Lake Erie West Wineries

Our site seeing began in Valley City, on a quest to learn about honey wine. When we arrived at Jilbert’s Winery, we found them to be unfortunately closed. We continued on our way and ended up in Westlake, at Heartland Vineyards. The owner was busy pressing grapes, but his wife was available and promptly took us to the tasting room in which we sampled numerous wines and learned a wealth of information.

Heartland purchases juice, and sometimes grapes, from around the country and then makes a variety of wines from them. They only sell from their own store and two other small town stores in the area. They also are known for their beer and wine making supplies.

The first wine I sampled was called Catabara. It contained Italian Muscat (we learned this species is also used in asti spumante) and Barbera grapes. It seemed to have a floral scent of rose/geranium and was semi-dry. It apparently pairs well with seafood. The next sample was called Autumn Crest. It had a woody/dried aroma with a hint of tobacco, and tastes of blackberry and black currant with a spicy finish. Next I tried the apple wine which could only be described as very “appley.” It also had a crisp kind of smoothness. The Pink Catawba had a strawberry/pear aroma and taste, was semi-sweet, and had a tart finish. Finally I tried the Raspberry Melomel, which was very interesting. It had a very strong aroma and therefore I was not able to discern anything specific. It was very sweet with a bit of tang and had a smooth, caramelized, honey flavor.

After asking about the difference between meade and melomel, we were told that they made their meade by fermenting the honey and then sweetening it with honey rather than adding sugar. It takes two years for the whole process and they do not heat their honey which can cause it to go bad if it reaches 160 degrees. Their melomel was made by, once again, fermenting the honey and then adding fruits of their choice. They produced raspberry, blueberry, cherry and peach.

Throughout our hour and a half conversation, we learned several other interesting facts. We learned that grappa is made from the left over stems and grape skins, which are crushed again and served as an after dinner liquor and that Valipachello (unsure of spelling) goes through a malolactic fermentation in which the acids are balanced out, producing a smooth, buttery taste. We also learned that a 30 gallon wooden barrel costs $200, that California has three more growing months than we do in Ohio, that Ohio was the wine capital of the U.S. until the early 1900’s, followed by New York and then California, and that this was a bad year for Delaware and Buffalo grapes due to the rain and cold weather.

After buying a bottle of Autumn Crest and Catabara, we headed to Klingshirn in Avon Lake. The owner here was also very busy but was able to give us a short tour. He quickly explained how all of his harvesting and processing machinery worked and showed us his storage area. We then sampled several wines, White Riesling and Vidal Blanc, and he explained his method of making his Iced Delaware. Instead of leaving the grapes on the vine to freeze, they are picked and placed in a freezer and then made into wine. Because this is different from the traditional way of making it, they are not allowed to call it “ice wine.” Overall, their wine did not seem as full flavored as the previous place, although we did buy a bottle of Iced Delaware to try.

From Klingshirn, we went to John Christ, also in Avon Lake. The owner was an enjoyable server and we sampled the majority of their selection including Raspberry, Blackberry, Special Blend, Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Gewurztraminer, and Pink Catawba. I was partial to the Pink Catawba and the Special Blend, which contained a mixture of Concord and Niagara grapes, (we purchased a bottle of each) but I did not dislike any of them.

The John Christ Winery

I was referred to the John Christ by the people at Heartland vineyards. Upon arriving at the vineyard my first impression by the ambiance of the estate was a positive experience. It appeared well maintained and cared for. Unfortunately the wine-master had left for the day.

After a lengthy conversation with the shop keeper, I felt that this was a particularly interesting winery that had a deep zeal for the craft. The wines I tasted where well worth the trip. They ranged from complex oak and pepper flavored to sweet grape flavored. A more complete review of the wines is in the works.

To Kill A Mocking Bird - A Book Review

The novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, features a well-educated lawyer, Atticus Finch. His appearance as a deeply sophisticated man that has very high moral standards sets him apart from his peers in Macomb. His view of humanity defines him as the ethical cannon for his community. He single handedly makes the legal profession appear to be ideal. Atticus Finch is a martyr and moral icon for his community.

Atticus is willing to sufferer for the cause of another. He is prepared to risk his social standing, his and his family’s physical safety and even professional reputation, in order to defend a young, black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. This is why he may be personified as a mocking bird. Atticus took on this weighty task for no fee. He only wished to help his fellow man.

What makes Atticus different than other people in Maycomb is the air of nobility he exudes in his professional life.

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This attitude does not to carry over though, in to other aspects of his life. Atticus lets Jean Louise (A.K.A. Scout) behave in a way that serves as a prime example of the way of thinking that sets him apart from others in the South. His concerns and behaviors seemed to transcend the common cares of early 20^th century Southern ways.

Atticus does his best to instill his morals into his children. For example in chapter eleven, during an afternoon walk, as Jem and Scout pass Mrs. Dubose sitting on her poarch, Mrs. Dubose makes a loud and reproachful statement about their father Atticus "lawing for niggers" (p.110). She growls, "Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" (p.110). Because of this attack, on his way home, Jem tramples her prized camellias.

When Atticus comes home that evening and finds out about what Jem has done, he punishes him. Jem is required to read to Mrs. Dubose everyday for a month as punishment.

Although the most relevant dissimilarity, perhaps, amid Atticus Finch and the commoners of Maycomb, are his views on racism. The society at that time was riddled with Jim Crow type philosophies and intolerance.

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It is living in Maycomb, practicing law there, represented the people in the legislature, that see Atticus to be the man that he is. That is an intelligent, humble and wise person.

In summing up Atticus one may say he is the archetypal hero of the novel. He is the quintessential nonconformist of his day, strong in his beliefs yet modest. Filling the role of father figure he influences children in what he believes is right and just, even in a culture that does not treat all men as equal.

Columbus in Chains - A Book Review And Historical Comparison

The story “Columbus in Chains,” by Jamaica Kincaid presented an opportunity to evaluate story’s main character Annie John’s upbringing as compared to a modern day Midwestern education, an education that is derived from a mostly White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant (WASP) society. I am able to empathize with what Annie was taught in her classes because I also have become aware of my ancestor’s mistreatments.

Annie, the story’s heroine, is a native to Antigua. She learns that the British Settlers enslaved her Antiguan ancestors. It would appear obvious to the reader that the British committed terrible atrocities. My Indian ancestors were also enslaved and mistreated.

For Annie, some of this information came from her history class although she also learned from outside sources. As to the sources, the reader can only speculate.

I too had a dual sided education. The first is the public school systems interpretation of history (American settler propaganda). The second comes from many different sources I have experienced through my upbringing. For example, I was taught about the murdering of Native Americans through plays.

Being raised in a home that found it important to seek the truth in all matters including history, it was from my parents that I learned many of the atrocities that were inflicted upon American Indians by the European settlers.

I also became more aware through various pieces of literature, film, television, and special interest groups of Americas negative activities.

Because the history that is taught in the public school systems in censored and picked by mostly W.A.S.P. officials, there are many variations from other schools of thought. Being only taught what the public school system wanted me to learn I came to realize that I was fed countless lessons of pure propaganda. From the beginning in my memories I can recall the many tales of how America came to be at the hands of mostly European immigrants.
What Annie John learns in class is different from what she finds out about her ancestry.

Annie was taught from the British perspective. That state of mind was to the effect that the British were emancipating the Native Antigens from their “pagan ways”. Surely there is no mention in her books of the terrible misdeeds committed by Columbus’s followers. What she learns in class is different from what she finds out about her ancestry. She discovers the terrible acts that the British imposed upon her people years ago.

In the public school system I learned that the American “side” I was on was always the right or correct side. Annie was taught that her British influenced schooling and way of life was the proper path to live by. We both have been conditioned to believe that our ancestors where in the right. I have two sides to choose from. Annie could choose from two sides as well but she knows of the terrible things that were done to her ancestors by the British.

Annie and I have come to find that not everything that is our history has been portrayed properly or documented at all in the schools.

I know that the Native American side of my make up had faced many atrocities at the hands of the Europeans encroaching on their native lands, murdering and enslaving. I also know from sources outside of the school systems that many other things have happened to the Native Americans.

The education I have received from public schools has made me two things. A skeptic of what my government teaches me and open minded to seeking out more sources to find the truth. I think that Annie feels the same in regards to the skepticism although she seems to be more hate filled about it. Being deceived by the same people that are teaching you makes it difficult to side with them or whom they represent.

Like Annie John I have found many variations from what I consider to be the truth. To my best belief, the things taught to me in history class have been colored at best and untruthful at worst.

Having grown up in a school system that teaches the American people the things it does makes me wary. Annie John also seems to show resentment towards what the school is teaching her. Because I cannot trust what I have been told by these people. I cannot side with them.

I have not chosen to side with any particular party. The only attempt I make to take a side is by doing what I believe my God would want me to do. The reader can only speculate as to what Annie’s guiding force would be.

Although the previous paragraph may infer that I hate the country that did the things they did. It simply is not so. I love my country; it is the government and who runs it that worries me. I do believe Annie John feels the same. She shows no animosity to her peers in regards to race. In the story she only holds disdain for her teacher because she is the one feeding the children the misinformation.

Annie does not seem to have the clearest line drawn when it comes to picking a side. It would seem that she would automatically side with her heritage. It is true that she is somewhat rebellious. In the story she makes a point of showing her obstinacy to the teacher of her class. Even though Annie seems to follow most rules. She could assimilate herself into the British culture.

A Study of PGI Interactive

The PGI Interactive website (http://www.pgiinteractive.com) provides most if not all of the useful information that would be required in making a selection of a multimedia/technology company for a business. The site gives a one to three paragraph description of all of its services under each category, as well as descriptions of how each service has been implemented in the respective companies involved. The PGI web site has a detailed contact page. It allows users to find relevant contact information of all of the PGI Interactive offices. In the contact area, users will find contact information relating to sales, career opportunities and all other information requests. Due to the nature of the design and development industries, the price structures seldom are published to the public. This is also due to the fact that all companies are different and have different needs; these needs must be assessed and priced accordingly. The mission statement from PGI encompasses a set of ideals that accentuate strengths of team development. “We approach each project, no matter the size with a team of talented professionals from multiple disciplines including, interactive design, strategic consulting, application development, and network engineering.” – PGI Interactive mission statement PGI has a fairly wide market/product scope. They service any organization requiring high caliber multimedia development and marketing services. With such an eclectic clientele list featuring organizations of all sizes, one can tell that this company has a wide market scope. The strength of a company lies within its employees. Judging by the caliber of work produced by PGI, they must have an exceptional staff. Many competing firms simply do not have the depth of skills that PGI has. They seem to have all bases of modern development covered. Perhaps the greatest competency of PGI is their proficiency in high technology and creativity. Their greatest asset lies in their talented staff that brings their knowledge of computers, art and business to the team. It is this team attitude of development that makes them rise above their competitors. Because PGI does not rely on physical goods to distribute, they have no publicly available alliances or allegiances. Their value is shown in the rich portfolio and clientele.

Genealogy of Morals by Fredrick Nietzsche - A Book Review

Nietzsche speaks a painful truth to me which shows an uncanny look at the chains our modern culture has bound itself with. Nietzsche’s criticism and thought provoking insights of modern thinking and philosophy have proven to be intriguing. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Genealogy of Morals by Fredrick Nietzsche is his unsympathetic disparagement of society, religion and philosophy.
His theory is based upon our current morality system which has risen out of the defeat of older systems because of wars and other means. He viewed the results of this distortion of history as false and misleading. Knowing this, I have called much of my own beliefs of what is “good” and “bad” and where these ideals came from, into the center of attention.
Perhaps no other idea shakes the cores of society as a whole, like the idea of guilt and how it is dispensed in order to control the masses. Even the most casual of observers in today’s world should be able to recognize the vices dispensed by many authority figures including politicians, clergymen and philosophers.
When people follow the beliefs of an ascetic ideal, they risk becoming something that is against life and against the values they claim to hold. This ascetic ideal holds the believer to untruths that control every aspect of their lives. In order for a leader to attain a moral stance that would use the kind of shame that Nietzsche describes, one would have to meet an “ascetic ideal”.
The ascetic ideal is best modeled by the priest in Nietzsche’s eyes. From what I can gather, this priest is the epitome of the Roman Catholic priest. He is impoverished, humble and most importantly to Nietzsche’s argument, chaste. The last point of being chaste is significant because the fact that Nietzsche believes that withholding the urge to reproduce is in itself anti-life. Being “anti-life” goes against everything else that the priest is attempting to profess to their respective congregations.
Perhaps the most compelling reason Nietzsche has for the existence of the “slave morality” is the idea of original sin. This binding form of guilt is driven by resentful feelings for the master. It can be deeply disturbing to see the effects of the debtor/creditor relationship. Perhaps it is most saddening to see the repression of society as a whole by events that impose guilt on humanity. This is a direct result of what Nietzsche called “slave morality”. Slave morality is the morality born out of the slave revolt. It is fueled by resentment and hostility toward the noble or ruling class and in Nietzsche’s mind, is a bad thing.
If what Nietzsche says is true about hostile and destructive human instincts being turned inward, the ensuing “bad-conscience” would be the result of “man’s suffering of man, of himself”. To a casual reader, this seems to be inhumane. After all, why would the general public compose itself of people that are riddled with self loathing, bad-consciences and self contempt? It seems simple if one understands the controlling power of debtor/creditor relationship. If one believes that the only way to alleviate their feelings of shame is through repayment of their guilt’s, then societal leaders will always remain in control of the sheepish masses.
Perhaps the “will to power” will manifest itself in ways that lean more towards absolute truth in these people. This struggle that takes place among humans who are competing with one another, seems to be a futile attempt at satisfying their own need to feel superior. It is this misguidance that in the end is the root cause to so many of the issues that seem to revolve around the weak ascetics.

The Wizard of Oz as a populist parable

Life for farmers and populists in the late 19^th century Midwestern United States, was difficult at best. Farmers faced drought, crippling loan payments, a political system that did no justice to their plight and a nationwide depression that left many families in a terrible disposition. Frank Baum has paralleled many of the adversities faced by these settlers in the novel, The Wizard of Oz.

The Wizard of Oz begins its story on a small farm in Kansas. The heroin of the story, Dorthy Gale, is knocked unconscious and swept away by a tornado. The house containing Dorthy and her dog Toto, lands in the strange world of Oz. Soon after her arrival, the good witch of the North and the Munchkins greet her. The community is very happy for Dorothy’s impromptu arrival because her house has landed on the wicked witch of the East, killing her and thereby freeing them from her oppression.

The Munchkins seem to represent the populist population of the early 19^th century in the United States. They were a group oppressed by the tyranny of the eastern bankers, which was represented in the book as the wicked witch of the East. The bankers of the time made life for the farmers virtually unbearable.

Shortly after the death of the wicked witch of the East, the good witch of the North gives Dorthy the dead witch’s silver shoes. The “silver shoes” seem to be a metaphor for silver dollars. In what the populists called the “crime of 1873.” Eastern bankers of the time stopped issuing silver dollars and replaced them with gold currency. Populists carried a “free silver” campaign in the 1890’s vigilantly, but to no avail. The objective was to convince the bankers to exchange 16 ounces of silver for 1 ounce of gold.

Bankers put a major dent in the pocket books of the farmers because their decisions severely limited the money supply in the United States. With money in short supply, farmers saw the price of their crops begin to plummet. The price of agricultural goods continued to sink starting in 1871 until 1896.

The wicked witch of the West has some unique parallels to reality as well. She represented many things such as the depression during the years of 1893 and 1894, drought conditions, the erosion of rich soil and the plagues of crop destroying insects.

Characterizations of the lives of the American people during this time, are also very apparent in the story.

For example, the first character Dorthy meets on her path down the yellow brick road is a scarecrow with no brains. In reality the yellow brick road is the gold road of the bankers symbolizing wealth, and the scarecrow is the common populist being mocked as mentally inferior. Next you have a tin man that represents the mechanized life of industrialists. Then there is the cowardly lion. The Lion could easily be construed as William Jennings Bryan whose pacifistic ways could be misunderstood as cowardly. Lastly, the “Wizard” of Oz could be the Presidents of the time. They tended to be somewhat deceptive, aloof and indecisive when it came to making important decisions.

Frank Baum claimed that his novel, The Wizard of Oz, was a children’s story. The author grew up in the times of which the story parallels. Baum observed first hand the horrors of the farmers of this time period and also wrote about them in the defunct newspaper of which he was employed. Perhaps he did not write a parable of the populist intentionally, but that is what it seems.