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For the past three years I've published an annual list of some of my favorite wines based on those I've sampled for the blog from the year gone by (see 2009 here and 2008 here). Belatedly, below is a look back at some of my personal favorites from 2010.
The list was compiled in the following manner.
1. To be considered, a review needed to be published on my blog in 2010. No barrel samples were considered (See the complete list of wines reviewed in my Tasting Note Database here).
2. I considered wines based on rating, my overall excitement about the wine, and price. In terms of rating, all wines below received either a double or single star in my rating system. In terms of excitement, I focused on wines that stood out in the weeks and months after I sampled them.
3. Although there were many wines I sampled for the blog last year, there were many (many) more that I did not. For this reason, there are, as always, a number of significant omissions. This is not meant as a reflection on the numerous wineries producing excellent wines that are not listed here. It is rather a reflection of what I was able to sample and review.
As with previous years, I included only one wine from each winery. Without further ado.
1. Grand Reve Vintners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain 2007 $75
Black licorice, light herbal streaks, coffee, high-toned fruit, and chocolate on an alluring, although still moderately closed up nose. On the palate, a complete 'Wow!' wine with a beautiful texture, incredibly focused fruit, and firm but appealing tannins. A statement of a Washington State Cabernet that is among the finest I have had. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 24 months in French oak (100% new). 14.3% Alcohol. 100 cases produced. To be released fall 2010. Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan) and Ross Mickel (Ross Andrew) winemakers. Reviewed August 13, 2010
2. Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007 $79
Intoxicating varietal aromatics of intensely dark fruit and chocolate along with spice and licorice. The palate is seamless and structured, rich and intense. Beautifully layered with a long, long finish. Nothing short of an accomplishment of a wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Champoux (74%) and Sagemoor vineyards (26%). Aged in new French oak. 14.8% alcohol. 628 cases produced. Reviewed December 24, 2010
3. Cayuse Vineyards Syrah Armada Vineyards Walla Walla Valley 2007 $65
Holy smokes! Full on black pepper along with violets and game on a nose that is significantly more evolved due to the extra year of bottle age. A persistent intensity on the palate with crazy game tastes. Rich without being fruity. 100% Syrah. 14.2% alcohol. Reviewed March 26, 2010
4. Reynvaan Family Vineyards The Contender Walla Walla Valley 2008 $55
A downright stinky, aromatic, intense nose marked by floral notes, earth, black olive juice, and meat. The palate is rich and layered with abundant umami flavors and roast beef. There is a weight and intensity that is nothing short of breathtaking. Among the best wines I have had this year. 94% Syrah co-fermented with 4% Marsanne and 2% Viognier. Approximately 450 cases produced. Reviewed September 7, 2010
5. Gramercy Cellars John Lewis Reserve Syrah 2007 $65
An aromatic powerhouse with violets, game, and chocolate aromas. Boasts a fullness on the palate, especially the mid-palate, that is simply breathtaking. The purity of the fruit and the balance of this wine are beyond exceptional. 100% Syrah. Les Collines and Forgotten Hills vineyards. Aged in French oak (approximately 15% new). 13.7% alcohol. 146 cases produced. Reviewed March 8, 2010
6. Waters Winery Syrah Forgotten Hills Walla Walla Valley 2007 $40
On the nose, an exclamation point of aromatics. Spice, light game, and floral notes. On the palate, a beautifully textured and nuanced wine full of game and fruit flavors. An accomplishment of a wine. 100% Syrah. Forgotten Hills Vineyard. Aged in French oak (approximately 10% new). 514 cases produced. Reviewed July 22, 2010
7. Betz Family Winery Pere de Famille Columbia Valley 2007 $55
Dark and brilliant in color. An alluring nose with high-toned toasty oak, sweet spices, and dark, penetrating fruit. On the palate, a tight core of black fruit along with silky oak wrapped around elegantly structured tannins. A perfect mixture of power and elegance. A long, evolving finish. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot. Fruit is 74% Red Mountain, 17% Horse Heaven Hills, and 9% Yakima Valley (Ciel du Cheval, Kiona, Klipsun, Alder Ridge, and Red Willow vineyards). Aged 17 months in French barriques (70% new). 14.7% alcohol. Give 3-4 years. Reviewed March 23, 2010
8. Andrew Will Sorella Horse Heaven Hills 2007 $70
Nose is marked by light graphite, herbal tones, licorice, and light red fruit. Palate is beautifully refined with polished tannins and intensely focused fruit flavors. Give three to five years. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Champoux Vineyard. Aged twenty-one months in French oak (35% new). 14.3% alcohol. 958 cases produced. Reviewed June 7, 2010
9. Quilceda Creek Red Wine Columbia Valley 2007 $35
Dark to the point of being opaque. A pretty nose with licorice, oak spices, blackberry, red fruit, and light floral notes. On the taste, an opulent, rich, outrageously textured wine with gobs of black fruit, chocolate, and spice. Very tightly compact on the palate at present. Shows a little heat at times. Give two to three years. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. 15.2% alcohol. To be released in Fall 2010. Reviewed April 1, 2010
10. Rasa Vineyards QED Walla Walla Valley 2007 $50
Outrageous game and violet aromas pop out on a nose that shows a lot of Les Collines Vineyard elements. Intense and powerful on the palate with a beguiling texture. Give 2-3 years. 94% Syrah, 3% Grenache, and 3% Mourvedre. Les Collines, Lewis, Seven Hills, and Minnick vineyards. Aged seventeen months in French oak (20% new). 14.8% alcohol. 640 cases produced. Sampled at 60 degrees. Reviewed March 2, 2010
11. Sparkman Cellars Kingpin Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain 2007 $56
Pretty aromatics of cedar, bright red cherries, dust, and fresh red fruit over a layer of dark berries. A big, impressive wine loaded with red fruit flavors and a firm scaffolding of tannins. The fruit is beautifully intense. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (Klipsun), 4% Merlot (Klipsun), 11% Petit Verdot (Snipes Canyon). Aged 22 months in 66% new French oak. 14.7% alcohol. 219 cases produced. Reviewed December 6, 2010
12. Gorman Winery The Evil Twin Red Mountain 2008 $60
A perfumed nose marked by licorice, spice, oak notes, and black cherry. On the palate, a gigantic, colossal wine with an iron fist grip of fruit and tannins and an extended finish. Alcohol shows through at times. Give two years. 65% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. 300 cases produced. Reviewed September 30, 2010
13. Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Klipsun Red Mountain 2007 $32
Bright cherry fruit, floral notes, earth, and hints of licorice mark an aromatic nose. The palate boasts lots of structure while still remaining elegant. The fruit flavors are incredibly fresh along with well-integrated tannins and bright acidity. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak (40% new). 13.8% alcohol. 510 cases produced. Reviewed November 18, 2010
14. Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007 $43
Blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, earth, and touches of spice on a complex, evolving nose. The palate brings rich, intense cherry fruit and chocolate. Easily among the best Cabernets the winery has ever produced. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Heather Hill, Sagemoor (Bacchus and Weinbau), Hedges Estate, Blue Mountain, and Wallula vineyards. Aged in French oak (60% new). 14.9% alcohol. 2,294 cases produced. Reviewed July 28, 2010
15. Cadence Winery Red Wine Ciel du Cheval 2007 $45
An attractive nose with lots of earth, floral notes, chocolate, and black fruit. Tight and tannic on the taste with a lot of currant flavors. Give this layered, exceptional wine three to five years. 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot. 14.4% alcohol. 495 cases produced. Reviewed January 14, 2010
16. Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2007 $85
An outrageously enjoyable nose with toasty smoke and oak spices floating above earth aromas, licorice, and high-toned cherries. Rich but elegant on the palate with penetrating cherry fruit and a firm backbone of tannins. A seemingly endless finish. A beautiful expression of Walla Walla fruit in general and Leonetti estate vineyards in particular. Stands tall among the best wines produced in the exceptional 2007 vintage. Give three years to five years. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 4% Carmenère, and 3% Malbec. Loess, Mill Creek Upland, and Seven Hills vineyards. Aged 22 months in new and neutral French and American oak. Reviewed April 16, 2010
17. Corliss Estates Red Wine Columbia Valley 2005 $65
A very pretty, seductive nose with cedar, dust, coffee bean, caramel, and black cherries. A big but beautifully integrated wine plush with black cherry fruit accented by silky oak flavors. A thirty-plus second finish. 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. Red Mountain, Stillwater, Weinbau, Northridge, Bacchus, and Stonetree vineyards. Aged 33 months in French oak (73% new). 14.9% alcohol. 450 cases produced. Reviewed December 28, 2010
18. K Vintners The Boy Walla Walla Valley 2008 $45
Aromas jump from the glass including sliced black olives, seaweed, umami, and game. Intensely flavorful on the palate with red fruit and game. A spectacular effort. 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah. Armada Vineyard. Aged in French oak. 14.5% alcohol. 318 cases produced. Reviewed July 26, 2010
19. Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Wahluke Slope 2008 $42
The nose is enticing with rich chocolate, blackberry, red currant, very light herbal notes, and a whiff of cough syrup accented by sweet spices. The palate is dry and tightly wound with rich, sinewy fruit flavors that cross the palate in waves and linger long after the last sip. A prototype of Cabernet Sauvignon. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot. Aged 19 months in American and French oak (72% new). 15.2% alcohol. 192 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Reviewed December 21, 2010
20. Maison Bleue Soleil Roussanne Yakima Valley 2009 $28
Very pretty floral notes, exotic spices, and intense minerality on an incredibly complex nose. A creamy, richly textured mouthfeel on a palate marked by mineral, apricots, and lemon notes. 100% Roussanne, Olsen Vineyard. Whole cluster pressed and fermented in French oak barrels (20% new). Aged sur lie for approximately 7 months. Partial (20%) malolactic fermentation. 14.1% alcohol. 160 cases produced. Reviewed September 14, 2010
21. Rotie Cellars Northern Blend Washington State 2008 $35
An aromatic nose with violets, bacon fat, and blueberries. A meaty, rich, intense wine loaded with fresh fruit and umami flavors along with a textured mouthfeel. Oak is very far in the background putting the focus firmly on the fruit. 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier. 14.2% alcohol. 396 cases produced. Reviewed August 20, 2010
22. Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Sagemoor Vineyard 2007 $40
A rich, opulent, complex nose marked by chocolate covered cherries, licorice, and earth. Polished and seamless on an elegantly structured palate. A beautifully long finish. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot and 5% Malbec. 14.3% alcohol. Reviewed September 15, 2010
23. Soos Creek Artist Series #7 Red Wine 2007 Columbia Valley $27
An aromatic nose with loads of black and red fruit, spice, light herbal notes, cranberries, and chocolate. The palate pops with big, rich, chewy red fruit flavors and beautifully integrated tannins. Capped off by an exceptionally long finish. 52% Cabernet Franc, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.1% alcohol. Reviewed December 9, 2010
24. Kerloo Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2008 $32
Jumps from the glass with floral notes, plum, smoke, spice, and dark fruit. A seamless palate with full of fruit and chocolate along with a solid backbone of tannins beautifully balanced by acidity. A persistent finish. 100% Syrah. Va Piano Block 6 (80%) and Les Collines Block 30 (20%). 20% whole-cluster fermented. Aged in French oak (20% new). 14.6% alcohol. 115 cases produced. Reviewed December 30, 2010
25. Sleight of Hand Levitation Syrah Columbia Valley 2007 $40
Stains the glass with a brilliant purple hue. Nose shows wild blueberries, mushroom, and forest floor aromas. The palate is seamlessly stitched together with abundant berry and umami flavors accented by exceptionally well balanced oak. The finish goes on as long as you care to count. 100% Syrah. Les Collines, Lewis, and Portteus vineyards. 14.9% alcohol. 300 cases produced. Reviewed December 29, 2010
26. 21 Grams Red Wine Columbia Valley 2007 $125
Nose is locked up pretty tightly at the moment but shows light herbal notes, licorice, freshly ground cranberries, pencil shavings, and very light earth aromas. Pretty fruit flavors shine through on an elegantly structured palate. Give two years. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Cold Creek, Pepper Bridge, Portteus, Seven Hills, Nostra Terra, and Sagemoor vineyards. 100 cases produced. Reviewed July 22, 2010
27. Guardian Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007 $39
An arresting aroma profile that is a prototype for Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon with earth, black cherries, and light herbal notes. The palate is dry and grippy with a firm tannic backbone. Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain. Aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. 140 cases produced. Reviewed December 14, 2010
28. SYZYGY Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2007 $33
Roasted meats, violets, and purple fruit mark a compelling nose. Rich and full of fruit on a palate that boasts an extended finish. 100% Syrah. Seven Hills, Les Collines, and Morrison Lane vineyards. Aged 18 months in French oak. 435 cases produced. Reviewed September 30, 2010
29. Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2007 $85
A nose that informs you on the first sniff that there is serious stuff in your glass with sweet French oak spices, toast, bittersweet chocolate, intense red and black fruit aromas, high-toned herbal notes, and a dusting of earth. An intriguing mixture of bold and lithe flavors on a palate tightly packed with opulent blackberry and cherry fruit robed in silky oak. Has a big black fruit lick on the mid-palate accented by silky tannins. Winds and weaves on the finish. Reviewed April 23, 2010
30. Northstar Merlot Walla Walla Valley 2006 $50
Takes some time to open up but once it does this wine sings. An intriguing, complex nose with spice, tobacco, cocoa, dark fruit, and a light earthiness. Glides along the palate with a bit more fruit intensity than the Columbia Valley offering. Lingers on the finish. A prototype for Washington Merlot in general and Walla Walla Valley Merlot in particular. 78% Merlot (Spring Valley, Anna Marie, and Loess vineyards), 17% Cabernet Sauvignon (Anna Marie and Loess vineyards), 5% Cabernet Franc (Minnick Hills Vineyard). Aged in French oak (56% new). 2,500 cases produced. Reviewed May 18, 2010
31. Salida Tempranillo Yakima Valley 2007 $34
A fascinating, lightly aromatic nose with earth, carob, red fruit, green tea leaves, and pencil eraser. An absolutely gorgeous texture on the palate with pure fruit flavors. Rounded with firm but polished tannins that coat the palate. Hangs and hangs on the finish. One of the best Tempranillo I have had from Washington. 100% Tempranillo. Two Coyote Vineyard (Yakima Valley). Aged 4 months in one year old American oak and 14 months in three year old French oak. 14.2% alcohol. 42 cases produced. Reviewed April 14, 2010
32. Col Solare Red Wine Columbia Valley 2007 $70
A thrilling nose with aromas of spice, vanilla, black cherry and licorice. Big and power packed on the palate with tightly wound fruit, beautifully integrated tannins, and silky oak flavors. A wine with a long life ahead of it. Best I have had from this winery. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Klipsun, Cold Creek, Andrews Horse Heaven, Weinbau, Hedges, Four Feathers, Stone Tree, and Coyote Canyon vineyards. Aged in 85% French and 15% American new oak barrels. 14.5% alcohol. Reviewed September 30, 2010
33. Trust Cellars Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2008 $28
Dark purple in color, almost stains the glass. Bright blueberry aromas, violets, and touches of chocolate. Great intensity on the palate with silky fruit with grainy tannins and a slight citric note. Give one to two years. 100% Syrah. Les Collines, Old Stones, and Davidson vineyards. Aged in French oak 18% new). 13.8% alcohol. 272 cases produced. Reviewed August 2, 2010
34. Saviah Cellars Une Vallee Walla Walla Valley 2008 $32
An aromatic nose with plum, spice, and black fruit. A gorgeous palate that shows deft balance with abundant cherry and plum flavors. One of the best vintages made of this consistently excellent wine. Give 6-12 months. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon (Pepper Bridge and McClellan Vineyards), 38% Merlot (Seven Hills Vineyard), and 6% Cabernet Franc. Aged 17 months in French oak (60% new). 14.1% alcohol. 341 cases produced. Reviewed October 10, 2010
35. Bunchgrass Syrah Morrison Lane Walla Walla Valley 2007 $32
Richly aromatic with black licorice, blueberry, cherry, milk chocolate, and light game. Gorgeously textured with gauzy fruit flavors and zippy acidity. 100% Syrah. Morrison Lane Vineyard. Aged 23 months in French oak (30% new). 14.5% alcohol. 50 cases produced. Reviewed July 6, 2010
36. Lantz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007 $34
An appealing nose with abundant toast and smoke notes along with black cherry and a touch of anise. Very dry and chalky on the palate with firm tannins and light herbal flavors. An extended finish. A beautiful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. 94 % Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. Lawrence Vineyards. Aged 24 months in French oak. 15.9% alcohol. Reviewed December 21, 2010
37. àMaurice Malbec Columbia Valley 2007 $35
Floral notes, spice, and pepper mark an expressive nose. A beautifully restrained palate. 100% Malbec. Gamache and Stone Valley vineyards. Aged in 100% French oak (30% new). 13.9% alcohol. 244 cases produced. Reviewed March 3, 2010
38. Stevens Winery Another Thought Sauvignon Blanc Yakima Valley 2009 $19
An intriguing nose with lime zest, grass, herbal notes, and mineral. Beautifully balanced and rounded on a palate full of crisp fruit flavors and a long, lingering finish. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Klipsun Vineyard. Aged in stainless steel. 13.9% alcohol. 120 cases produced. Reviewed July 27, 2010
39. Reininger Merlot Walla Walla Valley 2006 $36
A very pretty, intricate nose with layer aromatics of abundant red fruit, a whiff of mint, licorice, and a pleasing earthiness. Clean and well put together with a good grip of tannins and fresh red fruit flavors. Dips just slightly 2/3 of the way through. 82% Merlot, 16% Cabernet, 2% Malbec. Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards. Aged in 67% American and 33% French oak (35% new). 636 cases produced. Reviewed November 18, 2010
40. DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc Yakima Valley 2008 $34
An alluring nose with gooseberry, toast, and light tropical fruit. A very pretty texture on the palate with a slightly rounded feel with retaining crisp acidity. Mineral notes linger on the finish. 62% Sauvignon Blanc, 38 Semillon. 100% barrel fermented (70% new). 2,400 cases produced. Reviewed April 9, 2010
41. Otis Kenyon Wine Merlot Walla Walla Valley 2007 $30
An outrageous nose with loads of black olive juice and cherries. Palate has a plush, velvety feel with black olive juice and orange peel flavors. An unusual aroma and flavor profile for a merlot but quite compelling. 100% Merlot. Seven Hills Vineyard. 14.2% alcohol. 230 cases produced. Reviewed September 13, 2010
42. Ramseyer Vineyards Vintage 3 Red Wine Yakima Valley 2007 $40
Nose shows a lot of blackberry, earth, and syrupy anise aromas. Palate has opulent amounts of blackberry fruit. This is a big, bold, fruit laden wine with silky tannins and a long finish. 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. Dineen and Sheridan vineyards. Aged in French oak. 14.4% alcohol. 300 cases produced. Reviewed July 13, 2010
43. Tero Estates Windrow Vineyard Red Wine Walla Walla Valley 2007 $45
An aromatic wine with rich black cherry aromas, milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, and pepper. The palate is marked by rich, tightly wound up fruit wrapped in a silky layer of oak. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec. 14.1% alcohol. 108 cases produced. Reviewed August 11, 2010
44. Barrage Cellars Outcast Cabernet Franc Yakima Valley 2007
An aromatic wine with abundant licorice, chocolate, and light herbal notes. Delicious, sinewy fruit flavors that wind and weave on an incredibly persistent palate. A big wine with a puckering, long lasting finish. 100% Cabernet Franc. Boushey Vineyard. Aged 21 months in French oak (50% new, 50% second fill). 15.1% alcohol. 121 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Reviewed December 20, 2010
45. Tranche Cellars Slice of Pape Red Wine Columbia Valley 2005 $35
An alluring nose with dusky spices, leather, earth, and berries. Beautifully textured with weighty red fruit across the palate. Hangs on for a long finish. A tribute to the style. 56% Grenache, 38% Syrah, and 6% Cinsault. Northridge, Birch Creek, and Stillwater vineyards. Aged 30 months in neutral French oak. 15.2% alcohol. 143 cases produced. Reviewed April 21, 2010
46. Pomum Cellars Red Blend Columbia Valley 2007 $20
Black cherry, a dusting of black tea, mocha powder, earth, and light herbal streaks on a gorgeous, engaging nose. Intense and loaded with fresh cherry and cranberries on the palate while still showing incredible lightness. Opens up in series of concentric rings before making a giant exclamation point on the finish. An outrageously high Quality-to-Price ratio wine. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc. 14.3% alcohol. 140 cases produced. Reviewed April 6, 2010
47. Va Piano Vineyards Syrah Columbia Valley 2007 $40
Abundant ground black licorice along with cherry on an aromatic wine. Big and rich on the palate with gobs of fruit and chocolate. Best Syrah from this winery to date. 100% Syrah. 14% Va Piano Estate, 16% Minnick, 32% Portteus, and 38% Lewis. Aged 15 months in French oak (30% new). 14.5% alcohol. 689 cases produced. Reviewed December 26, 2010
48. William Church Viognier Columbia Valley 2009 $21
An aromatic wine with floral notes, peaches, and melon. Full and round on the palate with abundant fruit but beautiful balance. Lingers on the finish. Beautifully done. Conner Lee Vineyard. 14.3% alcohol. 240 cases produced. Reviewed December 27, 2010
49. Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007 $40
Somewhat brooding on the nose with blackberry, black cherry, herbal notes, spice box, and sweet spices. Rich with fruit and espresso flavors buffeted by dry tannins. An evolving finish. 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.8% Merlot, 0.2% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 25 months in 82% new French oak (82%) and American (18%) oak. 14.4% alcohol. 5,000 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Reviewed November 18, 2010
50. OS Winery Riesling Champoux Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills 2008 $15
Pale in color with a slight greenish tinge. A complex nose with acidic aromas along with mineral, spiced green apples, and light floral notes. Off-dry in style, the palate is exceptionally smooth and well balanced. 2% Residual Sugar. 9% alcohol. 325 cases produced. Reviewed January 15, 2010
51. Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah Walla Walla Valley 2007 $50
A very lightly aromatic nose with lots of dust, baker's chocolate, very light cherries, rose hips, and a distinct herbal streak. Big and opulent on the palate with abundant dry cherry fruit wrapped with a firm layer of tannins. Tart on the finish. Give one year. 60% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec. 14.8% alcohol. Sample provided by winery. Reviewed September 30, 2010
52. L'Ecole No. 41 Chenin Blanc Walla Voila Columbia Valley 2007 $14
Light lemon yellow in color. A very pretty, aromatic nose with honeysuckle, mineral, straw, and floral notes. The palate brings a lot of fruit while remaining very crisp with a slight citric tinge and a touch of sweetness toward the finish. 100% Chenin Blanc. Willard Family Farms, Rattlesnake Hills. 13.5% alcohol. 1% Residual Sugar. 2,536 cases produced. Reviewed July 7, 2010
53. Hestia Cellars Merlot Columbia Valley 2008 $28
The nose is reasonably restrained at present with blackberries, dust, cola, licorice, cherries, and a light medicinal note. The palate is rich and opulent, full of dark cherry flavors and soft, silky tannins. A hedonistic example of Washington Merlot. 100% Merlot. Stone Tree Vineyard, Wahluke Slope. Aged 22 months in new and second fill French oak. 250 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Reviewed December 2, 2010
54. Fall Line Winery Artz Red Blend Red Mountain 2007 $28
An engaging nose with smoke, mineral, and currant. Tight, tart, and intensely focused with fruit on the palate. A pleasing balance of acid and tannins, although the latter are a bit drying at times. Give three years. 39% Cabernet Franc, 36% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. 490 cases produced. Reviewed January 19, 2010
55. Pacific Rim Vin de Glacier Columbia Valley 2007 $14 2007
Ever so slightly copper in color. Leaps from the glass with diesel, lemon peel, orange rind, pear, and brown sugar. Coats the palate with orange peel flavors. A thick, rich wine with well-balanced acidity. A persistent finish. 10.4%, acid is 0.88%, pH 3.14, and Residual Sugar 16.0%. Reviewed December 22, 2010
56. Dumas Station Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2006 $32
An exciting nose with coffee, spice, black cherry, dust, and light herbal streaks. Excellently balanced on the palate with a persistent finish. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. 100% Minnick Hills Vineyard. 15.0% alcohol. 490 cases produced. Reviewed February 24, 2010
57. Kiona Chenin Blanc Ice Wine Red Mountain 2008 $25
A very intriguing nose with lots of dried, sugared pineapple, floral notes, and papaya. A thick wine and rich with sugar and tropical fruit flavors. Needs to be a bit colder. Fans of the super sweet sticky will enjoy this well-priced ice wine. 100% Chenin Blanc. 26.8% Residual Sugar. 9.6% alcohol. 2,700 cases produced (375 milliliter bottles). Reviewed February 26, 2010
58. Viento Gewurztraminer Ice Wine Columbia Gorge 2009 $45
An aromatic wine that leaps from the glass with white flowers, pear, orange peel, white grapefruit, and ripe pineapple. The palate is thick and rich with honey flavors but is beautifully balanced by acidity. Carries on seemingly endlessly on the finish. 17% Residual Sugar. 11.9% alcohol. 126 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. Reviewed December 2, 2010
59. Cooper Wine Co. L'Inizio Columbia Valley 2007 $40
Nose marked by coffee, vanilla, cherry, and light oak spices. A creamy mouthfeel on a wine that is richly flavored with fruit. Shows a fair amount of oak aromas and flavors at times, especially as it warms up. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Malbec, and 6% Petit Verdot. Weinbau, Conner Lee, Northridge, Champoux, Stillwater, Red Mountain, and Boushey Vineyards. Aged in new French (60%) and American oak (40%). 14.9% alcohol. 200 cases produced. Sampled at 64 degrees. Reviewed February 10, 2010
60. Sinclair Estates Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2009 $25
Spice, toasty oak aromas, light tropical fruit, and hay mark the nose. A creamy texture on the palate with a lemony, mango-laden finish. 100% Chardonnay. Lewis vineyard. Aged in 100% new French oak for 12 months, 9 months sur lie. 14.1% alcohol. Sampled at 60 degrees. Reviewed December 2, 2010


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An ancient snack still popular thousands of years later. Photo by Katharine Pollak | THE NIBBLE.
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July 2006 Last Updated October 2018
CAPSULE REPORT: This is Page 3 of a four-page article on the history of popcorn, up through modern popcorn flavors and recipes. Click on the black links below to visit other pages.
It is said that Native Americans brought popcorn to the first Thanksgiving and that the way to eat popcorn at that time was to hold an oiled ear of corn on a stick over the fire, and then chew the popped kernels off the cob.
After learning about popcorn, colonists began enjoying the first puffed breakfast cereal—a bowl of popcorn served with cream or milk.
In the 18th century, after the corn harvest, rendered fat would be thrown into a cast iron pot sitting over an open fire.
When the fat was hot, farmers would toss in corn kernels, a little molasses or other sweetener, and then wait for the corn to pop into a sweet, hot treat.
These days, in place of rendered fat, corn oil and sugar are used to make kettle corn.
By the 1840s, corn popping had become a popular recreational activity in the U.S. By the 1870s, the treat was sold in grocery stores and at concession stands at circuses, carnivals and fairs. In 1885,
Charles Cretors, founder of the Chicago snack equipment company C. Cretors and Co., invented the first commercial popcorn machine, and in 1893 he introduced the first mobile popcorn machine at the Midway of Chicago's Columbian Exposition.
It was reported by the Scientific American that the apparatus weighed about 400 or 500 pounds, and could be easily drawn by a boy, pulled by a small pony or mounted on trucks. The photo of the popcorn wagon at the right is of the improved 1900s version of the original model. The Cretors popper allowed vendors to follow crowds, especially ones near movie theaters, lending itself to the tradition of enjoying the golden fluffs at the cinema.
Thanks to the mobile popper, popcorn was very popular from the 1890s onward. Street vendors pushed steam or gas-powered poppers throughout the nation, selling both popped (by the bag or shaped into balls or squares) and unpopped kernels. At about the same time, flickers—or movies—were making their debut. By the early 1920s, popcorn was available at most movie theaters across the country, as much a part of the enjoyment as watching Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo.
Popcorn went into a slump during the early 1950s, when television became popular and movie attendance dropped. But when the public began eating popcorn at home, the new relationship between television and popcorn led to a resurgence in popularity.
Recovery of the movie industry, which saw its annual admissions double between 1971 and 2002 also helped. In 2004, cinemas sold about 60 million pounds of popcorn, and the average American ate 70 quarts. Today, Americans consume about 17 billion quarts of popped corn each year, with much of it coming from Indiana, with Nebraska producing a large crop as well.
Continue To Page 4: Popcorn Flavors
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It's always fun for me to learn the process people use to create visualizations, and especially why they made the decisions they did. So please forgive me if you find this post self-indulgent; I'm going to talk about the new Holy Week Timeline that's on the Bible Gateway blog:
The idea for this visualization started in November 2009 when xkcd published its movie narrative charts comic, which bubbled up through the Internet and shortly thereafter became a meme. Although the charts are really just setting up a joke for the last two panels in the comic, they're also a fantastic way of visualizing narratives, providing a quick way to see what's going on in a story at any point in time. The format also forces you to consider what's happening offstage—it's not like the other characters cease to exist just because you're not seeing them and hearing about them.
My first thought was to plot the book of Acts this way, but Acts presented too broad a scope to manage in a reasonable timeframe. Holy Week then came to mind—it involves a limited amount of time and space, it doesn't feature too many characters, and the Gospels recount it in a good bit of detail: one Gospel often fills in gaps in another's account.
Now I needed data. (Data is always the holdup in creating visualizations.) Fortunately, Gospel harmonies are prevalent, even free ones online. The version of Logos I have includes A. T. Robertson's Harmony of the Gospels, so I started transcribing verse references from the pericopes listed there into a spreadsheet, identifying who's in each one and when and where it takes place. I plowed halfway through, but then other priorities arose, and I had to abandon hopes of completing it in time for Holy Week 2010.
It lay dormant for a year (there's not a lot of reason to publish something on Holy Week unless Holy Week is nigh). A few weeks ago, I finished itemizing the people, places, and times in Robertson. Justin Taylor last year published a harmony of Holy Week based on the ESV Study Bible, which had a slightly different take on the timeline (one that made more sense to me in certain areas), so I moved a few things around on my spreadsheet. I also consulted a couple of other study Bibles and books I had readily available to me.
With data in hand, it was time to put pencil to paper.
Version 1: Paper
I wanted to make four basic changes to the xkcd comic: use the vertical axis consistently to show spatial progression, provide close-ups for complex narrative sequences, include every character and event, and add the days of the week to orient the viewer in time. Only the last of these changes wound up in the final product, however.
The vertical axis in this version proceeded from Bethany at the top, through the Mount of Olives and various places in Jerusalem, and ended at Emmaus. On a map of Holy Week events, this axis approximates a line running from east (Bethany) to west (Emmaus). Using the vertical axis this way encodes more information into the chart, allowing you to see everything that happened in a single location simply by following an imaginary horizontal line across the chart. Unfortunately, it also leads to a lopsided chart that progresses down and to the right, creating huge amounts of whitespace on a rectangular canvas. I didn't see that problem yet, however.
I did see that the right half of the chart (Friday to Sunday) was much denser than the left half—I'd need to space that out better when creating a digital version.
Version 2: Drawing Freehand in Illustrator
I have a confession: I'd never used Adobe Illustrator before this project. Most of my image work uses pixels; Photoshop is my constant companion. But this project would have to use vectors to allow for the constant fiddling necessary to produce a decent result at multiple sizes. So, Illustrator it was.
My first goal was to reproduce the pencil drawing with reasonable fidelity. I used my mouse to draw deliberately wobbly lines that mimicked the xkcd comic. Now, if I'd had more experience with Illustrator, the hand-drawn effect may have worked. But making changes was incredibly annoying; I had to delete sections, redraw them, and then join them to the existing lines. It took forever to make minor tweaks; what would I do when I needed to move whole lines around (as frequently happened later in the process)? After all, if you look closely, you'll see entire swaths of the chart misplaced. (Why are the disciples hanging out in the Temple after Jesus' arrest?) No, this hand-drawn approach was impractical for someone of my limited Illustrator experience. I needed straight lines and a grid.
Version 3: The Grid
My wife says that this version reminds her of 1970s-style album covers. She's right. Nevertheless, it formed the foundation of the final product.
So, what are the problems here? First, the lines weigh too much. Having given up a pure freehand approach, I wanted a more transit-style map (used for subways / the Underground) with straight lines and restricted angles. I'm most familiar with Chicago's CTA map and thought I'd emulate their style of thick lines that almost touch. This approach leads to lots of heavy lines that don't convey additional information—it's also tricky to round the corners of such thick lines without unsightly gaps appearing (again, for someone of my limited Illustrator experience).
The second problem is the extreme weight in the upper left of the chart, far out of proportion to the gravity of events there. The green, brown, and black lines represent Peter, James, and Judas, who don't play prominent roles until later in the story. They're adding lots of "ink" to the chart and not conveying useful information. They had to go.
Why not simply lighten the colors–after all, why is Judas's line black? Simple: black often represents evil. Similarly, Jesus' line is red to represent his blood. The Jewish leaders are blue because it contrasts well with red, and most of the chart involves conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders (with the pink crowd usually acting as a buffer to prevent Jesus' arrest). Pilate and Herod are imperial purple. Orange is similar in hue to Jesus' red, so the disciples are orange. I tried not to get too heavy-handed with the symbolism, but there it is.
Most of the other colors are arbitrary (i.e., available in Illustrator's default palette and of roughly the same saturation as the symbolic colors). John would be sharing a lot of space on the chart with Mary Magdalene and the other women, so I tried to give them colors (green, olive, yellow) that worked well together. The only future change from the color scheme in this version involves the guards, who change from cyan (too bright) to a light purple.
Version 4: Less Technicolor
This version reduced the line weight and introduced Peter, John, and Judas only when they needed to appear as independent entities in the story. It works better, but there are still two problems with it.
First, look at the giant areas of whitespace in the bottom left and top right (especially the top right). Using the vertical axis to indicate absolute travel through space is a nice idea, but I couldn't figure out how to do it without creating these huge gaps. In the next version, I abandoned the vertical-axis-as-space idea—it now indicated travel between places, but you could no longer follow a horizontal line to see everything that happened in a single place.
Second, I realized that I wouldn't be able to incorporate every event and person, as they added clutter. I could have added close-ups to illustrate these details—obviously there was enough space for them. However, I felt that including them would distract from the main point: to show Holy Week at a glance. I'm still a bit torn over omitting them, but I think it was a better decision to reduce the total space used by the chart.
I also abandoned the idea that Jesus went to the Temple on Wednesday. Some commentators think he did; others disagree. From a story-structure standpoint, I like the idea that Judas slipped away from the other disciples to bargain for his thirty pieces of silver while Jesus was teaching in the Temple. However, the text is ambiguous on when exactly Judas agreed to betray Jesus and what Jesus was doing on Wednesday.
Version 5: Text
This is the final version. It condenses a lot of vertical and horizontal space; moves some lines around so they overlap less; and, most importantly, adds text: titles for major events; shading and place names for major locations; verse references; line labels; and a short explanation.
The xkcd chart is brilliant in that it doesn't need a key: following recent trends in UI design, all the labels are inline. I definitely wanted to keep that approach, which meant making lots of labels and placing them on the lines. Again, my lack of experience with Illustrator showed up: I couldn't get the text to center on the lines automatically, and I had trouble creating an outer glow on the text to provide some contrast with the background and make sure that the text was legible. (Black text on a bright blue background is an unpleasant combination.) But the glow always ate into the letters. Thus, I ended up creating lots of pixel-perfect, partially transparent rectangles as backgrounds for the labels. Some of the person lines had somehow slipped out of alignment with the grid, so I had to do a lot of clicking to get things back into order. In retrospect, it was good that I had to make the rectangles; I might not otherwise have noticed that the lines weren't all where they were supposed to be.
The shaded boxes to indicate places are straight-up rounded rectangles (though I'm not sure why the corner radius is a global application preference in Illustrator). These boxes, borrowed from xkcd, replace the vertical-axis idea I earlier toyed with.
Finally, I added event titles and verse references. Here I tried to be comprehensive, including references even when I didn't have a title to put with them. For example, there are two fig tree stories in the Gospels, but I only titled one of them. The references are available to you if you want to read both, though.
This project was fun, if time-consuming. In total, it took somewhere between forty and sixty hours (much of it spent climbing Illustrator's learning curve). The chart ended up looking less like the xkcd comic and more like a transit map than I was expecting at the outset, but that's OK. I'm now a whole lot more familiar with the Holy Week timeline, and I hope that others find the chart useful, too. If it helps improve Bible literacy even a little bit, then I consider it a success.


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This article is more than 1 year old
Marshall Islands prez 'legalises cocaine'
Government surprised by 'CBS' nose Ajax announcement
The government of the Marshall Islands has expressed its surprise that president Jurelang Zedkaia has issued an executive order legalising cocaine and introducing "a no-visa unrestricted entry programme for foreign nationals of any country".
The bold initiative was apparently provoked by the need to raise cash to defend the islands against rising seas which could see the Pacific archipelago swallowed by 2040.
The "visibly emotional" Marshallese prez lamented the destruction of 1,000 years of civilisation which began when the white man first set foot on the Marshall Islands' sun-kissed beaches.
He declared to the press: "Then the Westerners came. First it was the atomic bombs, and then now their irresponsible emissions are drowning our islands. We are tired of being raped and victimised. As a sovereign nation, I declare the right of this country to legalise any substance it wishes."
When pressed as to where he'd be obtaining the Bolivian marching powder, Zedkaia declined to name his source, but said it'd be "the real thing, uncut and pure, the best you can get".
That's the story according to "CBS Breaking News"...
...but the islands' government insists:
"The attention of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands has been drawn to a bizarre news item published in cbsbreakingnews.com, which alleged that the country has legalised cocaine and liberalised immigration regulations. We wish to respond to this publication by stating in very clear and unequivocal terms that it is totally false, baseless and irresponsible."
It continues: "The Republic of the Marshall Islands, as a responsible member of the international community, has not legalised cocaine or any hard drug and does not intend to ever do so."
Regarding an immigration free-for-all, it adds: "The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands will not, and has no intention ever, to liberalise these laws but will continue to ensure that only law-abiding immigrants with well-defined objectives are allowed into our beautiful and serene country."
It appears libel action is now likely against CBS Breaking News, which is not the much-loved US news outfit*, but rather a site "run by some faceless individuals whom the Government intends to unearth legally and compel, through the judicial process, to account for their libelous acts and yellow journalism". ®
* A CBS Breaking News disclaimer delightfully clarifies that it's "not affiliated with the Copenhagen Business School of Denmark, nor the Canterbury Building Society of New Zealand, nor CBS Corp of the USA".


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Fascinating statistics from the C-Suite Study with Infographic
On October 7 IBM launched the latest in their C-suite Study series. This is the first study where all offices within the C-suite were surveyed at the same time with the same questions. The title of this study is "The Customer-activated Enterprise"
You can download the full study here: Global C-suite Study or, access this and other studies via your smart device HERE
Technology is once again, as it was in 2012, the CEOs' number one driving force impacting enterprises today. In this study, three areas emerged as critical to future success. Organisations should:
- Open up to customer influence
- Pioneer digital-physical integration
- Craft engaging customer experiences
Here are some statistics from the below infographic, ready for you to Tweet:
55 percent of CEO's cited customers as the most influential on strategic vision and business strategy – Tweet This
Nearly seven in ten CxOs recognize the new imperative – a shift to social and digital interaction. Tweet This
Organisations that have a united C-Suite are 28% more likely to be out performers. Tweet This
35% of CxO's recognise that they don't understand their customers well today. Tweet This
Two thirds of organisations have a weak digital strategy or none at all. Tweet This
What did you take away from the above? Is there something you would like to know more about? Drop by and leave your comments below.


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If you ask any baseball or softball player, they will tell you that isn't just your on-field gear that help set you apart from the rest. Yes, you need a bat and fielding glove more than anything to be successful, but when you look good on the field, it helps build your confidence and improve your play. There are hundreds of different accessories you can get that will help you show off your style and allow your team to look good while racking up the wins.
Many players enjoy the comfort of baggy softball and baseball pants when they play, but things have evolved so much over the years to the point where companies have made it easy for players to keep their phones handy during the game. Worth produces a pair of softball pants for adults that feature a special pocket to fit your cell phone. For beer league players waiting to get word that their wife is going into labor or any other emergency, this makes it easy for you to not miss a single call.
Other important accessories that players will want to consider adding to their collection include sliding shorts and sliding pants. The last thing anyone wants to get is a raspberry on their leg, but that is inevitable if you are one of those players that despises wearing pants and just uses shorts. One of the best sliding pants for baseball players include the all in one sliding pants from Muchera. Muchera produces quality sliding pants for men and women.
Among the other accessories you will want to get include sunglasses. You don't want to be that player on the field that lets a crucial fly ball drop behind you because you were blinded by the sun. That is especially so when there are so many affordable options out there. For those that play in colder weather regions, you will need to have a few good pairs of heavy duty hoodies. You won't want to use those that are worn by contractors, as these won't allow you to have the freedom needed to make plays. Instead, you will want a fleece type hoodie that a company like DeMarini produces.


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Troy Lee Gentry, of the country singing duo Montgomery Gentry, has been accused of killing a tame black bear that federal officials say he tagged as killed in the wild.
Gentry, 39, of Franklin, Tenn., and Lee Marvin Greenly, 46, of Sandstone, appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Erickson in connection with a sealed indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Minneapolis.
Authorities allege that Gentry purchased the bear from Greenly, a wildlife photographer and hunting guide, then killed it with a bow and arrow in an enclosed pen on Greenly's property in October 2004.
The government alleges that Gentry and Greenly tagged the bear with a Minnesota hunting license and registered the animal with the state Department of Natural Resources as a wild kill.
Gentry allegedly paid about $4,650 for the bear, named Cubby. The bear's death was videotaped, and the tape later edited so Gentry appeared to shoot the animal in a "fair chase" hunting situation, the government alleges.
If convicted, both Gentry and Greenly face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $20,000 fine.
Gentry's manager, Johnny Dorris, said Wednesday that Gentry, an outdoorsman and hunter, expects to be exonerated.
Gentry "relied on the knowledge and expertise of a local guide to obtain the proper permit," Dorris said in a written statement. "Troy felt what he did was legal and in full compliance of the law and was surprised to hear of the indictment."
Greenly did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Montgomery Gentry, along with co-singer Eddie Montgomery, are known for hits such as "My Town" and "If You Ever Stop Loving Me."


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takes you to the Delhi, known locally as Dilli and by the official name National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with more than 12.25 million inhabitants in the territory and with nearly 22.2 million residents in the National Capital Region urban area (which also includes Noida, Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad). The name Delhi is often also used to include some urban areas near the NCT, as well as to refer to New Delhi, the capital of India, which lies within the metropolis. The NCT is a federally administered union territory.
Located on the banks of the River Yamuna, Delhi
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has been continuously inhabited since at least the 6th century BCE. After the rise of the Delhi Sultanate, Delhi emerged as a major political, cultural and commercial city along the trade routes between northwest India and the Gangetic plain. It is the site of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains. In 1639, Mughal emperor Shahjahan built a new walled city in Delhi which served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857.
After the British East India Company had gained control of much of India during the 18th and 19th centuries, Calcutta became the capital both under Company rule and under the British Raj, until George V announced in 1911 that it was to move back to Delhi
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. A new capital city, New Delhi, was built to the south of the old city during the 1920s. When India gained independence from British rule in 1947, New Delhi was declared its capital and seat of government. As such, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India, as well as numerous national museums, monuments, and art galleries.
Owing to the migration of people from across the country, Delhi has grown to be a multicultural, cosmopolitan metropolis. Its rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed Delhi. Today, Delhi is a major cultural, political, and commercial centre of India.
Top Tourists Place in Delhi is.
1) Red Fort in Delhi
Red Fort is laid outalong the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon , surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km in circumference and is built of red sandstone. The Mughal king Shah Jahan transfered the capital from Agra to Delhi and the Fort was completed in 1648. The fort has two main entrances , the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate which faces the famed Chandni Chowk market.The Fort has Diwan-e-am, and Diwan-e-Khas where the king would grant audience to the public and would grant audience to important people respectively . Besides this is the Rang Mahal, the water cooled Apartment for the royal ladies. In the basement of the fort is a market where traditional Indian goods can be purchased at nominal rates . Another attraction is Light and Sound show held in the evenings.
2) Qutub Minar in Delhi
This magnificent structure in the southern part of the captal was built by a Muslim King , Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1199 A.D. A part of it which he could not finish was completed by another Muslim King Iltutmish. Minar is 72.5 m high and has as its base a mosque. In front of the imposing structer is an Iron Pillar believed to have been built in the 5th century A.D. which has not caught rust ever since it was built.
3) India Gate in Delhi
India GateStraight down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan is India Gate which is primarily a memorial to unknown soldier. Designed by Lutyens , the 42 meter high structure is a war memorial in honour of soldiers who died during the second World War. The structure has an eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) to honour the memory of the unknown soldiers.
4) Old Fort in Delhi
The ruins of this fort are located on a small hill which once stood on the bank of the river Yamuna.Legend has it that the fort marked the site of Indraprastha ,themagnificent capital of the Pandavas, though the construction was carried out by Sher Shah Suri any time between 1538 to 1545 A. D. The structure houses a mosque which has a double storeyed octagonal tower. It is said that the Mughal King Humayun fell from the tower accidently and died. At the foot of the hill is the lake where the Delhi Tourism has arrangements for boating and also organises a Sound and Light Show.
5) Bahai TempleLotus Temple in Delhi
Is a very recent architectural marval of the Bahai faith and is visible from several spots in south delhi. Located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi. It is Lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name.It is made up of marble,cement dolomite, and sand.
6) Humayun's Tomb in Delhi
This tomb, which as built by emperor Humanyun's wife, took eight years to complete. The emperor's wife Begai Begum was buried in the tomb and the structure is first of its kind built in the center of a well - planned garden. The combination of white marble and red sand stone was a great influence on later Mughal architecture. It is generally regarded as a prototype of the famed Taj Mahal of Agra.
7) Jantar Mantar Jantar Mantar in Delhi
Within the Connaught Place are is the Jantar Mantar observatory built by the Rajput King of Jaipur, Sawai Jai Singh in 1724. It was believed to have been built with masonary instruments for observing the movements of the stars and the planets.
8) Safdarjung Tomb in Delhi
The garden tomb was built in 1753-54 soon after Safdarjung died. It is a red and a brown sandstone with double storeyed towers in the corners and is one of the last example of Mughal architecture.
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Boy band
A boy band (or boyband) is defined as a bunch of tone deaf, identical-looking, moronic, ambitious young teenage men with a silly grin charming smile whose sole function in their short miserable lives purpose in life is to earn as much money as possible for the major labels in the music industry. The serially manufactured boy bands of today are the very definition of creatively braindead, but like to deceive themselves that they're updated versions of the best original boy bands such as The Beatles and The Monkees, who originated in 60's and essentially became an extinct species after the Great Clone Reformation of 1984.
The boy bands of today are, and have been ever since the early 80's, biogenetically engineered in the Boyband Factory outside Cincinnati, Ohia State in United States of America. The only crowd they are catching the attention of are the teenage doll faces with a voice like a fuckin' air raid siren, if you are near one of these at the time a boy band appears...duck and cover.
The Great Clone Reformation[edit]
The Great Clone Reformation was a major event back in the 80's, in 1982 to be precise, in which the major companies in the record industry realized that the old boy bands, like the aforementioned The Beatles and The Monkees, had become obsolete and needed to be replaced with something that could bring in more money for the record industry. Therefore, inspired by the serial production of modern industries, they began to plan for the mysterious facility only known as "The Boyband Factory", which eventually ended up in the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio. Here the serially manufactured boy bands of the future, such as Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, Take That, the Jonas Brothers and East 17, would see the light of day in high-tech bio-cryogenic tanks. However, unlike their historical counterparts before the GCR, they were now cloned instead of being recruited from several thousands of talentless prepubescent morons aspiring musicians, a process that would have taken ten times as long to go through. From now on the boy bands would be serially manufactured to earn as much money as possible in an optimal way, as quickly as possible. Ah, the wonders of capitalism...
The Boyband Factory[edit]
The Boyband Factory was constructed by the inventive and ingenious Fuck Monkey only a few years after the Hooker Factory was finished (which refers to the factory itself, not the book). The Troll, such as it was back in the 80's, approached Wonka and assigned him to build a factory capable of serially producing boy bands. The Boyband Factory was designed to resemble the Chocolate Factory slightly, which saved Wonka some time on designing it, allowing him to finish it in no more than seven days. The Boyband Factory was opened in May 19 in 1983 near Cincinnati. The first biogenetically groomed boy band that was shipped from the factory was New Kids on the Block, which began to amass money as quickly as in 1984; unfortuatly after this incident New Kids on the Block released a statement in The Sun revealing how they had been sexually assulted by Willy Wanker and the Oompa Loompas causing for the factory owner to be arrested and replaced by Simon Cowell. A book about the Boyband Factory, called "Charlie and the Boyband Factory", which would have been the sequel to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", was in the plans as promotion for the factory. However, Roald Dahl died before the plans could come into fruition and the project was aborted.
The Boyband Factory is operated mainly by a dedicated crew of Oompa Loompas and of Groupies, which are kidnapped teenage girls - this being because despite boy band members being more or less homosexual, they still have an irresistible grin smile as well as genetically modified pheromones which has a hypnotic effect on the mind of a young and innocent teenage girl; in fact, some have even gone as far as to state that boyband members are all latently telepathic. The capturing of young teenage girls normally takes place after a boyband clone has used telepathic/hypnotic mind-powers and irresistible pheromones to seduce a girl into becoming a mindless slave, who will then be captured by Oompa Loompas during nightfall and taken to the Boyband Factory to produce even more boybands by being biochemically broken down into a Soylent Green-esque organic, half-liquid proto-sludge which will then be used as material for the boy band clone tanks.
The attributes of a boyband[edit]
All boybands are exactly the same. If anyone have ever told you otherwise, they're just hallucinating. That is because of their Communist nature and enforced Soviet totalitarianism. They are all cloned from one individual, known only as X-24, which is probably just a codename. According to rumor, he may have been the little brother of one the anonymous geneticists working in the factory, however this remains no more than speculation.
Displayed here is a few examples of how boy bands look like. As you can see, they're all the same, just as anything that has been serially manufactured is. The boy band members all have one single look and are capable of expressing no more than one facial expression, a certain stupid grin charming smile which is very evident on the pictures. Even tetrachloroethylene will not wash the silly grimace charming smile away, no matter how much you would want to. This is because a gene in chromosome 22 has been proven to be malfunctioning in all X-24-clones, resulting in their faces being locked in that position, a minor fault that has actually turned out to work for the better for the record industry.
All boyband members are closet homosexuals, which isn't strange since the prototype "X-24" was allegedly homosexual himself. The homosexuality is a block that is purposed to stop the clones from reproducing independently, as they are artificially born in cloning tanks anyway. Boy band members also lacks, as everyone already knows, even the slightest hint of any musical talent or decent singing voice (unless you count a voice akin to that of an old lady swallowing a cat a whole). But that has hardly been a problem, as all their songs are written by the record labels and their "live"-singing is all prerecorded anyway. All boyband members are supposedly Orthodox, but they are atheists anyway.
The life cycle of a boy band[edit]
The life cycle of a X-24-clone differs greatly from that of a normal person. Their life begins no earlier than at 15 year and ends at approximately 35 years, when they clones can no longer bring in any money for the record companies and thus becomes obsolete and needs to be replaced by a new boy band. Contrary to popular belief, human rights does not apply to boy band members, as their entire purpose of life is to cash in shit loads of money for the big guns in the record industry so they can afford to pay for their monthly food, rent for their 20 million dollar houses, clothes, medicine, a home theater consisting of a Boothroyd-Stuart Meridian 810 Reference 10 Megapixel projector with a $1,000,000 Wilson Audio/Krell surround sound system (even though Bose claims all boy bands use their Lifestyle 48 Home Theater System, taking even more undeserved credit), Lamborghini Murcielago sports car, speedboat, summer cottage (all three of them), the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Coupe F1 reserve car (used whenever the Lamborghini has a scratch on a window), gold and diamond jewelry, private airplane and other vital resources, such as dihydrogen monoxide and air.
0 - 15 years[edit]
Unlike normal humans, whose lives begins at the age of 0, the life of a boy band clone begins at the age of 15 or 16. In the Boyband Factory, the clones are formed out of a plasmatic blob of protomatter with their bodies being at the biological age of 15, sometimes 16. Therefore boy band members have no childhood to speak of, and their "lives" officially begins at 16, ending in 30.
16-20 years[edit]
It is at this age that the boy bands can to do what they were born for, namely earn money for the Multinational Foursome Oligarchy that is Universal Music Group, Sony Music, EMI Group and Warner Music Group. The boy bands are genetically engineered to be able to start cashing in money as soon as possible. Despite this, they still have to processed with subliminal messages to become ready to make shit loads of money as soon as possible, which takes no more than about 10 minutes. The subliminal messages contains the prefabricated lyrics for the shitsongs the clones are supposed to sing. The shitsongs are created with a special computer program which inserts, amongst others, the words love, heart (sometimes heartbreak), leaving, tears, girl, and cry with certain intervals, accompanied by a guitar melody that varies slightly, but not much, from song to song. Boy band songs have an annoying tendency to be extremely hard to memorize as they all sound extremely generic. However, this may actually be a good thing as the crap songs would surely be infinitely more annoying if you could. Of course, there is no talent behind this, but it's not necessary either as boy bands only exist to make as much money as possible.
Once the relatively short training period is over, the clones are assigned into a new boy band whose name the record companies have decided. They're also given unique name's to create the false belief that there is actually a difference between the boy band members. Sometimes an individual boy band member is advertised as being "the bad boy" of the band, which is complete and utter lie as they are all a real bunch of putrid sissies and nothing else.
20-30 years[edit]
The age of 20 to 30 years is the official twilight years for an X-24 clone. Their fame has already reached their height a good two years ago, and another serially manufactured boy band is always waiting around the corner, as the big guns in the Foursome Oligarchy are unable to earn enough money on them to help buying Ferraris, jewelry, 20 million $ houses, trip to Hawaii and food, water and shelter for the day. Once in a while an individual ex-boy band member attempts to become an actor, always resulting in disaster. The former New Kids on the Block-member Donnie Wahlberg briefly appeared in the well known film "The Sixth Sense", attempting to play a mentally deficient, psychic young man with one single facial expression, the very epitome of a boy band member. His involvement in the film "The Sixth Sense" resulted in the death of not just himself, but of Bruce Willis, on screen as well as off screen. X-24 are genetically engineered to explode once they reach the age of 30, hence why most boy band members seem to disappear once their heydays are over and another set of clones are waiting to take their place.
The status of boy bands today[edit]
Boy bands continue to pollute not just the musical industry, but also the entertainment industry at large. In fact, their very existence is threatening the mental state of millions of humans, mostly females, with their hypnotic gaze and their ridiculous, generic look. Their very existence is putting a heavy weight upon the laws of physics themselves, causing massive upheaval in the fabric of reality itself. No cure for boy bands has been found to date, although file sharing and the spreading of MP3's has taken its toll on the amount of money a boy band earns. Since money is the very life supporting substance boy bands depend on, hopefully the file sharing industry will eventually help in bringing about the downfall of the living blasphemy that is boy bands.


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I have been so impressed with some of the beautiful, yet simple, wreaths out in blog land. So…I thought I must make one of my own. I decided that my material of choice would be…
…you guessed it, burlap. I know, I know. I just love the stuff.
What you will need is…
Burlap (the amount varies depending on the size of your wreath base. I used about 1 1/2 yards.)
Wreath base (I used a 12 inch ring)
Hot glue
Spray paint to match the color of your burlap.
1. I spray painted the ring red so that the overall color of the wreath would be uniform. If you leave it white there is a chance the white will show through the burlap.
{Funny story…notice the tape? I broke the wreath when I gently tossed it on the ground to paint it. Be careful, those joints break easily!!}
2. Cut burlap into 5 inch squares.
3. Fold burlap in half and then in half again.
4. Holding the folded corner, round off the top of the square.
Your burlap will then look like this…
5. Grab the center of the burlap and gather to look like a flower.
6. Snip off the folded point of the flower.
7. Apply hot glue to the tip. {Don't you just love the red fingers?}
8. Glue to the wreath base.
9. Repeat until your base is fully covered and looks like this:
Now I have something lovely to put on my door for Valentine's Day!! (Shhhh! It's good for Christmas too.)
{Update} Many people have been wondering where I purchased the red burlap. I found mine at Hobby Lobby. Sorry Vegas friends…I bought what was left on the bolt!


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Football season is right around the corner! Not only in the NFL, but at the college level, too. As a resident guru of the Saturday standouts, Chad Reuter provides the top draft-eligible college players at each position in a 10-part series. Today's group is the cornerbacks.
The increasing importance of the passing game in the NFL has not only pushed teams to look for more accurate quarterbacks and faster, stronger receivers, but also cornerbacks who can make the connection between those two more difficult.
In the past four drafts, teams have selected 22 percent more cornerbacks than they did in the first six where 32 teams were involved.
Interestingly, the number of corners picked in the early rounds hasn't increased -- meaning teams are not stretching their boards to find those third, fourth or fifth corners, but rather accumulating bodies in the later rounds to see who can step up and fill a need.
But if teams truly want difference makers on the outside taking on the Andre and Calvin Johnsons of the league, they usually have to find talent early in the draft. Nearly three-quarters of the cornerback slots in the past 10 Pro Bowls were awarded to former first- or second-round picks -- that puts CB behind only offensive tackle in terms of dominance by early-round selections.
Unfortunately for NFL teams, there might not be many cornerbacks worthy of a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. One or two of the seniors listed here might sneak into the late first, but even if their average size or speed keep them from reaching that lofty status, don't be surprised if their quickness and unwillingness to back down from challenges allows them to start outside or in the slot.
* Denotes underclassmen.
1. David Amerson, 6-3, 194, North Carolina State
The 2011 Jim Thorpe Award finalist is tall, physical and has receiver-like ball skills, leading the nation with a whopping 13 interceptions in 2011. Some project him to free safety at the next level because of his size, but Amerson's length will tempt scouts looking for a lock-down outside corner. He has enough hip fluidity and short-area agility to be a difference maker in the right system.
NFL comparison:*Nnamdi Asomugha
2. DeMarcus "Dee" Milliner, 6-1, 199, Alabama
Overshadowed by his high-profile teammates over the past two seasons, Milliner has made plays when given the chance (four interceptions, 16 pass break-ups in 2010-11). This season he'll use his pro-ready size, athleticism and footwork to become a household name on an Alabama team looking to repeat as BCS champion.
NFL comparison:*Carlos Rogers
3. Tyrann Mathieu, 5-9, 175, LSU
The 2011 Bednarik Award winner as the nation's top defender is undersized but ultra-competitive, constantly creating turnovers (six forced fumbles, two interceptions in 2011) and bringing the physicality of a bigger player in his tackles. Mathieu is also a game changer as a punt returner, ranking fourth in the country with 16.2 yards per attempt and scoring two touchdowns.
NFL comparison:*Cortland Finnegan
4. Terry Hawthorne, 6-0, 190, Illinois
Hawthorne is a physical defender with the size to start outside against larger NFL receivers, hands and read-and-react ability to make plays in coverage (tied for the led Big Ten lead in passes defended in 2011) and aggressive nature to hold up his end of the bargain in run support.
NFL comparison:Aaron Ross
5. Johnthan Banks, 6-2, 185, Mississippi State
SEC receivers were hoping Banks would head to the NFL after his second-team All-SEC junior campaign, but now they'll have to deal with the tall, lean three-year starter's ball skills and competitive streak for another season before he heads off to challenge pro wideouts.
NFL comparison:Derek Cox
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Purchase NFL Game Rewind and receive access to Coaches Film, which includes camera angles previously only available to coaches, scouts and officials.
6. Leon McFadden, 5-10, 185, San Diego State
McFadden is a tenacious two-time All-Mountain West selection possessing the strength, quickness, attitude and ball skills (17 passes defensed in 2011) required of NFL starters, even if his size is not ideal to handle the physicality of veteran wideouts.
NFL comparison:Brent Grimes
7. Johnny Adams, 5-11, 175, Michigan State
This wiry All-Big Ten zone corner owns the athleticism to stick with pro receivers and can make quarterbacks pay for poor throws (intercepted three passes in both the 2010 and 2011 seasons). However, Adams' average size/strength combination and 2009 shoulder injury might prevent scouts from seeing him as an elite prospect.
NFL comparison:Jabari Greer
8. Desmond Trufant, 6-0, 185, Washington
The brother of NFL cornerbacks Marcus and Isaiah Trufant flashes playmaking ability (16 passes defended in 2011) and very good foot quickness, but he must play stronger and more disciplined in coverage to be considered a sure-fire NFL starter.
NFL comparison: Kelly Jennings
9. B.W. Webb, 5-11, 180, William and Mary
A star since picking off Virginia three times in the Tribe's 2009 opening-weekend shocker, Webb has the hands and cover skills (if average size) to be one of the top small-school prospects in the draft, projecting as a reliable nickel back on defense and regular contributor on special teams.
NFL comparison:Lardarius Webb
10. Adrian Bushell, 5-11, 184, Louisville
Bushell started his college career at Florida and then transferred to a junior college to get things in order before re-joining his old coach in Gainesville, Charlie Strong, in Louisville. The 2011 All-Big East selection (with only one interception and three pass break-ups) has a lean fame that belies his persistent and confident nature.
NFL comparison:Tramon Williams
11. Jordan Poyer, 6-0, 190, Oregon State
Once drafted as a Major League Baseball prospect, Poyer is now an All-Pac-12 cornerback who uses his athletic prowess to make plays on the ball in coverage (four interceptions in 2011) and to make tacklers miss as a kick/punt returner. He could work himself into a potential starter's grade with more consistent physicality.
NFL comparison:Tarell Brown
Follow Chad Reuter on Twitter @ChadReuter


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Ambitious Bi Flag - Bisexual Pride Gift - Ceramic Mug 11 oz.
Warm your soul with a nice cuppa out of this perfectly-sized bi pride aesthetic ceramic mug. This bi pride "ambitious" design will make that early morning "aaahhh!" moment even better. It also makes the perfect gift for the bi guy, gal, or non-binary pal in your life. No need to worry about clothing sizes or fit preferences, just pure enjoyment.
Your friends will smile and talk about what a cool, unique mug you have to showcase your bisexual pride. Use it as a conversation starter or a guaranteed way to ping other bi people's bi-fi signal.
The mug is microwave safe and dishwasher safe. It's made of white, durable ceramic in an 11-ounce size. Its high-quality sublimation printing will excite you and your loved ones, and make it the perfect gift for your true coffee, tea or hot chocolate lover.
.: Durable white ceramic
.: 11 oz (0.33 l) capacity, perfect for coffee, tea, and hot chocolate!
.: Rounded corners
.: Comfortable C-Handle
.: Microwave safe
.: Dishwasher safe
.: 11 oz fluid capacity
.: Height: Approximately 3.75"
.: Diameter: Approximately 3.15"


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Polka dots may automatically elicit thoughts of sweet baby dalmatians and Minnie Mouse, but this prissy pattern can be much more sophisticated when paired with modern accessories or worn in an unexpected shape. Dots don't have to be in the typical black and white variation, but if you do choose to go the traditional route, now is the perfect opportunity to incorporate a punch of neon with your accessories. Though dots do seem straightforward, look for them in different colors, fabrics, and dimensions to make them all your own.
1. Ali Ro Polka Dot Dress, $298 , 2. Alberta Ferretti Polka Dot Silk Chiffon Dress, $1,595, 3. KNT by Kova & T Monroe Dress, $129, 4. Bar III Sleeveless Dot Printed Dress, $69, 5. Kay Unger Polka Dot Dress, $370, 6. Marc by Marc Jacobs Hot Dot Ruffled Dress, $330, 7. Halston Heritage Metallic Peasant Dress, $425, 8. Tinley Road Polka Dot Mini Dress, $59, 9. Something Else by Natalie Wood Dotty Bodice Dress, $152, 10. Joie Balinda Dress, $298
Now… connect the dots.


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Storing data in individual molecules: Molecular memory near room temperature
Moore's law—the well-known doubling of computer chips' computational power every 18 months or so—has been paced by a similarly steady increase in the storage capacity of disk drives. In 1980, a hard drive could store about a half-megabyte of data in a square inch of disk space; now, manufacturers are closing in on a million megabytes of data per square inch.
An experimental technology called molecular memory, which would store data in individual molecules, promises another 1,000-fold increase in storage density. But previous schemes for molecular memory have relied on physical systems cooled to near absolute zero. In the Jan. 23 online edition of Nature, an international team of researchers led by Jagadeesh Moodera, a senior research scientist in the MIT Department of Physics and at MIT's Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, describes a new molecular-memory scheme that works at around the freezing point of water—which in physics parlance counts as "room temperature."
Moreover, where previous schemes required sandwiching the storage molecules between two ferromagnetic electrodes, the new scheme would require only one ferromagnetic electrode. That could greatly simplify manufacture, as could the shape of the storage molecules themselves: because they consist of flat sheets of carbon atoms attached to zinc atoms, they can be deposited in very thin layers with very precise arrangements.
The storage molecules were developed by chemists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Kolkata, who are co-authors on the Nature paper. The Indian chemists believed that the molecules could be useful for the type of experimental devices studied by Moodera's group, which use "spin," a property of tiny particles of matter, to represent data.
Half a sandwich
Under Moodera's supervision, Karthik Raman, then a PhD student in MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering and now a scientist at IBM's Research Lab in India, and Alexander Kamerbeek, a visiting student from the University of Groningen, deposited a thin film of the material on a ferromagnetic electrode and added a second ferromagnetic electrode on top—the standard structure for magnetic memories. The idea is that a relative change in the electrodes' magnetic orientations causes a sudden jump in the device's conductivity. The two states of conductivity represent the 1s and 0s of binary logic.
To their surprise, however, the MIT researchers measured not one but two jumps in conductivity. That implied that the electrodes were changing the device's conductivity independently. "According to the common knowledge, this shouldn't happen," Moodera says.
To confirm their intuition, the researchers performed the experiment again, but instead of using two ferromagnetic electrodes, they used one ferromagnetic electrode and one ordinary metal electrode, whose only purpose was to read the current passing through the molecule. Indeed, they found that the jump in conductivity still occurred.
As Moodera explains, the ability to alter the molecules' conductivity with only one electrode could drastically simplify the manufacture of molecular memory. The bottom electrode of a memory cell can be deposited in a perfectly flat layer and the storage molecules layered on top of it. But if the next layer to be deposited is the top electrode, its molecules will tend to mingle with the storage molecules. If the electrode is magnetic, that mingling can compromise the performance of the cell; if it's metallic, it won't.
In an alternate design, the top electrode is a tiny tip, like the tip of an atomic force microscope, positioned less than a nanometer above the storage molecules. But again, a magnetic electrode poses problems—in this case, by limiting how densely the storage cells can be packed. If they're too close together, a magnetic tip might change the magnetic orientation of cells adjacent to the one it's intended to address. That's not a concern with nonmagnetic tips.
Stackable storage
The shape of the molecules themselves could also simplify the manufacture of molecular memory. Typically, experimental molecular memories consist of five or six layers of molecules sandwiched between electrodes. If those molecules are properly aligned, they exhibit large swings in conductivity, but if they're not, they don't. Ensuring their proper alignment is another labor-intensive process.
The molecules developed by the Indian researchers, however, consist of zinc atoms attached to flat sheets of carbon, which naturally tend to align with each other. The MIT researchers also showed that two layers of the molecules were sufficient to produce a memory cell. "If you put a whole bunch of molecules between the electrodes, it's harder to control," Moodera says.
"The switching effect near room temperature is because of the strong interaction of the molecule with the magnetic surface," Raman adds. "That makes the molecule magnetic and stabilizes it."
Jing Shi, a professor of physics at the University of California at Riverside, points out that giant magnetoresistance, the physical phenomenon discovered in 1988 that's the basis for most modern data-storage devices, won its discoverers the 2007 Nobel Prize in physics. Moodera, Raman, and their colleagues "found a new type of magnetoresistance," Shi says. "This is very novel, because you don't need very complicated material structures." As a consequence, he says, "The fabrication process could be simpler and very flexible. You only have to prepare this interfacial layer with the desired properties; then you can, in principle, recognize magnetoresistance."
"Obviously, it has some way to go," Shi adds, "but this is a proof of concept."
Moodera agrees. "This is only the tip of the tip of the iceberg," he says. At present, the researchers' experimental setup exhibits only a 20 percent change in conductivity, which is probably not enough for a commercial device. Together with researchers at the Peter Grünberg Institute in Jülich, Germany, who are also co-authors on the Nature paper, Moodera, Raman, and Kamerbeek have developed a theoretical explanation for the unexpected phenomenon of single-electrode switching. But if they can fill in the gaps in their understanding, Moodera says, they can design new organic molecules that should exhibit higher swings in conductivity. "It's possible to control the shape of organic molecules," Moodera says. "Every year, chemists come up with hundreds of thousands of them."
More information: dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11719
Journal information: Nature
Provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology
This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.


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(( People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of ))
Paulo Coelho.
Every thing begin with an idea, and then become a dream, a dream become a destination and then finally become a work that may lead to success.
I had read a words that had been stocked in my ears "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it"
And I really did want to write a book so strongly and there were and are still some people stand beside me and pushing me forwards to achieve my dream and my goal.
Haymarket's book ,
John Ross ,
Elizabeth Wrigley ,
Sasha Crow (my dear friend) ,
Grandfather ,
Mam and dad
And my annoying sister,Najma ^__*
Here in this book, I shared my diary with you.
In this book, you will read my thoughts, my poems, and most of my last post and you will have an idea of my life as a teenager in the middle of this war.
May all your dreams come true...


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The 2012 Olympic Games were never supposed to be in London. Michael Payne provides the inside story on how the bid was won.
The 2012 Olympic Games were never supposed to be in London. Michael Payne provides the inside story on how the bid was won
London entered the race to host the 2012 Olympic Games back in 2003. It was an outsider and stumbled through the early bid process. London trailed behind the favourite Paris, with Madrid, New York and Moscow all running hard. London even struggled to find a CEO willing to take on the daunting task of leading the bid. Perhaps surprisingly, no UK executive saw it as a particularly enticing career move, and eventually the American business woman, Barbara Cassani was persuaded to step forward. By the time the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had completed its initial evaluation of the technical files, London was ranked a distant third in the race and, by some, in an increasingly lacklustre fourth place.
If the technical challenges were not enough, the London bid received a potentially knock-out blow to any small chance it might have had when, on the eve of the Athens Games in 2004, the BBC's Panorama programme ran an investigative exposé on the bidding process. Undercover reporters were sent in as representatives of certain 'business interests' exploring what it would take to buy votes from IOC members and 'their agents' for London. At the time, the IOC was only just recovering from the trauma of the Salt Lake City scandal, and the idea of facing seven years under the microscope of the UK media, was not a particularly attractive proposition for the IOC members London needed to persuade to vote for the city.
In the corridors of the Hilton Hotel – the main Olympic hotel that night -- Lord Coe, who had just taken over from Cassani, and IOC member Craig Reedie tried to put a brave face on the problem, but they both knew that it would take nothing short of a miracle to get back in the game.
I had watched London's unimpressive campaign from the IOC where I was its broadcast rights and marketing director. Then, in December 2004, having left the IOC, I caught up with Seb Coe. I told him, simply, that in a straightforward technical race, London did not have a chance. Paris was pulling ahead, and was viewed by many in the Olympic establishment, as having a much better plan. Madrid remained a dark horse, but with the political support of the former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, was never to be underestimated.
Seb asked me outright what I thought it would take for London to win. I told him I had no instant answer, but it was clear London needed a new game plan, a big idea. I suggested that a few days in the Swiss Alps would be the perfect place to come up with such a plan. Fresh mountain air would lead to fresh thinking. And so over New Year's Eve, Seb spent three days trekking around the slopes (he does not ski) and sitting around the fire throwing ideas around.
Over glühwein and schnapps, Seb identified the biggest threat facing the Olympic and sports movement as the growing disenfranchisement of the younger generation. This was the challenge which he thought London could take on. He believed – and still does so -- – that London could offer 'a global platform to allow the IOC to reconnect with the youth'. I advised Seb to bounce the idea off a few IOC members and gauge their reaction. By the end of January, it was clear that this was the big idea, that just might be able to change the race to host the 2012 Games.
Bidding for the Olympics is a race. You need to run so that you build momentum as you approach the finishing straight. Seb, one of the greatest of British Olympians, knew all about race tactics and, as the vote approached, he used all of his finely tuned political skills to rebuild confidence in London's proposition.
It wasn't plain sailing. At this point, London was still struggling to pull together all the necessary guarantees to present to the IOC, including key financial undertakings from the Government. The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, was not keen to sign off the guarantees. Indeed, he was only persuaded to do so on being told there was no chance of London winning, and the guarantees ever being called upon!
The host city is elected by IOC members at its annual general assembly. To win a city needs a simple majority. This can take multiple rounds of voting. The city with the least number of votes drops out until you are potentially down to just two cities. At the IOC meeting in Singapore in 2005, the London vote counters calculated an array of different scenarios. But, they knew that if they made it to the final against Paris, they would have a strong chance of winning. Paris by now had lost its front runner status. But, if the final were against Madrid then it was unlikely London could meet the political might of the Latin block and lobby.
It was with trepidation that the London team watched the voting in the second round. Before the IOC President could announce the results, the Greek IOC member asked for voting to stop, as he had pressed the wrong button on the electronic voting device. The President refused to stop the voting. This was as accidental as it was crucial. Paris scraped through by two votes to the final.
It was claimed that the Greek member had mistakenly voted for Paris rather than Madrid. If his vote had been cast for Madrid, the Spanish capital would have tied equally with Paris, and forced a run off. Most commentators agree, that Madrid would have beaten Paris and gone through to the final against London and Madrid would have have emerged victorious.
Since London's election in 2005, the Olympic Movement has continued to go from strength to strength. Beijing 2008 proved to be the 'coming out' party that all expected of China, although only history will record in a twenty years of more, the true social and political impact that the Olympics had on the country and Chinese society. The IOC has gone onto seek out new territories, with Sochi, Russia winning the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games; Rio de Janeiro claiming the 2016 Olympic Games, (the first time the Olympics heads to the South American continent); and Pyeongchang, Korea the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
Broadcast rights have continued to grow, although with the emergence of social media, the IOC is once again being challenged to rethink its media business model. No-one is suggesting that the broadcast model is dead – far from it; if anything the rights fee model is stronger today than it has ever been, despite a challenging economic environment. But, the debate that began in the 1950s over the business model of broadcast rights, and continued in the 1990s with the internet, is now resurfacing with social media – how to monetise the opportunity, protect existing revenue sources, and find new ways to enhance the offering to Olympic partners.
Sponsorship has also continued to grow. London 2012 met its ambitious targets, fortunately getting out to market before the recession set in. However, the new territories of Russia and Brazil have continued to show the potential value of the Olympic brand, in developing markets, with local sponsorship programmes, setting new records, far exceeding the commitments of the international sponsors.
All of this adds lustre to the remarkable story of the transformation of the Olympic Movement. With the cities already forming in line to compete to host the 2020 Olympic Games, the stakes and the interest in the Olympics has never been greater. Faster, higher, stronger is the Olympic motto. It has never been more powerful and necessary.
Michael Payne is the author of the bestseller, Olympic Turnaround. The ebook of Olympic Turnaround is now available on Kindle and a paperback edition is published by Infinite Ideas. He will be speaking at the Global Leadership Summit at London Business School on 21 May 2012.
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