Sunday Afternoon Hike

I left my apartment this afternoon and went for a hike above my town. Vinyards were all around as I made my way through several towns, including Grandvaux. Let's just say it's much easier on the way down than on the way up. The pictures don't do justice to the view that I had from above Cully!!!

Tesla Fever

I started reading about production of the Tesla several years ago. It is lithium battery powered car that will leave many gasoline powered cars in the rear view mirror. It accelerates with constant power across the power curve. It will travel 300 and something miles on a single charge. It is 100% carbon fiber which means it is very light. I have no idea what this means if you get into an accident?


I considered ordering one before I decided to move to Switzerland. Even after coming here, I wrote Tesla to see if they could ship one here. They didn't respond to my message which I think is pretty crappy on their part. But, even if I could get it here, where would I charge it? Where would I take it for service?

So - I'm left driving a slower gasoline powered car, paying about $8 gallon for petrol, and feeling jealous of people who have one of these babies!!

Swiss Wino

I never considered the effect that living in the middle of wine vineyards can have on ones drinking habits and choice of alcohol. I moved here leaning towards beer but have always enjoyed a nice glass (bottle) of red wine. Now I'm afraid I could turn into a wino.

In some of the restaurants, they recommend Italian and French wine ahead of Swiss wine. But, in all fairness, it's difficult to discern a difference in taste and the price of Swiss wine is lower.

I have already met one Cully wine producer and had a private tour of their facility. During lunch today, as I was working from home, I visited and toured another - Cave De La Cour. Click their name to visit their site. They have some nice information about Cully there as well...

It's only a 1 minute walk from my apartment. They are very friendly people. I asked 100 questions and they answered all of them. We (the owners joined in) also tested some 2005 Pinot Noir, as well as 2007 Merlot that hasn't even made it to the bottle yet. : ) Both were tres bonne!!! I learned that is takes about 5 bundles of grapes to make one bottle of Pinot Noir. The cork costs about .60 cents. The bottle is about .55 cents. Since I'm a business minded person, I was, of course, trying to figure out their business model. I like what I was seeing...

Producing the wine involves growing, taking care of, and picking the grapes. That part of the operation didn't interest me much. The actual production process seems to be a mix of creativity and science. For a stronger oak taste, they use a newer oak barrel. For less of an oak taste, the barrel is a little older. The process for red wine seems to be the same no matter the type of grape. All interesting stuff. Knowing the people who make the wine makes drinking it even more interesting... I left with 3 bottles of both the 2004 and 2005 Pinot Noir. The 2005 is the good stuff!!

This was a nice break from work but I cannot suggest wine tasting for lunch if you have serious work to get done in the afternoon. Au revoir!

Idiot of the Month Award

It's amazing that a person can be so stupid. Watch what happens when this moron decides to kite surf during a tropical storm.



Most people are able to predict what might happen when attempting to tie a large kite to oneself when the wind is blowing near hurricane strength. Geez - this guy wins the Idiot of the Month Award for not knowing and trying anyway. I hope he's okay.

Missing Madame Batista

It has been a difficult two weeks and it can only get .... worse!! You see, my wonderful housekeeper, Madame Batista, is away on vacances.

I have been required to wash my own clothes, clean the dishes, and pick things up (a little) behind myself. It's amazing how spoiled a person can become when someone handles all these items for them. Since dry cleaning is so expensive here, Madame Batista even irons my shirts for work. This means I will have a full month of semi wrinkled shirts at work. Will people at work understand and accept my explanation?

Making matters worse, it's not just the cleaning that I'm missing. She also brings me fresh vegetables from her garden. Oh my!!!

I am halfway through this punishment of sorts. Please please come back soon Madame Batista!!

Passing of a Swedish Neighbor

I met Richard over a month ago. We stood at the stone wall that divides our gardens and spoke for a short bit. I had seen he and his wife outside a number of times. They worked in the garden constantly. I have never seen such a well manicured garden in all my life!!! He was an older man. I have since learned that he was 86. Anyway, we made introductions. He explained that he was from Sweden. I told him I was flying back to the USA the next morning to see my grandfather who had fallen and was in the hospital. We agreed that I should visit he and his wife and have some vin rouge (red wine) sometime.

Following my short visit to the USA, and for the past month, I have not seen Richard. Several weeks ago, I noticed that their grass had grown higher than usual and wondered if something was wrong. Well, my thoughts were confirmed Friday night while having dinner with a Swiss couple (also neighbor's of mine). They informed me that Richard had a heart attack and died a month ago. He had made breakfast and was serving his wife in bed when it happened.

It's too bad I never got the chance to have wine with he and his wife. Even from my short conversation, I could tell that he is a nice man. Today, I spoke to his wife and told her how sorry I was to hear the news. She confirmed that he died just a few days after speaking to me. I suppose it happened while I was visiting family in the USA. She is very sad of course and noted that it is "difficile". She made the comment that she is all alone. I feel terrible for her. I told her to let me know if I could help with anything. She was thankful for the offer but it did little to ease the pain of her loss.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the everyday occurrences of our busy lives and forget the smaller, more important details.

Paris Hilton's Energy Policy

Neither US Presidential candidate has been able to articulate an energy policy as clearly as Paris Hilton, and they sure as hell haven't looked as good as her in the process.

It's understandable if you are distracted and have to watch a few times to actually hear what she is saying. The first couple of times I watched, I thought I was hearing her call my name... : )

How many presidential candidates have their own ideas anyway? They have a team of "experts" around them to give them options and recommendations. All they have to do is make a decision and present it. Paris makes both of these guys look like amateurs with no ideas on important issues like energy.

McCain needs some spark and youth behind him. He should consider Paris for VP, or at least a campaign advisor on energy policy. Whatever happens, we just need to see more of her!

Global Oil Problem Not Just About Oil

The US is the largest user of oil by far, but it won't always be. Nations like China and India will soon pass the US up. Why is this happening now?

I believe the root, in addition to the ignorant policy of the US government to import versus drill, is founded in a series of governmental and private sector failures. Two of the most key are a poor public education system and corporate greed. Schools in the US are not competitive in a local economy, much less a global one. Jobs at the tail end of last century and from here on out require brains and skills. The economy is global. Kids coming out of public schools in the US must compete with the smartest that a number of other nations have to offer. They are competing for a finite number of jobs. Who will win? The smartest, most skilled kids will win.  This is dangerous for the US economy in that it must import knowledge (in addition to oil) from other countries.

This is where lack of education and greed have come together to form the perfect storm. At least 10 years ago, Corporate America (and large companies from other developed nations) began experimenting with shipping high technology jobs to less developed nations. Why pay an American $150hr when you can pay someone from India $20hr? Many would argue that companies now pay 5 times to get the job done, but this really does not matter. The fact is the money is being spent in another country - one where $20/hr goes as far or further than $150/hr in the US. What does any of this have to do with oil?

When a person has money, he or she spends it. In a country where a person does not have a car, what is the first or second thing he will buy? That's right. A car. Cars take fuel and this is where the problem starts to take shape. A number of "developing nations" are now "developed enough" to ignite an expansion which is driving global demand for oil to levels never before seen. It will get worse. It will not stop.  Advanced jobs are now being exported into Eastern European countries like Poland.  It's great for the local economies but will continue to strain the global situation.

Let's get back to the topic of oil. For the past 1/2 century, the US has imported more and more oil. The US does not have the infrastructure to utilize its own resources. The real shame is that the US government will try to pressure Saudi Arabia to release more of its oil to drive prices down, but the US will not drill for its own oil!!! This is a sad state of affairs effecting the world economy.

The solution: take steps to improve the school system by hiring qualified teachers, paying them middle class wages, implementing testing to validate teachers have knowledge in their brains to share, and fire those who don't perform. Provide large tax incentives for companies that utilize American resources. Drill now in Alaska but continue to invest in alternative energy sources and drive down the use of oil.  Educate Americans about the importance of energy conservation and provide rewards to those who do it.  The solution is complex and involves multiple areas - not just oil.

Newsflash: Obama has solution to reduce dependency on Middle East oil

It's simple.  Everyone, please inflate your tires and get regular tune ups.  Now why didn't anyone else think of that?

Swiss National Day

Swiss National Day is today so happy Swiss Day to my new friends in my temporary home. See link for history.

History of Swiss National Day

I spent some time at the Cully Festival which was nice.

Here's my street decorated with Swiss Flags.


I like boats.


Did I say I like boats?


Well I really do... : )


Some of my fellow villagers from Cully.


Happy Swiss Day!!!

US Soldiers Walk on US Soil in Iraq

My cousin shared this picture and explanation with me. In this picture, a US Army soldier is tending to his tiny 'plot' of grass in front of his tent. He is actually using scissors to cut the grass. It is said that he asked his wife to send him dirt (US soil), fertilizer, and some grass seed so that he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. Before the men of the squadron have a mission, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil -- to bring them good luck.

May God Bless our Soldiers as they fight for freedom for a people
in a part of the world who have never seen real freedom!!

Baylor might land #1 prospect out of 2009 class!!

All I can say is Hell Yeah!!!  Sic 'em Bears!!!!

Read news from KUSports.com

Click to watch this guy play!!!