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I saw this blanket on Muita ihania. And just fell in love.
I loved the cross pattern of it, and what a clever use of the old granny square it was. I bought yarn right a way determined to make one just like it, only in different shades of grey.
Then I saw this. Uh. Oh.
Long story short.
It hasn't been blocked and my skills as a photographer are somewhat lacking, but I really, really love it.
It took me the whole summer to finish it. Just finishing all the ends took two weeks! But it was so worth it. And I liked how before I started to sew all the squares together it was a very portable. i could just take a bit of yarn and a hook with me, oh anywhere, and do a square or two.
There were moments I thought I'd never see the end of this project. I sewed all the squares together without finishing any ends and the wrong side was just so hairy! Tiina from Muita ihania said on her blog post that on her blanket the wrong side looked nice also, and for a long time i couldn't believe mine would. But it does. Sigh of relief.
During the whole project I thought I'd do a thin white edging for it to make it neater, but now I kind of prefer it this way.
The yarn I used is 75% wool so it is really warm, just in time for autumn!
EDIT: You can find the pattern here.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Granny Square Blanket
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Ev Mecham was no BIGOT! The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was illegal at that time. Gov. Bruce Babbitt had no authority to proclaim a paid holiday for state workers as a final act of his term. The authority to do this is vested in the Legislature. Mecham's proposal to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. was a sound one: He suggested we have it on a Sunday. Sunday seems to function well to honor our mothers and fathers! Most of the people of Arizona could celebrate it in church and all would be off work to come together in celebration. Mecham thought it would give the clergy an opportunity to include it in their sermons. Imagine applying the principles of common decency, human rights and social justice to all men as a projection of the love of God! It has been more than 18 years since Ev was governor! Give him a break! Get off his back and stop blaming him for the problems in our society.
Helen Seader
This is not my opinion. Even Barbara agrees that there is nothing inherently bad about motorcycles or riding them; interaction on the roads with the ever-growing number of oblivious drivers is the largest problem. Even the now-famous Hurt Report on motorcycle accidents stated that the single most damaging collision problem is with cars turning left in front of motorcycles, the driver then claiming that "they" hadn't seen the bike. The majority of drivers are competent and aware of what is happening around them and cause very few problems for anyone.
I chose to stop riding because of the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) suffered in the collision, and the potential of having another car turn in left in front of me and worsening the condition. My decision had nothing to due with motorcycles being a bad thing that I "must" do.
Ken Willingham
Abie Morales
Elise Hicks
This scam would reverse the Arizona Supreme Court and amend the state Constitution to guarantee state land grazing leases for current permit holders, including House Speaker Jake Flake. Free-market competitive bidding for leases, including from other ranchers or conservationists who may pay more and better care for the land, would be eliminated. There are no meaningful requirements to manage or monitor leased lands. The proposal would severely limit future state lands conservation by requiring unlikely agreements involving more sprawl. It includes controversial land exchanges, rejected by voters five times, and would hand off utility and road right of ways at low- to no cost.
More than 40 prominent organizations are opposed to the proposal since industry leaders said "no" to requested reasonable changes to protect the public interest.
Daniel R. Patterson
Center for Biological Diversity

subset: commoncrawl


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True Diagnostics and Prognostics for Rotating Equipment
EtaPRO Predictor is the only monitoring technology on the market that combines advanced diagnostic tools in an automated approach to detect, diagnose, and prognose potential faults on any type of critical rotating equipment.
Using highly developed machinery dynamics and vibration monitoring principles to automatically analyze and diagnose reliability issue, EtaPRO Predictor detects issues at their earliest stages so you can take proactive action before costly failures occur. Unlike OEM protection systems, EtaPRO Predictor predicts time to criticality and provides recommendations for action to avoid unplanned downtime, all within the EtaPRO System.
How It Works
Vibration signals carry vast amounts of diagnostic information about machine component problems in their early development. This diagnostic information is revealed by the GP Strategies proprietary Signature Processing Units (SPUs), executing advanced time and spectral analyses. EtaPRO Predictor vibration analysis software turns this information, together with process and geometrical component data, into automatic fault diagnosis (AutoDiagnosis) messages. An instantaneous AutoDiagnosis reveals events such as rubbing, surge, and cavitation, while a predictive AutoDiagnosis reveals specific machinery faults in their early development and provides a time-to-criticality prognosis for recommended action.
Predictor Benefits
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11:30am PT by Aaron Couch
George R.R. Martin: 'Game of Thrones' Finale Inspired By 'Lord of the Rings'
George R.R. Martin is offering a few clues to how it all might end.
Fans of his A Song of Ice and Fire series and HBO's Game of Thrones have worried that Martin might pen and ending that will see the world consumed by a horrible disaster (after all, winter is coming).
Martin says he hasn't written the ending (book six of a planned seven has yet to materialize), but he promises he doesn't plan on writing a finale that is all doom and gloom.
"That's certainly not my intent. I've said before that the tone of the ending that I'm going for is bittersweet," Martin said in an interview with The Observer. "I mean, it's no secret that [J. R.R.] Tolkien has been a huge influence on me, and I love the way he ended Lord of the Rings. It ends with victory, but it's a bittersweet victory."
See more 'Game of Thrones: 10 Most Brutal Fights
Keeping with the Lord of the Rings analogy, he went on to discuss that it was victory at a cost for those heroes.
"Frodo is never whole again, and he goes away to the Undying Lands, and the other people live their lives," Martin said. "And the scouring of the Shire—brilliant piece of work, which I didn't understand when I was 13 years old: 'Why is this here? The story's over?' But every time I read it I understand the brilliance of that segment more and more. All I can say is that's the kind of tone I will be aiming for. Whether I achieve it or not, that will be up to people like you and my readers to judge."
Given the pace of Martin's publishing, fans worry that the HBO show will end before Martin has finished his work, in effect "spoiling" the end of the books. It recently wrapped season five, and showrunners David Benioff and David Weiss consult with Martin, and know the basic outline of events to come.
On July 30, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo revealed Thrones would likely last at least eight seasons.
"Seven-seasons-and-out has never been the conversation," Lombardo said at the Television Critics Association press tour. "The question is how much beyond seven are we going to do."
He added that the showrunners are "feeling like there's two more years after six. I would always love for them to change their minds. That's what we're looking at right now."
In March, Martin wrote a blog post in which he said ten seasons of Game of Thrones sounded good to him.
"I allowed that ten years sounded fine to me. I continue to hear similar sentiments from HBO every time I have a meeting with them, be it in LA or New York," Martin wrote.
The HBO series has used up much of the material already published in his books, with season five venturing beyond Martin's work more than any season before it.
Aaron firstname.lastname@example.com AaronCouch


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100% linen, garment wash
Color: White
Single Blanket 180X200cm /70 x 79 inch
Blanket 220x200cm / 87x79 inch
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Returns and exchanges can be made within 14 working days after receiving date
More info click: Shipping and Returns


text:
Applied Econometrics with R
Authors: Kleiber, Christian, Zeileis, AchimFree Preview
- First and only book on econometrics with R
- Numerous worked examples from a wide variety of sources
- Data and code available in an add-on package from CRAN
Buy this book
- eBook $79.99
price for Mexico
- Digitally watermarked, DRM-free
- Included format: PDF
- Immediate eBook download after purchase and usable on all devices
- Bulk discounts available
- Softcover $99.99
price for Mexico
- Free shipping for individuals worldwide. Please be advised Covid-19 shipping restrictions apply. Please review prior to ordering
- Usually ready to be dispatched within 3 to 5 business days
- Bulk discounts available
- About this book
This is the first book on applied econometrics using the R system for statistical computing and graphics. It presents hands-on examples for a wide range of econometric models, from classical linear regression models for cross-section, time series or panel data and the common non-linear models of microeconometrics such as logit, probit and tobit models, to recent semiparametric extensions. In addition, it provides a chapter on programming, including simulations, optimization, and an introduction to R tools enabling reproducible econometric research.
An R package accompanying this book, AER, is available from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) at http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=AER.
It contains some 100 data sets taken from a wide variety of sources, the full source code for all examples used in the text plus further worked examples, e.g., from popular textbooks. The data sets are suitable for illustrating, among other things, the fitting of wage equations, growth regressions, hedonic regressions, dynamic regressions and time series models as well as models of labor force participation or the demand for health care.
The goal of this book is to provide a guide to R for users with a background in economics or the social sciences. Readers are assumed to have a background in basic statistics and econometrics at the undergraduate level. A large number of examples should make the book of interest to graduate students, researchers and practitioners alike.
Christian Kleiber is Professor of Econometrics and Statistics at Universität Basel, Switzerland. Achim Zeileis is Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Statistics and Mathematics at Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Austria. R users since version 0.64.0, they have been collaborating on econometric methodology in R, including several R packages, for the past eight years.
- Reviews
Researchers in quantitative social sciences in general, and econometrics in particular, have often favored scripting languages such as GAUSS or Stat, or packages such as EViews. Introducing R to this particular audience could therefore be a well-appreciated title among the growing number of publications about R…. So, is this a good introduction of R for econometricians? Absolutely— with a well-rounded selection of available methodologies, both classic and current, and a good focus on introducing graphical methods, as well as gently covering more novel and therefore less familiar approaches, it fulfills its task with aplomb. The writing style is conversational without being shallow. (Dirk Eddelbuettel, Journal of Statistical Software, February 2009, Vol. 29, Book Review 14)
- Table of contents (7 chapters)
Pages 1-16
Pages 1-38
Linear Regression
Pages 1-38
Diagnostics and Alternative Methods of Regression
Pages 1-27
Models of Microeconometrics
Pages 1-30
Table of contents (7 chapters)
- Download Preface 1 PDF (166.2 KB)
- Download Sample pages 1 PDF (300.6 KB)
- Download Sample pages 2 PDF (423.6 KB)
- Download Table of contents PDF (109.7 KB)
- The R package "AER"
Buy this book
- eBook $79.99
price for Mexico
- Digitally watermarked, DRM-free
- Included format: PDF
- Immediate eBook download after purchase and usable on all devices
- Bulk discounts available
- Softcover $99.99
price for Mexico
- Free shipping for individuals worldwide. Please be advised Covid-19 shipping restrictions apply. Please review prior to ordering
- Usually ready to be dispatched within 3 to 5 business days
- Bulk discounts available
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
- Book Title
- Applied Econometrics with R
- Authors
- Christian Kleiber
- Achim Zeileis
- Series Title
- Use R!
- Copyright
- 2008
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag New York
- Copyright Holder
- Springer-Verlag New York
- eBook ISBN
- 978-0-387-77318-6
- 10.1007/978-0-387-77318-6
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-0-387-77316-2
- Series ISSN
- 2197-5736
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- Topics


text:
Ever wondered what you'd do if you didn't have your current job? These pro athletes all have a plan to fall back on – music!
5 – Carl Edwards
The Roush/Fenway driver is best known for his performance on the track and triumphant backflips in NASCAR's victory lane, but what most don't know is that he's also pretty good with a six string in his hand! Edwards has chops too, he's even joined the likes of the Zac Brown Band and Robert Randolph and the Family Band on stage!
4 – Doug Flutie
Former NFL, CFL and USFL QB Doug Flutie is a man of many talents. Whether dicing up opposing defenses with his passing and running skills, or kicking drop-kicks (Flutie is the most recent player to have attempted the feat in the NFL), he's definitely made fans take notice. Now, he's turning heads with his percussive prowess. Flutie is the drummer for the Flutie Brothers Band featuring his brother Darren on guitar.
3 – Henrik Lundqvist
On top of being one of the best goalies in the game, Lundqvist is also a pretty damn good guitar player! He even joined Jimmy Fallon on TV once to play the Guns N' Roses' hit "Sweet Child O' Mine" and show off his chops!
2 – John Daly
Whatever you think of Daly as a golfer, the dude could definitely hit a ball really far. What you didn't know is that the larger-than-life character is also a scratch guitar player and singer. Check out this performance of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"
1 – Shaquille O'Neal
Whatever you think of Shaq's talent as a rapper, he's the only athlete on this list with a platinum album. A champion and MVP as a player, Shaq always had more in mind off the court. Whether he's acting, endorsing products on TV or spitting rhymes, we just have to watch… just don't let him ask Kobe Bryant how ANYTHING tastes.
What do you think of our list? Who would you add? Tweet at us or let us know on Facebook!


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River race raises funds for mountain rescue
SNP MEP Alyn Smith braved the rapids of a highland river on a lilo to raise funds for Lochaber Mountain Rescue. The annual Glen Nevis River Race follows a two mile course of chilly water and rock-dodging down the Gurgling Gorge, through Dead Dog Pool, past the Leg Breaker and over Lower Falls Leap.
Alyn said:
"I survived! It was a bit scary but a lot of fun. There were 47 people taking part and I raised over £300 so there was probably a few thousand pounds in total raised to support the team and help them keep saving lives over the next year.
"It was great to see so many people taking part, taking time to support others who do something special for society. Congratulations have to go to the organisers who mounted an excellent event and gave us all the opportunity to give support to the mountain rescue team.
"We had a fantastic day, surrounded by some of the best and most stunning scenery there is. Scotland has so much to offer in natural beauty and communities who'll join together to make a difference.
"There's still a few days for people to give some money to support the team through sponsoring someone. My sponsorship page is at http://www.justgiving.com/Alyn-SmithMEP for anyone who wants to do that."


text:
The CME Group has delisted its EUR/TRY futures contract, effective immediately, and plans to delist its USD/TRY futures contract while also launching a new TRY/USD futures contract in September.
The EUR/TRY contract was listed for trading on CME Globex, as well as for submission for clearing via CME ClearPort. There was no open interest in the EUR/TRY contract at the time of delisting.
For the USD/TRY contract, all contract months that are listed beyond September 2018 have been delisted, meaning that although this contract will continue to be listed on CME Globex and CME ClearPort for the time being, after the market close on September 18 it will be permanently delisted. There is no open interest in the contract months after September.


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Mr Win - Casino review
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How could you not be attracted to playing at a casino with the title of Mr Win? It fairly screams out that winning is very possible there. The Mr Win site is operated by EveryMatrix Software Limited, which is responsible for multiple online casinos. Therefore, you know that it will have a strong team behind its day-to-day running. Mr Win also holds a gambling licence from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. It is this that ensures all of its operations are done legally, securely and in a fair environment. The casino has some other appealing features to it too, such as its range of games. These are on hand from a variety of developers, including Netent, Microgaming, IGT, Play'n Go and Nyx Interactive. You'll also find that the casino is able to offer up an intriguing welcome bonus consisting of a mass of freespins. Plus, with the ability to access the site from a mobile device, as well as other inbuilt perks like helpful customer support and various payment methods, Mr Win works as a thoroughly appealing site.
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- While playing with a bonus or freespins active on your account, the maximum bet that you can place stands at £/€5 per wager.
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- Lucky 8 Line, Triple Pocket Hold'em Poker, Super Fun 21, Jackpot 6000, Triple Chance Hi-Lo, Poker Pursuit: 20%
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About #GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday is a movement, built by people around the world, to celebrate giving of all kinds. It is celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.), Black Friday and Cyber Monday; this year it falls on November 27, 2018. This movement is the result of the collective power of a unique blend of partners—nonprofits large and small; businesses and corporations; schools and universities; civic campaigns in cities, states and regions; and families and individuals—to inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities and contribute in countless ways to the causes they believe in. Everyone has something to give.
Why give to St Paul's
St. Paul's Community Center is "Changing Despair into Hope" for #GivingTuesday, a global giving movement that has been driven by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in 71 countries around the world. Since its founding in 2012, millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.
Your donation may be matched
St Paul's Community Center has a chance to receive a $5,000 unrestricted funds by the Toledo Community Foundation. Please make your donation to St. Paul's on 11/27/2018.
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text:
While the nation's mainstream media continues to obsess over the heinous Charleston shooting, two other mass shootings occurred this past weekend in Detroit and Philadelphia, but were barely covered at all, despite the fact that 19 people were shot and 1 person killed.
In Detroit Saturday night, one person was killed and 9 were wounded after a block party turned into a mass shooting:
Few clues in Detroit shooting that killed 1, hurt 9 at block party. http://t.co/qfdyhcd24v
— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) June 21, 2015
As reported by The Detroit News, Detroit Police Chief James Craig labeled the culprit/s "urban terrorists":
"This is a passionate plea for the neighborhood to say something and step up," Craig said, standing a few feet from a small child's chair and a table. "These are urban terrorists … We are fortunate we don't have any young children recovering from a gunshot wound."
A similar situation unfolded in Philadelphia when a block party descended into chaos.
Baby is among 10 shot at Philadelphia cookout and block party. http://t.co/SpWuQBKjUd pic.twitter.com/xIu1QAyEGV
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 21, 2015
Ten people were hospitalized, including three children.
1 toddler, 2 children shot during Philadelphia block party http://t.co/8AMYQv6n6O #NowTrending
— KTNV Action News (@KTNV) June 21, 2015
Lieutenant John Walker told reporters that an 18-month-old girl was hit in the neck, an 11-year-old boy was shot in the leg and back and a 12-year-old-boy was struck in the chest. There were also apparently two blasts from a shotgun. It is remarkable that no one was killed.
Police believe that the gunfire was a result of ongoing feuding between two groups of people.
"Neighbors were out there, trying to do the right thing, getting together, having a good time. That quiet and peaceful event was shattered by some people who are trying to deal with something that happened a few weeks ago."
The two shootings constituted black on black violence, and as such do not neatly fit the constant barrage of race baiting division currently being pumped out by the mainstream media.
This is why you probably didn't hear about the incidents until now.
Hey @Deray @TheRevAl black on black murder in Philadelphia and Detroit….why aren't you traveling up there to help our people?
— DupreeNation ★彡 (@WayneDupreeShow) June 21, 2015
As Infowars has consistently highlighted, cold hard facts and figures show that there is a hugely disproportional problem of violent crime among the black American population.
You will not hear about this from the corporate media, however, which continues to project the narrative that black people are being unfairly targeted by predominantly white police officers and a racist criminal justice system in the United States continues to dominate.
Steve Watson is a London based writer and editor for Alex Jones' Infowars.com, and Prisonplanet.com. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of Politics at The University of Nottingham, and a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Literature and Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!


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The Photo Sharing Station can be paired with any of our photo services and can be fully customized to suit your event theme. The Photo Sharing Station rental allows for your guests to share their photos via social media to platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or email. Guests will love the ability to have instant access to their photos and share their fun photo experience.
Staff Required: N/A
Dimensions: Space Required: 2ft x 2ft
Power Requirements: 120V 8amp


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Lately I'm trying to appreciate and cultivate simple pleasures in my daily routine—little things that bring me joy (and reduce my stress levels). Things like: sitting at the table at mealtime, taking a walk with my family after work, having baked potatoes for dinner. Baked potatoes!
The ultimate comfort food—starchy and warm and filling—baked potatoes are the perfect antidote to a chilly autumn night. It's amazing how something so wholesome, so available and inexpensive could be so delicious too. But it's true.
Related: Twice-Baked Potatoes and More Diet-Friendly Comfort Foods
What about the carbs, you say? I say, what about them, indeed! I'll admit, I too avoided potatoes for a long time thanks to the low-carb craze. But no more. I will have my baked spuds and eat the skin too. Here's why: Potatoes are rich in vitamin C (good for keeping your immune system healthy), potassium (good for healthy blood pressure) and offer some fiber, especially when eaten with the skin on. And according to my trusty nutrition sources here at EatingWell, fiber may actually promote weight loss. All of that for about 44¢ per potato! Is that a bargain or what?
Related: Potatoes & More "Bad" Foods You Should Be Eating
15+ Skinny Potato Recipes
Potatoes and 5 More Superfoods for $1 or Less
In fact, the problem with most baked potatoes isn't even the potato itself, but the gobs of butter, sour cream and other unhealthy toppings people load onto it. Here are 10 healthier flavor toppings to try from the EatingWell Test Kitchen. So let's get back to basics and all have baked spuds for dinner tonight (seated at the dinner table, of course!).
Here's How to Bake a Potato:
Scrub 1 medium russet potato per person and pierce in several places with a fork. Place the potatoes in the microwave and cook on Medium, turning once or twice, until soft, about 20 minutes. (Or use the "potato setting" on your microwave and cook according to the manufacturer's directions.) Alternatively, bake potatoes directly on the center rack in a 400°F oven until tender, 45 to 60 minutes. Per potato, 219 calories.
10 Topping Flavors to Try:
1 tablespoon nonfat plain yogurt mixed with 2 teaspoons chopped scallions, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon curry powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Feta & Olive:
1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs and 1 teaspoon chopped black olives.
1 tablespoon each prepared salsa and Monterey Jack cheese and 1 teaspoon reduced-fat sour cream.
1 tablespoon low-fat ranch dressing and 2 teaspoons chopped scallions.
1 tablespoon prepared pesto and 1 chopped small plum tomato.
Creamy Horseradish:
1 tablespoon reduced-fat sour cream mixed with 1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish.
1-1/2 teaspoon tapenade and 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary or parsley
Creamy Chive:
1 tablespoon pureed low-fat cottage cheese and 2 tsp. chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon refried beans, 1 tablespoon prepared tomato salsa and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon crumbled crispy bacon, 1 tablespoon shredded sharp Cheddar and 1 tablespoon sliced scallion
Are you ready to embrace potatoes, carbs and all? Tell us what you think below.
TAGS: Penelope Wall


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Contains; Hemp Root, Burdock, Lavender, Lobelia, Hyssop, Feverfew, Myrrh Gum, Sage, lemon mint and mint infused in Olive and Soy oils.
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From routine checkups to treatments for surgery our staff is equipped to handle all of your podiatric needs. We have provided an extensive list of services to help you understand your options in foot and ankle health. We can help whether your issues are large or small.
Our services include:
- Bunions
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Explore our list of services and let us know what is bothering you. Whether it is toenail fungus or heel pain in Boynton Beach and Boca Raton, our podiatrists are here to help.
What Do Our Boca Raton and Boynton Beach Podiatrists Do?
- Diagnose lower extremity pathology such as tumors, ulcers, fractures, skin and nail diseases, congenital and acquired deformities
- Make independent judgments, prescribe medications, utilize x-rays and MRIs, and other laboratory tests for diagnostic purposes and utilizes physical therapy modalities
- Treat conditions such as corns, calluses, bunions, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, cysts, bone disorders and infections of the foot
- Fit corrective inserts called orthotics that address walking patterns to improve the overall ability of effective and efficient ambulation
- Provide consultations for the patients and for referring physicians regarding prevention of podiatric problems and possible treatments
- Perform surgical correction of the foot including hammertoes, bunions, claw toes, fractures, infections, ruptured ligaments and tendons and neurovascular abnormalities of the foot
Medicare Diabetic Shoe Program in Boynton Beach, FL and Boca Raton, FL
Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. With an increase of 33% in the past decade alone the diabetic population currently tops 16 million people–something needs to be done. There are many complications associated with diabetes including kidney, heart, vision, circulatory and foot problems. The good news is that many of these potential problems can be minimized as a result of lifestyle changes, medications, and other preventive care.
Amputations or partial amputations of the feet and legs are also growing at an alarming rate. In fact, it is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations in the United States. Recently a task force was created by officials from Medicare, the American Podiatric Medical Association and the American Diabetes Association in order to explore ways to reduce the number of amputations in the diabetic populations. The number of these lower extremity amputations grew by 28% in just the past several years, but over half of these amputations could have been prevented by timely conservative diabetic foot care in Boca Raton, FL, Boynton, FL and areas all over the country.
We at Family Foot Center, podiatrists in Boynton Beach and Boca Raton, are authorized Medicare Suppliers to evaluate, prescribe and dispense high-quality shoes and 3 pairs of removable protective shoe inserts per the calendar year. Many diabetic patients qualify for this benefit and Medicare will pay 80% of the cost for the shoes and insoles and your supplemental insurance should pay the other 20% of the costs.


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Genealogy buffs already have sites where they can search for and swap family data (see the August 2000 Family Tree Magazine for a roundup of 10 such sites). What's unique about OGF is that it combines two of genealogy's best computer resources — software to preserve family history and pedigree databases for sharing research — with some nifty new technology. Rather than storing scads of individual GEDCOM files (the universal format for electronic family trees), OGF gathers everyone's information into a single huge database. Then it automatically searches for data that might synch with yours.
OGF's software, Genealogy Browser, can do this because it runs on the Internet. It works like this: You sign up and create a "Family Group." Download the Windows-only Genealogy Browser and upon launch, an "anchor" screen appears. You can start entering data or upload an existing GEDCOM file. Input is pretty straightforward. The left side of the screen is your "Handprint," which shows you (or any selected person), your spouse, children and parents. You click on a person's box to prompt the details screen, where you add or edit data. At right is the "Starfield View," a pedigree chart that displays unlimited generations. You zoom in and out by sliding a bar above the screen.
Your information becomes part of the mega-database, which tags all records by submitter. OGF looks for matches, narrowing down the possibilities by considering the relationships between the names in each pedigree. When it finds a potential match, you'll see an icon called a "Gen-Bulb." If it finds a record with conflicting information, you get a "Gen-Bolt" (lightning). It's up to you and the other submitter to work out the difference or decide if the information synchs. Interaction is essential to benefit from this site — like other pedigree databases, no one checks the accuracy of the data submitted.
All this comes at a price — $74.95 for one year. OGF offers an ad-supported free track, but it doesn't let you do much besides enter data. You get Gen-Bulbs and Bolts only one specified weekend per year and you don't get most Starfield features or free tech support. Still, your best bet is to try out the free track first; if you like it, you can upgrade to subscriber status to get all the perks.
OGF shares some features with desktop software (multimedia, notes and source documentation), but don't give up your current program — at least not yet. Genealogy Browser doesn't have all the bells and whistles, and it's slower than desktop software because it requires an Internet connection.
Programming Language
Personal Ancestral File's latest upgrade keeps foreign languages from freezing up your computerized family tree.| By aim son Stacy
Greek doesn't have to translate into gobbledygook in your genealogy software. Personal Ancestral File, the free, easy-to-use software from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), has added features designed to preserve foreign languages in your family tree.
LDS began adapting its products for more languages with a redesign of its popular FamilySearch Web site <www.familysearch.org> (reviewed in the April 2001 Family Tree Magazine). PAF's new version, 5.0, follows suit with language-related tweaks that let you computerize ancestors whose native tongue and culture don't fit Western conventions.
PAF 5.0 accommodates all your ancestral languages through Unicode, a standard that assigns a different number to every character in every platform, program and language. While most software's programming allows for accent marks in many European languages, Unicode lets you enter non-Roman characters, too — Japanese kanji or Cyrillic letters, for example. You can also include a "Romanized" or phonetic version of those names. Since some fonts don't support characters in other languages, PAF 5.0 adds the ability to change font and size. You can press F7 to see all the Unicode characters in your chosen font.
Another culture-inspired change is the single name field. Instead of using separate boxes for first and last names, PAF 5.0 surrounds surnames with slashes. This lets you preserve the true order of the person's name: for example, an ancestor whose culture placed surnames first (such as Chinese) or used multiple surnames (such as French dit names — see page 48).
PAF 5.0 includes a host of other improvements: unlimited notes, more match/merge options, search and replace for dates, the ability to import and export multimedia links and templates to customize fields.
To try PAF or upgrade from an earlier version, you'll need Windows 95 or higher, 32 MB RAM and 20 to 60 MB hard disk space. Mac users aren't totally left in the lurch: PAF 5.0 is available for iMacs with a Windows emulator. Go to <www.familysearch.org> and click on "Order/Download Products," then "Sofware Downloads — Free."
From the June 2001 issue of Family Tree Magazine


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The approach to landscape often starts with the close-up textures and tangle of the Australian bush, see MINUTIAE. However, the paintings on this page explore the other end of the scale.
My broad landscapes deal with that part of Australia familiar to me since childhood — hills and rivers that I explored when fishing with my father.
Many of these paintings, the aerial series, were the result of numerous flights that I took in the 1980s following the entire length of local rivers such as the Macquarie, the Turon, the gentle Belubula and the fast flowing Abercrombie.
These subjects are interpreted by evoking the distinctive quality of light, usually of winter afternoons, and the richly textured patterns unique to Australia.
The painting Hen & Chicken Lane, won the $35,000 Country Energy Art Prize for 2009.


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| 7.8°C Belfast
Worcester have announced the signing of former England lock Dean Schofield from French club Toulon.
The 33-year-old spent nine seasons with Sale Sharks before heading to France, captaining them during the 2009-10 season. Schofield made his England debut against South Africa prior to the 2007 World Cup, and he will move to Sixways in time for next season.
"Dean will add more physical presence and power to our pack of forwards. We want to go for a big pack next season," Worcester head coach Richard Hill said. "Dean is a big man and a powerful man who is also quick and has superb skills."
He added: "When he plays he stands out in the pack of forwards. He is all-action and brings his presence to the close quarters."


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Parent, Secret Power, Unsung Hero
You just read the title of this post. What do you think we will be talking about? Of course, it can be a story about a person who had all those great qualities – but this is the wine blog, right? Can all those qualities belong to a grape?
Let's see. Parent – this is simple. When two grapes are crossed, they will give birth to the new grapes, and, of course, we can call both of the original grapes parents. Unsung hero? This is typically someone who can quietly come to the help of others and solve the big problem or save a life. Apart from saving a life, a grape can be very instrumental in assisting others to do their best, bringing out their best qualities while remaining literally unknown. For example, helping to make delicious wine as part of the blend. Now, the secret power? Every once in a while a person can be on a secret mission and save the world, all alone, "solo" – James Bond meets Wonder Woman, anyone? Okay, okay, I'm only talking about making delicious wines, all by itself, solo.
Now, as we are talking about the grape, can you think of one which would fit this description? There are thousands of grapes used in winemaking, so theoretically, there is more than one grape which will fit this profile, but I would dare to say that one grape might stand above others in all these roles. Know what I'm about to say? There is a good chance you do – you probably guessed it already – I'm talking about Cabernet Franc.
It is hard to tell when Cabernet Franc became known as a grape variety. It is definitely old, probably not as old as Chardonnay, which can trace its history all the way to the 11th century, but still older than most other grapes. While Cabernet Franc is typically associated with Bordeaux and Loire, it appears that it originated from the Basque Country in Spain, from where it spread through the south of France and reached Bordeaux.
How Cabernet Franc is a Parent? Based on DNA research, Cabernet Franc was a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère – a good group of kids, isn't it?
How is it an unsung hero? Cabernet Franc ripens at least one week earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. It can reach phenolic ripeness in the years when Cabernet Sauvignon will not, and thus in the blend, it will be a savior – this is why it was always so loved in Bordeaux, an insurance policy of sorts. While the tasting profile of Cabernet Franc is somewhat similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, it is typically softer and less tannic than its more famous offspring, so it makes the blend more approachable.
The Secret Power? When used in European wines, it is often unknown that the wine is made out of Cabernet Franc. For instance, Chateau Cheval Blanc, one of the most famous Bordeaux wines, is made predominantly out of the Cabernet Franc – but this is not widely known outside of the circle of wine aficionados. How about Olga Raffault Chinon? Chinon, a region in the Loire, is one of the best sources of delicious Cabernet Franc wines, but you have to simply know that. Coming to the new world, Cabernet Franc is not so secret anymore, as you can see it on the label, but I still can let you in on one little secret – this is one of the most versatile red grapes you can find. Talking about the United States, for instance, it is practically the only red grape which can consistently deliver delicious red wines both in California and in New York – and we don't need to be so confined – Washington and Oregon are doing quite well with the Cabernet Franc, and so do Massachusets, New Jersey and even Rhode Island. And let's not forget Canada, where the grape goes beyond dry reds and offers some of the most stunning dessert wines – Cabernet Franc Ice Wine.
December 4th is when we celebrate this unique variety with the #CabFrancDay. The whole Cabernet Franc extravaganza is a product of obsession of one person – Lori Budd, who singlehandedly started this grape holiday in 2016. Lori expresses the love for the grape not just by talking about it – she also makes her own Cabernet Franc wine in Paso Robles under the Dracaena Wines label. This year I was able to try the Dracaena Wines Cabernet Franc at the wine bloggers conference, and I can tell you that while I'm very particular about Cabernet Franc wines (prefer more old world style than new), I really enjoyed Lori's rendition.
Grape holidays are always fun – you have a good reason to open a special bottle which was stashed in the corner, and share your love for the grape with the world. Cabernet Franc's celebration is important beyond that simple joy. Take a look at Wikipedia article – it says that Cabernet Franc is "principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone". The Vins de Bordeaux website says that Cabernet Franc "is the ultimate complementary grape variety". While this is true, Cabernet Franc is great for blending, this is also the grape which is excellent by itself, and we should recognize and acknowledge that, and change that perception of a "blending grape".
This year, I had a great experience with beautiful Cabernet Franc wines from all over the world – 1982 Olga Raffault Chinon, Achaval-Ferrer Cabernet Franc from Argentina, Lieb Cabernet Franc from Long Island, New York, Dracaena Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles and many others. But to celebrate Cabernet Franc Day in style, I had an opportunity to open 3 more wines especially for the holiday – for one, representing both coasts of the USA – and, surprisingly enough, representing both styles of Cabernet Franc, the old world and the new world.
2014 ACORN Alegría Vineyards Cabernet Franc Russian River Valley (12.5% ABV, $38, 93% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 2% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, 18 months in barrel) was uniquely Californian in style – in many ways. Alegría Vineyards are Certified Sustainable, which is really the way now for many vineyards in California, with a lot of manual labor-intensive effort going into helping grapes to achieve their best potential. All the wines ACORN produces are made as field blends, where different grapes are co-fermented together, according to the century-old field-blend vineyard traditions. The result was beautifully balanced, fruit forward wine, boasting pure cassis flavors, supported by the medley of the red fruit and perfect acidity. The wine was clean and delicious.
Two more wines were a total surprise for me. These two Cabernet Franc wines were both made in New Jersey. I have very little experience with New Jersey wines, and that experience was not necessarily all positive, so yes, I didn't have much expectation as I was pulling the corks, just a hope that the wines would be at least palatable.
While Unionville Vineyards were planted only in 1987 and the winery opened its doors to the public in 1993, the land where the vineyards a located was a farmland even before the 1850s. As a farmland, it went through many different plantings and such – peach orchard, apple orchard, dairy farm, grains, and horses – but returned to the fruits with the first grapevine plantings in 1987 – this is when the story of Unionville Vineyards started.
Beneduce Vineyards is located in the same Hunterdon County as Unionville Vineyards. Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer are the main white grape varieties at Beneduce Vineyards, and the list of reds includes Pinot Noir, Blaufränkisch and, of course, Cabernet Franc.
Argentina Beyond Malbec with Achaval-Ferrer and #WineStudio
Of course, Argentina wine industry can't be subsided only to Malbec – Torrontes and Chardonnay for the whites and Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon (and Bordeaux-style blends, of course) for the reds comprise an absolute majority of Argentinian wines available at any given moment. You can find some Argentinian Bonarda, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, but they don't carry the full recognition of the 4 main grapes.
Winemaking has a long history in Argentina, starting in the 16th century and entering an international trade in the second half of 19th century. If we will take into account that most of the grape plantings in Argentina are at high altitude, with climatic conditions and terroir overall ideal for the grape growing and providing protection against many grape diseases, such as phylloxera, we will quickly realize that Argentina is home to some of the best and oldest vineyards in the world. However, it is only during the last 20-25 years Argentinian wines start receiving a full international recognition they deserve, with Malbec been the brightest shining star.
Achaval-Ferrer winery was founded in 1998, and over its relatively short history, became a leading winery in Argentina, garnering numerous awards and high critic scores for its wines. To the great pleasure of wine geeks, wines of Achaval-Ferrer were also a focus of April #WineStudio educational program, allowing us to experience some of the very best wines Argentina is capable of producing – Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blend called Quimera. But for the last April session, Achaval-Ferrer and #WineStudio took us on the trip in entirely new direction with the inaugural vintage of the Cabernet Franc wine.
I guess it is time to reveal one of my (no, not darkest) deepest wine secrets – I have "a thing", an obsessive passion for the Cabernet Franc wines. I can't explain to you why or how. I don't know how it happened that out of most grapes, the words "Cabernet Franc" make me literally jump. No matter how tired I am at the end of the large tasting, say to me "let's go try Cab Franc" and I'm ready to run. Thus you can imagine how excited I was at this opportunity to try a
new first release of Cabernet Franc.
There was a lot of excitement around this wine, seems everybody really enjoyed it. As for all the wines of Achaval-Ferrer, the grapes for this Cabernet Franc came from the high altitude vineyards (3,280 ft above sea level) in the Uco Valley, mostly sustainably farmed. Here are my tasting notes:
2015 Achaval-Ferrer Cabernet Franc Mendoza Argentina (14.5% ABV, $24.99, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 months in 3-year old French oak barrels)
C: Dark garnet
N: intense, baking spices, dark fruit, mint, dark chocolate
P: medium-full body, fresh cut-through acidity, mint, hint of cassis, touch of white pepper on the finish, smooth, long finish with tannins kicking in at the end and lingering. Needs time…
V: 8, nice, can be drunk on its own, will be great with the food, and will evolve with time – at least 10 years. The wine opened up more on the second day, and I'm sure will further improve on the 3rd.
Definitely an excellent wine which will be hard to find – 1,400 cases total production, and a lot of this wine went to Morton's steakhouse (so if you plan to visit Morton's keep that in mind) – but it is well worth seeking. If you will score some of these bottles, lay them down in the cellar and let them evolve. At least this is what I would do.
This wine concluded a delicious #WineStudio experience with the Achaval-Ferrer wines, and to sum it up, I want to leave you with the twitter quote from Tina Morey, the host of #WineStudio:
I can fully sign under every word here – beautiful, expressive wines, well representing what Argentina is capable of. Salud!
WBC16: Day 2 – Speed Tasting, Reds
A few days ago I told you about the live blogging session at the Wine Bloggers Conference 2016, dedicated to the White and Rosé wines. On the second day, we had a similar session, only now dedicated to the red wines. The same format – 60 minutes, 19 (or so) tables, 25 (or so) wines, 5 minutes to taste, take pictures, ask questions and share impressions in the social media, of course. Also with the higher chance of damage – clothes damage, it is, as we were dealing with red wine and time-pressed pourers. But this is part of fun, isn't it?
Same as before, I would like to offer to you my twitter notes. Just to make it even more fun, you can compare my notes with Jim Van Bergen's, a fellow blogger we had a pleasure of sharing the table with (alongside other great people – I think we had the most fun table in the house).
Here we go:
Wine #1: 2014 The Federalist Zinfandel Lodi ($17.76 MSRP) – very nice start for our Reds extravaganza
Wine #2: 2013 Windrun Pinot Noir Sta Rita Hills (100% Pinot Noir, blend of 5 clones from Lafond Vineyard) – nice and classic California Pinot
Wine #3: 2012 Corner 103 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County – clean and varietally correct
Wine #4: 2012 Prie Vineyards Zinfandel Lodi – another excellent Zinfandel
Wine #5: 2012 Trione Vineyards Henry's Blend Alexander Valley (35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 13 % Petite Verdot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec) – a welcome deviation from Zinfandel, a classic Bordeaux blend. I also realized that my tweet didn't have the picture, so picture is now included:
Wine #6: 2013 Peirano Estate 'The Immortal' Zin Old Vine Zinfandel (120 years old vines!) – if anything, the age of the vines commands utmost respect. Note that my tweet incorrectly puts the vintage as 2012, where it is 2013 (I blame it on the speed).
Wine #7: 2013 Klinker Brick Farrah Syrah Lodi – an excellent rendition of one of my most favorite grapes
Wine #8: 2013 Abundance Vineyards Carignane Lodi (90% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah)
Wine #9: 2014 Oak Ridge Winery OZV Old Vine Zinfandel (Zinfandel/Petite Sirah blend) – Number one selling Zinfandel in California and a great value at $10.99
Wine #10: 2013 Harney Lane Old Vine Zinfandel Lizzy James Vineyard Lodi – one of the best Zinfandels in the tasting
Wine #11: 2013 Michael David Winery Inkblot Cabernet Franc Lodi – in the land of Zinfandels, we finished tasting with an absolute standout of 100% Cabernet Franc – you have to taste it for yourself
Here we go, folks. As you can tell, I can't even count – we had 11 wines and not 10 during these 60 minutes, but yes, it was lots of fun. And I'm far from being done talking about Wine Bloggers Conference 2016 in Lodi.
Until the next time – cheers!
How About Some Cabernet Franc for the #CabernetDay?
The time has come again to celebrate #CabernetDay. I'm really curious – when you hear the words Cabernet Day, what is the first wine (or grape) which comes to mind – is it Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc? I would bet that at least two third of the people (if not more) would associate Cabernet Day with Cabernet Sauvignon – and can you blame anyone? While the most celebrated grape in the world comes from Bordeaux, most of Bordeaux wines are blends, so it is really California wine industry which brought Cabernet Sauvignon to such a star status in the wine world, making it an object of crave and desire.
I looked through my past #CabernetDay posts – most of them talk about Cabernet Sauvignon. Meanwhile, Cabernet Franc, a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, deserves its own praise. You see, the success of Cabernet Sauvignon, especially the California Cabernet Sauvignon, created certain image, certain collective expectations of any wines which happened to have the name Cabernet Sauvignon on the label – we expect power, we expect concentration, we expect big body and silky layers. When it comes to Cabernet Franc, we still accept the wide range of expression – from spicy and light Loire or US East Coast renditions to the powerful and concentrated Bordeaux (rare) and California wines.
Cabernet Franc is still allowed to be different, without demand to adhere to the "international standard" based on the name. You can find a lot of green bell peppers, earthiness and even tree brunches in the Loire (Bourgueil, Chinon, Saumur-Champigny) or US East Coast Cabernet Franc, of course often emanating that wonderful black currant, (a.k.a. "cassis"). On another end of the spectrum are California renditions of Cabernet Franc, which try to eliminate the green bell pepper and make the wine more similar to traditional Cabernet Sauvignon. Either way, Cabernet Franc provides a bigger variety compare to Cabernet Sauvignon – I never said it is better, though.
For today's #CabernetDay celebration I've chosen a Cabernet Franc from California. Well, by accident, it happened to be Cabernet Franc for the second day in the row, and for both days it is a Cabernet Franc from one of my favorite producers – Field Recordings. 2013 Hinterland Vineyard Cabernet Franc Paso Robles (14.1% ABV, $18, 88% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot), and 2013 Tommy Town Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara (14.3% ABV, $18, 100% Cabernet Franc) – two beautiful wines, celebrating a noble grape. The Hinterland Vineyard version was a bit more polished and round, and the Tommy Town Vineyard needed for the alcohol to blow off before it would show itself properly, but both wines had nice, long black currant-loaded finish, and I would gladly drink either one again (those were my only bottles…).
How did you celebrate the #CabernetDay? What was in your glass? Cheers!
Wednesday's Meritage – Wine Quiz Answer, #CabernetDay – Tomorrow, WTSO Everything Goes Marathon, Crowdsourced Cabernet, World Wine Challenge
Let's start with the answer to the wine quiz #111, Grape Trivia – Grüner Veltliner.
This wine quiz is a continuation of the trivia series, where we are talking about individual grapes and then you get to answer 5 questions as it relates to that grape. The subject of the last quiz was white grape called Grüner Veltliner.
Here are the questions, now with the answers:
Q1: These flavors are usually associated with red wines, but it is not uncommon to find them in the description of the Grüner Veltliner wines. Do you know what flavors are those (multiple answers are possible)?
a. Chocolate, b. Pencil shavings, c. Pepper, d. Tar, e. Tobacco
A1: While Grüner Veltliner is a white grape, some of its aromas are typically associated with the red grapes, not with the whites – namely, pepper and tobacco can be often perceived in in the Grüner Veltliner wines.
Q2: These vegetables are notorious for been a "wine killer" – in terms of successful pairing, it is. And yet Grüner Veltliner is one of the unique wines (if not the only one) which is known to be able to pair successfully with those offenders. Do you know what vegetables we are talking about?
A2: Asparagus and artichoke are notoriously difficult to pair with the wines, and Grüner Veltliner often works very well with both vegetables.
Q3: Wine Spectator calls wines rated in 95-100 range Classic (the highest and the most prestigious category). True or False: there are no Grüner Veltliner – based wines rated in the Classic category
A3: Correct answer is "false" – there are some Grüner Veltliner rates as "classic" – but literally, there are only very few, mostly late harvest Grüner Veltliner wines rated at 95 as the highest.
Q4: According to one of the well known wine critics, the Grüner Veltliner might be "the next big thing" in which wine making country:
a. Australia, b.Argentina, c. Chile, d. South Africa, e. United States
A4: Wine expert James Halliday considers Grüner Veltliner to be potentially the next big thing in Australia, so the correct answer is a, Australia.
Q5: Which one doesn't belong and why:
a. Austria, b. Croatia, c. Czech Republic, d. Hungary, e. Slovakia
A5: All the countries in this list are known to produce Grüner Veltliner wines, except Croatia, thus correct answer is b, Croatia.
When it comes to the results, I'm glad to say that we have a winner! apuginthekitchen correctly answered all 5 questions, so she becomes our new champion and gets the coveted prize of unlimited bragging rights! I also want to acknowledge Mario Plazio (no web site), who correctly answered 4 questions out of 5. Well done!
Now, to the interesting stuff around the vine and the web!
First and foremost, tomorrow, August 28th, we are celebrating 5th annual #CabernetDay – two noble grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, countless wines from all over the world. Open a bottle, enjoy and share with the world – that's all there is to it. You can also start celebration in style by joining the #WineChat tonight with Jean Edwards Cellars on twitter at 9 pm Eastern/ 6 pm Pacific and talking about your favorite Cabernet wines.
Wine Til Sold Out (@WTSO) is doing it again! The new Marathon will be taking place on Monday, September 8th. Only this time, it will be a very unusual for WTSO "Everything Goes" marathon. Styled after the famous Last Bottle Madness Marathons, there will be all sorts of wines offered at different prices and free shipping on any quantities (no minimums). All orders will be combined and shipped after September 22nd. The Marathon will start at 10 AM Eastern, and as usual, you will get the new wine notification only on twitter. Happy hunting!
Famous Washington State winery, Columbia Crest, recently started a new project – Crowdsourced Cabernet. You can join the group of like-minded people and become an internet winemaker for the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. 5 acres of vines, video cameras showing every angle of the grapes, the temperature, vine condition and all other information right in front of you – and now you have to make the decision which will affect your wine – no pressure. I think this is a very cool project – if anything, an interesting learning experience. For more details and to become a winemaker, here is your link. Don't delay, the harvest is about to start…
And the last one for today – a game. A wine education and trivia game it is, recently released by the Trinchero Family Estates. The game is called World Wine Challenge ( available in iTunes for $2.99), it will help you to learn variety of wine subjects in the interactive fashion, as well as compare your knowledge to the others in the competition format. I didn't get a chance to download the game yet (plan to do it shortly), but in case you are interested, here is the link with all the information about the game and its features.
And we are done here. The glass is empty – but the refill is on its way! Cheers!
Wednesday's Meritage – Wine Quiz Answer, Chateau Latour, Natural Wines, Sauternes 2013 and more
Meritage time!
Let's start with the answer for the wine quiz #79, grape trivia – Cabernet Franc. In the quiz, you were supposed to answer 5 questions about a red grape called Cabernet Franc. Here are the questions, now with the answers:
Q1: One of the most famous wines in the world has Cabernet Franc as a major (2/3 or so) component of its blend. Do you know what wine is that?
A1: Unimitable Château Cheval Blanc uses at least 2/3 of Cabernet Franc grapes in their main wine
Q2: Cabernet Franc has a special relationship with the frost. Can you explain that?
A2: Icewine! The grapes should be frozen on the vine in order to produce the Icewine. While Icewine was typically produced from the white grapes, Inniskillin estate in Ontario was one of the pioneers who started producing Icewine from the red grapes, namely Cabernet Franc.
Q3: Which one doesn't belong and why:
a. Bourgueil, b. Chinon, c. Saumur-Champigny, d. Saint-Chinian
A3: Saint-Chinian. It is an AOC in the Languedoc area which doesn't make wines out of Cabernet Franc. The other three AOCs are located in the Loire, and all make Cabernet Franc wines.
Q4: This unique grape grows only in one place in the world, and it is a cross between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Do you know what grape it is?
A4: Caberlot. I admit this was a difficult question. However, I mentioned this grape before, when I discovered it during VinItaly tasting this year (here is the link).
Q5: In Italy, Cabernet Franc is often confused for another rare Bordeaux grape. Do you know the name of that rare grape?
A5: Carmenere.
Looking at the results, we don't have a winner today – however, both Frankly Wine and Eat with Namie get honorable mentions for properly answering 4 questions out of 5. Well done!
Now, to the interesting stuff around the web and vine!
Boy, what an eclectic mix I have for you today! First, just a quick last minute reminder – #MWWC4 vote closes today. If you still didn't read and vote, you might have your last chance to do it here.
Now, how much do you know about Chateau Latour? Same as the most, you probably heard of it as a producer of one of the most sought-after wines in the world, and you probably know that it is generally very expensive. Recently, Chateau Latour made a lot of press by pulling out of the En primeur (wine futures) system, where wines are acquired by consumers before they are actually released, hedging both on saving the money and availability of the wine. Here is the link to the Wine-Searcher article, where you can actually learn a lot of interesting facts about Chateau Latour. I also want to mention that the Wine-searcher website is really becoming a great source of wine information, not just the price comparison tool.
Next subject – Natural wines. How much do you know about natural wines? What do you think of them as a category? Well, the article I want to bring to your attention is not exactly natural wine 101 tutorial, but it is rather a rant by Europe's Best Sommelier of 2013, Arvid Rosengren, who is based in Copenhagen. A lot of his comments are most relevant for the local food and wine scene, but nevertheless, it makes a very interesting read.
Are you a fan of Sauternes, a sweet wine gems from Bordeaux? If you are, I have good news for you – 2013 is a great year, and you should be looking for these wines when they will be released. Contrary to 2012, when Chateau d'Yquem, the most coveted producer in Sauternes, decided not to produce their flagship Chateau d'Yquem wine, 2013 harvest shows a lot of botrytized grapes, which is a necessity to produce sweet wines in Sauternes. By the way, if you like red Bordeaux, 2013 doesn't look all that great. Here is the link to the article where you can learn more.
The last piece I have for you has nothing to do with wine. It is written by Kimberly at whiskeytangofoxtrot4 blog, where she is talking about the power of the words. While her post, called Word, sounds rather personal, I think it is very powerful writing and it definitely well worth a few minutes of your time.
That's all I have for you for today, folks. The glass is empty, but the refill is on its way. Cheers!
Weekly Wine Quiz #79: Grape Trivia – Cabernet Franc
The Wine Quiz series is not meant to intimidate. The whole idea here is to have fun and learn something new. When answering the questions, it is fully encouraged to use all available sources of information, including Google or any other search engine. There are no embarrassing answers – the most embarrassing thing is not giving it a try…
Welcome to the weekend and your new wine quiz!
We are continuing our grape trivia series, and we are back to the red grapes. Today's subject is the red grape called Cabernet Franc.
According to many sources, Cabernet Franc is first appearing in Bordeaux in the 17th century, with a good chance of being around for much longer. From Bordeaux, it made it to Loire valley, where it is often used to produce single-varietal wines. In Bordeaux itself, Cabernet Franc is typically used as part of the blend together with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Today Cabernet Franc is spread out all over the world, both used in Bordeaux-style blends (Meritage) and as single varietal bottlings – Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Chile, US, Argentina, Canada are all have a good amount of plantings of Cabernet Franc. In the US, Cabernet Franc is successfully grown all over the country, with some of the best wines coming from California, Washington and New York states.
Cabernet Franc is known to be a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon ( together with Sauvignon Blanc), so the typical flavor profile of Cabernet Franc is somewhat similar to the Cabernet Sauvignon, with black currant, raspberries and green bell peppers flavors being most typical. At the same time, Cabernet Franc wines often have more earthy aromatics and a little bit lighter in the body. Cabernet Franc also buds and ripens at least a week earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is more resistant to the low freezing temperatures during winter, which allows it to be cultivated successfully in the colder climates.
And now, to the quiz!
Q1: One of the most famous wines in the world has Cabernet Franc as a major (2/3 or so) components of its blend. Do you know what wine is that?
Q2: Cabernet Franc has a special relationship with the frost. Can you explain that?
Q3: Which one doesn't belong and why:
a. Bourgueil
b. Chinon
c. Saumur-Champigny
d. Saint-Chinian
Q4: This unique grape grows only in one place in the world, and it is a cross between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Do you know what grape it is?
Q5: In Italy, Cabernet Franc is often confused for another rare Bordeaux grape. Do you know the name of that rare grape?
Good luck, enjoy the quiz and your weekend! Cheers!
Re-Post: Best Hidden Secrets Of The Wine World: Underappreciated Regions
During 2011 I wrote a number of posts for the project called The Art Of Life Magazine – of course talking about my favorite subject, wine. The project closed and even web site is down, but as I still like the posts I wrote, so I decided to re-post them in this blog. Also, in that project, posts were grouped into mini-series, such as "Best Hidden Secrets" you see here – I will continue re-posting them from time to time.
Also note that the series was written for a slightly different audience – I hope none of my readers will take offense in the fact that sometimes I'm stating the obvious…
After spending some time looking at hard-to-find-but-worth-seeking wines (Jerez and Madeira posts can be found here and here), let's go back to the "hidden secrets" series. We agreed at the beginning that in this "secrets" series, we are looking for great wines which will bring a lot of pleasure – but will not require one to dip into pension savings to enjoy them pretty much every day. We talked about Rioja, second labels, French Sparkling wines and wines of Languedoc. Where should we go now?
If anything, we are living through a wine renaissance period right now. Wine is very popular as a beverage among people of all ages and all walks of life, everywhere in the world. Wine is also made nowadays almost everywhere in the world – from China and India to downtown Chicago (I'm serious – you can read about it here). Does it mean that you can universally enjoy wines made anywhere in the world? Of course not (not yet? May be, but I can't predict the future). Taking out of equation exotic wines made in exotic regions, what are we left with? There are a number of well know wine making regions – Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and Rhone in France, Piedmont and Tuscany in Italy, Germany (as one big Riesling-making region), Rioja, Ribera Del Duero and Priorat in Spain, Porto in Portugal, Australia and New Zealand (often taken as a whole), United States with Napa and then Sonoma being most prominent, and hopefully Washington and Oregon being also well known outside of the US, and Chile and Argentina, as still relative newcomers in the wine world. How did I come up with this list? Before someone gets upset for his or her favorite regions not being mentioned, or all 70+ regions of Australia not being accounted for, let me explain the logic here – it is simple. Each of the regions listed above (even with the whole country lumped as one) makes tens or may be hundreds of the wines which are in a high demand. How can we estimate the demand? When wine is in demand, it typically starts going up in price. Each one of the above mentioned regions has many wines priced in the hundreds or thousands of dollars per bottle (anyone who wants to check is welcome to look for Screaming Eagle, Chateau Petrus, Krug Champagne or Vega Sicilia on wine-searcher).
Yes, you are absolutely right – not all the wines produced in Bordeaux or any other famed region cost hundreds of dollars, there are many which cost between $10 and $20. True, but in many cases consistency of those wines might be in question – meaning, you never know what you are getting for your ten or twenty dollars. Of course probability of finding very good and reasonably priced wine is getting better and better in today's world – but you can even further improve it by stepping out of familiar circle and looking for wines from under-appreciated regions.
So what are those under-appreciated regions? As you can imagine, there are lots of them. Again, all the exotic places aside, for each famous wine region, the same countries have tens of "under-appreciated" regions, consistently making good wines for hundreds of years, with majority of those wines being also reasonably priced. In France, great wines are made in Loire, Provence, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon (we already talked about them) and many other places. In Italy, excellent wines are made in Umbria, Sicily, Lombardy, Marche and again in many other regions. Rias Baixas, Bierzo, Jumilla and La Mancha in Spain; Long Island, Virginia and Texas in United States, South Africa, Israel, Lebanon, Greece, Georgia and Hungary… There is no limit to the places where now we can look for consistently good wines.
As usual, time to open a bottle, right? Let me give you a few examples from the regions which I believe are under-appreciated.
Let's start in Italy, in the region called Marche, which is located on Adriatic coast of Italy, near Ancona. There are a number of great wines produced in that region, which is still staying off the radar for the most of the wine lovers. Particularly, white wines made out of the grape called Verdicchio, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Verdicchio di Matelica are excellent white wines, with balanced acidity and fruit, perfect for summer day. The red wines are made mostly out of Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes. This particular 2006 Casal Farneto Rosso Conero IGT is made of the blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese, and it is an excellent red wine with lots of layers and luscious red and black fruit on the palate (think of blackberries and sour cherries), perfectly balanced.
Let's move from region Marche in Italy to France. Here is our first wine, coming from Vouvray region in Loire valley. Loire is home for many different wine regions, all producing interesting but lesser known wines, may be with an exception of Sancerre (I might be really stretching this "may be"). Vouvray wines are made out of the grape called Chenin Blanc, which produces wide range of wines from very dry to very sweet. This particular 2009 Domaine de Vaufuget Vouvray AOC is very nice and pleasant, showing some sweetness (probably equivalent to Spatlese Riesling). It is easy to drink and should be great accompaniment to many summer meals.
Last but not least for today is red wine coming again from Loire Valley, from the region called Chinon. As many other red wines in Loire region, Chinon wines are made out of the Cabernet Franc grape, with an addition of some other grapes. Cabernet Franc is typically used as a blending grape in Bordeaux and California, but it also produces great wines on its own, in all the different regions throughout the world. This 2007 Epaule Jete Chinon required extensive time to open up, but after three days, finally became drinkable, showing earthiness, fruit and acidity, all in harmonious balance.
Not sure if I was convincing enough, but next time you are in a wine store, look for unfamiliar wines from unfamiliar places – it is possible that you will make a great discovery. As subject of under-appreciated wines is almost endless, I will give you many more examples of great wines from no-so-well-known places. Until then – let's drink to fearless wine tasting and great discoveries.


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|It sure has felt like winter in Indiana this week with the strong winds and colder temperature. So, Selma and I thought a winter card would be a great challenge for this week. You can read all about how Selma did this beautiful card by clicking here!
Here is what you need to do for Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #40:
- The only qualifcation this week is to create a winter card. Anything goes. Because we are making it easy for you, you might want to create several cards for this challenge.
You will have until next Thursday (November 8) morning 6:00 AM EST to link your project. You can enter more than once. A winner will be chosen from the Random Drawing for week #40. The winner of challenge and will be announced Friday November 9. This winner will win a Nellie Embossoing Folder. The winner will also be entered in the end of the year $100 gift certificate drawing.
Below are the guidelines:
1. You must have a blog or post to the SCS gallery.
2. Post your challenge card to your blog.
3. Or if you are posting to the SCS gallery, you will need to use a special code to tag your card to the challenge. This week's code is joansgardens, JG1101 and needs to be posted with the challenge. Please enter both on the same line with a comma between as I have shown.
4. Link your card/project to the Blue Inlinkz icon listed at the bottom of the challenge.


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Objective 3 – Resources: ensure a robust and more diversified revenue stream to support pursuit of School's mission
Context: The School's dependence on tuition for revenue is a constraint on its ability to meet objectives and to adapt to developments in the external environment while remaining competitive. There is a need to reduce dependency on tuition revenue and to increase and diversify revenue sources to accomplish our mission. Some alternative sources of revenue, such as executive education and sponsored programs, can be used to subsidize other activities of the School, making a Fletcher education more affordable for our degree students.
Strategy: In order to reduce its dependence on tuition, the School will cultivate high-potential individual and institutional donors, expand its executive education offerings, and more actively seek opportunities for sponsored research in areas where we have expertise and that are consistent with our commitment to academic objectivity.
Dean Stravidis discusses executive education programs in the strategic plan:
Approaches and Action Items:
1. The School will seek alignment of Fletcher's vision with philanthropic interests, develop targets and organize activities and outreach to cultivate high potential donors.
a. The School will leverage existing relationships and develop strategies to expand relationships with non-alumni donors as a top priority. Over the past year the Dean has led fundraising efforts by actively conducting outreach to prospective donors. The Dean and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations will continue this effort.
b. The School will set strategic priorities for the upcoming capital campaign. The capital campaign that ran from 2002 to 2009 raised $100M for the School. We anticipate that the next campaign will raise a somewhat larger sum in support of our priorities and the implementation of many action items in this plan. Fundraising priorities for the campaign will be as follows:
• Scholarship aid for all students, especially students from Africa and other developing regions;
• Endowed professorships in critical functional areas and regions (see Objective 1); and
• Long-term funding for existing and new research centers (see Objective 2).
2. The School will seek to expand its executive education offerings, drawing on our strength as the most fully multidisciplinary school of international affairs.
a. Fletcher will continue to seize targeted opportunities while assessing the costs and benefits of a major expansion into executive education. Each new program will be followed by an after-the-fact assessment that looks at: i) the quality and distinctiveness of the curriculum, ii) the extent to which it draws on faculty strengths, iii) the replicability of the program for future use, iv) the revenue-generating potential in the short and longer terms and v) the extent to which the program serves other Fletcher goals, such as the visibility of the School.
b. As a market leader in 'hybrid' models of education via the GMAP program, the School will explore options for building executive education programs that rely heavily on digital technology.
c. Fletcher will consider launching small scale continuing education programs for alumni and other working professionals. Drawing on the expertise of existing faculty, these "refresher programs" can be offered at night, on weekends, or through videoconferencing at relatively low cost. They will not only generate revenue but also help keep alumni and other friends of Fletcher connected to the School.
3. The School will leverage physical plant upgrades and expansions for fundraising, particularly the upcoming availability of facilities in Barnum Hall. Barnum Hall is expected to become available for shared occupancy within five years.
4. The School will more actively pursue sponsored research and programs.
a. The School will seek more private sector (e.g., corporate, private equity, financial institutions) sponsorship of programs, centers and events. A working group convened by the Dean will be tasked with mapping thematic areas to sponsorship opportunities with prospective donors. To ensure transparency and integrity of the institution's research, the School will develop a policy on funding of academic research. This will be done by fall 2015.
b. The School will engage with Tufts University to obtain support for grant writing and administration for foundation and government grants. If University support is deemed insufficient, the School will develop more in-house grant-seeking, grant-writing and grant administration capacity to support faculty research. In addition to helping the School diversify its revenue stream, these efforts will support Objective 2.
5. The School will more actively seek opportunities to increase the number of high-quality students paying full tuition, particularly in the LLM, MA, GMAP and MIB programs, which are most likely to attract students sponsored by third parties, such as governments, corporations and other organizations.