These are currently
the four most popular sparkling wines, although there are many
others. Sparkling wines are made using a secondary
fermentation of the wine in the bottle to create carbonation.
In 2013, Prosecco outsold champagne around the world.
Cava comes from Spain, primarily around Barcelona and the sparkling
wine can be extremely high quality. Cavas are made in the
'Traditional Method', and many are aged longer than Champagne is.
The principal grapes used are Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada.
Champagne is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
grapes. Only grapes grown in the Champagne region of France can be
used for Champagne, which is produced in that region using a
specific 'Traditional Method'. Although its history dates back many
hundreds of years, Champagne only got its sparkle in 1668 when
Pierre Dom Pérignon, cellar master for the Benedictine Abbey was
developing new ways to make wine more enjoyable and stumbled on the
method by accident.
Cremant is the sparkling wine made in the same way in any French
region other than Champagne. There are 23 sparkling wines made in
France and each region may use different grapes, such as Chenin
Blanc, Cabernet, Pino Gris, etc.
Prosecco is made from the Glera grape in the Veneto region of Italy.
It is made using the ‘Tank Method’. Prosecco is perhaps America’s
favorite bubbly, because it is not aged “sur lie” as Champagne is,
the flavors of Prosecco tend to be simpler and less complex. Think
white flowers, apple, and pear. Some even have a bit of sweetness.
Sur Lie is the method of adding extra flavor to the finished wine by
letting it sit on the lees (decomposing yeast and grapes) in order
to extract more aromas and flavors.
Bottom line, all Champagne sparkles, but not all sparkling wine
is Champagne. Champagne is perceived as a region for luxury wines,
so it can command higher prices than the others, which can be as
or more enjoyable. As with all wines, trust your tongue and not
the advertising.
Jul 17, 2015
Five More Internet Firsts
Computer-to-computer email
started when Bolt Beranek and Newman was hired by the United States
Defense Department to work on ARPANET, the precursor to the
Internet. Employee Ray Tomlinson started working on an experimental
file transfer protocol that could send a message from one computer
to another. He also came up with the “@” symbol to connect the user
and network, simply because it made the most sense to him. It would
include the user’s name and the host where it should be sent. In
July of 1971 Tomlinson sent the first email to the computer next to
his, which read, “QWERTYIOP”.
Pierre Omidyar was thinking that the web might make for a great marketplace, specifically utilizing an auction format for fair pricing on items. He launched the website AuctionWeb (which became eBay) on September 3, 1995. The first item to sell was a broken laser pointer, which went for $14.83. He was confused by someone paying for that much for a defective item and discovered the buyer collected broken laser pointers. He thought it was interesting that collectors were so passionate about ordinary items.
The first book sold on Amazon in July of 1995 was Fluid Concepts And Creative Analogies: Computer Models Of The Fundamental Mechanisms Of Thought, by Douglas Hofstadter.
The first Internet single released by a major label happened during 1993, when Geffen Records released the single “Head First” by Aerosmith.
During October 27, 1994, Joe McCambley, who ran a small digital advertising company, created the first banner ad for AT&T. The all-text ad, which said “Have you ever clicked your mouse here?” appeared on Hotwired.com, the first digital magazine. Forty four percent of Hotwired’s visitors clicked the ad, and some even shared it with friends. Today, only about 0.0004 percent of website visitors click on banner ads.
Pierre Omidyar was thinking that the web might make for a great marketplace, specifically utilizing an auction format for fair pricing on items. He launched the website AuctionWeb (which became eBay) on September 3, 1995. The first item to sell was a broken laser pointer, which went for $14.83. He was confused by someone paying for that much for a defective item and discovered the buyer collected broken laser pointers. He thought it was interesting that collectors were so passionate about ordinary items.
The first book sold on Amazon in July of 1995 was Fluid Concepts And Creative Analogies: Computer Models Of The Fundamental Mechanisms Of Thought, by Douglas Hofstadter.
The first Internet single released by a major label happened during 1993, when Geffen Records released the single “Head First” by Aerosmith.
During October 27, 1994, Joe McCambley, who ran a small digital advertising company, created the first banner ad for AT&T. The all-text ad, which said “Have you ever clicked your mouse here?” appeared on Hotwired.com, the first digital magazine. Forty four percent of Hotwired’s visitors clicked the ad, and some even shared it with friends. Today, only about 0.0004 percent of website visitors click on banner ads.
Prescient Quote
"Change has never happened this fast
before, and it will never be this slow again." Graeme Wood, Social
Principal #9, Geek Media, Sept 29, 2009
Catnip and Insects
Catnip is a member of the mint family,
but it is better known for making cats go into a euphoric frenzy,
rubbing on everything and rolling on the ground. Only about half of
cats react to catnip for some genetic reason that no one
understands.
Many insects are also sensitive to the oil in catnip, however they hate it. Lab tests from one study show that catnip is ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, and another study found that it has the same ill effect on bloodsucking flies that attack livestock.
Follow-up studies showed that the oil in catnip was not quite as effective as DEET when used directly on skin. Many people use catnip oil as insect repellent, because it is nontoxic and 100 percent natural.
No one understands why catnip makes such a good insect repellent. Maybe the bugs cannot stand the smell, or maybe catnip acts as an irritant to them.
Many insects are also sensitive to the oil in catnip, however they hate it. Lab tests from one study show that catnip is ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, and another study found that it has the same ill effect on bloodsucking flies that attack livestock.
Follow-up studies showed that the oil in catnip was not quite as effective as DEET when used directly on skin. Many people use catnip oil as insect repellent, because it is nontoxic and 100 percent natural.
No one understands why catnip makes such a good insect repellent. Maybe the bugs cannot stand the smell, or maybe catnip acts as an irritant to them.
Wordology, Facts and Factoids
A “Fact” means something that
is unquestionably true. Merriam Webster says it is the “quality of
being actual.”
“Factoid” has two distinct definitions, one being more or less a subset of “Fact”, the other not meaning the same thing as “Fact”. The first definition is: “an invented fact, believed to be true because of its appearance in print.” The second is from Merriam-Webster: “a briefly stated and usually trivial fact”.
“Factoid” has two distinct definitions, one being more or less a subset of “Fact”, the other not meaning the same thing as “Fact”. The first definition is: “an invented fact, believed to be true because of its appearance in print.” The second is from Merriam-Webster: “a briefly stated and usually trivial fact”.
Jul 10, 2015
Happy Friday
Happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.
I always travel well, on my way to a Happy Friday!
I always travel well, on my way to a Happy Friday!
We Have Infinite Power
Light travels 93
million miles from the sun unobstructed and we can block it
the last few feet from reaching earth.
Lesser Known July Holidays
July 11,
Bowdler's Day - This day honors the prude namesake of the word
bowdlerize. English doctor Thomas Bowdler quit
his job to focus on expunging from Shakespeare all lewd and indecent
references. His version, Family Shakespeare, came out in
1818.
July 12, Night of Nights - On July 12, 1999, the US closed commercial Morse operations, but every year since, on that anniversary, the Maritime Radio Historical Society commemorates maritime radio by bringing stations KPH, KSM, and KFS back on the air for one night. Other existing radio stations participate with related content.
July 13, International Town Crier's Day - This holiday, celebrated annually on the second Monday in July, is a chance to honor the lost art of speaking loudly and starting proclamations with "Hear ye, hear ye!" in celebration of the ancient practice of town crying. Now Facebook is used much the same way.
July 15, Saint Swithin's Day - Swithin was the Bishop of Winchester in the 800s. Many years after his death, his relics were transferred to the Winchester Cathedral on July 15, 971, a day which had heavy rains there. Since then, the belief has been that if it rains on this day, it will continue to rain for 40 more days.
July 17, Yellow Pig Day - This is a Princeton mathematician's holiday celebrating yellow pigs and the number 17. It is celebrated annually since the early 1960's, primarily on college campuses, and primarily by mathematicians. On campus, Yellow Pig Cake and Yellow Pig Carols are tradition!
July 19, National Ice Cream Day - Sundae Sunday, annually the third Sunday in July.
July 22, Spooner's Day - Reverend William Archibald Spooner was a scholar and the warden of New College at Oxford. He also had a habit of transposing the first letter of certain words. It is from his frequent, funny slips of the tongue that we get the word 'spoonerism'. Examples: a blushing crow a crushing blow, tons of soil sons of toil, our queer old Dean our dear old Queen, we'll have the hags flung out we'll have the flags hung out.
July 24, National Tell an Old Joke Day - Mary Rose sat on a pin. Mary rose!
July 30, National Chili Dog Day - Celebrated on the last Thursday in July.
July 12, Night of Nights - On July 12, 1999, the US closed commercial Morse operations, but every year since, on that anniversary, the Maritime Radio Historical Society commemorates maritime radio by bringing stations KPH, KSM, and KFS back on the air for one night. Other existing radio stations participate with related content.
July 13, International Town Crier's Day - This holiday, celebrated annually on the second Monday in July, is a chance to honor the lost art of speaking loudly and starting proclamations with "Hear ye, hear ye!" in celebration of the ancient practice of town crying. Now Facebook is used much the same way.
July 15, Saint Swithin's Day - Swithin was the Bishop of Winchester in the 800s. Many years after his death, his relics were transferred to the Winchester Cathedral on July 15, 971, a day which had heavy rains there. Since then, the belief has been that if it rains on this day, it will continue to rain for 40 more days.
July 17, Yellow Pig Day - This is a Princeton mathematician's holiday celebrating yellow pigs and the number 17. It is celebrated annually since the early 1960's, primarily on college campuses, and primarily by mathematicians. On campus, Yellow Pig Cake and Yellow Pig Carols are tradition!
July 19, National Ice Cream Day - Sundae Sunday, annually the third Sunday in July.
July 22, Spooner's Day - Reverend William Archibald Spooner was a scholar and the warden of New College at Oxford. He also had a habit of transposing the first letter of certain words. It is from his frequent, funny slips of the tongue that we get the word 'spoonerism'. Examples: a blushing crow a crushing blow, tons of soil sons of toil, our queer old Dean our dear old Queen, we'll have the hags flung out we'll have the flags hung out.
July 24, National Tell an Old Joke Day - Mary Rose sat on a pin. Mary rose!
July 30, National Chili Dog Day - Celebrated on the last Thursday in July.
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