Tasting Wine

Wine Tasting Component I: Look

The first step you have to undertake in wine tasting is visual.

1. Fill up the glass up to 1/3 of its volume; never fill it more than half;

2. Hold the glass by the stem. Initially you may find this too pretentious but there are good reasons for it:

а) by doing it this way you can actually observe the wine in it;

b) this will keep your fingerprints off the bowl;

в) the heat from your palm will not change the temperature of the wine.

There's a good saying by one of the greatest French wine lovers, Emil Painot: Offer someone a glass of wine and you can immediately tell whether he/she is a connoisseur by the way they hold the glass." Even though you may not think of yourself as a connoisseur, you could still learn how to hold the wine glass.

3. Focus on the color intensity and the transparency of the liquid.

a) the color of the wine, and more specifically its nuances, are best observed on a white background.

б) the wine's intensity is best judged by holding the glass without slanting it and looking at the liquid from above;

4. Next comes the swirling of the glass. This can also seem too pretentious or even dangerous if you have a full glass or a white top. But this movement is important since it prepares you for the next step in wine tasting ? the Taste. The easiest way to swirl the glass is to place it on a table or other even surface, and to swirl your hand while holding the glass by the stem. Swirl hard and have the wine almost touch the rim of the glass. Then stop. The wine leaves tiny traces with irregular shapes on the inside of the glass. Some "experts" then read them with as much zeal as coffee-tellers. The truth is however, that they are just an indicator for the quality of the wine ? the more alcohol a wine has, the more wine traces it forms.

What does the color of the wine tell us? The wine's color tells us many things about its character.

First, the color shows the grape variety. Let's take two popular varieties as examples ? cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. Cabernet's grapes are smaller, with a thicker and darker skin than those of pinot noir. As a result, the color of wines made from cabernet sauvignon is usually described as violet to dark while the color of wines made from pinot noir is associated with ruby.

Second, the color is influenced by the climatic conditions. A hot summer and dry fall result in ripe grapes, with a dark, intense color. A cold summer and rainy fall will produce undeveloped grapes with a lighter color. Third, wine-making practices also have an influence on the color of wine. For red wine, the grapes are fermented with the skin. Since the coloring agents are in the grape skin, and not in the juice, the longer the process of maceration, i.e. the longer the skin stays with the juice, the darker the wine color will be.

Fourth, the process of wine aging also has an influence on the color of wine. The young red wines are rich in coloring agents and that makes their color denser and fuller. In the course of time chemical reactions take place in the bottle and sediment is formed at the bottom. The wine's color gets lighter and is often described as brick or amber.

Let's go through an example: you pour yourself a glass of red wine and after carefully observing it, you notice a full granite color, good density, and not so good transparency. What conclusions can you draw? Well, you can safely say that the wine is:

- from cabernet sauvignon grapes;

- from a Southern region;

- relatively young;

- from a good yield;

- that the wine-maker has gone for a good long maceration.

If you know the wine, compare what you know with what you see: maybe the wine has a very full color and the yield has been bad ? this speaks of a good wine-making technique; or maybe the wine is too pale for its age ? this speaks for undeveloped grape or poor wine-making technique.

http://www.wines-resource.com

Marriage or Divorce ? Check Your Social Security Number

Newlyweds and the recently divorced should make sure that names on their tax returns match those registered with the Social Security Administration (SSA). A mismatch between a name on the tax return and a Social Security number (SSN) could unexpectedly increase a tax bill or reduce the size of any refund.

For newlyweds, the tax scenario can begin when the bride says "I do" and takes her husband's surname, but doesn't tell the SSA about the name change. If the couple files a joint tax return with her new name, the IRS computers will not be able to match the new name with the SSN. This could result in tax assessments or even an audit since the IRS may be under the impression that you are simply evading taxes.

Similarly, after a divorce, a woman who had taken her husband's name and had made that change known to the SSA should contact the SSA if she reassumes a previous name. Failure to take this action can lead to audits. Can you imagine going through an audit with your former spouse?

It's easy to inform the SSA of a name change by filing Form SS-5 at a local SSA office. It usually takes two weeks to have the change verified. The form is available on the agency's Web site, www.ssa.gov, by calling toll free 1-800-772-1213 and at local offices. The SSA Web site provides the addresses of local offices.

Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses by finding overlooked tax deductions and credits through a free tax return review.

Business Owner--Educate Thyself!

Remember the training programs, seminars, and workshops you had to attend when you were on the corporate side of the table? You were expected to complete course after course for professional development and skill enhancement. Well, where do you get your training now that you are on your own? Do you learn from your clients? Are they the best teachers? What about your competitors?

Here are six ways to educate yourself and keep your professional edge:

Learn from your clients. Discover what they are doing or not doing to keep up with the changing marketplace. Ask them to share what makes them unique or industry leaders.

Join trade associations and networking groups that will keep you sharp and growing.

Find a mentor or coach-someone who is further along the business career path or more experienced. Learn from them. Soak up the knowledge they choose to impart and reciprocate as much as possible.

Read everything that you can about your industry and clientele. Identify and research your potential customer base.

Get the appropriate industry or specialty certifications.

Attend seminars and workshops to increase your knowledge and exposure. The more you associate and mingle with people who have similar businesses like yours, the more you will learn just by rubbing shoulders with them and mutually sharing your successes and challenges.

Educating yourself is very important. Set aside money each year for professional development. Don't rest on past laurels or stop growing. If you do, you will lose competitive ground and be left behind.

Roy DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned executive in the financial services industry, has helped small business owners for over 25 years to successfully tackle overwhelming business challenges through his clear strategic perspective and a proven ability to evaluate the feasibility of goals. His guiding principle is that everyone, especially executive management needs to embrace one vision.

Roy is the President and co-founder of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, a Stamford, CT based human resources and organizational consulting firm to small and medium-sized businesses. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and is available to speak at management conferences and leadership retreats. To discover how Roy and the RADSGroup can transform your business, visit: http://www.radsgroup.com/

Does God Promise Long Life?

Over the last 10 years or so I have met several people who had very irrational fears of dying "young." When I asked them what they felt was "young," they said they did not expect to live past an age range of 40-55 years of age. They did not expect to live up to an age range of 70-90 years.

When I asked them why they felt this way - the answer I always got was because one of their parents had died young - usually in their 40's or 50's. I guess they thought there was some kind of curse on them - and what happened to one of their parents was going to eventually happen to them.

What does the Bible have to say about God wanting us to live long lives? For those of you who are not aware of these verses from Scripture - I think you will be pleasantly surprised to find that God does want some of His people living long lives down here on earth - and that this is a particular blessing that He can grant to us if we are willing to meet certain conditions under the New Covenant that we now have with Jesus.

I think the two main reasons God would like a lot of His people to have these long lives is so that they can complete whatever mission, purpose or call that God has set on their lives and also for them to be able to enjoy the fruit of all of their efforts before they go home to be with Him.

I think the greatest example of this would be in our marriages. I think God wants to give us the ability to grow old so we can watch all of our children grow up, then watch them get married and have their own children making you grandparents. You have put forth a tremendous amount of time, effort and energy raising your children to be good, God-fearing and law abiding adults. Now God wants you to be able to sit back, relax and watch your children fruit out as the men and women that He wants them to be in Him.

You have the rest of eternity to spend with God on the other side - but you only have one chance down here on this earth to watch your children physically grow up right before your very eyes. Once we all enter into heaven - we will all be "set" at a certain age. Never again will you be able to see your son or daughter grow up physically, emotionally and spiritually right before your very eyes. You only get once chance down here on this earth to see this event occur and I think God would like to give more of His people this long life blessing so they can see all of this take place in their lifetime.

If you would like to see all of the Scripture verses pertaining to this particular blessing and the conditions that must be met before God would consider giving you this long life blessing, go to http://www.bible-knowledge.com/Does-God-Promise-Long-Life.html for complete copy of this article. In this article, we will give you some of the main Scripture verses showing you that God can and does want to give this type of blessing to some of His people. There is also good commentary on why God may sovereignly choose to withhold this blessing from some of His people. God is still sovereign in all of His ways - including who He will choose to grant this long life blessing to and who He will not.

Article written by Michael Bradley, author of over 100 articles which can be found at http://www.bible-knowledge.com.

Profiling Eco-terrorists

The FBI recently before Congress stated that Eco-Terrorism was on the rise and it is probably the most significant current Domestic Threat. Unfortunately it is somewhat hard to profile these folks as most are misfits of society and somewhat socially inept. They do have some common ground however. First they hate Modern Day Corporations and believe that any problem of our society stems from corporations. They blame McDonald's for making us fat; Tobacco companies for cancer; Oil companies for world poverty and Drug Companies for diseases in third world nations.

They cite example after example of skewed and selective attacks on corporate advertising rather than personal responsibility. They are conspiracy theorists generally. Almost all of them are heavy into drugs and are the first to tell you that it is not a problem at all. They are all for legalizing marijuana and taxation to solve any economic crisis. They all believe in free health care. They were Jerry Garcia caps in many colors to cover their matted hair because they rarely take showers.

Despite all the backwards thinking and drugs many are intelligent and use this intelligence to just get by and sponge off others who have means. Many times they have wealthy friends who are trust fund babies and fund their alcohol and drug addictions, which they deny. Most of their wealthier friends know of their activities but do not come forward, as these ELF people provide social acceptance for them, that perhaps the trust fund babies lacked growing up.

Generally the ELF groups are groups of what some to believe to be total losers and one could hardly disagree upon study of the profile of those Eco-Terrorists who have already been caught by the Canadian Mounties or the FBI in the United States. Usually each group of ELF is a loosely affiliated group, which has a personal call to the cause and may not even be in regular contact with other groups. This makes them harder to catch, but not impossible as many of these groups have been infiltrated by FBI, local enforcement and informants.

Eco-terrorists have started huge forest fires, although deny those usually. Burned down entire resort towns, often deciding not to take credit for it. Burned down million dollar homes in the woods and rural areas. They have attacked laboratories, research facilities and corporations. They have burned down car dealerships, lumberyards, kennels and construction projects. They claim to be helping the environment by polluting trillions of cubic units of our atmosphere, killing helpless animals in the forest and sending toxic fumes into the city? They do this in the name of Environmentalism? This just proves that drugs warp your mind and that these folks are clearly a nuisance as well as a clear and present danger to our civilization. There goals and objectives also seem to coincide with much of the Islamic radical fundamentalist International Terrorist and some believe that there are ELF cells who have been infiltrated by Al Queda. I believe this is occurring, since their objectives are so similar and it is a Canadian based organization. Think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

Find Mineral Nutrition Online

Mineral nutrition

Searching for mineral nutrition information is much easier today than ever before. I remember when we'd have to search manuals, books and do it at the library and also searching the encyclopedia. Thanks to Senate document 264 the truth finally comes out. Much buried of course as its information doesn't support the bottom line of retailers. But, to find the truth sometimes takes digging and especially mineral nutrition.

We've come to discover that many serious health issues including life threatening can be at the source of lack of minerals in our diet. Most of us haven't been taught that without these vital nutritional nutrients taking vitamins is useless. Since vitamins are such a large marketing item with plenty of resources we seldom read or see much about anything else.

It is critical to our health to understand that the depleted soils today do not yield its fruits and vegetables with the nutrients they once did years ago. Fast foods haven't helped either, and now we even read of a national epidemic about overweight child. Our kids are starving from the lack of good nutrition and most of us aren't doing anything about it.

Research online can be the resource of choice that let's us do the research work rather easily. Armed with some good up to date education and information goes a long way towards correcting one's path to optimum health. The responsibility falls on us for self preservation, not the doctors when it's perhaps too late.

We may also need to adjust our thinking for days of old. Our parents who didn't have the information available today taught us what they could, but may not in fact be the most effective approach today. When you gather your information you may very well be shocked, so stay open minded and be patient. Correcting the sorry state of affairs with good mineral nutrition isn't difficult or over expensive.

The rest of the story at http://www.liquid-vitamins-4u.com

How to Nurture Intimacy When Youre in a Long-Distance Marriage

The biggest problem long-distance spouses often face is how to keep emotional intimacy alive when they are separated. If you are in a long-distance marriage, you are probably already using email and the telephone as much as possible to stay in touch. But what else can you do to stay connected with your partner and not lose that special bond between you?

One suggestion is to take the extra time to also send "snail mail" greeting cards, letters, and postcards when possible. Buy an assortment of cards when you have a chance, and that will make it easier to send out one or two cards each week. Vary the type of cards that you send--some romantic, some funny. You could also send postcards to add variety and show scenes of the geographic area where you are working.

In your letters and emails, don't only talk about what activities you've been involved in, but be sure to share your feelings about what's going on in your life. Ask feeling-related questions, such as "Do you ever worry that one day we'll have been married 20 years and we'll discover that we don't really know each other?" Also share memories and experiences from childhood and the years before you met.

Write your spouse a letter telling her (or him)what you love about her,what attracted you to her, what you admire about her, and why you want to stay married to her. Before you send it to her, make a copy for yourself and read it once a day to remind yourself of all the positives about your spouse. Ask her to do the same for you.

Look for ways to create reminders that will trigger thoughts of each other when you're apart. For example, you might consider naming a star for your spouse at the International Star Registry (www.starregistry.com). Then, each starry night, you will both feel connected as you look for "your star."

You might come up with some other symbols to trigger your thoughts, such as agreeing to think of each other every time you see a certain type of bird. Or pick a car with special meaning and think of each other every time you see a red Camaro, for example. Perhaps you will both agree to listen to a certain song on a CD before you go to sleep each night, knowing the other person is doing the same thing.

Brainstorm about ways you can feel connected even when you're not talking on the phone or emailing each other. Mail your husband (or wife) a tape of yourself reading a love poem or sweet letter you have written to him. Send small surprise gifts when you can. They don't have to be expensive; they just need to show that you're thinking of him.

You could order gifts of gourmet candy, nuts, popcorn, flowers, or other items from the Internet. Or you could give a magazine subscription to your spouse so she (or he) will think of you each time the publication arrives. Another idea is to send her a new CD that you think she'll like or a paperback book.

Consider creating your own web site where you can post photos you both take with a digital camera. The pictures could show scenes from your life apart and also pictures from the times you are together. Over time, this would document your history as well as your current life as a couple. One site that provides free web hosting for family web sites is www.myfamily.com.

Other ideas include having a print shop like Kinko's put a photograph of you and your spouse on coffee mugs, or having a photograph put on a T-shirt or sweatshirt for each of you. If you have some common interests in reading or listening to audio books, pick a book to read or listen to at the same time and then discuss it as you go along.

Put on your creative thinking cap and experiment to see what works best for the two of you. By using your imagination, you can deepen your emotional connection with your spouse, even though you're physically separated by thousands of miles.

Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says "I don't love you anymore!" The e-book is available at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com , where you can also sign up for the free Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine. Contact Nancy at Nancy@KeepYourMarriage.com.