As of late I’ve been diving into the world of ice wines. I am by no stretch an expert on the subject. Oh heck no. But I figured it’s Friday, and I might as well blog about the experience.
Before we (we= the wife + your author) even get to the tasting part, I must say that Jackson-Triggs was the most affordable ice wine at our local market. While most bottles were in the 50-75 dollar range, this one cost us 22. I’m not sure what this says overall about quality, or if we picked the PBR of ice wines, but the packaging was quite nice and it came in a rather thick bottle.
After chilling, we noticed straight away that this was much more citrusy than any other ice wine we had tasted to date and was very sweet, but not syrup heavy. It almost had an aftertaste of papya or a peach nectar. Again, I’m not 100% sure if that’s the desired taste, but we enjoyed it. We finished the whole bottle; which is a rather easy feat for ice wines in general. But it was quite the tasty treat after a rather brutal week at work.
Had I the money I probably would be heading to Ontario for their annual Ice Wine fest next weekend. But I’m too busy paying off credit cards like Oprah told me to.
The A1073 is a road that runs between the A16 at [show location on an interactive map] 52°45.5262′N 0°9.6174′W / 52.75877, -0.16029 a mile south of Spalding in Lincolnshire and the A47 between Eye and Eye Green at [show location on an interactive map] 52°36.7206′N 0°11.1378′W / 52.61201, -0.18563 in Cambridgeshire.
This route has become increasingly dangerous over the years as traffic has built up and it kills, mainly as a result of poor driving standards in Lincolnshire. It is narrow with many blind corners and slopes, and much of it is on an embankment with deep ditches either side and no run-off areas. There are dangerous junctions, particularly with the B1443 between Peakirk and Thorney, which forms a staggered crossroads. The road is a principal route servicing the food-processing industry in Spalding, bringing in supplies and moving products to the supermarket distribution system to the south.
An upgrade to this route has been under discussion for many years. The main hold-up was arguments over funding between Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and the Department for Transport, exacerbated by the actions of a former Leader of Lincolnshire County Council who went to jail for seeking to influence the route to his own financial advantage. However, finally a new road is due to commence construction. It will avoid Cowbit and Crowland and join the A47 west of Eye.
(The A1073 Road south of Cowbit, 4 km from Dowsdale, Lincolnshire, Great Britain)
In self promotion news, I am absolutely giddy like Tiny Fey on angel dust to boast that a remixed track of mine has been selected by the good folks at Affin records to be included on their Ambient Edition, Vol. 1 compilation. Originally a track on an EP I did for this here label/domain name, Trimalchio was remixed by the always awesome, always on time, always Canadian Christopher McNamara. Chris’ remix — in my opinion — thoroughly outshines the original and because of this I now have a track sequenced right next to one of my favorite ambient producers, Markus Guentner. If you’re clever enough (and I know you are), you can find the remix and the original track for free. Hint: a link is provided somewhere in this entry.
You can check it out over on Beatport.net, because it’s really good (just do a search for “Affin Ambient”). Worth your holiday download tokens, especially if Pop Ambient 2009 never arrives. Where is that anyways?
The problem with us bloggers, us liberruhl eeelite meeedia folksy types (as one Alaskan would so eloquently utter), is that we’re sensitive. We’re a very delicate, knee jerk reactionary type, don’cha know.
So imagine how much of my luke warm Sbarro I spat at the screen when the Freep spat forth the declaration that L. Brooks Patterson (herein known as LBP) will be putting his hat in the ring to explore the possibility of running for Governor in 2010.
I’m not against this idea as much as I am worried the Democratic party a) has no one who could take LBP on b) would find a fine way to screw things up (and the MDParty is getting really good at that) and finally c) the Michigan GOP would finally have a stranglehold on the state, as Granholm’s job satisfaction is around the same as my college GPA (which is to say a sound 3.5, thank you). Detroiters are leaving like en masse and the Democratic stronghold that is/was Ft. Detroit is showing cracks in the walls.
I don’t know how strong LBP’s support/sphere of influence stretches beyond Oakland County, or if he has enough to give it a good run. It’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out.
Q: How does Detroit city council make the best of difficult economic conditions, a faltering economy and a sputtering government bureaucracy?
A: It sends Monica Conyers to Israel.
Yes it makes absolutely no sense to me either, and while writing about the ol’ DCCouncil is the bloggerati equivalent to switching out Ray Charles’ Diet Pepsi, I assure you I am more than up to the task…even without caffeine.
Devotees of the hit soap opera Detroit Politics are no doubt aware of the palace intrigue Conyers has spewed forth over the years. Among my personal favorites is when Conyers boldly and valiantly defended her honor and actions against a bunch of hard hitting, savage, unruly, mean spirited school children who dared to inform Conyers of the word “manners”.
So where else better in the world to study the art of conflict resolution than with the Israeli government? There is no doubt that the fine folks o’er Jerusalem way is showing the world how they have mastered the art of diplomatic negotiations with Hamas over the past few days. According to a recent freep article on the subject, Conyers will be “receive intelligence assessments from both the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Department”
Why? Does she have some sort of keen insight or contribution to add to the discussion? Has her depth of experience as pro-tem of Detroit City Council blessed her with a clarity or wisdom which the rest of the council is lacking? I’d honestly love to hear an answer to this.
Seriously, what good can come of this? Conyers comes back with some new military moves for her overpadded, doubled security force to try should the Mayor ever attempt to visit her floor? She teaches the Israeli army to fight with words? (Imagine a whole slew of Hamas agents scrambling to find out what the hell a Shrek is)
This really just doesn’t make sense to me. But I suppose in the world of the DCC — where up is left and down is actually reverse….does anything ever really?
Maybe they should have sent Martha Reeves instead. She could have halted the fighting with a song. Or better yet, proposed they build statues of Israeli leaders in Gaza to help build morale.
Gravity is a city in Taylor County, Iowa, United States. The population was 218 at the 2000 census.
As of the census of 2000, there were 218 people, 85 households, and 64 families residing in the city. The population density was 729.6 people per square mile (280.6/km²). There were 103 housing units at an average density of 344.7/sq mi (132.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.08% White, 0.46% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.21% of the population.
There were 85 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 111.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $20,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,312. About 16.2% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 5.4% of those sixty five or over.
I used to wildly support Freman Hendrix. That was when he was running against Kwame. And he was the only sane, viable option in the race.
But not this time around. It’s a different Detroit. It’s a different set of situations and challenges that have never been faced in our lifetime. These challenges would require fresh blood and a new perspective on how to tackle these issues. So the minute I heard Greg Bowens speak on behalf of Hendrix on Inside Detroit radio, I knew that it was going to be more of the same: the same cast of people who are clinging to the specter of the Archer administration, the same people who prize job security in the public sector over a commitment, the same people who while mean well and truly want to make a difference but will only collapse in the infinite power struggle to maintain the finite supply of power and control that the City still retains (although much like the roads, that notion is cracking and eroding faster than it can be patched up).
I find myself frustrated. I would hope that Hendrix would have licked his wounds out in Ypsilanti, retooled with fresh blood from the academic bubble, and come out of the gates storming. Instead we find him threatening to sue the auto insurance industry and engaging in practices worthy of a middle school debate while attempting to have a “town hall” discussion with other mayoral candidates.
It’s unfitting, and I would have hoped better. A different philosophy for a different Detroit. But it just seems as if it might just be another re-tread. It’s still early, and I’ve yet to see and white papers or stances which deviate from his old viewpoints; with the exception of a section on his new website speaking of “restoring integrity in government”. Here’s hoping over time I’ll be won over, but as it stands right now? No thanks. Give me someone hungry with new ideas and new solutions. Someone who isn’t touting the obvious value of “integrity” as a selling point.
“When I was a young guy coming up, going to the Grande Ballroom every weekend, I got to see my heroes play. Jeff Beck, the Who, everyone. I didn’t want to be a fanboy, but I’d stand there and wait — ‘I just want to say hi, this was great.’ I saw them walk by me with blank stares like they were zombies. I said to myself, you know, if I ever make it, I’ve got at least one minute for everybody who wants to say something. So I talk to people, and that’s what’s exciting now.”
Canada Packers was the largest meat packing and meat processing company in Canada, located in Ontario. It is now part of Maple Leaf Foods through a merger with Maple Leaf Mills.
In 1927 it was formed by a merger of the Harris Abbatoir Company, Gunns Limited and the William Davies Company. In 1975 it was listed as the fourteenth largest company in Canada
Today I’d like to talk about a few records I purchased at my local record mart. These aren’t really reviews, just more unpolished thoughts and observations.
DAVE HOLLAND- EMERALD TEARS (ECM - 1977)
I’ve been making an effort to track down — whether through shops or the digital realm of freedom (sorry anti-mp3ers) — stuff from the ECM catalog from 1977-1981. Those years have had a resonating impression on me as of late, no thanks in small part to my 2008 obsession with Aja and Gaucho by Steely Dan. While worlds away from these two aforementioned albums, Dave Holland’s eight song solo bass material for this session has had me hooked for several weeks now. His mastery of the upright should give him credence to be named amongst some of jazz’s finest, and he proves it even within the album’s opening track “Spheres”. The Braxton tune “B-40 / RS-4-W / M23-6K” also smokes. If upright bass ain’t your thing, neither is this album. BUT those who do enjoy a solo session of the mighty sound of bass will be deeply impressed.
CRUSADERS- IMAGES (MCA- 1980)
Following the blazing disco anthem “Street Life”, the Crusaders shifted gears and recorded a few underrated albums of jazz-fusion. The results were kind of mixed, but there were still some serious gems to be had, including the outstanding “Marcella’s Dream”, which was included on my New Year’s Day recovery mix. It’s a so-so album, but if you see it in the bargain bin it’s worth the couple bills.
Look I know these aren’t epic reports. I’ll get to those. I swear it. Just need to develop my chops again.
And speaking of getting back to good form: Deminski and Doyle return tomorrow morning. All those in the Detroit area who commute during morning drive time would be well served to welcome them back to the airwaves.
I realize that the majority of my posts have been YouTube videos. I apologize. I’m still getting back into the swing of things. There’s just so much to catch up on after three years, I still am not sure where to begin or what to write about. It’ll get better. I promise.
Probably one of my favorite holiday songs. Reminds me of home.
I get homesick a lot. The weird thing is, Detroit’s never been hurting more than it is now. I take that back. It’s never been this bad in my lifetime, and probably my parent’s lifetimes either. It’s sad. I still miss it.
One thing that has kept either the sadistic misery/joy going for me is the reading of DetroitBlog. I think of it as a lighthouse on the shores of home.
In even unfunnier news, Dee Dee Myers makes a half hearted attempt to mend some fences with the Clintons with this Vanity Fair tirade on the best speechwriter my generation has to offer. The pseudo outrage is really quite charming, but I can’t help but think some of it is geared towards the fact her husband Todd Purdum wrote a rather scathing article about the Clintons a few months ago.
Coming soon: My list of the top records of 2008, and the 2008 Nima Awards
One of the funniest people I’ve ever met is Jamie Monger. And he owns a pug, so that’s extra points. Watch Jamie discuss how he was trapped in a van for nearly two hours while on tour.
In no particular order, here’s ten things which have happened since the blog went on hiatus.
1. Got married.
2. Moved from Detroit to a new place. Astute readers know where to find clues as to my current whereabouts.
3. Have contributed or written or curated at several other blogs.
4. Did a mix for the Ghostly podcast. SMM Dusk Mix. What?
5. Had my first show at a museum.
6. Put out my first full length album.
7. Bought a house
8. Got a new job
9. Retired from music journalism
10. Got a new puppy.
Yes, it’s been three very manic years, but I’ve loved every second of it. Thanks to everyone who kept in touch.
My dear friend Tim Aten recently had the chance to interview THE activist from the City of Detroit for the past 50 years, Ms. Grace Lee Boggs. Here’s part one of the video interview
One of my all time favorite lines from the web came from Dan Sicko. He once asked “Did you ever set your tape deck to record , come back after a few hours and find you forgot to de-press the pause button?”. That’s what he sort of felt like after a two year hiatus from his now legendary zine.
I’m over three years out of the game, and a lot has changed. I’m not even Detroit’s 7th most popular blogger any more. I see that I still get traffic and people searching for me (which reminds me…hello fellow co-workers googling my name). In fact, I think I had more traffic while on hiatus than while I was blogging. Looking back on previous posts, I wince at how bad they are. They haven’t aged well. I might delete them over time. I’m not sure.
I’m not sure how this has gonna go. When I say a lot has changed, I’m not lying. I don’t know if I’ll even make an announcement that I’m back. I might just let people fall into this like they did the first time. We’ll see. Who knows if I can even keep this up again? Who knows if anyone WANTS to read my poorly constructed blog entries?
