The Consequences of a Warm Winter in Ontario

TULIPS in March!



Lilies in March!



Hostas in March!

Wonderful!

However, while this is good news for my garden, what about Niagara Ice Wine. Here is what Adam Lechmere and Emily Pearce said in www.decanter.com:

In Niagara the Icewine harvest is in danger not only due to abnormally high temperatures but also because of significant rainfall during autumn.

Although most Niagara Icewine producers also make table wine, considerable rainfall forced growers to pick the thin-skinned Riesling grape early leaving nothing for Icewine.

Producers such as Cave Spring Cellars and Chateau des Charmes, which only use Riesling, have to sit this season out.

With 2011 being the smallest harvest in the past 11 years, and the major varietal – Riesling – out of the picture, many are expressing concerns about meeting demand in the future.

Paul Bosc, chairman and winemaker at Chateau des Charmes said, ‘Although missing a season can be compensated by in house reserves, two or three bad years could mean problems addressing the demands of the market.’

However, the region hasn’t given up hope. ‘It is too early to write the obituary for Niagara Icewine,’ Bosc said.

Meanwhile at prestigious producer Peller Estates Winery they are optimistic, as for a single evening this month temperatures fell to the required -10C, enabling a large portion of their grapes to be picked.

‘We are confident in our suppliers delivering the quantity and quality we need. One more good freeze and we will harvest the balance of our grapes,’ international sales manager Louise Wilson said.

Story by Adam Lechmere and Emily Pearce in Niagara

Courtesy of Decanter

www.decanter.com

A National Travesty: Why Can't the Courts Get Crimes Against Children Right

For those of you who don't know, Graham James, who was convicted of abusing Theo Fluery and his cousin Todd Holt when they were young hockey players under his guidance, was sentenced to two years in jail with day passes and parole available in six months. WHAT!
Why can't the courts get crimes against children right? I've never understood how these crimes don't rise to the level of attempted murder, for, in my opinion, the sex offender has stolen a large part of his victims' lives, perhaps all of it, as we've seen in many cases. And yet, the courts only hand down minimal sentences.
Is the problem within the court system, or within society?
For those of you who don't remember, it was just last month that the news media reported that a twice convicted Scout leader, David Michael Henley, was allowed into the Baden Powell Guild, a Scouts Alumni Association. And, it wasn't until the news media hounded the Scouts that they FINALLY admitted that it was a mistake. YA THINK!
I've often thought that the punishment for a crime should have some association with the amount of damage done to the victims of that crime. So, if you kill someone, perhaps you should also lose your freedom. Likewise, if you ruin the life of a child or in the case of Graham James, at least 2 children, perhaps your life should be ruined. Here are the National Institute of Health Statistics on how child abuse increases the odds of wrecking the lives of its female victims.

Does anyone really think that a crime that devastates its victims so horrifically only deserves a two year sentence?

What if Sheldon Adelson supported Romney?

Ask yourself how best Sheldon Adelson could spend his campaign contribution monies if he was a Romney supporter. Well, the obvious is superpac money to the Romney campaign. And, what's the second best thing that Romney has going for him in this nomination race. That's right, splitting the socially conservative vote so that he emerges as the winner ever time with less than the majority of votes.
So, just before Super Tuesday, Mr. Adelson contributed another $5 million to keep Gingrich in the race. And, the effect, Romney claims victory (just barely) in Ohio. What a great way to spend your money to achieve a Romney victory.
Interesting.
Yikes, now I'm bummed. In looking for an Adelson picture to put on this post, I goggled his name and found an article from the Las Vegas Sun dated today saying the same thing...

Kony 2012 (Invisible Children)

Here is something that we all need know about, a horrible tragedy that is going on in Uganda. Joseph Kony, the leader of a militant group called the Lord's Resistance Army is a war criminal in Northern Uganda who is enslaving children to further his own objectives. At the least, each of us needs to know what is going on in the world and at the most, perhaps some of us will somehow be inspired to make a difference. So, below is a 27 minute video that tells the story. And, to learn more, go to www.kony2012.com or look up Lord's Resistance Army on wikipedia.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.