Clipmarks | Jenhahaha's clips

Top 10 WIne Tasting Tips for Beginnings

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:41:26 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Funny top 10 list.

Let’s face it, every couple can use a romantic weekend getaway once in a while. The day-to-day stresses of work and life have a way of adding up. Even in summer. That’s why MudslideDad and I jumped at the chance to spend a long weekend in Napa Valley. Napa Valley is one of the top romantic getaway destinations for adults in the US, no question. But we’d never been, and we have a shocking degree of ignorance when it comes to wine as well. That’s where my father-in-law came in. He’s a true wine expert, and knows all about tertiary flavors and that sort of thing. He sent my husband his very own Top 10 list for wine tasting. We enjoyed this “how to” list for beginners wine tasting so much, that it seems selfish not to share.

Don’t get angry when someone says “that’s a big nose” - they are referring to the aroma of the wine, not you.

A magnum is a bottle size, not a reference to Dirty Harry’s weapon of choice.

Tags: wine, napa valley, wine tasting, top 10, funny

John McCain's Sister-in-Law Voting for Barack Obama

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:17:14 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha

Clip Source: www.usmagazine.com

Cindy McCain's half sister is planning on voting for Barack Obama, she tells Usmagazine.com.

"I'm voting for Obama," the Phoenix resident says. "I think his proposals to improve the country are more positive and I'm not a big war believer."

Portalski's mother is Hensley's first wife; Cindy McCain's mother, Marguerite Hensley, also had another daughter from her first marriage.

"She's kinda cool, standoffish," Portalski tells Us of her half sister.

Portalski also doesn't expect Cindy McCain to make an effort to reconcile their relationship.

Portalski's son Nathan, a 45-year-old aerospace machinist, is also backing Obama.

"I wouldn't vote for John McCain if he was a Democrat," he tells Us. "I would not vote at all before I'd vote for him.

"I question whether Cindy is someone I'd want to see in the White House as first lady," he adds.

Tags: politics, democrats, republicans, john mccain, gop

Top 9 Stingiest Airlines

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:29:38 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: What do you think of this list?

Clip Source: travelingmamas.com

The individual airline companies have little - or nothing - to do with the TSA and other ridiculous homeland security policies that don’t actually make us safer (although these policies have spawned a whole cottage industry of 3 ounce toiletry products). A consumer wouldn’t be out of line to think, however, that airlines would acknowledge the indignities of air travel, and do their very best to assuage this for their customers. Think again. With US Airways now charging for water, and Jet Blue charging for in-flight blankets and pillows, the nickel-and-diming of air travel passengers has hit a new low. In no way does the airline industry indicate that it believes the customer is king, always right, or even worthy of respect.

Tags: airlines, passengers, air travel, list, tsa

US Airways Now Charges $2.00 for Water

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:45:25 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: First US Airways stopped giving passengers little bags of pretzels in June. Now the airline is charging for water! What next - a fee for using toilet paper?

Clip Source: travelingmamas.com

My family just ended a wonderful vacation with Adventures by Disney; this was in the American Southwest in July in the summer, so naturally we were looking forward to a nice air conditioned flight home, complete with icy cold juice, water, or soda. Imagine our shock when the flight attendant told us that - as of August 1, 2008 - US Airways charges two dollars for that most basic of air travel amenities, a cup of water. That’s right, it now costs $2.00 to get something to drink on US Airways. To her credit, the flight attendant seemed to understand the absurdity of the situation, but of course this new money-generating venture was out of her hands.

Tags: airlines, air travel, business, budget, airline industry

How to Make a Mudslide Martini

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:34:59 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Short video with instructions for making a mudslide martini.

Clip Source: travelingmamas.com

[Video]

Now, CajunMama met the founder of Tales of the Cocktail, and later invented her very own CajunMama Cocktail. Here she is, showing how to make her cocktail. What a great idea! And, like all great ideas, this one deserves to be copied and expanded upon (wink). That’s why I recently spent some time in the Traveling Mamas Research and Development Department - also known as my kitchen - creating and perfecting the MudslideMama Mudslide Martini. “Work, work, work,” know what I mean?

How to make the Mudslide Martini: Chill martini glass. Mix cream, Kahlua, and chilled vodka, shake over ice in shaker. Drizzle chocolate syrup into martini glasses for “mudslide” effect. Strain concoction into glass, garnish with Hershey’s Kisses. Serve. Wake up in morning wondering where you are, and how you got there. Kidding! But this is a pretty strong drink; you may want to cut the vodka to 1 ounce.

Tags: how to, cocktails, martinis

Starbucks Closure List: All 600 Stores, Searchable

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:38:58 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Starbucks is closing 600 U.S. stores thanks to hard times and poor real estate decisions, analysts say, and just announced which stores they'll be.

Here's the full Starbucks closure list -- all 600 stores that are getting the axe, in one convenient, searchable location. Just hit Ctrl+F (or Apple+F on a Mac) and type in your city or state's name to see which closing Starbucks locations are near you.

Tags: starbucks, coffee, store closing

Napa Valley California

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:28:06 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Napa Valley is as romantic as equivalent parts of Europe, without the giant expense.

Clip Source: travelingmamas.com

Miles and miles of low rolling hills, vineyards as far as the eye can see, and a hot California sun that approximates that of the Mediterranean - close your eyes, and you can smell the ocean breeze on a westerly wind - sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? Well, it is. A romantic getaway or long weekend in Napa Valley approximates the feeling of a honeymoon in the South of France, without the giant expense. All that’s missing are the crumbling Medieval cathedrals and renovated Renaissance-era castles. Great wine is made in Italy and France, but the climate of this part of California is so similar, that it’s no wonder some of the world’s best Pinot Noirs and Cabernets are made here. The romance of a European vacation, along with the plethora of wine tours, wine tastings, and overall wine ethos in Napa Valley makes it worth the trip for any romantic couple.

Tags: napa valley, california, wine, romantic getaway, vacation

Michael J Fox Returns to TV

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:53:35 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: I hope he's doing as well as can be expected. I don't watch Rescue Me, but I think I"ll tune in for this episode.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Michael J. Fox will return to series TV with a four-episode guest role on FX's "Rescue Me."

On "Rescue Me," which stars Denis Leary as troubled firefighter Tommy Gavin, Fox will play a "very funny, very original character," said John Landgraf, president and general manager of FX Networks.

Fox's character, who uses a wheelchair, is the new boyfriend of Tommy's estranged wife Janet (Andrea Roth) and will be introduced in the fifth-season premiere in spring 2009. The episode's air date was not announced.

The star of TV's "Family Ties" and "Spin City" and the "Back to the Future" films was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 and revealed his condition publicly in 1998.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, founded by the actor, has raised millions of dollars, and Fox has been a vocal supporter of stem cell research.

Tags: television, denis leary, michael j fox, parkinson's

Uproar as Turkey Plans Virginity Tests

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:23:00 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: For girls only, of course.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The human rights pressure group, Human Rights Watch, has called on Turkey to withdraw an order authorising virginity tests on nursing students suspected of having sex.

The regulation says that girls studying at government-run nursing high schools should be expelled for having sex, and that those under suspicion should be subjected to gynaecological examinations.

It also says that, once expelled, girls should be forbidden from studying at any government institution.

Forced virginity tests on girls suspected of having had premarital sex were common until the practice was banned in 1999, when five girls attempted suicide by taking rat poison rather than submit to the tests.

Tags: human rights, turkey

New Web 2.0 Personalized Booking Service

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:34:14 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Make your hotel room look just the way you want it to before you even get there.

Clip Source: luxuryresorttravel.suite101.com

Web 2.0 technology from AltiusPAR allows for the luxury of personalizing hotel rooms. Before travel, guests can opt for specific room or suite detail preferences.

Initially working with citizenM Hotels in Amsterdam and other European cities, the AltiusPAR technology will be picked up by other hotels as well. These include hotels in London, Barcelona, Glasgow, Berlin, Stockholm, Brussels, Paris, Milan, and more. AltiusPAR's Guest Experience Ecosystem also has agreements with high-end hotels Club Quarters, Grupo Posadas, and Topaz. Club Quarters has US properties in D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Houston. Michael Levie, CEO of citizenM Hotels, has said that AltiusPAR's technology is a "simple, easy to use and install package which...enables us to deliver a spectacular guest experience." By creating this interactive connection between hotel guests and their rooms and suites, citizenM Hotels can help make vacations meet the wishes of each traveler.

Tags: web 2.0, technology, hotels, internet, booking, travel

A Great Resort Hotel in Napa Valley

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:12:53 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: I had the best time here - it's 5-star all the way!

Clip Source: luxury-hotels.suite101.com

Luxury vacation seekers and lovers of the long weekend getaway, rejoice! One of the best hotels in Napa Valley is right in the Carneros region; this is the southernmost part of Napa, hence the shortest drive from the San Francisco Airport. The 5-star Carneros Inn, set amid almost 30 acres of vineyards and orchards, is the perfect resort hotel respite from hectic workaday life. It's Conde Nast's 11th highest rated resort in the world, and of of Travel & Leisure's to 25 most romantic getaways in the world.

There is also a full-service fitness center with yoga, boot camp, complimentary bikes, and two pools. The Carneros Inn provides, most of all, a pampering, peaceful luxury getaway. This 5-star resort is architecturally perfect for Napa Valley, and highly recommended for an adult vacation, long romantic weekend or wine tasting getaway.

Tags: 5-star, resort, napa valley, wine tasting, california

No more Hand Held Phones in Cars, in LA

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:54:01 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Everyone in La-La-Land is going to have to switch to Bluetooth, or pay the price.

Clip Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Unless you have been living in a cave, you are probably aware that California's hands-free cellphone laws go into effect at midnight. It appears that different agencies may enforce the law differently, according to my colleagues David Pierson and Hector Becerra in a story at The Times' website.

First, the gist of the laws: you cannot hold a phone and have a conversation when driving, although you can touch the phone to dial. If you are 16 or 17, you can't use a phone period. And, the law fails to address text messaging. Here's a link to a Q&A I wrote recently on the laws.

Carnegie Mellon University: In a study released earlier this year, researchers found that people talking on a cellphone while driving -- again, hands-free or not -- were devoting 37% less of their brain to driving.

California Public Policy Institute: The May report concluded that the hands-free law will result in a drop of about 300 driving fatalities each year -- mostly from crashes in adverse conditions.

Tags: cell phone, hand held, los angeles, bluetooth

Real Historic Rental Villas for Family Vacations

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:00:50 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Imagine spending a group or family vacation in France or Italy, in a private 500-year old rental villa!

Clip Source: luxuryresorttravel.suite101.com

A family or group vacation at an historic rental villa is among the best of luxury travel. These Wimco Villas are recommended for travelers who enjoys living history.

Another recommended historic luxury rental villa in Tuscany, Italy is best for the family that appreciates art history and the importance of the Renaissance era. The history of the Italian Renaissance is at the forefront of this villa, once owned by the Machiavelli family (yes, THAT Machiavelli). This estate and main villa dates to the 1500's, with frescoes by Michelangelo himself (the original frescoes have been painstakingly restored) and another Tuscany Renaissance masterGiorgio Vasari. This villa's interior design is pure High Renaissance, with the opulent, highly decorated look of that era. Luxury amenities include A/C, pool, gym, and high-speed internet access.

Tags: france, italy, provence, tuscany, villa, family, vacation

WALL-E and Responsible Travel

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:51:53 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Several good suggestions for taking guilt-free "green" trips and helping prevent the future represented in the movie WALL-E.

Clip Source: travelingmamas.com

If you have kids, you know about WALL-E. And if you don’t, here’s a primer: It’s the latest movie made by Pixar, the folks who brought us Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, and many other CGI movies that are great fun for children and adults alike. WALL-E is no exception. Get ready to stand in line, because every child in the United States is going to be begging to see this one. And hold onto your wallet, because the market is surely about to be flooded with adorable WALL-E tie-in products and toys. Isn’t that always the way?

If you’re taking a car trip this year (and with air fare the way it is these days, who can blame you?), consider switching your auto club membership to Better World Club. It’s a “green” alternative to AAA.

Tags: wall-e, pixar, green, vacations, travel, sustainable

After-Hour Work Pay Issue

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:12:02 GMT

clipped by: Jenhahaha
clipper's remarks: Should people who check their PDAs (Blackberry, etc) after work hours get paid? Interesting issue.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

A spat at ABC News over paying writers to check their BlackBerries on their own time recently raised the issue, and such a dispute marks the leading edge of a deluge of unresolved and potentially heated cases to come in the United States, experts say.

"We've never seen anything like it. Just the question of what is work and what isn't is a practically endless question," he said. "It is going to drive to the surface all kinds of issues that nobody's ever thought of before."

"Technology is going to continue to move in that direction," Peterson said. "It was important to us to make it clear that here's where we stand. This is not going to become an unpaid 24-7 workplace."

Tags: business, pda, blackberry, work