Columnists

Good luck, Google!

Posted: June 20, 2014 at 9:32 am   /   Columnists

Did you see the pictures of Google’s new driverless car? According to recent reports, Google—the juggernaut that controls everything we do these days—is about to test a fleet of 100 driverless cars without steering wheels, accelerators or brake pedals. The cars will have a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour, which I guess will […]

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My kingdom for a pillow. And a good cup of coffee

Posted: June 20, 2014 at 9:30 am   /   Columnists

LOML and I decided we should go camping. I’m not sure who actually decided to go camping and who fell for it, but it happened. We decided to go to camping. You know, sleeping in a tent—with sleeping bags—food in a cooler, cooking on a Coleman stove, flashlights to find your way to the toilets, […]

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Triple Crown

Posted: June 13, 2014 at 9:04 am   /   Columnists

For a large contingent of North American sports fans, the possibility of a Triple Crown winner on the racetrack in New YorkState brings pure excitement. Such was the case last Saturday, as California Chrome sauntered toward the starting gate in the Belmont Stakes. More than 120 000 fans gathered at the track, hoping to witness […]

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Elevated flavour

Posted: June 13, 2014 at 9:02 am   /   Columnists

Last week we discussed the effect of the cold ocean currents on the growing cycle of vineyards. This week we look at the impact of altitude. Higher altitude vineyards in Europe are in the Alps, the Pyrenees and the upper reaches of Duero river Portugal. Usually no higher than 800 metres, the effect of altitude […]

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After the rains

Posted: June 13, 2014 at 8:57 am   /   Columnists

It would be like any other morning, except when the rains come: at dawn; drenching bouquet, opening sour earth and sweet-water sky. I saw it over there yesterday, the anvilhead cloud, large flat-top cloud: Cumulonimbus incus; thunderstorm cloud; king of all clouds, rising high out of nowhere like the pillars of the earth of Utah; […]

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Uncage the grammar police, again

Posted: June 13, 2014 at 8:55 am   /   Columnists

A few weeks ago, I wrote about setting the grammar police on the prowl against the use of the inadvertent expression known as the malapropism. Today, I’m uncaging the grammar police again, and writing about the pleonasm. What the heck is a pleonasm? It’s the use of more words than necessary to convey a point. […]

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All you need is love—and a plan

Posted: June 13, 2014 at 8:54 am   /   Columnists

I am truly fortunate. I live in a great community. If I want to work, all I have to do is call my buddy Lynda, and she finds me a spot in one of her catering gigs or she calls me and tells me I have to work for her. In the 42 years I’ve […]

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Out of the mist

Posted: June 6, 2014 at 8:58 am   /   Columnists

Early last week, in the late afternoon, I saw fog roll in from the lake and embrace Wellington. And it made me reflect on how important these tiny water droplets can be to winegrowing. We have all seen footage of the Golden GateBridge peeking above the ocean fog. Apart from providing excellent photo opportunities, this […]

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Three Dunlop tires

Posted: June 6, 2014 at 8:56 am   /   Columnists

Editor’s note: David offers a lighthearted alternative to the Michelin Guide. There’s something heartening about watching grown people slobber ice cream all over their hands, faces and clothes. I think it’s the fact that eating ice cream has to be approached by accepting our inner child. Yes, the big news is that the old/new Orchard […]

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Ride along

Posted: June 6, 2014 at 8:54 am   /   Columnists

“The Ride for Heart is always a happy event. I get to ride for a great cause with my family and it marks the start of summer for me,” says my youngest son. Well, it marks the start of summer for me, too. It was an amazing day on the Gardiner Expressway and the Don […]

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