I Love German Wine and Food - A Pfalz Gewurztraminer
by Levi Reiss
If you are in the market for fine German wine and food, you should consider the Pfalz region of southwestern Germany. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you'll enjoy yourself on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local Gewuerztraminer.
The climate in the Pfalz region is so mild that some of its farmers actually raise lemons and figs. It has been called the Tuscany of Germany. While Pfalz is far from Tuscany, it is just over the border from the famous French wine-producing region of Alsace, also known for producing fine Gewurztraminer wines. Sooner or later we will review one (or maybe more) Alsacian Gewurztraminers for our series I Love French Wine and Food. Did you notice the difference in spelling between the German and the French grape?
The Pfalz is quite narrow and about 80 kilometers long, right along the Rhine River. The best vineyards belonged to the Church until Napoleon redistributed them. The region contains some 25,000 vineyards with an average size under a hectare (about 2.5 acres). With such small vineyards, most owners are forced to take on additional work to make ends meet. While Pfalz was once the number one German wine producing region, it now ranks number two in both total wine production and vineyard acreage behind its northern neighbor, Rheinhessen.
Approximately four out of five local wine bottles are white. The two top grape varieties grown here are Mueller Thurgau, a German developed hybrid, and the often noble Riesling. Local red grape varieties include Portugieser and to a lesser extent Pinot Noir, better known by its German name, Spaetburgunder. About 10% of Pfalz wine is classified as basic table wine, over 70% as middle quality QbA wine, and the remainder higher quality QmP wine.
The German Wine Road crosses the Pfalz region. Virtually anywhere you go on this road you can find something worth seeing, worth tasting, and I daresay worth eating. Be sure to visit the city of Speyer. While today's population is only about fifty thousand, Speyer was a major center in the Holy Roman Empire hosting many Imperial Diets, huge parliamentary assemblies. From 1030 to 1061 a series of emperors built the Kaiserdom (The Imperial Cathedral), which was expertly restored more than fifty years ago. Just across from the cathedral you will find the Palatinate Historical Museum. Other museums to visit include the Technology Museum, Sea Life in the old harbor, and the Wine Museum that features a 1600 year-old glass wine amphora, perhaps the oldest wine "bottle" in the world.
Before reviewing the Pfalz wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Keschlebreih (Chestnut Soup). For your second course enjoy Kalbsnieren (Veal Kidneys). As a dessert indulge yourself with Kerscheblotzer (Cherry Cake).
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed Darting Gewuerztraminer Kabinett 2005 10.8% alcohol about $14
Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. With such a German name, it's surprising that Gewuerztraminer is still a minority in the vineyards of the country. Kurt Darting has created some of the Pfalz's finest examples. The wine has classic lychee, grapefruit and spice tones. A perfect partner for intense, flavourful dishes such as chicken vindaloo.
My first pairing was with turkey meatballs, potatoes, and saut�©ed vegetables in a moderately spicy tomato based sauce. The wine was round, light, a bit sweet, and not very acidic. While the vegetables' sweetness intensified the wine's sweetness, happily the wine never became cloying. I tasted apples in the background. I tried the Gewuerztraminer with chocolate covered candied orange peels. While the wine was round it was somewhat disappointing. As always, I don't blame the wine for failing a stab in the dark type pairing.
My next trial was canned tuna doused in Harissa, a Moroccan spice, cold roasted potatoes, and a cold vegetable medley. The wine was sweet and tasted of honey without being at all cloying. I did taste the lychee that I was supposed to taste. The wine had pleasant acidity. You might consider canned tuna and honey-tasting wine to be a marriage made in Purgatory but I rather liked the combination. I think it would have been even better if the Harissa lived up to its promise as a fiery spice. For dessert I had homemade biscotti slathered with high-quality apricot preserves. The Gewuerztraminer became pleasantly acidic to match the dessert's sweetness.
The final meal included whole-wheat pasta with a commercial spaghetti sauce to which I added saut�©ed brown mushrooms and red onions. I sprinkled lots of ground Parmesan cheese on the mixture. The wine was really sweet, considerably than before. Its sweetness was a good match for the tomato sauce's sweetness. Steamed asparagus with a generous sprinkling of onion powder and a fair measure of cayenne pepper formed the delicious side dish. This combination rendered the wine more complex than previously. It balanced the spices well. The wine was weak with a fruit juice based candy.
And now come the cheeses. The first pairing involved a goat's milk cheese called Palet de Chevre from the Poitou Charentes region of central-western France. It was a goat's milk cheese unlike any that I have ever tasted. Frankly it looked and tasted like a somewhat runny Camembert. The wine was definitely honeyed with this cheese. I did not find the combination particularly enticing. Not being able to find a German cheese other than another Limberger, no thank you, I bought a Gruyere, a Swiss cheese without the holes. The pairing was virtually the same. Honey. Once again, no thank you.
Final verdict. Nothing special. This wine was sufficiently disappointing that I won't be buying it again. While I am partial to other German white wines beside Rieslings, I was not impressed by this particular offering.
About The Author
10 Steps to Being an Obnoxious Camper
10 Steps to Being an Obnoxious Camper
by Myrtha Chang
Every campground has their share of obnoxious campers. Someone said, look to your left, to your right, in front of you, behind you, if you don�t see an obnoxious camper, you may be it.
If you want to make sure you are that obnoxious camper, just follow these ten trusted and proven tips:
1. Arrive at the campground very late after everyone�s asleep. Drive around the entire campground with your headlights on so you can inspect each potential campsite fully. The blinding light may also serve to wake campers to make shadow puppets inside their tent if they want.
2. While you and your family carefully discuss and weigh the merits of each site, including those which are already taken feel free to idle your engine at high RPM for long periods.
3. When you are backing your boat, camper or motor home into your parking space, have someone in your party shout directions loudly and clearly. Keep at it, revving your engine, grinding your reverse gear and spinning your tires in the gravel until you get it exactly right,
4. If things take longer than you planned, as they often do in nature, take control by swearing obscenities. If your temper upsets the kids, even better. It will ease the tension for everyone if you get them to cry.
5. Leave directions for your gear at home. Pump your gas lantern for all your worth, then throw in a live match and enjoy the majesty of your own atomic blast. If you keep the gas valve completely open, your campsite can serve as a fiery beacon for other campers who may be lost, disoriented or under the impression they were sleeping comfortably.
6. Don�t practice setting up your tent at home, so you can have a full blown Kramer-vs-Kramer style marital fight which pole goes where first. Extra points for you if you brought a tent with metal poles. Plastic poles just don't clang loudly enough when you throw the pole sack on the ground, trip over them and kick them out of the way.
7. Don�t feed your kids on time, so they will stand and gawk at other campers eating.
8. Instead of the ingredients for s�mores bring a small liquor store. And party all night. With the boom box on full blast, of course.
9. Make sure your camping party includes :
a) drunks;
b) someone with bronchitis, emphysema or other loud hacking cough; and
c) tired and cranky kid under the age of four. And finally,
10. Don�t use a packing list. That way you can have opportunity to meet the neighbors when you need to beg and borrow toilet paper, matches, eggs or bug spray.
About The Author
For more camping videos: how-to tips, shortcuts, camping recipes and camping gear guides, go to http://www.joyofcamping.com. Or request our 28-page Easy Camping Recipes book by sending an email to camping_recipes@aweber.com
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Life as a Child in Germany During World War II
Life as a Child in Germany During World War II
by Evelyn Whitaker
This may be a touchy subject for many to read, but some of the things I'm about to tell you is real and a part of life many of us don't want to hear.
Although there are many articles published about World War II in Germany, not too many touch on the personal aspect of what it was like growing up as a child during the war. For those of you that are interested, this article may be for you.
My parents were raised in Germany during World War II. When the war first started, my mother was only three and my father was eight. My parents left Germany as soon as they could after the war to start a better life in the States.
My mother, who is now 70 years old doesn't talk much about the war as it brings tears to her eyes. It�s a part of her life I think she would like to forget all together.
My mother was one of five children and initially lived on the Western edge of Poland. When Germany and Russia invaded Poland they were forced to move taking only the few possessions they could carry on their backs. Her father who was at that time in the military was unfortunately killed in the war. She never got the opportunity to know who her father was. Her mother was left alone with five children to feed and no home of their own.
They moved from home to home, shelter to shelter, whoever would take them in. There was no money so my grandmother sewed clothing to sell to others in need. This little bit of money she earned was sometimes enough to get food for the family. Other times it was not and they were lucky enough to find other people that were willing to help them out with a meal.
Their food consisted of mostly cabbage and bread. Sometimes my grandmother would stand in line for a whole day for just one loaf of bread only to find out they were all gone when it was her turn to get some.
During this time, many families would take their children out of school at a young age � 12 years old for many so that they could go work and help the family survive. My grandmother despite the temptation would not allow this. Having her children get an education was too important to her, so as her children slept she sewed and sewed to make what little money she could. For the children that did leave school to work, the most popular places to work at were bakeries and any place that made food. This way at least you could bring some leftover food home to your family at the end of the day.
As they were continually pushed out of areas and constantly on the move, they lived in many shared rooms with other homeless families. It was always a constant search to find a family that would take you in. The rooms were usually divided by sheets and about the half the size of a garage. They slept on the floor many times on hay to cushion themselves from the hard floors. If they were fortunate enough, they got potato sacks to use as blankets and often had to share them. Other times they would find shelters which would be one big room filled with other families. It was never a happy place � you were surrounded by sadness from the people that lost loved ones. You heard constant crying and had to keep a close eye on your personal belongings so that they wouldn't be stolen. There were no toys to play with so the children learned to use their imagination to keep themselves occupied.
The children played outside very close to home in the streets among the ruins. Seeing dead horses and people in the streets was just accepted. They grew used to the sound of the sirens going off and running for shelter where they would hide until it was over. Afterwards, it was off to playing again outside.
I remember my mother telling me how on one instance they were forced to evacuate quickly because of bombers coming in. Everybody flooded to the streets with their families carrying what they could of their belongings on their backs. Some people had horses and other carriages, but the majority of them just had suitcases and bags of their most prized belongings as you never had enough time to get everything together. Surviving was the only important thing. As they joined the crowds on the streets to move out suddenly the bombers came and started bombing the streets. The children were screaming and the parents would run for shelter dragging their children behind them. I don't want to get too graphic here, but imagine being a small child of 5 to 7 years old watching people hit by bombs right before your very eyes or watching another child you played with that day suddenly die.
The war was a terrible time for everyone including the German civilians. You were forced to obey Hitler's rules whether you liked it or not. Even after it was announced the war was over, on one occasion my father watched a woman die before his eyes by the hands of a soldier because she happened to say "Thank god" and made a bad comment about Hitler. Her throat was slit instantly. She was then strung up by a rope as an example so everyone could see what happens when you say something bad about Hitler.
It's sad, I know. But this is the reality of what it was like for many German civilians during World War II. Its no wonder so many of them wanted to come to America.
About The Author
Use EASY Registry Cleaner
Use EASY Registry Cleaner
by Walter Scholler
The main benefit of each registry cleaner is its simpleness or not. But not all of them can be called easy in use. These terms are often dismissed. Only that software can guarantee users simple usage which was created special for Internet majority population who often has no time to lean much about software. And this is the fact. All what a user should know about a "cleaner" is that how to scan and fix a PC and the Windows registry. Simple idea: pro soft - for professionals, intro - for home users. All is fair. Some characteristics below prove it.
Easy registry cleaner advantages and disadvantages
From home users:
* Good-looking interface
* Different gratifying to the eye "skins"
* Easy navigation
* Not numerous options
* Easy Help support
* Thoughtful FAQ (frequently asked questions) list
* Easily added plugins for additional scan operations
From professionals:
* Too much colors making program like for children
* Not a lot of functions
* Spoon-fed FAQ and Help support
* Needless "skins"
We can think out much more advantages and disadvantages but the final result - easy registry cleaner will be always better for home users only. I'm sure professionals will like them when they will have a hand in such "cleaner" construction. One way or the other such software should be created in future.
So, we can say that the features of easy registry cleaner allow users to fix and clean safely and easily. These two factors are the most important in case of home user's security and convenience. Professional registry cleaner, in its turn, does the same work but in different performance. But the final choice is user's who have to choose between convinience of easy registry cleaner and multifunctionality of pro registry which is just hidden in easy registry software in order do not make inconveniences for a user.
About The Author
Company Official Site:
http://www.fixiter.com
A Mentally Stimulating Job with Substantial Salary � Clinical Data Manager
A Mentally Stimulating Job with Substantial Salary � Clinical Data Manager
by Rajesh Karavadia
The workplace changes as the world changes as well. Before there were only a few jobs people can choose from � that of a teacher, farmer, doctor, nurse, lawyer, policeman, soldier, firemen, and other plain old jobs. But now, different trades and processions are emerging each year, making the employment scene quite rich and thriving. Apart from being interesting a lot of these jobs are lucrative as well. One great example of such new interesting and profitable positions is that of the clinical data manager. Looking at its responsibilities it seems to be rather a mentally stimulating job, and the buzz is that the salary range is attractive as well.
An attractive salary is not only what lures people into applying for the clinical data manager position, the challenge of the job seems to be quite as fulfilling. The job entails a mixture of the medical field and information technology The manager is responsible for tracking and consigning the database system of a medical or clinical institution. The job may be within a health care system or a research facility. The clinical data manager supervises the work of data clinical data entry associates to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the data after it has been entered in to the system. This is important to meet the quality standards needed to report to medical regulatory bodies.
The job of the clinical data manager is an essential part of the whole clinical setup as it deals with management of the information that would help the better understanding of patients or the clearer analysis of clinical studies. An efficient data base of the clinical data is necessary not only to keep records in the hospital or research facility, it also plays an important role in the proper administration of health care to patients. Many hospitals and research facilities consider their clinical database to be among their most important assets that really have to be kept in proper order. And it is the responsibility of the clinical data manager to maintain such.
The clinical data manager positions requires the combination of knowledge and skill in both the medical and technological fields. The manager should have great facility in working with computer systems since he will be handling a wide scope of computer applications used for the collection, management, and retrieval of data. In conjunction with this, the clinical data manager should be also adept with medical knowledge, familiar with pharmacology, well versed in clinical procedures, and comfortable in medical jargon. The job basically entails merging the medical and the technological and so it is expected that the manager be good in both fields.
With such an important responsibility and a matching salary to boot, it is just expected that the clinical data manager position would require a considerable set of qualifications. Usually, a minimum of a bachelor�s degree is required with a concentration on a scientific or related field. An extensive experience in clinical data entry is needed of usually around five years in a medical or research institution. Certification in medical database systems is very much an asset for applicants together with a working knowledge in medical terms, codes, conditions, and drugs. Since it is basically a managerial job, work independence and leadership skills are expected together with good communication skills.
Now perhaps the most exciting part of this job, the salary. The clinical data manager may indeed be a financially substantial position. Entry-level managers may earn as much as $80,000 to $100,000 a year. Those in higher positions may get as much as $250,000.
With such an exciting job with a substantial salary, the position of the clinical data manager may indeed be attractive. So for those who have the skill and the drive for this occupation, trying out for the stint may be well worth it.
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Ensuring Data Protection
Ensuring Data Protection
by Scott Elliott
All of us require computers be it for personal use or work, or for some commercial purpose. For the same reason, it is important to take precautions because data is prone to leakage. The situation is most risky when you use the Internet as well.
Think about what you experience when you lose important data. You cannot even sleep properly if your data is lost. It is thus essential to have regular backups done.
Nobody wants their personal and confidential information to be disclosed over the Internet but unfortunately with the growing use of computers these days, data is no longer secure. The size of your organization or business is hardly a concern. It doesn't matter if you are using your computer at home or in office. The only concern is data protection. It is a great challenge in itself to protect confidential data. It is also important to be aware of what exactly are the reasons behind these data loss.
Various tools are available in the market these days in order to protect your valuable data. Some of these are backups, firewalls and various protection software packages for viruses.
Negligence by an employee is one of the other reasons for data leakage. Thus, it is considered therefore that employees can prevent a major portion of this data loss. If the employee is equipped with basic knowledge about computers and are honest while performing their tasks, lots of important data can be prevented from getting lost. If some strong security system is not implemented, employees generally take this for granted and work carelessly. This may mean that confidential data is lost.
Here are some methods that would help to protect your data:
Encryption: You can protect your data using a technique called encryption. In this technique, data is encrypted or is converted into some code, which can be decoded by only those who know the key or the related password. These days with the availability of so many data encryption software in the market, you can choose any one of them to ensure safe transaction of data.
Backups: Backing up your data is one of the tools that you should always use in order to avoid any sudden data loss. It is most effective in case of data loss due to a sudden power failure. If you are performing regular backups, these situations can easily be avoided. There is no specified interval during which you are expected to perform a backup. However, once in a week is the least limit, though thrice a week is normally advised to perform these backups. The best thing would be to ensure back up on a daily basis. Confidentiality of your data is the only criteria to set the limit for these backups.
Firewalls: A layered type of system is followed when it comes to security. An operating system may also serve as protector of data or else a firewall may be used. Through firewalls, nobody can access your system without your permission. This way, your data becomes much safer. It is recommended to update your computer at regular intervals to maintain security in a more consistent manner.
With this helpful information, you can ensure that your data is protected and not lost.
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Persuasion as a Tool
Persuasion as a Tool
by Alvin Day
Selling is often described in negative ways. This is because people often perceive selling�s most crucial element, that of persuading, to be an act of manipulation. This does not have to be true. In fact, when the masters of the selling game employ methods of persuasion, rather than to manipulate, it should be to provide clarity about what the buyer should do and why he or she should do it. In this way, when a deal is closed it is because the seller has mastered the art of persuasion and influence.
When making a final decision, B considers many things: is A credible, is the idea logical, will the idea bring me personal benefits and do I want to do it? A master in the selling game does not leave B�s answers to any of these questions to chance. In your quest to persuade with power, you must gain control over B�s perception of all of these factors. When you shape B�s answer to each of these questions, you exert true influence in your sales presentation.
Take the following example: Jon started a small business a few months ago and has finally managed to get an appointment to pitch his services to a potentially large prospect. He has just recently started a contract with a similar sized company and has included in his sales presentation, the stats and figures about his work with the other company. During his presentation, Jon goes into great detail of his work with the other company. He is surprised to find that this creates little interest. At the end of the presentation, his prospect is non-committal, Jon leaves without a close.
The company that Jon showcased in his presentation operates in a completely different industry from that of his prospect. Though Jon�s presentation pointed to factors that he felt clearly related to this prospect, he failed to make specific connections. When the client ended the meeting, his only thought was that this man does not know much about what we do here. Jon believed that since the connections between the two companies were �obvious� he could make a presentation based on this successful relationship and the prospect would intuitively understand.
Leaving anything for customers to intuitively understand is a dangerous gamble. After assessing the situation, they may come to the point of view that causes them to spend money with you but, if you have done nothing to influence this outcome, they may just as easily come to the opposite conclusion. When planting the seeds for interest in your product or service, be specific, illustrative, and clear about what you want your prospect to do.
Action Step: Consider the four questions below. Make sure that your presentation directly addresses these questions and gives your prospects reasons why the answer to all is �yes.�
1. Are you credible?
2. Is this logical?
3. Are there personal benefits for me?
4. Do I want to do this?
In Jon�s example, he was so sure that the connections between his current client and prospect were clear that he didn�t bother to state them. His presentation should have been peppered with information that tied the two companies together and positioned his services as invaluable to this prospect. Since he left it up to his prospect to make that connection, he left it up to chance.
Should you wish to increase your income, exceed your quota, feed your family and reach your goals, you cannot afford to leave important elements of the sale to chance. Seek to exert great influence over your prospects� decisions. Do this by explaining clearly what you what them to do, why you think they should do it, how you know it will help them, and why it is such a good idea. When you gain the power to influence your prospects� decisions you become a master in the selling game.
© 2007 Alvin Day
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