QUOTE OF THE WEEK

You smell so minty.

Better 2 be minty than smell like ass

BABY ZACH'S FIRST GAME

9 1 mets 2nite mark it down

Marlon anderson shouldn't ever start again

Wine Loft News Brief Week of July 14th

Pretty in Pink


Believe it or not, the latest news out of France boasts the almighty (well at least now) Rose has surpassed white wine as France's favorite (by volume in sales)! Amazingly enough, it is estimated that one in four bottles sold in France is the pink stuff and with red wine sales declining as well (partly due to the summer heat), the amount of rose drunk could total more than half the bottles consumed all year. A recent study showed that the red stuff is often seen in the hands of the old rich French men, while rose is drunk by both men and women, young and old from different social groups and red wine seems to be reserved for mealtime whereas the pink stuff is popular as an aperitif or at parties.

The numbers are there and are so visible, they are causing some red wine producers to revolt up against those producing rose. Growers in the southwestern region of the Languedoc producing primarily red wines took a stance and rioted against several low-cost wine makers. But that is not stopping them! Sales in some regions have increased 10% this year and the lesser regions are not the only ones getting [back] into the game with Burgundy and Bordeaux upping their production as well.

Quality had improved considerably in the past decade. Doses of headache-inducing sulphur have been cut fourfold, while fermenting vats are now cooled to prevent grapes overheating, which used to produce heavy, coarse wine. Although the lifespan is shorter for rose due to a lack of tannins (from the short time spent in contact with the skins), rose is on the rise and apparently here to stay!

It's summer - what better time to pick up a new habit: Rose! Enjoy and have a good week.




*Taken as a excerpt from Telegraph.co.uk : Rose passes white wine as France's favourite 07/13/08*

Marlon Anderson should never start another game

Neil's Pond

Neil's pond

DELGADO TURNS AROUND HIS SEASON

And according to this blog,it's all thanks to the Brooktwon WSOP Blog.

As faithful readers know we called for the firing of Willie Randolph early this year when we saw things had not changed from the embarrassing collapse of 2007. We installed the weekly Willie Watch, and apparently that feature became an instant "must see" each week in the Mets clubhouse and through out major league baseball. Finally Omar agreed and as we all know Willie was let go, and very quickly the Mets climbed the standings and are right back in contention where they belong.

Now as for Delgado, who is an admitted reader of the blog (he apparently loves Wine Loft News of the week) it seems the post where he was called out and renamed Carlos Delgottago, finally made him realize that the Met fans were down on him and we had had enough.

Well since that post, Delgado has raised his average from .229 to .253 and has hit 7 home runs and driven in 20 runs and are 14-6 in those games. Keep up the good work Carlos, we're watching, and rooting for you guys every at bat!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS!!!

LATEST NEWS FROM JESSICA SIMPSON

World Premiere of "Come On Over"!

Attention! Attention! The EXCLUSIVE WORLD PREMIERE of Jessica Simpson's new video for "Come On Over" can now be seen by Jessica's online community members on www.jessicasimpson.com!

If you are already a community member jump on over to www.jessicasimpson.com/worldpremiere to check out the video.

For new users, signing up is quick and easy at www.jessicasimpson.com/worldpremiere!

Don't forget, "Come On Over" is the first single off of Jessica's new album Do You Know? in stores September 9th!

From Jess:
Hey everybody,
I had so much fun making my video, I'm so glad yall finally get to see it!

Love yall!
xoxoxo
Jess

"Come On Over" is now available digitally...

Wine Loft News Brief Week of July 7th

Have you heard of resveratrol? It's gotten quite a bit of hype in the wine world recently and continues to be the hot topic among health experts. In the most recent study released on July 3rd, researches noted the red wine laden chemical helps keep the bones, eyes, kidneys, heart, and other muscles in MICE healthier as they grow older, but did not increase the overall lifespan of the little rodent! The study released goes on to say that the chemical provides cardiovascular benefits, greater motor coordination, reduced cataracts, and even greater bone density and kidney function in the mice.

The research continues and gets complicated from there on with different tests run in different situations where resveratrol is compared to CR (caloric restriction upon which one's diet is reduced by 30 to 40% fewer calories). Over time, a trend emerged: mice on either CR or resveratrol diets tended to remain healthier than mice on standard diets san resveratrol. Furthermore, once the deceased mice were biopsied, the mice taking resveratrol demonstrated multiple health benefits (as mentioned earlier): greater bone density, less vascular and kidney dysfunction and fewer instances of cataracts. On a genetic level, the similarity between those on a CR diet and a resveratrol diet were strikingly similar.

Well, the results of the study cannot be too perfect for wine lovers, warning that resveratrol may have TOXIC effects in higher doses. The lead researcher goes on to say the amounts used in the study are "unobtainable" through one's (human) natural eating and drinking habits. "If the resveratrol doses that we used in mice are translatable to humans, it would have to be with a pill (BUMMER)," he said, adding that "red wine is still a great source of resveratrol and probably one of the most common sources for most people."

I guess that will help keep red wine prices in check! Here's to your health. Have a good week.

CHECK OUT RYAN'S NEW BLOG

http://ryansforecast.blogspot.com/

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

better to think ahead than be sore behind

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE WRIGHT TO THE ALL STAR GAME

Go here to vote on line

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2008/fv/ballot.html

or you can text your vote:

Simply text the message N5 to 36197. (see below). Don't forget to vote for someone other than Giambi in the AL


It's up to you to determine the last two players for the
79th annual Midsummer Classic on July 15th in New York.



To vote for a specific player below, simply text message your choice to 36197. EXAMPLE: Text "A3" to vote for AL Player 3 or "N3" for NL Player 3. Standard rate messaging fees may also apply, check with your carrier. In Canada, fans should text their choices to 88555.

A1: Jermaine Dye, CWS N1: Pat Burrell, PHI
A2: Jason Giambi, NYY N2: Corey Hart, MIL
A3: Jose Guillen, KC N3: Carlos Lee, HOU
A4: Evan Longoria, TB N4: Aaron Rowand, SF
A5: Brian Roberts, BAL N5: David Wright, NYM

Wine Loft News Brief for Week of June 30th

Battle in Brunello

Have you heard the hype in Montalcino? Currently, the area is experiencing a bit of turmoil as Italy's financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, have seized several top Brunello producers' remaining stock of the prized juice from the 2003 vintage. Why? In order to be a Brunello, it must be 100% Sangiovese, and apparently there is question as to whether or not some producers cut corners and used something other! Some big names are in the lineup: Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frecsobaldi), Pian delle Vigne (Antinori), and Castello Banfi and according to the police, all subsequent vintages still aging in the bottle or barrel are under seize as well.

The short of it: the government has suspicion that the folks the monitor Brunello production were perhaps sleeping on the job thus turning their head the other direction in regards to DOCG regulations. A three year investigation of the areas vineyards (from 2004-2007) uncovered 42 acres that did not conform to DOCG regulations (which in actuality is only 1% of the total acreage planted to Brunello vineyards).

Although the US TTB (new name for the US governing body over alcohol & tobacco trade) just recently "softened" their stance regarding the possibility of an embargo of the Brunellos, the danger still stands. With the new stance, the agency will accept certification from the Italian government that the wines comply with all the rules. Without the guarantee though, all Brunello imported after the said date (June 23) would be considered a "willful violation" resulting in a possible "suspension or revocation of the importer's permit."

Needless to say, the news coming out of the area in the coming months should be interesting! Stayed tuned to your local wine news source for updates on the fate of the Brunello di Montalcino...also look for the developing story based on reports of a different investigation into the illegal use of oak chips in a red wine produced in the town of San Gimignano!

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NO PLAYOFFS IN NY THIS YEAR

Even Jeter is starting to drink to much, knowing it's enevitable.

MIDDLE FINGER NONSENSE!!!!

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS A LAW, AND NOT IT HAS BEEN REPELLED...THIS IS CRAZY, THE REPELLING OF THE LAW NEEDS TO BE REPELLED BACK (huh?)


BELMAR, N.J. - After battling rowdy renters and out-of-control keggers for decades, this Jersey shore party town has finally decided to lighten up a little.

Belmar, sometimes called "Fort Lauderdale North" for its reputation as a raucous party enclave, has scrapped laws against giving the finger and requiring beer kegs to be registered. The town's mayor said the rules were difficult to enforce.

"I'm not sure anyone even knew that making obscene gestures was illegal," Mayor Ken Pringle said. "Right after we send out our tax bills, I tend to see a few."

The repeals come as the borough has clearly restored some of the quality of life that was routinely shattered by revelers in the 1980s and 90s.

Belmar, on the central Jersey coast about 10 minutes south of Asbury Park, has long been a favorite spot for young people looking for summer fun. The town has 7,000 year-round residents, but the population swells to 60,000 after Memorial Day.

Belmar has a slew of strict regulations for summer renters that include limits on how many people can cram into one building and when they can put their trash out at the curb. The town also has a "zero tolerance" policy for noise violations, and even leaving empty bottles or beer cups on the porch overnight.

"The cops are relentless here," said Matt Errichiello, a 23-year-old from Haworth who is in his third year of renting a house near the beach with friends. "At night, if you even speak loudly, you get a ticket. The rules are ridiculous."

One rule that's no longer on the books related to raising one's middle finger, or the many variants thereof. However objectionable it might be to some people, such a gesture is constitutionally protected free speech, said Pringle, an attorney.

He said the borough was contacted by civil libertarians who questioned the legality of several municipal ordinances.

The ban on "obscene gestures," which never spelled out exactly what was and was not covered, was overly subjective, Pringle agreed. No one can recall anyone being prosecuted for violating it. Another law prohibiting people from loitering in alleyways also was axed.

In summer rentals near the Belmar beach, the repeals are being hailed by the party crowd, some of whom consider the right to raise their middle finger in public a newly won freedom to cherish on Independence Day.

THIS WAS A GREAT LAW, NO MIDDLE FINGER!!!, AN EASY ONE...NOW IT'S GONE. I GUESS IT'LL JUST HAVE TO BE SELF POLICED LIKE IT WAS IN BROOKLYN, YOU GIVE ME THE MIDDLE FINGER, I PRETTY MUCH KICK YOUR ASS. SOONER OR LATER YOU'LL BE BEGGING TO JUST GET A SUMMONS.

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Neil pays off his bet with connor

Pedro is done

MAMMA MIA IN THE MOVIES JULY 18th

By Ray Bennett

No matter how many blockbusters there are, Universal's screen version of the global hit stage musical "Mamma Mia!" is the most fun to be had at the movies this or any other recent summer.

Teenage boys may be glued to the latest action adventure, but the rest of the family will have a rollicking good time dancing in the aisles to Swedish pop group ABBA's irresistible songs. It's a delightful piece of filmmaking with a marvelous cast topped by Meryl Streep in one of her smartest and most entertaining performances.

After its world premiere in London on Monday, the film opens in the U.K. on July 4 and in North America on July 18. It will surely follow the stage show around the world in pleasing audiences and raking in what one of the infectious songs celebrates: "Money, Money, Money."

Credit goes to the original show's creators -- producer Judy Craymer, director Phyllida Lloyd and writer Catherine Johnson -- for seeing their vision through to such a polished and enjoyable picture. Hanging a tale of a woman whose daughter night have been fathered by one of three attractive men on a bunch of ABBA songs sounds simple, but its simplicity is as deceptive as the masterfully crafted songs themselves.

Streep plays Donna, a former singer who has raised daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) alone at a fading resort on a remote Greek island. Sophie finds her mother's diary from 20 years earlier and discovers that there are three men who might be her father. About to be married to boyfriend Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sends invitations to the celebration to all three on behalf of her mother but without telling her.

Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard, as the possible dads, show up on the island where Donna is readying the wedding, helped by her two best pals (Julie Walters and Christine Baranski). The scene is set for songs, dancing and romance, all staged brilliantly, with many energetic and colorful performers beautifully shot.

The songs from Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus have memorably sturdy lyrics that the filmmakers weave with great skill into their story. All of the players perform with gusto, including Skarsgard, Brosnan and Firth who, far from embarrassing themselves, sing well and deserve high praise for being such good sports.

Seyfried and Cooper make appealing juvenile leads, while Walters and Baranski contribute greatly to the film's good-natured comedy. Each has a big solo number, with Baranski belting out "Does Your Mother Know?" to a randy beach bum and Walters entreating a reluctant groom with "Take a Chance on Me."

Streep is sensationally good in rendering the whole yarn credible and in performing dramatically moving songs such as "Slipping Through My Fingers," sung to her departing daughter, and "The Winner Takes It All," to a lost love. It's no stretch to think of her performance in Oscar terms, ranking with such previous musical winners as Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

And when Streep teams with Walters and Baranski for dynamic and crowd-pleasing numbers such as "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia!" and "Super Trouper," there's not an audience anywhere that won't be smiling.