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Count Bobulescu

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  1. Count Bobulescu
    Since most of my air travel is trans-atlantic rather than domestic thought I would start a thread on a little known Icelandic LCC WOW AIR that flies out of BWI. I've used them about 10 times, for no reason other than to save money. First thing to know is they have been in financial difficulty, but are currently being purchased by a private equity outfit that has stakes in several LCC, so hopefully they'll bring some expertise. Round trip they can be $200 to $500 less expensive than the next best. Maybe that's why they are in trouble. They've really tightened up their baggage limits, so you have to be prepared to pack light, and use a cheap laundromat. In October I flew for $380 round trip that was booked 4 weeks out. To Ams, Dub, Frank, Lon, Paris etc.you have a 90 minute layover in Keflavik, time to stretch your legs etc. which suits me because I never sleep. All told it adds about three hours to a direct flight to NW EU. They are no more or less comfortable than any other LCC. Once when flying to Barcelona we had a 6am to 6pm layover and used it for a quick day trip to the city, an hour away. https://wowair.us/
  2. Count Bobulescu
    It's a dramedy. Micheal Douglas plays an acting coach, Alan Arkin, his agent, shades of Larry David and Jeff Garlin. I almost gave up on it after the first episode, glad I didn't. It's now been nominated for a Golden Globe.
  3. Count Bobulescu
    Don't dispute your assertion at all. I intended my lukewarm embrace of Riedel (different shapes had merit) to indicate that unlike Steve Silver I was not completely "sold". Damned with faint praise etc. I was sold on the cognac comparison though. As for the scientific tests I think they may be partially explained by the participants. Most of them appear to have been quote "untrained novices" It's been my experience that frequent tasters are more aware of the nuances, and you will likely get different results from them than novices. If you had a novice and a Formula One driver test a new sports car, you'd expect a better more detailed analysis from the professional. Don't dispute any of the scientific findings either, but the article was also an indictment of journalistic rigor. I usually find Daniel Zwerdling interesting when I hear him on NPR. I'm not a shill for Riedel. You can find similarly shaped stemware for much less. You might also be surprised at how low a price Riedel sells some stemware that is not available to the public.
  4. Count Bobulescu
    I follow the grocery and wine biz more than the restaurant biz, but every few months I see conflicting claims about the health of the restaurant biz nationally, overall sales, and/or wine sales up/down/up etc., but those stats are likely dominated by the chains, and not a good indicator for DC.
  5. Count Bobulescu
    Not his/her first rodeo. Seems to be dying anyway.
  6. Count Bobulescu
    Just opened a new airport in Istanbul to compete with the ME3. More destinations "globally" than any other airline. Wiki: As of 2018, it operates scheduled services to 304 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, making it the largest carrier in the world by number of passenger destinations (excluding regional brands).[8][9] It serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline in the world.[10] Turkish Airlines flies to 122 countries, more than any other airline.[9][5][11
  7. Count Bobulescu
    I once attended a Riedel seminar given by Max Riedel's father George, and like Steve Silver I came away at least convinced that the different shapes had merit. We also tasted spirits, and George demonstrated that a small narrow glass like a sherry glass was infinitely preferable to a snifter for cognac. He frankly said we only sell snifters because people throw money at us for them. I have some "inside" knowledge on dealing with Riedel, and can say they can be an exasperating company to deal with. They have a vast array of products and codes, but in some cases, you can end up paying two different prices to Riedel for exactly the same product that is deliberately sold under two different names and codes. Even people who constantly deal directly with them, have trouble understanding their methodology. Edit to add: Even their own employees sometimes have difficulty explaining what they are trying to achieve.
  8. Count Bobulescu
    Would that it were so simple. John Bull is a proud and headstrong man. If the government said that, they'd open themselves up to charges of undermining democracy, ignoring the will of the people etc. If/when a 2nd vote is announced, the leavers will want to know when they can have a 3rd vote, and if not, why not, and where will it end etc. The counter argument will be that it's more serious than a regular 4-5 year election, because it's a once in a generation event, that people didn't fully understand first time. Young people who didn't vote are bitter at their parents and grandparents for messing with their future. They are now talking about stockpiling food and medicine, and putting troops on standby over the holidays. I think 77 is worse. It's more about countermanding than ignoring the will of the voters. I just read an interesting brief by legal and economic professors in the upcoming SCOTUS Tennessee case about how vested interests so often prevail on politicians to do what's in their specific interests rather than the public's. I think there are similarities in the 77 case. I haven't followed the issue since the election.
  9. Count Bobulescu
    The hearing in the this case has been set for 10 AM 1/22/19 at the Alexandria courthouse.
  10. Count Bobulescu
    The referendum was not required, it was an optional attempt to relieve "Tea Party" type leave pressure. The confusion has arisen because the leave campaigners induced some people to vote on the basis of some promises they have been unable to fulfil, and immediately disowned within hours of the vote, such as diverting money that currently goes to the EU, to pay for UK health services. People were asked simply to vote yes or no on leave. 52% voted to leave. The EU had a protocol in place for a country to leave, but it had never been tested. When it came time to negotiate terms for the post Brexit relationship it became apparent that people had various reasons for voting leave, dislike of EU courts and institutions, control of immigration, particularly from Eastern EU countries, claims of welfare cheats etc. Most UK immigration comes from Commonwealth countries, not EU countries, so leaving the EU won't do a lot to solve the immigration issue. Inability to accommodate these disparate interests while at the same time trying to hold on to as many EU benefits as possible for business etc ( free movement of goods, but not people) has bedeviled the process. There have been as many resignations from the May admin as firings from the unmentionable's There's no majority in parliament for anything the EU will agree to, other than remain, which the voters rejected. Think of it like Texans voting to secede, then unable to agree among themselves to accept any future relationship offers the US will agree to. Brexit has been described as the greatest act of unforced national self harm in history.
  11. Count Bobulescu
    I thought I was a conscientious recycler until in Keflavik airport I saw a line of 20+ people outside the restrooms lining up to freely refill their water bottles from a special bottle fountain. I had just paid $3+ for a bottle upstairs.
  12. Count Bobulescu
    And even with that just in time, by one definition the UK currently ranks as the 7th most food secure country. Suspect that rating will drop if they crash out with no deal. OTOH, Manhattan typically has little more than a 24 supply of food.
  13. Count Bobulescu
    Yes, but much less polite descriptions are much more common. 😊
  14. Count Bobulescu
    Those who pay attention to the wine biz, may be familiar with the landmark 2005 SCOTUS case Granholm v. Heald, which gave US wineries the right to ship directly to consumers. Well child of Granholm may be about to be born, in the upcoming SCOTUS case Tennessee v. Byrd/Blair. Oral is set for Jan16, Lots of excitement about it in wine circles because it has the potential to either shut down, or blow open, DtC shipping for retailers, depending on how broadly or narrowly the court rules. The case itself narrowly involves what's called a durational residency requirement for obtaining a retail alcohol license, but the principle may extend well beyond that. It pitts Total Wine/Trone against the Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association. Although I'm not generally a fan of Total Wine's wine, I am with them here legally speaking. One of the most bizarre provisions in the law they are challenging (and which hasn't been enforced for six years) is that in order to get an alcohol license in Tennessee you must be resident in the state for two years. Licences must be renewed annually, To renew a license you must be resident for ten years...Go Figya! For anyone who wants to follow along the best one stop resource I know of is: Court Docs & Media Commentary It has both court documents and media coverage I'm neither a lawyer, nor in the business of 2nd guessing the Supremes, but I have read most of the briefs filed so far, and think Total stand a good chance. Total filed their brief on 12/13, so amici in support are due imminently.
  15. Count Bobulescu
    Yes, a lot of "leave" promises already broken. Theresa May, is slowly but surely being dragged kicking and screaming toward a 2nd vote, despite her protests. In Parliament, there's no majority for any of the various leave options, hard, soft, Canada+, Norway ++, no deal etc. but there is, and always has been, a majority in Parliament to remain, so its increasingly likely it will be kicked back to the public for another vote, on the basis that parliament is impotent to carry out the first will of the people. That carries the risk of embittering the leavers, because remainers would likely win a 2nd vote, though not by a huge margin. 100 days out, Brussels released today a "No Deal" contingency plan. Some are suggesting that this will prevent British Airways, (because its parent is EU based), from flying internally in the UK, London to Edinburgh etc. EU No Deal Contingency Plan
  16. Count Bobulescu
    I've been following the Brexit issue in the English language EU media since the get go. I'm firmly in the camp that believes the Brits are crazy to be going down this road. I'm originally from across the pond. One of the best pieces I've come across is this transcript of a lecture given 12/13/18 at the University of Liverpool by Sir Ivan Rogers UK ambassador to the EU from 2013 to Jan 2017, when he resigned after his personal views that the Brits were screwing up big time, were leaked. The lecture sets out 9 lessons to be learned from the Brexit negotiations. It's a long lead and could be heavy going for those unfamiliar. Suggest you first skim the 9 headlines before deciding if you want to dig further. Bloomberg has a daily Brexit bulletin email. Brexit Negotiating Disaster
  17. Count Bobulescu
    Hi, I'm Tony, a long time lurker. For work related reasons that no longer apply, felt it best not to post here previously. I enjoy good food, but am not a "foodie". Couldn't cook to save my life. Fire Marshall banned me from kitchen. I obsess on non food matters. My username is taken from a 1950's comedy sketch by Spike Milligan, creator of The Goon Show, the radio precursor to Monty Python.
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