what's not to love about a good French Cabaret? Singing, dancing, fishnet stocking…some Cabarets even tease with a hint of nudity…the whole thing can be quite a fun experience…
What? Cabernet…oh…that's a completely different thing! Let's try this again!
Attention, cows! Run in fear! Thursday, September 2 is the official international Cabernet Day. For 24 hours thousands of people across the world will celebrate with the king grape of Bordeaux. Left Bank lovers will longingly lap up the thick juice and their food accompaniment of choice will be a perfect cut of filet mignon or NY strip steak.
Cabernet Day is happening wherever you and Cabernet Sauvignon can be found. You can join at hundreds of Morton's Steak Houses, dozens of participating wineries, or open your favorite Cabernet and join the online conversation using Twitter or Facebook. Visit the event site for specifics and additional information.
Participate using Twitter:
- Sign in to Twitter
- Talk about your wine
- Make sure your tweet uses the #cabernet hashtag
- Follow the conversation by using http://search.twitter.com/ ( or a program like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck) and search the hashtag #cabernet
- Engage, connect, learn, and have fun
Participate using Facebook:
- Sign in to Facebook
- Go to www.facebook.com/tasteandtweet "like it"
- Talk about your wine by writing on the wall and commenting on others wall posts
- Engage, connect, learn and have fun
Cabernet is so much fun. If you have enough you just might end up with some singing, dancing, fishnet stockings and a chance of nudity too…
Spokane Cabernet Sauvignon
For those of you in the Spokane area, 12 of our local wineries have you covered with 16 different big full bodies Cabernet Sauvignon. I've had the privilege of enjoying 13 of these wines and Spokane does Cabernet right! I encourage you to drink local for #Cabernet day and together we can show the world what Spokane winemakers are doing! If, for some reason you need another reason, check out "Eleven Reasons to Participate in #Cabernet Day" from my friend Ben Simons of Vinotology.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon; $20 – This complex and full-bodied Cab is a delicious blend from five unique vineyard sites in the Columbia Valley. A great value at $20. 3+/5
2007 Sillwater Creek Cabernet Sauvignon; $32 – Fruit from the well- regarded Stillwater Creek Vineyard lends intense concentration and depth to this wine's black cherry, current, chocolate and cedar flavors. A nicely layered wine that doesn't go over the top with tannin and pairs well with full bodied food. 4/5 (Recommend)
2006 Kipsun Cabernet Sauvignon; $32 – From one of the warmest, driest and most respected vineyards in Washington State. Sadly I have not experienced this wine.
*This wine is on Paul Gregutt's "Best Varietally Labeled Cabernet Sauvignon" for Washington State list.
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon; $22 – Made from grapes from Dineen Vineyards and Seth Ryan Estate Vineyards, this 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is the good blend of fruit and structure. Boasting chocolate, black raspberry, and a hint of cracked pepper, this wine delivers. Enjoyed this wine during release weekend. Comes across as a big sipper would recommend with food. 3+/5
2007 Sagemoor Cabernet Sauvignon; $33 – This Cab is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon from Sagemoor's Weinbau Vineyard blended with 15% Merlot and 10% Syrah, both from Sagemoor's Bacchus Vineyard. The wine has a nose of black cherry, red raspberry and dark cocoa with a hint of vanilla in the background. The Cab has a soft but full mouth feel, a nice mid palate and a finish that will last until your next sip. One of my favorite Cabernet offerings. 4/5 (Strongly Recommend)
*This wine is on Paul Gregutt's "Best Varietally Labeled Cabernet Sauvignon" for Washington State list.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon; $19.95 – This elegant Cabernet Sauvignon sets out a smorgasbord of flavors: plum, cassis, smoke, loam, a hint of the barnyard. It's nicely balanced, with polished but astringent tannins that carry the flavors into a lingering finish (Wine Enthusiast 90 pts). An incredible Cabernet value. Open and decant to smooth out the finish and aroma. 3+/5 (Value buy)
*This wine is on Paul Gregutt's "Best Varietally Labeled Cabernet Sauvignon" for Washington State list.
2008 Bridgepress Cabernet Sauvignon; $39.99 – Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley. 60% New French Oak, 40% one year old French barrels. I have not had the opportunity to try this wine.
2005 Pepperbridge Cabernet Sauvignon; $29.99 – An intense Cabernet that competes with the big boys from Walla Walla. I really enjoyed the full bodied fruit on this wine. It is aging nicely and could see an additional 2-3 years in the bottle before reaching its prime. Recommend decanting. 3+/5
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon; $28 – This bold Red Mountain Cabernet is loaded with blueberries, plums and cherries. Ample acidity and tannins of green tea strike balance and there is a finish of milk chocolate and more cherries. Love Red Mountain fruit. Big and bold with a little bit of chewiness on the finish. 3+/5 (Recommend)
2006 Walla Walla Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; $45 – This is a classic Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon with big upfront fruit, an amazing mouth feel, and a long finish. Two years in French oak. Only 50 cases made. Limited quantities remain available. One of the finest offerings out of Spokane. It may be pricy for most, be definitely worth it. Drinking well now but will drink even better in 5-10 years. 4+/5 (Strongly Recommend)
2007 LaTour Cabernet Sauvignon; $24 – This is a single vineyard, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Made in the new world style, your palate will sense cherry, caramel, chocolate and spice. Exhibits bold front and mid-palate with an elegant and lingering finish. Nicely done. 3+/5
2007 Duality Cabernet; $31 – The Walla Walla Valley terroir shines through in this incredibly complex 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Chocolate, coffee, cherry, spice, toffee and blackberry notes in perfect balance. A well made wine that is still showing a little young. If opening now, decant for 30 minutes or buy and hold for 3-5 years. 3+/5 (Recommend)
2006 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon; $30 – Pure varietal, this captures the house style perfectly, with a ripe blend of brambly berries set against crisp natural acids. Almond candy and chocolate graham cracker flavors appear, reflecting 28 months in 75% new oak barrels. The transition to the silky finish brings a refreshing minerality. -P.G. (Wine Enthusiast, 92pts). Loved this wine. 4/5 (Highly Recommend)
*This wine is on Paul Gregutt's "Best Varietally Labeled Cabernet Sauvignon" for Washington State list.
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon; $27.95 – Aromas of black cherry cola & blackberry introduce flavors of bright plum, blackberry & cherry with an earthy, smokey lingering finish. The oldest "new release" I've had. After spending 30 months in oak and FIVE years in the bottle the wine is showing beautifully with several years of life still to come. 4/5 (Recommend)
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon; $25 – I have not had the privilege of having this wine.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon; $28 – Spokane's only fully estate vineyard operation, Michael Haig grows and produces a well balanced Cab that offers medium body, dark cherry fruit, coffee, and a slight minerality. The wine reminds me of an old world presentation of Cab. 3+/5
07 Jun 2010
WAWine Wows the Wine World
Wine and conversation are natural allies. The more one flows, the more the other grows. Wine is a social lubricant and connecting adhesive that brings parties to life and people together. For three hours on June 3, a little thing called Twitter brought thousands of wine lovers together for one purpose; celebrate Washington Wine. While #WAWine may not have been the largest of this year's tasting events by volume of tweets or number of tweeters, it arguably propelled the largest amount of wineries and businesses into action.
Twitter events are still in their infancy and range from specialized single winery focused events on TasteLive.com to worldwide emphasis events like #Chardonnay hosted by Rick Bakas of St. Supery Winery. The May Chardonnay event established a benchmark with over 600 people contributing 2700 tweets. Our goal with Washington focused taste and tweets is to educate wineries on the benefits of using social media and to provide a collective state wide event leveraging the momentum of many to bring worldwide attention to Washington State wine. Each event widens the net of participation and awareness.
Success Is Consumer Participation
While big twitter numbers are fun to see, and is certainly an area to give greater focus in the future, the success of WAMerlot and WAWine is consumer participation AT the winery or event location. I like to evaluate each event by looking at the strengths and opportunities.
Strength in Numbers
- 105 wineries and 10-20 retail locations were involved at various levels for WAWine (one out of every six Washington Wineries)
- 370 people on Twitter and about 50 people on Facebook contributed 1850-2000 updates about WAWine.
- Between 1000-1500 (approx) people attended various events across the state
- WAWine was a trending topic in Seattle for most of the three hour event.
- Aggregating the number of followers by the main participants puts brand impressions over ONE MILLION.
For me the highlights that bring the most excitement were the collaborative events that were held by the Cascade Valley Wine Country in Wenatchee and Lake Chelan with 15 wineries representing these smaller areas and close to 100 people celebrating between both locations. The other highlight is how the Walla Walla community came together at Olives Café with 17 wineries hosting a crowd of over 100.
Opportunities for Future
WAMerlot was the beginning, WAWine was an expansion of the idea and a future event (probably in the fall) will provide many opportunities to enhance the idea and continue education. For WAWine we provided several resources to assist wineries in the promotion of the event (Press Release, Tasting Room flyer, video primer, blogger contact information, etc). For greater success of future events, we'll focus on the following:
- More lead time communication with wineries
- More aggressive PR to media
- Wineries leveraging Facebook and Email lists to 'promote'
- Collaborative community events (similar to Walla Walla and Cascade Valley Wine Country)
- More winery connection to wine bloggers
Was WAWine a success? Yes, in huge proportion! Considering that zero money was spent in marketing dollars and the use of Twitter, Facebook, Blogging and Email motivated potentially a few thousand people to drink Washington Wine for a night, the event was a phenomenal success. I believe we're just scratching the surface.
WAWine Posts you Must See
- DecanterBanter.com enjoys a great time with Cascade Valley Wine Country (VIDEO)
- WildWallaWallaWineWoman.com – Walla Walla comes together at Olives Cafe (VIDEO)
- WineTonite tweets from the East!
- WineRocks in Seattle – 189 Pictures
- Oregon_Wine_Blog – WAWine 140 Characters at a Time
- Wine Peeps – WAWine – Oh What a Night
- Woodinville Wine Update – WAWine Woodinville Style
I want to give a huge thanks to my main partner in crime, Sean Sullivan from www.wawinereport.com and the event sponsors www.washingtontastingroom.com and www.washingtonwine.org. Events like this could not be successful without the collective support of the entire wine writing community across the state (and even some across the country). While support certainly went beyond the co-supporters, we couldn't have done it without you!
Washington Wine Writers | |
Josh Wade www.drinknectar.com Twitter: @nectarwine |
Sean Sullivan www.wawinereport.com Twitter: @wawinereport |
Barbara Evans www.seattlewinegal.com Twitter: @seattlewinegal |
Kori Voorhees www.winepeeps.com Twitter: @winepeeps |
Catie Walker www.wildwallawallawinewoman.com Twitter: @catie |
Doug Haugen www.winomagazine.com Twitter: @winomagazine |
Bean Fairbanks www.wine-beer-washington.com Twitter: @winebeerwa |
Margot Savell www.writeforwine.com Twitter: @writeforwine |
Shona Milne www.woodinvillewineupdate.com Twitter: @shona425 |
John Cooper www.visityakimavalley.org Twitter: @yakimavalley |
Laurie Ross www.sipofspokane.com Twitter: @sipofspokane |
Josh Gana; Clive Pursehouse www.theoregonwineblog.com Twitter: @or_wine_blog |
The NectarView
- The Stuff: 100% Estate fruit from Seven Hills Vineyard with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cab Franc. Wine spent 22 months in a mix of new and used French oak. 14.5%abv; 1398 cases produced
- The Swirl: Dark crimson purple with a thick cloudy look. Presentation is about 90% opaque with beautiful jewel tones at the edges
- The Sniff: The Perigee is alive on the nose with rich cherry fruit and hints of clove, tobacco and vanilla.
- The Sip: This is a beautiful elegant wine with amazing balance of fruit, spice and structure. A slight sweetness grazes the front of your tongue as the dark cherry flavors wash across the middle of your tongue. Slight earthy leather, tobacco box, and cocoa prepare the finish for a smooth velvety wash.
- The Score: At $49, this wine may be out of reach for most people, but is certainly a wine I would recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to taste, buy or try. I can easily score this a 4 (out of 5). Get it down to $35 and buy a case!
*Wine provided as an industry sample with the intention to review
10 May 2010
Chardonnay Twitter Tasting Recap
Twenty four hours of Chardonnay? When I heard the concept I was a little baffled. Previous online tasting events have been confined to a few short hours of frenzy and fury. 2000 tweets crammed into 2 hours can be pretty tough to tackle even for the most experienced twitter addict. The expanded time frame allows for other countries to participate in their own time zones and allows for a very relaxed tasting schedule.
Chardonnay? Really – why Chardonnay? I suppose when you think about it the much maligned US version of the grape isn't really a great representation of what Chardonnay can be. There's more to Chardonnay than apple pie and oak buttered toast. One of the most widely planted grapes in the world, Chardonnay is a wine makers grape that can take on many different characteristics shaped by the winemaker. The wine can be "naked," fermented in stainless steel to showcase the pure essence of the grape. It can be fermented in combinations of new, used, American, or French oak to bring out various vanilla and cedar aroma. The grape can also undergo malolactic fermentation (conversion of tart apple citrus malic acid to smooth rich buttery lactic acid). Chardonnay is truly a world-wide grape with a wide range of appeal.
Hosted by St. Supery Winery's Rick Bakas, the #Chardonnay tasting brought people together from all corners of the globe. During the tasting, I personally interacted with people from New Zealand, China, France, and South America. These type of events provide a vast opportunity to connect to other wine lovers and learn about the various manifestations of the wine. Rick has previously hosted #CaliCabs, #SauvBlanc, and #WineBlends. Each of these events has changed the way we think about online interaction and wine drinking.
Stats from www.wthashtag.com
#CaliCabs (February 11, 2010) 1400 tweets from 275 participants
#SauvBlanc (March 4, 2010) 2700 tweets from 610 participants
#WAMerlot (March 25) 1900 tweets from 480 participants
#WineBlends (April 1) Didn't track but this analysis shows great participation
#Chardonnay (May 6) 2400 tweets from 605 participants
Activity for #Chardonnay was spread out over the course of the day which meant that I missed a good portion of the overseas tweets. The format allowed more people to participate on their own schedule but the saturation of tweets was diminished by the extended time.
The NectarView
During the event I had the privilege of tasting through four wines of various styles. The amazing observation was that each wine was completely different and unique and could never have been mistaken for the other. Each wine brought strengths to the table which made for a very fun review. The video is fast paced because I had to taste through four wines in under 8 minutes. Below are the notes and formal scores for each wine.
2009 St Supery Oak Free Chardonnay
- The Stuff: 100% estate fruit Chardonnay (Napa Valley) fermented in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation. 13.7%abv
- The Swirl: Golden tone with green hues. There is a mild cloudiness to the wine.
- The Sniff: Bright dynamic citrus notes of lemon and granny smith apples. Seems fizzy on the nose
- The Sip: If I could take a wine and snap it like celery, this would have a sharp crack to it. The fruit play is moderately sour pineapple and grapefruit. The flavors are abundant and the acidity is on the high side. There is a slight effervescence that comes through. The finish is moderate.
- The Score: At $22, I score this wine a solid 3 out of 5. The score is lowered slightly because of the disjointed balance between the fruit, acidity and minerality. It's a very refreshing wine that I would buy again to pair with spicy food or to take on the boat!
No cellar tracker reviews for 2009 vintage. 2008 vintage has 5 reviews with 87 pt average
2008 Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay
- The Stuff: 100% Chardonnay from winemaker Charlie Wagner. Fermented in concrete and stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation. 14.8%abv
- The Swirl: Yellow gold tone, clean and clear
- The Sniff: Subdued aroma of honeydew, pear and white tropical flowers. Mild yet intriguing
- The Sip: The impressive part of this wine is the balance from front to back. It does not present itself as an overly round Chardonnay flavor but instead brings hints of honeydew, perfume and minerality (concrete?). The acidity and finish are also very well balance making this wine good for either summer deck sipping or pairing with halibut, rockfish, shrimp, or pork.
- The Score: At $32 this is on the higher price range for most people's Chardonnay budget but the beauty of the wine's flavor, balance and finish score it a 3+ out of 5.
This wine comes in the most unique container. The 2008 Mer Soleil Silver is in a grey ceramic bottle.
No cellar tracker reviews for the 2008 vintage. 2007 vintage has 18 scores with 88 pt average
2006 Kiona Winery Chardonnay
- The Stuff: 85% Chardonnay, 9% Chenin Blanc, 3% Rousanne, 3% Viognier. Fermented in 75% stainless and 25% new oak; 13.7%abv with 2500 cases made
- The Swirl: Light pale straw, nearly clear in color. Medium viscosity
- The Sniff: The aromas are slightly disjointed with hints of pear and a baking spice or herb that throws it off a little.
- The Sip: The mouth feel is more reminiscent of a traditional Chardonnay without the heavy coating and thickness. The moderate melon and pear are thrown off by only what I can pinpoint as brown fruit or herbaciousness and soil. It lacks any significant acidity and the finish is limited.
- The Score: At only $10, this wine is no slouch but seems slightly off on the flavor profile. I score this wine 3 out of 5.
Check out JJ and Molly from Kiona Wine as they do a Chardonnay food and wine pairing video.
Cellar tracker score of 87 points on one review
2007 Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
- The Stuff: 100% estate Chardonnay fermented in 100% new French oak (sorry, no other info)
- The Swirl: Very golden like a blond lager. The gold was so pure it seemed to ooze value and wealth.
- The Sniff: Beautiful notes of honey, sugar, and citrus melon. During a blind tasting of this wine (on another night) I pegged this wine as being the only oak fermented Chardonnay. It's not overly oaked but the beauty of the vanilla comes through as a giveaway.
- The Sip: Wonderful mouth coating feel without being flabby and buttery. The aromas from the nose repeat themselves here with a balanced acidity that refreshed your palate and creates a crisp lengthy finish.
- The Score: At $35 this is a 4 (out of 5). The Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay brings credibility back to the process of using oak in a balanced and flavorful way. The regal Chardonnay fruit shines and presents a vast array of food pairing potential.
Cellar tracker score of 86 on 9 reviews
**Wines were provided as an industry sample with the intention to review
07 May 2010
WAWine Brings Washington to the World
From the team that brought you WAMerlot on March 25, DrinkNectar, Washington Wine Report, and 12 prominent Washington wine writers are bringing Washington wine to the world through Twitter, Facebook and one hundred on location events.
The June 3 event is a connection between the virtual wine tasting community using social media and wineries across the state. WAWine allows people from across the world to interact with each other while drinking and celebrating Washington wine. Wineries also use the event as a springboard to bring people together inside their tasting room. WAWine is an opportunity to learn, connect and engage regardless of where you are in the world.
The event is sponsored by Washington Tasting Room Magazine and the Washington Wine Commission and will leverage the collective reach of 14 wine writers and Washington wine events Wine Rocks in Seattle, Taste Washington in Spokane and the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla. "Hundreds of wine loving eyes will be on Washington during June. This is a perfect event to kick off the month and connect people," says the events co-creator, Josh Wade. As wine writers descend on the state, WAWine will get their palate primed for great Washington wine.
The first event in the series, WAMerlot saw millions of brand impressions for Washington state merlot, over 2000 tweets from 500 people on Twitter and over 1000 people in 80 locations across the state! Leveraging the momentum from WAMerlot, WAWine will bring even greater exposure to the variety and complexity of wine that grows in Washington.
Participation is simple. Visit the event site for details and tips. Support one of the participating wineries by buying one or more bottles of Washington wine and join in one of three ways:
- Join in person at one of the participating wineries! Follow this link to see who is hosting an event.
- Log on to Twitter at 5pm Pacific Time on Thursday, June 3 and follow the hashtag #WAWine. To be connected with other participants be sure to use the words #WAWine in all your tweets.
- Lot on to Facebook and join the community at http://facebook.com/tasteandtweet. You can use this page to upload photos, share your experiences and connect with others.
Attention Wineries
Visit the WAWine for Wineries page to see how you can maximize the event.
- Social Media Tutorials
- Media Packet
- Downloadable print materials
- 7 ways to maximize sales
- and more…
Attention Wine Writers and Trade
We will be intentionally connecting YOU to Washington Wineries. Please register at the event site so we can connect with you, or leave a comment below.
DrinkNectar.com is an independent blog dedicated to exploring wine and coffee. Using primarily video reviews, DrinkNectar begins its focus in Spokane, WA and moves out to cover the Northwest and the rest of the wine world. DrinkNectar.com began in November 2009 and is now ranked among the top 10 wine blogs in the country by traffic and engagement (according to PostRank.com/wine). Josh Wade is the editor and also contributes for Corkd.com.
Washington Wine Report is an independent blog focused on bringing Washington wine to readers and bringing readers to Washington wine. The goal is to help readers select Washington wines at a variety of price levels, to keep up-to-date about the state's wineries, vineyards, and individuals, to help plan trips to wine country and to connect people to the larger wine community. Washington Wine Report blog began in June 2007. Sean Sullivan is the editor.
Event Sponsors | |
Washington Tasting Room Magazine www.washingtontastingroom.com Twitter: @watastingroomWashington Wine Commission www.washingtonwine.org Twitter: @tastewashingtonDonate Dine & Wine |
One Sponsorship Available |
Washington Wine Writers | |
Josh Wade www.drinknectar.com Twitter: @nectarwine |
Sean Sullivan www.wawinereport.com Twitter: @wawinereport |
Barbara Evans www.seattlewinegal.com Twitter: @seattlewinegal |
Kori Voorhees www.winepeeps.com Twitter: @winepeeps |
Catie Walker www.wildwallawallawinewoman.com Twitter: @catie |
Doug Haugen www.winomagazine.com Twitter: @winomagazine |
Bean Fairbanks www.wine-beer-washington.com Twitter: @winebeerwa |
Margot Savell www.writeforwine.com Twitter: @writeforwine |
Marcus Pape www.winechatr.com Twitter: @winechatr |
Shona Milne www.woodinvillewineupdate.com Twitter: @shona425 |
Barbara Glover www.wineyakimavalley.org Twitter: @wineeyak |
John Cooper www.visityakimavalley.org Twitter: @yakimavalley |
Laurie Ross www.sipofspokane.com Twitter: @sipofspokane |
Josh Gana; Clive Pursehouse www.theoregonwineblog.com Twitter: @or_wine_blog |
Additional Sponsorship by:


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Importers and Distributors (136)
Sort by: A-Z NewestClassic Bicycles
Classic Bicycles is an Australian owned import and wholesale company We have a wide range of bicycles, covering BMX, Mountain, Comfort, Cruise ,Youth, Hybrid and Road Bicycles along with an extensive range of parts and accessories which includes a comprehensive range of helmets. This gives us the ability to service the majority of Independent Bicycle Stores around Australia. We have a dedicated sales team servicing all of Australia, with a mobile van stacked with many of our parts and accessories operating in Queensland and Northern New South Wales offering freight free parts and accessories to your door. Classic Bicycles is […]
Cooper Bikes
Cooper Bikes, the bicycle division of Cooper Car Company, launched their new range of bikes at the Earls Court Cycle Show on the 8th October 2009. Utilising the engineering and technical know how that has been synonymous with the British Company for 50 years, and with a nod to their racing heritage, the first models code name T100 will be called "Monza" and "Sebring", after the circuits which saw the Company's F1 Championship victory in 1959. In addition to the T100 Monza and T100 Sebring, the Cooper range will include the T200 Championship 50 and the T200 Reims 5 Speed. […]
Cycling Extremo
Cycling Extremo Internazionale have warehouse and management offices in Adelaide. Our specialized team started by distributing the impressive Bottecchia range in Australia. Our product range generates immediate credibility through the history, heritage and competitive success in the professional cycling arena. Cycling Extremo Internazionale are the exclusive importers and wholesalers for: Bottecchia Bikes, De Rosa Bikes, Salto Clothing and DMT Shoes. We distribute through a network of quality dealers in all states and territories in Australia and New Zealand.
Dawson Sports Group
Dawson Sports Group (DSG) specialises in distribution of innovative & original cycling products. Our internationally recognised brands include what we consider our flagship brand HED Cycling Products. DSG also distributes Praxis Works (drive chain specialists), TorHans Aerodynamic Hydration Systems, FibreFlare Optic Fibre LED lights & runs HireSpeedWheels.com.au bicycle wheel hire. DSG is privately owned and distributes across Australia and New Zealand, its business is balanced through its growing portfolio and a continued growing presence in all major markets. DSG sales network covers 350+ retail outlets and continually expanding. Through our industry knowledge DSG seeks to partner with cycle industry manufactures […]
De Grandi Cycle & Sport
De Grandi Cycle & Sport established in 1929 in Geelong is a market leader in both the cycling and sporting goods industries. We stock a huge range of quality bicycles across all styles, specializing in racing equipment from frames to clothing and footwear.All our bikes are supported by our comprehensive workshop and after sales division. For service, professional advice and value you can?t go past the Sports Specialists – De Grandi Cycle & Sport.
Dirt Works Australia
Dirt Works is Australia's leading wholesaler of bicycles, components and accessories, with a carefully tended stable of bicycling's most innovative and desirable brands. We work hard to back this up with industry-leading technical support, spares availability and expert advice. The products that you find here are available from specialty bike shops Australia-wide.
DK Bicycles
Founded in Ohio, USA 1979, DK Bicycles started with a single bmx bicycle stem made by a dad for his son to race bmx at local meets. From here DK (Dad & Kids) Bicycles bmx parts and accessories business took off. In the mid nineties DK moved into the production of complete bmx bicycles. Today's range is made up of 12 bike models across street and race, and DK continue to be a leading BMX bike and accessories brand across the USA and Australia.


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Country Music »
The latest news about your favorite country artists, their newest releases and award show updates.
- Everything Garth Brooks!! He is da man!
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- Jason Aldean punks Luke Bryan...
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Our favorite food and drink recipes, cooking techniques and kitchen products.
All Posts » -
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The funniest stuff on the web!
- Dubstep Dancing Tutorial Via Pentecostal Church
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- You know that pole has gotta be gross!


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GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba -- Some victims wept. So did at least one of the U.S. military officers assigned to defend the accused Sept. 11 conspirators at their murder trial.
For 90 exceptional minutes Sunday, lawyers for the accused terrorists and the parents of young men killed in the World Trade Center huddled in a ramshackle hangar at the war court ahead of this week's hearing. And they exchanged stories through a veil of pain.
"In the beginning there was discomfort. There was some anger. There was some tears," said Phyllis Rodriguez, whose 31-year-old son Greg was killed working at the finance firm Cantor Fitzgerald on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
But by the end, said Loreen Sellitto, mother of 23-year-old Matthew who also was killed at Cantor Fitzgerald, "I saw them love our Constitution. Their goal is to present a case and defend someone. It's what our country is built on."
The victims' family members have always been the most painful part of these proceedings. Chosen by lottery from a Pentagon list of parents, children and spouses of the Sept. 11 dead, they number at most 10, are brought to this base in special Defense Department charter flights, put up in townhouses and squired around the base by both plain-clothed and uniformed escorts eager to accommodate.
Others eligible for the Guantánamo lottery can watch remotely from four closed-circuit sites along the Eastern Seaboard from Massachusetts to Maryland.
And while some of the family members have flatly refused to meet with defense lawyers and expressed disgust that these men should be afforded robust government-funded defense teams, this week's trip included the rare meeting between some of the victims' family members and those who have taken an oath to defend their kin's accused killers.
The session was closed. Some participants declined to speak of it. Others recounted that it started out with one victim's mother asking the lawyers how they had come to represent Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four other men accused of conspiring in the murder of 2,976 people, their sons included.
Or, as Rodriguez, who instigated the meeting, put it: "How does it feel to be representing such horrible people?"
Some lawyers spoke of their duty as officers of the court, and to the U.S. military and U.S. Constitution. One mentioned that his wife wasn't happy with his choice to take the case, but that somebody had to do it.
Then one defense lawyer gingerly told the group that he would be asking the judge this week to allow his client to get a call from home. Ammar al Baluchi's father had died and he wanted to speak to his mother. Both the military and Red Cross would listen in on the call.
One of the family members offered the opinion that "these guys should suffer. I don't think he should talk to his mother," said a defense lawyer who was in the room. Rodriguez said she thought not of the accused but of Baluchi's mother.
"I felt very sad," she said. "I felt sad for his mother."
Left unsaid was that, should the tribunal ever convict these men, family members of victims will be asked to testify in the punishment phase of the Sept. 11 death penalty trial.
And these defense lawyers, civilian and military, argue that their clients were so brutally tortured in CIA custody that the United States lost the moral authority to execute them.


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SEOUL, March 30 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Saturday it was entering a "state of war" with South Korea in a continuing escalation of tough rhetoric against Seoul and Washington after coming under international sanctions for its nuclear test.
"From this time on, the North-South relations will be entering the state of war and all issues raised between the North and the South will be handled accordingly," a statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency said. (source)
Experts on CNN were saying that what's happening is really spurred by the North Korean military not the young Kim Jong Un. They also say it's mostly for internal consumption, trying to make the new leader look strong and forceful to a society that still reveres age. Internally, he has been demoting and firing top military officers. It may be that, through him, the most hard of the hard liners in the military are consolidating their power.
The military experts on CNN said that they doubted North Korea would follow up on any of its threats against the U.S. or South Korea. In fact, they'd be crazy. Why? Because they'd lose, despite having the fourth largest army in the world. And they could hardly expect much help from China. North Korea is pretty much a drag on the Chinese economy, with North Korea needing to suck at their teat due to the fact that its economy is a total shambles.
And why would China want to see the U.S. defeated, what with the steady flow of cash from here to there due to all the American debt China owns. The U.S. is their golden goose right now.
China is so pissed off and North Korea that for the first time ever they have joined in with international sanctions against North Korea.
All that said, North Korea is making strides in terms of ballistic missile development, so they will be more of a worry in the future.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Why would he be nuts? While his calculations certainly are gut-wrenchingly cold, they are by no means insane. Leaders in the modern era can hardly be crazy, Chavez notwithstanding, and that he's been able to keep power for more than a year speaks to him being quite shrewd.
Kim actually has a fairly strong hand to play as he knows China will do pretty much anything to back him up. It is unfathomable for China to get South Korean soldiers on their borders, not to speak of American ones. Thus they will fiercely resist any type of invasion and forced regime change. However, in a couple of decades China will probably not want an unpredictable NK on its borders, and will push for reunification as long as it has SK within its sphere of influence at the time. China may be annoyed at its neighbor, even going so far as to support UN sanctions, but they will not actually do anything or apply the sanctions.
Kim can also play the nuclear card, and as long as he keeps building capability there are always potential customers willing to pay large sums for weapons. NK already built a reactor in Syria, and is probably exporting to Iran and keeping open the possibility of selling to deep pocketed non-state actors
There will probably be an attack on SK, though I think he will want to avoid casualties as not to provoke a counter attack, some time during or right after the training operations. Then there will be some negotiations whereupon NK will receive food aid and perhaps fuel, and next year or the year after that it will be rinse and repeat.
RE" "he's been able to keep power for more than a year speaks to him being quite shrewd."
Frankly, I suspect he's inept and incompetent, relying on advisers for his decisions.
While partly the case, there is obviously none which has risen to the level of being able to compete with him. While it's impossible to know the palace intrigue from outside, even pyongyangoligists seem to believe he is quite deft at machiavellian games.
Kim actually has a fairly strong hand to play
Kim can also play the nuclear card,
But he should really fold.
Why? That would be tantamount to suicide. I'm pretty sure he has seen both the hanging of Saddam and the mutilation of Gadaffi, and I would presume he prefers that not to be him.
For an official definition of "nuts", I'll defer to a future DSM version.
Oh this is great, WW 3 will start out "Gangnam Style".
I wish I could be a fly on the wall when China talks to Kim. Neither China nor the US really wants the stalemate between NK and SK to break out into war, so I wonder what threats China is making to Kim behind the scenes? Perhaps they are just verifying that it's a bluff. Perhaps they are actively asking him how he'd like an invasion from the China side to get things under control? Now that's got to be something that gives both SK and the US nightmares.
It will certainly be fascinating how this all turns out. I have a vested interest in seeing both the North and the South stay peaceful since I personally know people from both places. I don't want to see any harm to come to any of them or any of their extended families. I get really angry at the leaders in both countries for the ego pissing match.
They are both guilty of rhetoric that is not helpful and using fear to keep the military industrial complex in power. They both need to lay down their arms and make peace already. I know I'm a dreamer and that it is unlikely but dreams do come true occasionally.
Unlikely is right. In another country, you might expect the military to execute a coup if the leader is crazy. Why? First realism about what might befall them if conflict broke out and secondly because they are probably profiteers, too, and don't want to kill the golden goose.
ut in NK the generals are probably even more bonkers than Kim.
I don't know if bonkers is the best characterization. For better or worse they have had a long history of a rigid hierarchy in their culture. Even South Korea still has a fair amount of this very conservative totalitarian form of elderly, leaders and ancestor worshipping culture. The South has had a lot of government changes for the better but a lot of the traditions still have a large influence on the people there.
North Korea and it's problems are the products of more than just the last one hundred years or so and the current leadership. It often takes a lot of time, education and sometimes wars or violent revolutions for these kinds of cultures to change, sadly.
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2 Reviews
The Rolson Money Minder Keychain is ideal for runners, walkers and holiday makers. The money minder is a perfect way to store notes safely and securely without weighing you down. The aluminium alloy bullet shaped design will hold most notes, while the handy keyring ensures the money minder is where you need it, when you need it. The discreet design can also be used for pill and tablets.
For full terms and conditions please see our Delivery & Returns policy
22/03/2013 18:34:04
Wanted to travel light on recent hill walk. Meant I could carry emergency cash with wallet
15/04/2013 11:50:12
a very handy product no need to take a wallet when you have this


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- December 6, 2012
- 8:32 p.m.
- Suggest removal
- Reply to this post
talasmom (Inactive) writes:
in response to outtttttttt:
DelloRocks writes:
in responseto Shunnd:WRONG! Take a historical look at the dates of posts of "Morning Chat" Skippy; often there are 2-3 days of posts and large quantities of posts prior to rolling the page; most recent had posts from December 3rd (5:16 am) through December 5th (6:04 PM) with a total of 39 posts. Nice try there Skipparoo maybe you and that ENviro guy should get together and update your K.I.A.M. (Know-It-All-Manual).
And YES I do know that: "This is the place to go to talk about whatever you want. While there is no need to stay on topic, since there is no topic, the other commenting rules still apply -- basically, be nice." The ability SCROLL is my best friend when it comes to the daily "Morning Chat" junk. If it wasn't for the daily "Comments Disabled" on articles that the real world (aka those with functional brains) we wouldn't be forced to use the "Morning Chat"! In fact, I personally would likely NOT even open the section. In that respect YES ABSOLUTELY it would be nice to see the "PRAVDA-STAR" honor the very freedoms that the PRESS often hide behind. Contrary to previous years when it was actually allowing our FREDOMS! Seems the editors read way too much into "Animal Farm" where "ALL ANIMALS ARE CREATED EQUAL; BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS"!!!
You also state; "Can't say much else. Accept it or move on. We've chosen to accept it. But now and then, we also 'rant' against it."…Why such a defeatist attitude? Did the PRAVDA-STAR previous ban cause you to lose certain body parts? It must be difficult to read with your head in the sand…
But alas, some of us just deal with the Happy-Happy-Joy-Joy-World of the "Morning Chat" regulars! I guess we must learn to BEA-HAPPI and eat CUPCAKES (not those BLACKBISCUITs that keep the PEARLER off your teeth) while we KEEPTOTHEPOINT and post NOTHINGBUTTHETRUTH. So beware of the fact that DELLOROCKS and that the PRAVDA-STAR may ban you and you shall then be SHUNND…that is IFYOUSAYSO! Oy vey!
Dello-da-Slayer (Eliminate one dork a day…it's all we ask!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hey Jello, normally a new page is started about midnight every night with the exception of Saturday and Sunday...
Butt you can continue to post your drivel on any page as long as you like...
A former regular here, EZ, used to post a lot on yesterday's threads...
You kind of remind me of him except he was literate and had a sense of humour...
You ARE a super hero!!
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Hello if anyone can help im looking for a cheap 2nd hand surfboard in Phuket Thailand any help would be great
Travelling with your board(s) RELATED: Surfing Travel Tips, Spot Locations and Info Author: CARBr6 Replies: 2 |
Right hand break Central America RELATED: Surfing Travel Tips, Spot Locations and Info Author: laxputs Replies: 0 |
What type of board?? RELATED: Surf Chat Author: andyb39 Replies: 4 |
Intermediate Board Size RELATED: Surfing Hardware Author: CARBr6 Replies: 8 |
Buying a Board for my boyfriend, HAVE NO IDEA! help! RELATED: Surf Chat Author: candace418 Replies: 7 |


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Although all students declare majors when applying to UTB, only students who have completed College Algebra (or its equivalent) and are eligible for Precalculus or Calculus are admitted to the Engineering Physics program. While you are an admitted Engineering Physics major, you will get all your advising needs met within the department and within the college.
For all advising and registration needs, the Student Affairs Assistant is your first point of contact. She will open your file and direct you to the person who may best assist you with selecting course or help solve problems.
The standard first semester is the same for all Engineering Department programs.
Calculus IIntroduction to EngineeringGeneral Chemistry I and LaboratoryComposition IU.S. History to 1877
Precalculus or Calculus II may be substituted for Calculus I.
Eligibility for Calculus I or other mathematics courses:A student who scores higher than 39 on the COMPASS exam is eligible for College Algebra. Many students have taken math courses in high school that are more advanced than Algebra. The Mathematics Department provides a direct path into Precalculus or Calculus I for qualified students. Go to the Math office SETB 2.454 (882-6636) and ask about the math test. Practice problems here.
Qualifying for direct entry to Precalculus or Calculus requires successful completion of a test and an interview with the Mathematics Department.
All prospective Engineering students are strongly encouraged to take the test.
Outcomes | Admission | Student Affairs | Programs