You want my opinion?

Is the US a banana republic?

2011-04-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

"Banana Republic." -- A banana republic is a commercial enterprise for profit by collusion between the State and favored monopolies. In a banana republic the government is unaccountable to its nation, the country's private sector–public sector corruption operates the banana republic, thus, the national legislature usually are for sale, and function mostly as ceremonial government.

Our country is a banana republic. When you have 400 people in this country with more wealth than half the population and the government giving handouts to the wealthiest members of our society in the form of unprecedented tax cuts while at the same time cutting services to the most needy, it is hard for me to come to any other conclusion.

What have they done with President Obama?

2011-04-10T21:54:00.000-07:00

Krugman correctly asks, "What have they done with President Obama? What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected? Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn’t seem to stand for anything in particular?"

I am very disappointed in Obama. He has failed to live up to the hope he offered up in his campaign. He has only delivered mediocrity and failed to stand up to reactionary extreamism. As Krugman said, "But if you ask me, I’d say that the nation wants — and more important, the nation needs — a president who believes in something, and is willing to take a stand. And that’s not what we’re seeing."

My opinion on the Federal Budget Mess of 2011

2011-04-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

There is an old saying, if you tell a lie long enough some people will believe it. Apparently, that's what is going on in Washington. If you read Paul Krugman's post, "the G.O.P. plan turns out not to be serious at all. Instead, it’s simultaneously ridiculous and heartless." Krugman goes on to say:

Republicans have once again gone all in for voodoo economics — the claim, refuted by experience, that tax cuts pay for themselves.

What does voodoo economics mean? It's a term used by none other than George H. W. Bush in reference to President Ronald Reagan's economic policies, which came to be known as "Reaganomics". Karl Case & Ray Fair, Principles of Economics (2007), p. 695 pointed out:

The extreme promises of supply-side economics did not materialize. President Reagan argued that because of the effect depicted in the Laffer curve, the government could maintain expenditures, cut tax rates, and balance the budget. This was not the case. Government revenues fell sharply from levels that would have been realized without the tax cuts.

The basic issue in a recession, like we are seeing now, is a shortage of money. This leads to downward pressure on incomes and prices as money becomes more valuable. People (and corporations) who have money don't spend it, they hoard it, thus people (families) who need money to pay bills can't get it.
This continues the downward spiral. What does not go down, however, is debt.
Folks are worried about inflation, but the greater worry is deflation. According to Wikipedia, "In economics, deflation is a decrease in the general price level of goods and services. Deflation occurs when the annual inflation rate falls below 0% (a negative inflation rate)." Wikipedia goes on to say, "From a monetarist perspective, deflation is caused primarily by a reduction in the velocity (spending) of money and/or the amount of money supply per person."
As people's income is reduced, a point comes when folks (families) just walk away from debt. People will feed their kids before they feed the banks. You can't get blood from a turnip.
If you think the mortgage crisis was bad, just wait until families start defaulting on massive amounts of consumer debt in great numbers.
When people (and corporations) with money won't spend out of fear; someone has to spend, that someone has to be the government. The government is the spender of last resort.
In my opinion, the risks of not spending are greater than the risks of spending. This is the worst time possible for massive reductions of government spending. We need to tax the people (and corporations) who have money and feed it into the economy in ways that helps the families that are at most risk of defaulting stay on their feet.
In a nutshell: The Republican plan will drag our nation into the gutter.

My Review of Pizz'a Chicago in San Jose, CA

2011-03-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

If you want to have a meal there better bring a book, maybe a pillow, because this place is slooowww. No complaints about the food but many about the service. The waitress took us to a table, no utensils, no water. The service was slow (the place was not crowded) did I say it was slow?

She finally took our order. She did not even know details about the beer they sold. We ordered salad, drinks and pizza. After an interval long enough for a whole meal the salad came. Yes, it was slow! Then, I thought she was going to go get us forks. Not! Finally my wife got up and found some clean forks on another table!

After over an hour into the meal, still no main course, I had to go back toward the kitchen to find our waitress. I told her, "we have to leave soon, we have tickets to a show!" She said, "I will check on our order." Yes, this place is slow.

More time passed. The food finally came. It was the best pizza we ever hurriedly crammed in our mouths. Then, a few minutes later, she brought us our waters. Yes, we were late for our show.

Moral of the story. This is not a good place for lunch or dinner and a show. Also, if you go there for lunch you may want to eat first. Because, it could be dinner time by the time you get to eat again!

Overall, I liked the food, hated the service. My rating [Link] 60.

Beach Review: Bonny Doon

2010-06-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Click on photo above to see map

I like this beach. My rating [Link] 85

Since the closure of Red White and Blue Beach to the south Bonny Doon seems to me to have become the primary clothing optional beach in the area. Most of the (90 - 98% male) clothing optional crowd is in the beach at the north of Bonny Doon, which is the beach best sheltered from the wind.

If you are into the "clothing optional" scene, then score. If you are totally disgusted by this scene, then stay away. If you are indifferent, in the middle and don't care one way or the other what other people do as long as they leave you alone then there are some real advantages to this beach.

Remember it is clothing optional, you do not have to get naked. There are some real benefits to this beach and having naked people around you:

It is quiet, no loud music or beach parties.
No kids running around, being loud and kicking sand in your face.
Nobody having a cow if you have a beer or bring a bottle of wine.
The only dogs I have seen here are little, not obnoxious, on a leash and quiet.

It may be that having naked people around you is worth the benefits. Just be sure you don't get too close to the cliffs. If you do, you may be hit by a falling rock or falling gawker who does not have a life and gets too close to the edge of the cliffs above.

The surf here is spectacular. Big waves crash against the rocks here with sound and fury. I wouldn't bring my extended family here. But, it's a nice place to relax with a book.

My Opinion: This is a great day!

2010-03-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

Click on photo to enlarge!

I shot this photo in 2008 of Nancy at the California Democratic convention. It was my pleasure at that convention to meet Speaker Pelosi and many other great Democrats. I am a lifelong Democrat and health care reform passage is a long time dream come true.

I would be in favor of a plan that goes further. I wish there was a public option. But, the main thing is I do not think people should loose their health coverage when they lose their jobs. In my opinion this is a great day. Health care is a public need, like freeways; we all need it. This is long overdue!

As I think about it, it's hard for me to understand how this became a Democrat vs. Republican thing. Can't we all sleep better knowing we, and our children, are not a pink slip away from loosing health coverage? I have a Republican friend who had to declare bankruptcy after cancer treatment and a Democrat friend who broke a pelvis in accidents that occurred after a job loss.

Yes I am a Democrat; but I think we all won on this one.

[My photos from the 2008 California Democratic Convention are here.]

Kitty Hill Resort Sucks in my opinion!

2010-01-26T22:28:00.000-08:00

This is the review I wrote on Yelp of Kitty Hill Resort For Cats in Santa Cruz, California:

If I could give this place a negative ten I would. After spending a week at Kitty Hill our cats got sick, very sick. One of them may die. We have spent hundreds of dollars in vet bills, so far. Go ahead, visit the place walk around it. Ask yourselves; how can they possibly sanitize it? How can they keep diseases from spreading between the cats? I wish I had. Oh, they do animal rescue. A noble cause. But, where have those cats been? Our cats were indoor only cats. They make you sign a release before boarding your cats there releasing them of liability if your cats die. Good thing for them. Too bad I didn't take heed. I am full of regret and anger after boarding our cats at Kitty Hill. Our vet said diseases can spread like wild fire in places like this. They have cats walking all over the place. There is furniture & rugs & stray cats & no way to really clean it. Big mistake on our part! Two words of advice: stay away!

I would never, ever take my cats again to Kitty Hill Resort For Cats. For me it has been Kitty Hell!

I agree with Krugman

2010-01-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Paul Krugman, like me, is a liberal, but that's not the only reason I like him. I actually think he is right. The Government has to be the spender of last resort. You can't save your way out of a depression, you have to spend. Spending is the only way to create jobs. That is exactly what we did in World War 2. From an economics point of view, WW2 was a massive government jobs program. On his blog Krugman writes:

A spending freeze? That’s the brilliant response of the Obama team to their first serious political setback?

It’s appalling on every level.

It’s bad economics, depressing demand when the economy is still suffering from mass unemployment. [Read More]

In my opinion World War 2 may have ended the effects of the depression, but it was the New Deal programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that started the recovery. This recovery, I think, would have been much further along had not a new conservative coalition caused a rollback of the New Deal policies in early 1937, which caused a setback of the recovery. A setback that it took a war to set right. In my opinion Obama's spending freeze is another such setback. Hopefully it will not take another World War to set things right.

Nope, not handicapped

2010-01-03T15:29:00.001-08:00

Click on photo to enlarge.

I had an argument with the driver of this car. He pulled right into the Starbucks Parking Lot in Saratoga Old Town, parked in a handicapped space, and went into the Starbucks to order a drink. No, he wasn't handicapped. He swore at me and called me a jerk for complaining about HIS parking in a handicapped space. Yes, there was vacant street spots 50 feet away. Then he sped off out of the parking lot. I guess if you are young, rude and have the California License Plate 4HPK997 (with expired tags) the world is your oyster.

The limits of loyalty

2009-10-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, there is a point where loyalty ends. There has to be. When evil enters the picture we may have to make a decision. We may have to forsake loyalty in order to forsake evil.

For my parents generation the living example of the extreme case of people having to make that decision on a national scale was Nazi Germany. In my own time the first example that I was exposed to, on a national scale, was the Mai Lai Massacre.

Of course there have been many, many, many more cases of people having to make those kinds of decisions. Looking at the former example the Nuremberg Principles codified the concept, at least on a national scale, that greater moral principles are more important than national laws and loyalties when evil enters the picture. The principle of my country right or wrong was shown at Nuremberg to be wrong.

If we can look at these extreme cases and agree there is a line where loyalty ends, at least on a grand national scale, do we apply that principle in our personal lives, do we apply it on a personal scale? I cannot answer that question for others; but speaking for myself, I believe we do. I believe we must.

What is wrong with just being?

2009-10-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

I do not understand why so many people are so competitive? I do not see joy in it, in fact I see the antithesis of joy; I see stress. I especially don't understand it in recreation; work maybe, we all want more money.

In just about anything I do I see it. Cyclists want to do a metric century, then a full century, then doubles, then harder rides the anguish of which I would see as torture. Yogis (those who practice Yoga) want to do harder positions, then stand on their shoulders, then stand on their head, then God knows what?

It is not just athletic events where this competitive behavior rules. In tech; bloggers worry about how many people visit their blogs and soon they are writing stuff to drive their stats up. Model railroaders anguish over details on their model trains you need a magnifying glass to see. Wine snobs outbid each other and spend fortunes in wine auctions for wine bottles that have to be cellared until long after the buyers are dead. Photographers argue about what is best film or digital and sacrifice their lives, their family for the sake of getting the better picture. I just do not get it.

We even compete with others and we compete with ourselves. I see people pushing themselves to beat personal bests climbing up mountains, timing their bike rides, pushing to go faster, longer and work harder and not stop and enjoy the scenery. I don't get it.

There was a bike ride I used to do called the Sierra to the Sea that I stopped doing because the organizers decided it needed to be harder. (No worries, plenty of others took my place.)

I have never timed myself riding my bike up a hill. I am afraid if I do I won't stop to enjoy the scenery. I do not care that I am not the best photographer I can possibly be; my pictures make me happy. I have no desire to stand on my head. I am getting what I want out of yoga at the level I am at. I don't care that my model trains are not perfect. I relax when I am running my trains. I don't ever check my blog stats. I am afraid it will change what I write.

In the end we all die. Nothing's going to change that. My goal is to be in the moment, love my friends and family and just be. What is wrong with just being?

Calypso Imaging Review

2009-01-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

I do not like their customer service. My "new scale" rating [Link] 40

My review of Calypso Imaging, 256 Potrero St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 460-2260

Over a week ago I dropped off a roll of E6 film for processing. Early this week they called me to tell me they were not developing film this week and I would have to wait until NEXT week.

I am an analog shooter and was very dissapointed. I cannot waste my time with a lab that offers such poor customer service.

I went back and picked up my film and sent it elsewhere. Yes, they had excuses. What they do not have is my business.

Anti-Israel Protest at SJSU

2009-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Protesters have been on campus protesting what they are alleging are atrocities being committed by Israel against Palestinian civilians.

Israel had been under rocket attack for eight years.
Recently Hamas has been firing missiles from Palestinian population centers in Gaza, using Palestinian civilians as human shields.
The Hamas rockets have been targeted at Israeli cities hoping to kill civilians.
I wonder how long we would have tolerated rockets being targeted at our cities (like San Jose) before we would respond militarily?

The death of Palestinian civilians is a tragedy. I totally defend the right of the protesters to protest. I just think they're wrong to blame only Israel and not blame Hamas.

Book Review: Chasing Fireflies, by Charles Martin

2008-12-31T22:44:00.000-08:00

I really liked this book. My "new scale" rating [Link] 95!

I love books about contemporary American people going through real experiences. I am not into books about perfect people, cops, crooks, athletes, or rich people.

I like books about people who are flawed, people who have quirks, people who live contradictions, people who try to be good but sometimes fail, honest people doing the best they can with what life dishes out, people who sometimes can't resist temptations and people who maybe don't understand themselves fully. Those are books I can relate to. I like books by people like Larry McMurtry, Kent Harrup, Janet Fitch and Charles Martin. I really liked Chasing Fireflies.

This book is about a mute orphan boy and a reporter. The reporter tries to discover the story of the boy and in the process of finding out about the boy he discovers himself and the truth behind his past. It is elegantly written and I throughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to all my friends! I intend to read more books by this author

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Wine Review: Zinfandel: Castoro 2004 Whale Rock

2008-11-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

Castoro, Zinfandel Whale Rock 2004, Paso Robles
A big but not overpowering Paso Zin. A real pleasure to drink. A bit tannic with a long finish. This is one of those wines that reminds one why Paso is Zin country and why Castoro is one of the best producers there.

My Rating; 90

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Altered Carbon: Book Review

2008-11-20T10:59:00.000-08:00

Read November 2008
This is a good book. It is interesting, but drags at times. My "new scale" rating [Link] 75.

According to Wikipedia: Altered Carbon (2002) is a hardboiled science fiction novel by Richard K. Morgan. Set some five hundred years in the future in a universe in which the United Nations Protectorate oversees a number of extrasolar planets settled by human beings, it features protagonist Takeshi Kovacs. Kovacs is a former United Nations Envoy and a native of Harlan's World, a planet settled by a Japanese keiretsu with Eastern European labour.

I found this book at Powell's in Portland. There was a sign on the shelf that said, "If you like (the book) Snow Crash, you will like Altered Carbon." Sorry, IMHO Altered Carbon is no Snow Crash. Yes, I immediately got into the book. Initially it seemed well written and innovative.

But, as I read it I noticed, in spots, the quality seemed to go downhill. It was like the author was forcing the content, trying to force more action into it than the story needed or he was rushing to meet a deadline. There was this long side thread regarding the character Kovacs's battle with the character Kadmin that seemed to have no point except to make the book thicker or to up the violence level in the book.

Morgan has other books in this series. I did finish Altered Carbon. I mostly enjoyed it. But, I am not going to be in a hurry to read another of Morgan's books.

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Wine Review: Pinot Noir: Fiddelhead 2004, Fiddlestix Vineyard, 728

2008-03-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

Pinot Noir: Fiddelhead 2004, Fiddlestix Vineyard, 728, Santa Rita Hills
A very nice and mellow Pinot. We enjoyed this one. Black cherries, bold on first taste and a silky texture with a gentle finish that lingers on the palette. This wine begs to be savored. It is a treat from a year where a late heat spike caused Pinots to be bold, this wine was nice to drink; not overpowering.

My Rating; 91

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Wine Review: Taz Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, Fiddlestix Vineyard 2004

2008-01-27T23:12:00.000-08:00

Tax 2004 Fiddelstix, Another Taz Favorite
This wonderful wine has a silky deep flavor of blackberries and dark cherries with floral aromas. The palate is strongly focused with good acidity and ripe underlying fruit. 2004 had a late season heat wave and was a year of big Pinots. So, this is a big Pinot, 15.1 % alcohol, that is concentrated and intense with a bold finish. It is not alcoholic tasting or jammy, this is not a Syrah Pinot, at least we do not think so. We both like it a lot! A real treat.

My Rating; 91

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Laraine, Gerber Vineyards, Sierra Foothills, Syrah 2004

2007-11-16T21:45:00.000-08:00

Laraine, Gerber Vineyards, Sierra Foothills, Syrah 2004
Dark inky black color, very big fruit and intense flavor mark this Sierra Foothills Rhone. This Gerber Vineyards Syrah is big enough to stand up to meatloaf. It's also yummy. At over 15% alcohol it is a bit alcoholic. It has flavors of coffee and dark cherry cola. It has a long lingering finish and I like it.

My Rating; 89

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Wine Review: 2003 Tuscan Ridge, Tre Colline, 2003

2007-10-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

A Great Domestic Super Tuscan
You do not have to go all the way to Tuscany to get a good Super-Tuscan. One of Hook and Ladder's (Cecil DeLoach's) other Labels is Tuscan Ridge. The 2003 Tuscan Ridge Tre Colline is very pleasant domestic Super Tuscan. According to the wine maker, "Just 1600 cases of this amazing single-vineyard "super-Tuscan" blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot was made from the Los Amigos Ranch in the Chalk Hill sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley. A pleasing dark ruby-red color in the glass, the wine exhibits complex aromas of black cherry, leather, toasty oak, dried herbs, intense cedar and cocoa powder, followed by full bold flavors of smooth rich cherry cobbler, stone fruit, and vanilla with oak spice. The finish is lingering, integrated and symmetrically complex." They are right, at $20 this is a good value and an excellent pairing with lighter pasta and salad. I would recommend this to anybody wanting a pleasant and not pretentious wine. A nice change. I hope more wineries start making domestic Super-Tuscans.

My Rating; 89

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Going off the grid

2007-09-19T20:31:00.001-07:00

I will be back around October 9, 2007.

Happy Blogging!

~Steve

Pig Drivers Never Take a Holiday

2007-06-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Mister Road Show:

I call them pig-drivers. These are the drivers who tail gate me when I am driving the speed limit in the right hand lane even on a four-lane road and they have plenty of room to pass. Pig-drivers can also be seen exiting freeways by cutting across multiple lanes to shoot off an exit at the last minute. In parking lots, pig-drivers often will grab two parking spaces by parking with the white line going down the middle of their vehicle, no matter how crowded the lot is.

Yesterday, I was hoping the pig drivers would take the day off, since it was drive the speed limit day. As I drove to work, heading north up the Almaden Expressway at the speed limit, the pig-drivers were there doing their normal pig-driver stuff. They were tailgaiting and others were zipping past me on the left just to cut in front of me then slam on their brakes right in front of me to make a right turn. On the way home it was the same thing. You only live once and the pig-drivers were as focused as ever on getting it over with as fast as possible.

In short, the pig-drivers did not take a holiday. They were still out there, driving like idiots, their cell phones still as firmly glued to the sides of their heads as ever. They are out there still.

Steve Sloan

Wine Review: Paraiso Springs Pinot Noir, 2005

2007-06-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

Paraiso Springs Pinot Noir, 2005, Santa Lucia Highlands
Very nice. A plesant wine to drink. Gentle on the palatte, notes of red fruit like cherries plum flavors with hints of spice, smoke, and toasty oak, cedar well structured tannins and balanced acidity. This is a pleasant pinot at a good price point.

My Rating; 89

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It is hard being young

2007-06-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Lets not be too hard on Paris and Britney
Let's face it, it is hard being young. I mean that sincerely. For those of us "over the hill" imagine the stupid things you did when you were young, then imagine you had throngs of people telling you you were beautiful, telling you you could do no wrong, people who almost worshiped you and, oh yea, imagine you had enough money to do anything you wanted. Think of the stupid things you might have done then! Imagine being under a constant spot light. I shudder to think what I might have done. Young people need to face the consequences for their mistakes. I am all for that. But, they also need to be given an opportunity after to be brought back in without shame. Nobody should delight in their lessons hard learned. I think that is wrong. I think it is a bit cruel.

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Wine Review: 2003 Helix Pomatia, Columbia Valley

2007-06-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

2003 Helix Pomatia, Columbia Valley Red Blend By Reininger:
This was a very mellow and pleasant wine wine with soft and rich mouth feel. It is silky and finishes very well. It is elegant, definite notes of Black Cherry and other berry fruits. Very good! Drank on June 17, 2007. My Rating 92.

Technical Information From Winery:

Vineyards
Ash Hollow, Clifton Hill, Patina, Pepper Bridge, Phinney Hill, Pleasant, Sundance, Seven Hills Vineyard

Blend
50% Cabernet Sauvignon
27% Merlot
16% Syrah
7% Cabernet Franc

Cooperage
53% American Oak, 47% French Oak
Bottled August 2005
pH 3.54
Total acidity 0.61 g/100ml
Cases Produced 2,207

Winery Tasting Notes
Subtle richness and intensity of fruit suggesting a loftier pedigree, accompanied by an incredible soft mouth feel, define this as a non-pretentious, kick-back wine of casual elegance. Black cherry, raspberry, a splash of pomegranate, unpicked mint, a hint of cedar, a whiff of roasted coffee stirred with a pinch of cocoa; ingredients for a comfortable evening.

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Wine Review: Burrell School CV Zinfandel/Mataro Blend, 2003

2007-06-25T11:13:00.001-07:00

Burrell School CV Zinfandel/Mataro Blend, 2003
This bold and exotic blend has a Wonderful Nose. It greets the nose with odors of oak and dark earthy fruit. This wine is big and extracted without being overbearing. It has a long and lingering finish and a rich velvety mouth feel. It has hints of raisens and fig. This is a 50-50 blend of Old Vine Zinfandel and Motaro and I really liked it. CV is the Roman Numeral for 105, the vines the Zin fruit came from are 105 years old.

My "new scale" rating [Link] 91.

Received Wine Club Aug 05.

Winmaker Notes
Vineyard Information: Leona's Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley. These vines date back to an original planting circa 1898. Three acres are still under cultivation, yielding small amounts of concentrated flavors.
Tasting Characteristics: Bright cherry flavors, a nose of blackberry fragrance and notes of cocoa and chocolate are the signature of this small production, exclusive blend. Soft tannins and bright fruit are indicators of a wine ready to be enjoyed now.

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Pig with a Lexus

2006-07-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Camera Phone Post: Pig with a Lexus
I went to Kaiser this morning. It is always hard to park there. The lot was jammed packed and this pig took two spaces! It took me a long time to get a space. What an arrogant jerk! It was two compact spaces too. This is another example of an ugly American.

Wine Review: Londer 2004 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2006-07-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

Londer Vineyards, 2004 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
I have tasted great Anderson Valley Pinots before from Williams Selyem and Arista, but this is the first I bought. This wine was rated 91 by Wine Spectator and at $30 it is a good value. I found it big, but not jammy. I am definitely checking out Londer Vineyards more. It started with layers of Vanilla spice, strawberry and light cedar. It lingered on the palate finishing with hints of cola, cranberries and blue berries. We have been drinking a lot of Russian River and Santa Barbara County Pinots. This is a very different expression of the grape with the different cool climate clones and terroir of this appellation. We enjoyed it a lot. My "new scale" rating [Link] 90.

Wine makers Notes:

2004 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir: Moderately dark in color with typical Anderson Valley spice and red fruit in the nose. Cherry and strawberry follow with vanilla in the mouth. After opened for a few minutes, black cherry, plum, and blackberry start to predominate. A very long balanced berry finish follows. 1949 cases bottled Alcohol—14.2% pH—3.59 RS—0.08%

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Sierra-to-the-Sea Epilogue

2006-06-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Overall
I am done with my ride and I am recovering today. I slept until about mid-day and my body is still in recovery.

The Good
It was a lovely ride through some of the best the state has to offer. I saw some incredible scenery I have never seen before and met some really nice people. The staff was fantastic and worked hard to make the ride pleasant. We had fun and people were generally very happy.

The Bad
The ride has tried historically to offer something for all levels of riders. Cyclists on the Sierra-to-the-Sea range from bike riding Grandparents (like myself) to hard core, very driven and competitive cyclists. The folks who plan the event have historically tried to make everybody happy, which is simply not possible. The hard core "racer" type riders have historically not been happy and some have complained in the past that the ride is too easy. This year the ride management seemed to want to make the ride more of a challenge, they seemed to me to be more aggressive in route selection.

In my opinion, on the first day they ran into a perfect storm of too much heat, too many climbs and very bad roads that, in (again) my opinion, threatened rider safety and the ability of both riders and support staff to cope with riding conditions on the first day. We were lucky to have gotten through that day without serious injury (again in my opinion.)

The Ugly
Arguing between and amongst event staff and clients was too public to be ignored. There were more incidents of conflict this year than I ever remember.

My rating of this ride
My "new scale" rating [Link] 85.

Technorati Tags: Cycling, sierra-to-the-sea, ACTC, ssloansjca

Wine Review: Andrew Rich 2004 Pinot Noir Cuvee B

2006-06-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

Andrew Rich 2004 Pinot Noir Cuvee B Willamette Valley
Wow, an excellent value. Not as big as the 03, more nuanced. I like it better. Pleasant nose, light fruit elegant on the palatte. Gentle with a long lingering finish. This is a wine that evolves over an evening but does not empty your checkbook. It is comfortable. A pleasure for when you have the time to sit, sip and enjoy with a good friend or a good book. My "new scale" rating [Link] 91.

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Relationships: Feelings

2006-05-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Some people seem to be able to control and turn their feelings on and off like a light switch. In my opinion, what they are doing might be repression. I know, whom am I to know how they are able to manage to just shut off their feelings? I just know I can't. In my experience feelings are feelings. Speaking for myself: you can try to control them, or you can let go and let God, but there is no point in denying them because you really do feel them. It is our choice in how we respond to feelings. Of course, we are responsible, and accountable for our actions.

Feelings, speaking for myself I can not will them. But, they do not control me. Like all of us I may not always be free to act on my feelings, like anger for example. I take responsibility for my actions, but I am, we all are, entitled to have whatever feelings I/we have about whomever/whatever we have them about. In my opinion we are entitled to love, hate, like, dislike, be attracted to, be not attracted to or feel angry or sad over the loss of whomever/whatever we feel those feelings for. Some folks think it is a sign of weakness to cry over the loss of a pet for example. But, we are accountable for how we react, or fail to react sometimes, to feelings, or even the lack of feelings.

If you feel sorrow over the loss of a friend, pet, relationship, (or a potential relationship) you might of had, that is your right. You have a right to grieve. But, it is to great credit if you see when the outcome of acting on your feelings toward the object of your feelings is not what you want. So, despite our feelings we sometimes need to let go. In my opinion that is an act of strength, not weakness.

In my opinion we are entitled to our feelings and responsible for our actions.

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Restaurant Review: Taco Del Mar

2006-04-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

Taco Del Mar
5353 Almaden Expwy, H-50, San Jose, CA 95118
Great burritos, good value, wonderful attitude. Posan Yang is the manager and this guy always makes you feel happy you are doing business here. You get your ticket punched for every burrito you buy there. Ten punches is a free burrito! Double punches on Monday. Great stuff! This place is becoming a favorite of Susie and mine. My "new scale" rating [Link] 89.

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Restaurant Review: Tony Soprano's again

2006-04-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

Tony Soprano's (Revisited)
87 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, CA 95113
I previously reviewed this restaurant [Link]. Since then I have gone there and been twice disappointed. I met one of the co-owner's, Terry Thompson, and he is a really nice guy. Today, though, Thompson was nowhere to be found and the service stank. The food was not nearly as good as the first times.

Revised Rating
Tony Soprano's is one new place that showed a lot of promise. But, it is not living up to that promise. My "new scale" rating [Link] 64.

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Restaurant Review: Palo Alto Creamery, Palo Alto, CA

2006-04-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Palo Alto Creamery
Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA
Yesterday my wife, her mother Fran and our dear friend Diane went to this place and ordered tea, cake and ice cream. This was an order that demanded no cooking yet they waited, and waited and complained and waited more. Finally they had to go as the time for our friends babysitter had run out. They cancelled the order, paid for the tea and, according to my wife, as they were leaving the order came. According to my wife the waiter got indignant Poor Customer service abounds! My wife said the food looked good. If you decide to try this place be sure to bring a book, a long book. My "new scale" rating [Link] 10.

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Wine Review: Taz Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, Fiddlestix Vineyard 2003

2006-04-01T19:20:00.000-08:00

Taz Vineyards 2003 Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir
This is a real fruit bomb, a very big Pinot! But, it does not blow up on the palatte, it holds together well. This is yummy. My "new scale" rating [Link] 92..

Winemakers Comments
In blending this 2003 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, we pulled together fruit from Santa Maria Valley and the Santa Rita Hills-two very different sites with contrasting signatures. The Fiddlestix Vineyard in Santa Rita gives dark fruits and brooding flavors, a concentrated and rich expression of Pinot Noir. The North CanyonVineyard in Santa Maria Valley delivers more delicate accents, with soft, pretty cinnamon and strawberry notes. When blended, you get a blackberry burst in the wine with cola spice and juicy jammy berry notes supported by a balancing act of tannins and structure. The resulting wine has breadth and an evenness we strive for with this tricky variety. -Natasha Boffman, Winemaker

Harvested September 2-18, 2003 Harvest Brix: 24.4-25.8 pH: 3.52 TA: 0.64g/100ml Alcohol 14.5% 100% Pinot Noir Clonal Selection: 115, 113, 667, 777, Pommard 4, Pommard 5.

Other Comments
A rich, intense burst of black cherry and juicy blackberry in the nose and mouth, this fleshy, intensely flavorful Pinot Noir is at once both lively and smooth as silk on the palate. This is a powerfully complex Pinot Noir that shows great structure and texture in its youth, and reflects why the Santa Rita Hills are so special for Pinot Noir.

And...
Ripe red cherries, hints of raspberry jam and a wee bit of herbs are washed over by a considerable wave of very sweet, vanilla-tinged oak in the nose. Not surprisingly, oak figures prominently in this wine's expressive flavors as well, but there are loads of sweet cherries at work once again, and the two themes of fruit and spice meld nicely together. There is just enough tannin to notice, but no more than the wine needs for a couple of years of comfortable keeping.(Connoisseurs Guide to California Wines)

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Restaurant Review: Tony Soprano's

2006-03-24T14:40:00.000-08:00

Tony Soprano's
87 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, CA 95113
This is new downtown pizzeria has a website [Link.] The Downtown San Jose, San Jose State area has been exploding since both City Hall and the new King Library are at the corner of San Fernando and Fourth Street. Local eateries are not so dependent on student and faculty customers who go away Summers and this has allowed more places to open and greater gastronomical variety to be available. Some of the places that cut back their hours after the dot com bubble burst are back and others have opened. Even new shopping venues have emerged. This is fun!

Tony Soprano's is one new place that shows a lot of promise. Today we got one of their New York style (thin crust) pizza's for lunch. It was really good. This is a great new place to checkout. My "new scale" rating [Link] 89.

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Book Review: Smart Mobs

2006-03-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

Smart Mobs, The Next Social Revolution
Howard Rheingold, 2002, ISBN 0-7382-0861-2
This is an important book, especially for anybody interested in the future of mass communications, politics and/or our society. Rheingold talks about how portable devices, pervasive connectivity and increasingly powerful hand-held computing is leading to the creation of virtual communities tied together by their devices and not by their physical proximity. Remember Moore's Law applies to hand-held phone/computers [Wikipedia Link.] Most of his examples are not in the US. Rheingold makes the point that we are far behind in this country in having the kind of infra-structure that supports pervasive portable computing.

Despite being printed in 2002, Rheingold's book is timely today as we look at what is happening to print journalism. Why subscribe to a paper newspaper when the technology to get information in your portable device is here, is improving, is more timely and is more compelling than print?

One of the things that really is apparent to me as I read this book, and do things like text message my friends, is that there is a mobile generational digital divide based not on incomes, but on age. Many of my older (my age) friends who consider themselves very tech literate just do not seem to get this technology and the social implications of it. Could this be because our socialization skills were developed in a pre-silicon era? We have already seen pedagogical implications of mobile technology in students using the collaboration capabilities of portable picture capable devices to cheat on exams. Rheingold over and over makes the point that we need to not think of portable devices as cell phones, he says we need to think of them as remote controls for life. In my opinion when you mix portable devices with RSS enabled software as a way to deliver podcasts, you have a killer way to deliver instruction. Here is a related Blogsite [Link].

In my opinion we hold the future of journalism, the future of education, the future of social interaction in our society; in the palm of our hands.

This is a geek must read book. It rambles a bit, but worth the effort. My "new scale" rating [Link] 93.

Book Review: Winslow in Love

2006-03-23T22:35:00.000-08:00

Winslow In Love, by Kevin Canty, Nan A. Talese
February 2005
This is a great book. It is captivating and very well written. My "new scale" rating [Link] 95. This 2005 Book, [Link] was an absolute joy to read. Sometimes it takes awhile for a book to grab me. This one had me at the first sentence. This is an intellegent book about a subject that is almost a cliche, an older, spiritually lost alcoholic professor and a younger, equally lost, student. But, it is no cliche and has unexpected twists and turns right up to the last pages. In this book, it is the writing. Here is an example of what I mean:

"The one thing I finally figured out," says Erika, "is that you'll never ever understand what goes on between two people when they're in a relationship. Easier to see what's happening on the dark side of the moon."

This book has had mixed reviews, like this: [Link] and [Link] and [Link]. I loved it!

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Movie Review: Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

2006-03-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

Great foriegn film for everyone
It's a love story, it's a musical, it's a tragedy, it's a foriegn film filmed in America. My "new scale" rating [Link] 90. This 2003 Movie, [Link] Kal Ho Naa Ho (tomorrow may not be) is an Indian movie filmed in New York City. Most of the dialect is in Hindi, with some spurts of English. It is about an Indian family and their Indian neighbors making a go of it in New York. The DVD has English sub-titles. It involves a love triangle and a hidden secret, or two, that once revealed changes the lives of those involved. Time well spent!

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Movie Review: Crash

2006-03-21T22:01:00.000-08:00

One Grim Movie
This 2004 Movie [Link] was one depressing film. My "new scale" rating [Link] 60. I was gritting my teeth through this film and it gave me nightmares. It had a surrealistic feel kind of like the 1999 movie Magnolia [Link]. I kept expecting frogs to start dropping out of the sky. It was too raw in how it portrayed people. Yes, I know the capacity for ugliness is in us all and we are all an interweaving tapestry of good and evil. I didn't need this movie to tell me that. Best movie of 2005? Well, it must have been one grim year for movies!

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Wine Review: Lake Sonoma Winery, Barbera, 2002

2006-03-02T22:53:00.000-08:00

A decent wine
Nice, gentle palatte, nice nose & easy to drink. Not bad, not exciting, a good wine. My "new scale" rating [Link] 79.

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Wine Review: Hook&Ladder, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2004

2006-03-02T07:26:00.000-08:00

An all-time favorite of mine
At twenty dollars retail this is a steal. This is a wonderful Pinot. It starts well and finishes wonderfully. On your first nose you know this is something special. It has layers of delightful flavor complexity, an incredible smooth palate and a long, long, long lingering finish. Cecil DeLoach owner and winemaker at Hook and Ladder [Link] really did a great job on this wine and I love it. It is very case worthy. My "new scale" rating [Link] 95.

Winemakers Note:
The grapes provided us with a wine which is at once extraordinarily complex in its flavors and aromas while also filled with black and blue fruit flavors and aromas: Black Cherry, Blackberry and blueberry. The aroma is seared with barrel spices, cinnamon and a mellow smoky components. It is classic Pinot Noir in structure with a smooth entry yet mouthfilling. This is classic Russian River Pinot Noir produced by one of the region’s pioneering Pinot winemakers.

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Wine Review: Coro Mendocino, Blend, Graziano Vineyard, 2002

2006-02-27T20:07:00.000-08:00

Coro Mendocino, Blend, Graziano Vineyard, 2002, Mendocino County
What is a Coro? Click on this great story to find out [Link]. We shared a bottle of 2002 Coro from Graziano Winery [Link] with my brother-in-law John Graziano, who is the winemaker at Millbrook Vineyards in New York State [Link]. My rating (See New Scale Link) = 87. Very nice blend, very big, very fruit forward. This really reminds me of a Paso Monster Zin. The Zin really dominates this wine.

Winemakers Notes for 2001 vintage:
For the first time in U.S. history, a collaboration of 8 Mendocino vintners has set blending and aging parameters for wines distinctive to a region (ie. like the appellation controllee wines of Europe). Each winery created its individual blend based on the protocol and a panel of experts reviews it. Each winery personalizes the common label, which will be recognizable as Coro Mendocino, and bottles the wine in a uniform bottle.

This unique blend of old vine Zinfandel and three classic Italian grape varieties, Sangiovese, Barbera & Dolcetto, have come together to create a wine that has great structure and elegance. Aromas of violet, spices, and cedar weave through the vibrant raspberry fruit character, culminating in a harmonious finish laced with vanilla and toasty oak. The wine’s complexity and depth of flavor will continue to evolve with further bottle aging.

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Wine Review: Syrah, Babcock, 2003 Frying Pan

2006-01-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

Syrah, Babcock [link], 2003 Frying Pan [My Rating [Link], 9] Very good. An excellent Syrah. Rich and elegant. Big and bold with a strong taste of black cherries and cinders, finishing long with a lingering oakey and smoky taste that makes me think of the sun and the hard earth this wine came from.

Retail $50, Terrior Exclusive, Received Nov 05 Wine Club. Winemaker's notes:

Alisos Vineyard, Los Alamos Valley. At this point, the Alisos Vineyard is considered one of Santa Barbara County’s preeminent sources of fine Syrah. Being fairly close to the ocean in the Los Alamos Valley, it is slightly cooler as Syrah climates go. But within the property there is a small north-south running canyon, the direction and depth of which hides it from any prevailing breeze. It is one of my least favorite places to take cluster samples because anytime after 9:00 AM on a warm day, you get cooked as you traverse the canyon. Because of the way the vine rows are laid out, it makes no sense to walk all the way to the ends of the rows to turn into other sections of the vineyard. You have to poke your body and your bucket of grapes through the vine row. The sweat on your body always insures that you wear home a layer of dust. The soil is said by grower Loren Colahan to be a “shattered hardpan”, a marly looking chert hardpan to be precise. Our side of the canyon, where this wine comes from, faces west, drenching the perfectly stressed vines in sunshine all day. Its wines are epic. For its name I condensed the concepts of the canyon’s heat and its hardpan soil; FRYING PAN.

Technical Notes: VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 100% varietal VINEYARDS: Alisos Vineyard, Los Alamos Valley, Santa Barbara County FINISHED WINE: Residual Sugar: Dry, pH: 3.69, TA: 7.5 gm/L Alcohol: 14.8% TIME IN BARRELS: 18 months, 33% new French oak BOTTLING DATE: December 2004 TOTAL PRODUCTION: 132 cases 12/750 ML RELEASE DATE: November, 2005 SUGGESTED CA RETAIL PRICE: $50.00 per 750 ML

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Wine Review: Syrah, Babcock, 2003 Nook and Cranny

2006-01-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

Syrah, Babcock [link], 2003 Nook and Cranny, Estate Grown, Santa Rita Hills.[My Rating [Link], 8.5] Good. An excellent syrah but not as rich and elegant as the frying pan. Bold with a tart taste of black cherries and smoke. It starts out big and ripe. It is high in alcohol and it tasted it right away. Still, nice with a lingering oakey and smoky finish. Retail $50, Terrior Exclusive, Received Nov 05 Wine Club. Drank 1/7/06. Perhaps more time in the bottle would have taken off some of it's edge? Winemaker’s Notes:

Syrah grown west of Highway 101 in the Santa Ynez Valley can be extraordinary. The trick is in getting it thoroughly ripe. Our vineyard is under a heavy influence from the ocean, and like the rest of the Santa Rita Hills, it’s very cool and breezy through out the growing season. In fact, most of our ranch is too cool to consistently ripen Syrah. But, as luck would have it, we have a couple of small sites that do accommodate this noble Rhone varietal.

With the exception of Burgundy, the prevailing wisdom says that great vineyards in the northern hemisphere ideally face west or south, so as to insure that their vines get plenty of sun. But with Syrah we have found it necessary to plant on east facing hillsides, out of the wind, where it is actually a couple of degrees warmer through out the day. With 95% of our vineyards facing the wrong way, we are only talking about a couple of tiny adjacent hillsides. Making it even more extraordinary is the fact that their soils are a matrix of gravelly loam and shattered sandstone, the kind of stuff that intimately governs the vigorous nature of Syrah, while still allowing it to ripen. What we have are two little viticultural sweet spots, indeed on our ranch, the NOOK & CRANNY for the growing of world class Syrah.

The downside is that we can’t make very much of this stuff. The upside is that 95% of our ranch is Mecca for growing Pinot.

Technical Notes: VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 100% Sryah VINEYARDS: Babcock Estate FINISHED WINE: Residual Sugar:Dry, pH: 3.57, TA: 7.3 gm/L, Alcohol: 15.0% TIME IN BARRELS: 18 months, 33% new French oak BOTTLING DATE: December 2004 TOTAL PRODUCTION: 169 cases 12/750 ML RELEASE DATE: November, 2005 SUGGESTED CA RETAIL PRICE: $50.00 per 750 ML

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Wine Review: Zinfandel Russian River Valley, Lake Sonoma, 2002

2006-01-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

Our Comments:
This Lake Sonoma Winery [Link] wine came to us in our wine club in Dec. 2004, Drank 12/24/2005.

[My Rating [Link], 9] I like this a lot and would buy again without hesitation. Just a bit Jammy, but not too raisiney. In a family tasting at Christmas Eve 2005 this was our favorite among three good ones, including Coyote Creek. A bit bigger than the Paso zin, but not as smooth. this was fun. Bought one During Sonora Trip 2004, received the other 12/04

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Restaurant Review: Gilley's Coffee Shoppe, Los Gatos, CA

2006-01-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

My opinion of Gilley's Coffee Shoppe

Gilley's Coffee Shoppe
(408) 395-3318
47 N Santa Cruz Ave
Los Gatos, CA 95030

[My Rating [Link], 6.5]
Susie and I went to Gilley's this morning and I am still suffering from the heartburn. We went there on Monday, January 02, 2006. The food was mediocre in my opinion. The menu raved about the coffee. The menu writer must not have tasted it. I have had better coffee at truck stops. Before breakfast I asked the waitress about the hash browns and she said people raved about them. They turned out to be typical undercooked mushy glop with a little brown crust on the outside. I ordered the Italian Scramble, that was marginally okay, a little overcooked with globs of goopy cheese. Next time, if there is one, I will stay away from anything fried there. There are a lot better places to have breakfast in the same area, in my opinion.

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Wine Review: Zinfandel, Montevina 2003, Terra d'Oro, Amador County

2005-12-26T20:49:00.000-08:00

Our Comments
This Montevina Winery [Link] wine came to us in a gift exchange at Peggy and Georges, 2005, Drank 12/24/2005. Very Good, spicy, held up very well with the other wines of the same or a better price point that we tasted and drank on Christmas Eve 2005. [My Rating [Link], 8.5] I like this a lot and would buy again, even if I had to pay for it.

Mystery wine reviewers notes:

This classic foothill zinfandel showcases jammy berry fruit aromas accented by red spice scents and hints of truffles and oak vanillin. Its rich, focused, brambly flavors are supported by firm but supple tannins and persist into a long, fruit-filled finish. This Zinfandel beautifully complements grilled and barbecued meats, rack of lamb, and pasta in red sauce.

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Wine Review: Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder Winery, Napa Valley, 2002

2005-12-26T20:28:00.000-08:00

Our Comments
I bought this Mount Veeder Winery [Link] wine at Trader Joe's Dec 2005, Drank 12/25/2005. Well balanced and a treat. We had this at Christmas dinner 2005 and it was a hit. Not a big oak cab, this will not knock your socks off, but consistent from the first sip to the nice finish. If slow and steady wins the race this is a real winner. [My Rating [Link], 9] We like this a lot.

Mystery wine reviewers notes:

The 2002 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon is solid and well-made, with a trim band of cedar, currant, herb and fresh earth flavors that are well-proportioned, if lacking extra flavor dimensions. Drink now through 2012..."

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Family matters

2005-12-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

I hope you are having a great family holiday. I am taking a posting break from this blog, to spend time with my family. I will be posting some of these holiday activities and you are invited to follow along at the Sloan family blog [Link].

Wine Review: Zinfadel, Cline, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley 2002

2005-12-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

Our Comments
Bought During Sonora Trip 2004, Drank 12/7/2005, Susie said "This one is a winner." A real pleasant Zin, This is all about balance! Not a monster zin, very mellow, well balanced and easy to drink, finishes nice. Well balanced. [My Rating [Link], 9] We like this a lot.

Wine makers notes: The 2002 Sonoma Dry Creek Zinfandel is derived from five separate Dry Creek appellation vineyards. Combining fruit from both hillside and valley floor has produced a wine of excellent depth and flavor with the characteristic Dry Creek spiciness.

Fermentation and Aging
Individual lots of fruit for this Zinfandel were harvested separately according to ripeness and balance of acidity. The grapes underwent near total destemming and a very gentle crushing to ensure a large proportion of whole berries in the must — contributing to the explosive fruit character of the wine. Fermentation was carried out in stainless steel with select cultured yeasts. The grape juice, skins and seeds (called “Must”) was fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at the optimum temperature to extract rich flavors and provide excellent color. The wines were pressed off their skins at dryness and racked gently before being laid down to a complement of small French and American oak cooperage for 14 months — approximately 40% of the barrels are new American Oak.

Winemaker’s Comments
The 2002 Sonoma Dry Creek Zinfandel shows concentrated dark berry, firm tannin structure and great acid. Prolonged aging in new and used wood has lent this wine a subtle vanilla quality that nicely complements the explosive fruit notes. Enjoy this wine presently for its effusive black fruit, or cellar for 5 to 7 years. An excellent accompaniment to grilled Tri-tip or Porcini Risotto.

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Wine Review: Columbia Valley 2001 Syrah

2005-10-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is a very nice Syrah for a deal of a price. At less than ten bucks a bottle at the Wine Club this is a great value. It is not a huge Syrah, not like the inky black Paso and Santa Barbara Syrahs. It is from Washington, it is more subtle, very much like the Columbia-Crest Syrah, another Washington favorite of mine. It is velvety smooth with hints of chocolate and vanilla. I like it. [My Rating [Link], 8] Winemakers Notes:

Columbia pioneered Syrah in Washington State, and still leads the pack at this price point. Smooth and varietal, it mixes ripe (not raisiny) fruit in a sleek, muscular wine laced with vanilla, smoked meat and tar."
-Wine Enthusiast

Deep Ruby Red with a bright purple edge. Black cherry and smoky dark fruitiness. Full and sweet in the mouth with a touch of vanilla and good underlying acidity and chalky, ripe tannins. Lingering finish.

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Premiere Credit Sucks

2005-10-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

I am being harassed by Premiere Credit [Link] to collect a debt somebody with the same name owes. They have called me about 20 times and despite my numerous calls to get them to stop, they will not. They call in the morning and on the weekends and refuse to stop. Their website features sharks, they are proud of it. I think it should feature thugs and bullies because that is what they are. Premiere Credit Sucks big time, in my opinion!

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Wine Review: Columbia-Crest 2002 Reserve Syrah

2005-09-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

After all the big Paso and Santa Barbara Syrahs we have had this Columbia Valley, Washington Syrah seems so light, but oh is it smooth! Nice nose, great color, subtle mellow flavor and a wonderful light finish. Rated 91 by both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, this is a real treat. [My Rating [Link], 9] Winemakers Notes:

The wine is a deep purple color with aromatics of white pepper, rose petal, cocoa and raspberries. A perfect balance of subtle earth, coffee and chocolate are joined by raspberry-blueberry lushness on the palate. This Cote Rotie-style Syrah features a small amount of Viognier which contributes an interesting apple-pear character to the long, lingering finish.

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Babcock Winery and Vineyards

2005-09-27T23:15:00.000-07:00

On September 25, 2005 we tasted at Babcock Winery and Vineyards [Link]. Man, their wine is great! They have some great Chardonnays with less than 30% MLF, killer Syrahs, a yummy Super-Tuscan and surprisingly good Bordeauxs. They make an out-of-this-world Meritage blend. I know this is not Bordeaux country, but they grow grapes in a vineyard called "Hidden Valley." Reportedly this area has been getting quite a bit of acclaim from folks like Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast has name them one of the top 100 wineries of the year. There Pinots are on par with Sanford. Plus, the Sanford family has sold their interest in Sanford. So we did the naughty, we joined the Babcock wine club.

2004 Pinot Grigio, Santa Barbara County, $16
[Our Rating [Link], 7] Not that impressed with this. Sue liked it I thought it was just okay. They started this tasting with their weakest wine.

2004 Chardonnay, Rita's Earth Cuvée, $20
[Our Rating [Link], 8+] This was quite nice with 25% MLF. A Euro style Chardonnay, very pleasant and light. This would be a nice light summer wine.

2004 Pinot Noir, Tri-counties Cuvée, $20
[Our Rating [Link], 8++] This was very nice, a good quaff. 8 months in French Oak. We liked this enough to buy it.

2001 La Moda Toscana, $25
[Our Rating [Link], 9] I am kicking myself, why didn't I buy this? A Super Tuscan, 70% Sangiovese and 30% (Happy Canyon) Cab. Sav. I really liked this!

2002 Cabernet Sav, Central Coast, $18
[Our Rating [Link], 9] A good deal on a very good Paso Robles Cab. These Paso Cabs keep getting better and this is a good example. According to the pourer the fruit was going unpicked and they got a great deal on it. They sent their crews down to the vineyard, picked it themselves and turned out a fine cab.

2001 Fathom, Santa Barbara, (Meritage Blend), $35
[Our Rating [Link], 9] This great Bordeaux blend is proof that great bordeauxs can come from this region, if the fruit comes from a hot and fogless place like "Happy Canyon."

2002 Syrah, black label, $22
[Our Rating [Link], 9] This was excellent, we liked it better than the Mellville. Fruit from seven vineyards. Why didn't I buy it?

2004 Pinot Gris, "Naughty Little Hillsides," $25
[Our Rating [Link], 8+] Despite a butter taste from natural yeast this wine had 0% MLF. It was very nice.

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SJ Bike Shop Wants to Buy Votes?

2005-09-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

It appears STBikes, a San Jose, California bike shop, wants my vote bad enough that they may be willing to bribe me for it.

This came in my E-mail today (September 6, 2005.)

If I am reading this right, if you vote for them in Metro Magazine's [Link] "Best of Silicon Valley Contest" you will receive a discount. Plus, if I am reading this right, the more times you vote for them, the more times you will get the discount. If they win this "contest" they get "free" publicity in Metro magazine.

Am I reading this right? Is this is really as this appears to me? If so, how can this possibly be ethical?

Is there a dirty little secret at SJSU?

2005-08-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

San Jose State University is a great university. It has beautiful grounds and talented faculty, students and staff. The view of Tower Hall seldom fails to inspire. But, there is something dark and dirty here. Sometimes it seems to me to be a bit of a facade when you can step a few feet away from the lovely lawns and see sights like this that just scream neglect. These dark and dirty places at SJSU that just seem to get darker and dirtier. Some messes here just never seem to get cleaned up. I don't understand why our great university tolerates such malaise and mediocrity. Is it that the folks who make decisions are so mesmerized by what they want people to see that they are blind to details that so plain and out in the open? How can our institution tolerate and fail to see the malaise that has so long been in the open and begging to be cleaned up here? That, in my opinion, is a huge mystery.

No shortage of rude motorists

2005-08-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

The university has an abundant supply of small spaces and drivers who drive huge cars. Even when other spaces are available, drivers of land yachts will cram into the small spaces to save themselves from having to walk an extra 100 feet a day. I wonder if they are ticketed by University Police? Since they seem to do it day after day, I doubt it.

Cindy Sheehan, a real American hero!

2005-08-18T23:32:00.000-07:00

For all the things that have been said negative about Cindy by the forces of evil, she proved them wrong. She left Texas to care for her ailing mother and left her detractors in the Texas dust. She proved the love she has for her family, the same love she has for her son who died in Iraq, by showing that actions speak louder than words. Especially when they're her actions. God bless you Cindy Sheehan. Like your son, you are a real American hero!

Technorati Tags: Cindy Sheehan, Sheehan, CindySheehan

Sheehan split typical of grieving parents

2005-08-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

The loss of a child is a major stress on any marriage. According to Judy HuHaven [Link] of Emily's Foundation [Link] (Emily’s Foundation is the only national organization formed for the exclusive purpose of preserving and strengthening the marriages and families of bereaved parents who have lost a child) the divorce rate among grieving parents may be as high as 75 to 90%. About the Sheehan split, Nancy Goebner, of San Jose Vetrans for peace in San Jose California, sent this comment in an E-mail:

Agreed! It's difficult under the best of circumstances for a couple to stay together. For couples to split due to a tragedy concerning a child is textbook usual. It's miraculous if a couple can stay together through such need and sorrow. Both need nurturing and are usually too numb to nurture each other.

BTW, Veterans for Peace 101, under my name, is hosting a MoveOn Vigil for Cindy this Wednesday. Here's the link if you'd like to show up or if you'd be willing to pass on the info:

http://www.moveonpac.org/event/cindyvigils/4124

Technorati Tags: Cindy Sheehan, Sheehan, CindySheehan

Cindy Sheehan is fighting hate and evil

2005-08-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

I find the amount of energy being put into trying to defame and ridicule the courage that Cindy Sheehan is showing as being typical of what we are up against. In my opinion what we are fighting is evil. I do not see how the opinions of either Cindy's in-laws or her apparently estranged husband have any relevancy here. Yes, they are entitled to their opinions. But to use this as a smoke screen to hide her true anguish and to mask the veil of lies that we have all been told is just an attempt to cover up what we all are up against here and that, I believe, is hate and evil.

Technorati Tags: Cindy Sheehan, Sheehan, CindySheehan

A friend's son joined the Army

2005-08-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

Last night we had dinner with friends here in San Jose. My friend's son has enlisted in the Army. I also have an 18-year-old son. While I respect my friend, and his son's enlistment in the Army, I would strongly discourage my own son Kenneth from joining the military. We are being lied to by the government and, in my opinion, the government is making decisions that are not only contributing to global terrorism but are encouraging the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

If it were my son joining the Army I would be doing all I could to discourage enlistment. I would see it as a matter of ethics to keep him from becoming an instrument of oppression and the lies that I believe Bush is spreading.

Technorati Tags: Cindy Sheehan, Sheehan, CindySheehan

President Bush, Meet with Cindy

2005-08-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

I found this thanks to Joe Trippi's blog [Link]. It struck a resonance with me as a father of three sons. On the way home from work I saw these folks on a corner in Willow Glen. Joe Trippi is an amazing guy who wrote an amazing book [Link], and he is leading a charge to evangelize the cause of Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq [Link.] This is the letter they are gathering signatures to. When I checked over 12,000 patriots had signed. It is a real Internet movement:

Dear Mr. Bush,

On August 3 you said the soldiers who were killed in Iraq, "died in a noble cause." Cindy Sheehan's son Casey died in Iraq, but she takes no comfort in your words. She wants to meet with you to ask you directly: Why did my son die? What was the noble cause that he died for? We, the American people, urge you to meet with Cindy Sheehan to answer her questions.

Please consider signing the petition here [Link]

Great wedding day

2005-07-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

My eldest son Steve and new daughter-in-law Luci had a great wedding in North Bend, Washington. I am blogging about this on my family blog.

On vacation again

2005-07-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

I am in Seattle with family for my oldest son's wedding. I will be back in August. I am covering the trip on my family blog.

Back from the journey

2005-06-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

I have returned from my bike tour!
Sierra to the Sea 2005 was a great bike tour. It was a bit cooler than past years and that was to the better. I had some great ride and saw many old friends and made new ones. I just returned yesterday so I have not yet processed a lot of the memories. On the last day many of the riders talked about their journeys. It impressed me that the experiences everybody shared were so different that at times they could have been talking about different trips. I guess life, and bicycle tours, is like that.

Kenneth has moved to his new home
Today I helped youngest son Ken move his bed and some of his belongings to his new place. Tonight is his first night in his own place. For me, for the first time since 1976, the nest is empty.

I am going off the grids

2005-06-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

I am a one week drop out
For the next nine days I will be off the Internet grid and off the power grid. I will be on a bicycle touring the middle of California. If you want more information I will be on a bicycle tour called the Sierra to the Sea. I am really looking forward to the adventure and will blog about it after I return. There will be other big adventures starting next week too. My son Kenneth is getting his own place. He is moving into a rental trailer owned by one of my other son's, Jeff and his wife Nicole. Ken will be their tenant.

Blog full disclosure statement
Every now and then I like to post a link to each of my six blogs. This link gives a more honest view of my Internet identity than does reading one or two of the blogs alone.

Free Wine, as in free speech

2005-06-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

Special Interests Attempting to Limit Your Selection and Pocket Your Money
SB 118 (Chesbro) is a bill in reaction to the US Supreme Court direct wine shipping decision that prohibited discriminatory legislation. The bill originally would have created a permit that could be applied for by anyone licensed to sell wine to consumers (wineries and wine retailers) in any state. The permit would require registration with the California ABC, payment of California taxes, the same protections against delivery to minors that currently exist for CA wineries and retailers, limitations on shipment volume and would give the ABC the authority to regulate the shipments.

However, the mega-wholesale distributor interests in CA (Southern Wine and Spirits and Young's Market Company) have called in their political muscle in order to remove out-of-state retailers from the permit system. Under the version of the bill approved on June 14th, only a select few retailers outside of the state of California may even apply for a permit.

This is WRONG. The proposed permit system MUST provide for the ability of all retail licensees (wherever located) to participate freely. If retailers outside of CA are excluded from the CA market system, other states would retaliate by excluding California retailers from their markets. The goal of the bill was to encourage the creation of a national system of permits and licenses that provides the opportunity for every licensed merchant to participate, no matter where that merchant is located. This would be in the interest of all consumers, whether in CA or elsewhere.

Retailers in all states invest significant sums of money in inventory from multiple winery and importer sources. Retailers hold that inventory (often for years) and make it available in a convenient way to consumers who know and trust the merchant. Those customers could be across the street or across the country. That is the reality of the current market, especially for the expensive, limited production and usually allocated, collectible wines from California and the rest of the world. Requiring these wines to go back up through the three-tier system after they have already traversed it once (if they even could, currently they would just be unavailable outside of California, or unavailable to California if they are located in another state) would give the wholesalers a double profit margin; certainly good for the wholesalers, but not very good for the retailer or for the consumer. Who pays? You bet that the consumer pays.

The Supreme Court in the Granholm case condemned state laws that discriminated against out-of-state interests in favor of identically situated in-state interests. This statute would perpetuate discrimination WITHIN the California market by attempting to keep retailers from outside of California OUT of the market. While we think that any such effort would be unconstitutional as to retailers outside of California under Granholm, we do not want to fight the statute after it is written. Our goal is to make sure that the statute doesn't get passed with that flaw in the first place!

The interests of the wholesale tier, by proposing to take retail licensees out of the statute, is NOT to benefit California retailers by keeping them safe from competition from outside of the state. It is aimed at PREVENTING California retailers from servicing customers outside of California unless the transaction is run through the wholesale tier at a significant cost. Their goal is to have this bill emulated throughout the US. If California creates a discriminatory licensing or permit scheme, the wholesalers will use that example as a bludgeon in every other legislature in the US to keep those markets closed to California retailers.

The proposed bill can be found online at:
http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/bills/SB_118

There is a link on that page for you to take action and contact legislators about the bill, or you can go directly to:
http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/act/billletter.html?bill=sb_118&cmtehouse=A&cmte=GOVERNMENTAL+ORGANIZATION

Most importantly - spread the word about this proposed bill. For a wine lover or wine retailer this is special interest politics at its worst.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com

Wine Reviews: Januik 2002 Red Wine, Castoro 2001 Syrah

2005-06-11T00:07:00.000-07:00

Januik 2002 Red Wine, Columbia Valley [Our Rating, 8] Very nice, wonderful nose. A pleasant Meritage blend, a very easy wine to drink. A very nice wine that is dry and finishes well. This wine gets little notice in the wine press.

Castoro 2001 Syrah, Paso Robles Reserve [Our Rating, 7.5] Nice nose and a pleasant wine to drink on a relaxing evening. A nice Syrah. Good nose. Pleasant, concentrated but not explosive to me, a little constrained, a bit tart not jammy. A nice finish. It has strong oak and tart berries with a hint of vanilla and finishes well. According to Castoro, "The 2001 grapes for this wine were sourced from the same well-tended vineyards in the Estrella area of the Paso Robles appellation. In the aroma you will find a high intensity and balance of berry fruits, violets and oak. The mouthfeel has characteristically moderate levels of tannin, yet is lush. The bright fruit and oak flavors linger on the palate. The moderate acidity and appealing level of astringency make for a versatile wine that pairs well with anything from appetizers to heavy meat dishes."

Wine Review: Burrell School 2003 Estate Pichon Syrah

2005-06-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

Burrell School 2003 Estate Pichon Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains [Our Rating, 7.5+] A nice Syrah. Good nose, a little tannic. Pleasant, not too fruit forward. Taste of black berries, smoke and cedar, a lingering finish that leaves a little hint of oak and cherries on the tongue.

Winery Reviews: Paso Robles

2005-05-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

Over the last weekend we went to a number of wineries in the Paso Robles Area and tasted some fantastic wine.

Here are the places we went:

Wild Coyote Winery
We had a great time. We went to this and the next two wineries with Jeff, Pam and Harold. We got a personal tour of the new B&B they are building. Their wine is fantastic. We were especially impressed with the 2002 Zinfandel, which is a huge complex Zinfandel that just dances on the palatte. It is big without being too jammy, a wonderful wine.
Carmody McKnight
A very pretty winery with very good wines and excellent facilities. This winery is way out in the far west of the Paso Robles appelation. It is almost over the hill from Hearst Castle. The wines were pretty good and the Cabernet Savignon was much better than I expected.
Norman Vineyards
This is one of my favorites. You can skip over most of the rest of their wines and go right to the reds. Like Carmody McKnight they make a pretty decent cab. They make some great Bordeaux blends and some wonderful Zinfandels. We had had their monster Zinfandel the night before so we knew this was going to be great. To me the monster is the arctypical Paso Zinfandel. It is big and fruity but not too jammy. It has rich layers that sing a song of the oak trees and rolling hills and hot days and cool evening breezes. We love it. What we didn't know is they have an even better Zinfandel. They have one named Mephistopheles that is nicknamed "the panty dropper." It is huge and explosive on the pallatte. Their blends include the wonderful Bordeaux blend, No Nonsence Red and their even more wonderful blend named Crescendo.
Castoro
Harold, Jeff, Sue and I went there after lunch and maybe our taste buds were fried. They were consistently good, as usual, but nothing here tempted us to buy. We tasted the last of their Giubbini wines. This vineyard is going to be releasing its fruit in wines produced under a different label in the future. This Zinfandel was still good but not as jammy as I remember previous vintages to be.
Tobin James
Sue and I went there and the next winery on Monday. I wanted to go to Tobin James because Elaine had gone there and I knew they have signed copies of the book, Sideways for sale. I tasted Zinfandels and Syrahs their and was generally happy with them. I met a student at CalPoly SLO their and we discussed how working in winerys was the perfect student job.
Garretson
We saved the best for last here. This winery is in a very industrial area. Despite the fact that it is right off highway 46 it is off the beaten path and does not look like a winery at all. They only do Rhones, but they do that very well. Their Syrahs are the best I have ever had. They make a Syrah they call “The Bulladóir” that is absolutely amazing, it is the best Syrah I have ever had in my life, and is unlike anything I have ever tasted. The color is almost black and the nose is so unique that I can't describe it. This is a deep wine that has soul.

Where did all these pigs come from?

2005-05-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

Never mind the environmental impact of driving these gas hogs! This driver had the nerves to hog two space in this crowded parking lot at SJSU. There are a lot of pigs out there.

I have this theory. My theory is if you want to get to work on time, leave early! I drive to work down Almaden Expressway in San Jose. I drive an economy car and drive the speed limit in the far right lane. There is no reason to drive like an idiot. It has a 45 mph speed limit. Most traffic goes 60 mph in the morning. Even though I have two lanes to my left I often have an idiot, usually driving big either a big pickup or a SUV (often a Lexus) getting right on my back bumper trying to bully me into speeding or pulling off the road. I just lock my cruise control at 45mph. I have had them honk at me! This is nuts.

We cannot become part of the problem. I say don't give in to these bullys!

Here is a little story. Today we were on a club bike ride. We were stopped in the left turn. A car pulls up in the lane to our right. The driver stops at the light, opens the door and dumps a pile of trash in the street. Then the light turns green and she drives away. She did not seem to care that we were standing right next to her or that we were yelling at her. She forgot to throw away the trash behind the wheel.

Wine Review: Cinnabar, Mercury Rising, 2002 Bordeaux Blend, Meritage

2005-05-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

Cinnabar, Mercury Rising, 2002 Bordeaux Blend, Meritage [Our Rating, 7], Purchased at Wine Club, $13.99, Decent but not great. a decent Meritage Blend

Wine Review: Waterbrook Winery 2002 Melange, Columbia Valley

2005-05-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

Waterbrook Winery 2002 Melange, Columbia Valley [Our Rating, 8+ ], Very Nice Meritage, a solid 8. Nice nose, opens up well. Easy to drink, well balanced, just like the review says, fabulous and affordable! Wine Club $11, List $16

Wine Spectator
90, Ripe and plump, generous with its spicy, mocha-scented cherry and blackberry flavors, persisting smoothly through the long, harmonious finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2010. 19,000 cases made. (HS)

Wine Press Northwest
Outstanding! Waterbrook Winery 2002 Melange, Columbia Valley. Year after year, Waterbrook astounds us with this intense and inexpensive blend, which this year contains Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese. It's a fabulous and affordable red that reveals aromas and flavors of milk chocolate, ripe berries and exotic spices. Sweet tannins and terrific acidity yield perfect balance and a lingering finish. Priced to enjoy regularly with grilled meats. Wine Press Northwest- Summer 2004

Wine Review: Burrell School 2000 Estate Merlot, Santa Cruz Mountains

2005-05-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Burrell School 2000 Estate Merlot, Santa Cruz Mountains [Our Rating, 7 ], This was a decent wine, but not great. This wines seems light, lacking body or structure. My mother-in-law likes it a lot but to Sue and I it seemed weak, and lacking of boldness or character. Kinda flat, almost watered down. We liked the 2001 a lot, what a difference a year makes. Perhaps this is past its peak.

Movie Review: Van Hellsing

2005-05-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

Van Hellsing [Our Rating, 7.5 ], Fantasy and old fashioned scary movies combined. There is Dracula, Wierwolves, Frankenstien, Jekyl/Hyde and everything in this movie. Not a bad movie, we rented it on Netflix and it was entertaining. This, Susie and a nice bottle of Shiraz is a good way to spend a Friday night.

Wine Review: Ross Estate 2002 Shiraz, Barossa Valley

2005-05-06T23:56:00.000-07:00

Ross Estate 2002 (Shiraz/Syrah) Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Austrailia, Estate [Our Rating, 8.5 ], We both like this a lot great nose and color, pleasant and smooth with a light peppery finish. Purchased at Wine Club, $19.99 Retail $37, Wine Spectator 86:

Dark and tarry, not a heavyweight but dense with cherry and licorice flavors, finishing with a bite of tannins. Best from 2005 through 2008. 500 cases made. (HS)

Wine Review: Cline Red Truck 2003 [Revisit!]

2005-05-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Bought during Sonora Trip December 2004 [My Rating, 8], There are so many variables in tasting wine. Mood, taste buds, pairings, any residue of soap in the glass, not to mention storage and even the quality of the cork, can change the way a wine tastes, or tastes to us, at any given time! This time we liked it better, it wasn't great, but not bad either. It is a blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cab Franc with a bit of Merlot. It was fine for an evening of paying bills and watching Survivor.

According to Cline: Medium-bodied and complex, flavors of chocolate, berries, cherries and licorice abound. The black pepper finish settles with smooth tannins. You can drink red truck anywhere, anytime (it pairs well with pizza and tomato based dishes). And for you die-hard Cline fans, take it for a spin and floor it baby, metaphorically speaking of course!

Wine Review: Castoro 2000 Diciannove

2005-05-01T22:39:00.000-07:00

Castoro 2000 Diciannove, a blend [Our Rating, 9 ], Red Wine: Our rating 9 - Great nose, color and taste. This is really good. It needed to lay down a bit. A very pleasant wine, mostly Cab Franc. Mix of Cab Franc-Cab Sauv-Zin-Petit Verdot-Petit Sirah --Steve

Wine Review: 2001 Private Reserve, Columbia Valley (Meritage), Walter Clore

2005-04-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

Bought from wine club, $16.95 [My Rating, 9 ], Red Wine: 2001 Private Reserve, Columbia Valley (Meritage), Walter Clore

Very nice, wonderful nose. A very pleasant Meritage blend, deep color a very easy wine to drink. List $35

Wine Spectator 92 - Firm, with a lovely bead of ripe currant, blueberry and sweet spice flavor coursing through a long, lively finish. Tannins are nicely polished and the fruit prevails against oaky character on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2006 through 2012. 5,000 cases made. (HS)

We went to get more and they were sold out!

Wine Review: Cline Red Truck 2003

2005-04-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

Bought during Sonora Trip 2004 [My Rating, 7], What were we thinking? I liked it when we were at the winery. When I opened the second bottle it was not nearly as good.

According to Cline: Medium-bodied and complex, flavors of chocolate, berries, cherries and licorice abound. The black pepper finish settles with smooth tannins. You can drink red truck anywhere, anytime (it pairs well with pizza and tomato based dishes). And for you die-hard Cline fans, take it for a spin and floor it baby, metaphorically speakingof course!

My family blog is now on Blogger!

2005-04-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

I have left Radio Userland and moved my last blog to Blogger. I did this for a number of reasons:

Radio has too much complexity for what I do with a blog.
Why buy the cow when the milk is so cheap? Blogger is free, Radio Userland is $80 a year. It is kind of the same reason I quit paying Netscape $35 for a browser when IE was free!
I would rather blog than have to figure out how to run a Blogging Suite.
Now when I figure out how to do something in Blogger I don't have to waste energy trying to figure out how to accomplish the same task in Radio Userland.
This was my personal blog, so I don't care about loosing Google Juice.
Now when somebody looks at my profile in one of my Blogger blogs, they see all my blogs.
My Radio Userland quit working after my last computer broke. I was able to move my Radio Userland to another computer, but that only worked for a couple of postings. Blogger is web-based so that is simply not an issue.
Now Google worries about backing up my blog, I don't!

My old family blog will be on the Internet as long as Radio Userland lets it be. But, they are not getting any more of my money! Please feel invited to visit my new family blog!

Three Wine Reviews

2005-04-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

Wine Review: Castoro Cellars Zinfandel: Paso Robles 2002 [My Rating, 8] Solid 8 - A very nice and easy to drink Zin. This pared well with food and was not a real monster Zin, as folks expect from Paso Robles.

Wine Review: Zinfandel: Burrell School, 2002 Ryan Oaks Vineyard, Amador County [My Rating, 8] 8 - Surprisingly good, not a monster Zin as in the Paso Zins. A nice wine to drink.

Wine Review: Terrabianca 2001 [My Rating, 8.5] Campaccio, a Super Tuscan Blend, 70% Sangiovese 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. According to Wine Spectator:

Spectator 91 Pts: "Wonderful aromas of plums, berries and vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a pretty toasted oak and vanilla aftertaste. Very smoky finish. Always outstanding. Best after 2006. 14,330 cases made."
- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, 10/15/04

Almost too smoky for our tastes. It was good, and different, but not one of our favorites. All of what Suckling said is true. It was a great tasting experience.

My sister Lura's memorial is tomorrow

2005-03-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

On September 16, 1942, my sister Lura was born in Parsons, Kansas. She died on March 7th of this year. I don't know what I can say about my wonderful and all of the good things she has done for so many people. I made this movie [ 45 MB, Quicktime Movie ] about her life. It only touches the surface of the love she had for so many, and the love we have for her.

If you do not already have it, this movie requires Apple's Quicktime Player.

My sister died today

2005-03-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

My sister died today and I will be off line for awhile. For more information see this post.

Two Wine Reviews

2005-03-03T21:42:00.000-08:00

Wine Review: Valley of the Moon Winery Pinot Noir, Carneros 2001, (Bargain Bin) [My Rating, 3] Bought During Sonora Trip 2004 My rating 3. This was not very good at all. It is easy to see why this was in the bargain bin. Maybe it was corked?

Wine Review: Wild Coyote Coyote Creek Paso Robles, West-Side Merlot 1999, 450 Cases Produced, [My Rating, 10] Very nice! One of my favorite wines. Very mellow for a Merlot. We had a bottle at Sue's birthday, 12-02-02, Bought another case March 2003, Gave one to Tyler and Mary French.

Wine Review: Pinot Noir: Lorca Wines, 2001, Gary's Vineyard

2005-03-01T23:56:00.000-08:00

Wine Review: 2001 Lorca Wines Pinot Noir: Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands, Gary's Vineyard [My Rating, 9] Wow, this is excellent. We enjoyed it a lot. It was very pleasant. Bought during our Feb. 05 getaway. Really good. "Richly spiced raspberry, roundly ripened edges." This was a real treat at a good price. A nice nose and a pleasant wine to drink. A great Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot at a great under $30 price.

A personal grassroots journalism project

2005-02-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

I guess I have started a grassroots journalism project. Years ago I served several terms as union president in the staff employees union at San Jose State. Lately I have seen some developments in the union I am very disturbed about. So, I have started this blog to voice those concerns, and to start a conversation on the subject.

Union leadership, a delicate balance

2005-02-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

It is not easy being a union officer. There is a lot to balance. You have a lot to do with almost no resources. You have a lot of people who make a lot of demands, but only a handful offer to help out. It seems you have an impossible mission and you do not get paid for all the work you do. It often is a thankless job and it is a source of a lot of heartache. Is it any wonder that union leaders can be very tempted to take short cuts? If nobody is paying any attention, it may seem, who would notice?

But, there are some places where you can never cut corners. You can't cut corners when it comes to democratic principles. If you don't adhere to strict compliance to fair election procedures, honest reporting of union funds, and communication to your constituents of what the union is doing, how can you claim to have a constituency?

In my opinion you cannot cut corners on organizing. If you are not recruiting new members and not seeking to include folks from all over your workplace in the functions of your union, how can you claim to be an organization that bargains collectively and represents equally?

I believe you cannot cut corners on communication. If you can E-mail 70% of your employees but 30% of the employees are in jobs that don't have E-mail and you just write those folks off, these are lower paid mostly minority workers without computers, how can you possibly claim any legitimacy?

I believe you cannot cut corners on representation. It is the union's responsibility to represent employees, to defend the contract through aggressive grievance handling and professional bargaining that includes work site organizing to win better rights as well as improvements in wages, hours and working conditions. Otherwise, why even have a union?

A union is not a monarchy or a secret society. Sometimes, when faced with a lot of work and an apathetic constituency it is easy to cut corners. It is hard being a union leader. But, I believe, if you cut corners on what it means to be a union then you have cut out too much. If you cut corners too deep, you will cut out the union's soul. Then, I believe, you are no good for anybody!

It's too late to die young

2005-02-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

Too Late to Die Young, by Harriet McBride; this book is coming out in April and it is already a must read. I just read a story by her in the AARP magazine. I think this is the first time I have ever read anything in an AARP magazine, especially one delivered to our front door!
My first wife, Candy’s death at 33 was such a shock because I was the one expected to die young. The women in Candy’s family all seem to live very long lives and I was morbidly obese. Candy always used to talk about what she was going to do after I died. The idea that I would out live her was as alien as the concept of what happened on 9/11 was before 9/11. Candy died almost 14 years ago. I will soon be 50.
McBride has Muscular Dystrophy. She was told over and over she was going to die young. She is 47 now. Her story is a wonderful testament to the importance of living life fully. The truth is we do not ever really know when we are going to die, or not die. We need to never give up and need to keep living life like each moment is our last, or not.
Today could be my last, or I could live another 50 years.

We are thinking of logos for the union

2005-02-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

We need a new logo for our new union? Here is my idea!

We can't fix everything

2005-02-11T23:27:00.000-08:00

I once thought and believed with all my heart, "if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem." I got active in my union, I attended community meetings, I went to city council meetings. I was a steward. I walked picket lines and nobody cared. I chanted through a bull horn. This made people mad. I have had a gun aimed at me, more than once.
It almost ruined my life and still I was frustrated. It was not enough. More had to be done. Most people did not care. I was angry. I was unhappy. I was working as hard as I could and I was always tired. Still, some people who I was trying to help didn't think I was doing enough work to fix their problems, other people I leaned on for support didn't show so I tried to do their work, but most people either still did not care or they considered me a nuisance.
Apathy, lethargy and momentum are huge forces. I learned I cannot move a herd of elephants. I have had to back off. Less is more than nothing. Well, maybe, I can move just one elephant?

Blog Full Disclosure Statement

2005-02-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Blogosphere:

One of the topics of conversation that came up in last night's great Geek Dinner with Robert Scoble is how a person presents his or herself and establishes a virtual identity with blogs. Should a person have one weblog where all thoughts, opinions, passions and ideas are presented? Or, should a person divide their blogs into categorys that can be viewed as a whole or by category? Or, should they have separate blogs for different parts of their lives?

I went the different blog route. I do not want folks to have to sift through what to them may seem like noise to get to the content (the signal) that they want. Also, I do not want folks to be turned off on what I present on one topic because they disagree with an unrelated opinion.

The down side is I may not be presenting an honest digital identity of who I am. So, for the sake of honesty and full disclosure, here it all is:

My Family Weblog: This where I chronicle my family and personal life. This is a digital journal of the folks who are nearest and dearest to me.
My Geek Blog: This is where I write about my work and passion for emerging technology in higher education.
The Edupodder Blog: This is where is host content specific to podcasting in higher education and content related to the sessions I teach in the Center for Faculty Development and Support at SJSU. This often crosses over with my Geek Blog. I am concerned that dual posting between this and my Geek Blog may happen too often and may dilute the topic conversations on each.
The Black and Blue Blog: This is where you can read bicycle news and information related to the bike club I am active in, the Almaden Cycle Touring Club. I am the publisher of their monthly newsletter and I use this blog as a club news source and a place to coordinate production of that newsletter.
My Opinion Blog: This is where I hide my opinions of everything from movies and wine to politics, religion and relationships. If you disagree, I respect your opinion.

So, there it is Blogosphere, that is who I am. For the sake of full disclosure, I am posting this to all my blogs!

~Steve

My wish, a democratic CSUEU, formerly CSEA, CSU division

2005-02-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

The California State University division of the California State Employees Association, CSEA, was the union that represented employees in four bargaining units of the California State University System. Now, that division of the union has broken away (to an extent) and formed the California State University Employees Union, CSUEU (which is still affiliated with CSEA.)

I believe in my heart in the concept of collective bargaining. I am a former president of the CSEA (now CSUEU) chapter at San Jose State University.

With that history in mind, I hope the new organization has an increased focus on democratic principles and practices. In my opinion labor unions cannot be secret societies that are not accountable to their constituencies, that do not report their budgets, expenditures and income to the constituency and that fail to communicate matters like policy and by-laws, union meeting times and locations, officer nominations, the status of bargaining and the distribution of union funds to the people they represent. In my opinion employees have a right to know what their union is doing and where their money is being spent.

In my opinion democracy is at the heart of unionism. The union has to have firm processes in place to address problems, complaints and issues not just between the employees and the employer, but between the employees and their union. I hope the new union makes democratic representation a core value as they move forward.

Wine Review: Castoro Sangiovese 2000

2005-01-17T23:16:00.000-08:00

Wine Review: Sangiovese: 2000 Castoro Cellars Reserve, Paso Robles, CA. [My Rating, 8] This is very nice. We enjoyed it a lot. It was very pleasant. Their second release of Sangiovese, "the grapes of this vintage were perfectly ripend and produced a very rich wine. Reportedly, this is outstanding. Aromas of allspice, cinnamon and vanilla from the oak, coupled with rich, ripe fruit nuances of plums and dried apricots" Recommended with pasta with red sauce and cheese. Recieved 1/20/2003 in wine club.

BART, Jan. 12, 2005

2005-01-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

I think, with all of the talk about extending BART to San Jose International airport they are missing the easiest, most efficient and most important improvement they could make to BART. In my opinion that would be to improve accessibility of BART to south bay commuters by moving it closer to Interstate 680 and offerring adequate parking.

As it now it is frustratingly slow to drive to BART from San Jose with much of the commute over city streets.

Now, if you arrive at the station after 8:30am there is a good chance you will find the Fremont parking lot full.

This is what I did when I attended MacWorld yesterday. It was very frustrating. I was attending a user group meeting that evening so I could not take Caltrain. I think a big dig into and through San Jose would be a waste of taxpayers money. But, an extension into Warm Springs or, even better, near the great mall, with a light rail connection and a large parking structure would be a sound investment.

Book Review: Breaking the Limit

2005-01-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Larsen, Karen (2004). Breaking the Limit. New York: Hyperion. (ISBN 9-7868-6870-8)

[My Rating, 9] If you liked Robyn Davidson's book, Tracks, you will like this book. In my opinion this is a great adventure book, a great feminists book and a great travel book. It is about one woman's two-wheeled trip from New Jersey to California to Alaska and return on a motorcycle. One her journey she met fellow travelers (including bicyclists), local folks and her birth family. Larsen is an excellent writer and her trip, like all good journeys, led her to a lot of self-revelations. If you can't make the journey yourself you should at least read the book. It is a great trip!

Movie Reviews: Wall Street, Shrek 2, Edward Scissorshands, Big Fish, Day After Tomorrow

2004-12-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

Wall Street
[My Rating, 7] This was a decent and entertaining movie. It was nice to see Martin and Charlie Sheen together in a movie. Micael Douglas was excellent in his role.
Shrek 2
[My Rating, 9] A very funny movie and one we likes a lot. Of course the Donkey steals the show. I still like him better than "Puss". My favorite scene was when the giant ginger bread man attacks a Starbucks, I mean a Farbucks, and the customers run out and across the street, to another Farbucks.
Edward Scissorshands
[My Rating, 10] Yes, a ten! This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It is a wonderful story and a romantic movie. Last night was the first time Susie and I saw it together.
Big Fish
[My Rating, 9] A really good story about love, families and a man whose stories are bigger than life. To me there is a lot about human nature and the unavoidable (and not dishonest) way we all tell stories and remember things in ways that embellish the facts and present events in ways that reflect our personalities as much as historic events.
Day After Tomorrow
[My Rating, 8] We liked this movie a lot more than I thought we would. I know, there is a lot of scientifically inaccurate information here, but it makes for great entertainment and there is enough truth about global warming to give us pause.

Wine Review: Zinfandel: Castoro Cellars, 2001 Cobble Creek, Estate

2004-12-21T22:54:00.000-08:00

Wine Review: Zinfandel: 2001 Castoro Cellars Cobble Creek, Estate, Paso Robles, CA. [My Rating, 9] Yes, I like it that much! Two gold medals Very nice. A bit fruity but not odjectionably so. I like this. This, in my opinion, is the best Zin from a place that grows very good Zins! Their Cobble Creek Vineyard is right outside their Paso Robles tasting room. Notes for the 2002 Vintage:

This wine is from vineyards that surround Niels and Bimmer Udsen's home and the tasting room. All the grapes are grown in the traditional head pruned style with limited production. These grapes are grown to produce wines of distinction with deep color and flavor extraction. We are noticing that this vineyard tends to exhibit great raspberry fruit notes. As you enjoy the bouquet take notice of the elegant fruit and ripe plum aromas coupled with the spiciness characteristic of rich Zinfandels. Enjoy this limited bottling now or hold some to compare with future vintages.

This is the wine they served at their winemaker's dinner! Great wine!

Wine Reviews: 1999 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, Estate, organically grown

2004-12-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

1999 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, Estate, organically grown, Gold Medal Winner and Highest Point Score of all entries Santa Cruz Mountains 2002 Commercial Wine Competition Wine Club. From a little boutique winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains located near Summit Road, this winery has a tasting room in Monterey on Cannery Row. We bought a case of this wine during Passport Days in the Fall of 2004. One bottle had to be thrown away due to taint.

[My Rating, 7] Nice, and a pleasant wine to drink. I liked it a lot when we got it. But, the more I drink it the less I like it. It has that flavor that Chards have when they are still good and drinkable, but to me past their prime. Maybe in 2002 it was in its prime, but in my opinion, not now.