website: France & Italy - Tom & Marta’s European Vacation 2007
You might remember, before I left for my trip to Europe, I decided that “it was about time to push my scrapbooking pursuits into the 21st century”. So, in order to do that, I began collecting digital artifacts of my journey. Those artifacts included twitter feeds, Flickr images, YouTube videos, blog journal entries, Google maps, GPX data, mp3 jukeboxes, and an RSS feed of useful links.
I assembled all those artifacts into a website, where users can take a tour through the daily experiences of our trip. Beyond that, I used a very amazing new tool called Sprout to create a “widget” that included the essence of some of this content… a slide show, a video, a jukebox, etc. By taking this content into the world of widgets, I was able to extend the experience beyond the special site and into things like my MySpace page, my Facebook page, NetVibes, and the various blogs I contribute to.
So, in order to avoid over explaining something that is supposed to be experiential, I will stop here. Please enjoy our digital scrapbook!!
the idea: there is always a story behind what you eat
I recently cooked an impromptu meal for my husband, because I had Monday off and he didn’t. When I have a day off, I like to cook a longer meal that I normally would, or I might be tempted to whip out a little bit fancier wine from the cellar. So, this Monday I decided to build a meal around a bottle of 2005 Rosenblum Cellars Rockpile Zinfandel, which is an extremely well rated Zinfandel that Tony, our wine guy, was able to snag for a steal. I thought I would match this fruit bomb with some fruit-glazed country ribs and some tasty cheese-y potatoes, which would allow me to use up my leftover Beaufort.
I wasn’t really expecting to blog about it, but as I was looking for a pairing match for the wine I began to realize that my kitchen is stocked full of interesting items, each of which has a story behind it…
ROCKPILE ZINFANDEL
The Rockpile appellation or AVA is located in a remote region of the Sonoma Valley. What makes this region special is that it has an altitude above the summer fog line, which means plenty of sunshine, but moderate temperatures (touring the valley in mid-August, I can vouch that the fog/clouds don’t lift until about noon). The hillside conditions are very rocky, which stresses the grape vines. This results of this demanding terrain are in small yields with intense flavors, which brings out the best in such varietals as Petit Sirah, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Very few dare to grow there, but those that do make arguably some of the best Zinfandels in the country (or any country since Zin is California native).
BEAUFORT D’ALPAGE
Beaufort is a cheese that my husband and I experienced in France. It tasted like Comte, but with an incredible intensity of nuts and cocoa. It coated your mouth and made you feel as if you had just eaten a rich dessert. We consumed almost an entire block during a make-shift picnic in the Forest of Fontainebleau, where we utilized the dashboard as a cheeseboard and a credit card as a cheese cutter.
I was never able to match the exact quality of the already hard to find Beaufort here in the States, but I was able to snag a still pretty tasty version from the Cowgirl Creamery in San Francisco. We slowly snacked on the big Californian chunk of cheese, before I had to grind it up into the mashed potatoes in order to save it from mold… a delicious solution.
Beaufort is known as the “prince of the Gruyeres”, because it is richer and creamier than similar cheeses. Beaufort d’Alpage, specifically, comes from a small rural town in the Alps using milk from a specific type of cow, known as Tarine cows. They graze in the mountains, exclusively, which supposedly gives the cheese its rustic flavor and sometimes floral smell.
THE OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA
Another reason I felt like exploring this idea of the story behind food is because I am about to start a book called The Omnivore’s Dilemma (I was drawn in by its delicious looking cover). The book details the entire life-cycle of how food gets from its origin onto our plates, exploring ethics, politics, and science. I’m intrigued because it seems like it is more educational than preachy, and as a total happy omnivore, I’m glad to see a book that explores these ideas from a non-vegan, more holistic perspective. Should be an interesting read, but first I have to finish my weird book about quantum physics and the human brain, which is both fascinating and incredibly hard to read before bedtime… quarks, neurons, consciousness, zzzzzzzzz.
cell phones: Blackberry, Verizon Smartphones, Android, iPhone
So now that I have decided that I am truly in the market for a new phone, there are several big questions I need to answer. For one, what type of phones are available to me as a Verizon customer? While there is always the option of finding an “unlocked” version of a phone (if the perfect phone isn’t offered by Verizon), there is always an associated cost with that. Another question, would it benefit me more to shop for a phone now or wait until the summer when some of the newest phones are going to hit the market?
So, let’s start by having a look at what I could use on my network:
1. Blackberry Phones
Blackberry is one of the leading smartphone engineers for a reason. People seem to love the interface and the usability of the phone, and the types of advancements the newer editions of the Blackberries have made are impressive. With the Curve there is now a decent quality digital camera, GPS support, and on some editions Wi-Fi support. The 8830 is compatible with 3G networks, can be used globally, and has a built-in media player that supports a wide variety of audio and video formats. Both phones are also very capable when it comes to opening documents, such as Excel spreadsheets and Powerpoint presentations (no editing capability however).
The problem with the avaiable Blackberry phones is that what one can do, the other can’t. The 8830 has no camera or wi-fi, while the Curve is not capable of connective to Verizon’s 3G network. And, in the end, the Blackberry phones do not offer anything revolutionary when it comes to the operating system. In fact, I would see moving from a Windows Mobile OS to a proprietary Blackberry OS as a step in the wrong direction when it comes to potential future integration. Although, buying the most popular phone in the country would mean entering into a great community that offers support, hacks, applications, etc.
2. Verizon Compatible Smartphones
The Verizon smartphones actually get me a little more excited, especially the XV6800 and the SCH-i760. The XV6800 is compatible with both wi-fi and Verizon’s 3G network. It runs on the Windows Mobile 6 platform, and while that is not terribly exciting, it is at least familiar. It also has a decent quality camera phone with video support. All in all, some great features.
What is ultimately the really fun thing about these phones is that they offer both the touch-screen interface and full QWERTY keyboard. I have become incredibly fast at typing on my Q and cannot imagine degrading to a standard number pad, but at the same time am a little weary about going to full touchscreen. There is still something about feeling keys underneath my fingers that makes me a little more confident and speedy when I am typing. However, there is no denying that touch-screen offers way more in the realm of user interface flexibility. And, so long as it is a little more accurate than say the Garmin is at sensing finger presses, I am willing to try it out and these phones offer me the best of both worlds.
Every phone has its cons. These are substantial in size, not nice and slim, as well as cost. There are sensitivity issues with the touch screen, and one is reported to have less than perfect call quality. However, I expect there is always going to be a give in take, and if I was to go out and buy a cell phone right this second… it would probably be one of these two. They don’t have the type of OS updatability or integration I have dreamed of, but they are worlds better than what I have now.
So, back to the second question at hand… should I settle now, or should I see what the future has to offer?
3. Android Phones
There are a lot of rumors of what the new Android phone will do, and I am sure that the first generation phones will not be without their quirks. However, there is always something a little revolutionary behind what Google does and I would be excited to be part of it. The idea of services like YouTube, Google Maps, Google Docs, search, widgets, and many more being integrated from day one into a cell phone operating system is an attractive prospect. Not only that though, it represents a new momentum towards blurring the lines between what is web service and what is software. Other recent news promises things like better software integration and multi-player gaming. While not all of the dreamed about details could come to fruition, there is a level of excitement about this phone that is getting software developers and phone manufacturers behind it with determination, and that can only be a good thing.
4. iPhone (2nd Generation)
Another revolutionary phone is the iPhone. I’ve never been a Mac fangirl, but the attractiveness of this phone cannot be denied. I like the idea of a multi-touchscreen interface that supports gestures as a way to navigate photos and websites. It seems to make navigating your phone more natural and organic. While the phone is beautiful and sleek, as most Apple products, there are MANY features of the first generation phone that are lacking, including support for enterprise level e-mail (beyond necessity), 3G, a camera that takes video, Flash video, GPS, and much more. There have been rumors of at least some of these things being supported in the new phone. But ultimately, even if the phone improves, it seems to me like it benefits those who love Apple most… those who use iTunes and AppleTV, those who are the fanboys and girls. Apple integrates best with its own fans and own products, and for me and the products I use daily, I’d benefit far more with a system built by Google or Microsoft.
So, I think my best option is to wait it out just a while longer to see what Google has up their sleeve. The Verizon options are certainly great as a fall back, but I’m still not ready to give up on Google as the catalyst to another phone revolution.
cell phone: Motorola Q
When I first received my Q, to be honest, I was a little intimidated. It was a birthday present and it was exciting, but as my husband explained to me all of the features, I just kept thinking… I’m never going to be doing all that with my phone, this is too much for my needs. And, in reality, I didn’t really get the full use out of it for those first six months. Sure, I would pull up a few e-mails now and then and check my calendar, but it was not an integrated part of my life.
All that changed the minute I got my new job. Suddenly having constant access to my e-mail and calendar became a necessity of the position. I was using Google Maps on the road to get me to where I needed to go, and was sending photo messages back to my husband to keep us connected while away. Before I knew it I was IMing, Twittering, catching up on my industry blogs on NetVibes Mobile… maybe even sneaking some time on LostPedia during a really dull meeting. I ordered my husbands Christmas present using my phone while waiting in line at Sam’s Club. That’s about as integrated into daily life as you can get.
To my surprise, the time has come. I’ve hit the point where my faithful Q, well, no longer cuts it. It doesn’t support Flash video. The operating system, not to mention the web, run excrutiatingly slow. Some web pages are not even navigable. The battery life is pathetic even with the big pack. And almost daily, I have to reboot the phone due to a system freeze, sometimes it even requires me removing the battery pack.
My Dream Phone
On long drives home, I fantasize about what my perfect phone would be:
1. Flash Video
An absolute must, big enough to have its own category. How entertaining it would be to pull up that funny YouTube video for the friends in your bar? That’s a perk, but for me I could see an almost daily use. I would love to follow Gary Vaynerchuck’s almost daily wine video blog. It’s an intimidating time commitment to become a true Vayniac, but something in me wants to be one, merely because I have so much respect for what Gary is doing for the industry. It’s fresh, it’s interactive, it’s the blend of my two big loves in life. Give me a Flash-enabled phone and a headphone jack and I’d gladly give up 10 minutes of my 45 minute commute to listen to the show.
2. True Internet
While it is a part of it, I’m not limiting this idea to the iPhone “true internet”. There are actually times I find a targeted mobile version of a website very helpful. But then there are others where I just want to have the web work like it does on a computer… AJAX, Google Maps with all the features, no crashes, faster speeds, delete my temporary internet files easily, save my passwords, cookies. I want to easily subscribe to RSS feeds and bookmark on del.icio.us. I want to find words, cut and paste, save images to my background. Oh, and… I really want to be able connect to WiFi when its available for even faster surfing!!
3. Location-Based Services
Ultimately, it is a mobile phone, the keyword being “mobile”. Tools should be tailored for that purpose. Google My Maps is a great way to build a travel guide before you go somewhere. A phone with a GPS feature could add an extra layer of functionality, layering your custom map travel guide onto your physical environment. What is the closest wine bar I researched? Any good sushi nearby? Based on where I am, what is the best way to get there and avoid traffic?
4. Flexibility and Extendibility
Just like my Q proved, the right phone now could be the wrong phone tomorrow. The Wii can add new channels, the PS3 can launch the Home network, and every OS comes with their service packs and upgrades. Why then is cell phone technology so inflexible, such a black box? There should be a built in feedback mechanism and frequent updates. I want Windows and Verizon to know just how much my cell phone crashes. And I want widgets, a custom desktop showing weather… I want an iconic alert the minute I look at my phone telling me if there is traffic in my future or if my favorite blog just updated.
Bottomline, I want a phone that makes my life easier and better.
So… what is THAT phone?
In a follow-up article, I will analyze the cutting-edge phones that are on the market and the technologies on the horizon that might make my dreams come true (or not).
recipe: Provenance Napa Valley Merlot 2003
The challenge of this Wine Blog Wednesday (WBW) is to write your review in exactly 7 words. I have to say that, unfortunately, this wasn’t that hard of a challenger, because the wine I drank was not very inspiring, despite its $35 price tag.
Smooth, raspberry, vanilla, drinkable, nothing special, over-priced
UPDATE: Apparently I did not read the instructions right, and the challenge was to write about an ITALIAN red in only 7 words. Doh!! Well, through the magic of the internet, I am going to update this entry to include my Valentine’s Day dinner wine, which was actually contrarily very special and very memorable and ironically not as expensive. Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2003 was a wine my husband and I had at a fantastic lunch in the Tuscan hills. It was actually the least memorable of 3 wines we had at that lunch, the most memorable being a Super Tuscan called Casalferro that the AltItalia authorities stole from us in the Rome airport. Last night however, the wine was incredibly memorable, so without further ado.
Dark, lush, toasty, complex, better when shared
RECENT WINES