Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Chocolate, Wine and Women

Written by: Walter Links

I promised the editors of this publication that I would make reading about wine fun, informative and light. For the month of February, I was going to write about old Wine favorites from the past. However, since February is about romance I thought it would be fun to write about Chocolate as well as wine.

Chocolate, ah the smell, the texture and above all the taste, what a great gift from God….that is as well as Wine! God must truly love us because he gave us such great things to enjoy, pleasing our sense of smell, taste and tactile elements in our lives.

Now, most people just think a chocolate bar is a piece of candy. No it is much more for Chocolate has great health benefits as well as wine. For example antioxidants! In cocoa the levels of antioxidants are higher than pomegranates, blueberries, spinach and kale as well as many other antioxidants vegetables. Antioxidants are found in numerous substances, however much more fun when it comes to those things we love to eat and drink, but have always been told they are bad for us. From our parents, to our doctors or from anyone else that had an influence in our lives.

Well, science started proving the ideas of the past all wrong. For example; Chocolate causes acne! Actually, the cocoa is not the culprit here it is the sugar, the dairy products and other fats that contribute to this problem. Why especially in teenagers? Think about it aren't the teenagers going through so many hormonal changes during those years? Chocolate causes cavities; once again, it's the sugars, fat as well other ingredients and poor dental hygiene. Cocoa, actually contains a substance that inhibits the promotion of cavities. Cocoa raises cholesterol; while it is known that cocoa butter does technically contain saturated fat, it has been proven that it does not raise cholesterol in people with normal cholesterol metabolism. Chocolate kills dogs; actually this is true. The amount of chocolate that is toxic varies depending on the cocoa content and the weight of the dog. In cocoa there is theobromine and even small amounts can be difficult for dogs. Their repiratory systems go out of whack. White-chocolate does not contain theobromine, however it is not good to give your dogs any type of sweets.

Now, all of this applies more so to Dark Chocolate than milk chocolate. These bars have a higher amount of cocoa in the bar.

How does all of this relate to WINE? Well, just as important for you to read the label on a bottle of wine, the same applies to chocolate. Wine labels give you the all important elements of a given wine: where it comes from, who made it what type of grapes were used. When looking at a wine label, look for the country of origin, the wine maker, and how long in Oak barrels and of course the vintage. In chocolate, it's the type of vegetable fats that were used in making the bar, where the beans are from. Look for a single origin bar from a specific region and a specific estate. Also look for the amount of dry cocoa solids.

This part is so important, you certainly don't want a chocolate bar that is ten years old. If a wine is in the control of the wine maker on the label, then that means he or she has walked the wine through its process. The same applies to Chocolate producers.

It is better to choose a chocolate bar that has been in the controls of the producer, the process of making that bar for example controlling the cacao seeds from harvesting to the final product, known as bean to bar.

In the U.S. the wine making laws are quite stringent, especially for California and more specifically for Napa Valley. You can no longer (as of about 1975) just blend juices from other areas of the state and label the wine Napa! All the juice must come from Napa Valley. Estate Wines: All juice must come from the property, that is vinefied, bottled and labeled on the property for which it bares the name. If a wine is labeled Cabernet Sauvignon then there must be 75% Cabernet Sauvignon in the bottle and the same holds true to bottles labeled under other varietals.

France is another story. Since the wine makers there bottle by place of origin they can blend other grapes into the wine with any percentage mix they feel necessary. For example, prior to his death, Baron Philippe Rothschild of Chateau Mouton very seldom blended Merlot varietal into his Bordeaux blend. Now that has changed. He had the same philosophy about Opus One, his joint venture with Robert Mondavi. However, when he agreed that Merlot was needed for Opus One the amount was always a very low percentage. Other Paulliac vintners often used high percentages of Merlot to make their wines more approachable at an earlier stage of its life.

With Chocolate, it is the higher percentage of cocoa that is an important number on a dark chocolate bar. The higher the percent of cacao the better the chocolate bar. The absolute best run is between 70 to 77 percent. While it is true that those bars with a dark chocolate percent of 60 to 65 percent is tasty, like a bottle of wine labeled 80% Cabernet Sauvignon it's the 70 percent chocolate that sets the chocolate bars apart.

In assessing dark chocolate look for those familiar characteristics that also describe a fine bottle of wine. Aromas, taste and most important the finish and complexity.

Now, here is where wines come in! Well, one of my most decadent sins is to enjoy dark chocolate with a great bottle of wine. Notice, I stated Dark Chocolate, not milk chocolate. The dark chocolate has a better balance and mouth feel when it comes to wine, it actually can become dessert for the evening. There was a time when wine writers, sales people and such made the statement; "Oh, a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and chocolate go great together." Well in my opinion, that couldn't be further from the truth. First it depends on the depth of the dark chocolate, the tannins in the wine, the acidity of the chocolate bar and the acidity of the wine. Cabernet for example has far too high of a concentration of bitter and harsh tannins that fight the sugars in the chocolate bar and not enough acidity for balance. If one is more powerful than the other you do not have a balance nor feel a good sensation in the mouth. My favorite still remains a bottle of 100% Pinot Noir, with a dense dark chocolate torte. Pinot Noir creates a more balanced mouth feel with its delicate tannins and balance of acidity. Even just some dark chocolate morsels with or without fruit therein and a nice Pinot Noir, Syrah or even a Merlot is a great combination. Cabernet Sauvignon's tannins are just too harsh.

Of course the best wine to go with Dark Chocolate is a Brut Champagne or a great Sparkling wine from California. A great bottle of Blanc Noir or Rose even takes it a step further.

Now here is where the women come in! Soft, beautiful sumptuous with aromas of flower petals, and aromatics that just start your head swirling. A woman like a great bottle of wine and a box of dark chocolates, evokes mystery, and excite great taste. What a great way to end the day.

So, guys! This Valentine's Day, go out and buy that special lady in your life a super treat. A box of dark chocolates from a great producer: Paris, very dark chocolate. Lake Champlain Small World Chocolates Sao Thome, (named after the island of Sao Thome where the beans are grown).

Here in the U.S. try http://www.scharffenberger.com/ for some of the best dark chocolate. So, splurge! Give a bottle of great wine and a box of awesome dark chocolates. Yeah, the chocolates may cost you a little more, but who knows what direction it will point you!

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posted by The Office Grapevine at 9:39 AM 0 comments  

Important Info for Renters in Chicago

From Jen Lane, Keller Williams Realtor (R)

City Comptroller Announces 2007 Security Deposit Interest Rate Set at 1.68% for the City of ChicagoThe State Rate for 2007 is .50%

The City of Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) requires the City Comptroller to set the rate of interest to be paid on security deposits held by landlords. The rate is calculated annually based on a formula tied to actual market rates. The new rate for 2007 of 1.68% applies to all residential rental agreements in which the lease term begins from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007. The amount of interest paid on security deposits is determined by the rate in effect on the date the lease term commences. Owner-occupied buildings of six or fewer units are not required to pay interest on security deposits.

City code requires that a general summary of the RLTO and a separate summary on security deposits, including the required rate of interest, be attached to each lease. Revised summaries containing the new rate of interest are being printed and will soon be available from C.A.R. Copies of the revised summary will be sent to each C.A.R. office as soon as they are printed. These revised summaries should be attached to each lease executed during 2007.

posted by The Office Grapevine at 9:24 AM 0 comments  

Positive News for Homebuyers and Real Estate Market

From Jen Lane, Keller Williams Realtor(R)

Have you heard about PMI – Private Mortgage Insurance? If you have or have not, call me to talk about the positive benefits some new legislation has for you.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) has become tax-deductible for home loans originated after January 1, 2007. PMI is a requirement for most home loans in which borrowers make a down payment of less than 20%.

While the new deduction is restricted to homebuyers whose annual household income does not exceed $100,000, the legislation could impact nearly 50% of all homebuyers, according to a SMR Research study of homes financed in 2005.

Up until now, many homebuyers have used "piggyback" loans in order to avoid paying PMI. A piggyback loan is where the homebuyer obtains two mortgages, a first mortgage for 80% of the purchase price, and a second mortgage for the remaining funds required, outside of the down payment.

Since many homebuyers have chosen a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) as their second mortgage, their required monthly payments have increased significantly as a result of the actions of the Federal Reserve. Today, many homebuyers with a HELOC are now paying more than they would have if they had chosen PMI with their original mortgage.

What does this legislation mean to you?

Under the law, homebuyers will have more financing options available that offer greater tax deductibility and lower monthly payments. This means a homebuyer could potentially afford a more expensive home! In addition, homebuyers could qualify for traditional mortgages rather than the more expensive options they were forced to pursue in the past.

posted by The Office Grapevine at 9:21 AM 0 comments  

Monday, January 29, 2007

Staying in Line

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"Inventories can be managed,
but people must be led."
~ H. Ross Perot

"You do not lead by hitting people over
the head - that's assault, not leadership."
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
FOLLOW THE LEADER!

We've all heard it before: "Lead, follow, or get out of the way!" So much emphasis is put on leadership, but before we learn to lead, we must learn how to follow. Remember the fire drills back in grade school? The most efficient and safe way to get the students out of the building was for all of them to learn the plan and to follow the teacher out of the classroom in single file. Works the same way in nature, if you just look at a mother leading her ducklings to or from the water's edge.

By following a good example, we learn how to achieve success. Once we've crafted our own methods of reaching our goals, we're finally ready to show others the way. Ralph Nader has stated that he always starts with "the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." Like a tightly run ship, the best chance for success happens when everyone on board is capable of taking the helm.

Followers become leaders through education and encouragement, not by taking orders. A great and beloved manager exerts leadership through influence, not authority. Recently, our colleague Joe Klock (joeklock.com) suggested that managers should envision each of their team members wearing a sign in large letters - MMFI - which stand for "Make Me Feel Important." Reward, praise and encouragement go a long way towards achieving that goal, which in turn makes the manager feel more important, too!

Whether you are a follower or a leader, take your role seriously for the opportunity it provides. You can learn or you can teach, but in the words of John Quincy Adams, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

posted by The Office Grapevine at 12:11 AM 0 comments  

A little about Active Rain

Localism.com is ActiveRain's 'consumer facing side'

Have you wondered how the ActiveRain Real Estate Network -- a site where more than 10,000 real estate professionals are blogging and participating in forums -- was going to make money? Well, check out Localism, the "consumer facing side" of ActiveRain.

ActiveRain founder Matt Heaton blogs that the site is in Beta, but that Inman News founder Bradley Inman "let the cat out of the bag" at Real Estate Connect NYC .

"While we are still be a few months away from an 'official' launch of the site ... we're not definitely not going to complain about the extra attention," Heaton says.

Heaton had previously disclosed a few details about the site, which is to be "powered by members of ActiveRain." He envisions Localism as "the premier spot on the Internet for accessing local real estate information provided by those who understand local markets the best, real estate professionals." Visitors will be able to interact one-on-one with agents and get "meaningful real estate information, not just demographics and listings."

Localism won't be a lead aggregation site, instead sending free traffic back to contributing members. The site will offer premium sponsorship opportunities and "run some additional advertising that doesn't create conflicts with our members interests," Heaton says.

--Matt Carter, Inman News

posted by The Office Grapevine at 12:03 AM 0 comments  

Friday, January 19, 2007

Success

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"Half the failures in life arise from pulling in one's horse as he is leaping."
~ J.C. and A.W. Hare

GIVE SUCCESS A CHANCE!

Have you ever tried to accomplish something, but gave up before your plan or actions came to fruition? Maybe you were just trying to organize a huge stack of paperwork, or trying to build up your database of leads or increase your sales by a certain percentage within a certain amount of time.
Of course, you felt a degree of frustration if you didn't achieve the results you were hoping for. Frustration points you in one of two directions: either you'll be defeated, or you'll be pushed to try even harder to succeed. The surest way to guarantee failure is to quit before you've devoted enough time or effort to get the job done.
Now also consider by whose standards you are measuring your success. Are you trying to live up to someone else's unreasonable expectations or goals? Then it might be time to approach that boss or spouse or instructor and let them know that your progress is guaranteed, but perhaps not on the established schedule.
Chances are that whatever goals you've set for yourself, you can achieve them, but setting reasonable goals in the first place will go a long way toward success. Maybe you should "pull in your horse" BEFORE he leaps, if you feel he's not going to make it over the hurdle. Also remember that it's your effort to achieve success that is ultimately the most important part of that success (like the old adage about the journey vs. the destination).
Don't forget the words of Lloyd Jones, who said that "the men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed." Success can be a relative term and depends upon the perspective of yourself and others. Do whatever you can to accomplish your goals or the goals that others set before you, but regardless of the outcome, you should ultimately be satisfied with the work you've done to achieve those goals.

(Originally published December 9, 2002)

posted by The Office Grapevine at 11:12 PM 0 comments  

Featured Business - Photos by Garbot

Photos by Garbot
Capturing the Essence

Happy 2007! If you're like a lot of people, you or someone you know has a brand-new digital camera this year, and you want to get out and use it...it's a great time to capture winter wonderland photos. Now that we're getting a little snow here in the Chicago area, there are a lot of great photo opps: snowmen, skating, sledding, that one lovely green leaf peeking through the snow cover. The lake is particularly photogenic this time of year, with lots of waves and interesting ice and snow formations.

When shooting outdoors in cold weather, always take a spare set of batteries with you, as cold temperatures cause them to run out much faster than indoor or moderate temps. Also, don't be fooled by white snow - it's often overcast in the winter, and it's a good idea to try a few shots with your flash on, even outdoors. As I tell students, photography should be fun, so try different settings and compare the results. You'll be amazed at your own creativity!

Find more great photography info

posted by The Office Grapevine at 11:04 PM 0 comments  

Thursday, January 11, 2007

One Last Gift!

FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JANUARY 8, 2007


INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"Forgiveness is almost a selfish act because of its immense benefits to the one who forgives."
~ from "The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark" by Lawana Blackwell

A DIVINE RESOLUTION!

Welcome to 2007! Now that you've had a week to get into the swing of things, have you made (or broken) any New Year's Resolutions yet? Here's an idea to help simplify your resolve. Forget about long (or even short) lists of ambitions. Just put a note on your bathroom mirror or your computer screen that reads "FORGIVE."

You can first begin by forgiving yourself, for whatever reasons you made your resolutions in the first place. Resolving to lose weight? Start by forgiving yourself for overeating or neglecting to exercise. Then develop your plan for weight loss. You can't move forward if you're angry at yourself.

Next, concentrate on forgiveness in the workplace, at home, next door or across the street. In all disagreements, look for the middle ground, and you're likely to find it. Instead of placing blame, search yourself for accountability. Whatever offense you've suffered, whatever feelings have been hurt, it's critical to forgive and move on, instead of nurturing that pain for untold days, months or years to come.

The New Year gives you ample opportunity to step up with a gesture of good will - a card, a small gift, a phone call just to say "let bygones be bygones." Look how quickly little kids get over their hurt - they forgive because they literally forget about it in very little time. Follow their example.

Perhaps the hardest but most important thing to understand about forgiveness is that it doesn't even really matter if the person who hurt you deserves to be forgiven, because forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. It's not always about making the other person feel better about what happened. It's about allowing yourself to grow and finally move forward without pain or regret. Resolutions just don't get any better than that. Happy New Year!

posted by The Office Grapevine at 5:16 PM 0 comments