fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Imagine…
By: Grace Dow
Tags: Mental Health, Work Life Balance, Millennials, Health Insurance, Debt

Imagine a world where you wake up at 7 or 8am and get your morning coffee or tea. Maybe walk the dog or jog if that’s your thing, or skip straight to the shower if it isn’t. You eat breakfast with your loved ones, send them off to work or school, then get in your car (or take some other mode of transportation) and head to work.

Imagine working eight hours a day, five days a week, with an hour off for lunch, at a job that is challenging and requires physical and/or mental labor but doesn’t destroy your body or your mental health. You may enjoy what you do, but even if you don’t you understand its worth and can take pride in it. Imagine knowing you have set days off every week so you can catch up on rest, make plans with friends, or regularly attend religious or community gatherings.

Imagine your job pays you well enough that you can cover all your bills and put a little aside in savings and a retirement fund. Imagine you get health insurance through your job that has a low enough deductible that you feel like you can actually go to the doctor when you need it and not suffer or make unpleasant or potentially dangerous illnesses or injuries worse by ignoring symptoms because you can’t afford proper treatment. Oh, and perhaps you even have optical and dental too. If we’re dreaming really big, maybe even access to mental health resources like therapy or help for addictions.

Imagine such jobs are available for both those who went to college and those who didn’t. Imagine that if you went to college it (a) enriched your life and expanded your mind, (b) prepared you for the workplace or for contributing in some way to society, and (c) didn’t financially enslave you with a crushing six figure debt that you likely won’t pay off in your lifetime.

Imagine working hard but being well rested, having time for family and friends but also being able to pay all your bills on time, having a safe place to live and enough food to eat and medical help when you need it while still being able to set something aside for help with unforeseen expenses when car trouble or hospital bills might throw a wrench in the works. Imagine feeling secure enough to be able to afford such an expensive endeavor as having children. To own pets, have hobbies, travel, start a small business, or invest time and energy in a creative project.

If you have any of this, be grateful. But a lot of us don’t. So I guess I’m just another entitled millennial because I’m foolish enough to hope for all of these things. With a side of avocado toast.
Mainnet. What’s Next ?
Tags: Dfinance, Blockchain, Financial Freedom, Defi

HLL launch

We are going to launch the first HLL version and the first use cases in the next few weeks. HLL will be the first human-readable language for financial smart contracts that will allow for the construction of financial instruments without coding knowledge.

New UX/UI

We are preparing a big update to the user interface, thanks to our designers Nikolay and Ilya!

We’re starting to work on more complexity with regards to the usability of our projects. Each use case will be as simple as ABC and allow users to achieve their goals with a good experience. All useful tools will always be on hand. Also, we’re working on updates to the look and feel of our panel. We will make it minimalistic, beautiful, and illustrative.

IBC

It seems the Cosmos SDK finally supports IBC protocol and we can now enable our IBC module to transfer assets and communicate between Cosmos-based chains.

It will take some time for us to launch our IBC messaging, but it’s worth it. So, most likely in a few months we will be ready to finally receive the first transfers from other blockchains.

Project Pontem

As we managed to successfully deliver the Dfinance mainnet, we are putting our focus on the next chapter in the Wings Foundation cross-chain initiative.

Our goal has always been connecting popular ecosystems, which enabled Wings Foundation products to derive maximum value for token holders. By being able to recognize opportunities early, we aim to deliver products that will be relevant to the majority, providing relevant and actual use cases.

Our next chapter is code-named Project Pontem, and we believe it has great chances of becoming an exciting and popular platform that will attract investor and trader interest. Today, we are finally able to reveal a sneak preview of Pontem.
How To Fix Your Credit Score
By: Kirthana Devaser
Tags: Credit Cards, Financial Education, Financial Freedom, Finance, Money

Author: Sophie Campion

Question: I didn’t know what I was doing when I first got my credit card. I spent far too much. I got rid of all of my debt but now my credit score is really low. How do I fix it?

Register to Vote

There are plenty of ways to repair your credit score. The first and easiest step to take is to register on the electoral roll. This may seem pointless but being registered to vote means that lenders can easily confirm your name and address.

Bills Payment

Since you’ve already paid off all your debt you need to show that you can keep up with payments. To fix your credit score, it is imperative to pay all your bills on time, this includes rent, electricity, broadband etc. If you’ve been paying your rent on time you can use this to boost your credit score.

Close Unused Credit Cards

Close any unused credit card accounts, this will help as not using enough of your credit can also negatively impact your credit score. Closing unused accounts will mean that you will not be exposed to possible potential credit card fraud. If you want to use credit cards in the future I suggest keeping one open as it will be difficult to get a new credit card with a low credit card score.

Don’t Move!

Don’t move if you can help it, moving house too often can lower your credit score. Lenders prefer to lend to someone with an address they’ve stayed in for a long time.

Get Rid of Any Joint Accounts

Get rid of any joint accounts or accounts that are linked to you. Your credit score can be affected by the score of someone else, check if your accounts are connected to anyone e.g. a family member or an ex partner.

Check for Fraud

Check for any fraud, any fraudulent activity in your name can also have a negative impact. These could include someone applying for credit in your name, or trying to purchase things.

Another thing that can lower your credit score is getting rejected for a credit card. If you don’t get approved for a credit card don’t try applying for one for a while as this can also negatively impact your credit score. Of course if you use Nova to manage your finances you won’t need credit cards at all.

Following all these guidelines will slowly but surely repair your credit score. There is a way to dramatically accelerate this process but it’s a double edge sword: you need to have your spending habits under perfect control or it will blow up in your face.

You can use a credit card to improve your credit score. This time you will need to use your card responsibly, which means DO NOT spend anything you can’t pay-off 100% by the end of the month.

It’s quite complicated to know how much credit you can afford. You need to be able to keep track of ALL your spending, income, bills… etc — this is time consuming. You will also need to resist the temptation to use credit. If this sounds like too much work, then I recommend you try out Nova. It’s an AI that will help you set financial goals, and do all the tracking for you in a fun and gamified way.
Why Copywriting Is NOT As Easy As The “Gurus” Say It Is! And Why It’s Not For Everyone!
Tags: Copywriting, Copywriter, Financial Freedom, Fast And Easy, How To Make Money

Why Copywriting Is NOT As Easy As The “Gurus” Say It Is! And Why It’s Not For Everyone! Velascocopywriting Jan 21·3 min read

2020 was the year that gave most people time to try new things, and some people decided it was time to learn how to make money, and how to make it fast. You might have even been looking online for different fast and easy ways to make money, and if you have, chances are you have come across copywriting. If you haven’t heard of it before, let me give you a quick breakdown.

Copywriting is the art of writing words with the intent to persuade the reader to take action, whether it's to click on a link, open an email, click through an ad, make a purchase, etc. It’s basically a type of marketing in written form, we see it everywhere, people write copy all the time for their businesses even if they don't realize they're writing copy. Copywriting is mostly used to increase conversions and boost sales, which makes it a very lucrative career.

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Here’s the thing, there are a lot of people claiming they can teach you how to write copy in a fast and easy way, and in theory, it does sound easy! But truth is, it’s a bit more complicated than that. What I mean by that is, it’s not just writing anything that comes to your head, because if it was, there wouldn't be a need for any copywriters. And if anyone could teach copywriting, everybody would be doing it because it can be done from anywhere in the world. But there is a huge difference in what an actual trained and experienced copywriter can do vs. what a beginner would be capable of writing, and it definitely shows.

An experienced copywriter will persuade you without you even noticing, an experienced copywriter will make use of emotions that will move you to take action, an experienced copywriter doesn't only give you information, they sell you a story, which in turn leads you as the reader, to do what the writer intended for you to do.

As a copywriter, you have to give intent to your words from the start to the end. All the way from the title to the very last sentence. It is not something that can be learned how to do by just learning what copywriting is. It takes tons of practice, time, and failure. It’s not something you can learn from one day to the other, and it is definitely not for everyone.

So, If you are online looking for different ways to make money fast and easy, and you come across copywriting as a way to do so, stop, and realize it is not for you because copywriting is neither fast nor easy.

Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

But I will tell you this, If you are willing to commit, and put in the hours it takes to practice and research copywriting, and if you are willing to put yourself out there over and over again while failing and learning from your mistakes, you might actually have a chance to be successful and make a living.
Downline — What is Your Downline in MLM
By: Jim Pellerin
Tags: Workfromhome, Mlm Downline Builder, Financialfreedom, Multi Level Marketing, Realestateinvesting

Hi everyone. Today, I want to talk a bit about what a Downline is in Multilevel Marketing?

So they call it a downline, because it’s down below you.

So it is the group of people that are going to help sell the product that you are sponsoring for you.

So in my case, I have a group of people that I’ve sold the product to. And then, these people are also having decided they want to be doing the same thing. So what they’re doing is they’re going out and they’re hiring people, they’re sponsoring people and getting people to sell the product for them. And those people are doing the same thing. So what happens anytime, any of these people sign up for the product… and the product that we’re selling is actually a consumable product, a product that has a residual income.

And by residual income, I mean, there are two types of residual incomes. There’s the residual income from membership fees and there’s residual income from product consumption. So for example, in our case, we sell services, telecommunication services, electrical services, phone services.

And every time somebody pays their bill, I get a commission off of that. I get a commission off people that I’ve sold directly to, and I get a commission off anybody in my downline.

And again, those are people that have purchased that product and have gotten other people to sell the product for you. So this is how multi-level marketing works and how it gets to be a big venture where you can literally have thousands of people in your downline, which is what people do when they get into the $10,000 or $50,000 a month type of income. So there’s a long list.

And usually, in our case, again, there’s five levels such you get, basic levels, and then you can also get more levels as you progress in the ranks of our company. So as you become a regional director, as you become a vice president, then you actually get commissions on the further down line. So I think you can get up to 10 different levels. So that’s why it’s called multi-level marketing.

Okay. So that’s what’s called a downline in multilevel marketing.

If you would like to learn more about starting your own business and how you can start making money fast … then click this link topessentialservices.com
What happens when you spend more than your limit?
By: Khowshigan Mathiyalagan
Tags: Financial Planning, Financial Freedom, Financial Literacy Tips, Spending Habits, Money Management

Jacob is from a middle-income family, and he always wanted to become a star actor. So, he decided to move out from his family to seek acting opportunities in the city. However, he could not get any big acting opportunities in 3 years, and then out of the blue, he got a major role in a movie. The crew liked his performance. So, he got a large sum as a salary.

Jacob has never seen this much money in his hand as he had a hard life in the last 3 years. So, he bought a huge house with all the money he received as the salary. He also bought a luxury car by taking a debt. He thought he could easily pay it back with the salary he gets in the upcoming months. This attitude made him spend lavishly.

Suddenly, a huge financial crisis arrived in his country. Due to this, the economy saw a huge recession. So, the moviemakers decided to stop filming and Jacob lost his job. Now, he had to face a lot of problems. He could not pay off his debt. Also, he could not pay for all the expenses on his huge house, and to make it worse he could not find any new jobs since it was recession time. Therefore, he used all his assets to pay off his debts, and now Jacob is back to where he started. Poverty!

The moral of the story: Always spend within your limits.

H ere are some tips to spend less than you earn,

1. Avoid the unnecessary fixed cost

Think twice before you take a loan or buy some expensive item on credit. This will create a fixed cost for you every month. Do this only if you can handle that fixed cost.

2. Minimize spending on wants

Wants are things that are not necessary for you to live. Entertainment cost, leisure, and travel are some examples of wants. Control your spending on wants to spend within your limit

3. Think about the consequences

This is my personal opinion. Always think if you spend more, you will have to wake up with debt in hand. Trust me!! That is the last thing you want in your life.

4. Automate your savings

Nowadays most banks allow you to transfer a certain percentage of the amount to your savings account automatically as soon as you got the salary. This method allows maximizing savings while minimizing spending.

5. Maintain a budget and review it monthly

Prioritize your expenses and make a monthly budget. Then track your budget to make sure that you spend within your planned limit. This is the classic way to control your spending.
My AZ-900 Certification
By: Roberto Bagnato
Tags: Cloud Computing, Certification, Az900, Cloud, Azure

About 5 months ago i finally decided to get my first Azure certification and i decided to go with the one that everyone of my collegues at the time recommended me: the Azure AZ-900 exam (i know, but i didn’t have time until now to share my story).

First of all i have to say that i had some previous experience in cloud concepts and architectures, but more on the AWS side, but when i started using the azure portal for other business projects i realized that it could be a great fit, so i took it seriously and started my journey to the cert.

I started by subscribing to Cloudacademy, which has a really great offer and discount for students, plus i think the material is better than other platform i tried overall. I took the AZ-900 course and did all the exercise that were on the course and i have to say that were pretty interesting and not so repetitive, a common thing to found on other platforms in terms of sandbox and lab training.

Once i finished the course i took and revise some note on the major aspect that the instructor pointed towards passing the exam and decided that was a great idea to buy the Whizlabs Exam Test for about 9$. They were essential because i didn’t really know what i was preparing for and i have to say that they are pretty close on what the exam actually is.

Finally the day came up and the guy from the online test center gave me directions to show my setup, my room and finally to start. Once i finished the result were instant and i was super happy for the achievement, even if it is a small one ;)

For anyone who’s reading this mini-story i would say go for it, it changed my career and now i’m going to get other cert for sure. See you in other stories :)
SeaLab Gets Certified
By: Cal
Tags: Product Design, UX Design, Certification, Design Agency, Women In Business

SeaLab logo

SeaLab is no stranger to hitting new milestones and achievements. We’ve made it our goal to improve on something every chance we get and we’re proud to say that this has fostered an attitude and culture that’s positively impacted each member of our team as well as our clients.

We’re very happy to share that we’ve officially reached certification on an aspect of our business that we’re very proud of. We are now a Clutch Certified Women Business.

Clutch badge saying “clutch certified women owned business”

Even during the decades that followed the women’s rights movement, the business sector stubbornly remained as an all boys club. Stereotypes and cliches dogged the female workforce, leaving a stigma that took superhuman efforts to erase.

While the world still has a long way to go, we acknowledge that we have come a long way as well. This certification is a symbol of what we are as entrepreneurs, and our success is the proof of the positive impact we can and have done as a business.

Women-owned companies are decidedly in the minority of any industry. This puts their actions, methods, and results under a microscope. Every project becomes a statement on how effective businesses run by women really are, and we welcome that.

Cropped image of the infamous Rosie the Riveter poster saying “We Can Do It!”

While this is the first certification that we get from Clutch, it won’t be the last. In fact, this milestone will only become more important with each review and award that SeaLab will be getting from now on.

You can test to see if these reviews are telling the truth for yourself. If you’re looking for a dedicated design partner that listens to you and is genuinely interested in your success, then we’re the team for you. Just fill out our contact form and we can set up an appointment where we’ll discuss the nuances of your project and get started as soon as possible.

See what else we’re up to!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Google + | Dribbble | LinkedIn
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner — A Short Course Provider List
By: Daniel Rosehill
Tags: Aws Cloud Practitioner, Certification, Certification Training, AWS, Aws Certification

Switching From Linux to AWS

Something about the Linux preparation, however, left me a bit cold. Knowing Linux and Unix-like systems remains essential for most sysadmins, of course, but today’s market seems more focused on what one can do with this knowledge.

One night, after wrapping up some Linux video lectures, I decided to check out what other tracks I could dabble in with my Linux Academy subscriptions. Navigating through the cloud menu, I came across Linux Academy’s AWS training path. This seemed interesting! I both use AWS services for backups (see, for instance, my Google Takeout to EC2 backup how-to) and I have written for a number of cloud-related clients. Plus, who couldn’t be bullish about cloud computing’s future? It’s here to say and as the leading provider of public cloud infrastructure (at the time of writing at least) AWS seemed the most sensible of the vendor certification tracks to pursue.

It was love at first session!

I found the AWS tutorials much more engaging than the Linux lessons. Operations has always appealed to be much more than development, and the AWS coursework focuses really on the best ways to architect for the cloud. If I was going to spend time pursuing any certification which mightn’t actually serve any concrete purpose, learning AWS was at least enjoyable.

I did relatively well on the Linux Academy test exams. But after my monthly subscription expired, I decided that I needed to focus on more practice exams before sitting the actual exam.
From 40% to Passing: Studying for the Oracle Java Associate Exam in 5 weeks
By: Andrew Gaspari
Tags: Certification, Java, Programming

Photo is from Oracle, I’m sure

TLDR; I haven’t actually passed the exam yet, but I wrote about my perceived successes and failures in learning what Oracle considers to be the most basic aspects of Java. I established a baseline knowledge using a Udemy course and built upon that baseline. The topics I had to work hardest at were Inheritance, Data Types, and Access Modifiers. I’ll update the post 2/14/19 and let y’all know how I did!

Sometime in 2016 I decided that I would learn how to program and after some quick research, I settled on Python because I was (and still am) interested in statistics. Now I’m a Masters Candidate in a Data Science program and working earnestly on my Python skills, but that’s certainly not the point of this piece.

Along my journey, I took a wide variety of courses on Python, Java, C#, the overwhelming and constantly shifting deluge of web programming languages. I slowly learned how to stay motivated, and most importantly, I taught myself (and learned) how to best teach myself.

The courses I took through Treehouse, EdX, Codecademy, and FreeCodeCamp were all wonderful, but it was difficult to stay consistent when I didn’t have a project I cared about.

That all changed when I was accepted into Udacity’s Android Basics Nanodegree, earning a scholarship from Google. I was finally fully invested in learning to program, and completed the course despite working multiple jobs and being in school part-time.
-> All-in-One PMP Exam Prep Kit: Based on 6th Ed. PMBOK Guide (Test Prep Series) by Andy Crowe -> Available in Hardcover \ Kindle \ Paperback \ AudioBook
Tags: Certification

-> All-in-One PMP Exam Prep Kit: Based on 6th Ed. PMBOK Guide (Test Prep Series) by Andy Crowe -> Available in Hardcover \ Kindle \ Paperback \ AudioBook Ossianic Oct 17, 2019·1 min read

Just For Today get free read 30 days !!!

This all-inclusive, self-study guide for the PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam provides all the information project managers need to thoroughly prepare for the test. It contains the book The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try; flash card App to help with memorization of key points; a laminated quick reference guide; a trial version subscription to the PMP course in InSite (the top PMP e-learning site); and downloadable audio CDs featuring experts Andy Crowe, Bill Yates, and Louis Alderman discussing the main points and concepts for the exam. The included learning materials cover all the processes, inputs, tools, and outputs that will be tested, along with insider secrets, test tricks and tips, hundreds of sample questions, and exercises designed to strengthen mastery of key concepts to help you pass the exam with confidence. … (More info! -> https://dinamisebookpdf.blogspot.com/?book=0990907481)
-> All-in-One PMP Exam Prep Kit: Based on 6th Ed. PMBOK Guide (Test Prep Series) by Andy Crowe -> Available in Hardcover \ Kindle \ Paperback \ AudioBook
Tags: Certification

-> All-in-One PMP Exam Prep Kit: Based on 6th Ed. PMBOK Guide (Test Prep Series) by Andy Crowe -> Available in Hardcover \ Kindle \ Paperback \ AudioBook Daagden Oct 17, 2019·1 min read

Just For Today get free read 30 days !!!

This all-inclusive, self-study guide for the PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam provides all the information project managers need to thoroughly prepare for the test. It contains the book The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try; flash card App to help with memorization of key points; a laminated quick reference guide; a trial version subscription to the PMP course in InSite (the top PMP e-learning site); and downloadable audio CDs featuring experts Andy Crowe, Bill Yates, and Louis Alderman discussing the main points and concepts for the exam. The included learning materials cover all the processes, inputs, tools, and outputs that will be tested, along with insider secrets, test tricks and tips, hundreds of sample questions, and exercises designed to strengthen mastery of key concepts to help you pass the exam with confidence. … (More info! -> https://dinamisebookpdf.blogspot.com/?book=0990907481)
3 Steps to Get AWS Cloud Practitioner Certified in 2 Weeks
By: Kenneth Leung
Tags: Cloud Computing, Certification, Cloud, AWS, Amazon

Step 1 — AWS E-Learning Modules

— — — —

Time needed: 6–7 days | Cost: Free

— — — —

The online e-learning modules provided by AWS themselves are wonderfully planned and delivered, making the concepts easy to follow and understand. The content is organized into bite-sized chunks that covers the key ideas behind cloud computing and the services offered by AWS. Best of all, it is free!

I liked how they used a coffee shop as a simple analogy across all the modules, as that makes the theory much easier to digest and visualize.

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Go to the AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials E-Learning page to access the e-learning content. You will need to create an individual Amazon account if you have not previously done so.

The game plan for Step 1 is to follow through each lesson in sequence, and take notes if possible. Although the video playtime is 6 hours in total, you should expect to spend at least twice that amount of time. This is to factor in repeat viewing and revision of the lessons.

For people totally new to cloud computing, I would say you should allocate about 2–3 hours per day for 6 days to have a good understanding of the content. If you already have some baseline knowledge of cloud computing concepts (e.g. exposure to other services like GCP), then the time required will be shorter.

Another tip is to watch the videos at higher speed (e.g. 1.5–2x), so that the time spent can be optimized.

As a token of appreciation for reading this article, I am sharing my notes which I have neatly compiled based on the lessons and transcripts. You can find the notes here on my GitHub page.
My experience with Google UX design certificate
By: Jose Hurtado
Tags: Google, Leanring, UX Design, User Experience, Certification

I Finished today the UX design course 1 of 7 for Google UX Design Professional Certificate, and the experience was amazing. Everything about this User Experience (UX) Design course split into 4 weeks was perfect and very well structured, for me this course provides a good start in UX design, learning from key frameworks in the field to how to craft a UX portfolio.

I Know the Internet tells us we need to learn new tools, languages and frameworks to stay relevant, 🤯 but trust me if I tell you this first of a series of seven courses will equip you with the skills needed to apply to entry-level and also high-level jobs in user experience design, even for Non-English native speakers like me (I’m trying to do my best to avoid typos and grammar errors, so please don’t kill me if you found more than one 😊), this course offer captions (Not Translate) and visual elements and resources to help to understand the whole process and topics.

The following are but not limited to the key topics from my experience that are most prominent.
Red Wine
By: Gene Chen
Tags: Wine, Red Wine, Bordeaux

Bordeaux Supérieur (2016) — Bordeaux, France

Château De Ricaud (Dourthe)

Grape: Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

Price: Euro 7.99 (Merkur)

Alc: 14.5%

Personal Rating: 3.5

Body: Mid

Tannic: Higher Tannic

Dry: More Dry (especially upon finish)

Acidity: Mid

Decant Times: 20–30mins

Note: There are strong dark chocolate and blackberry aroma upon opening, much smoother after decanted. Bordeaux Supérieur is defined by:

Use of older vines

Densely planted vineyards

Required ripeness of fruit and natural sugar levels upon harvest

Lower harvest yields

Minimum 10.5% ABV

12-month minimum barrel aging requirement

Bordeaux Supérieur wines can only be made from the six accepted grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenère. Most wines consist of majority Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot

Reference: https://winejournal.robertparker.com/what-is-bordeaux-superieur http://www.dourthe.com/en/wine/115-chateau-de-ricaud-bordeaux-superieur http://www.dourthe.com/en/company/history/
Unfiltered garnet running milky-clear at the rim.
By: Stephen Mcconnell
Tags: California, Wine, Food And Drink, Wine Tasting, Grenache

Unfiltered garnet running milky-clear at the rim. Big, full nose bursting with ripe plum, root-beer and berry. It’s a grimy sort of roundness: matching the appearance in the glass but so candy-shop perfumed you have to look hard for bits of earthy barnyard lurking below but which make strong appearances with fresh swirls. Tough to call the alcohol on this–knowing these guys it will be low, but the ripeness and legs tell me it HAS to be north of 13 somewhere. But it’s not *big*–as Grenache shouldn’t be–it’s just delicious-smelling and full.

Tasting it solidifies why I have called this brand numerous times the absolute DE FACTO starting point for anyone hesitant about “natural” or “low-intervention” wines. They just DON’T make a bad wine! These things are so good, so brilliant, so solid, so professional and clean, you quite lose sight of their stated purpose in winemaking. These guys literally don’t give a shit what anybody thinks, and just continue churning out gorgeous, yummy wines without flair, fantasy or dogma. Rich and decadent on the palate, while watery-crisp and plowed with acid. Rusty steel and citrus minerality don’t let the fruit get all wacko-Paso in eye-rolling concentration or heaviness. Jolly Rancher: watermelon, cinnamon and orange, distill themselves down into the bitter cranberry and chubby cherry enough to create lip-smacking appeal in a wine DEAD SERIOUS. The rasp of structure invades all points, finally turning the mouth-feel into a teeth-wiping affair stunning in virtuosity and diceable perfection.

You CAN’T not like this wine. There’s no way. Not if you’re a serious wine person with an objective palate. I’ll just lay down the gauntlet right here: If you don’t like this wine there’s something wrong with you. You’ve addled yourself on jam & vodka & oak & Wagner MegaPurple bullshit and the constant stream of wine-bro $200 Napa *tasting experiences* and your opinion doesn’t matter. You have a sweet-tooth. Your palate has been dumbed down by marketing and Instagram and stupidity. You don’t know wine. And this is 24 bucks. People constantly be like: McConnell, you’ll never be taken seriously until you stop posting $24 wines! and I’m like, No. You’re the one who’s not serious. You’re a joke in the wine community. This is real wine.

2019 DEUX PUNX Grenache Tejada Vyd Lake Co California 14.0

http://www.deuxpunx.com/
To New Beginnings
By: Jason Wilson
Tags: Recipe, Cocktails, Wine, Food, Coffee

To New Beginnings

Instead of Champagne last night, I opened a weird dry Oregon gewürztraminer. It seemed a fine way to toast the strange times we live in.

In 2018, I published a very long travel feature in the Washington Post Magazine, in which I visited a number of the Trump vacation properties around the world — including the hotels in Panama and Vancouver (both no longer operating), the golf courses in Scotland, the ruins of the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, the winery in Virginia. The editors wanted me to draw some sort of conclusion “through the eyes of a travel writer” about the weeks I spent in Trump World. So at the end of my 10,000 words of travel writing, I suggested:

But what if all that happens is that the country becomes more like his vacation properties? What happens if, after all the shouting and crying and offending and accusing and bragging and deregulating and delegitimizing, America’s reputation simply becomes defined as relentlessly mediocre? Perhaps in the great Golf Digest-like ranking of nations, the United States drops from being one of the top countries to being, say, the 46th or 54th best in the world.

While I’m proud of that feature, there is a certainly touch of naivete in hindsight. All I can say is, even in March 2018, we knew it would be bad…just how bad was really the question. On this 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century, with a new president and a new beginning, we can finally begin to assess the damage and to recover and move forward.

Planet of the Grapes is about drinks and travel and food — and usually light on politics. But that doesn’t mean we don’t think about things, Nietzsche over pesto, mindfulness and rebirth over pour-over coffee, colonialism, slavery, and American hegemony over rum. In today’s newsletter, I’d like to highlight a few of our deeper reads.

— Jason Wilson

We Need To Talk About Rum

God and Pesto Are Dead

We Were Wrong to Give Up on Pour-Over Coffee
Bicycle Gourmet’s French Wine Vine — Part One
By: Christopher Strong The Bicycle Gourmet
Tags: France, Wine, French Wine, Travel, Paris

French Wine Grapes

When someone says: “French”…..what’s the first second word that comes to mind? “Fashion?” Maybe. “Film?” Uh,could be.”WINE?” Yes sir, you betcha! That be the first,second word describing France. How could it not be with vines covering so much of the “terroir?”

From time to time France gives the World a movie/music star/sports hero. But the “gift” of French wine is constant and(happily)consistent. (Curiously,the World’s premier wine magazine is American.)

On the World markets, French wine faces stiff competition from producers in other countries. Many of whom are either French,and/or have adopted the French model. Regardless of taste/price,there is one element French wines have that World wines do not.Authenticity.

Because of A.O.C.(Appelation Origine Controle) — The government system of wine designation/control.

This “fidelity”to a specific location means that a Pinot Noir from Beaune,must be produced from those grapes alone,and grown within the Beaune appellation. This assures the consumer that this pinot is an authentic reflection of Beaune’s soil and climate.

World wines,on the other hand,have no such restrictions. And because wine is such a huge business, the Multinationals who churn out container carloads plus o’ vino,focus on the taste/price balance,relative to each market. And,if their grapes in any year are not “ab/fab”,they’ll be “enhanced” in the cellar.(“Better drinking through chemisty”…….NOT!)

There is even a wine producers “hotline” offering market specific additive info. “OK — So you want to produce a Chardonnay for low end Japanese consumers..Since they like a banana flavor on the finish,you need to add yeast b-957.”

Happily, if you do detect a nuance of banana in your French Savignon, you can rest assured, thanks more to tradition than A.O.C, it’s the real deal.

Although Italy produces more wine by volume than France, the adjective -“Quality” is synonymous with French Wine in the popular imagination.

The Bottom (and obvious)line: Every Country has wines of varying degrees of “quality” — however you wish to define the word.

One wine that fits MY definition of quality is produced by Domaines Tatin.

You can join their wine harvest HERE.
A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Wine Consumption and Purchasing Behaviour in Germany and Hungary
By: University Of Florence
Tags: Hungary, Wine Consumption, Germany, Wine

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Wine Consumption and Purchasing Behaviour in Germany and Hungary

Gergely Szolnoki, Geisenheim University, Von-Lade-Str. 1, 65366 Geisenheim, Germany

Gedeon Totth, Budapesti Gazdasagi Egyetem, Buzogány u. 10–12, 1149, Budapest, Hungary

While most wine growing countries in Europe are considered part of the “old world” winemaking heritage, the differences between those countries can be substantial. With singular political and economic circumstances as well as unique cultural backgrounds that influenced the development of their wine markets, Germany and Hungary are excellent examples of how the wine markets in two “old world” heritage countries differ significantly. These two countries, both with a long wine tradition and similar per capita consumption, will be compared within the framework of this study in terms of consumers’ preferences and sales channel usage.Germany’s winemaking tradition has a 1,000-year history.

More recently, Germany has become one of the most important marketplaces of the European wine business; it is the world ́s largest wine import market by volume, with annual per capita consumption of 24.2 litres of still and sparkling wines. Trade structures that include very effective discount stores have encouraged this volume growth as they promote additional sales and thus contribute to what has been a rapid change in demand volume.

Hungary also has a more than 1,000-year wine tradition. Unlike Germany, however, wines by domestic Hungarian producers dominate the market and this pattern is expected to continue. The average annual wine consumption has been decreasing since 2010 and is currently around 24.0 litres per capita. The sales channel structure also differs from the German model; in Hungary, super- and hypermarkets are the leaders in selling wine.

Two representative surveys have been conducted in order to describe the current situation of consumer preferences, to analyse the differences between these two markets, and to model the total wine market in Germany and Hungary.The paper begins with a general description of the German and Hungarian wine markets, followed by the materials and methods of the representative survey. Then, in the “Results” chapter, data analyses using various statistical methods show the differences between German and Hungarian wine consumers. At the end of the paper, the “Discussion” chapter summarises the results, gives some managerial implications, and provides some information on the limitations of the research.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14601/web-8053

Read Full Text: https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/wep/article/view/8053
5 Summer Wine Cocktails | Vino Palma
By: Vino Palma
Tags: Italian Wine, Cocktails, Wine, Sommelier, Vino

Wine is great, but wine cocktails can be even better.

With summer kicking in, a refreshing lime drink would simply do the job. So why not trying a Star Gazer? This is not only a tasty cocktail, but it is one of the most refreshing ones you are ever going to drink! Besides of being a quick and easy-to-make drink, a Star Gazer is very convenient if you have guests with a weakness for wine cocktails.

1. Strawberry Wine Punch

If you love a Strawberry Daiquiri, you will definitely want to give this easy strawberry wine cocktail a try. It is sure to be the hit of any party or get together, and to accompany such a sweet fruit you definitely need a fruity wine. So what better than our Fiano di Avellino DOCG?

INGREDIENTS:

White wine

Strawberry Daiquiri mix

Lemonade

Fresh strawberries for garnish

2. The Star Gazer

With summer kicking in, a refreshing lime drink would simply do the job. So why not trying a Star Gazer? This is not only a tasty cocktail, but it is one of the most refreshing ones you are ever going to drink! Besides of being a quick and easy-to-make drink, a Star Gazer is very convenient if you have guests with a weakness for wine cocktails .

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz of white wine

1/2 oz of rum (golden)

1 oz of pineapple juice

1/2 oz of vanilla syrup

1 lime wedge

Ice

Red Wine Sangria

3. Red Wine Sangria

Sangria is festive, fruity and fun. It’s a perfect party punch to pair with outdoor appetizers and barbecues. Cold sangria can be enjoyed in hot summer days, however the red wine base (we recommend our fruity Sannio Barbera DOC) makes it an appropriate drink for cooler days, too!

INGREDIENTS:

1 bottle (750ml) red wine

1 cup of orange juice

1/2 cup of brandy

3 tablespoons of granulated sugar

1 orange, sliced

1 apple, sliced

200g of blueberries

200g of sliced strawberries

1 (12-oz.) can seltzer or sparkling water

4. Peach Wine Smoothie

With summer and its delicious seasonal fruit we cannot forget peaches! They are not only some of the most tasty and juicy fruit, they also are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. And above all they blend greatly with our Greco di Tufo DOCG. This Peach Wine smoothie is a refreshing and delicious summertime cocktail you’ll make over and over again.

INGREDIENTS:

750 ml white wine

2 cups juice (lychee, optional, you can substitute with apple juice)

6 peaches (sliced, peeled or unpeeled)

12 ice cubes

5. White Wine Mojito

If you fancy a refreshing drink after a long week of work, the White Wine Mojito is a must try! This low alcoholic version of the classic Mojito is the perfect balance between taste and booze. And we can guarantee our Falanghina Sannio DOC, mixed with mint, is an absolute delight.

INGREDIENTS:
Red Wine and Chocolate
By: Mark Ihrig
Tags: Alcohol, Wine, Food, Food And Drink, Chocolate

Dark chocolate and red wine can be a match made in heaven when paired correctly. And with February being known as the month of love and chocolate seen all over the stores this time of year, we think a wine and chocolate pairing should be involved. The pairing of the two can be an art while working to get the perfect flavor combination you’re looking for.

The Spruce Eats says to keep it simple when pairing wine and chocolate together and really think about what flavors will come together in harmony. “With both wine and chocolate carrying their own innate intensity, they can often find themselves engaged in a formidable palate power play, each vying for dominance and immediate attention (The Spruce Eats).” If a wine is too fruity and paired with dark chocolate, it can create an off taste in the wine and send your taste buds into confusion. You have to be careful to choose the right wine and chocolate to keep each one balanced.

Dark chocolate is typically known for its bitter taste profile. Some wines that pair well with this style are Malbec, Red Blends, Ports and dry reds. Zinfandels are also a great bold red to pair with a dark chocolate. “Zinfandels with their dense fruit, energetic spice, and often higher alcohol levels enjoy a long legacy of handling dark chocolate delights exceptionally well (The Spruce Eats).” But everyone has their own preference and what may taste like a great pairing to one, may not to another. It’s all about trying different wines and a range of chocolates. You never know what combination could be a winner.

Originally published at www.cellarswineclub.com.
Enjoying wine on your Glamping Trip
By: Mark Ihrig
Tags: Glamping, Wine, Camping, Alcohol

Did you know that camping with wine provides you with a much more ideal situation as opposed to beer? Wine has an ideal ABV, which means you can get more alcohol for less weight. Beer doesn’t really compare to the 4–6% ABV that most wines offer, making wine the superior, and obvious, choice. You don’t have to live in Wine Country to glamp it up with a nice bottle of your favorite vino.

Whereas some people stock up on hydrating tablets and perhaps even a few cold beers, wine lovers will understand the appeal of bringing wine to a camping trip. Whether you’re spending a relaxing weekend in a cabin, want to hit the Appalachian Trails for a day hike, or simply want to turn a normal night in a tent into an ultra-relaxing one, we’ve got you covered.

What will you be pairing your wine with?

Consider the menu for the trip. If you and your family or friends know you’re going to go for a full-on cookout, then you’ll likely want to accompany the food with a different wine than if you’re just packing weenies and s’mores. The normal rules still apply, and juicy red meat like steaks will pair great with a red wine, but a lighter wine that has under 14.5% alcohol will likely hold better against any heat if you’re camping during the summer.

A Riesling is great for summer camping, as well as whites that don’t need to be cold to be tasty such as a Chablis, Pinot Gris or Chenin Blanc. If you’re heading to the mountains during the winter, a Pinot Noir or Chianti is great for colder weather outings.

What to pack for a wine glamping trip

Ensure you’re stocked up on all the necessary camping items, such as cooking ware, sleeping bags, and utensils to barbecue with. You’ll be able to fuel your adventures as well as ensure that you can enjoy cozying up to a bottle of wine on your next camping trip without worrying about what you’ll eat or how you’ll eat it when the wine munchies kick in. As well, ensure that you’ve packed utensils to open the wine as well as drink it properly. If you know you prefer a chilled wine, come prepared with an icebox or cooling system. And, always keep your wine out of direct sunlight to prevent having it cooked and dehydrated.

Stay safe and enjoy the pairings

Enjoying wine while camping is a great way to enhance your senses in a way that also enhances the taste of the wine you’ve chosen to bring with you. Enjoy the great outdoors and allow the trip to open your eyes, nose, tongue and even ears to new experiences that can add to the food and wine pairings you’ll be enjoying. As always, it’s important to check your local laws in regards to drinking alcohol in public parks and spaces, and to stay hydrated even in the colder months. If you’re planning on enjoying wine glamping more often, opt-in for a fine wine subscription to always have your favorites in stock.

Originally published at www.cellarswineclub.com.