Wine Review: Robert Mondavi Private Selection Merlot

Robert Mondavi Winery Merlot Private Selection California 2012 is a bright wine with smooth cherry, plum and strawberry taste. There is a hint of black olive and spice as indicative of its coastal environment.  It is a dark red wine with a pronounced tannin bite that works well on cool and rainy nights or coming indoors from the chilled evening air.  

The wine is produced in Monterrey County which was named as one of the top ten wine destinations by Wine Enthusiast Magazine (1). The location is ideal soils that receive ripening ocean mist. It is an area of winding roads and cliff side views.  Approximately 85 different vineyards have made their home in the area. Supportive local bars and restaurants offer local varieties. 

As a West Coast locality Monterrey County has a unique history. The founding of the area started with the explorers Fray Junípero Serra, Miguel Costansó, and their band of engineers, Indians, and sailors. On May 24, 1770 they discovered the Bay of Monterrey with a description of the coastal wildlife as (2): 

Having examined the cross they went down to the beach. Thousands of sea lions were about, so close to one another that they looked like a pavement. Two young whales lay together not more than a hundred yards off shore. The waters were as calm as those of a lake. From where they stood Monterey Bay looked like a great "O" just as it had appeared to Vizcaíno (first discoverer). 

California is the wine state hosting a growing industry that is becoming world renowned. Its history with Spanish and American roots has helped the local wine industry grow. Most of the varieties are red by their nature and offer a unique taste when compared to their European cousins. As a lifestyle the wine vineyards fit well with the free spirited nature of the State. Expect to pay under $16 for a bottle of Robert Mondavi Private Collection Merlot. 

http://www.robertmondaviprivateselection.com/central-coast-merlot-wine.php

Green and Unique at Jungle Java

Coffee in a garden when you dwell in an urban setting is better than coffee just about any other imaginal place. Jungle Java offers more than your standard coffee shop options as they raise their value through providing a tropical environment with bubbling fountains and green potted plants. Its like sitting in the middle of a botanical garden without having to pay an entrance fee.

Coffee and tea can draw visitors but the quality of the offerings, the atmosphere, and their values make all the difference in encouraging people to come back.  Each aspect works together to create a total experience. Customers buy their coffee, sit among the foliage, and share like-minded perceptions of life.

Quality and Taste

Quality and taste are important if you desire to be a cut above your competition. If you are seeking the run of the mill gas station taste then simply brew at home. Coffee shops should focus on offering high quality favorites but also bringing the unique and novel to curious customers. It is an opportunity for customers to open up past their coffee comfort zone.

Atmosphere

Most coffee patrons that take the time to lounge do so because they desire to get out of the house and sit in a socially active environment. Crates, books, and lawn chairs determine the servicescape. Providing this garden atmosphere makes Jungle Java memorable and brandable different from its competitors..

Value System

Their value system is rooted in nature and they support their beliefs through recyclable cups and selling potted plants. Next to each garbage can is a recycling bin where patrons are encouraged to put their cups, plastics, and cans. Easy access recycling bins make all the difference between customer actions to put the products in the recycling bin or the trash can.

Jungle Java is unique in its atmosphere and offers a greenhouse theme. Sipping lattes in a garden while listening to the sound of a bubble fountain creates the difference for patrons. It is an open air concept that sells all the plants they have on display. Head over to Jungle Java and sit under the daytime air for a while before moving onto other activities near the beach.

Jungle Java

5047 Newport Ave,

Ocean Beach, CA 92107

Improving Economies Should Avoid Destructive Bubbles

Citi Analyst Rob Buckland published a diagram of the potential bubbles that are brewing in the credit and equities market. He sees markets moving into Phase 3 where unhealthy optimism is taking hold and people are failing to adjust to early signs of bubbles. If we continue to our course without adjusting and understanding where these bubbles are they will grow and potentially burst forcing the economy to reverse course. You may see his chart HERE. The phases are: 

Phase 1: End of recession, interest is low and stocks are low. 

Phase 2: Stocks rise in a bull market and credit speeds economic activity.

Phase 3: Stocks are high, credit risks hedge, unhealthy optimism in stocks, early signs of bubbles show. 

Phase 4: Low credit reverses value of stocks, credit and equities fall, lower company profits that cause a recession. 

Economic bubbles are part of the boom and bust cycle of the economy. Economics define a bubble as an asset that’s prices can no longer be justified by the value of the dividends expect to earn (Barlevy, 2007). People pile their investment monies into the bubble with high expectations raising the price beyond its real value. 

Real value being based on its practical utility, costs, and additive value associated with the product itself. This is different from the perceived value as defined by market interest. A house may have a certain real value as a dwelling of construction materials but may be sold at double or triple that value due to easy credit and market interest. If people decide the cost of purchase is no longer worth it to them the value plummets and investors lose money. 

On a wide scale this could impact markets in a heavy way across a broad range of economic sectors. We only need to view the last recession and how homes were sold beyond the value that any reasonable person would be willing to pay for them causing debt to skyrocket. Irrationality was the mainstay of the day as broad sectors of society were buying and pushing the price upwards with little consideration of its true value. 

Bubbles can be found and predicted with logistic functions and models that help see the change in irrational value (Ekonominiu, et. al., 2009).  Many of these models are based on statistical analysis that predicts that irrational value increase are beyond the inherent value of the product. They can use various market indicators in associated sectors to determine one sector’s value is out of place.

At present there is no perfect way to predict a bubble but it is possible to be forewarned of a bust whenever irrational optimism has taken hold, critical thinking of investors is low, and investment capital is piling into a market sector that hasn’t seen substantial infrastructure and technological improvements to support the increased value. The best hedge against bubbles is to diversify a portion of your capital into unrelated sectors that counter market direction when busts occur.

 Barlevy, G. (2007). Economic theory and asset bubbles. Economic Perspectives, 31 (3). 

 Ekonominiu, B. et. al. (2009). Formation of economic bubbles: causes and possible preventions. Technological & Economic Development of Economy, 15 (2).

Poem: The Course Bearing Ship

A Step-By-Step Guide To Creating A Quality Veterans Resource Center On Your Campus

Date:  September 11, 1:00-2:30 (Eastern)
Type: online webinar
http://www.innovativeeducators.org/product_p/3232.htm

Overview:

A Veterans Resource Center is an essential component of any college campus. Often, transitioning to academic life can prove difficult and overwhelming for veterans. In order to help them persist and succeed in the college experience, institutions must create a welcoming center of support and services.

This webinar will review the history and impact of the new GI Bill and how it affected student veterans at several campuses (universities and community colleges), both large and small, from fall of 2009 thru fall of 2013. Participants will learn what their individual campuses need to do to attract and keep the veteran demographic. The ins and outs of a successful Veterans Resource Center will also be discussed: space, equipment, community buy-in and support, personnel, and funding.

Participants will walk step-by-step through a series of planning, design, and implementation stages that, if followed, can lead to the creation of a quality Veterans Resource Center. They will also learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of the center and move forward with maintenance and growth activities.

Dr. Schupp will be able to provide a very good estimation as to the number of service-members who will be leaving the military in 2014, 2015, 2016, and the mandated draw-down in 2017. This information will be provided for each military installation by branch of service and by city that these installations are located within. If your campus is wtihin 100 miles of a military base, this is your 'market' of student veterans. Dr. Schupp will show an example for the state of Kansas, but he can provide a personalized report just for your campus. He will also provide the number of Post 9-11 veterans that have visited the VA near you in 2013.

Goals:
- Discuss why it is essential to have a Veterans Resource Center on campus
- Explore the types of services a quality center should offer
- Learn how to recruit, train, and retain center staff
- Discover the financial impact on campus and community
- Learn how a Veterans Resource Center can affect the lives of student veterans as well as their families