Time can certainly get away from you. It seems like yesterday was July, yet summer ends next week. My "mutterings' have been a bit scarce. Perhaps they will incerease as he sunlight decreases.

Although I feature "what I am drinking" on the side bar of my blog, I have mixed my wine musings with my rants in the past. Here is one worth the main page.

Maldonado Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2005. I enjoyed it this week and to me it was a steal at $25.00. A little lemon, a bit of jasmine and a lot of vanilla made it a great partner to lemon chicken. I even thought I caught a hint of violets, but my wife told me I was crazy. If you can find it try it. I couldn't find a website, but here is a link to Vinfolio.

I hope you enjoy it.

Ok... I know I have been MIA, but it has been hectic. You may notice I am drinking Chianti tonight (another fine use of Sangiovese). Every time I have Chianti I think about the black rooster on the bottle. A friend told me that only the best Chianti's have the black rooster (a tip that has never led my astray), but here is the rest of the story from Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico

Why is Gallo Nero (the Black Rooster) the symbol of Chianti Classico?
The Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) has always been the symbol of the entire Chianti region. The origin of this is lost in time: an amusing legend narrates of the rivalry existing in the Middle Ages between Siena and Florence. According to this legend, in order to cease their endless fighting, the two Tuscan cities decided to leave the definition of their respective boundaries to a remarkable feat between knights: they were to leave their hometowns at cockcrow and wherever they would have met each other, that exact spot would have been the border between the two republics. For this purpose, the citizens of Siena raised a beautiful white rooster, which grew big and fat. The Florentines, instead, chose a black rooster and never fed him, so that on the fateful day he was so famished, he started to crow even before sunrise. As a result, the Florentine knight was able to set out very early in the morning: he met the knight from Siena in Fonterutoli –merely twelve Kilometers from Siena -, as the latter had left much later: this is the reason why almost all of the Chianti territory was united under the rule of the Florentine Republic. Even if this is only a legend, it is however confirmed that the Black Rooster profile has represented the emblem of the historic Chianti League, which ruled over these lands since the beginning of the 14th century. The artist Giorgio Vasari painted the Black Rooster on the ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio, as an allegorical representation of the Chianti region. The Consortium has ultimately selected this seven-century old symbol as a certification of its wines.

Perhaps it is useless trivia, but it is interesting dinner talk.

What's Up Doc?

This is a first, two postings within an hour.  I had to share my experience with an application for the BlackBerry Storm (and others).

Gwabbit (http://www.gwabbit.com/) makes adding information to your contact list as easy as opening an email.  The application recognizes the signature area and populates the field of your contact list.  I have had it for a couple of days and found it to be a great.  No more cutting and pasting.  It is automatic.  The only downside was the $9.99 cost, but it will likely be worth it in the long run.  I get nothing out sharing this, but I hope you get a kick out of this application

Apple's iPhone "wrecking" the cell industry

Maybe some day I will be able to get an iPhone on the Verizon network.  My BB Storm keeps getting better, but I am intrigued by the features on my iPod Touch and wish they were on my phone.  

Here is an interesting view on what iPhone is doing to the industry.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/07/13/apples_iphone_wrecking_the_cell_industry.html

I can't say I disagree. If I were Apple I would be looking for every opportunity to involve other providers.

Pizza Hut First Pizza Chain to Launch iPhone App

I'm back.  It has been a while, but I have not forgotten that someone might be reading this.

I continue to think that the iPhone app is a disruptive technology.  Obviously when Pizza Hut takes the plunge it must mean something. 

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=137952

I have always wanted to order pizza from my iPod.  

Well maybe not. 

I did order movie tickets on Fandango from my iPod.  

I am certain someone out there will be excited about this one.

It is still disruptive, at least to my phone.