September 2009 Archives

Part 1: Absinthe Spoon

The first things you learn about absinthe is that the preparation ritual is a time honored art and tradition. The absinthe ritual must be followed precisely to produce the best tasting drink. And using the proper absinthe accessories is just as important as the absinthe ritual itself.

Your first absinthe accessory purchase will likely be an absinthe spoon. Absinthe spoons are specially made for the ritual with holes or slots in them. They are used to melt sugar into the absinthe glass as water is added. The absinthe spoon is placed on top of the absinthe glass with a sugar cube placed atop the spoon. Water is then poured over the cube and drips into the glass forming the louche.

Absinthe spoons come in various sizes, designs and finishes. Longer absinthe spoons are considered the most versatile as they work with long and short absinthe glasses while short spoons won't accommodate a tall glass. The complexity of the design will often dictate the price of the spoon with the most unique and intricate designs fetching higher prices. Popular finishes include Gold, silver, stainless steel and chrome with the premium finishes demanding the highest price. Chrome or stainless steel are the most durable finishes and require little to no maintenance. Gold or silver absinthe spoons will last a lifetime when properly cared for.

The best advice for an absinthe newbie is to by a quality spoon first off. You will have this spoon forever and it will most likely gain collector value. You may also want to purchase an inexpensive absinthe spoon as a portable. I mention this as I have lost many gold plated spoons to a long night of absinthe drinking. Lastly, no matter the finish you choose, always gently hand-clean your spoon with a quality polish (Tarn-X Silver Polish works best) and store it dry when not in use. This will pay off in the long run as you won't be replacing spoons due to rust or corrosion.

If you have seen the news lately, you have noticed huge chatter about the numerous companies bringing TV to the Internet. What you really should ask yourself is why would so many of the Big Guns like Fox, NBC, Viacom & CBS to name just a few, be putting so much money into Internet TV and how will it effect me?

Let me give you the short story. Way back, there was a time when only 3 or 4 TV networks ruled broadcast TV and therefor held the monopoly on TV ad revenue. There were no cable or satellite TV and the Internet was in its infancy. Now, fast forward 10 years. DVR's, video games, DVD's and the Internet are literally stealing more and more viewers every day from broadcast TV providers.

What happens next? As the number of broadcast TV viewers fall, so does the number of TV advertisers. These sponsors see the downward trend and scramble to find better ways to utilize their advertising dollars. Now we begin to notice the "Catch 22". The TV networks see a plummeting income stream and search for cost saving measures -- can anyone say Jay Leno? They begin pumping out cheap to produce game shows and reality TV, show fewer new episodes and increase the number of advertisements but at the same time they begin investing in Internet TV.

Does anyone see it yet? Ahh.. now you're starting to get it. If the networks can't afford to produce a quality product for broadcast TV, how is putting the same crap on the internet going to help? The answer is, it will not..... well it won't help the viewer anyway. It will help the TV networks as the advertisers again start advertising providing them revenue. But the viewer will still be left with the same low quality content only now they can watch it on their TV and their computer.

Sure, the networks will eventually realize this and may even take steps to fix the problem. But this is a long way down the road. For now, we the viewers are stuck with bargain basement, cheap to produce broadcast and Internet TV. I guess the recession hits us from many angles.

Illegal in America for over 100 years, the mythical "Green Fairy" has again taken the United States storm. The century of abstinence has not dampened the mystery behind absinthe and her effects. On the contrary, it has certainly enticed our interest.

Absinthe is an alcohol distilled with a list of herbs and botanicals. The "Holy Trinity" of absinthe herbs, as it is called by aficionados of the drink, are anise, fennel and Artemisia absinthium (from which absinthe gets its name). Most absinthe contain other taste enhancing herbs such as Hyssop, Angelica, Coriander and others. The Artemisia absinthium a.k.a. wormwood contains thujone the component believed to cause the "Absinthe Effect". Due to its high alcohol content, absinthe is prepared by mixing with water to create a "louche"

Our absinthe reviews will focus on the most important aspects of buying an absinthe -- taste, aroma and value. Our goal is to teach you how to purchase a quality absinthe at a reasonable price. The absinthe brands we review vary in price from $60 to $110 with everything in between. You will soon that it is not necessary to pay an arm and a leg to get a quality absinthe.

No matter if you are an experienced absintheur or just beginning your exploration of this grandest of liquors, our unbiased review of the best absinthe brands available in the US will surely help pick the best one for you.

Our Number 1 Pick
Jade $110 - Jade absinthe consists of 4 varieties (3 vertes and 1 blanche). The vertes are PF 1901, Edouard, Nouvelle Orleans and Suisse Verte and the blance (clear absinthe) is Combier Blanchette. These are hands down the finest absinthe you can buy if you can find them.

Our Number 2 Pick
Mansinthe $60 Verte
This absinthe is produced under the supervision of shock rocker Marilyn Manson. Many absintheurs with their head in the sand avoid this one due to the reputation of its producer but it is truly a fine absinthe. And at $60 a bottle, you really can't go wrong.

Our Number 3 Pick
Duplais Verte $70
Made at the same distillery as Mansinthe, it is one of the finest Swiss absinthes available. Ultra smooth with a slight bite of wormwood, Duplais is a top pick.

Our Number 4 Pick
Kubler $50 Blanche
This one is a blanche or clear absinthe. The final coloring step is skipped on the blanche (and La Bleue) absinthe. I normally don't drink blanche as they have a totally different taste than veret but this one is truly refresshing and worth the $50 price tag.

Our Number 5 Pick
Vieux Carre $65 Verte
Produced in the US, this absinthe has a unique, almost caramel flavor I found very enjoyable. In the mid-price range, Vieux Carre has carved a niche among the other home growns.

There are certainly other absinthe brands available in the US worthy of mention but these are the top picks. While shopping, you may also want to keep an eye out for:

Delaware Phoenix, La Charlotte, La Clandestine, Obsello, Pacifique,Vieux Pontarlier

The upgraded Archos 5 has improved upon its predecessor. This new Internet Media tablet comes fitted with the Google Android version of Linux. Out of the box, the Archos 5 also includes some cool third party apps like eBuddy instant messaging, Twidroid for Twitter, ThinkFree Mobil and a high end GPS.

When docked and paired with a QWERTY keypad or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, it becomes an ultra sweet way to surf the net on your TV. The new Archos 5 also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The standard model has an 8GB to 32GB of Flash memory and the big boy has a 160GB to 500GB hard drive for those of us who never have enough space.

Other highlights include:
*160 GB capacity for up to 145 movies, 2.5 million photos or 40,000 songs
*Up to 12 hours music and 4 hours video playback on a single charge
*4.8-inch TFT LCD touchscreen; 800 x 480 pixel resolution
*Video support: MPEG-4, WMV, and M-JPEG; Audio support: MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, *WMA pro 5.1, WAV; plug-ins available for further video and audio format support

Also in the box are an Internet TV and radio plug-in, a TV program scheduler and the ability to adjust the settings on virtually all features including child security features. Internet video recording is also available through the optional DVR dock.

Now, we are not looking at a dragon slayer here. But for the price (app $270) you get a hefty piece of hardware. Sure there are contenders in the media tablet ring but none with the features of the Archos 5 at this price.

The problem is far from new. You are selling a unique line of items that has a fairly high demand. Due to an increased interest in your product, sales continue to increase until one day you notice sales numbers start to fall. After a little research, you find that your products have been duplicated and are selling for less, a lot less.

This happened to an internet retailer we'll call Joe. He had a successful website selling accessories related to the liquor absinthe. Until legalization of absinthe in 2007, business was brisk and increasing every month. With the legalization of absinthe came a flood of absinthe accessory dealers. Every body from online liquor stores to knitting sites wanted a piece of the absinthe ware pie. The problem was, these new sellers were not familiar with what a quality absinthe product looks like. They simply bought the least expensive pieces with images of giant dollar signs dancing in their heads.

All of the sudden, BAM! there was a glut of low quality absinthe ware with too many sellers and we all know what comes next. Price wars. Not that competition is a bad thing. It actually brought the price of the knock-off items to where they should be. But the problem is Joe still has all of the premium products that he paid higher prices for.

So what does Joe do? He has three options:
He can sell his items at a loss to compete.
He can start buying the lower quality items to compete.
Or, he can stick to his original marketing plan and emphasize quality and uniqueness.

Joe actually went against what everyone was telling him. He pushed on and continued providing premium pieces with exceptional customer service. It took some time but you know what, it worked! People began to realize there was a difference between a $59 absinthe fountain and a $159 absinthe fountain. It wasn't long before Joe's sales were back to where they belonged. He also enjoyed watching the sellers of the sub-par merchandise wither away.

So here is the short story; if you have your eye on the ball and focus on customer satisfaction which includes providing a quality product, you will come out ahead. And whatever you do, don't turn to irrational cost cutting methods like buying cheaper products just to offer a lower price. People will realize the value of quality every time.

So you're taking a break from work (after making sure the boss isn't looking!) & you wish you could watch a few minutes of satellite TV on your PC or laptop. Wouldn't that be awesome! But how can you watch internet TV on your PC for FREE?

There are 2 ways to watch satellite TV online with your PC. You can use a free service or pay for TV to PC software. After reviewing the ways to watch internet television, I found that both the free and paid services are completely legal yet both have pros and cons.

Satellite TV to PC Software
If you want premium video & sound, TV on PC software is the best route and the software is very affordable. I reviewed software costing between $29 and $159. Most had monthly fees. I found 3 that work GREAT and cost only $29-$49 with no monthly fees. Once you purchase the software, install it on your desktop or laptop, it belongs to you.

The major advantages of satellite TV for PC software is not only the video and sound quality but also the HUGE amount of content. Because there is an initial cost, the online satellite TV providers can afford to "pump up" the bandwidth. This equals ultra-fast streaming speeds with no broken images and HD quality audio.

Best of all, these services offer a 100% money back guarantee and 24/7 tech support.

Stream Online Movies $34.99
This software is AWESOME. With instant downloads and immediate access to over 3000 Radio & Internet Television channels, it is hands down the leader. They are the oldest and well known TV to PC content provider with 10 years of research behind their product. They offer a 60 day, 100% Money-Back Guarantee. If you don't like what you get, you'll get a 100% refund. Visit Stream Online Movies


iSoftware TV $49.95
iSoftware TV offers instant downloads with immediate access to +2000 satellite TV & Radio channels for your PC. Just like Satellite TV to PC Elite, iSoftware offers internet TV with gorgeous picture and sound quality and ultra-fast video streams. The install is super easy even for newbies. They too offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. You really should check them out. Visit iSoftware TV

PC Show Buzz $29.95
PC Show Buzz TV for PC offers a phenomenal product at almost 1/2 the price as the others. You can watch ultra-fast streaming TV online with crystal clear video and sound along with 2500 channels of awesome content. Included is the industry standard 100% Money back Guarantee. They are new to the game so get yours now before the price goes up! Visit New PC Show Buzz

Free Online Television
When you watch TV on your PC for free, you will sacrifice sound and video quality. You get jumpy video from interrupted streaming along with sound that cuts in and out. Your content choices are also very limited when using a free services. Now, if you are ok with these shortfalls, free TV may be for you.

Here are the more popular free services that provide Television content for your PC screen:

Hulu
Hulu, an NBC product, is currently the big gun of online TV. Hulu has the largest selection of content and features along with many of your favorite TV programs.  Here is some of the available content.

NBC News
Family Guy
SNL
Tonight Show
Heroes
Stargate SG-1

Basically, if it is on NBC, you can find it on Hulu. The picture and sound quality lack (especially during peak viewing times) but what do want for free? The interface is well designed and this site is definitely worth a look. Flip open your laptop and Check out Hulu.

Remember, no matter if you decide to go for the free internet TV or the software for TV on PC, the picture and sound will only be as good as your desktop or laptop computers components. If you have an older PC (over 5-6 years old) or limited memory, you may not get the best picture and sound. But either way, it will cost you nothing to try watching TV online using your PC or Laptop.

Each year, more and more people are watching TV and movies on their PC's and Laptops. And why not? The number of households with computers along with the amount of available online content has increased exponentially over the past 5 years.

A new survey from the nonprofit Conference Board revealed that 25% of viewing households in America has watched Television or movies online between January and August of this year. This is a 5% increase over the findings from the same period in 2008. This is a startling number when you think about the amount advertisers pay for TV airtime.

To examine the preferences of these viewers, let's take a look at another group watching the online viewing habits of these households. Consumer Internet Barometer found that the most popularly viewed online programs were news (43%), sitcoms/comedies/dramas (35%), reality TV (20%) and sports (18%). Again, these figures show an increase over last years numbers indicating a steady trend.

Another interesting fact to note is where consumers are watching TV. The Consumer Internet Barometer survey also found that 90% of the online viewing is done from home while 10% is done at work. Now think back to the last survey you took..... The at work viewing is most likely much higher. Does this mean that an increase in lost productivity is also an inevitability?

All indicators show that online media viewing will continue to increase at a rapid pace. TV and movies will no longer be stuck in your living room or the theater. As video viewing becomes much more mobile, what issue should we watch? Where will there be money to be made and who will make it? And last, what will happen to broadcast TV?

If you live on this planet, you have seen or follow a Reality TV show. With the massive number of Realty TV available, there is something for everyone. But there is also a dark side. Like everything else from computers to ATM machines, criminals have found ways to exploit the Reality TV format.

If you think about it, this was bound to happen. Nine young women aged 16 to 24 answered an Internet ad looking for participants in the Turkish equivalent of "Big Brother" called "Someone Is Watching Us". They were held for 2 months and filmed 24 hours a day with the photos, most of which considered compromising, were then sold on the internet. One of the girls felt something was wrong and contacted her parents who then contacted the police. This lead to the luxury villa near Istanbul being stormed by Turkish military on Monday.

The women were not held by force but rather the contract they had signed at the beginning of the show. They agreed to stay at the villa for 2 months and to pay a $30,000 penalty if they left early. But it soon became apparent that something was not right. There were no tests or evictions like the real TV show and the girls were required to wear bikinis or skimpy clothes at all times.

Now, some of you may be thinking that this could never happen in the US. American women are far to savvy to fall for this type of scam. I would have to disagree with this. The women in Turkey are no different than women all over the world. They have the same dreams and aspirations of getting a shot at free publicity with the hope of launching their career in the entertainment industry.

If you are or know anybody that is willing to do anything for that shot at fame, pay attention. This type of scam is becoming more prevalent each day. There have been numerous instances of fake reality shows advertising on the Internet or TV to enlist contestants believing they will be on an actual television show. Unfortunately, there is always some type of catch. The potential candidates are asked to pay an entrance fee, pose for risque photos or provide some kind of value for the crooks behind the counterfeit show.

So how do you prevent being taken advantage of by one of these cons? It's actually pretty simple. Remember the old adage "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is". If something just doesn't seem right, walk away. And always do your research. Verify the names of all the staff and the legitimacy of the company. If you don't know how to do this, find someone who does. If you can't be 100% positive it is legit, walk away.

We all know the traditional method of absinthe preparation. But wouldn't it be fun if there were more than one recipe for absinthe? After surveying my fellow absintheurs for their favorite recipe, I have a list of the best of the best. Compiling my recipe list was extremely taxing as I had to sample each and every one. But I persevered and pushed through for you guys (I actually have tears! I luv you guys!!). I must emphasize, absinthe is an extremely powerful liquor and should always be enjoyed in moderation. So, put away your absinthe fountain, glasses and spoons and check out my recipe list.

Absinthe Curacao Frappe
1 oz. Absinthe
1/2 oz. curacao
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons orange juice
1 thin slice orange

Stir ingredients and pour over crushed ice in a deep-saucer champagne glass. Add orange slice if desired.

The Absinthe Flip
1/2 oz. Absinthe Original
1/2 oz. Cointreau Orange Liqueur
2 tsp. Lemon Juice
1 Egg
1 tsp. Sugar
Nutmeg

Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled whiskey glass. Sprinkle a little nutmeg on top and enjoy.

The Absinthe Minded
3 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
1/2 oz. Absinthe Original
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur
Dry Vermouth
1 Orange Peel

Mix gin and absinthe with ice into in a shaker. In a chilled cocktail glass, roll 1/2 once dry vermouth and discard excess. Strain the other ingredients into the cocktail glass and float 1/2 oz. of Grand Mmarnier. Garnish with an orange peel.

Green Tear *Favorite Recipe
1 part of Absinthe
2 parts of cranberry juice
1 part of Indian tonic water
1 slice of lemon

Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass.

Herbal
1.5 ounce Absinthe
Place desired amount of favorite herb in glass with absinthe
Let sit 5-10 minutes
Louche as normal

Knock Out
1 teaspoonful white Creme de Menthe
1/3 Absinthe
1/3 dry gin
1/3 French vermouth

Shake well and pour into cocktail glass

Sazerac *Favorite Recipe
1/2 teaspoon absinthe,
1 teaspoon of simple syrup
4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 small dash, a scant drop, of Angostura bitters
2 ounces rye whiskey
Strip of lemon peel

Pack a 3-1/2 ounce Rocks glass with ice to chill glass. In another Rocks glass, moisten a sugar cube with water until saturated then crush. Blend with whiskey and bitters in shaker. Add a few ice cubes and stir to chill. Discard the ice from the first glass and pour in absinthe. Coat the entire inside of glass with the absinthe and discard the remainder. Strain the whiskey into the absinthe coated glass. Twist lemon peel over the glass to allow lemon oil to spritz over drink then rub the peel over the rim of the glass and discard peel.

I hope you enjoy my absinthe recipe list as much as I did making it. Please send me your own recipes so I can keep expanding the list.

Currently, there are over 200 absinthe brands approved for sale in the USA. To meet approval standards, each absinthe is tested by the TTB (Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau) and must to be "thujone free" as per the FDA's (Food and Drug Administration) regulation 21 CFR 172.510. Thujone free is defined as containing less than 10 parts per million of the ingredient thujone.

So what is thujone and how does it cause absinthe effects? After over 100 years of testing and debate, this question still remains unanswered. Here are a few facts about the chemical moiety thujone: Thujone acts on a receptor in the human brain responsible for alertness, lucidity and clarity. The best description of the absinthe effect is that it is like experiencing life in HD. All of your senses are heightened and slightly altered. I have also noticed that creative people are more prone to the effects of absinthe.

I have personally consumed most, if not all, of the imported and US legal absinthe brands. I found that the degree of absinthe effects varies greatly from very noticeable to nothing at all. Given that some absinthe brands exhibit effects while others do not leads me to believe there is something in absinthe causing psychotropic effects. This goes against some studies that conclude there is no effect form absinthe other than that of alcohol.

The interesting thing is that most of the studies debunking absinthe effects focused on thujone. We know that there are several herbs used in absinthe production that have exhibited effects on the CNS (central nervous system). It is possible that in differing concentrations and ratios these mind altering substances effect the human brain in a multitude of ways. Let me make this clear, when I say mind altering, I definitely do not mean hallucinogenic. It should also be considered that like any medication, the effects produced can vary greatly when considering the physiological differences from one person to the next.

In conclusions we can extrapolate that:

1.) There is a substance in absinthe that may have stimulating effects on the brain of some people.

2.) Absinthe sold in the US may or may not have an effect. Whether it does or not may be attributed to the absinthe or the individual drinkers physiology.

So what is the take away? Should you avoid the legal absinthe brands and buy the imports for the absinthe effect? Absolutely not. If your local liquor store has an absinthe that pleases your palette and has what you are looking for, save the exorbitant shipping fees and enjoy a home grown. Conversely, if you cannot find your preference locally, try an import.

3.) An absinthe that has effects on you may not have an effect on another person (imported or local absinthe).

It would be difficult to find a liquor with a more sordid past than absinthe. Everybody you know has heard something about this mysterious spirit but if you if you ask direct questions, most of the answers you get will be wrong. So let's start with the basics--How to properly prepare a glass of absinthe.

Absinthe has made an unprecedented return to the American culture. In 2007, after over a century of being illegal in the US, absinthe again cast her spell on those with an interest in this most unusual and unique of spirits. Much of this interest is sparked by the myth of the "Green Fairy's" hallucinogenic properties but we'll get to that in a moment.   

The theatrics involved in the ritual of absinthe preparation are not only interesting but also a requirement for producing a drink of superior taste. You see, the herbs used in absinthe are dissolved in solution by the high alcohol content absinthe possesses. To release the taste and aroma of this fine spirit, a ritual known as "La Louche" is required. This involves adding the coldest, purest water to your absinthe in a slow, methodical way--preferably a slow stream or drip of water. The slow addition of water reduces the alcohol content allowing the release of the herbal properties in the form of an oil. The drink becomes a milky, opalescent, white as the cold water is added. The final product, a cloudy, beautifully aromatic cocktail, is called a "louched" absinthe.

It is of the utmost importance that the absinthe ritual be followed correctly. You cannot simply mix absinthe and water and expect a fine drink. You can actually tell the difference between a properly louched absinthe and one that simply had water added. So, here are the steps used to make a perfectly louched absinthe:

1.) Pour your dose of absinthe into your absinthe glass. Absinthe is usually mixed 1/3 to 1/5 (1 part absinthe to 3 to 5 parts water).

2) Place your absinthe spoon on top of your glass with the Sugar Cube on the spoon. Absinthe spoons are specially designed with holes or slits that allow water through. Please Note: Sugar is optional. The wormwood in absinthe may have a slightly bitter taste. There are also some absintheurs that insist sugar brings out more taste. You should definitely try your absinthe with and without sugar.

3) Slowly pour water over the sugar. As the water dissolves the sugar cube, the louche will form. A slow stream or drip of water is preferred.

Here I will mention the "Czech" or "Flaming" method of Absinthe preparation. This is for comparison purposes only and should not be attempted. This method will produce a poor tasting absinthe. Also, mixing fire with high proof alcohol is really a stupid thing to do.

1.) Follow step 1 above but before placing the sugar on the spoon, soak it in absinthe for 10-15 seconds.

2.) Light the absinthe soaked Sugar Cube on fire and let it caramelize and drip through the spoon before you begin adding the water. After, mix what is left of the cube into your drink.

The Flaming method is looked down upon by those considering themselves true absintheurs.

Just two years ago, if you wanted a bottle of authentic Absinthe you had to pay an arm and a leg to import it. Now there are currently over 200 brands fighting for shelf space. Lucid, by Viridian Spirits, was the first entry into the US market. "It's mind boggling to see so many old favorites and new formulations enjoying the current renaissance of Absinthe. Yet many of the old myths about its dangers and hallucinogenic properties hang on. Simply put, Absinthe does not cause hallucinations and is no more dangerous than any other distilled spirit. Period" Said Tony Rodriguez Founder of AbsintheOnTheNet.com

Unique to Absinthe is how it's served. The method of presentation and preparation make this one of the most unique liquors ever. 'The rituals of drinking a proper glass of Absinthe are steeped in as much mystery and lore as the beloved 'Green Fairy' Herself. Absinthe is an incredibly potent spirit with an average Alcohol content of 165 percent - twice that of Vodka. This is why Absinthe can't and shouldn't be taken neat. It has to be diluted with water at an average 1:4 ratio. This is the other half of the Absinthe equation - the accessories. The basics include a quality absinthe fountain, not for the Absinthe but rather the ice water that drips slowly into the Absinthe resulting in a release of intense flavors and an incredible bouquet - known as the 'Louche". Absinthe spoons are essential too. A sugar cube is placed on top and the dripping water dissolves it into the "dose" of Absinthe in your glass." Stated Mr. Rodriguez

The essential oils in Absinthe are soluble in alcohol but not water. It's water that will transform the oils into micro-solids causing a dense cloud to build inside the glass."This is the Louche and its critical in ensuring an excellent glass of Absinthe. The process is akin to watching turbulent storm clouds roll inside your glass. Without quality accessories this critical element is lost. Realizing that the finer accessories Absinthe demands were impossible to find in the States, my wife Ellie and I, spent much time in Europe. Our goal was to procure quality accessories for the US . We accomplished this in addition to having exact replicas of Fountains, spoons and a myriad of other accessories commissioned from the same companies that were hand forging these works of art centuries ago" Added Mr. Rodriguez.