End of Semester Blues

What's the deal? All of a sudden the library at UNLV is packed! It's like everybody just remembered that they go to school and should probably study or something...

My Trip to Wine Country... sort of

Well I did see Sideways, so maybe my interest was piqued.

On Sunday I took a trip Wine Country. In a manner of speaking. I don't know if you know where Pahrump is - I'm not really sure myself. If you drive roughly west of Las Vegas you will hit Pahrump near the border. It also happens to be an entrance to Death Valley. Even as I arrived there I was wondering aloud, "How can a Winery be in the middle of the desert?"

Turns out that there can be a winery almost anywhere. There are even some in Alaska! The fact is, most wineries import their 'grape juice' from elsewhere. Grape growers grow & crush the grapes, and then usually sell them to the wineries. The wineries mainly just concentrate on the fermenting, mixing, and bottling processes. So there is a winery in Nevada. Two, actually, but the one in Reno is supposed to be pathetically small.

Our wine guide was actually very good. He wasn't one of those stuck up wine experts, yet he was still very knowledgable about wine. He says, "You can taste a hint of Coriander and a sliver of strawberry in your wine? What are you, crazy? I suppose you can train your palette in these things, but my philosophy is, if it tastes good, drink it! That's all there is to it." Amen to that!

In case you are wondering, here is what I got to sample:

• Chardonnay - Decent white wine, not too bad.


• Peak White - Actually a 'secret recipe' of the winery, hence the nondescriptive name. Similar to the Chardonnay, but a little crisper. I might have grown to like it with time, but for now it was just okay.


• Symphony - Another white. Supposedly it is some sort of hybrid clone of two grapes. Whatever. It had a nice sweet taste, but at the same time lacked distinction. It also had a weird aftertaste to it, maybe it was just me.


• Burgundy - Red. Not the authentic one from France, but supposedly similar to it. I liked it. It had a nice sweetness to it. Burgundy is supposed to be an easy wine to drink for those people who don't like to drink wine (I fit in that catagory).


• Merlot - Seemed alright, mellow without being sweet. Another red wine.


• Cabernet Sauvignon - Slightly sharper than the Merlot. Not bad! Actually, by this time I was pretty buzzed, so I don't think you should put much weight in this opinion.

We took a break to eat. Good thing, I was getting a little drunk.

• Creme Sherry - It was really sweet, kind of like desert. Buttery walnut tasting. A little too sweet for me. It would of been good with my ice cream, but I already ate it! Why didn't they warn me beforehand!?

I didn't get to taste more - they were completely out of some of them, like Pinot and Zinfandel. None of the wines were bad, and a few were very good. Anyway the trip was pretty enjoyable. I would definitely recommend taking a wine trip sometime in your life.

Fun facts about Wine:

• The difference between White Wine and Red Wine: White Wine is made from the juice of crushed grapes, and the juice is allowed to ferment by itself. White Wine is designed to be consumed quickly, it doesn't actually improve with age. White Wine is best served chilled. Red Wine, on the other hand, is fermented with all of the skin and seeds in it. The grape mixture turns from clear to red quickly over about half a day (Rose/pink wine is made by partially fermenting in the skins & seed, and is taken out of the mixture when the color is just right). Red Wines improve over time until it reaches it's peak (who knows when... unless you read those wine magazines or something, you wouldn't know), then it slowly deteriorates. And Red Wine is usually served at a warmer temperature.


• When storing wine, avoid temperature changes - that can ruin the wine. Storing wine chilled slows the aging process. This is good for white (which never improves). Storing or serving chilled red wine isn't a crime - just avoid excessive temperature changes.


• Fermentation is a process that converts the sugar in the fruit (grapes for wine) to alcohol. If a wine is a little sweet, then the winemaker halted the fermentation process just before all of the sugar was consumed. This can be a tricky thing though - if all of the fermentation agents aren't completely removed, the wine might ferment again messing up the wine's taste profile.


• Speaking of taste, the wine you are drinking is more than likely blended. When wine is made, it is made in seperate batches. The smallest changes in the process, time & temperature changes, where the wine was fermented, etc. affect the taste. When the winemaker makes the wine, he blends wines from different batches (which all taste a little different) until he or she gets the taste that is desired.


• Wine is taxed. Alot. In fact the taxes make up more than the cost to make the wine. So if you buy that $10 bottle of wine, know that at least $5 goes to Uncle Sam. Also the tax rate amplifies proportionally with the alcohol content. So the tax on a 17% alcohol wine would be roughly triple the corresponding tax on a 13% alcohol wine of the same volume.


• Wine is stored on it's side because it's important to keep the cork wet. If the cork fails, oxygen gets in the wine, which ruins it quickly.


• Corks are actually the worst part of the winemaking process. In an effort to avoid cork failure, metal twist caps are becoming more common. Don't be surprised to see them everywhere in about 15 years. There is even a canned wine - called Sophia.


• Wine is typically aged in oak barrels. The oak barrels often seeps in various 'tastes' into the wine as it ages. Nutmeg, oak, cinnamon, these can be imparted into the wines during the aging process. There are nearly infinite combinations of tastes that can be infused into wine by using different techniques. For example, twice aged wine produces some lactic acid which gives the wine a 'buttery' taste.


• The winemaking industry is improving at a rapid pace. The cheaper-end wine you drink today is probably just as good as the better wines available 20 years ago.


• Higher-end wine, expensive wine, tend to have the seed/skins and various other sedement left in it. I suppose hardcore winos want the wine closer to its 'natural' state. Beware if you're a newbie wine drinker; use a decanter.


• White wine is best with fish and poutry. Red wine goes best with red meat. But you knew that already.


• France and Italy produce more wine, seperately, than the entire United States. (Not surprising. The USA can't be good at everything. At least not at the same time!)


• There is a substance called 'tannins' that give red wine a bitter, puckery taste. This taste can be mellower in sweeter red wine (think sugar in coffee). I found a link for more information: http://www.wine-pages.com/course/hand3.htm


• Wine kits & wine bars are becoming more popular in the USA (it's already booming in Canada). Soon you may even be able to brew your own wine at your local mall. Almost certainly you can brew your own wine at home (in small amounts) with a wine kit.

That's all I can think of for now. If you want to see more information on the winery I visited, I have a link here: http://www.westernhorizonresorts.com/pahrump_valley_winery/index.htm

It's a small winery, and the wines they have available can vary from year to year. Funny thing about wine is that the smaller wineries often produce far superior wine compared to the big mass production wineries. (As if I would know) The food was very good as well.

Anyways, I hope you found this post interesting.

Life - Just try to block it out

Abstain! Abstain!
No reason to refrain!
Keep on it 'till you see
stars and rolling seas; oh please
crack your back bloody eyes
and surmise
the troubadour in your life,
striving for the heights;
What I mean is don't sweat it
or regret it;
life - just try to block it out...

eHarmony says, "You're Rejected!"

On a whim, I decided to fill out eHarmony.com's free personality profile. Supposedly the site uses it to find other people who 'match' your personality the best. It took quite awhile to fill out, and in the end, I got rejected! Yep, according to eHarmony.com, nobody is compatible with me! Just kidding. eHarmony cites that they could not pinpoint my personality in such a way to even have a clue who might be a good match for me. So basically, they have no idea. It figures.

Since I'm bored, I guess I'll go ahead and share the results of my eHarmony.com personality profile. I can't really verify its accuracy, but it does appear to be at least 70% accurate:


By analyzing your answers to the Relationship Questionnaire we have created the following Personality Profile. Everyone has a set of subconscious wants and desires that drive their choices and attitudes. By asking you questions about a wide range of emotional issues, this report has established general patterns in your values.

Some of the following information may seem inaccurate or incomplete. Remember, that this profile is a snapshot of your personality at a specific moment. It is not intended as an in-depth analysis of your complete being, but as a tool to aid in self-discovery.

* You show self-control in most things you do; you are not an extremist. Others may see you as stable, mature and steadfast.

* You tend to be a traditionalist, and will enjoy the social environment best if it is stable and predictable. You dislike sudden decisions about where to go or what to do, preferring to think things out first.

* Others may perceive you as being undemonstrative and self-controlled. Not wanting to be the center of attention, you generally support others.

* You are a good friend and are always willing to help those you consider to be your friends. You also show strong ties, and will be uncomfortable when separated from your friends for an extended period.

* You prefer a warm, friendly environment free of conflict and hostility. In that environment, you prefer reassurance of your involvement and self-worth.

* You tend to be loyal to others. Your loyalty shows in a variety of ways including your "staying power" with relationships and activities.

* You have a basic need to be supportive of others. You will agree with others, sometimes even if it's not what you really want.

* You may demonstrate positive possessiveness by developing strong attachments; however, you will not be overly involved as some others tend to do.

* Because of your lenient and complacent nature, others with fewer scruples may take advantage of you. You could, perhaps, benefit from greater assertiveness.

* You tend to dislike sudden or abrupt changes. You prefer things the way they are. Your motto might be: "If it's not broken, don't fix it."


Each person has a unique way of communicating. We use a combination of body language, facial expression, verbal tone and word choice to share ourselves with others. The following statements offer a look at the natural behavior you bring to an interpersonal relationship.

* You tend to be a good listener. Others may seek you out to share a thought or concern because of your empathic listening style.

* You are somewhat reserved in meeting new people. As a result, you could benefit from more assertive people doing the appropriate introductions to new people.

* In your group, you may support the group leader rather than vie for a leadership position yourself. As a result, the group leader will usually appreciate the support you bring.

* In communicating with others, you may support the mainstream ideas rather than new trailblazing activities. You may prefer the stable and traditional activities.

* You have a communications style which many people are comfortable with almost immediately. You are sincere, a good listener, not pushy and overall a comfortable person to be near.

* You may be less talkative than some others, but people will generally know how you are feeling by observing many nonverbal cues.

* Others will notice that you are a sincere person about what you say and do. This trait, along with the excellent listening skills, creates an individual whom most people find pleasant to be with and a calming type of person.

* You tend to internalize conflict. As a result, if something about another is bothering you, you may bottle-up feelings and keep them inside.


Many different factors determine the communication styles with which you are most comfortable. Some individuals thrive on the challenge of pointed criticism, while others are at their best in a nurturing environment where criticism is offered as a suggestion for improvement. Each of us has a unique set of requirements and preferences. Below is a list of communication styles that will mesh well with your own. Having a partner who understands and practices these traits is important to your long-term happiness.

* Take your time and proceed slowly.

* Move casually, informally.

* Be responsive toward ideas and commitments.

* Provide personal support and assurance.

* Ask "How" questions to draw out opinions.

* Prepare your "case" in advance--do your homework.

* Work to achieve mutual satisfaction.

* Listen sincerely.

* If you disagree, organize your thoughts before confronting your partner.

* Start with a personal comment to "break the ice."

* Find areas of common interest and involvement.

* If you agree, follow through with your end of the agreement.


Following are some of the specific strengths and/or personal characteristics that you bring to a relationship. These may form the foundations of many of your friendships and dealings with other people. Some will seem obvious, but you may be surprised by others. Take a moment to reflect on each and consider what role it may have played in your past successes, and even failures.

* You take pride in being very loyal to friends and family.

* You are skilled at being diplomatic with people in all settings.

* You tend to set and maintain very high standards for yourself.

* You tend to have very high values.

* You are excellent at listening to the concerns and ideas of others.

* You tend to be an objective, careful evaluator of situations.

* You tend to be the "Anchor of Reality" in highly emotional situations.

* You are generally very patient with people.

* You are good at helping others people to reach their goals.

* You are very supportive of other people.

* You are skilled at finding practical solutions to complicated situations.

* You are good at making certain that even small details are taken care of.


In general, human beings are defined by their needs and individuals by their wants. Your emotional wants are especially important when establishing with whom you are compatible. While answering the Relationship Questionnaire you established a pattern of basic, subconscious wants. This section of the report was produced by analyzing those patterns. Our wants change as we mature and obtain our life goals. You may find it valuable to revisit this section periodically to see how your wants have changed.

You may want:

* An environment free from conflict or hostility.

* Things done "right" the first time.

* Scheduled activities with no haphazard or unplanned activity.

* Peace and harmony.

* Reassurance.

* Time and opportunity to weigh pros and cons of decisions.

* Time to react to new ideas and sudden change.

* A predictable environment with few surprises that are not "planned."

* Fewer changes, if many changes have occurred recently.

* Others to adhere to your high standards.

What are you most passionate about?

...

I don't know.

I hate questions like these.