OT Things to ponder

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

So I have to ask a question about the mix you use in your hummingbird feeder.

ORIGINAL: witpqs
Equal parts gin, vodka, whiskey, and Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar.

I wouldn't waste Chateau Margaux on birds. I prefer Chateau Haut Brion, but I wouldn't say no to Chateau Margaux. I think both are out of both of our budgets. The last bottle of first growth I had was worth about $300 at the time. Chinese demand has run the price into the stratosphere and also created a big wine counterfeiting industry.

Bill

Googling "most expensive wines" for that post, the Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar was, at $4,062 per bottle, the least expensive of the 5 listed. [:D]

[geofflambert]

I don't think there's much amity between ravens and crows. The ravens are substantially larger (though the crows are not small by any measure). Almost like a crest, they (ravens) can raise a scruff of feathers under their chin and off the throat that makes them look even bigger. In the US ravens like the wild places. They're common in Montana for instance but you're less likely to see crows. Crows benefit from close contact with humans, and like cornfields as we all know. Ravens are more tolerant of the elements than crows. I don't believe I've ever seen a raven in the wild but I have little doubt that I might mistake one for a crow. Crows are exceedingly intelligent. Most birds don't really see me when I'm looking out my window, they don't recognize me. Crows see me immediately even if it's just my head. Ravens are smarter still.

[wdolson]

So I have to ask a question about the mix you use in your hummingbird feeder.

ORIGINAL: witpqs
Equal parts gin, vodka, whiskey, and Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar.

ORIGINAL: wdolson
I wouldn't waste Chateau Margaux on birds. I prefer Chateau Haut Brion, but I wouldn't say no to Chateau Margaux. I think both are out of both of our budgets. The last bottle of first growth I had was worth about $300 at the time. Chinese demand has run the price into the stratosphere and also created a big wine counterfeiting industry.

Bill

ORIGINAL: witpqs
Googling "most expensive wines" for that post, the Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar was, at $4,062 per bottle, the least expensive of the 5 listed. [:D]

And if you're going to do it right, you probably shouldn't crack open the bottle until around 2050.

I found Chateau Haut Brion and Latour at Costco back in 1989. I didn't have much cash on me, but bought as many bottles as I could afford (2 Haut Brion and 1 Latour). They were something like $45 a bottle. I opened one of the Haut Brion bottles in 2005 when we were celebrating something. That was the smoothest wine I have ever had, absolutely exquisite. I can see why it's in such high demand.

When we opened the bottle my SO was saying it was going to be vinegar, but I kept telling her, "trust me!" My father introduced me to the first growths when I was a kid. When he found a bargain on one, he'd pick it up. Back then (late 60s and 70s) Trader Joe's usually had a few cases of the first growths per store when the vintages were released each year. Trader Joe's was a local Los Angeles market chain then.

I think Chateau Margaux Balthazar was mentioned on Vicious, is that where you heard about it?

Bill

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

I don't think there's much amity between ravens and crows. The ravens are substantially larger (though the crows are not small by any measure). Almost like a crest, they (ravens) can raise a scruff of feathers under their chin and off the throat that makes them look even bigger. In the US ravens like the wild places. They're common in Montana for instance but you're less likely to see crows. Crows benefit from close contact with humans, and like cornfields as we all know. Ravens are more tolerant of the elements than crows. I don't believe I've ever seen a raven in the wild but I have little doubt that I might mistake one for a crow. Crows are exceedingly intelligent. Most birds don't really see me when I'm looking out my window, they don't recognize me. Crows see me immediately even if it's just my head. Ravens are smarter still.

Ravens do look like crows generally, but having seen crows you would know something wasn't right - "that looks like a crow but isn't" sort of thing. Raven are larger but also differently proportioned. Their bodies are heavier and their beaks are much thicker. When a raven lands on your roof and walks around it sounds like a roofer is up there checking things out.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

So I have to ask a question about the mix you use in your hummingbird feeder.

ORIGINAL: witpqs
Equal parts gin, vodka, whiskey, and Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar.

ORIGINAL: wdolson
I wouldn't waste Chateau Margaux on birds. I prefer Chateau Haut Brion, but I wouldn't say no to Chateau Margaux. I think both are out of both of our budgets. The last bottle of first growth I had was worth about $300 at the time. Chinese demand has run the price into the stratosphere and also created a big wine counterfeiting industry.

Bill

ORIGINAL: witpqs
Googling "most expensive wines" for that post, the Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar was, at $4,062 per bottle, the least expensive of the 5 listed. [:D]

And if you're going to do it right, you probably shouldn't crack open the bottle until around 2050.

I found Chateau Haut Brion and Latour at Costco back in 1989. I didn't have much cash on me, but bought as many bottles as I could afford (2 Haut Brion and 1 Latour). They were something like $45 a bottle. I opened one of the Haut Brion bottles in 2005 when we were celebrating something. That was the smoothest wine I have ever had, absolutely exquisite. I can see why it's in such high demand.

When we opened the bottle my SO was saying it was going to be vinegar, but I kept telling her, "trust me!" My father introduced me to the first growths when I was a kid. When he found a bargain on one, he'd pick it up. Back then (late 60s and 70s) Trader Joe's usually had a few cases of the first growths per store when the vintages were released each year. Trader Joe's was a local Los Angeles market chain then.

I think Chateau Margaux Balthazar was mentioned on Vicious, is that where you heard about it?

Bill

Crikey - 2050! I'll stick with a glass of water and a cup of black coffee.

No, I literally just googled "most expensive wines" and besides the usual links it listed a few in what I'll describe as a preview box, and I snagged the first one (least expensive of the five).

Do you temperature control your stored wine?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

I don't think there's much amity between ravens and crows. The ravens are substantially larger (though the crows are not small by any measure). Almost like a crest, they (ravens) can raise a scruff of feathers under their chin and off the throat that makes them look even bigger. In the US ravens like the wild places. They're common in Montana for instance but you're less likely to see crows. Crows benefit from close contact with humans, and like cornfields as we all know. Ravens are more tolerant of the elements than crows. I don't believe I've ever seen a raven in the wild but I have little doubt that I might mistake one for a crow. Crows are exceedingly intelligent. Most birds don't really see me when I'm looking out my window, they don't recognize me. Crows see me immediately even if it's just my head. Ravens are smarter still.

Ravens do look like crows generally, but having seen crows you would know something wasn't right - "that looks like a crow but isn't" sort of thing. Raven are larger but also differently proportioned. Their bodies are heavier and their beaks are much thicker. When a raven lands on your roof and walks around it sounds like a roofer is up there checking things out.

Growing up in Northern Manitoba, ravens were the only bird around town in the winter.

We had problems with our metal garbage cans being opened and the garbage bags torn apart and strewn all over the place. The lids on the cans were wedged a little bit on because the men emptying the cans bent them out-of-round when they bashed the side of the can on the truck. So my mother cursed the dogs that ran free in the town for knocking off the lids and getting into the garbage.

Then one morning we were up at first light and not making too much noise. We looked out the window and saw a raven hurling himself at the edge of the garbage can lid until it popped off! Three other ravens kept watch and waited for their feast!

In the summer ravens rarely came into town but when we hiked a mile or so out of town a raven would always come and fly near us to see what we were up to. One time we found their rookery about three miles from town, in some trees at the top of a sheer cliff with a lake below, and mostly bare rock beyond. Perfect place to spot enemies approaching.

BTW, I much prefer the occasional croak of a raven to the raucous, non-stop chorus of caws from crows! The aboriginal people revered the raven, but crowns ... not so much! [:)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs
No, I literally just googled "most expensive wines" and besides the usual links it listed a few in what I'll describe as a preview box, and I snagged the first one (least expensive of the five).

I love your honesty, my Argletonian colleague. [8D] You're a philistine of the first order, but an unblemished honest one. [:D]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs
No, I literally just googled "most expensive wines" and besides the usual links it listed a few in what I'll describe as a preview box, and I snagged the first one (least expensive of the five).

I love your honesty, my Argletonian colleague. [8D] You're a philistine of the first order, but an unblemished honest one. [:D]

You would not be so amused if you were a hummingbird expecting a little taste of Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar! [:D]

[MakeeLearn]

It starts off innocent enough....

[MakeeLearn]

Then it's a daily thing.....

[Chickenboy]

Dad?

[geofflambert]

[:D] Stop it!

[MakeeLearn]

1 - See it?

[MakeeLearn]

On ASW patrol...

[MakeeLearn]

2- MMMMM.. Ita smella very nice'

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

1 - See it?

???

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

2- MMMMM.. Ita smella very nice'

Achoo!

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn


On ASW patrol...

Hunting subs by smell? This could be a game changer - Alert the USN. [:D]

[geofflambert]

The CSN Crawdad may be lurking.

[geofflambert]

May Apples?