Humor: Hangovers

I never considered myself a religious person; that is, until I starting drinking. Now I worship the porcelain god every week. I devote more time to emptying my stomach into my overused toilet than I actually do drinking.

You see, I’ve been cursed with a weak stomach and brain. One shot of hard liquor, or even one glass of wine will shoot straight up to my brain, giving me an almost instant buzz. I’m not the individual who can down a whole bar and still pass a field sobriety test. Me, well, my brain becomes fuzzy with sometimes even the smell of beer. That’s right, as much as I hate to admit it, I’ve gotten a hangover by the smell of our local bar.

Needless to say, my hangovers are comparable to food poisoning coupled with earthshattering headaches. Downing alcoholic beverages is like taking shots of mineral oil for me. Only about an hour after drinking the evil substance, my stomach goes into a complete fit, throwing a temper tantrum and forcing me to flee to the nearest restroom. Time to worship. I think my stomach attempts to jump out of my throat sometimes. Its like my stomach is allergic to alcohol, even though I know that’s ridiculous.

On top of my revolting stomach, my head decides to pound and pound when I ingest any alcohol. It is as if alchohol gives my brain the excuse it needs to send throbbing waves of pain throughout my poor head. My hangover headaches feel as if someone is attempting to build a house on my head, pounding in one painful nail after another into my throbbing skull.

I’ve tried everything to avoid these dreadful hangovers. I’ve tried pills, I’ve tried pacing my drinking. I’ve attempted to drink water between every sip of wine (don’t try this, it makes wine taste very strange, like watered down vinegar). I’ve even tried eating a whole loaf of bread before downing shots of vodka with my friends (I had gotten a tip-off that bread in your stomach soaks up the alcohol, minimizing the effects of this alcohol.

Sounds good in theory, but after I upchucked the wet slices of bread, it was clearly apparent that this technique did nothing, except give me more to throw up during my hangover. Maybe I’ll avoid alcohol from now one. Start a lifetime vigil from alcohol, but that would be against my religion. Hold on, I have to go worship the porcelain god again. I knew I shouldn’t have had that vodka shot in my coffee ten minutes ago.

Stress issues linked to Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) – Part 1

Stress? However anybody likes to connect or spin an issue toward their view, it all comes down to moderation. Eating is good for you, but if you eat too much you’ll have health problems. We’ve been told you can drink a little wine and it’s healthy, but drink too much and you turn into an alcoholic. The same goes to work, sex, dieting, and shopping. It all comes down to your personal life and what you choose to do with that time. They should have the same stress study on people who watch the news compared to people who play video games. In other words, If you do anything too much, it’s going to stress you out in some way or another. You could even meditate for too long and eventually get stress from not eating and going to the bathroom. Stress can be connected to anything, so it is no surprise to me that people who play video games too long have stress problems. The same people that might get really stressed over video games, might lack the common sense that allows oneself to realize it’s just a video game. They should do a study on that! I’m an advocate of all video games, but not an advocate of putting video games over the needs of my body. I think if people are getting stressed out over video games, it is most likely just a symptom of a bigger subconscious problem, having nothing to to with the game.

A New Smile That Could Improve Your Life

A cheesy grin for teeth whitening customers and when it comes to looking really great, beautiful and healthy one of the main factors people look at is your smile. Now the teeth that are seen as one of these main factors for a great cheesy grin and the saying is that the smile that sells cannot be any more true in the modern society.
Another top tip for perfecting a mega-watt smile is to follow a tooth-friendly, ‘white teeth diet.’ This involves swapping red wine for white, black coffee for the white variety and finishing a meal with a swig of milk to neutralise acid in your mouth No longer the preserve of celebrities and the super-rich, the market in teeth-lightening products has exploded in popularity in recent years, ranging from home kits to in-surgery procedures.

We commented on personalities who have gone overboard on teeth whitening and have unnaturally and unbelievably white teeth Another top tip for perfecting a mega-watt smile is to follow a tooth-friendly, ‘white teeth diet.’ This involves swapping red wine for white, black coffee for the white variety and finishing a meal with a swig of milk to neutralise acid in your mouth. No longer the preserve of celebrities and the super-rich, the market in teeth-lightening products has exploded in popularity in recent years, ranging from home kits to in-surgery procedures.

Mid life crisis now includes getting the teeth whitened and as many of us hit those middle years we start to look at our image and the best ways to improve our health and fitness and even beauty and this includes getting our teeth made whiter to reverse the years of staining.

One of the best options if you are taking into consideration teeth whitening and is to discuss to a whitening professional. You can try to do the whitening at home with stuff but it required dedication to use the products every day. The main reason people undertake lazer whitening is just nice to look your best and improve their smile. If you can do teeth whitening and get your teeth reverse where they are expected to be, you are going to feel better about yourself and you are going to be more personal and content in your life. It is a proven fact that by doing stuff like lazer teeth whitening people are able to accomplish more self confidence and self esteem and you are going to be able to in reality to look and feel your best in your life.

Is 2009 going to be a brighter year for zoom teeth whitening and it appears the growth of the teeth whitening industry just keeps on going but the likely recession in the UK might take a shine off the market and dampen the interest as consumers look to reduce spending on health, fitness and beauty products.

An overview of the Carson City Rendezvous

“Rendezvous” a planned meeting between two or more parties. Historic Carson City was often the rendezvous point for Mountain Men and fur buyers; for gold and silver prospectors and precious metal buyers; for state legislators and townsfolk today, the annual Carson City Rendezvous is a celebration of the past meeting the present. This year’s Rendezvous, the 26th, will be held June 12th June 14th in Mills Park on Highway 50 East between Roop St. and Saliman Rd.

A grant from the Nevada Arts Council to support the traditional and folkloric singing, dancing, and music of early Nevada will partly fund the 2009 Carson City Rendezvous. If you are curious about Nevada history or just want a good time for you and your family, this is an A plus entertaining weekend and the best news is that it’s free.

Here are some of the scheduled highlights. The MOUNTAIN MEN encampment will demonstrate tomahawk and knife throwing, fire starting, and loadin’ and shootin’ muzzleloaders. There will be great entertainment on both the Mountain Men Stage and the Gunfighter Stage everything from dueling banjos to not quite true historical gunfights. The Nevada Gunfighters of Carson City will host an invitational with bullets blazing against Western teams all weekend long.

Some of the entered teams include: Legends of the American West from Angels Camp, CA; Spirits of the Old West from Stockton, CA; Black Bart Gunfighters from Willits, CA, Pistols and Petticoats from the Inland Empire, CA, and Pahrump Gunfighters from Pahrump, NV. Take a ride on the STAGECOACH in the big field. Young children can enjoy the Stick Horse Rodeo games with Gary, the stage driver. Comstock Civil War Reenactments will also take place in the big field. Did you know that Nevada was rushed to statehood in 1864 so it could be listed as pro-union (which it was).

Cooks in the family may want to enter the DUTCH OVEN COOK OFF which will be judged by two celebrity judges Diane Mayfield and Omar Alvarez. The Dutch oven was the universal cooking implement in mining days. Pioneers cooked everything from venison roast to biscuits in the sturdy black iron pots. Take on the competition with your own original recipes. And if you don’t like Ma’s cooking, rest assured that local restaurants offer Rendezvous menus that are guaranteed to please.

Ladies, gunfighter ladies that is, will also show their talents in the Victorian Fashion Show. The Indian Village has colorful dancing. Kids will be entertained by Camel rides, the petting zoo, a real life pueblo, and old-fashioned games from the BAC-In Time Kids. A highlight the day after the Rendezvous is the arrival of the PONY EXPRESS which carried the nation’s mail from 1860-1861 until the telegraph office was opened in San Francisco. Be sure to stick around and watch them gallop into town.

There are numerous other fun family events which coincide with the Rendezvous. THE ART OF NATURE show by Sharon K. Schafer will be on exhibit in the Nevada State Museum Jun1-30. For adults, there is the DOWNTOWN WINE WALK June 6th and THE DOWNTOWN BEER CRAWL on June 20th. THE KARSON KRUZER’S RUN WHAT CHA BRUNG CAR SHOW in Fuji Park June 26-28 is a fun end to the month.

So saddle up the horses or the horsepower, set your sights on Carson City, and prepare to be greeted by grizzled mountain men, shot at by gunfighters, have your guts sizzled by campfire chili, dance your feet off to old time violins, and most of all make memories for a lifetime. The Carson City Rendezvous is the easiest way to learn history while being entertained that I’ve ever come across. Put it on your calendar. I have.

I Love French Wine And Food – Launching A Series

This article will launch our new series, I Love French Wine and Food. You may be aware that we have written over two dozen articles in our first series, I Love Italian Wine and Food. This series will continue this labor of love, but for French wine and food. While this article launches the French series, it is actually not our very first one describing French wine and food. We posted the article I Love French Wine and Food – Beaujolais Nouveau in time for the opening of the Beaujolais Nouveau season in mid-November. We will soon be taking a look at other wines in the Beaujolais region of southeastern France.

Let’s start with a few statistics for the French wine industry as a whole. France constantly fights with Italy for the title of the world’s biggest wine producer. As in many other European countries, the French are drinking less wine, but better wine. France has more than 2 million acres devoted to grape vines, and produces more than 600 million cases of wine each year. France exports over one third of its wine production all over the world including a considerable portion to the United States.

We are going to look at eleven wine French regions: in alphabetical order they are Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Jura and Savoie, Languedoc-Rousillon, the Loire Valley, Provence and Corisca, the Rhône Valley, and Southwest France. Each article will discuss the region and its distinctiveness. We’ll talk about the wines and the foods that characterize the region. We will try to have at least two articles per region. All articles in the series (except for this one) will give our unbiased tasting report on a wine. We will taste the wine with food, including several main courses and at least one imported cheese usually French, and sometimes from elsewhere in Europe. In our Italian series the wines we tasted cost between $6 and $38, but were mostly in the range from $10 to $20. We expect to pay more for French wines but intend to work in approximately the same price range. Don’t expect a report on three fine French Champagnes. We are going to be flexible in our wine tasting. But there are two rules that we follow. First rule, all wines that we taste and review have been purchased at the full retail price. Second rule, if we are unhappy with a wine we will let you know. If you followed our previous series, you know that we weren’t always happy with the Italian wines we tasted and I’ve got the funny feeling that the same thing will happen with French wines.

Now back to the subject of French wines.

Wine Classification.

France has legally defined four national wine classifications that presumably help the consumer make a selection when faced dozens of unfamiliar choices. Some regions such as Bordeaux define additional classifications that will be discussed in the appropriate articles. The French national classifications were first introduced in 1935 with the goal of regulating wine production in given geographical areas and helping the areas to develop their own specific identity. Starting with the lowest level, these four classifications are vin de table, vin de pays, Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure-VDQS, and Appellation d’Origine Contrôlé-AOC.

Vin de table may be translated as table wine. Table wine production has been severely reduced during the last decade or so. At present, only about 12% of French wine carries this plebian classification. Almost all table wines are red. Table wines follow few rules, except that their labels may not indicate the grape varieties used, the vintage year, or the specific area that the grapes came from. You won’t find many French table wines for sale in North America.

Vin de pays may be translated as country wine. This category was first established in 1968. At present, the annual production of vin de pays is more than twice that of vin de table. The label must indicate the location where the grapes were harvested. Once in a while an exceptional vin de pays is produced, which should not be surprising when you consider that almost one French wine bottle in three carries this classification. Let’s not worry about vin de pays’s specific rules which can be complicated. Sooner or later, we will probably review such wines. With a little luck we’ll find a bargain or two.

Vin D̩limit̩ de Qualit̩ Sup̩rieure РVDQS may be translated as superior wine. This is a very tiny classification, comprising only about 30 French wines. You may think of it as a waiting room for AOC, the highest French wine classification. Of course, not every VDQS wine gets promoted. We are not going to make a specific effort to find VDQS wines.

Appellation d’Origine Contrôlé – AOC may be translated as controlled-origin appellation. Approximately half of all French wine is accorded this top-level classification. I don’t know about you, but such a high percentage makes me wonder how helpful this classification can be. To achieve the AOC classification, a wine must meet laws defining the grape varieties used, the grape growing methods and wine-making methods employed, the maximum yield produced, and the minimum alcoholic content. In addition, the wine must pass a taste test. When you consider that only about 3% of wine tasted fails the taste test, don’t be surprised that the AOC classification is far from a guarantee of quality. Most of the wines that we will be tasting carry the AOC classification.

Best wine regions in the world

One of the best wine regions in the world is undoubtedly the Margaret River region of Western Australia.

However due to its remoteness it is also one of the least recognised regions in the world. When your average wine buyer thinks of Australia they no doubt think of Kangaroos (Yellow Tail) Koalas (Bear Crossing) Fish (Madfish , Barramundi, Fishtail) and various other critters that have turned into huge wine brands over the last 10 years, plus the major representatives of the vast region known as SEA ( South East Australia) such as Lindemans, Rosemount, McWilliams.

In order to find some real gems you need to move away from the big brands, leave the South East and venture way out West.

The Margaret River region is a leisurely 3 and a half hours drive south from Perth, the capital of Western Australia, following the beautiful coastline and rugged countryside route that takes you ”down south”.

The climate in Margaret River is maritime, the winters are cold and wet, the summers are warm and dry with the sea breezes and coastal influence.

Key varietals from this region are Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Some of the best Chardonnays in Australia are from the Margaret River region – think Leeuwin Estate Art Series, Vasse Felix Heytesbury, Voyager Estate, Evans & Tate Wildberry Springs. None of these wines are cheap but when you compare them to the great French Chardonnays such as Mersault or Chassagne Montrachet they can stand with their heads held high. This region produces beautiful well balanced Chardonnay not the heavily oaked styles that have previously dominated the market. These Chardonnays win medals and trophies in International Wine shows and are produced by winemakers that have learnt their skills across the world including Europe.

For red wine lovers treat yourself to a great Margaret River Cabernet, compare it to a great Bordeaux, you will be surprised. These wines are not the usual Australian fruit bomb, they are elegant and well structured with fine tannins. The 2004 Thomas Hardy Cabernet just scored 97 points in the 2008 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion the top score for any Australian Cabernet and it hails from Margaret River.

Some other stunning Cabernets currently on the market are, if you are lucky enough to find them, Evans & Tate The Reserve Cabernet 2003, Howard Park 2004 Cabernet, Capel Vale 2005 Cabernet.

Go on treat yourself and explore the fabulous Margaret River Region W.A

An Introduction to Wine Tasting

Wine tasting is the sensory examination and assessment of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards. Wine tasting is an art and not every person can be a perfect wine taster. One needs to have a very fine sense of smell and taste, together with the ability to distinguish subtle colour differences. Experience of tasting several wines of different aromas, grapes and blends is essential.

Learning Wine Tasting

It is not too tough to learn the art of wine tasting. You do not need to be an avid drinker, but you should have the three basic senses as stated above, 1) ability to discern subtle colour differences 2) a keen sense of smell, and 3) a keen sense of taste. If you have these three qualities then you only need some dedication and extra bit of interest in this art form. If you have knowledge of different wine varieties, their areas of production and the wine making process, along with knowledge of the grapes used in making wine, then that will surely be a helpful factor in assessing the quality of a wine as well as enabling you to make judged comparison with other varieties available.

It is easy to learn the practice of wine tasting and if you already enjoy wine, learning the nuances will increase the pleasure that you get from tasting and drinking wine.

Appearance – The colour of wine is a major deciding factor, it varies tremendously even in same type of wines. Therefore, wine should be poured in a clear glass in front of a white background to appraise the colour of wine. It is a fact that a white wine is not actually white. Its colour can vary through shades of green, yellow or brown. Deeper colours in white wine often indicate greater flavour and advancing age. Similarly, red wines are not just red. They can be pale red and range from almost purple to deep brown red; the colour usually becoming lighter with growing age. With time, many red wines may improve but generally age will ruin most white wines. Do seek sound advice if you intend to buy wines to store for more than a few months.

Smell (Bouquet) – Move the glass of wine in your hands in a circular motion, this releases molecules in the wine allowing you to smell the aroma. Take a light sniff first and catch the aroma of the wine properly, then take a deep whiff and concentrate on the depth of aroma. Do not try to taste it too early. After tasting and smelling several wines, you will start to notice the similarities and differences that exist between them.

Taste (Palate) – The most important deciding factor of any wine is its taste. The balance between fruit and acidity is a vital factor. Initial taste, and aftertaste, both are important. Give proper attention to both and note whether it is light or robust? Is it smooth or harsh? After swallowing wine, feel how long the flavours last in your mouth. Was it pleasant?

These are three deciding factors in wine tasting. The more diverse the selection of wines you try, and the more attention you pay to each wine, the better you will become at ascertaining and describing each wine’s characteristics. If you really want to become an expert wine taster, you should visit wine tasting events in your area or arrange a wine tasting event at home for a few like minded friends

Importing U.S Cars To Europe

Not to discredit the excellent automobiles manufactured in Europe, there has been a sharp increase in the number of American cars being imported into the continent. Whether for the prestige of owning a rare American sports car or the savings that the depreciated Dollar has created in exchange rates, more and more Europeans are embracing the American automobile as their transportation of choice.

Purchasing an American import from a licensed dealer is different from a private purchase and shipment of an American car to Europe. Whereas the import company has already dealt with shipping costs, value added tax and new country registration, the private citizen may find all possible savings gone by the time all this extra expense is added into the initial purchase price.

Chrysler Group CEO Dieter Zetsche feels that the European market for American cars is at a point where it can now compete with traditional continental motor brands and find great opportunities for advancement. Their new release of the Dodge Caliber is expected to undersell traditional models from between five to 15%. Cadillac has always had difficulty in competing with the European model luxury cars. Now the release of the diesel engine BSL model Cadillac has shown itself to be an exceptionally affordable choice for discriminating drivers.

The new demand for American cars in Europe has lead several continental manufacturers to partner with American motor companies to build some of the European sold American models in their own factories. This makes for even greater savings for the consumer as they do not have import taxes added to the total price of the vehicle.

Even the Asian automobile manufacturers are finally becoming in-demand in Europe. Toyota Motor Manufacturing has long held a premier spot at the top of the American market. This reputation for quality and afford ability has migrated to Europe to the point they are now shipping over a half a million vehicles to the continent annually. With the proven fuel efficiency of the Toyota brand vehicles and their excellent in-city performance, Toyota anticipates eventually dominating the urban market.

While the new car market is growing at a rapid pace, there is still a large market share for imported used American cars. American motor sports and Hollywood movies have introduced Europeans to the wide and often unique aspects of the sport car culture. The prestige factor in driving a Ford Mustang, a Chevrolet Z-28 or wandering the French wine country in a Jeep Cherokee or Hummer is irresistible to some discerning Europeans.

One problem that has arisen from this increased interest in non-European vehicles is that occasionally private importers will start bringing in vehicles that the manufacturer had not intended for the European market. Recently Nisson Motors has attempted to push lawsuits over the importation of their GT-R series vehicle. They were not planning on offering the GT-R in Europe until 2009 and are seeking to stop import companies from bringing in the models that were intended only for the Japanese market. They warn that none of their European staff have any experience working on the GT-R nor would they honor any warranties of these vehicles on the continent.

This demonstrates one of the most overlooked areas of importing cars from other countries. You must be sure you have an adequate supply line for repair parts and support of the manufacturer to get the best and least expensive service out of your vehicle.

Wine and Dine Your Valentine in Style

Taking a partner out to dinner on Valentine’s day continues to be one of the most popular ways to show love and affection. This year wine and dine your partner in real style with specially designed venues to capture their hearts.

An evening spent eating delicious food and drinking fine wine is the ideal start before heading off to a top London show. There are ten different shows available in this romantic and exciting evening out, something to suit all tastes and ages. A lovely way to celebrate Valentine’s Day evening in real style.

If you love the idea of going to a show and dining out, but don’t live near London why not spend the night in a top London hotel? Wake up refreshed after a memorable Valentine’s Day/evening and ready to take in some sight seeing or shopping before making your way back home. Five star London theatre breaks offer the best of both worlds. Staying in a top class hotel and the best seats in the house while watching a West End show.

As Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this in 2009 opt for a weekend away in the romantic Champagne region of France. Tour the champagne producers and sample some of the finest champagnes in the world for breakfast and eat lunch in a champagne house. What a wonderful and romantic way to share Valentine’s Day with your partner.

If champagne is not to your liking why not try an alternative -Valentine’s Day trip to Bordeaux to take part in some magnificent wine tasting. Staying for three nights in a romantic three star hotel. Visit two different châteaux with more wine tasting to tantalise your taste buds makes this short break the perfect gift to share with your partner.

Paris is renowned as being one of the most romantic cities in Europe. Wine and dine your Valentine in real style as you cruise down the river Seine. Jump onboard the Euro Star and in no time at all you will be embarking on a magnificent cruise down the famous Seine in Paris. As you eat a superb three course a la carte lunch take in the famous landmarks of this vibrant and cosmopolitan city. It is your choice whether to make your own arrangements to stay over night to continue your Valentine’s day experience or jump back onboard the Euro Star and head back home. There are numerous quality hotels and plenty of gourmet French foods and wines to sample in the city, so make a really special gift this Valentine’s and continue the romance into the Parisian night!

Alternatively take a valentine’s break in the UK. Staying in a four or five star Marriott hotel with breakfast and dinner included. Marriott hotels are available in numerous different locations throughout the UK. Each boasting unique extensive grounds and facilities; they are the ideal place to dine in style and spend time relaxing with someone you love. If you prefer not to stay overnight Marriott Gourmet meals in the UK are the perfect choice. This meal voucher offers the ability to dine in style in any of the Marriott hotels worldwide; why not incorporate Valentine’s Day Gifts with your holiday?

Cooking With Fine Italian Wine

Instead of enjoying a fantastic glass of your favorite fine Italian wine with dinner, consider using the nectar of the gods as an ingredient in your favorite dish. Cooking with wine has never been more popular and endless recipes abound that incorporate all different types of wine into favorite dishes and unique spins on classic cuisine. When you cook with Italian wine, the alcohol evaporates, so the dish will be appropriate for individuals unable to consume alcohol, underage eaters, or individuals who do not wish to imbibe any alcohol.

Many international dishes include wine, especially Italian, French, and Spanish favorites. You can use any type of wine or alcohol to cook with, but Italian wine has substantial fan following when it comes to cooking with wine. Whether you want to add a unique flavor or a powerful zest to your dishes, adding your favorite Italian wine will have everyone raving over your cooking skills and the dishes you serve.

The key to cooking with wine is to choose good quality Italian wine. Just as quality directly affects the drinking enjoyment of a glass of Italian wine, the quality will also affect the end taste of dishes that are prepared using wine as an ingredient. Remember, quality wines are not necessarily the most expensive wines, so avoid associating price with taste. It is safe to say that if you enjoy drinking a particular vineyard’s wine, you will also enjoy cooking with the same wine.

Also, you should carefully choose a Italian wine appropriate for the dish. Generally, the recipe you choose will come with

the appropriate Italian wine included, but the traditional rules for serving wine with food applies to including the wine as ingredients with food. Many individuals choose to cook with white wine for a tangier, crisp taste and choose red wines for heartier dishes, including those filled with tasty cuts of meats.

Even though water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, alcohol has a much lower boiling point, around 175 degree Fahrenheit. For this reason, you can quickly remove alcohol in Italian wine, in fact, approximately 40 percent of the alcohol is boiled out in approximately 15 minutes. Eventually, the Italian wine will turn into a thick syrup is boiled long enough. This syrup is perfect for use as a glaze with meats or vegetables.

Once the alcohol has been evaporated, the flavors are emphasized. Also, alcohol, including Italian wine, brings out the flavor of tomatoes and other ingredients. Consider adding a bit of white Italian wine to tomato sauces to bring out the flavors.

There are a variety of cooking wines on the market, but you should avoid these products, since they are of lower quality than a fine Italian wine and usually contain a high amount of sodium. However, if you are a collector of fine Italian wine, save these delicious drinks from the heat, since the alcohol will only be evaporated and the importance of the wine will be lost. There are a variety of quality Italian wine on the market that are perfect for cooking. Choose rich, fruity wines for dessert dishes and strong white wines for sautéed or baking dishes.

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